I'm Just a Beast Tamer

A breakthrough!

Jiang Zuo instantly felt a wave of comfort wash over his entire body.

With a flicker of his Divine Sense, Jiang Zuo immediately checked the changes to his Qi Sea after the breakthrough.

And then... Jiang Zuo fell silent for a moment.

The radius of his Qi Sea had suddenly increased by fifteen meters!

’Good, good. At least it wasn’t an increase of thirty meters. That would have really made me sweat!’

However, Jiang Zuo quickly consoled himself.

He thought about ordinary Cultivators, whose initial Qi Sea radius was one meter and would increase by at least another meter after a breakthrough.

If he followed that ratio, his Qi Sea would have had to expand by at least thirty meters.

In that case, the volume of his Qi Sea would have instantly quadrupled, and it would have taken him at least ten years to get from the second to the third level of Qi Cultivation.

And it would only get more terrifying the further he progressed.

Now, it had only increased by fifteen meters, which was less than half that proportional increase.

A rough calculation of the volume suggested it would take him a little over three years to break through to the third level of Qi Cultivation.

’No, wait. The barrier between the second and third levels of Qi Cultivation feels a bit thicker than the one before it. This means the density of the Spiritual Power I need to refine has to be higher.’

’Breaking through from the second to the third level will probably take four years.’

Jiang Zuo carefully assessed the feeling and revised his estimated time for the next breakthrough.

This was also why those with high Cultivation were stronger than those with low Cultivation.

High-level Cultivators not only had a greater quantity of Spiritual Power, but its quality was also superior.

Having broken through to the second level of Qi Cultivation, Jiang Zuo stretched, stepped out of his house, and went to feed his four Cloud Rock Eagles.

In about another six months, these four Cloud Rock Eagles would be fully raised and ready to go.

Jiang Zuo glanced at the Array on Taihao Peak and saw that Luo Taidong still hadn’t returned.

’He’s been gone for three years and still isn’t back. Don’t tell me he ran off to the Western Continent?’

Jiang Zuo muttered.

Outside the Array lay some letters delivered by sect disciples. Jiang Zuo glanced at them, saw they were all for Luo Taidong, and gathered them up to store them safely.

’Time to get back to Cultivation!’

The feeling of growing stronger through Cultivation was addictive. Jiang Zuo continued his secluded training.

In the blink of an eye, another half a year passed during his seclusion.

The four Cloud Rock Eagles Jiang Zuo was raising had now all been successfully matured.

’The methods for storing Spirit Beast Blood from the Scripture Pavilion can only preserve small amounts. I wonder if there’s a way or an item that can store large quantities of Spirit Beast Blood.’

Jiang Zuo looked at the four Cloud Rock Eagles with a hint of regret.

After one of his Seated Mountain Eagles died of old age, Jiang Zuo had used its blood as an offering to the Desolate Heaven Beast Bone Armor.

The Desolate Heaven Beast Bone Armor had finally responded and accepted the blood.

Before that, it had always rejected the offerings, deeming the amount of blood too small.

In exchange for so much blood, the Desolate Heaven Beast Bone Armor had given him a considerable amount of Beast Soul Power—a full 20 points.

This was far more reliable than searching for other Obsession Relics.

However, the Desolate Heaven Beast Bone Armor would only accept blood from the same type of Spirit Beast once; it wouldn’t take any more after that.

And getting an amount of blood equivalent to that of an entire Spirit Beast was impossible unless he killed a Spirit Beast or a Demon Beast. The only other way was to store the blood in a container, collecting enough over time before offering it to the Desolate Heaven Beast Bone Armor.

But Jiang Zuo didn’t have such means at the moment. Otherwise, he could raise a few more rounds of Cloud Rock Eagles, draw a little blood from each, and accumulate enough to equal a full beast’s worth.

’I can ask Elder Yan. He might know.’

Jiang Zuo thought to himself after a moment of consideration.

As the elder of the Beast Taming Arena, Yan Bocheng should be familiar with such matters.

Since all four Cloud Rock Eagles were now fully raised, Jiang Zuo decided to make a trip to the Beast Taming Arena.

...

