We Need to Do Something to Not Get Broke!!

"Nonetheless, the most important thing is to settle that little brat. That gluttonous kid could finish up our resources before we could implement anything! Do you guys have any idea how to settle it?" Kuro sighed while signaling to the gluttonous little bird gobbling up the spiritual pearls.

Killing off the little bird was not an option. Although it could be a high-class ingredient for both Kuro and Shiro, they felt that it would be a waste. It was better to groom it into their mistress' flying mount and future guardian. The level of obedience it would show would be unprecedented, even higher than Kuro's. A normal silver-banded banded eagle actually ate other spiritual beasts. Kuro had never heard that they could directly eat cultivation resources in the form of spiritual pearls. If this bird could eat spirit pearls, what would happen if they let it inside a spirit crystal lode?

[Hmmm...] A very bold plan formed in Kuro's devilish mind.

Should he run it through with Mommy?

[Nah... She'll surely reject it.]

"I think we can just limit it from eating. Say, around ten pearls per day?" Shiro helpfully added.

"Will Pi-chan be alright? It looked so hungry all the time." Hana said worriedly. She was concerned with them starving the pitiful little bird.

"Mommy! Stop pitying the brat! I can sense that it only replenishes its energy to evolve its internal core. It had no relation, whether it is hungry or not. Its body's goal is to achieve the completion of its core! These are essentially your cultivation resources! We need to do something to not get broke!" Kuro explained seriously.

He could detect how the internal core of the brat revolved as it gobbled up the spirit pearls. This mutant spiritual avian was not simple at all. He could even detect traces of their mistress' scent upon it as if it was blood-related to Hana, even before the soul-link was established! It was mystifying! Before it even matures, it already had a robust constitution akin to a mid-stage Noble. At the same time, its aura fluctuated between late-stage Noble to early-stage Lord. Even its mental powers were forming at a very high rate once Mommy started cultivating. It was as if its affinity to Mommy was infinitely close to one hundred percent! For better or worse, Kuro was glad it has only an IQ of a child for now. At least it could still be 'taught' what was beneficial and what wasn't to Mommy.

The other only reason for it to bore the scent of their Mistress was for it to absorb their Mistress' blood in copious amount! The only occasion where Hana had lost so much blood was during the shrimp skewer incident. Maybe, this brat had already absorbed Hana's blood beforehand. Such a scheming bast*rd!

As usual, following this trail of thoughts, Kuro came to such a conclusion. He wasn't sure what ticked him off the wrong way, but he felt very unresigned!

Kuro jumped into the pile of spiritual pearls and pulled the bird out, "Ten only per day! You eat more than Mommy! Work if you want to eat more!"

The baby bird was cooing sadly, but he ignored it. He even purposely tightened his hold to make the brat felt some pain. Oh, how he wished he could strangle the brat and swallow it whole!

Hana chuckled mirthfully at the side, looking at the duo's antics. At the same time, Shiro just sighed as he returned to closing his eyes and laid his head upon Mom's lap. It's good to have someone replacing him wrestling with Big Bro Ku once a while. He could enjoy Mom's company in peace.

"Yeah, we really should go to Ara's house this time." [I don't want to go bankrupt before meeting Arash. How can I boast to him how much pearls I have later? At least I need to be self-sufficient to ensure my survival and save at least a handful to bring home. We'd be extremely rich then! He could finally resign then!] Hana thought to herself positively.

Hana took a pearl on the cave floor absentmindedly. It had come rolling from who knows where. Most probably from last night's mess. She held it between her palm and sank deep into cultivation again. The light from the pearl dimmed slightly as she continued cultivating while stroking Shiro's fur with her right hand and grasping the spirit pearl with her left.

Unknown to her, all the pearls present around her gently brightened and dimmed slightly in sync with her breathing. It seemed that the spirit gathering formation placed by Shiro automatically exerted itself to pull more spiritual energy towards her.

Kuro and Shiro looked at each other knowingly, and they too assertively soul-linked to their Mistress, sinking deep into cultivation...

...

Far from Hana's lovely little sojourn, thousands of Elemental Fiends were tunneling systematically, deep underground. Behind them, the Primordial Queen Mother was instructing them periodically by adjusting the routes. It was only a single tunnel, but it was wide and grand, as it could accommodate the size of the Queen Mother to slowly move within. Sometimes, they will stop when the Empress from afar would grant them the privilege of cultivating their mental powers. They would then droned and buzzed in contentment and adoration towards the faraway Empress.

Everyone was with one heart towards a single objective; to be able to connect and meet with the Empress face-to-face as soon as possible. To the ones who missed the opportunity to meet the Empress, they hoped that at least they could see her once in their lifetime.

