Ascension through Beast Taming Author: AmaoZhao Chapter 1: There Is No Dead End for the Desperate Tick... tock... Tick... tock... Lin Jing's consciousness gradually cleared. He opened his eyes, and a damp, cold breath of air struck him in the face. Where is this? The air was filled with an indescribable musty smell, mixed with the scent of damp earth. The surrounding walls were covered in moss and black mold. Water dripped from somewhere unknown, making the place even more gloomy and terrifying. A prison cell? After observing the dim surroundings, Lin Jing made his judgment, feeling a sense of absurdity in his heart. He had just passed the Immortal's examination and was preparing to follow the immortal to cultivate, pursuing longevity. How could he possibly end up in a place like this? "Are you awake?" A sharp pain pierced his head before he could make any further judgment. A weak voice echoed from around him. Lin Jing then realized that he seemed to have a neighbor. He tried to struggle, but found he couldn't get up; his body was incredibly stiff. "Don't waste your strength." The voice came again: "We've both been subjected to a Binding Technique." "Who are you?" Lin Jing asked. "Someone like you, brought here by an immortal trafficker," the man replied. "..." Immortal trafficker? What kind of nonsense is that? Hearing this, Lin Jing quickly recalled his past. He was a transmigrator, coming from a blue planet. After arriving here, he discovered that immortals and gods actually existed. Since he was already here, Lin Jing quickly found new motivation. He wanted to cultivate the Dao! His memory stopped at his hard work seeking the Dao, eventually passing the entry exam of a cultivation power called the "Green Ox Daoist Temple" with astonishing talent and a heaven-defying constitution. Then, his vision went black, and he couldn't remember anything else. He had been locked up here. "Immortal trafficker?" Lin Jing had no response to that. Please don't tell me that the cultivation power he had worked so hard to find was actually a hub for trafficking people... Damn it all! The weak voice came again. "By the way... what kind of constitution do you have, Brother?" "For the Yin Corpse Sect to take an interest in you means you must be, like me, a cultivation genius." "Me? A genius?" Lin Jing didn't know whether to be happy or downcast. Hearing the other say this, it was indeed the case. Perhaps he really did possess some cultivation talent; otherwise, he might not even have been worth trafficking. However, this unique advantage after transmigration now seemed to be his death sentence. "Brother, don't panic yet. Just because we were kidnapped here doesn't mean we're done for." "I'm not panicked. So what happens to us next?" Lin Jing took a deep breath. He was an optimistic person. During his serious illness, encouraged by relatives and friends, he had developed a positive and optimistic mindset. Having a good mindset meant luck wouldn't be bad. See, he hadn't died; he had transmigrated. He had picked up a life for free. "...The Yin Corpse Sect is one of the Three Great Demon Sects in the cultivation world, specializing in the illegal business of human trafficking." "They kidnap low-level cultivators with rare constitutions, or mortals, and sell them to high-level cultivators to be used for body seizing or as resources for practicing demonic techniques." "Normally, our fate is obvious: either we become the shells for some cultivator to seize and reincarnate, or we are refined into a Grand Human Pill." "However, Brother..." the man said: "It's not that we have no way out at all. The reason I asked about your situation is that some special constitutions don't lead to a certain death." The weak voice continued: "For example, I possess the Yuan Yang Constitution. I am the best cauldron for dual cultivation. Even if I die, I die of exhaustion from pleasure. If I'm lucky and the buyer is a kind female cultivator, I might not even die... that's what I mean by a thread of hope." Lin Jing remained silent. No wonder you aren't panicked. It feels like you're even a bit looking forward to it. "So what about you, Brother? Let me analyze it for you." "Me..." What cultivation constitution did he have? As far as he knew, in this world, over ninety-nine percent of cultivators started with a Mortal Body, but a small number of lucky ones were born with spiritual bodies of various attributes or special constitutions. On the path of cultivation, they could often go further. When he entered the Green Ox Daoist Temple, the Green Ox Daoist had seemingly mentioned that he had a rare-in-a-hundred-million cultivation constitution: the Longevity Constitution! A short-lived ghost with a Longevity Constitution; even he found it surprising. The other had said that after entering the path of immortality, his lifespan would be at least ten times that of cultivators in the same realm! The constitution's effect seemed very modest, but it was better than a Mortal Body. Lin Jing had decided to lie low in the temple for a few thousand years, cultivate to invincibility, and then come out. But who knew, before he could enjoy it for long, it turned out... So, was his Longevity Constitution actually real? "If I have the Longevity Constitution, what will be my ending?" Lin Jing asked. "Huh? Longevity Constitution?!" The one with the Yuan Yang Constitution was stunned for a moment, then spoke in surprise, his voice becoming firm, no longer weak. "So you actually have the Longevity Constitution!" "Then you are doomed." Lin Jing: ? "Legend says that while cultivators with the Longevity Constitution live long lives, their flesh and blood are said to bring 'immortality' to those who eat them. I have heard that the flesh and blood of a Longevity Constitution is a great tonic for monsters, and has an unimaginable allure for Demon Beasts." "You are probably... going to be sold by the Yin Corpse Sect to some Demon King, and become their food!" The one with the Yuan Yang Constitution sighed, expressing regret. Lin Jing: ? Tang Seng's meat, huh! "Well, that's not so bad." But the next moment, Lin Jing let out a breath of relief. "I still have a thread of hope." "Why do you say that?" The one with the Yuan Yang Constitution was stunned. "Although I