The Master of Beasts

Lu Wu's joining had little impact on Eden Garden. Its current Cultivation was still weak, and it would be years before it could contribute.

「Fierce Beast Small World」

Da Bai and Qi Daoyuan, who had been training inside for over a hundred years, had taken on the appearance of two little boys and were roasting a Fierce Beast.

Looking at the golden-brown roasted meat before them, Da Bai said disdainfully, "I want to go back. I've been eating nothing but roasted meat for over a hundred years. I feel like I'm going to puke." He even pretended to vomit as he spoke.

Qi Daoyuan, however, was unfazed. He took a bite of the roasted meat and said, "What's the rush? You're only in the late stage of Divinity Transformation. Are you sure your master won't scold you if you return now?"

"Probably not. After all, I've broken through two minor Realms, and I can even transform now." Da Bai was somewhat uncertain. He had been sent here for making a mistake and didn't know if his master had cooled off yet.

"If you ask me, why not hang around for a few more years until you reach the Perfect stage of Divinity Transformation before leaving?" Qi Daoyuan actually quite enjoyed the small world. It was much safer. Although Cultivation progress was slow, safety was guaranteed.

Resisting the urge to gag, Da Bai swallowed the roasted meat. He found it unbearable, but Qi Daoyuan's point made sense. So perhaps he should stay a few more years?

Da Bai, caught in a dilemma, soon found he no longer needed to fret.

Because Qi Daoyuan, courting disaster, had snuck out in the dead of night to steal an egg from one of the strongest Fierce Beasts in this small world and had been caught.

The next time Da Bai saw Qi Daoyuan, he found him covered in dirt and dust, followed by an enormous dragon towering over a hundred meters tall.

This dragon resembled the dinosaurs from Chen Jiuge's previous life, except it was a bit larger and its Cultivation more advanced, at the Mahayana Realm. Had this Fierce Beast been adept in Mana and Spells, Qi Daoyuan would likely have been beaten to a pulp in one encounter.

"Stop staring, run!" Qi Daoyuan, clutching an egg twice his size, shouted in a cracked voice.

"What did you do?" Da Bai asked in horror.

"Didn't you complain about being sick of roast meat? I was trying to improve your options." Qi Daoyuan's face was ashen. "Now, even if we don't want to go back, we have no choice."

Da Bai was speechless. "Even if you wanted to improve my options, there was no need to steal that big brute's egg."

"How was I supposed to know the egg belonged to it? It's so big, yet it lays such small eggs. It's a total beast trap!"

Despite using a Spell to enhance their speed, the distance between them was closing. After all, the dragon was at the Mahayana Realm. Even without Spells, its terrifying physical body meant it ran faster than two short-legged boys.

"Activate the Token," Qi Daoyuan said, resigned.

Protected by two beams of light, the two escaped unscathed, appearing safely in the grand hall.

Elder Tian was sipping tea when he saw the two little boys appear. A flash of understanding lit his eyes, and he thought with some speechlessness, Nephew Chen's Spiritual Beasts again? Last time, wasn't it also Jiuge's Spiritual Beasts that brought back five mounts from inside?

Qi Daoyuan, still clutching the large egg, continued to grumble about Da Bai's pickiness. If it weren't for Da Bai's fussiness, he wouldn't have stolen the egg, provoked that big brute, or left the small world. Now that they were out so quickly, Zhu Yingque would think his previous life's Heavenly Immortal Cultivation was a farce.

"Little friends, since you've come out and brought an egg of a Mahayana Realm descendant from the small world, isn't it time to settle the Merit?" Elder Tian said with a smile.

"Merit?!?!" Qi Daoyuan exploded.

"Of course. The Merit you paid was just for training. Taking things out from there comes with an extra charge, you know," Elder Tian said with a grin.

"Ask him for it. I didn't take it." Da Bai immediately passed the buck.