「Beast Taming Arena」

"Elder Yan, you should call another disciple to bring over the Cloud Rock Eagles they’ve raised. My junior sister is still so little, so I have to pick one with a gentle temperament. Otherwise, if it throws her off mid-flight, I’ll have no way to explain it to Master."

In a simple wooden shed at the Beast Taming Arena, a young woman in green robes was speaking to Yan Bocheng with a slightly coquettish tone.

In front of the wooden shed, a little girl of about seven or eight was playing in the sand with her head down.

"Haha, Xueyan, rest assured. I’ll personally inspect them before letting you choose. There absolutely won’t be any problems!"

Yan Bocheng said to Yu Xueyan with a smile.

Yu Xueyan was very young, but her status was anything but simple.

"Xueyan, your master... How is Nangong Daoist Lord doing now?"

Yan Bocheng asked after a moment of thought.

"How else could she be? Her condition has stabilized, I suppose. At least her injuries are no longer worsening."

Speaking of her master, a hint of worry clouded Yu Xueyan’s youthful face.

"As long as it’s not worsening, that’s good. It seems Divine Doctor Lu, hailed as the number one divine doctor in the Southern Heaven region, truly lives up to his reputation."

Yan Bocheng nodded.

Yu Xueyan’s master, the Nangong Daoist Lord, had been severely injured several decades ago.

The method used to injure her was exceptionally insidious; even after she escaped back to the sect, her injuries continued to worsen daily.

Later, they finally managed to find Divine Doctor Lu, which was the only reason her condition stopped deteriorating.

But the worry on Yu Xueyan’s face did not lessen.

She knew her master’s situation. It was incredibly difficult just to keep the injuries in check.

And if she wasn’t cured soon, her master’s path of cultivation would be greatly affected.

"Big birds! Lots of big birds!"

The little girl playing in the sand outside the shed suddenly looked up at the sky and shouted with delight.

"Oh, it seems they’ve arrived."

Yan Bocheng said with a smile, walking out of the shed.

"Zhou Yong? Are all four of your Cloud Rock Eagles raised?"

Seeing Elder Yan from above, Jiang Zuo immediately descended.

Yan Bocheng hadn’t expected the arrival to be Jiang Zuo. He was extremely surprised.

Jiang Zuo was seated on one Cloud Rock Eagle, with the other three flying in formation beside him.

Every single Cloud Rock Eagle was exceptionally spirited and full of vigor.

Elder Yan’s eyes burned with intensity as he watched them.

These Cloud Rock Eagles, which Jiang Zuo had raised for only four years, looked much stronger than those raised for five.

"They’re all raised. I had some free time, so I brought them back to the Beast Taming Arena for the handover."

Jiang Zuo leaped down from the Cloud Rock Eagle.

"Elder Yan, can we choose from these Cloud Rock Eagles?"

Yu Xueyan’s eyes also lit up at the sight.

She could, of course, tell how exceptionally well-raised these Cloud Rock Eagles were.

"Of course. See which one you think is best and choose it for your little junior sister."

Yan Bocheng chuckled. He couldn’t help but walk over to see for himself just how good the Cloud Rock Eagles raised by Jiang Zuo were.

After all, Jiang Zuo was the genius who had written the Cloud Rock Eagle husbandry manual. Yan Bocheng was very curious to see what made the eagles he personally tamed so different.

After a series of tests, both Yan Bocheng and Yu Xueyan were stunned.

By their standards for judging Cloud Rock Eagles, these four could only be described as perfectly raised. There wasn’t a single flaw to be found.

It was safe to say that the Beast Taming Arena had never seen Cloud Rock Eagles that could compare to these!

This was only natural.

A Cloud Rock Eagle naturally has three Talent Slots. Including the one Jiang Zuo added, that made four.

With the bonuses from four talents—"Learning," "Combat," "Mutation," and "Comprehension"—where in the entire Black Tortoise Dao Sect could you find such Cloud Rock Eagles?

"Elder Yan, can I have one too?"

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

After inspecting them, Yu Xueyan couldn’t bear to part with them.

It wasn’t that she lacked a Flying Spirit Beast, but she had never seen one so well-behaved and obedient.

"It’s not out of the question, but you’ll have to pay the full Sect Contribution,"

Yan Bocheng said readily.