don't know much about the Longevity Constitution, based on my speculation, the higher the realm of the cultivator with this constitution, the better the effect of consuming it," Lin Jing analyzed as well. "In other words, after I am sold, I might not be eaten immediately." "It's possible that the Demon King will force my realm up a level before consuming me." "Moreover, eating it all directly would be too extravagant. If I were the Demon King, I would slowly improve my quality, taking blood and cutting flesh daily, consuming in a cycle. This would maximize my value. At that time, I will suggest this to the Demon King; maybe we can even have a long-term cooperation." "That's better than being body-seized directly, right..." "Ah?" The one with the Yuan Yang Constitution said, greatly shocked. He wanted to ask, are you a normal mortal? What on earth have you experienced! But in the end, he didn't ask... The two fell silent. Lin Jing fell silent again, gazing at the ceiling. ... After an unknown amount of time. With a "boom" of startling sound, the prison cell shook. Lin Jing, who had eyes closed and seemed to be thinking about something, and the one with the Yuan Yang Constitution opened their eyes at the same time. Huge turmoil came from outside; it seemed someone was fighting. Hearing the commotion, Lin Jing suddenly thought of a keyword and said: "Brother Lu, didn't you say before that the Yin Corpse Sect only does illegal deeds, that it's a Demon Sect?" "In other words, there are 'Righteous Path Law Enforcement Organizations' in the cultivation world, right?" "If that's the case, isn't there another way for us to survive? Being rescued by righteous people before being sold?" The one with the Yuan Yang Constitution poked his head out. He didn't expect this mortal to react so quickly, and more importantly, his emotions were too stable. However, he wasn't surnamed Lu either. "Right?" Lin Jing remained calm. He knew it. There is no dead end for the desperate. This commotion... maybe some righteous female immortals are coming to save people! As he finished speaking, the stone wall cracked. The huge prison cell was smashed to pieces. Amidst the flying rubble, a massive, standing two-persons-high Black Bear Monster appeared before Lin Jing's eyes, treading on the ruins. This Black Bear Monster's muscles were bulging, its eyes scarlet. As it looked at Lin Jing, drool kept flowing from its mouth full of fangs, and it spoke in human language: "I smelled the fragrance from afar..." "I've hit the jackpot. To find a 'Longevity Constitution' in such a small place, with only some weak Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators guarding it." "Looks like I can have a hearty meal..." After the black bear spoke, Lin Jing's smile faded. What was this? Where did this demon come from? Chapter 2: The Black Bear Monster "Heyy... Is it really that necessary!" Staring at the monster that had just come in, Lin Jing fell into a stunned silence. It was not a righteous immortal that had killed its way into the Yin Corpse Sect's stronghold, but... a monster drawn to him by his constitution? A black bear calling him a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Demon Sect, time and again... To be honest, if he could avoid it, Lin Jing really did not want a long-term partnership with demon beasts. Even if the other party was reasonable and agreed, it would still hurt him. Escaped from the wolf den, only to walk into the bear's mouth. Lin Jing was exhausted in heart. Feeling the foul, fishy stench coming from the Black Bear Monster's mouth, Lin Jing organized his thoughts and was just about to explain his proper way of being eaten. In the meantime, thump, thump... Lin Jing's heart rate kept accelerating. His rigid body seemed to be moving again, but even if he could move, he did not think he could escape. "King, just hear me out..." Lin Jing opened his mouth, determined to appeal to emotion and move the other with reason. But in the next second, a familiar voice came, making his mood somewhat complex. "Elder Black Bear." The one with the Yuan Yang Constitution had, at some unknown point, walked out of the collapsed prison. While brushing the dust off his clothes, he clasped his fists respectfully toward the Black Bear Monster and said, "He is still just a mortal. Do not frighten him. What if he suffers a premature death?" "Hoo?" The Black Bear Monster raised a hand and wiped the drool from its mouth. Its eyes rolling, it looked at the Yuan Yang Constitution and said, "You have earned great merit this time." "All the Demon Sect cultivators at this Yin Corpse Sect stronghold have already been dealt with by me..." "From here on, leave the aftermath to the people of the Demon-Exorcism Bureau. But this guy..." The Black Bear Monster looked at Lin Jing and licked its lips. "I know." The Yuan Yang Constitution laughed loudly. Saying so, he gave Lin Jing a friendly look. At this point, Lin Jing could only offer silence. This is... The Yuan Yang Constitution smiled at Lin Jing. "Sir, I know you have many questions in your heart. Let me answer them." "I am Ouyang Hao, an inner-sect disciple of the Beast-Taming Sect. To coordinate with a sect mission, I deliberately disguised myself as prey and infiltrated the Yin Corpse Sect stronghold to provide intelligence to the sect." "It was originally a long-term mission intended to lure out bigger fish, but unable to bear watching you die in the jaws of a monster, I contacted the sect early to spring the net." "Now that this Yin Corpse Sect branch stronghold has been broken, you no longer need to worry about your life's safety." Lin Jing raised his head. He looked at the other person. Then he looked at the Black Bear Monster beside him, who had somehow produced a Daoist robe and draped it over itself. On the back of the robe, the three large characters that seemed to read "Beast-Taming Sect" were written. An undercover agent? "Of course, our meeting is a matter of fate. You must have also been seeking immortality and inadvertently ended up in the Yin Corpse Sect. I wonder if you would be interested in returning to the Beast-Taming Sect with me, becoming a disciple of the Beast-Taming Sect, and cultivating immortality through beast-taming?" Ouyang Hao invited