The Master of Beasts

Chen Jiuge remained silent after receiving the news from Li Qiwen. Senior Brother Jun was spot on.

However, was it Fu Hai from the Heavenly Sea Gang in Jinling Immortal City who made the move? It seems I'll have to acknowledge this debt. I should have Li Qiwen contact them first to see if they need any Spiritual Beasts. This could also help expand our channels.

This incident also brought significant benefits; at least, news had already spread throughout this region. The Tongxin Inn and Tongxin Grocery Store were established by a Direct Disciple of a Heavenly Immortal, who was likely the Third Elder of Hundred Herbs Peak. This information extinguished the ulterior motives of many families.

Wen Tianming is an extremely protective old fellow. It's best not to provoke his disciples. If you mess with the young one, the old one will show up, and that would be too much trouble.

「Ten years passed in a flash.」

Holding a wine cup, Chen Jiuge reminisced about the Spiritual Beasts that had gone out. Touching the already drunk Black Eye, he couldn't help but feel a bit melancholic. "I never expected to live like an empty-nester, without even a Spiritual Beast for company."

Hearing her master's shameless words, Yue Meng, her eyes slightly blurred, couldn't help but purse her lips. "Didn't you just Contract a Spiritual Beast? Starting strong and then abandoning them when the novelty wears off—Hmph, men."

Chen Jiuge's old face reddened at her words, but he quickly recovered. "This is just supplementing what's lacking. Ao Yi and Fire God are still traveling and haven't returned. War Song's four beasts went off to train, Da Bai went to a minor world, and Black Eye needs to look after Eden Garden. You're busy with Alchemy, Ming Snake is still out playing, and Bali also has to guard Eden Garden's safety. So, don't I need to Contract a powerful Spiritual Beast in case of emergencies?"

"Excuses! Just as Aunt Wen said, men always love the new and tire of the old."

Watching Yue Meng unsteadily walk away, Chen Jiuge sighed. Ever since Steward Wen Ruoshui from the Medicine Garden came to Eden Garden, Yue Meng has been led astray.

Originally, that Medicine Garden Steward, Wen Ruoshui, turned out to be Wen Ruo's paternal aunt. Both Wen Ruo and Wen Ruoshui were descendants of Elder Wen. Though the relation was distant, they indeed shared a blood connection.

Because the Heavenly Tribulation was approaching, and Wen Ruo also had to look after Li Qiwen's grandniece, Li He, he had to ask his paternal aunt for help. Consequently, Wen Ruoshui, who had always harbored designs on Yue Meng, frequently brought the young girl Li He to Eden Garden.

It seems I need to find a way to reduce Yue Meng's contact with Steward Wen Ruoshui. Otherwise, I can't even imagine how shocking the things she'll say in the future will be, Chen Jiuge felt a headache coming on.

As for the Spiritual Beast Yue Meng mentioned that he had recently Contracted, it was a Lu Wu, which Chen Jiuge had named Tian Que.

The origin of this Lu Wu dated back to when Li Qiwen, during his travels as a merchant, fortuitously encountered a group of Three-tailed Tigers. The local Cultivators asserted these beasts carried the Lu Wu Bloodline. Thinking of his employer's fondness for Exotic Beasts, Li Qiwen specifically bought several to send to Eden Garden.

Unexpectedly, these Three-tailed Tigers indeed possessed a faint trace of the Lu Wu Bloodline. Chen Jiuge immediately instructed Li Qiwen to buy them in bulk, spending years to gather enough Lu Wu Bloodline.

Tian Que truly lived up to Chen Jiuge's expectations. It possessed a powerful physique and a natural understanding of Five Elements Magic, capable of rapidly mastering any Magic, truly worthy of the name Divine Beast.

...

At this moment, our protagonist, Luwu Tianque, was "exploring" Eden Garden.

Though less than three months old, Tian Que was born already possessing Golden Core Cultivation. During these three months, Chen Jiuge had kept him by his side, teaching him various Magic and having him cultivate the Lu Wu heritage he had specifically exchanged for from the Spiritual Beast Hall.

