I Don't Agree to the Terms
Chapter 104 - 83: Animal Companion – Qingyuan White Deer_2

Chapter 104: Chapter 83: Animal Companion – Qingyuan White Deer_2

"All right, wait here, I’ll be back shortly," Mafas said, quickly heading to his wooden hut to retrieve an album and flip it open.

"You’re so studious; how about the Divination Owl? If this little fellow becomes your animal companion, it will make your thinking much sharper."

"Don’t like it? Then how about the Sky Circle Earth King Wolf? This little guy, once grown, can carry you anywhere."

"Fine, how about a petrified lizard, or perhaps the Blazing Hellhound?"

"Are you thinking of a giant dragon? We do have a treasured dragon’s egg, but you’ll need to teach yourself the skills of an animal companion and those of a dragon companion first; otherwise, you won’t be able to make the dragon your partner."

Mafas rambled on, the richness of the Marked tradition evident in this album of animal companions.

Especially when Mafas mentioned dragons, Gu Shanhai was rather tempted.

But it doesn’t mean that a dragon would necessarily be stronger than other animal companions, as they can be nurtured and grown.

Ultimately, when Gu Shanhai saw the White Deer in the atlas, his heart skipped a beat. It was as if a whim combined with the desire to seek fortune and avoid disaster were at play together, and a sixth sense told him this seemed to be a great opportunity.

"Wait, this Qingyuan White Deer..." Gu Shanhai abruptly spoke up.

Mafas’s hand paused, then he said, "You want to use the Qingyuan White Deer as your animal companion?"

"Just asking," Gu Shanhai said, looking at the enormous White Deer, its antlers sprawling back like branches, larger than the deer itself, adorned with glowing ribbons.

"Well, you sure have an eye for things, but currently there are no suitable Qingyuan White Deer available. They’re either too old or too young. I don’t recommend the former, and if you desire the latter, it will require nurturing on your own. However, you may have to pass the test of the fawn’s parents to take it with you."

The reason Mafas didn’t recommend it was precisely this issue: it was too much hassle, and with better options available, why waste time and effort?

The Qingyuan White Deer weren’t particularly strong in combat, unable to better protect themselves, let alone the fawns.

"Of course, I want to see them," Gu Shanhai said. Although he was uncertain where the opportunity lay, as this was his first trigger, he trusted it. And if it turned out to be a pitfall, it didn’t matter much to him, as he hadn’t had many thoughts on animal companions to begin with.

In fact, he wasn’t truly a Druid. Even his "Green Emperor Longevity Scripture" had suppressed the core Druid talent of natural perception and the power of his surname.

Once the twenty-three marks were all gathered, Gu Shanhai intended to incorporate them into the fourth level of the "Green Emperor Longevity Scripture" and weave them into his own system.

He had never considered following the path of a Marked Druid, but merely wanted to use it as a supplement to his system, much like psychic powers or Xuanwei Skill.

"Okay, you’re quite peculiar. Come with me; perhaps this is nature’s own choosing," Mafas muttered, then led Gu Shanhai toward the area where the Qingyuan White Deer resided.

...

With Mafas’s White Wolf leading the way, they quickly made their journey to the destination with Mafas and Gu Shanhai in tow.

On the road, Gu Shanhai also inquired why Elemental Realm beings were not suppressed like they were and possessed such formidable powers, even bringing up Kurus Brass during the conversation.

"This has to do with the emergence of the Priests. They believe in the Lord, while we are companions to nature."

"Belief in the Lord is not limited to the Priests. Knights, commoners, they too worship the Lord. As the era changes, the will of nature is turning towards the Lord."

"And now, we are in the process of that transformation."

Mafas’s tone was tranquil, seemingly unconcerned about the sovereignty being seized by the Priests.

Gu Shanhai, although somewhat anticipated, was still taken aback when he heard about the Low Magic Era’s reasons, realizing the truth was as such.

No wonder after the emergence of the Holy Grail, the High Magic Era was restored, since the entire system’s source was in a low-energy mode, naturally depriving them of corresponding powers.

"Then, if nature’s will becomes that of the Priests’ Lord, won’t the Druid’s power vanish?" Gu Shanhai asked. He knew that Druids didn’t disappear with the arrival of the High Magic Era following the birth of the Holy Grail; they actually became mainstream again because they were indeed very powerful.

However, Gu Shanhai didn’t quite understand why. After all, if nature’s will had taken another shape, how could they still harness it?

"We are companions to nature, not nature’s will. Even if nature’s will becomes the Lord, does it mean nature will disappear?"

"The wilderness is part of nature, so are cities, and so are people."

"We believe in nature’s will because it is the personification of nature. Now, it has gone, but nature still exists."

"From the beginning, nature and its will were not the same. The will is a part of nature, not the whole. Thus, even if the Lord appears, it won’t affect us."

Mafas clarified Gu Shanhai’s doubts with lucid answers.

They, the Druids, are related to nature, and since nature’s will is leaving, they won’t obstruct it; they can simply stop worshipping it, without hindering themselves, and in fact, it makes things a lot easier for them.

’No wonder there’s nothing about nature’s will in the Marked Druid legacy; turns out it’s an external aspect...’ Gu Shanhai confirmed the matter in his heart.