him. "The Beast-Taming Sect?" Lin Jing had known all along... His fate was not yet to end! "Yes, the Beast-Taming Sect!" Ouyang Hao seemed to have read Lin Jing's hesitation, his face turning serious: "Rest assured, the Beast-Taming Sect is a legitimate sect, a righteous immortal cultivation school certified by the Tianyuan Ancient Nation." Lin Jing nodded. But he felt that the drool from that black bear monster earlier did not look fake. Moreover, the Beast-Taming Sect. It sounded as if the sect had a lot of demon beasts. Since his Longevity Constitution was a great supplement for demon beasts. Then, upon entering such a sect, could he live a peaceful life? Lin Jing expressed his doubts. At this moment, the black bear monster in the Daoist robe turned its head away and spoke: "Kid, do you still want to cultivate immortality? If you do, joining the Beast-Taming Sect is the best choice." "Although the Longevity Constitution has a long lifespan, one's own cultivation speed is incredibly slow, there is no divine power bonus, and combat strength is plain and ordinary. Following normal cultivation methods, even with abundant resources, it would take a long time to successfully reach Foundation Establishment." "This constitution will gradually become extinct. Besides the reason of being hunted by the Demon Tribe, there is also the factor of cultivation being too difficult." "Therefore, even if a Longevity Constitution is discovered, ordinary sects generally cannot afford to nurture it, as its cultivation requirements are too harsh!" "However, the Beast-Taming Sect is different. The technique the Beast-Taming Sect cultivates involves cultivators contracting Spirit Beasts and Demon Beasts, relying primarily on pet-beasts for combat. And during the period of nurturing the pet-beast, the pet-beast's cultivation results also reflect back onto the cultivator himself to some extent." "Therefore, for cultivators who cultivate too slowly due to their own talent or constitution and are unsuited for mainstream techniques, choosing the Sovereign Path to seek the Dao is the best option." "The Sovereign Path is much more suitable for your Longevity Constitution than what cultivators of the Law Path, Sword Path, or Body Path do!" "What do you think?" Elder Black Bear stared at Lin Jing, explaining the stakes clearly. "I see." Lin Jing understood. No wonder Brother Furnace abandoned his mission to summon the bear to save him first. Hearing it this way, the Longevity Constitution as an immortal cultivation body was actually a good match for the Beast-Taming Sect's cultivation techniques. Relying on a long lifespan... nurturing pet-beast after pet-beast to stealthily increase his cultivation from the shadows; it sounded not bad. "Sect seniors... I am willing to join the Beast-Taming Sect." Lin Jing said immediately. He would not worry about whether the Beast-Taming Sect was reliable or not; if he did not join the Beast-Taming Sect now, there were no other options. He could not just continue to be a mortal, right? After going through the matter of being trafficked to the Yin Corpse Sect, Lin Jing no longer wanted to wander aimlessly in the outside world. Human hearts are wicked. Beast hearts are wicked. The Longevity Constitution was a walking piece of Tang Monk's flesh, too dangerous. Moreover... the life he had right now had been saved by these people. A drop of water's kindness must be repaid with a spring. Even more so a life-saving kindness. He had to join the sect... to seek a chance to repay the debt! "Good, good, good." Receiving Lin Jing's response, Ouyang Hao laughed again: "In that case, just call me Senior Brother Ouyang from now on. Let us return to the sect!" Finding a spiritual seed with a special constitution for the sect was much more rewarding than the mission reward this time. Ouyang Hao looked at Lin Jing, like a dazzling Spirit Stone, very pleasing to the eye. "Alright, Senior Brother Ouyang... Oh, right!" Lin Jing suddenly thought of something and said: "What about the Taoist temple that tricked me here!" Thinking of that old Taoist riding a cow, Lin Jing held a grudge exceptionally. The feud of being trafficked was irreconcilable. If he had not run into the righteous sect's undercover agent, he would have been finished! He noted this feud down, and also remembered the Yin Corpse Sect... One must remember kindness, and one must also remember grudges. Once he became a powerful immortal, he would surely destroy this human-trafficking organization. "You do not need to worry about that. The people from the Demon-Exorcism Bureau will handle it." The Black Bear Monster spoke, looking around and observing: "This place is not safe to linger. We do not know if the demon cultivators at this stronghold have passed information about your Longevity Constitution to higher-ranking Yin Corpse Sect cultivators. For safety's sake, let us return to the sect first." "My master, Elder Mo Wuya of the Beast-Taming Sect, is already waiting for you. He is within the Beast-Taming Sect, serving in charge of discovering special disciples. Ouyang Hao, for example, was discovered by him and absorbed into the sect. You are all geniuses with special constitutions. After joining the sect, your treatment will be better than that of disciples who entered normally!" Lin Jing nodded. However, burdened with the Longevity Constitution, he always felt that after stepping into the immortal world, his danger would not decrease. According to his character setup, should he not raise a monkey to protect himself... Chapter 3: Beast-Taming Sect In the Great Wilderness Domain, to the south. Dozens of peaks shrouded in mist and clouds pointed straight at the heavens. This was the location of the Beast-Taming Sect. High above the peaks, amid the sea of clouds, the Black Wind swept past. Elder Black Bear carried Lin Jing and Ouyang Hao to the sect. Lotus Peak, as one of the three main peaks of the Beast-Taming Sect, resembled a fully bloomed lotus. Every petal looked like an art piece carefully sculpted by nature. The Black Wind carried them to one corner of the peak's summit. The sea of clouds churned around them. As Lin Jing's vision cleared, he realized he was already inside a stone courtyard. The stone courtyard looked plain and rustic, but