Most of the other Cloud Rock Eagles had already been reserved. The ones Jiang Zuo brought were a complete surprise.

"Elder Yan, I’d like to ask about something. Do you know if there’s any method or artifact that can preserve a large amount of Spirit Beast Blood for a long time? Preferably for ten to twenty years."

Jiang Zuo spoke up at this moment.

"I have something like that."

"A Mica Jade Dew Bottle. It can hold about one cubic meter of liquid and preserve it for thirty years without spoilage."

Before Yan Bocheng could speak, Yu Xueyan, who was standing to the side, spoke up and took out a jade bottle.

While testing the Cloud Rock Eagles, she had already been observing Jiang Zuo, who stood off to the side.

"That’s perfect. How would you like to trade for it, Senior Sister?"

Jiang Zuo was delighted to hear this.

"No need. I’ll give it to you. It’s just a tier-one Magical Artifact, not worth much."

Yu Xueyan said generously.

"This..."

Jiang Zuo glanced at Yan Bocheng.

"Go on, take it. It really isn’t worth many Spirit Stones."

Yan Bocheng said with a smile.

"In that case, my thanks to you, Senior Sister."

Jiang Zuo didn’t refuse again. He could tell that this Senior Sister intended to build a good relationship with him.

In the future, if there was anything he could easily help her with, Jiang Zuo wouldn’t mind lending a hand.

But if it was anything troublesome, she could forget it.

Jiang Zuo was in a hurry to get back to his Cultivation.

With the item he wanted in hand, and after arranging for Elder Yan to send him any new Cloud Rock Eagle fledglings, Jiang Zuo took his leave.

Yu Xueyan chatted with Yan Bocheng for a while longer, then happily took her little junior sister, mounted a Cloud Rock Eagle, and landed on a towering, cloud-piercing mountain peak.

However, the little girl didn’t seem to have had her fill of flying. She remained on the Cloud Rock Eagle, circling the peak endlessly, letting out joyous peals of laughter from time to time.

An Ice Crystal Beauty, hearing the sound, walked out from a cave that emanated a frosty aura.

She was a true Ice Crystal Beauty in every sense of the name. Her entire body, from her waterfall of waist-long black hair to her translucent, Jade Stone-like skin, was covered in a faint layer of ice crystals that radiated a gentle chill under the sunlight.

"Master, Master, listen! A really amazing junior brother showed up at the Beast Taming Arena!"

Upon seeing the Ice Crystal Beauty, Yu Xueyan immediately rushed over and, chirping like a sparrow, quickly relayed the news she had heard at the Beast Taming Arena to her master.

A beast taming genius...

After listening, a contemplative look appeared in the Ice Crystal Beauty’s eyes.

...

Jiang Zuo had once again completely immersed himself in a state of obsessive Cultivation.

Since returning from the Beast Taming Arena, he had shut out the outside world, focusing solely on his Cultivation.

He would only briefly interrupt his Cultivation when the Beast Taming Arena delivered new Cloud Rock Eagles.

Just as before, Jiang Zuo frantically absorbed Spiritual Qi.

Luo Taidong still hadn’t returned, and in the blink of an eye, another three-plus years had passed.

On this day, after circulating his Cultivation Technique for several cycles...

...the barrier between the second and third levels, just like before, was easily broken through. Jiang Zuo had advanced to the third level of Qi Cultivation.

After reaching the third level of Qi Cultivation, Jiang Zuo continued to cultivate.

This time, however, he didn’t train for long before stopping.

’The cultivation speed of the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique has slowed down noticeably. It looks like I need to get my hands on a Spirit Fire as soon as possible.’

Jiang Zuo mused.

The first layer of the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique, which corresponded to the Qi Cultivation realm, didn’t actually require a Spirit Fire.

It was just that the cultivation speed would slow down as one’s Cultivation level increased.

Only after breaking through to the Dao Foundation realm did one absolutely have to devour a Spirit Fire, or else further cultivation would be impossible.

However, Jiang Zuo was different from ordinary Qi Cultivation stage Cultivators.

The amount of Spiritual Qi he needed to absorb was simply terrifying.

Even a slight slowdown in the cultivation speed of the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique resulted in a very noticeable difference for him.