I Tame Beasts by Feeding

"Not even a single clue?"

At these words, Shen Xingchen’s brow arched. He gave Yu Changsheng a long, meaningful look, his own words laced with insinuation.

"Mm, that’s right. None at all," Yu Changsheng confirmed with a nod.

"Such opportunities can only be stumbled upon, not sought out. But I believe someone with your immense fortune will find it when the time is right, Changsheng."

Shen Xingchen chuckled, not pressing the matter further.

He paused for a moment before continuing, "Cao Jinxian... was a true genius. I imagine that since she cultivated both Beast Taming and the Sword Dao, any legacy she left behind would be split into a Beast Taming inheritance and a Sword Dao inheritance."

"But if you only practice Beast Taming, Changsheng, then the Sword Dao inheritance would be a bit of a waste."

Shen Xingchen shook his head gently and sighed. He looked up and suddenly said, "However, I don’t see why you couldn’t learn both the Sword Dao and Beast Taming, Changsheng. With your talent, I imagine it wouldn’t be too difficult."

Yu Changsheng broke into an awkward sweat. He chuckled dryly and waved his hand. "Senior Brother Shen, you’re too kind. What talent do I have? It’s all just been a series of flukes. I’m a far cry from a true genius, completely incomparable. Even my Spirit Platform is only at the seventh layer."

That’s what Yu Changsheng said, but he knew perfectly well what was going on. ’Shen Xingchen’s last comment was just flattery, a way to be more tactful.’

’His true intention was hidden in what he said before.’

’The meaning wasn’t hard to guess: *Since you, Yu Changsheng, are a Beast Master, if you really did get Cao Jinxian’s inheritance, the Sword Dao portion would be useless to you. Why not give it to me? You take your Beast Taming, and I’ll take my Sword Dao.*’

’Of course, if that were the case, Yu Changsheng might actually consider it. But this was all still completely up in the air, so he would continue to play dumb.’

’As for what Shen Xingchen had suggested—cultivating both the Sword Dao and Beast Taming—he’d rather not. Yu Changsheng was well aware that his Beast Taming Talent came entirely from a cheat, but he had no such cheat for the Sword Dao.’

’Focusing on the Sword Dao wouldn’t be a good path for him. Cultivating on his own without a cheat to give him peace of mind? Yeah, no thanks.’

Yu Changsheng found the idea unacceptable. Shen Xingchen simply smiled; he had only mentioned it in passing and didn’t insist, careful not to arouse Yu Changsheng’s aversion.

Time dripped by. After his physical body’s latest breakthrough, the tempering effect of the Sword Cleansing Pool had diminished significantly for Yu Changsheng. Even the second layer of his Spirit Platform had all but stopped consolidating, reaching only about eighty percent completion.

Even so, Yu Changsheng was already quite satisfied. This trip to the Sword Cleansing Pool had given his combat power an astonishing boost.

’According to Shen Xingchen, this Profound Celestial Giant Sword is under a Seal. But even so, the Sword Qi it passively radiates was enough to create this Sword Cleansing Pool...’

Yu Changsheng mused, his eyes glittering. He gazed at the Profound Celestial Giant Sword, which was practically within arm’s reach, and felt an audacious urge stirring within him.

’I wonder... what would it feel like if I reached out and touched it?’

With this thought, Yu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed. After a long moment, he inconspicuously took another step toward the Profound Celestial Giant Sword in the center, slowly extending his Divine Sense toward it.

As he drew nearer, the Sword Gang suffusing the air grew more violent. However, for the current Yu Changsheng, it was merely a nuisance, not a true obstacle.

His Divine Sense was the first to spread across the Profound Celestial Giant Sword. The instant it made contact, an icy sensation was transmitted into Yu Changsheng’s mind, making his Sea of Consciousness tremble. There was no discomfort; instead, an indescribably pleasant feeling spread throughout his entire body.

