I'm Just a Beast Tamer

"Senior Sister Yuan."

For the Sect Leader’s promotion ceremony, senior brothers and sisters who rarely showed their faces in the sect all rushed back after receiving the news.

Jiang Zuo also met his fifth senior sister, Yuan Xingfeng.

Yuan Xingfeng’s appearance was somewhat different from what Jiang Zuo had imagined. She wasn’t a valiant swordswoman, but rather a young matron.

Then again, it made sense. Aside from a handful of ascetics wholly devoted to their Cultivation, few people would remain single after two or three hundred years.

Take Yu Ying, for example. He was a notorious womanizer. It was only because he hadn’t left the sect in recent years that he’d lacked opportunities for his dalliances.

After all, he was infamous throughout the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, and under the stern warnings of their elders, the beauties of the sect had long since learned to avoid him like the plague.

Even Jiang Zuo, who was considered diligent in his Cultivation, had a dual cultivation partner.

"Junior Brother, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a shame I’ve been traveling all this time, but now we’ve finally met."

"I don’t have much on me worth giving, but please, take this Wind-Riding Talisman as a little greeting gift from me."

Yuan Xingfeng smiled gently and handed a Wind-Riding Talisman to Jiang Zuo.

The Wind-Riding Talisman was a third-tier Talisman. It was exceedingly rare among its kind, as it was incredibly complex to create and its materials were difficult to find.

Upon activation, it would summon a gale that would sweep up the user and carry them forward at astonishing speed.

Even most Three Flowers Realm Cultivators couldn’t keep up with the speed of a Wind-Riding Talisman.

Since Jiang Zuo was known for being unable to sustain the use of his Spiritual Power, the Wind-Riding Talisman was perfect for him.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Yuan."

Jiang Zuo accepted it with thanks, not bothering with pleasantries.

However, as he took the Wind-Riding Talisman, Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but be slightly startled by a piece of jewelry revealed on Senior Sister Yuan’s wrist.

After a moment’s thought, Jiang Zuo asked, "Senior Sister Yuan, where did you get that bracelet?"

"You mean this Star Eyes Bracelet? A good friend of mine gave it to me as a congratulatory gift after I advanced to the Three Flowers Realm."

"Is there something wrong with it?"

Yuan Xingfeng looked at Jiang Zuo, a little surprised.

The Star Eyes Bracelet on her wrist was an exquisite silver chain, threaded through a deep Beast Eye that resembled a starry night sky.

Though it looked simple, infusing it with Spiritual Qi would cause the deep Beast Eye to glow with various colors.

Furthermore, the bracelet itself was a third-tier Spiritual Artifact that could deploy a Magic Shield for defense.

Yuan Xingfeng was extremely fond of the Star Eyes Bracelet, which was why she wore it all the time.

For Jiang Zuo to ask about the origin of her Magical Artifact upon their very first meeting was...

Even though they were fellow disciples, it was undeniably inappropriate.

However, assuming Jiang Zuo must have had a reason for asking, Yuan Xingfeng answered honestly.

"Senior Sister, you’re probably aware that I have a talent for Beast Taming. When it comes to things related to Spirit Beasts and Demon Beasts, I can often sense things that others cannot."

"I can faintly sense a malevolent aura from the Beast Eye on your bracelet. If you wear it for too long, it will cause serious harm to your body."

Jiang Zuo said, pointing at the Star Eyes Bracelet on Yuan Xingfeng.

"Zhou Yong, are you telling the truth?"

Luo Taidong, who was standing nearby, heard this. His expression changed as he strode over.

Yuan Xingfeng, on the other hand, wore a look of disbelief.

This Star Eyes Bracelet was a gift from her best friend. There was no reason her friend would want to harm her.

But she had only just met her Junior Brother today; it was even more unlikely that he would be spouting nonsense just to drive a wedge between her and her friend.

"Come! Let’s go see Elder Hu!"

