I Tame Beasts by Feeding

After leaving Gongsun Yang, Yu Changsheng went straight to the Spirit Chicken Garden for his daily feeding routine.

The Spirit Chicken Garden had been expanded twice, and he could now harvest three thousand points of essence from a single day of feeding.

With a thought, he called up his data panel.

[Name: Yu Changsheng]

[Realm: Qi Refining Ninth Heaven]

[Physique: Spirit Beast Affinity]

[Cultivation Technique: Chang Chun Technique - Skilled (5/10,000), Refining God Technique - Minor Achievement (3,500/5,000,000), Beast Taming Technique - Mastery (1,022/100,000), Three-coin Fire Refining Technique - Mastery (10,000/100,000)]

[Magic: Fireball Skill - Minor Achievement (1,435/100,000), Shadow Flash - Mastery (3,221/50,000), Wind Travel Skill - Mastery (337/10,000), Wood Shield Skill - Mastery (1,182/10,000), Rainwalking Skill - Beginner (10/100), Thousand Thoughts Slash - Skilled (1,240/100,000)]

[Skills: Tier One Spirit Plant (5/1,000), Tier Two Alchemy Dao (5,000/50,000)]

[Spirit Pet: Red Refining Snake, Golden-Winged Eagle, Colorful Star Deer]

[Remaining Essence: 65,210]

After his recent accumulation, his essence had once again surpassed sixty thousand, and his Alchemy had also become more refined.

However...

Looking at the immense amount of essence required for the Three-coin Fire Refining Technique, Yu Changsheng fell silent.

’Forget it. I’ll just practice on my own for now. I need to save this essence for other things.’

’As if I, Yu Changsheng, would be useless without my cheat system. This is all from my own persistence and hard work, thank you very much.’

’I still have over sixty thousand essence, and enough Sect Contribution. I should go pick out a new Technique.’

Having made up his mind, Yu Changsheng headed for the Magic Technique Pavilion.

’Overlord Blade Technique? Flaming Saber? Cold Ice Palm?’

’Why do all of these Techniques sound so trashy? The first floor really doesn’t have anything good.’

Yu Changsheng muttered to himself and, completely unimpressed, walked past a pile of Techniques and headed to the second floor.

’Heaven-Surpassing Nine Heavens? Heaven-Burning Flame Saber? Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens? Heaven-Crashing Earth-Sinking Purple Gold Hammer?’

’The names are impressive enough, all flashy and ostentatious, but they’re all just mediocre.’

The corner of Yu Changsheng’s mouth twitched. He picked up the Magic Jade Tubes and Scrolls to examine them, only to put them back down again.

After a moment of thought, Yu Changsheng decided to start searching in the corners. He might have better luck finding a treasure in the places no one else bothered to look.

An ancient technique Scroll, covered in a thick layer of dust, caught his eye.

’Exclusively for Beast Masters?’

His interest piqued, Yu Changsheng picked it up and examined it closely.

"Beast Shadow. Exclusive to Beast Masters. Condenses a phantom of the user’s contracted beast to serve as a regular means of attack. Its power is considerable. It requires a Beast Taming Contract as a medium and cannot be cultivated by anyone other than a Beast Master."

Yu Changsheng’s eyes lit up. According to the Technique’s description, the power of the Beast Shadow didn’t just depend on one’s Cultivation level; it was also intrinsically linked to the Beast Master’s Spirit Pets. The stronger the Spirit Pets, the more powerful the Beast Shadow.

For Yu Changsheng, whose Spirit Beasts were top-tier within the Qi Refining Realm and numbered a rare three, learning this Technique was a heaven-sent opportunity. It would allow him to fully leverage his unique advantages.

Yu Changsheng pondered for a moment. He glanced at the required Sect Contribution; it was exactly the amount he had, no more, no less. It seemed this Technique was truly something special.

He picked up the Magic Jade Tube and Scroll and walked toward the main door. The Elder of the Magic Technique Pavilion glanced up at Yu Changsheng with a peculiar look in his eyes and said,

"Beast Shadow? This Technique isn’t cheap. You’re a Beast Master, I take it? This one has high requirements for Beast Taming, and it’s not easy to comprehend. Many have exchanged for it before but failed to make any headway with their practice."

