The Master of Beasts

Chen Jiuge, still comprehending the Five Elements Laws, was unaware that an Immortal City had been added to his name; he was still diligently cultivating.

It is aptly said, "While one sits at home, an Immortal City descends from the heavens."

Although the Elders of Hundred Herbs Peak were assisting voluntarily, Wen Ruo still made it a point to thank each Elder and prepared rewards for every one of them.

After all, her new home had no shortage of Spiritual Beasts and Spirit Plants, so these rewards weren't too much of a drain.

As for her Eldest Senior Brother and Senior Sister Gao, who were also temporarily away from the Sect, Wen Ruo silently noted their kindness.

Unbeknownst to herself, Wen Ruo had already started to see herself as the lady of Eden Garden.

***

Ming Yujing's injuries healed quickly. After all, a Heavenly Immortal had expended considerable energy to carefully treat him. If a Heavenly Immortal couldn't even cure a Mahayana cultivator, that would truly be a joke.

Once healed, Ming Yujing swiftly overcame his Immortal Ascension Tribulation. As a Disaster Beast with sufficient talent, and with years of combat experience from his time abroad, passing the Immortal Ascension Tribulation naturally posed no issue.

Seeing his spiritual brethren and sisters becoming immortals one after another, War Song grew anxious. He was one of the earliest veterans, after all. He could accept Yue Meng becoming an immortal, but now even Spiritual Beasts that joined later were surpassing him. Isn't this a bit humiliating for a beast like me?

Already dejected, War Song's anger flared when he saw War Bo, who grew bigger by the day, developing an increasing fondness for alcohol. He casually formed a stone club and walked towards War Bo, his face dark.

The previously bleary-eyed War Bo was instantly sobered with fright. "Dad, Dad, what's wrong?"

War Song sneered, "What's wrong? You have the nerve to ask? Look at Hei Mu! He's now helping his father herd and share the workload. But look at you, drinking every day! What kind of example are you setting?!"

War Song grew angrier as he struck, his blows becoming heavier, which drew Xiao Hua's displeasure.

Cradling her child with a pained heart, Xiao Hua frowned and said, "What's gotten into you? Why are you hitting him so hard?"

"Sigh." War Song didn't speak.

That evening, Xiao Hua found War Song drinking sullenly by himself.

"Is it because the others have broken through?" Xiao Hua asked softly.

War Song nodded reluctantly. "Yue Meng, Black Eye, and I – we Three Beasts were the first to be contracted by Master. I still remember Master telling us we would climb to the highest peaks of the Heavenly Realm together."

"But now, Yue Meng has broken through. Even Ming Yujing and Li Kui, who came later, have broken through, yet I don't have the slightest sign of a breakthrough."

Xiao Hua paused for a moment before saying, "Are you thinking of taking your Great Saint Army out on an expedition?"

War Song remained silent. Go out? How could it be that easy? He now had a family; he wasn't unattached as before, free to roam as he pleased.

Xiao Hua took War Song's large hand and said, "Go. Take War Bo with you too. If this child continues like this, he'll be ruined."

"Xiao Hua..." War Song looked at Xiao Hua in shock.

Their gazes met; everything was understood without words.

The next morning, War Song expressed his intentions to Wen Ruo.

Looking at the determined War Song, Wen Ruo contacted Yue Jun, the most suitable acquaintance to temper War Song.

"Junior Brother Chen's Spiritual Beast wants to come here for training?" Yue Jun was surprised by the news. People died where he was every day. He had lost track of how many of his own Spiritual Beasts had perished, including several of his Lifebound Spirit Beasts. If his Master hadn't been so supportive, and considering he didn't primarily focus on taming Guardian Beasts, he would have been ruined long ago.

At Wen Ruo's request, Yue Jun agreed. However, he warned that he might not be able to look after War Song, as the region he was in was extremely dangerous.

War Song set out. This journey of tempering would be perilous. The Spiritual Beasts of Eden Garden came out specially to see him off. Even the usually stingy Da Bai took out some treasures as a gift for War Song.

***

Black Eye stood silently at the gates of Eden Garden, his emotions complex.

Wen Ruo reappeared at some point and remarked with some emotion, "I never expected Junior Brother's Spiritual Beast to possess such determination."

Black Eye glanced at the future lady of the house and said in a muffled voice, "When Master contracted us Three Beasts, War Song was always responsible for battle. Now that his cultivation has been surpassed by Yue Meng, who is responsible for Alchemy, his pride can't accept it. I'm not surprised by his decision."

Wen Ruo suddenly realized that this usually taciturn Black Eye seemed to see things very clearly. "What about you? What is your role?"

"My duty is to guard," Black Eye affirmed as he turned. "To guard Master's Eden Garden, and to protect Master's future descendants and family."

Only when Black Eye's figure disappeared did Wen Ruo laugh in amusement. "I never thought the one with the strongest Dao Heart would be the seemingly most unremarkable Black Eye. Junior Brother, oh Junior Brother, the Spiritual Beasts you've contracted truly are of exceptional talent. I truly wonder if it's due to your unique eye for talent."

Black Eye's breakthrough came swiftly. Just ten years after War Song's departure, he broke through. The process was as simple as eating and drinking.

Although she had anticipated it, Wen Ruo was still a little surprised. "He probably could have broken through much earlier. He was likely holding back out of consideration for War Song."

***

As one Spiritual Beast after another began to break through in their cultivation, a sense of urgency spread among the beasts in Eden Garden. Dashan and Silver King, in particular, clearly felt they were falling behind the main group.

