The light lasted for about five breaths before it was entirely retracted. Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) watched as a large chunk broke off the front of the divine beast egg before her, and a small, snow-white claw extended out.
The little claw wiggled around before another opening appeared on the other side of the eggshell, and a long, scaled tail also poked out.
Finally, the entire eggshell shattered, and a golden, radiant divine beast appeared before her eyes.
Looking at the small divine beast, it had golden scales, five claws, and a pair of small, translucent wings on its back. Then there was its head. Its eyes seemed to hold a watery sheen, looking at her tenderly. kuAiδugg
Xiao Wenqiang flipped through the memories of Bai Qiushui's novel world system and discovered that this small divine beast was actually the renowned Yinglong. However, this Yinglong was somewhat different from the legendary Yinglong in that it was excessively cute.
And so, this adorable little Yinglong quickly flew into her arms, nuzzling its little head against her hand while chirping in a childish voice, "Mama~ Mama~ Dandan is finally out!"
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) subconsciously stroked the small divine beast in her hands, feeling that even its scales were soft, as if they would snap if she applied too much force. "Dandan, are you from the Yinglong tribe?"
"Yes, Mama! Dandan is an Yinglong. Don't look at Dandan now, when Dandan grows up, Dandan will become very powerful!"
"So it's true that this divine beast egg can hatch a divine beast!"
"Yes, yes! Actually, Dandan wanted to come out long ago, but there just wasn't enough spiritual energy. If Mama hadn't accidentally dripped blood onto Dandan's eggshell while cultivating one time, Dandan wouldn't be able to talk to Mama! It was only after that that Dandan could absorb Mama's spiritual energy!"
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) had no recollection of when she dripped blood. After all, she had initially focused on defense, and in testing its limits, she had injured herself more than once.
"Right, Mama. Dandan noticed another channel in your soul? Does Mama have other little treasures?"
Unexpectedly, this small divine beast could sense the channel between her and system number 86365. Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) carefully inquired, "Dandan, can you tell that my soul and my body are not consistent?"
"Of course! The first time Mama gave Dandan blood to form a contract, Dandan noticed. But later, Dandan chose to sign a contract with Mama's soul because all this spiritual energy comes from Mama's soul."
"Soul contract? Dandan, when was this contract signed? How come I don't know?" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) was bewildered. In typical novels, wouldn't such contracts require mutual consent?
Dandan actually blushed in a very human-like manner. "Dandan and Mama signed a master-servant contract. Because I willingly became a servant, I didn't get Mama's consent... If Mama doesn't like it, we can break our contract anytime!"
"I don't dislike it, Dandan! I'm just a little surprised! By the way, since you've noticed that my body and soul are not aligned, if they separate in the future, will you follow me?" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) suddenly had a bolder idea.
"Of course! Wherever Mama's soul goes, Dandan will be there!" Dandan puffed out its little chest. "When Dandan grows up, Dandan will protect Mama!"
"But Dandan, you also sensed earlier that there's another channel in my soul. Actually, I'm bound to a system. Can you sense it, and can it sense you?" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) was afraid of being detected by the system.
"Dandan just sensed its soul aura isn't very strong, and we're not on the same channel. Dandan can block it." After saying this, Dandan proudly raised its head.
"That's great! Dandan! Just remember to block it and don't let it discover your existence!"
"Okay, Mama!" Dandan readily agreed, then added somewhat sheepishly, "Mama, can you send Dandan some more spiritual energy? After talking so much, Dandan is hungry again~"
It seemed this little Yinglong was quite adept at consuming spiritual energy! There was nothing Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) could do but sit down and meditate, supplying Dandan with spiritual energy and nourishment.
Several hours passed with continuous cultivation, and the sky outside had already brightened. Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) stopped her movements and opened her eyes, looking at the light filtering in from outside the cave. She suddenly remembered that her fellow demon classmates who had come with her were still unconscious on the other side of the swamp! So she quickly stood up, scooped up Dandan, and rushed out.
Following the guidance of the large trees along the way, Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) returned to the spot with the large rock. Gazing at the seemingly endless swamp, she fell into thought: Without Feng Qinghuai, how could she cross?
Dandan sensed her distress and suddenly spoke, "Mama, Dandan can carry you across!"
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) looked down at the creature whose total length, including its tail, was less than her forearm. She chuckled and shook her head, saying, "Dandan, you're too small. Mama is very heavy! Even if I revert to my true form, you won't be able to carry me!"
"Mama, Dandan can grow bigger!" Before the words even finished, the little Yinglong before her grew proportionally, quickly reaching about two meters in length. "Mama, Dandan's spiritual power isn't enough yet, otherwise, I could be even bigger!"
Afterward, it lay down on the ground and, tilting its head towards Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang), said, "Hurry and get on! Mama! Dandan will take you across!"
Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) scrambled onto the Yinglong's back and sat down in the center of its wings. "Thank you, Dandan. Fly away!"
"Okay, Mama, hold on tight!" The Yinglong leaped into the air and flew towards the vast land on the other side of the swamp. Its speed was far greater than when Feng Qinghuai had carried her previously.
They soon arrived at the transparent barrier. Just as Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) was about to tell Dandan to slow down, she discovered that it passed through without any obstruction, as if it were a gust of wind.
"Dandan, did you see that barrier just now?" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) quickly asked.
"I saw it! Mama!"
"Then why didn't you stop? What if you had crashed into it?"
"It wouldn't have, Mama! Dandan sensed that this barrier wouldn't stop us!"
"I see! Dandan, you're amazing!" Bai Qiushui (Xiao Wenqiang) knew that children needed constant praise.
"Hehe~" Dandan chuckled with a hint of pride. They were nearing the shore when it suddenly cried out in alarm, "Mama! Mama! Dandan's spiritual energy is running out! I can't maintain this size much longer!"