Start With Contracting Sprites Novel - Chapter 42

Chapter 42: The Proud And Unyielding Little Fire Crow
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

It wasn’t important how Silkworm Baby had signed for it.
Su Hao opened the parcel and took out several supplementary materials. Things like Red Maple Tree Leaves, Crystallized Volcanic Rock, and so on weren’t that expensive and valuable. It was just that they were troublesome to get one’s hands on.
Fortunately, there was the almighty online shopping that delivered straight to the doorstep. He didn’t even need to sign for it himself.
Not everything in this batch of products that he had ordered was meant to be used on the Little Fire Crow.
To be more specific, it was because the way Silkworm Baby had looked at Su Hao wasn’t quite right when he had been ordering special food ingredients for Little Fire Crow.
Thus, he also ordered a batch of wood-element ingredients meant for Silkworm Baby’s consumption. In terms of quantity… it was a little more than the fire-element ingredients. They made up an approximate 6:4 ratio.
Other than supplementary materials, there was also a lot of jade powder to act as the main ingredient. This way, he would be able to create a truly nutritious meal for the sprites.
Several types of primary-level and mid-level jade powder were needed for this. The control of the jade powder ratio was very important here. It was only when the ratio was just right and mixed with the supplementary materials that it would truly be a nutritious feast.
If the ratio wasn’t right, it would just be an expensive mix of jade powder.
It was said that jade powder recipes like this one were the secret recipes of many veteran Sprite Cultivators. Even in the Union of Sprite Trainers marketplace, there were only a few very basic recipes for sale.
From this, one could see just how valuable jade powder recipes were.
However, Su Hao didn’t think so.
When Basic Cultivation had been unlocked, two recipes had been provided.
When Spiritual Force-Enhancement Cultivation had been unlocked, another three recipes had been provided.
It was just a pity that they were only suitable for Silkworm Baby. There was a reduction in effectiveness even if they were used on other Silkworm Babies.
Su Hao felt that Little Fire Crow and himself were destined to be. Thus, he had unlocked its cultivation plans a few days ago.
It was his first time unlocking things related to Fire-Element Sprites, so it was a little expensive.
[Sprite: Little Fire Crow]
[Omitted…]
[Basic Cultivation (Unlock with 9 [15] Intelligence Points)]
Just like before, two recipes had been provided in Basic Cultivation.
Accuracy was imperative during the concoction process, and the Sprite Care House happened to have the apparatus and facilities he needed.
Su Hao borrowed a room.
Information on one of the recipes surfaced in his mind. Just as he was about to begin concocting the blend…
All of a sudden, he noticed Silkworm Baby, which was watching him curiously, at the side.
His hand, which was reaching toward the jade powder, suddenly paused. Then, he nonchalantly picked up a portion of wood-element jade powder that was slightly further away and began to concoct a blend.
This was the first time he was doing this, after all.
Despite having rich theoretical knowledge, Su Hao’s technique was still slightly raw.
Roughly half an hour later, on the first floor of the Sprite Care House, where the sprites were reared…
There was a new regular visitor recently—a Silkworm Baby that was several times bigger than sprites in their infancy stage.
It frequently approached the Little Fire Crow.
“Gurgle~”
“Squawk.”
Little Fire Crow had already gotten used to Silkworm Baby.
After responding, it continued to stare at the wall and contemplate its crow life. However, it didn’t fly away.
Compared to the other immature sprites, Silkworm Baby seemed like it had very strong opinions of its own.
Little Fire Crow still remembered what it had said the other day.
Silkworm Baby had said, “Money is almighty. If you disagree, then that must be because you don’t have enough money.”
Little Fire Crow found that this made a lot of sense.
If it had 300,000 yuan, would it mean that it would be able to buy back its freedom?
It didn’t dislike staying at the Sprite Care House. It was just that foolish people were attempting in vain to contract it every week. Little Fire Crow found this very annoying.
If it had 300,000 yuan, it would be able to buy itself some peace.
At this point, it reached mealtime. The Sprite Care House staff members brought them their fodder.
It wasn’t jade powder but just regular fodder.
The Sprite Care House only fed the sprites jade powder two to three times a month.
This was also one of the reasons why the Sprite Care House only sold sprites in their infancy stage.