breathing here, he felt as if he were in an immortal paradise. It was soothing to the heart and mind, making one forget the dust of the mortal world. "You're back?" In the courtyard stood an old man wearing a black Daoist robe. His silver-white hair was sparse and combed back, revealing the weather-beaten wrinkles on his forehead. He seemed to have been waiting for a long time. Only when someone arrived did the gaze, which was like two pools of dead, eerie springs, show any gleam of life. "Master." said the Black Bear Monster. "Elder Mo." Ouyang Hao said respectfully. Lin Jing also performed the ritual salute, mimicking the proper form. "I'll take my leave first." Before Elder Mo could speak, Ouyang Hao proactively bid him farewell. The Black Bear Monster, taking a hint, yawned and turned into a puff of black smoke, darting off to who knows where. Soon, only Lin Jing and Elder Mo remained in the courtyard. "Child, what is your name?" Elder Mo looked at Lin Jing and asked. "Replying to the Elder: Lin Jing." "What do you seek in cultivating immortality?" His profound gaze turned to Lin Jing. Lin Jing sighed: "Previously, I sought the immortal way for longevity, just to live a bit longer. But later, I discovered I have the Longevity Constitution..." Elder Mo had no reply. "And now?" "I don't like fighting and killing. I originally wanted to cultivate my nature and attain the Dao of longevity. That would be fine." "But now I've found that the Longevity Constitution makes it hard to keep a low profile. It will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of Demon Beasts." Lin Jing shook his head. "So, I want to cultivate great power!" "Yes. Only by possessing strength can one decide one's own fate," Elder Mo said. "But having strength, one must also use it for righteous purposes." Lin Jing's face turned serious. "This disciple has made up his mind. To repay the sect for saving my life, when I have mastered my cultivation, I will use myself as bait to lure Demon Beasts from all directions to the Beast-Taming Sect, so that each disciple in our sect can have dozens of Demon Beasts to enslave." "???' Elder Mo said: "There is absolutely no need for that. The sect is not short on Demon Beasts." "Moreover, enslaving Demon Beasts is a path that has long been outdated for our Beast-Taming Sect." "What I mean is that today the sect rescued you from the hands of the Yin Corpse Sect. When you gain strength, you can also help those who need it. You must be single-minded in goodness. Do not fall into the demonic path just for the sake of pursuing power." "Alright." "Let's discuss business." He wondered if it was just an illusion, but he always felt that this Longevity Constitution was not entirely normal. He hoped it wouldn't cause trouble in the future. "Within the Beast-Taming Sect, disciple ranks are divided into menial servants, outer sect, inner sect, and direct transmission." "From now on, you will be an outer sect disciple of the Beast-Taming Sect. However, as you have a special constitution, you can enjoy better cultivation treatment." "The sect can grant you resources one level higher. As an outer sect disciple, you can enjoy cultivation resources equivalent to the inner sect rank... After becoming an inner sect disciple, you can enjoy the cultivation resources of a direct transmission disciple!" "However, even though you have a special constitution, if you wish to promote your disciple rank, you must still strive for it yourself. Complete the sect's tasks and contribute to the sect." The Dao is not lightly transmitted. Although the Longevity Constitution is rare and holds extraordinary development potential, whether Lin Jing could truly receive the sect's direct transmission depended on time to observe his character and Dao heart. After Elder Mo finished speaking, Lin Jing nodded. "This disciple understands. Thank you, Elder." "Good." "I hope you will work hard in your cultivation from now on and not let down the sect's investment in your training." Then, he continued, "Do you know the types of beasts?" "Types of beasts?" Lin Jing shook his head. "I don't know..." "There are four types of beasts in the world," Elder Mo said, gazing at the sky. "Spirit, Demon, Cherished, and Immortal!" "Any beast that absorbs the essence of the sun, moon, and plants, and is nourished by spirit fruits and spirit plants to develop intelligence and increase its cultivation is a Spirit Beast." "Any beast that feeds on flesh and blood, or devours people and swallows souls, is a Demon Beast." "Within the Beast-Taming Sect, we keep both Spirit Beasts and Demon Beasts." "For disciples joining the Beast-Taming Sect, the sect usually provides a Spirit Beast of shallow cultivation to become their familiar." "Ouyang Hao has probably explained this to you." "No. Elder Black Bear's wind was too fast. We passed out from the journey..." Lin Jing was slightly stunned, then asked, "Elder Mo, then what about Cherished and Immortal?" Elder Mo said, "Have you seen the Star Sky?" "Besides the sun and moon, the Star Sky contains countless strange stars." "Legend says these strange stars are formed from the fallen immortals of the Immortal Realm." "They often shine. The light that falls onto the various wild beasts and plants of the Tianyuan Continent has a chance of causing mutations!" "Whether it is a Spirit Beast or a Demon Beast, after undergoing mutation due to the strange light, it gains a miraculous ability. This divine power gives them a racial talent different from ordinary Spirit Beasts and Demon Beasts." "Perhaps, at the Qi Refining Realm, one could master space-time techniques. Or perhaps, one could be reborn from a drop of blood, becoming imperishable and indestructible. Or one could move through the Netherworld or evade the Five Elements." "However, such lucky ones are rare. Therefore, this type of beast that undergoes mutation due to the strange stars is called a Cherished Beast." "As for Immortal Beasts, with the immortal path already broken, whether they exist anywhere on the Tianyuan Continent remains unknown." Elder Mo did not say more. "Spirit Beasts... Demon Beasts... Cherished Beasts... Immortal Beasts..." Since he had joined the Beast-Taming Sect, he naturally had to understand the types of beasts