"You!" Qi Daoyuan shot Da Bai a discontented glare, then, adopting an air of "I'm rich," he asked Elder Tian, "Alright, how much Merit?"

"For the offspring of a Mahayana Realm Fierce Beast, I'll give you a discount. Let's say 30,000 Merit."

"How... how much?" Qi Daoyuan's voice broke.

As a reincarnated Heavenly Immortal, Qi Daoyuan naturally carried himself differently. Zhu Yingque had left him with quite a few Merits from her missions, but not as many as 30,000.

"Can I pay with Spirit Stones?" Qi Daoyuan rubbed his hands together, looking pitiful.

Elder Tian replied cheerfully, "Now I remember! You're the Fire Qilin brought back by the young lady of the Zhu Family from Vermilion Bird Peak. Word is you're a reincarnated Heavenly Immortal. Don't tell me you don't even have 30,000 Merits?"

Qi Daoyuan cast a dark look at Da Bai, who just shrugged nonchalantly and said, "You know I have plenty of Spirit Stones, but my master didn't give me any Merit."

"Damn it! Can't we discuss this?" Qi Daoyuan glared fiercely at Elder Tian.

"Can't," Elder Tian sipped his tea, the very picture of serene composure.

"You just wait."

After issuing his threat, Qi Daoyuan pulled out a Communication Stone and connected. "Girl, transfer 30,000 Merit to your old man."

"I don't have any," came a cold female voice from the stone.

"Girl, your old man really is in a bit of trouble. Don't worry, I'll repay the Merit to you soon," Qi Daoyuan said, somewhat anxious.

"It's gone. I just traded for a Holy Weapon; I'm out of Merit. What trouble have you gotten into?"

After Qi Daoyuan explained, Zhu Yingque said, displeased, "I sent you to gain experience, not to steal eggs. I've already spent all my Merit. Ask my brother."

Looking at the disconnected Communication Stone, Qi Daoyuan steeled himself and called Zhu Yinghuang. No answer? He called again. Still no answer? He kept trying. Finally, it connected!

"Who is it?"

"It's me, Qi Daoyuan. Kid, transfer 30,000 Merit to me." Once connected, Qi Daoyuan resumed his big-shot demeanor.

"How much? Thirty thousand? Do you think someone like me, who doesn't go out on missions, would have that? If you needed a few thousand Merit, I could scrape it together, but thirty thousand? Ask our little sister. I had too much to drink last night, and my head is killing me."

Looking at the disconnected Communication Stone, Qi Daoyuan felt his heart turn cold. To think that he, a reincarnated Heavenly Immortal, had fallen to such a state.

Gazing at Elder Tian's grinning old face, Qi Daoyuan turned grimly to Da Bai. "Da Bai, we're of the same clan. We're brothers. Blood is thicker than water."

"Stop. From now on, I'm the big brother," Da Bai said, adjusting his clothes with a serious expression.

Qi Daoyuan clenched his small fists, forcing out a single word through gritted teeth, "Fine."

"Master, Master, let me tell you..." Watching Da Bai chatter excitedly to Chen Jiuge, Qi Daoyuan felt utterly dejected. Did I choose the wrong place to reincarnate? My lifelong reputation is gone!

Before long, Yue Meng arrived in the hall, looking down at the two little boys with arrogance. "Started transforming into humans and still so poor."

Seeing Yue Meng calmly pull out her Token to pay, Da Bai was shocked. "Where's Master?"

"I have some bad news for you. Those 30,000 Merits are mine, and you'll be repaying them. As for how... you'll get good at tending the fire and testing Elixirs for me. It'll only take a few decades to pay it all back," Yue Meng said with a cold laugh.

Leaving the hall with the two now petrified little boys, Elder Tian couldn't shake the feeling that he had just witnessed something incredible. This rabbit is really rich, though! Truly worthy of being the Innate Alchemy Master, the Moon Rabbit. I'm so envious Nephew Chen managed to get such an ancient Divine Beast!