Chapter 922: She just needs a mount

Ao Jing's words, Shan Shan listened to them.

She thought for a moment and said, "My aunt and uncle have already started helping me pick a new batch of trusted aides, and I have clearly refused them; looking back, that decision was correct. I want to focus on my cultivation first, and only after I become strong enough will I consider cultivating trusted aides."

"How long would that take?" Ao Jing countered, "Ten years? A hundred years? Or even longer?"

Shan Shan was left speechless by the question.

Ao Jing continued, "Or let me put it another way, Shan Shan—how strong do you think one must be to truly be strong?"

Shan Shan was again left unable to speak.

Yeah, how strong does one have to be to truly be strong?

If one really gets down to it, there is simply no clear definition.

"You are the Phoenix Lord, you have already undergone Nirvana, your parents, relatives, and clan—none of them are weak. Shan Shan, you were born already in a high position."

Ao Jing had never guided anyone this patiently before.

Shan Shan is the exception.

"A true strong one is not merely about personal cultivation strength; it also requires comprehensive background, social status, resources at one's disposal, character, and so on. In this world, a strong one is not specifically defined by martial power alone."

"Think of your mother, think of those capable aides around her, their way of getting along, and her management style… This is a ready-made example set before you."

Shan Shan closely followed Ao Jing's line of thought, and her mind began to expand without limit.

Yeah, her mother isn't the strongest in martial power.

Especially before Nirvana, there were far too many people stronger than her.

Yet her side gathered a large group of talented people, all willingly following her and helping her expand territory.

Father always said Mother possessed a unique personal charm, an innate cohesion that others cannot learn even if they try.

And among those capable people beside Mother, some have outstanding martial prowess, while others are not so good at fighting, such as Aunt Shulan and Aunt Qīngyīng.

Yet their positions are unshakable.

Aunt Shulan's medical skills are superb, making her the team's strongest medic; Aunt Qīngyīng's management ability is extraordinarily strong, and Mother always says that this big family cannot do without Aunt Qīngyīng, no matter who leaves.

If Aunt Qīngyīng is absent for a day, the whole group must come to a halt.

Although this statement is exaggerated, it suffices to show Aunt Qīngyīng's status.

Shan Shan pulled her thoughts back and then looked at the Feng Clan.

The Feng Clan group is developing rapidly, with new spiritual beings born each day and outside spiritual beings flocking in; it will eventually grow larger than Yin Dang Hang, larger than Jiǔyàn qū, and even larger than their combined size.

And for such a large group, the needed talented people certainly cannot be merely "strong in martial power."

If one truly waits until one's cultivation is strong enough before cultivating people and learning management knowledge… the yellow flowers will have gone cold.

Shan Shan's gaze toward Ao Jing gained another hint of admiration: "Older Cousin, how are you so capable? You understand everything! You're practically a genius! No wonder, at such a young age, you can make all the elders and protectors of the Linghai Dragon Clan wholeheartedly convinced."

Ao Jing had been filling his mind with big principles to guide Shan Shan, but then Shan Shan suddenly started praising him, and his ears turned red for no reason.

He opened his mouth, the words in his mind reached his lips, and he began to stammer: "Shan Shan, do… do you not need me to first dispatch a few trustworthy people from my side for you to use?"

Shan Shan shook her head: "Your people are those you painstakingly trained; if you give them to me, I wouldn't manage them well either."

Ao Jing thought, that's also true.

Those old-timers are stubborn; when I first subdued them, it also took considerable effort, and in the short term they cannot possibly submit to Shan Shan—instead, they would easily cause discord for the Feng Clan.

Ao Jing thought again and said, "Then do you have any spirit beast you've long wanted to tame but lacked the opportunity or ability? I can help you first subdue it together, then tame it, making it your first trusted aide."

Shan Shan's eyes lit up instantly: "Yes, there are plenty of them."

"For now we can only pick one." Ao Jing said solemnly, "No matter how formidable the opponent, I will spare no effort to assist you and help you capture it!"

Shan Shan counted on her fingers, muttering softly, weighing the pros and cons.

She is not stupid either.

The Older Cousin gave her this opportunity; she must make good use of it.

The first spirit bird or beast she subdues will definitely play a greater role later; it must not only submit to her, but also be able to hold its own against others.

Shan Shan is not greedy either; the Feng Clan has plenty of spirit birds and beasts, and she won't aim too high by seeking outsiders.

After comparing options, Shan Shan finally settled on a choice.

"Older Cousin, I want a mount."

Ao Jing was somewhat surprised: "A mount? Are you sure?"

"Certainly." Shan Shan said seriously, "I have given it careful thought; a mount is both most closely related to me and can be commanded at any time—starting from it, I think it's the most suitable."

Actually, at first Ao Jing thought Shan Shan would choose the Vermilion Bird.

After all, looking at the Feng Clan's history, beneath the Phoenix Lord there must be four Grand Protectors, and the Vermilion Bird is one of them.

And the Vermilion Bird inherently belongs to the Feng Clan.

However, Shan Shan has only just taken over the Feng Clan for a short time; the Vermilion Bird has lain dormant for many years, and its holder commands great power, even possessing an independent territory—of course it would not readily bow to Shan Shan.

But if the Vermilion Bird were subdued, Shan Shan's position within the Feng Clan would be secured.

Correspondingly, subduing the Vermilion Bird is also quite difficult, and Ao Jing is not certain he has that ability.

However, it's no problem; if he cannot subdue it alone, he can still mobilize the Linghai Dragon Clan's strength, and the Vermilion Bird can ultimately be captured.

Capturing the Vermilion Bird is merely the first step; how to tame it afterward and make it submit to Shan Shan is also a major issue.

Yet unexpectedly, Shan Shan never even considered things like the Four Grand Protectors or Eight Grand Elders; she only wants a mount.

Ao Jing couldn't help but ask: "Have you had your eye on it for a long time?"

"Yeah, I've had my eye on it for a long time, but never had the chance to get close." Shan Shan said, "The Feng Clan's territory keeps expanding outward; many previously unknown areas are gradually being forced to lift their mysterious veils, and I often go into those mysterious regions to train."

In the southwest corner of the Feng Clan's territory lies a snow mountain, with white snow covering the forests year-round, never melting. When I trained there once, I fought a snow leopard, nearly knocking it down, but the next moment it vanished from my sight.

"A snow leopard?" Ao Jing, hearing of this for the first time, analyzed, "Normally, such a large-bodied existence suddenly disappearing… indicates it likely has invisibility or teleportation ability."

Shan Shan immediately nodded repeatedly: "Yes, yes. Later I asked my uncle; my uncle said he had seen the snow leopard in ancient texts, and the snow leopard indeed has the ability to conceal its form, plus the spiritual leopard's running speed is naturally fast, so it could easily escape from my grasp."

Ao Jing immediately made a decision: "Then let's capture the snow leopard..."