thoroughly. Upon hearing this, Lin Jing already understood. Vegetarian Spirit Beasts seemed to have relatively lower danger. Carnivorous Demon Beasts... given that he had the Longevity Constitution and was in a weak period, he would avoid contact for now. As for Cherished Beasts, such a rare race, he didn't need to worry about them either. "Next, I'll take you to choose a familiar." He said, "The sect just finished recruiting a large batch of outer sect disciples, so there are not many familiars left to choose from." "However, since you have only just begun your cultivation, you don't need to contract a powerful familiar. Otherwise, it would be hard to subdue." "You have enough time to build a foundation. Once your cultivation is higher, it won't be too late to contract a familiar with strong lineage." "Everything is at the Elder's command." Lin Jing didn't pick and choose. "Good." Elder Mo continued. "Currently, the sect has basic Spirit Beasts of the four elements: Water, Fire, Earth, and Wood available." "Specifically, there are 7 Water-attribute Rain Frogs remaining." "There are 2 Fire-attribute Fire Spirit Sparrows remaining." "There are 3 Earth-attribute Horned Oxen remaining." "And there is 1 Wood-attribute Pine-Leaf Rat remaining." "Let me introduce them to you," Elder Mo said. "The Beast-Taming Sect has five basic familiar types: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, cultivated by the sect to be suitable for contract by Qi Refining Realm cultivators." "These five familiars are not only suitable for companionship but also have potential for Foundation Establishment. Additionally, their abilities can quickly help sect disciples accumulate cultivation resources." "The Metal-attribute Combat Ape has extremely high mining efficiency. Choosing it allows you to accept sect mining tasks and go to the Spirit Mine Area to work. This earns daily cultivation resources and also trains the Combat Ape's strength. However, the Combat Apes suitable for contract have already been picked by this batch of new disciples." "Of course, the familiars of the other four elements are not bad either." "The Water-attribute Rain Frog excels at water techniques. When cultivated to a certain level, it can call for rain to irrigate spirit fields." "The Fire-attribute Fire Spirit Sparrow excels at fire techniques and can spit Spirit Fire to work in the spirit fire kitchen or the fire refining room." "The Earth-attribute Horned Ox has extraordinary stamina and incredible strength. It generally helps the sect transport supplies to the various peaks." "Finally, the Wood-attribute Pine-Leaf Rat excels at wood techniques. Its spiritual power can accelerate the ripening of spirit plants." "Among the five types of familiars, the Combat Ape, Horned Ox, and Fire Spirit Sparrow have better combat power. The Rain Frog and Pine-Leaf Rat have more gentle tempers and yield higher returns when performing daily sect tasks." "Of course, when choosing a familiar, the most important thing is that it suits you. You must choose based on your own situation." Elder Mo said, "However, your constitution is the same as a mortal body; it has no attribute. Therefore, whatever attribute of Spirit Beast you choose will not produce rejection." As he spoke, two black shadows appeared in the sea of clouds... Shortly after, under Lin Jing's gaze, two beautiful cranes flew to their front. "Greetings to Elder Mo. May I ask where we are going next?" One of the cranes spoke in a pleasing female voice. Elder Mo looked at Lin Jing, signaling him to determine the type of familiar. The cranes would carry them to the peak where the corresponding Spirit Beasts lived. Chapter 4: Selecting a Pet Beast His own constitution, like the Common Body, was of no attribute. Upon learning this, Lin Jing looked at Elder Mo and said, "Then, Elder Mo, I shall choose the Pine-Leaf Rat." "Oh?" Elder Mo asked, "Are you sure?" Lin Jing nodded: "I am." His reasoning was simple. With his Longevity Constitution, he was ill-suited for venturing out to fight in the early stages. Raising a Wood-attribute Spirit Beast that could farm and cultivate spirit plants, hiding in the sect to farm, and slowly strengthening himself, might be the better path. Moreover, although the Longevity Constitution had no attribute, Wood techniques were mostly related to vitality and life force, so a Wood-attribute Spirit Beast was obviously more suitable for him. As for combat-oriented pet beasts, he could look for one within the sect later, once his cultivation was higher and he became an Inner Sect disciple. "Elder Mo, is there something wrong with this Pine-Leaf Rat?" Lin Jing, feeling uneasy, asked. "Hmm..." Elder Mo said, "The sect raises many Spirit Beasts. After their birth, the sect instills in them their missions, helping them awaken their spirit intelligence. They are given Spirit Stones every month to aid their cultivation." "Those available for sect disciples to choose are basically Spirit Beasts that are within one year of birth, and, through the sect's resources, can reach the third layer of the Qi Refining stage, with spirit intelligence advanced enough to understand human speech." "After all, with this level of cultivation support, if they still can't reach the third layer of Qi Refining or understand human speech, it means they are fundamentally unsuited for cultivation. Not to mention helping human disciples, they just shouldn't be a drag." "This one... during the previous batch of disciples selecting their pet beasts, only reached the second layer of Qi Refining, which did not meet the standard." "Normally, it would be released into the Pine Forest to roam free, and would no longer become a pet beast available for disciples." "However, according to the elder in charge of basic Spirit Beast cultivation, the reason this Pine-Leaf Rat only reached the second layer of Qi Refining at the time was due to some special circumstances." "What?" Lin Jing was startled. Elder Mo paused for a moment, then said: "This Pine-Leaf Rat has some peculiar habits. It hoards the resources distributed by the sect like treasure, hiding them deep away and not using a single one. Relying purely on its own talent, it recently cultivated up to the third layer of Qi Refining." "I don't understand