Sprites in the growth stage would have entered puberty and would need a lot of nutrition. The Sprite Care House couldn’t afford the upkeep for so many of them.
The more mature a sprite was, the harder it was to contract them as well.
Little Fire Crow pecked at and ate some of the fodder until it was three-quarters full. Humans said that being three-quarters full was healthier.
“Gurgle~”
Little Fire Crow turned over.
It noticed that what was placed in front of Silkworm Baby wasn’t fodder but a small and exquisite box. What was that?
“Gurgle.”
Jade powder? Little Fire Crow lost interest right away.
“Gurgle~ Gurgle, gurgle!”
Little Fire Crow was taken aback. It didn’t quite believe what Silkworm Baby was saying.
“Squawk, squawk!”
The taste of jade powder was merely a little better than fodder. How could it possibly be a level of deliciousness that it, Little Fire Crow, had never tried before in its life?
Do you think that I, Little Fire Crow, have never eaten jade powder before?!
It flapped its wings.
Silkworm Baby opened the box of jade powder. The carefully prepared jade powder set meal gave off a gentle glow. It emanated an allure that was hard to put into words.
“Gurgle, gurgle!”
Silkworm Baby couldn’t hold back much longer. But it thought of Su Hao’s instructions, so it called out to Little Fire Crow again. “Gurgle~”
“Squawk.”
Little Fire Crow cast a glance at it.
So this was the kind of food that human feeders meticulously prepared?
It was very delicious?
And one could even become stronger after eating it?
It was a kind of luxury that spread all the way from the body to the mind?
As long as one entered a contract with the feeder, they would be able to enjoy delicious jade powder every day?
“Squawk!”
Little Fire Crow turned away.
It didn’t believe Silkworm Baby’s words.
The food just looked a little better, that was all, wasn’t it?
At this point, a human brought another exquisite box over and placed it in front of its eyes.
“Gurgle~”
“Squawk?”
This was a present from the feeder?
Hur, did he think that it, Little Fire Crow, was that easy to bribe!?
It was a Little Fire Crow with great pride and a mind of its own. Even if it starved to death outside, it wouldn’t enter a contract with a foolish human just for a bit of food!
The human who brought the present opened the box of jade powder.
A misty red glow burst forth from the box.
Little Fire Crow was stunned.
It couldn’t stop itself from going nearer.
There was an unfathomable allure coming from the box of jade powder.
It bent over and pecked at it lightly.
“Squawk?!?!?”
…
When he sensed that intimate link in his soul, Su Hao’s heart became at ease.
Sneaking poison into the jade powder… Ah, pooey! Mixing a drop of blood into the jade powder wasn’t behavior that was unheard of.
However, it didn’t mean that one would be able to contract a sprite just because it ate the drop of blood.
Consent from both parties was still necessary, and it must come sincerely from one’s heart.
Even if one defeated or drugged a sprite into unconsciousness, they wouldn’t be able to forcibly contract it.
Su Hao had originally been prepared for a long and drawn-out battle, but unexpectedly, a meal… No, just a bite alone had bribed the Little Fire Crow.
All those people who had failed to contract it previously were practically an embarrassment!
“Squawk?”
Little Fire Crow noticed the person standing in front of it.
Compared to the other foolish humans, this person was like a breath of fresh air. He emanated a different kind of charm from inside out.
Was this person its Sprite Trainer?
But even so, it was simply such an embarrassment!
How could it let itself be contracted just by a bite alone? At the very least, it should have been two bites… No, three.
“Squawk! Squawk!”
Little Fire Crow pecked at the jade powder and took a few more bites to conceal its embarrassment.
Su Hao reached out and stroked Little Fire Crow’s head.
The basic cultivation plan for Little Fire Crow surfaced in his mind.
Hmm… There are only two short months left until the joint combat practice.
To prevent Little Fire Crow from embarrassing itself when the time came, he needed to make full use of the time he had to nurture it.
Considering his status now, he could give the sprites extra meals frequently. In that case, increasing the sprites’ training load would also be reasonable and logical, right?
Little Fire Crow enjoyed the gentle touch coming from the human.
It pecked at the delectable jade powder set meal again and felt like it had reached the peak of its crow life, entirely unaware that the dark and hellish next day was lying in wait.