Last night, Tian Que, who had just barely entered the initial stages of Cultivation, took advantage of Chen Jiuge having a drinking competition with Black Eye to obtain a permit to go outside.

Early this morning, he set out on his short little legs.

The Lu Wu, a creature with a human face, a tiger's body, and nine tails, was still a cub. If one ignored its beastly features, it looked like a human child of five or six.

Tian Que's first stop was the nearby encampment of the Golden Dogs.

Seeing Tian Que enter their territory, the playful Golden Dog pups immediately surrounded him, constantly sniffing at this unfamiliar little one.

Tian Que, having never experienced such a scene, pouted, his eyes reddening, and he nearly burst into tears. Fortunately, the Golden Dog pups were not malicious by nature. Thinking Tian Que didn't want to play with them, they quietly made way, watching as Tian Que, his short legs scrambling, ran quickly towards the grassland.

Leaving the seemingly frightening Golden Dogs, Tian Que patted his chest. That scared me to death!

However, his relief was premature. A splendid-looking Spiritual Chicken appeared in Tian Que's sight. It was over two meters tall and looked even more terrifying than the Golden Dog pups, especially as this Fire Spiritual Chicken charged towards Tian Que. Flustered, Tian Que's nine tails involuntarily twitched, releasing a Fire Element Magic.

The Fire Spiritual Chicken, being a spiritual material, couldn't react in time and was instantly turned into a fragrant roasted chicken.

The tempting aroma made Tian Que involuntarily step forward and take a bite. "Delicious."

While Tian Que was heartily eating, Iron Head, a Golden Iron Back Ape who had detected the Spell fluctuations, appeared before the little Lu Wu.

Looking at the little creature eating with such relish, Iron Head's heart sank. Bloodline suppression... Is this the master's newly Contracted Spiritual Beast?

With that thought, Iron Head took out his own lunch from his Storage Bag, feeling a pang of regret as he said, "Hey, little guy, what's so good about that Spiritual Chicken? Mine is much tastier."

Tian Que, startled, only then noticed Iron Head. This big guy looks even scarier! But the thing in his hands smells so good!

Seeing Tian Que unconsciously reach out and take it, Iron Head grinned proudly. This is my reward for being the best employee—Fourth Rank mutated Fire Spiritual Chicken roast! If I didn't think you might be the master's new Spiritual Beast, I'd never have taken it out.

The delicious taste of the roasted Fire Spiritual Chicken quickly captivated Tian Que, and he was no longer afraid of the big figure before him.

Under Iron Head's care, the two beasts soon became good friends. Upon learning that Tian Que intended to look around, Iron Head volunteered to show him the way.

...

Meanwhile, Chen Jiuge, who had come to his senses, first used Spiritual Energy to dispel the Spiritual Wine from Black Eye's system. Drinking is fine, but it can't delay work. He then tidied up the small courtyard and planned to go to the Cultivation Room to see how the little Lu Wu was progressing with his Cultivation.

Looking at the empty Cultivation Room, Chen Jiuge wondered, "Where's the beast?" Only then did he recall, Ah, I seem to have promised little Tian Que he could go out and play today.

He immediately performed the Round Mirror Technique, connecting to Eden Garden's Array. He saw a Golden Iron Back Ape giving little Tian Que a piece of roast meat. Then, the two beasts went to the Spirit Lake District, riding aimlessly on a Plant Turtle. Afterward, they visited the territory of the Moonlight Giant Frogs to pick up Moonlight Stones. Chen Jiuge saw that their next stop would likely be the territories of the Red Flame Sheep and the Giant Rhinoceros. Feeling there was nothing to worry about, he deactivated the Round Mirror Technique and paid it no further mind.

Even though it was because I was groggy from drinking with Black Eye last night and wasn't really paying attention, I did promise little Tian Que he could go out and play. I can't go back on my word. As long as the child is happy, that's all that matters.