Chapter 3

The white form had graceful curves, light blue wings laid askew at its sides, a long slender neck wrapped with strange golden veins, proud black crown feathers standing tall on its head, with a faint auspicious cloud mark visible.

Even covered in dirt and blood, this crane maintained its divine and celestial bearing.

Hearing the slowly approaching footsteps, she raised her neck with some difficulty and looked toward the newcomer.

Hoping it wasn't... hm?

A young man?

In this wilderness...

Though he looks like a good person...

Why did he stop?

Xia Zhi stood at the crater's edge, looking at the celestial crane with his lightless gray eyes.

In his vision, this crane had a golden progress bar above it.

Progress: [0%]

This was the first life form he'd encountered in this world that could generate a progress bar.

And its rank must be quite high, or it wouldn't have generated a golden progress bar.

It should have intelligence.

Using the system's detection skill, Xia Zhi carefully observed the injured crane's entire body with his god's eye view.

Beautiful feathers.

A female crane.

And, couldn't determine its true power level.

Though looking at its current weak and dying state, even if it once had some abilities, it probably couldn't display them now.

But it was still better to be cautious.

What if it was pretending?

The more beautiful something is, the more dangerous it can be.

In this wilderness, suddenly finding such an apparently easy-to-catch celestial crane - it might be a spirit in disguise, trying to lure people close to kill them.

Xia Zhi pondered for a moment, and under the crane's puzzled expression, he raised his hand and released a beam of light towards her.

First-tier Light Magic: [Detect Evil].

This spell had no destructive power but would display different colored blood lights depending on the sins committed by the target.

The more unforgivable the creature, the more intense and piercing the blood light would be.

When the spiritual light fell upon the celestial crane, it suddenly lit up with a dazzling golden radiance.

Gold was the color of virtue.

The brightness of this light suggested that this celestial crane must have performed countless good deeds.

Such a spiritual beast - perhaps he had been too cautious.

Xia Zhi bent down, slowly sliding down from the edge of the large pit to approach the celestial crane.

He didn't rashly get too close, maintaining what seemed like a safe distance - that crane's beak looked quite hard, and he feared being pecked.

Looking at the vigilant crane, he said softly, "Don't be afraid."

The celestial crane, hearing his words, was visibly startled, its glaze-colored eyes revealing a bewildered expression.

"You probably can't understand me, right? It's okay, I'm here to help you."

Xia Zhi stood in place, his hands glowing with a gentle white light.

First-tier Light Magic: [Healing Art].

"Don't be afraid."

Xia Zhi slowly inched forward, extending his hand towards it.

Perhaps sensing the rich life energy in the white light emanating from his hands, or perhaps due to the hidden effect of [Wings of Radiance] - "Sky-soaring Species' Initial Disposition is Friendly" taking effect.

The crane lowered its head slightly towards him, its posture becoming more relaxed.

He touched it!

It felt cool to the touch, with sturdy feather shafts and dense, soft, and elastic barbs, giving the sensation of touching a high-quality fabric.

The healing spell from Xia Zhi's palm slowly seeped through the feathers into the crane's body, beginning to heal its severe internal injuries.

The crane drooped its neck, half-closing its eyes, and couldn't help but let out a joyful, clear cry.

It seemed to be feeling quite comfortable.

Xia Zhi glanced at it, continuing to stroke its feathers while silently healing it.

In his vision, because they were currently in physical contact, a golden progress bar above it was slowly moving.

Progress [5%].

Progress [10%].

Progress [15%].

At this point, the crane that had been lying motionless on the ground suddenly extended its neck and slowly stood up.

Those legs were quite long and straight.

It seemed that with the help of the healing spell, its injuries were recovering well.

Now it could stand up, and probably would be able to fly soon.

With this thought, Xia Zhi quietly stopped the healing spell.

Whether or not to grind for treasure chests didn't matter; mainly, his level was low now, and his mana was limited - he really couldn't maintain skills for too long.

Feeling the comfortable warmth suddenly disappear from its body, the crane raised its head, looking at Xia Zhi with confusion, meeting his lifeless gray eyes.

She was startled for a moment. So... he was blind?

Xia Zhi withdrew his hand without lingering, speaking to it in an apologetic tone, "Sorry, I need to rest for a while."

It probably couldn't understand the language from another world he was speaking, but being a spiritual beast with intelligence, it should be able to understand his meaning.

Xia Zhi sat down in place, slowly closing his gray eyes to rest.

The crane before him quietly watched his face, not making a sound.

After resting for about an hour, Xia Zhi opened his eyes and softly said to it, "I'm ready now."

He stood up from the ground, his hands once again glowing with the white light of the healing spell, gently stroking its body.

Progress [20%]

Progress [23%]

This time, Xia Zhi only maintained it for half as long as before before withdrawing.

He again spoke to it with an apologetic and tired voice, "I'm sorry."

The crane nodded slightly to him.

Xia Zhi sat down in place, quietly rested for another hour, then opened his eyes and said softly, "Ready now."

Progress [25%]

Progress [27%]

This time, Xia Zhi maintained it for an even shorter time, the fatigue on his face more apparent.

"Sorry."

Xia Zhi sat down again, closing his eyes.

The crane quietly watched him, the look in its glaze-colored eyes becoming much softer.

She could feel his goodwill and effort.

An hour passed.

As she was waiting for Xia Zhi to open his eyes, she heard very light breathing.

Looking carefully, she realized his sitting posture had become slightly crooked, his head slightly drooping - he had fallen asleep just like that in a sitting position.

He must really be exhausted.

Her gaze towards him became even softer.

What a good child.

The night deepened, and dew began to form heavily. The wind grew colder. In his sleep, Xia Zhi's body unconsciously shivered slightly.

The crane before him looked at his thin, strange clothing, remained silent for a moment, then quietly walked to his side, spreading its wings to envelop him in its warm down feathers.

Sweet dreams.

At the same time, an invisible progress bar on her body was slowly rising.

Progress [30%]

Progress [40%]

...

Progress [100%]

"Progress bar has reached 100%, obtained Golden Chest reward."