The Master of Beasts

"It was given to me by an Inner Sect Disciple from Flying Fish Peak."

"At that time, that senior brother immediately asked if I had any ready-made High Rank Spiritual Beasts and then bought a hundred or so in one go. I was startled by the number, so I casually asked about it."

"That senior brother didn't say anything at the time. Only after the Spiritual Beasts were delivered did he hand me this golden cloth," Chen Tingting said truthfully.

Chen Jiuge's expression darkened. This news is probably true, but I still need to confirm it.

"You go and get busy for now. This news is probably true. When you have time, go to the ecological park and contract some powerful Spiritual Beasts. Consider it a reward for your years of hard work." Despite feeling troubled, Chen Jiuge still showed concern for his employee.

"Thank you, Boss. Then I'll be going now." After thanking him, Chen Tingting hurriedly rushed to the ecological park.

Although the Myriad Beasts Sect wouldn't send all its disciples to the battlefield, if numbers were insufficient, cultivators like Chen Tingting, who had no background, would likely be the first to be used as cannon fodder.

Pulling out his Communication Stone, Chen Jiuge immediately contacted Zhu Yinghuang, dialing three times before the call connected.

"Brother Zhu, is the war mission real?" Chen Jiuge asked urgently.

"Ah, Brother Chen, you don't know yet? Sorry, I assumed you knew, which is why I didn't inform you. Yes, Brother Chen, it's real. War is coming," Zhu Yinghuang first apologized, then spoke with a heavy tone.

"If you're not confident, it's better to ask your Master or someone else to arrange a garrison mission for you first. Enhance your cultivation a bit more before entering the minor world," Zhu Yinghuang hinted.

Chen Jiuge was tempted. But I've already reached the Mahayana stage; I can't just advance to the Tribulation stage, can I? Although transcending the Tribulation would indeed increase my strength, going to war with three tribulations hanging over my head seems like an even quicker way to die.

"By the way, Brother Chen, there's still about a sexagenary cycle for war preparations. Also, our enemy this time is the Shajia Royal Family of the Demon Clan. I don't have more information than that. I have to go now; my father is sending me to train in a Secret Realm. I may not be able to reply to you for some time."

After hanging up, Chen Jiuge's mood grew heavier.

Sigh, I should contact my parents first and find out about the family's situation.

The Chen Family also had enterprises in the minor world. To be precise, it was one of their fundamental bases, something they couldn't afford to abandon.

"Little Nine, I was actually looking for you too," Hua Yu said, coincidentally.

"Let me guess, it's about the Demon Clan, isn't it? It's true," Chen Jiuge said, already knowing why Hua Yu was looking for him.

Other members of the Chen Family had also joined the Myriad Beasts Sect, so it wasn't strange for them to know this news. Coming to confirm with him was only natural.

"Is that so? It looks like this honeymoon period is over then. Your father and I just got back to the Myriad Beasts Domain. We were planning to stop by your place before heading back to the family. If there's anything you need, it's not difficult to ask the family for some life-saving items," Hua Yu said with some disappointment, having hoped it was only a rumor.

"Alright."

After hanging up, Chen Jiuge tried to contact Chen Xiaoyu but couldn't get through. She's probably cultivating.

She just became a disciple under a Golden Immortal; they probably won't send Little Sister to the battlefield in the next few hundred years. Chen Jiuge felt a bit more settled at this thought.

I wonder if I'll be sent to the battlefield? Probably not. After all, I'm a disciple of a Heavenly Immortal Elder. Chen Jiuge began to worry about himself.

Since obtaining the opportunity from the Golden Lotus Birth Pool, his Eden Garden and the Tongxin enterprises had developed very rapidly. He wasn't lacking in cultivation resources; if he had enough time, becoming an immortal was within reach.

As Chen Jiuge was worrying, ten days later, a deployment order arrived at Eden Garden.