its thinking. Hoarding Spirit Stones, does that make them increase?" "..." "It's probably a sense of security, I suppose." Lin Jing offered. "Considering its talent is actually quite good, one could even say it has exceptional talent that appears once in ten years, that elder has not removed it from the roster, giving it a second chance to enter the Outer Sect." "In any case, I'll take you to see it first. If it's unsuitable, you can look at other pet beasts. And if you can tame it, with its talent, it will be greatly beneficial to your cultivation." Elder Mo spoke up. "I understand, senior..." After listening, Lin Jing decided to just take a look first. …… Pine Forest Peak. Two immortal cranes landed. A short while later, Elder Mo and the others arrived outside a stretch of pine forest. "Pine Forest Peak, this is the territory where the Pine-Leaf Rat clan operates." In the pine forest, Lin Jing saw many squirrels. To Lin Jing, the Pine-Leaf Rat was just a squirrel that had gained sentience. Looking at their appearance, there was not much difference between them and ordinary squirrels; they had a coat of soft, lustrous fur, dotted with fine, pale yellow stripes, making them very cute. But if there was one difference from ordinary squirrels, it was that they had a pair of emerald-green eyes, the color of their irises resembling the dreamy hue of forest fallen leaves interlaced with morning light. "Squeak..." One by one, the Pine-Leaf Rats leapt by. These Pine-Leaf Rats, whether their spirit intelligence had just awakened or not yet done so, clearly still could not speak human language like Elder Black Bear or the immortal cranes earlier. "The Pine-Leaf Rats currently living in the pine forest basically have talent and potential that do not meet the contract standards." Upon arrival, Elder Mo walked ahead, with Lin Jing following. "Except for the one I mentioned, which is more special." Under Elder Mo's guidance, Lin Jing quickly saw that Pine-Leaf Rat. He stood on the ground. The Pine-Leaf Rat sat in meditation on a pine tree, its eyes closed. Only when someone arrived did it open its eyes. "Squeak?" Their eyes met. At this moment, a few unruly strands of Elder Mo's hair fluttered in the wind, adding to his air of carefree immortality and daoist elegance. "I've already spoken with Elder Jiang. This is the sect's new disciple who wishes to choose you as his first pet beast. What do you say?" With his hands clasped behind his back, he asked the Pine-Leaf Rat. "Squeak..." The Pine-Leaf Rat hesitated for a moment, then looked at Lin Jing, its voice soft and baby-like. Its emerald eyes observed Lin Jing. Beside them, Elder Mo said, "You need to introduce yourself to it. Generally, Spirit Beasts will decide whether to follow a disciple based on the disciple's circumstances." "When disciples of the Beast-Taming Sect select their pet beasts, it is always a two-way choice. To take the other party away, you also need to gain the pet beast's approval." "This process is also a test for the disciple. Whether one can gain the pet beast's approval through one's own abilities is also very important for a disciple of the Beast-Taming Sect." "Only when both the cultivator and the pet beast approve of each other can their cultivation achieve a synergistic effect." "I see." Lin Jing nodded. Was he just empty promises? But he was a decent, honest person. "I am Lin Jing. Because of my special constitution, my cultivation speed is somewhat slow. If you become my pet beast, we might have to put in more effort together." Lin Jing looked at the Pine-Leaf Rat, giving it a heads-up. Since he wanted the other to help him with his cultivation, he did not hide his constitutional flaw. After all, the Longevity Constitution was renowned as a constitution with extremely slow cultivation speed. He believed that sincerity would be enough to move the other party. However... "Squeak!!!" The Pine-Leaf Rat was startled. If cultivation was slow, wouldn't that mean it would run out of the Spirit Stones it had been hoarding for so long? It took a small step back. Seeing this, Lin Jing fell silent. Sure enough, genuine feelings have never been kept since ancient times. Beside them, a subtle smile appeared at the corner of Elder Mo's mouth. This kind of peculiar pet beast often had a weird personality and a unique way of thinking; taming one was no easy feat. However, Lin Jing was not just anyone. Facing this creature that could hold back and not use Spirit Stones, with a firm will, much like someone who had overcome an addiction, after thinking it through, he said: "Storage Bag." Sincerity wasn't working, so Lin Jing planned to appeal to its preferences. Lin Jing spoke: "After becoming my pet beast, I will save Spirit Stones to gift you a Storage Bag, an independent space capable of storing countless items." "Once we have achieved some success in cultivation, gifting you ten storage rings with even larger spaces would be no problem." "You like to hoard resources, right? Once you have too many things, will this place even be enough to hold them?" For a hoarding mouse that loved to stockpile things, the most painful thing, Lin Jing was certain, would be not having enough inventory space. Pine-Leaf Rat: !?!! "Squeak?!" The next moment, the Pine-Leaf Rat's eyes indeed lit up, and it was instantly captivated by Lin Jing's grand promises. "This Longevity Constitution one is actually quite clever." Elder Mo was taken aback. "Its habit of hoarding items, Storage Bag..." Compared to the people here, Lin Jing, who in his past life also had extensive experience playing hoarding-based games, understood better what this hoarding mouse needed before him. "It's just that this Pine-Leaf Rat doesn't look smart." "But it has only just awakened its spirit intelligence after all." Beside them, seeing this, Elder Mo shook his head. A Storage Bag was quite expensive, after all. In any case, this Pine-Leaf Rat had taken the bait. Subsequently. One, two, three... dozens of low-grade Spirit Stones were thrown out of the tree hollow by the Pine-Leaf Rat, its expressionless demeanor contrasting with the situation. Finally, this Pine-Leaf Rat also poked its head back out. "Squeak squeak squeak!" Looking at Lin Jing, the Pine-Leaf Rat's tone was excited, as