Luo Taidong extended his Spiritual Power into Yuan Xingfeng’s body for a quick examination. His expression flickered, and he immediately pulled her along to find Elder Hu.

Elder Hu was a renowned Pharmacist in the Black Tortoise Dao Sect. Since even he could faintly sense something was wrong with Yuan Xingfeng, Elder Hu could most likely pinpoint the source of the problem.

"Master, Senior Sister, if there really is a problem with the bracelet, don’t destroy it! It would be useful for my research!"

Jiang Zuo hurriedly shouted at their departing figures.

He had seen the problem because the Beast Eye was no ordinary object—it was an Obsession Relic!

Moreover, the obsession contained within this Beast Eye was incredibly strong—at least fourth-tier, perhaps even fifth-tier!

Besides the obsession, the Beast Eye also exuded a distinctly strange aura that was slowly and secretly corrupting Senior Sister Yuan’s body.

Over time, it would cause immense damage to her body.

"Alas, this is probably going to be a huge blow for your Senior Sister."

His Third Senior Brother walked over, shaking his head as he spoke to Jiang Zuo.

"Third Senior Brother, do you know the inside story?"

Jiang Zuo asked curiously.

He had discovered the problem with the bracelet early on. Although his Fifth Senior Sister’s body had sustained some damage, it wasn’t serious. A few years of rest would be enough for her to recover, so Jiang Zuo wasn’t in a hurry.

"This likely has to do with matters of the heart."

"You know I’m something of an expert in romance. I once met both the friend who gave our Junior Sister Yuan the bracelet and her husband."

"Even back then, I sensed that her friend seemed to harbor some special feelings for our junior sister’s husband."

"But with no proof, I couldn’t just go around spreading rumors."

"I never thought things would end up like this."

Third Senior Brother said with a sigh.

"What about our senior sister’s husband?"

Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but ask.

This time, his Fifth Senior Sister had returned to the sect alone.

"He died several decades ago. He and our junior sister were ambushed, and he sacrificed himself to save her. She survived, but his wounds were too severe and he succumbed to them."

Third Senior Brother shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zuo immediately understood.

’Senior Sister’s friend must have let her love curdle into hate.’

That afternoon, Luo Taidong returned and gave the Star Eyes Bracelet to Jiang Zuo.

Just as Jiang Zuo had predicted, the problem was caught early enough that his Fifth Senior Sister was not in any serious danger.

But had it been another decade, even if her life could have been saved, the vast majority of her Cultivation would have been destroyed.

His Fifth Senior Sister was devastated and had been ordered by Luo Taidong to go into seclusion to recuperate.

’It seems Senior Sister’s friend received guidance from an expert.’

’A Curse Technique was cast on this Beast Eye. A normal one couldn’t have possibly borne such a technique, much less sustained the curse for decades.’

’This Beast Eye carries a powerful obsession; without external interference, it could exist almost eternally, making it completely different from a normal one.’

’Even so, a person without considerable skill wouldn’t be able to spot the difference, let alone use this Beast Eye as a vessel for a Curse Technique.’

Jiang Zuo held the Star Eyes Bracelet and examined it closely.

’The Cultivation Realm is truly full of hidden experts. If I didn’t have the Beast Taming System, I never would have noticed what was special about this Beast Eye.’

Shaking his head, Jiang Zuo didn’t dwell on it and chose to absorb the Beast Eye.

--Eye of a Star Dust Bird: A fifth-tier Obsession Relic containing the intense obsession of a Star Dust Bird.

The Star Dust Bird is a docile Demon Beast found at the edge of the Endless Sea Forest. However, because their feathers can significantly weaken the power of Magic and their eyes glow with various colors after death, Star Dust Birds are hunted relentlessly.

This eye belonged to a Star Dust Bird that had repeatedly escaped from human Cultivators. It personally witnessed countless companions fall to human hands, and no matter where the flock fled, they were driven away by other members of the Demon Race.

