I Tame Beasts by Feeding

A wave of heat washed over him, and flames filled Yu Changsheng’s vision. His hair was incinerated, and his clothes vanished into nothingness. Even worse, at the core of the inferno was the glint of a blade—a stunning, unstoppable strike.

Yu Changsheng gritted his teeth. The violent wind and fire made it difficult to even open his eyes. Every cell in his body seemed to scream in protest, and he trembled instinctively—a clear signal of extreme danger. ’I can’t block this strike!’

"Red Refining Snake Beast Shadow!"

Yu Changsheng roared, and a Red Refining Snake appeared beside him. It coiled around him, layer upon layer, forming a protective barrier against the storm raging outside.

But it wasn’t enough. The sense of crisis hadn’t faded.

"Golden-Winged Eagle Beast Shadow."

Yu Changsheng waved his hand, and the phantom of a Golden-Winged Eagle materialized. It spread its wings within the flames as if poised for flight, like a phoenix experiencing Nirvana. Its wings turned to stone, and as they beat back the fire, they formed a second layer of defense to shield Yu Changsheng from the blade’s light.

BOOM!!!

When the torrent of blade light and fire crashed into the Golden-Winged Eagle’s Beast Shadow, it paused for only an instant. The eagle’s wings were reduced to ash, and then its body was cleaved in two before it collapsed and dissipated. The strike’s momentum, only slightly diminished, then slammed into the Red Refining Snake’s Beast Shadow.

HISS!!!

The Red Refining Snake’s Beast Shadow let out a mournful cry. As the blade light pressed its attack, the snake’s body disintegrated inch by inch, starting from its tail, until it finally faded powerlessly from existence.

Fortunately, thanks to these two buffers, the blade’s light dimmed somewhat. When it struck the Wooden Shield, the shield shattered, but it bought Yu Changsheng enough time to react. He thrust his arms forward, circulating all his Spiritual Power to protect his heart meridian in one last layer of defense. The next moment, the torrent of blade light and fire enveloped him and slammed into his body.

A searing, tearing sensation instantly flooded Yu Changsheng. Under the immense pressure, the last dregs of the Body Forging Pill’s Medicinal Force were completely unleashed. His Qi and blood surged through his eight meridians like a crack of Celestial Thunder. Like a dragon, they began to continuously repair his injuries.

As the blade light struck him, the tearing sensation spread from his brow down to his waist. At this critical moment, his physical body unleashed its full potential. With a CRACK, it was as if some shackle within him had been shattered. The crimson in Yu Changsheng’s eyes receded, and an endless, inexhaustible strength welled up from his limbs.

BOOM!!!

The next second, the blade light shattered and the Sea of Fire rolled back. Yu Changsheng shot out from within like a bolt of lightning. His surging Qi and blood condensed outside his body, forming a giant, sky-blotting palm that smashed down toward the stunned Lei Jingtong.

"What?!"

Lei Jingtong was weak and utterly exhausted. Having unleashed four consecutive strikes, his spirit was already pushed to its limit. He was struggling just to withstand the pressure of the three-thousandth step. Now, gritting his teeth, all he could do was raise his blade in a desperate defense.

SLAM!!!

As the great palm descended, Lei Jingtong was slammed to the ground, his aura faint and weak. Blood trickled from his mouth. He had several broken bones, but thankfully, his life was not in danger.

At the last moment, Yu Changsheng had held back. The blow hadn’t truly landed on Lei Jingtong’s body. Otherwise, Lei Jingtong would surely be dead.

"Cough, cough... cough, cough..."

Lei Jingtong coughed violently, spraying out blood mixed with fragments of his internal organs. He cracked his eyes open and saw Yu Changsheng—disheveled, but completely unharmed. A bitter expression crossed his face, and he gave a bleak, miserable smile.

Yu Changsheng let out a soft breath. He quickly put on a fresh set of clothes, then slowly walked over to Lei Jingtong and looked down at him in silence.

’If I hadn’t broken through at the last moment, the one lying here right now would be me.’

"You’re really hard on yourself... So I was just your whetstone."

Lei Jingtong said weakly, a bitter smile on his face.

"You are very strong."

After a moment’s thought, that was all Yu Changsheng could say.

"A loss is a loss." Lei Jingtong pushed himself up with both hands, took out two Elixirs and swallowed them. He regained just enough strength to sit up, his hair disheveled.

"I really took a fall this time. I’m afraid Huang Suyu has really picked a fight with the wrong person."

Yu Changsheng said nothing, lost in thought as he felt the power surging through every part of his body.

"Forget it. Go on to the higher levels. Come find me at Overlord Blade Peak sometime, and I’ll buy you a drink."

Shaking his head, Lei Jingtong assessed his condition. His spirit was growing weaker. Resigned, he cupped his fist to Yu Changsheng and crushed his Jade Tube.

His physical condition was terrible. It was impossible for him to reach the five-thousandth step in the remaining time. Staying any longer was pointless; it was better to withdraw early and focus on healing.

"Sigh, I never expected it would end like this," Lei Jingtong sighed softly, and his figure slowly faded away.

Silence reigned at the foot of the mountain. The assembled Elders stared blankly, unable to process what they had just seen for a long time.

Elder Hai and Elder Li stared at each other, wide-eyed, each seeing the utter shock in the other’s gaze.

"That... that kid... How did he dare?"

Elder Cao smiled faintly, saying nothing. He didn’t seem surprised by this outcome at all.

Elder Li’s expression was grim. He glanced at Yun Hejing, who couldn’t hide her own shock, and after a long moment, he let out a low sigh.

"Elder Yun, you truly have a keen eye. Sigh. A loss is a loss, and I am a man of my word."

Hearing this, Yun Hejing suppressed her own shock and smiled faintly at Elder Li. "It’s all thanks to the boy’s own efforts. I was fully prepared to lose."

"He’s not simple. Well, no matter. I’ll just consider this loss as forming a good bond." Elder Li shook his head, replaying the battle in his mind, his expression still one of utter disbelief.

The light of the teleportation faded, and Lei Jingtong’s figure appeared. He opened his eyes to find a group of Elders all staring at him, and he froze.

After a moment, he saw the Elder from his own Peak among them. A look of shame appeared on Lei Jingtong’s face, and he bowed his head.

"Disciple Lei Jingtong has failed to pass the trial. I have brought shame upon you, Elder."

"It’s alright. Focus on healing your injuries for now."

Elder Zhang of Overlord Blade Peak waved his hand, choosing not to blame Lei Jingtong, even though the defeat of his Peak’s second-ranked disciple was a significant loss of face.

"No one could have expected Yu Changsheng to be so insane at the final moment, forcing a breakthrough into Physical Foundation Establishment. You didn’t lose unjustly."

After some thought, Elder Zhang offered a word of comfort to Lei Jingtong.

Lei Jingtong fell silent, looking somewhat dejected. He muttered to himself, "So he really did achieve Physical Foundation Establishment..."

However, his dejection was fleeting. In an instant, Lei Jingtong recovered, his eyes filled with resolve. He didn’t let the loss crush his spirit.

Seeing this, Elder Zhang nodded to himself and gave Lei Jingtong an appreciative glance.

Elder Li spoke up then. When he mentioned Yu Changsheng, his voice was tinged with helplessness and deep emotion:

"That Magic Technique from Beast Taming Peak is rather interesting."

"And to not hesitate to corner himself in a desperate situation just to achieve a breakthrough... A physical breakthrough is far more difficult than one in Cultivation. Qi Blood Shadow, Physical Foundation Establishment."

"It seems this year’s trial has produced another dark horse."