if it had decided on him, and was ready to bring along all its possessions to join Lin Jing and start a new cultivation life together. Lin Jing also wore a smile. "So that we can buy that Storage Bag as soon as possible, I'll take care of these Spirit Stones for you first. We'll plan and use them wisely." The Pine-Leaf Rat was stunned for a moment, looking at Lin Jing's sincere gaze, and it nodded innocently. Full of anticipation for the future. Chapter 5: Qi Refining, First Layer! Within the Beast-Taming Sect, the outer sect disciples and menial disciples were active at the foot of the peak. After Lin Jing chose the Pine-Leaf Rat, Elder Mo, by means unknown, summoned the two immortal cranes from earlier once more. Riding the immortal cranes, they quickly arrived at the outer courtyard at the foot of the mountain, landing in a beautiful, scenic courtyard. In the courtyard, there was a pond and green trees. Lin Jing, carrying a bag of Spirit Stones, had never imagined that his first companion beast would come with such financial backing. At this moment, the Pine-Leaf Rat stood on his shoulder, waving a claw to greet the immortal crane sister. "For the next while, you will cultivate here," the elder said. "Even the outer sect disciples of the Beast-Taming Sect have their own separate courtyards." "However, the facilities of the outer sect will certainly not match those of the inner peak. So from now on, you must cultivate hard and reach the qualification standards for inner sect disciples as soon as possible, which is Qi Refining, seventh layer." "As long as either the disciple themselves or the Spirit Beast reaches Qi Refining, seventh layer, they may participate in the inner sect examination." "I have already communicated with the outer sect elders. From now on, you just need to wait. Someone will come to deliver your entry resources." "Thank you, Elder." Lin Jing performed a cupped-fist salute. "Squeak squeak squeak squeak!" The Pine-Leaf Rat also cupped its paws in thanks. It felt this old man was strangely kind; he had even given them a cloth bag to hold the Spirit Stones. "Um..." Elder Mo hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself. Looking at Lin Jing, who carried a bag of Spirit Stones, he felt this little squirrel was in for a bad time. The Longevity Constitution cultivated at an extremely slow speed; to make progress quickly, a vast amount of resources had to be consumed. That bag of Spirit Stones likely would not be enough to keep him alive... However, that was not a matter for him to worry about. "Here is a protective amulet for you. Keep it on your person. Ordinary monsters and cultivators, without specific means, cannot detect your constitution." Before leaving, Elder Mo gave Lin Jing a jade talisman. Receiving the square jade talisman, Lin Jing was very grateful. He felt that the Beast-Taming Sect was truly a place with a human touch. It was only a sect like this that was worth a disciple fighting for. "Well, do you have anything else you want to ask?" Elder Mo said. "Elder Mo, I'd like to ask about Senior Brother Ouyang," Lin Jing asked. In the Beast-Taming Sect, he was a stranger in unfamiliar lands. Besides Elder Mo, only Ouyang Hao, a peer who knew his background, was suitable for him to interact with. "Ouyang Hao?" Elder Mo sighed. "He is one of the top performers among the inner sect disciples." "Qi Refining, ninth layer. He is just one step away from Foundation Establishment, ready to challenge the sequence of true inheritance disciples," Elder Mo said. "Although I brought him into the sect, he is deeply favored by the sect master. After Foundation Establishment, he might even become the sect master's direct disciple." "Ah?" Lin Jing asked cautiously: "Our sect master... is he a male sect master or a female sect master?" Elder Mo: "..." "The sect master is a man. It is not what you think. In any case, you will know the reason later," Elder Mo said, not wanting to elaborate further. Hearing this, Lin Jing felt a surge of emotion in his heart. It seemed Senior Brother Ouyang's talent was higher than he had imagined. He actually had a chance to become the sect master's disciple. Unfortunately, inner sect disciples were active on the peak. Under normal circumstances, outer sect disciples were not allowed to climb the mountain. It seemed he would not be able to visit him on a regular basis. Before long, Elder Mo mounted the immortal crane and left. Once Elder Mo was gone, the Pine-Leaf Rat jumped onto the stone table. Seeing this, Lin Jing smiled slightly. "From now on, we will cultivate together. What should I call you?" "Squeak." The Pine-Leaf Rat responded. "..." After a moment of silence, Lin Jing said, "When will you be able to speak human words like Elder Black Bear and the cranes?" The Pine-Leaf Rat shook its head, indicating it did not know. "It seems you don't have a name yet. Let me give you one." Lin Jing was ready to let his imagination run wild. Before he could even think hard, A crane's cry interrupted his train of thought. Another immortal crane arrived. It came from the clouds, carrying a burlap sack, and placed the sack on the stone table. Lin Jing and the Pine-Leaf Rat looked at this "immortal crane." The crane looked at them too. "What are you looking at?" The crane uttered a rough male voice. "I've delivered the goods. I'm leaving." Then, it flew back into the clouds. "It seems all the travel and delivery business in the Beast-Taming Sect is handled by cranes," Lin Jing guessed. "Horned Ox for land transport, cranes for air transport." Lin Jing stepped forward and opened the burlap sack; the Pine-Leaf Rat poked its head over to look. Inside the sack, there was a jade scroll, a manual, a set of outer sect disciple clothes, a token, plus ten Spirit Stones and a bag of spirit rice. The manual was the *Sect Manual*, introducing some matters the disciples of the Beast-Taming Sect should note. And the jade scroll contained the cultivation technique, the *Beast Taming Formula*. As for the Spirit Stones, the formal disciples of the Beast-Taming Sect were divided into three levels: outer sect, inner sect, and true inheritance. Among them, outer sect disciples received a fixed monthly cultivation resource of one low-grade Spirit Stone, while