Find a safe haven for the Star Dust Birds of the Endless Sea, and you will obtain the Beast Soul Power contained within.

’It really is a fifth-tier Obsession Relic!’

Seeing this, Jiang Zuo felt a surge of joy.

A fifth-tier Obsession Relic meant 3,000 points of Beast Soul Power!

More importantly, fulfilling the Star Dust Bird’s obsession didn’t seem too difficult.

He had the Pet Beast Spirit Garden. All he had to do was bring the Star Dust Birds into the garden, and the task would be complete!

Jiang Zuo had never been to the Endless Sea Forest, but he had certainly heard of it.

The Endless Sea Forest was on the shores of the Endless Sea, and the Demon Beasts within were at least third-tier or higher.

Deeper within, one could find fifth-tier Demon Emperors and even sixth-tier Demon Race Venerables.

Jiang Zuo wasn’t in a rush to use the Beast Soul Power, so he felt no urgency to head over there just yet.

He would wait until the expedition to the Daoist Talisman Holy Land Secret Realm was over before looking for an opportunity to go.

...

As the day of the ceremony approached, more and more disciples returned to the sect.

Some allied sects, traveling from afar to offer their congratulations, also arrived a few days early and settled into their accommodations within the Black Tortoise Dao Sect.

However, there was still no sign of his Second Senior Brother. He hadn’t returned to the sect, nor had any message come from him, leaving everyone to wonder what trouble he might have encountered.

Jiang Zuo had hoped to finally meet his Second Senior Brother, but as it seemed increasingly likely that he wouldn’t make it back in time, he gradually put the matter out of his mind.

As the ceremony drew near, most of the sect’s disciples, especially those from the Inner Sect and the Direct Disciples, grew increasingly busy.

Jiang Zuo was the sole exception.

Burdened by the Daoist Shackles, he knew that if he went anywhere crowded, he would be gawked at like an animal in a zoo.

Jiang Zuo had no desire to join the festivities anyway, so he simply continued his routine of quietly cultivating, raising his pets, and studying the art of Talismans.

「Two days before the ceremony.」

That afternoon, Luo Taidong rushed over to get Jiang Zuo.

"Zhou Yong, one of our guests is having a small issue with her Spirit Beast, and she’d like you to take a look," Luo Taidong said.

But after saying this aloud, he added via voice transmission, "When the guest asks for your help, just agree. She will explain the specific reasons to you herself."

"Yes, Master."

Jiang Zuo was surprised but replied as calmly as ever.

Luo Taidong led Jiang Zuo to a secluded courtyard within the Black Tortoise Dao Sect.

This courtyard was reserved for distinguished guests from other sects, which meant the person seeking Jiang Zuo was no ordinary figure.

On the way, Jiang Zuo learned the identity of the person looking for him.

According to Luo Taidong, the person seeking him was a stunningly beautiful Cultivator. Not only that, but she was also the most brilliant disciple of the Spirit Seal Sect. Despite having cultivated for only three hundred years, she had already reached the late stage of the Dao Fruit Realm.

Many hailed her as the genius beauty in the entire Cultivation Realm most likely to break through to the Manifestation Realm.

The Spirit Seal Sect, much like the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, had once had a founding ancestor who ascended to the Upper Realm, though the sect had since fallen into decline.

This beautiful genius’s Cultivation was already the highest in the entire Spirit Seal Sect.

If she hadn’t explicitly stated her desire to focus on her difficult Cultivation, claiming she had no time for sect affairs, she would have already become the new Sect Leader of the Spirit Seal Sect.

This talented and beautiful Cultivator from the Spirit Seal Sect was named Yu Subai.

’Yu Subai?’

The name sounded vaguely familiar to Jiang Zuo.

Then he quickly recalled the little girl who had lived next door to him back in Red Fox Town. Her name was Subai.

’A shared name would be one thing, but didn’t Subai enter the Cultivation Realm around three hundred years ago, too?’

’Could it really be the same little girl he once knew?’