Bylai hovered towards little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit, her movements light. She appeared above the rock and patted her crown. However, there was no response, nearly causing Bylai to break into a peal of laughter. Still, her bosoms shook visibly.
She held back and moved her lips, "Just because you don't see me doesn't mean that I don't see you."
"Wuah~"
The little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit gave off a strange noise and rushed out, fleeing out of the veil and disappearing into the valley.
Bylai followed suit slowly.
"I'll talk to you later."
Isabella bid a short farewell to Shirley and went after Bylai.
"As we were talking-" Shirley pulled Lhasa's attention, not wanting her to go after that little spirit.
Considering they were spirits of different natures, she felt that they might kill her for stepping into their grounds. And as she expected, Lhasa's eyes were narrowed. It seemed like she perceived this as a slight.
"That's a Heaven-Tier Earth Spirit from the fragment earth world near the Starry Empyreal Fury Spirit Settlement but still, she's nothing but a poor little spirit… she must be lost…"
"Oh…"
Shirley realized she was wrong as she heard Lhasa.
Suddenly, Shirley was confused as to why these spirits knew themselves as the Celestial Descent Light Spirits or the Starry Empyreal Fury Spirits as the Starry Empyreal Fury Spirits. After all, these were names given by humans. How come these spirits, who probably never had an interaction with the true immortal world can possibly know of these names?
She posed this question to Lhasa, and she shrugged.
"I don't understand your question." Lhasa looked confused, "It's just inherited knowledge that we're the Celestial Descent Light Spirits. As long as a Celestial Descent Light Spirit is born, they'll know they are the Celestial Descent Light Spirit. It's like asking me how do I know if this is my body or not. We just know~"
Lhasa traced her curvaceous body with her hands, causing Shirley to blink.
Shirley descended into contemplation, wondering when they started realizing their name as a race. Was it after the human race named them? If that was the case, then she felt it was related to karma and the dimension behind it that connected everything in every way possible.
In the same way, the spirits were also intrinsically able to understand and speak the Sky Word Language humans created. She found this matter extremely intriguing.
"I see." Shirley nodded, "I'll let you know about the ceremony later."
"Alright. Have a good stay, and please don't make any trouble~" Lhasa nodded back.
Shirley giggled before running off to the place where Bylai went. She was also curious as to what they were going to do to that spirit.
After exiting the settlement's veil, she saw that Bylai had cornered the little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit in a short sideway opening which stopped at a dead end. The wall was steep, and the cliff was high enough that one couldn't see the canopy. The spirit could obviously phase through, but Bylai put her foot on the ground and imbued the surface of the earth and the wall with her metal energy, disallowing the little spirit to flee.
Hence, the little spirit was cornered.
She was like a little bird, her expression full of fear as she looked for ways out while Bylai stood in her way.
"Don't be scared. I want to talk to you."
Bylai softly said. She figured the little spirit was scared since it wasn't Isabella who was talking to her.
"I- I didn't mean any harm. I was just— following…"
The little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit confessed as she trembled while raising her hands and shaking them expressively.
"I know." Bylai giggled lightly, "If you're interested, would you like to join us for an adventure?"
"…"
The little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit instantly shook her head.
"Uh…" Bylai unwittingly let out a sound of defeat.
Clearly, the little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit was just curious and didn't want to hang out with them.
Shirley approached silently, her footsteps light as wind as she caught up with Bylai.
She watched the little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit shrink further into the wall, trembling like a nervous hatchling.
Bylai stood calmly, smiling with gentle warmth.
"Little sister, try this~" Shirley said with a smile, pulling out a faintly radiant blossom-shaped crystal bottle from her spatial ring. "The Goldimelt Jasmine Light Essence. It should help you warm up to her."
"Can we use it?"
Bylai's eyes sparkled,
"Yeah, it's not a problem. It's yours to begin with~" Shirley giggled.
"Thank you." Bylai was moved.
She turned back to the cornered spirit and gently crouched, her robe folding elegantly over her knees. She held out the glowing bottle, the golden liquid within flickering like molten starlight.
"Little one," Bylai said with a voice like a bell's chime, "I have something precious for you. It's yours if you'd like to have it."
The little Grand Geocrest Metal Spirit's wary eyes darted between Bylai's face and the bottle. Her trembling slowed, but she didn't move.
"It's called Goldimelt Jasmine Light Essence," Bylai added, "It's meant for metal-attributed beings like you… especially ones as talented and pure as yourself."
Still no movement. Shirley stepped forward and waved slightly, flashing an encouraging smile.
"We're not trying to trap you," she said in a gentle voice, "This is just a gift. No strings attached."
The little spirit sniffed the air. A moment passed… then another… and then, very cautiously, she stepped forward, her little feet clinking faintly like polished stones. It seemed like she really packed some weight behind her little body.
She reached out her tiny hands and touched the bottle. Her body stiffened as she hesitated again, but then she dipped her fingers into the edge of the opening and drew out a minuscule golden droplet, tasting it with a flick of her tongue.
"Wuahh…"
Her eyes widened, the essence seemingly resonating with her soul. Her entire body emitted a sudden glow, brighter and cleaner than before, as though the golden light was washing away impurities and refining her very core.
She took another drop. Then another. Slowly, she became less tense, her shoulders rising as if freed from a weight. She closed her eyes, the essence flowing into her, visibly tempering her body with soft sparks of refinement. Her aura pulsed with increasing strength, the rhythm of her cultivation base clearly pushing forward.
*Booom!~*
She stepped into Level Eight Immortal Emperor Spirit Stage, her aura making the land and the mountain tremble. At the same time, her prowess grew from seven levels higher to nine levels higher.