Hence, led by the Primordial Queen Mother, Q-chan, their tunnel was getting ever so near towards the Empress abode.

The day they could finally meet their Empress again was not far.

However, at the moment, everyone halted their activity en mass to enjoy the Empress' favor. They knew this was the best time to cultivate and grew into a stronger entity, which could then assist the Empress and the Queen Mother in various ways.

...

Ara barged into Grand Elder Watershade's chamber as he was discussing with a group of aqua-guards.

"Gramps Watershade! I got something to tell you!"

Her eyes shone with delight and eagerness. Her beautiful billowing transparent pink tail flapped in excitement. The lovely young miss of the Waterwave Clan had been quite depressed for a long time, but since a few days ago, it seemed as if some of her vigor had returned. Her every move was brimming with zeal. She sometimes giggled alone, to her poor attendant's horror.

Until last night.

She had finally completed the consolidation of her core. As a task, she had been given a few new spells by her personal Mentor for practicing. She had been promised with freedom once she mastered all of the spells.

"Yes, child. What is it?" The Grand Elder patted Ara's head dotingly with a smile.

The rest of the guards averted their gaze to give both of them some personal space. Truthfully, the Grand Elder acted more like a doted grandfather towards their princess as compared to the Clan Head. The Clan Head was a tad bit too forceful and boorish besides being stubborn. Due to that, he couldn't get his intentions across properly. Although he too, doted upon this talented descendant of his.

It was widely known that Princess Aranyella was also the apple of the eye of all in the Circle of Elders. To them, Grand Elder Watershade showed extreme favoritism towards the princess. Always give way to her qualms, making her such a spoiled bratty little young miss. Although a lot of them were jealous of her, no one had ever raised their dissatisfaction publicly.

Nonetheless, nobody could deny her talent in cultivation. Even when she squandered more than half the cultivation resources by doing nonsensical projects, she was still the fastest to advance as compared to the other young misses and young masters of the clan. That was, with the exception of her own new attendant, Chomper, who was once a nobody but had suddenly rise to stardom.

"Mistress is coming, Gramps! Mistress is coming!" Ara twirled around Elder Watershade happily while she danced about gracefully. Although the guards tried their best to avert their gaze, they couldn't stop themselves from being entranced by the beauty of their fairy-like princess.

"Really? How did you know?" Grand Elder Watershade smiled and asked good-naturedly.

"This.." Ara tapped her head using her pectoral fin while grinning. "The Mistress contacted me personally. She will come personally with Big Bro Ku and Big Bro Shi."

"Who? Come again?" The grand elder was confused with the sudden influx of new information.

"Kuro, the mean snake. And Shiro, the white fox." Ara whispered close to Elder Watershade's face.

"Mistress could suddenly contact me remotely a few days ago. Since that day, I could feel her presence deep into my soul. It helped me immensely in consolidating my core. She told me to tell you she'll be visiting in three days with a few others; hence they needed a dry surface to meet up. Please say yes, please..." Ara started to act like a spoilt little princess in front of the grand elder.

Grand Elder Watershade narrowed his eyes in contemplation. It seems that the Mistress' prowess must have increased significantly.

He could guess by now how the information was relayed.

[The advancement projects are starting.] Will his gamble fall through? Or will he won this and let the whole clan prosper for generations?

To meet face to face meant that there was more to discuss. He always knew that the other party's weakness was their lack of numbers. He might be able to use this fact to his advantage to barter for more privileges.

[I got to keep my wits up!] He needed to be sharp to tongue-fight with the Mistress.

[If not, she'll win over all the benefits to her side. That won't do.]

"Sure. Just let them know when they entered the starting point of the Five-fork Crystal river, wait for our attendant to lead the way. If not, they might be attacked by the Elders of each river."

"Yes!" Ara answered happily. She pecked the Grand Elder's cheeks and swam off while singing a sweet tune.

As he looked at the jovial and bubbly Ara, he could only sigh and smiled. Such an innocent little girl. Only he knew that he had such a high expectation over her.

His expression hardened a few seconds later. With an authoritative tone, he commanded, "Mekong."

"Yes, Grand Elder."

"Bring at least ten others and wait for the Mistress from dawn three days from now at the Five-fork Crystal river. Bring the Mistress' entourage into the clan's main ground with respect and cordiality. I will handle the rest."

"Yes!" The silver catfish saluted the Grand Elder and left his chamber.

[I need to prepare well before seeing Mistress Hana.] He required the list of candidates who will be the very first few who wanted to try out the new revolutionary method. He knew these few clansmen's rates of death will be higher than the rest since they would be pioneers. However, a little sacrifice is a must for the greater good. He must make sure to keep the talented ones towards the end when the Mistress nearly perfected her methods.

…