Seeing the disciple from White Tiger Peak dressed in a Law Enforcement Robe, Chen Jiuge looked at the deployment order, his lips twitching. It's true that whatever you worry about most is what happens! he thought, feeling utterly speechless.

"Junior Brother, your deployment order is to head to the Spirit Void Realm within a month."

"Senior Brother, I understand," Chen Jiuge said, taking a deep breath to show he comprehended.

Not long after the White Tiger Peak disciple left, Senior Sister Wen Ruo appeared in Eden Garden.

Seeing the somewhat frail-looking Wen Ruo, Chen Jiuge was shocked. "Senior Sister, weren't you in closed-door cultivation, transcending your Tribulation? Why are you out?"

Wen Ruo pointed at the deployment order in Chen Jiuge's hand and said apologetically, "Junior Brother, this time you've been implicated because of me. As an Elder's disciples, we usually enjoy various privileges, but for this kind of war mobilization mission, the highest-level ones, half of the disciples must be deployed."

"Because of the Heavenly Tribulation, I can't participate. So, I'm afraid we'll have to rely on you this time, Junior Brother. I'm truly sorry."

"Senior Sister, what are you saying? This isn't something you could have predicted; there's nothing to be sorry for. My luck has always been very good, don't worry," Chen Jiuge said, shaking his head repeatedly.

Due to the impending Heavenly Tribulation, Wen Ruo couldn't stay outside for long and even failed to notice Chen Jiuge's Mahayana-level cultivation. Eventually, Chen Jiuge had to escort her back to her cave mansion.

Is this the Heavenly Human Five Decays before the Immortal Ascension Tribulation? It looks even more terrifying than the three tribulations of the Tribulation Transcendence Stage. This is truly when a cultivator is at their weakest! Chen Jiuge mused, seeing Senior Sister Wen Ruo's frail state.

After escorting his senior sister back to her cave mansion, Guman was already waiting in the courtyard.

"This time, it did inconvenience you a bit. But fortunately, you have good fortune and have now stabilized your Mahayana cultivation. Just be careful, and there shouldn't be any issues."

"If there's anything you need, just tell me. I will support you as much as I can," Guman said with a serious expression.

"I understand, Elder Gu." Chen Jiuge didn't feel it was a burden. If I hadn't become Wen Tianming's disciple, I probably wouldn't have received so many opportunities. Besides, even if I hadn't, as a disciple from a third-rate family, I'd likely be among the first sent to the battlefield anyway. So, in reality, it makes no difference.

「The day after receiving the deployment order, Chen Jiuge's father and mother arrived.」

Seeing the two of them looking travel-worn, Chen Jiuge said directly, "Father, Mother, I'm very worried about you in this war with the Demon Abyss. I didn't ask you to come here to request life-saving items from the family, but rather for you to contract some Spiritual Beasts to enhance your combat strength."

Hua Yu and Chen Chen exchanged a glance, revealing relieved smiles. "We don't need them," Hua Yu said. "After all, with our experiences outside, having a few more or fewer Spiritual Beasts doesn't make much difference. You keep them for yourself, Little Nine."

"That's right, Little Nine. As a disciple of the Myriad Beasts Sect, you can control more Spiritual Beasts and exert stronger combat power," Chen Chen chimed in.

Chen Jiuge knew his parents would be reluctant to accept the Spiritual Beasts if he just offered them, so he personally took them outside the ecological zone.

Looking at the ferocious Spiritual Beasts inside, Hua Yu said in shock, "Don't tell me all these are yours."

Chen Jiuge shrugged. "As you can see, they really are all mine."

These beasts were different from the production-type Spiritual Beasts he had seen along the way. Those were not suitable for combat, possessed lower Spiritual Wisdom, and taking them to the battlefield would be useless; they might even become a liability.

In the end, Hua Yu and Chen Chen "gave in." Their son had suddenly become so affluent; there was no need for them to refuse.

After contracting suitable Spiritual Beasts, they were quite satisfied, considering this a significant boost to their combat power.