inner sect disciples received ten low-grade Spirit Stones. If they wanted more cultivation resources, they had to complete missions to earn them themselves. Such as mining, farming, cooking in the kitchen... Because of his special disciple status, Lin Jing received the amount of Spirit Stones benchmarked to inner sect disciples, plus an extra bag of spirit rice. "Sect Manual!" He first picked up the manual to read it, while the Pine-Leaf Rat climbed onto his shoulder again to accompany him. After reading for a while, the most valuable information among them was related to the *Beast Taming Formula*. "Activate the jade scroll, and the cultivation method of the *Beast Taming Formula* will float in the mind." "Then, following the specific breathing method, one can absorb the heaven and earth spiritual energy, integrate it into the body, and transform it into Beast-Taming True Qi to nourish oneself!" "After Qi Refining, first layer, the cultivator's body, due to the nourishment of Beast-Taming True Qi, will produce a drop of special blood that can be manipulated by the true qi." "Using blood as a medium and pressing it on the Spirit Beast's forehead completes the bloodline contract, linking both spirits." "On the path of cultivation, there are Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Spirit Transformation, Kongxuan, Questioning the Way, and Ascension. This *Beast Taming Formula* can be cultivated up to the Foundation Establishment Realm." "After the Foundation Establishment Realm, disciples who pass the true inheritance examination can learn many of the sect's true inheritance beast-taming secret methods, refine a life-origin space artifact, and store their companion beasts within it..." Lin Jing said, "It seems I must raise my cultivation quickly." "I can't learn the more powerful methods yet." "Squeak!" The Pine-Leaf Rat nodded. It was already at Qi Refining, third layer, while Lin Jing still looked like a mortal. Right now, for Lin Jing, the real task was indeed to raise his cultivation. "Spirit Stones contain refined spiritual energy. With so many Spirit Stones, I should be able to reach Qi Refining, first layer soon," Lin Jing said. The Pine-Leaf Rat nodded again in approval. It picked up a Spirit Stone issued by the sect to Lin Jing and held it up, indicating he should start cultivating quickly. It was still waiting for the two of them to contract, work together, earn more Spirit Stones, and buy a Storage Bag. The sect had taught that disciples cultivating the *Beast Taming Formula*, when combined with various beast-taming methods, could greatly increase the abilities of their Spirit Beasts. Lin Jing stopped stalling and picked up the jade scroll. He closed his eyes and chanted the corresponding incantation. Soon, the jade scroll glowed, and cultivation information flooded directly into his mind. The *Beast Taming Formula*, Qi Refining Chapter! It had nine layers. The first layer allowed contracting a companion beast, and part of the companion's cultivation results would be fed back to the cultivator. In addition, the cultivator could communicate with the companion beast mentally. Upon reaching the seventh layer, one could also master the beast-taming method of passing one's own true qi to the companion beast, or having the companion beast transfer spiritual power or demon power to oneself, allowing for rapid recovery of one's own true qi. The Qi Refining Chapter of the *Beast Taming Formula* recorded basic techniques, including how to use Spirit Stones, which was fundamental to strengthening Qi Refining cultivation. To cultivate other beast-taming methods, one could only apply to the sect for permission to learn them after reaching specific standards. For Lin Jing, this basic *Beast Taming Formula* was enough for the time being. The specific breathing method accompanying the jade scroll, along with the techniques for cultivating with Spirit Stones, was enough to let him step through the gate of cultivation. He took a deep breath, grabbed a Spirit Stone. The stone in his hand glimmered slightly, and a mysterious vortex of qi surrounded him. However, Lin Jing himself, who was cultivating, and the Pine-Leaf Rat, waiting for Lin Jing to enter the gate, did not seem to realize that the Longevity Constitution cultivated very slowly. The Pine-Leaf Rat waited quietly for Lin Jing. After keeping watch for a while, it began to cultivate on its own. Until... Several days later. The Spirit Stones the sect had issued to Lin Jing were used up. "I feel like it's just a little bit more." He began to look at the dumbfounded Pine-Leaf Rat. After the Pine-Leaf Rat's brain overloaded for a moment, it tentatively picked up one of the Spirit Stones it had hoarded and asked Lin Jing if he wanted to use it. Moved, Lin Jing accepted it. By the time it had been half a month since entering the sect, Lin Jing had become more proficient at converting spiritual energy. But the resources the Pine-Leaf Rat had hoarded for a long time were also nearly used up. Only three or four Spirit Stones remained. Yet Lin Jing still showed no signs of successfully reaching Qi Refining. Seeing this, this squirrel spirit's eyes turned red; it was completely broken down, its paws flailing wildly. This was no longer a matter of speed. It had hoarded Spirit Stones for so long... Most of the spirit rice had been eaten by Lin Jing too. It shouldn't have offered its Spirit Stones. If it had thrown them into the pond, at least it could have seen the splash. The Pine-Leaf Rat was on the verge of crying when, finally, Lin Jing suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid qi. Profound vitality cycled from within outward, and a drop of golden blood coalesced within his body. Qi Refining, first layer, achieved! In half a month, he had finally succeeded in Qi Refining! Lin Jing took a deep breath. This feeling... He looked at the Pine-Leaf Rat, unable to help but share his joy with it. But what he saw was the Pine-Leaf Rat looking at him with an expression of complete despair. Lin Jing looked silently at the ground covered in Spirit Stone powder and said, "In no time, I'll repay you double!" The Pine-Leaf Rat didn't know if it had listened; it trembled as it held a handful of Spirit Stone powder. "Squeak..." Really?