One was a Li Fire Monkey, originally an ordinary creature that Chen Jiuge had enhanced to a Fifth Rank Spiritual Beast using Bloodline Transformation. Even though the materials Wen Tianming had provided back then were good, its foundation was still considerably weaker compared to the other Spiritual Beasts.

As for Silver King, it had evolved from an ordinary Spiritual Chicken into a Mutant Spiritual Beast. Its foundation was pitifully weak; Chen Jiuge had essentially pushed its level up by force. Contracting it was more for sentimental reasons.

In the Heavenly Bull Realm, Da Bai anxiously watched Dashan and Silver King downing cup after cup, worried they might accidentally drink themselves to death.

"Brother Dashan, Brother Silver King, what's wrong with you two?" Da Bai grabbed the wine jug, asking with concern.

Dashan and Silver King were already quite drunk.

As the saying goes, in vino veritas; the two beasts poured out their frustrations to Da Bai.

Finally understanding the situation, Da Bai let out a sigh of relief. "And here I was, thinking it was something serious! That scared me to death! Is that all it is?"

Dashan and Silver King were somewhat stunned. This isn't a big deal? Haven't you seen the other Spiritual Beasts starting to ascend to immortality? We two haven't even shown a hint of it, let alone reached Perfect Mahayana! Then, a thought struck them. Hold on, Da Bai doesn't seem to have reached the Perfect stage either.

Seeing the strange looks from the two beasts, Da Bai glanced down at himself and had a sudden realization. You two aren't looking down on me, are you?

The two beasts nodded in unison.

Da Bai said indignantly, "That's because I'm not in a rush! I'm a Fire Qilin, after all. How could mere immortal ascension be difficult for me?"

Hearing this, the two beasts thought it made sense. Right, Da Bai is a Qilin. Becoming an immortal is just a matter of time for him.

Looking at the two, who now seemed even more dejected, Da Bai was speechless for a moment, then said, "Seriously, it's just immortal ascension. Why are you two in such a rush? Master doesn't like to go out, and we're not needed for combat. What do you need such high cultivation for? With the time you spend moping, you'd be better off doing something practical in Eden Garden. When the time comes, do you think it'll be hard for Master to help you ascend?"

Da Bai truly couldn't understand the mindset of these two. One was Eden Garden's dedicated transport, the other a master of brewing monkey wine and a supervisor. You're not primarily combat types! Just do your jobs well. When Master becomes a Heavenly Immortal, will it be difficult for him to help you become True Immortals?

Although he didn't want to waste his breath, considering one was his little brother and the other was part of his "working iron triangle," Da Bai reluctantly began a session of psychological counseling.

No one knew what Da Bai said or did. In any case, after that night's visit to the Heavenly Bull Realm, Dashan and Silver King were no longer dejected and worked with even greater diligence.

***

"Senior Sister Wen, is Senior Brother Chen still not here for this handover?" the Loose Immortal Great Steward in charge of receiving resources from the Heavenly Bull Realm asked curiously.

"Mm, my Junior Brother has some matters to attend to and isn't here right now. Great Steward, could you please check if the quantity is correct? If there's any discrepancy, I can make up for it from my side."

"Let me see... hmm."

"Blood Battle Bull, Five-color Cow, Big Milk Can..."

A quarter of an hour later, the Great Steward nodded. "The quantities are correct, but these are only the most basic ones. Senior Brother Chen's breeding capabilities should extend beyond this, shouldn't they? There are additional rewards for submitting more."

Wen Ruo smiled and shook her head. "We'll discuss the extra Spiritual Beasts when my Junior Brother returns. Anyway, the Spiritual Beasts are there in Eden Garden; they won't run off."

"Very well then." The Great Steward nodded, though he felt somewhat regretful. After all, receiving more Spiritual Beasts would have meant extra rewards for himself. He had long heard that Chen Jiuge was the youngest Spirit Beast Breeding Master in the Myriad Beasts Sect, his skills surpassing even many veteran breeders. He had been hoping to witness Chen's expertise for himself.

After collecting the Spiritual Beasts, the Great Steward turned and glanced at the gates of Eden Garden, nodding to himself. I never expected Senior Sister Wen to be living directly in Eden Garden. I wonder what kind of feast we'll be treated to. Speaking of which, there have been a lot of Daoist couple ceremonies lately; I'm even getting tired of Crystal Pork Knuckles.

Wen Ruo, naturally unaware of the Great Steward's inner thoughts, was somewhat preoccupied, wondering when her Junior Brother would return.

***

What was Chen Jiuge doing? He was, of course, cultivating.

Currently, Chen Jiuge was scratching his head, facing the Water Element Law. Fire and water are incompatible, and comprehending water after fire had increased the difficulty of comprehension severalfold.

If I'd known, I would have chosen the other three elements first. Now I'm completely stuck. Serves me right!

Although his mouth was full of complaints, his body honestly continued the process of comprehension. Fire and water are indeed incompatible. Although this greatly increased the difficulty, if he could succeed, comprehending the remaining Five Elements Laws would become much simpler.

A sapphire-blue water orb materialized in Chen Jiuge's left hand. Its gentle pulsing indicated that he had gained an initial understanding of Water Element Life.

However, things took a turn when a crimson fireball appeared in his right hand.

The two spells, each possessing a slight degree of sentience, immediately engaged in a life-and-death struggle. Ultimately, the water evaporated, and the fire was extinguished, leaving behind a chaotic mess and giving Chen Jiuge a splitting headache.

Actually, at this stage, his comprehension of the Water Element was nearly complete. However, Chen Jiuge was not pursuing the Grand Dao of Five Elements. He had to fuse these two first. Otherwise, when he truly began to comprehend all Five Elements, their cycles of generation and restriction would make fusion almost impossible.