At the same time, a clear image of the Profound Celestial Giant Sword was transmitted into his Sea of Consciousness.

The Profound Celestial Giant Sword was silver-white from hilt to tip. The entire blade was plunged into the center of the pool, its point hidden from view. The width of the blade was likely as wide as a man.

What was visible of its height was over five meters. Streams of light cascaded down its length, blurring it to the naked eye. Under his Divine Sense, however, every detail was perfectly clear.

The blade was long and slender, with a dragon’s head coiled around the hilt. Mysterious, profound patterns snaked from the hilt to the unseen tip. In the middle of the blade, the two words of its name, Profound Celestial, were engraved in a flamboyant, majestic script that carried an air of proud defiance. Even through his Divine Sense, the sharp Sword Qi made Yu Changsheng’s heart pound with fear.

Boundless Spiritual Qi enveloped the sword. At the same time, three thick, blood-red, and extremely conspicuous lines covered the Sword Body. They flickered as if suppressing something, and the subtle traces of an Array were hidden within them.

"Profound Celestial..."

Yu Changsheng’s gaze grew mesmerized, and he couldn’t help but whisper the name. An invisible energy enveloped him. As if possessed, Yu Changsheng inexplicably plunged his Divine Sense deep into the sword once more. His body began to move uncontrollably, slowly approaching the Profound Celestial Giant Sword. He raised a hand, his finger extending slowly toward the blade.

"Hm?" Startled by Yu Changsheng’s whisper, Shen Xingchen slowly opened his eyes. He looked over at Yu Changsheng, his brow furrowing unconsciously.

The next instant, when he saw what Yu Changsheng was doing, Shen Xingchen’s expression changed drastically, and he cried out in alarm.

"What are you doing?! Don’t touch it! The Sword Qi on that sword will obliterate your very soul in an instant!"

But it was no use. At that moment, Yu Changsheng seemed to be in a trance, staring blankly at the Profound Celestial Giant Sword. His movements didn’t stop, and he gave no response to Shen Xingchen.

Even with the Profound Celestial Giant Sword under a Seal, its passively radiated Sword Qi was enough to form the Sword Cleansing Pool. The might of the blade itself was unimaginable. Anyone below the Golden Core realm who touched it would face certain death. This was exactly why Lu Ruikai had warned them repeatedly before they entered.

So seeing Yu Changsheng’s actions now, how could Shen Xingchen not be panicked?

The moment the words left his mouth, Shen Xingchen lunged toward Yu Changsheng, trying to pull him back.

He didn’t know what madness had seized Yu Changsheng, but he knew he had to stop him. Unfortunately, within the Sword Cleansing Pool, Shen Xingchen’s movements could not be swift. Despite struggling with all his might, he was ultimately a step too slow.

DONG!!

Yu Changsheng’s finger made contact with the Profound Celestial Giant Sword. A sensation both icy and scorching flowed from his fingertip through his entire body. The Profound Celestial Giant Sword trembled faintly. With the vibration, the water of the Sword Cleansing Pool rippled, and the rampaging Sword Qi came to a standstill. An invisible wave instantly spread throughout the entire pool, but it was perfectly contained, not a single trace leaking out.

On the sword’s blade, the three thick, blood-red lines flared with brilliant light. The power of the Seal erupted, halting the Profound Celestial Giant Sword’s tremors. Besides that, a faint, clear chime passed through the Profound Celestial Giant Sword, echoing in the depths of Yu Changsheng’s mind and rippling through his Sea of Consciousness, but not in the outside world.

"Ommm..."

This clear chime was difficult to describe in words. It was like a flower blooming in the light, like the clouds parting to reveal the moon. It was like the gentle breeze at dawn, like the white dew in the untamed wilderness.

It was tranquil and melodious, imbued with an inexplicable divine power that plunged one’s heart into a state of peace. His mind became utterly clear and perceptive, and the Magical Power throughout his body rose and fell in time with the chime, sometimes slow, sometimes fast.