Chapter 70: Gathering Beasts and Guiding Birds, Enlightening All Living Things

An official must first obtain a fundamental spiritual resonance before the myriad associated techniques can take effect.

It is much like how one must first illuminate a core theory or a crucial prerequisite invention on the tree of technology before a hundred flourishing applications can bloom.

With the principle of electromagnetic induction, inventions such as generators, telegraphs, electric lights, telephones, and electric vehicles became possible.

In the same way, the unique skills and extraordinary arts of the Three Divisions’ officials are all developed from their innate spiritual resonance, which forms the foundation for countless practical methods.

For all the Whitewater Men among the Water Division, their fundamental spiritual resonance is “Enlightenment.” At first, this was simply used to enlighten and tame otters to help with fishing, but over time, it gradually evolved into its present form.

Thus, Whitewater Men naturally possess an extraordinary affinity with all manner of waterfowl, aquatic beasts, fish, turtles, shrimp, crabs, and so on.

Within the Five Peaks Banner, the bowmen who practice the special art of “Sworn Kinship and Reverence for the Elders” are the most numerous.

However, few have achieved the renown of Huang Yuanzhou and his father from the Mirage Tower, establishing a strong and enduring lineage of elder spirits.

The art itself has no flaw; the primary obstacle is the scarcity of suitable godfathers and godmothers.

A powerful godfather is often too violent, while one without ability is useless; those with both power and ambition are often short-lived.

To meet a godparent like Lady Clam, Lady Snail, or the White Lady is as rare as ancestral tombs smoking with fortune.

Cooing softly…

Wang Cheng reached out to scratch the chin of the red-billed gull, which responded with a gentle, docile cry.

Beside him, the brothers Zhang Wu and Zhang Wen, who had already ignited their Heart Lamps but had not yet reached the Pure Yang Life-Fire stage, watched with envy.

They knew they had missed this “Otter’s Fish Festival.” Unless they wanted to wait another year, they were destined to be unconnected with the Whitewater Men.

They could only choose other official positions within the Water Division and hurry to begin their “internship.”

Yet Zhang Wen could not help but ask, “Chief Bow, what kind of animal do you intend to enlighten as your Guardian Spirit General? An otter? A cormorant? Or perhaps the most common seabird—the gull? An albatross?”

Wang Cheng gave this matter serious thought.

Each grade of Whitewater Man can only enlighten a limited number of spiritual beasts as Guardian Spirit Generals. The higher the quality, the fewer their number; the lower the quality, the more numerous they may be. The burden must be balanced wisely.

Moreover, Whitewater Men can share in the innate talents of their Guardian Spirit Generals. If the chosen creature is exceptionally gifted, the official will benefit as well.

Among the candidates, the otter, as the totemic beast of the “Otter’s Fish Festival,” naturally enjoys a spiritual resonance bonus, making it especially prone to awakening intelligence and transforming into a spirit creature after enlightenment.

With a little training, they can fill the roles of crew members, deckhands, or gunners on board.

Not only are they remarkably clever, but these adorable creatures are also endearing, sure to bring comfort to the dull life at sea.

But their drawback is obvious: just like humans, they cannot survive at sea and have poor adaptability.

As for cormorants, there’s a saying among the Dan folk: “Every household has a cormorant; every meal, yellow croaker.” The cormorant, also known as the fish hawk, is famed for its glossy black feathers and its mournful cry—which, especially at night, can chill the spine like a wailing ghost.

They are the most common fishing companions of river fishermen, and many Whitewater Men choose them as their first Guardian Spirit Generals.

But their shortcomings are much like the otter’s. Though they can fly and dive, and fish in the sea, their range is limited to shallow coastal waters. If taken into the open ocean, losses would be inevitable.

Wang Cheng aspired to “calm the sea’s waves,” so he had to think ahead from the very beginning.

The albatross, also known as the Great Sky Lord, is the largest of common seabirds, with wingspans reaching three to four meters.

