I Tame Beasts by Feeding

"I wonder, what wager can Elder Yun possibly offer?"

Meeting Elder Li’s somber gaze, Yun Hejing smiled lightly. "If Elder Li is willing to part with a spot in the Sword Cleansing Pool, then I won’t be stingy either. How about I trade a Tier Two Peak Spirit Beast for it?"

"Are you serious?!"

Elder Li was taken aback, and the other Elders were equally astonished.

A Tier Two Peak Spirit Beast was the equivalent of a human Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Most of the Elders present were only at this Realm themselves. This wager was, by no means, a small one.

In comparison, Elder Li’s spot in the Sword Cleansing Pool seemed somewhat insignificant.

"Fine, I’ll take that bet! Elders, you are all witnesses."

Elder Li agreed without much hesitation. A Tier Two Peak Spirit Beast was a more than sufficient wager. More importantly, he refused to believe Lei Jingtong could possibly lose to Yu Changsheng.

He knew a bit about Lei Jingtong’s capabilities. Even some Foundation Establishment Cultivators were no match for him, so how could Yu Changsheng possibly stand a chance?

"Then I hope Elder Li won’t go back on his word when the time comes," Yun Hejing said with a serene smile. For her, a Tier Two Peak Spirit Beast was a huge loss, but she believed in Yu Changsheng.

’Little guy, this is all I can do to help you. If you don’t win, I’m going to take a huge loss on this.’

With such a wager on the line, the Elders decided to simply enjoy the show. They even temporarily paid less attention to Huang Suyu on the highest level, focusing their gazes on Yu Changsheng instead.

...

Of course, Yu Changsheng, engrossed in battle, was completely unaware of the bet made in the outside world. He was merely probing, constantly seeking opportunities and adapting as he clashed with Lei Jingtong.

’My idea was right... Fighting such a high-intensity battle in this environment really can temper and hammer my physical body and Divine Sense!’

Carefully sensing the subtle changes within himself, Yu Changsheng’s eyes lit up with a pleasant surprise.

THUMP THUMP THUMP!!!

Cracking sounds echoed from his limbs and bones. Yu Changsheng’s blood and qi surged as his heart beat with immense power. His blood became a furnace, his Divine Soul the fuel, and the surrounding pressure the driving force. Surging Spiritual Power continuously purged impurities from his system. Yu Changsheng could feel his physical body steadily strengthening at a remarkable pace.

This strengthening process also intensified with each step he climbed.

’It’s not enough. It’s too slow.’ Yu Changsheng’s brow furrowed. This level of physical enhancement wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

While he was pondering, the Red Refining Snake and the Golden-Winged Eagle kept Lei Jingtong busy. Yu Changsheng gritted his teeth and took out an elixir from his Hundred Treasures Pouch. It was dark red, and its medicinal aroma assailed the nostrils.

It was a Body Forging Pill, one of the leftovers from his last alchemy session.

’In for a penny, in for a pound! An environment like this is hard to come by. I have to try it!’

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, a crazed look appeared in Yu Changsheng’s eyes, and he swallowed the Body Forging Pill.

The memory of the agonizing pain from the last time he took a Body Forging Pill was still fresh. But with that experience behind him, his body was now completely different. This time, as the elixir entered his system, the pain was present but not nearly as intense. It was something Yu Changsheng could endure.

THUMP THUMP THUMP!!!

The Body Forging Pill dissolved into a warm current that surged through his limbs and bones. A familiar sensation washed over him. His heart pounded violently, his blood and qi roiled like fire, and his body temperature soared. A tingling numbness spread throughout his body, causing him to tremble.

The ubiquitous pressure of the Celestial Ladder squeezed him like a tidal wave, while his own body became a furnace. Between this internal and external forging, the Body Forging Pill’s Medicinal Force was consumed at a rapid pace.

’Still not enough. The Body Forging Pill’s effects are diminished the second time...’

Yu Changsheng’s brow furrowed. Without much hesitation, he took out two more Body Forging Pills—one of which had a Pill Pattern engraved on it—and swallowed them both in one gulp.

’If that’s the case, then I’ll just eat two more!’

...

In the outside world, the group of Elders were dumbfounded when they saw what Yu Changsheng was doing.

"What is he doing? He’s in the middle of a fight! That elixir he’s taking... it doesn’t look like a recovery-type, does it?"

Elder Hai hesitated, looking at Yu Changsheng with uncertainty. He had originally thought Yu Changsheng had taken an enhancement or recovery elixir, but...

"That looks like a Body Forging Pill? Is he insane? Taking a Body Forging Pill before reaching Foundation Establishment, and during a fight in that kind of environment... isn’t he afraid of his body bursting apart and killing him?"

An Elder who knew about elixirs watched this scene, filled with shock and doubt.

"It is a Body Forging Pill. And by the looks of it, this isn’t his first time. That kid is audacious! He’s using the unique environment of the Celestial Ladder and treating Lei Jingtong as a whetstone. By taking the Body Forging Pill now, he’s trying to maximize its Medicinal Force and achieve a physical breakthrough!"

A sharp glint flashed in Elder Cao’s eyes as he clicked his tongue in amazement, having guessed Yu Changsheng’s intentions.

"Impressive. Based on this courage alone, this Yu Changsheng deserves our respect!"

As Elder Li listened to the discussion, a look of admiration inevitably appeared in his eyes. Although he didn’t favor Yu Changsheng, he couldn’t help but admire the young man’s mettle.

Yun Hejing stared intently at Yu Changsheng on the screen, feeling a little nervous without realizing it.

’He’s taking such a huge risk...’

...

Another two Body Forging Pills entered his body. The immense Medicinal Force scoured his meridians, and that familiar, long-lost sensation of tearing pain returned, as if his blood and qi were about to burst from his body.

A ferocious expression twisted Yu Changsheng’s face. As he looked at Lei Jingtong and his Flaming Saber, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

"ROAR!"

With a roar, veins bulged on Yu Changsheng’s face. After sending a Divine Thought to the Red Refining Snake and the Golden-Winged Eagle, he took the initiative and used Shadow Flash to appear before Lei Jingtong.

The Soul-Breaking Nail appeared in his hand. Yu Changsheng reversed the flow of his blood and qi, and gripping the Soul-Breaking Nail, he smashed it violently toward Lei Jingtong.

With immense Medicinal Force inside him and infinite pressure outside, Yu Changsheng needed to vent at this moment to maintain a precarious balance within his body.

This was also why Yu Changsheng hadn’t used his Divine Sense to forcefully obliterate Lei Jingtong. Firstly, using it would allow him to defeat Lei Jingtong quickly, but he himself would be left in a weakened state, as Lei Jingtong’s own Divine Soul was also very robust.

Furthermore, becoming weakened would be extremely detrimental to his climb. Thus, Yu Changsheng had no intention of using his Divine Sense to force a victory before reaching the five-thousandth step.

The other reason was that while Lei Jingtong saw him as a whetstone, wasn’t Yu Changsheng also using him as one? Having consumed three Body Forging Pills, he needed a cathartic, all-out battle like this to vent and balance his body with the environment.

’He’s already popping pills?’

Lei Jingtong was shocked and suspicious. Watching Yu Changsheng’s wide, sweeping movements, he felt a flicker of alarm but also sneered inwardly.

’The biggest taboo for a Beast Master is confronting an enemy directly. You’ve just committed a cardinal sin!’

CLANG!!!

The Flaming Saber in his hand collided with the Soul-Breaking Nail. Flames billowed backward as the Soul-Breaking Nail was sent flying. A terrifying shockwave swept out in all directions, and even the void itself seemed to twist for a moment.