Subsequently, with only a sexagenary cycle left before the war, the Chen Family needed to prepare in advance. Thus, Chen Jiuge's parents couldn't stay long.

However, before leaving, Chen Jiuge still provided many Spiritual Beasts as support for the Chen Family. After all, it was his own family, and he had plenty of Spiritual Beasts.

In the following days, Chen Jiuge began contracting a large number of Spiritual Beasts to act as enforcers. However, the strength of his Divine Soul was limited. After contracting the strongest batch of Sixth Rank Spiritual Beasts in the ecological park, he finally reached his limit.

As for Yue Meng and other Spiritual Beasts, even though their cultivation levels weren't very high, Chen Jiuge still decided to take them with him. After all, if he were to fall, the backlash these Lifebound Spirit Beasts would suffer wouldn't be minor. It was better to keep them together.

He then frantically acquired a great number of Magic Artifacts, Elixirs, and Array Plates, stopping only when more than half of the Spirit Stones in the Spirit Stone Storage were gone. Even then, Chen Jiuge reluctantly ceased his acquisitions, wishing he could get more.

He had to leave at least some Spirit Stones for operations. Fortunately, Chen Tingting was not conscripted this time, so Eden Garden could remain operational, which was a piece of good news.

Finally, he drew a large number of Spiritual Beast Bloodlines to cultivate a new batch of Spiritual Beasts. As long as Eden Garden kept earning resources, his own safety on the battlefield would be more assured, since many things could be purchased with Spirit Stones.

Three days later, Elder Zhi Duoxing returned Ming Snake. Tian Que, however, was still too small and not yet suitable.

After thirty years, Ming Snake's cultivation had broken through to the Mahayana stage, which was within Chen Jiuge's expectations.

Then there was Bali. Having transformed into a stone pillar, Bali's aura had been steadily rising over these thirty years and had now reached the mid-Mahayana stage. If I'm not mistaken, he'll probably awaken around the late Mahayana stage, but it looks like that will still take a few more years.

Chen Jiuge could not leave Bali's combat power behind. However, he also couldn't afford to wait there, as he needed to go to the Martial Arts World to make advance deployments and couldn't waste too much time.

Thus, Chen Jiuge entrusted Black Eye with the task of bringing Bali to the Martial Arts World to find him. This also gave Black Eye a chance to further instruct their kin, preventing any mishaps in Chen Jiuge's absence.

For War Song and the others who remained, Chen Jiuge left messages advising them it would be best to join him once their cultivation reached the Mahayana stage.

「The next day,」

Dressed in his best Vestment robe, Chen Jiuge said to the beasts behind him, "Prepare to set out."

Chen Jiuge led the way, dressed in white robes. He was followed by Yue Meng, who sported sunglasses and a leather coat—an attire reportedly sourced by Wen Ruoshui from a new type of minor world.

Da Bai and Da Shan wore outfits identical to Yue Meng's. Over the past thirty years, Da Bai, with his formidable strength, had managed to become a Third Rank Artifact Refiner. However, he had also realized just how difficult it was to become a Fifth Rank Alchemy Master like Sister Yue Meng. Consequently, he had once again become her loyal follower, naturally emulating his 'big sister' in everything. Da Shan, on the other hand, simply thought the outfit looked cool.

Although Ming Snake only wore sunglasses, Chen Jiuge felt its non-mainstream aura was even stronger.

Silver King and Ao Yi, on the other hand, were more normal, quietly flying above the group.

Chen Ziteng was also left by Chen Jiuge in Eden Garden.

Chen Ziteng was too young, having only just been born. With their cultivation merely at the Nascent Soul stage, they were not suitable to be taken out.

The four beasts followed behind him, looking like a group of idols making their debut. Chen Jiuge couldn't help but feel awkward. Enduring the strange stares from other disciples, he finally made it to the grand teleportation hall.

A flash of white light enveloped them. Spirit Void Realm, I, Chen Jiuge, have arrived!