"If you’re not completely confident, I suggest you choose another. The Contribution Points this costs are enough to get you some other, better Techniques."

The Magic Technique Pavilion Elder reminded him with good intentions.

"It’s fine. I’ll take this one. I want to give it a try," Yu Changsheng said with a slight smile.

’Is Beast Shadow really that difficult? Maybe. But too bad for them, I have a cheat system.’

"Alright, then. I’ve warned you. Once you decide to exchange for it, you can’t change your mind even if you’re not satisfied."

Seeing Yu Changsheng’s insistence, the Magic Technique Pavilion Elder didn’t try to persuade him further. He spoke flatly, deducted the contribution points, and paid him no more mind.

He had only offered a well-intentioned reminder. After all, so many contribution points were hard to come by. Whether Yu Changsheng listened or not was his own business.

Taking back his identity jade tube and seeing the paltry few Contribution Points left on it, Yu Changsheng felt a pang of heartache.

’I hope this Beast Shadow doesn’t disappoint me.’

Back in the Spirit Chicken Garden, Yu Changsheng extended his Divine Sense and slowly read the Beast Shadow Scroll and Jade Tube. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he had a general understanding.

’Using the Beast Taming Contract as a medium, a Beast Master can use their own power to draw upon a portion of their Spirit Pet’s strength. Without summoning the beast itself, they can condense an additional beast’s shadow outside their body.’

’The beast’s shadow can not only wield a portion of the beast’s power based on the Beast Master’s own strength, becoming an extra combat force, but when cultivated to a high level, it can even allow the Beast Shadow to integrate with the Beast Master, empowering them. At its most powerful, it can achieve instantaneous switching between phantom and reality, allowing it to take a fatal blow for the beast!’

’But this phantom-reality switch is too difficult. At least, I can’t do it right now. Maybe after I reach Foundation Establishment, or when my Cultivation of this Beast Shadow reaches Mastery or Minor Achievement.’

’No matter what, this Magic is perfect for me!’

Yu Changsheng slowly finished reading the Scroll, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he let out a slow breath of turbid air.

’It’s just a shame that the Divine Techniques mentioned later aren’t included in what I exchanged for. The Beast Shadow technique I have is only the first part.’

’I wonder if the other part is even in the Magic Technique Pavilion. If not, that’ll be a problem.’

Yu Changsheng felt a bit of regret, but it wasn’t a big deal.

’But the first part is enough for now. I’ll figure out what to do later. Getting a Technique like this for so few contribution points is a real bargain.’

’Is it because it’s so difficult to master?’ Yu Changsheng guessed.

Soon, Yu Changsheng began to study Beast Shadow. Just as he was starting to get a feel for it, a system notification popped up.

[You have learned a new Magic—Beast Shadow (Part 1). Do you wish to use points to upgrade it?]

[Beast Shadow: Beginner (1/5,000)]

System, add points!

Yu Changsheng didn’t hesitate. ’This was all due to my own persistence and hard work... and a tiny, insignificant bit of talent.’

[5,000 Essence consumed. The Magic Beast Shadow has reached the Skilled level!]

Streams of insight about the Beast Shadow technique appeared out of thin air in Yu Changsheng’s mind, as if he had personally practiced it thousands of times. The knowledge was deeply imprinted upon his Sea of Consciousness.

In an instant, Yu Changsheng gained a much clearer understanding of how to cast and use this Divine Technique, Beast Shadow, and the pathways for circulating Spiritual Power. A profound aura naturally formed around him.

Once he had fully digested this information, Yu Changsheng didn’t stop. He continued adding points.

[50,000 Essence consumed. The Magic Beast Shadow has reached the Mastery level!]

[Beast Shadow (Part 1): Mastery (1/100,000)]

A veritable sea of information flooded into Yu Changsheng’s mind. Even with the strength of his Divine Sense, he felt his mind swell, only recovering after a few moments of digestion.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Spirit Beast Contracts grew slightly warm. A profound energy flowed through them, and three phantom images automatically appeared in front of Yu Changsheng.