They dwell on the open ocean and, once aloft, can remain airborne for years, resting one side of their brain at a time, able to sleep and fly simultaneously.

They may not be much for fighting, but as tireless scouts, working three hundred and sixty-five days a year, they are more than sufficient.

Their endurance far surpasses that of ordinary birds, and their lifespan can reach thirty years.

Such a naturally indefatigable beast, a holy body of both ox and horse, even surpasses Zhang Wu’s “Unyielding Fate.” From a physiological standpoint, they are destined for greatness.

Yet after a moment’s thought, Wang Cheng finally released the gull and the albatross, choosing instead to hold onto the white-headed eagle.

Not for any other reason, but among all his birds, this one was the most combative. Its diet was varied—it ate fish, gulls, rabbits, and even carrion—making it especially easy to keep.

When pressed, it would even steal prey from other seabirds, earning it the fierce nickname “pirate bird.”

Once fully grown, it has almost no natural enemies, eliminating the worry of being picked off by other predators.

Of course, it was also the most handsome and imposing of the lot!

As Guardian Spirit Generals were not only helpers but also the official’s emblem, just standing there with such a form added to one’s aura of command.

Wang Cheng then pricked his fingertip and dabbed a drop of blood between the eagle’s brows, chanting:

“Born of Lunar Essence, spirit of the water’s rank; responding above to the Void and Danger stars, form akin to the Hearth Serpent; traversing the six directions, commanding all spirits. Thus I command!”

The blood glowed, sank into the eagle’s brow, and formed a red vertical mark of intricate cloud patterns, which flashed briefly then vanished.

A clear, divine light shone in the eagle’s keen eyes. For the first time, self-awareness and reason blossomed within them; quietly, it transformed into a spirit creature and became Wang Cheng’s Guardian Spirit General.

Now they could communicate mind-to-mind, passing simple messages across great distances, and Wang Cheng could share the eagle’s razor-sharp vision.

With frequent spiritual refinement, this white-headed eagle would continue to advance, surpassing the cultivation speed of ordinary wild spirits.

Wang Cheng kept his finger on the eagle’s brow, probing into the bird’s origins.

From its fragmented memories, he gleaned that it was not a local bird but had grown up in the chicken coop of an ocean-going adventure ship, crossing the seas with a flock of chickens.

Having never seen another of its kind, it always believed itself to be a chicken!

Among its memories were fragments of the word “circumnavigation” in a foreign tongue, but then, one day, the people on the ship began to act strangely, and in the chaos, it escaped.

To this day, it still fondly remembers its beloved little hens.

Wang Cheng thought back to the treasures he had glimpsed outside the wall during his recent advancement. Though they seemed endlessly tempting, his mind was clearer than ever.

Food must be eaten bite by bite; for now, what lies beyond the wall is not yet within his reach.

After a moment’s thought, he spoke to his first Guardian Spirit General, “Since your experiences have been so unique, from now on, you shall be called… Aji.”

The white-headed sea eagle, Aji, let out a joyful cry, spread its wings with a rush of wind, and soared into the sky like an arrow, circling the Zhang Fushun again and again.

With such beauty and presence, even on the Zhang Fushun, its companionship gave the illusion of standing aboard the mighty Ford.

To be honest, it was not a bad feeling.

Wang Cheng withdrew his gaze, turning inward to contemplate his unique skill.

“It’s not just that my official talisman is different; my method of ‘Enlightenment’ truly stands apart from others.

When General Huang Yuanzhou of the Mirage Tower practiced the art of ‘Sworn Kinship and Reverence for the Elders,’ he had to plead and cajole, speaking humbly and negotiating kindly with his godmothers.

I don’t need to study other arts; with just the basic power of Enlightenment, I can forcibly command spirit creatures, and the effect is far more domineering!

Moreover, the targets of Enlightenment aren’t limited to living beings. Even tables, chairs, swords, and tools are equally susceptible.

Indeed, one could say: I summon beasts and birds, enlightening all things beneath the heavens!”