I'm Just a Beast Tamer

"Zhou Yong, in a moment, take this Hand Order of mine to the Ministry of Justice Hall. Have them investigate who leaked the news that you authored the rearing manual."

"I can let the matter of you becoming my disciple slide, but I specifically instructed the people at the Beast Taming Arena to keep the fact that you authored the rearing manual a secret. It was not to be spread."

On Taihao Peak, Luo Taidong had summoned Jiang Zuo.

The major elders of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect each occupied a mountain peak as their Cultivation Cave Mansion in the part of the sect with the richest Spiritual Qi.

Before becoming Luo Taidong’s disciple, Jiang Zuo had looked into him a bit.

Taihao Peak contained the character ’Tai’ in its name, but Luo Taidong was not the one who had named it.

It was said that he had chosen this particular peak to build his Cultivation Cave Mansion precisely because of that ’Tai’.

"Master, about that... I’m afraid I’m the one who spread the news."

"A few Outer Disciples I’m acquainted with came to see me earlier. I was so happy I just told them all about it."

"I figured people would find out sooner or later, so I didn’t think much of it."

Jiang Zuo said to Luo Taidong, embarrassed.

He was, in fact, the one who had told people.

About half a month ago, Cao Guangshan had brought Nie Qiuling to see him. Jiang Zuo told them both about it then, though he did tell them to keep it quiet until his apprenticeship was official.

Of course, it wasn’t a case of him being overjoyed and letting it slip by accident, as he’d claimed.

He had done it on purpose.

’If I want to build up my Beast Taming Reputation, the news that I’ve become Luo Taidong’s disciple isn’t nearly enough.’

’Unless I plan on giving up on building my Beast Taming Reputation, becoming famous is unavoidable.’

’And if that’s the case, then the sooner, the better.’

The news getting out would certainly bring him some danger.

But his progress within the Black Tortoise Dao Sect was going far more smoothly than he had anticipated.

Now that he was Luo Taidong’s disciple and had a huge amount of Sect Contribution points, he could simply hole up in the Black Tortoise Dao Sect and cultivate until the end of time.

As long as he didn’t leave the sect, he refused to believe someone would actually infiltrate the Black Tortoise Dao Sect just to kill him.

Anyone who snuck in and killed him would have no chance of escaping.

Jiang Zuo figured he wasn’t valuable enough to warrant a top expert trading their life for his.

Bribing a disciple with low Cultivation within the sect, however, was a decent alternative.

But Jiang Zuo wasn’t afraid of that.

"It was you... Never mind. Your Cultivation is still too low. I didn’t want you to attract this much attention so soon."

"Although you’ve already demonstrated remarkable Beast Taming Talent, your Spirit Root Talent is so poor that I doubt anyone would go to the trouble of plotting your elimination."

"But that’s only within the sect. Outside, there will certainly be people who wouldn’t mind nipping you in the bud before you have a chance to grow."

"So, until your Cultivation is more established, do not leave the sect. If you absolutely must go out for some reason, you must report to me or Elder Yan first."

Luo Taidong was at a loss for words. He hadn’t expected that Jiang Zuo had spread the news himself.

However, when he considered the boy’s age, Luo Taidong found it understandable.

’He’s just a young man in his teens, after all. He doesn’t yet understand the dangers of the Cultivation Realm, and he hasn’t learned to think things through completely.’

But it was precisely this kind of youthful behavior that made Luo Taidong feel more at ease with Jiang Zuo.

"Yes, Master! I swear I won’t leave the sect until I have the ability to protect myself!"

Jiang Zuo immediately promised.

He had deliberately spread the news for this very reason: to give himself an excuse not to leave the sect.

This way, even if he were to hole up inside the sect for decades or even a century, no one could say a word against it.

As a Direct Disciple, Jiang Zuo would be required to complete sect missions every few years.

With this "Protective Talisman," even when he had missions to do, they would most likely be assigned within the sect’s borders.

"This is a Glazed Fire Cloud Fruit. I had intended to give it to you as an apprenticeship gift when you first became my disciple a few days ago, but the person delivering it ran into some trouble on the way, causing a delay."

"Once picked, this Spirit Fruit loses its Spiritual Qi daily, so you should eat it as soon as you get back. Barring any surprises, it should be able to raise your Spirit Root Talent to the lower level of the middle grade."

"A Spirit Fruit that improves Spirit Root Talent? I’ve heard of them. They’re incredibly precious and difficult to obtain!"

Jiang Zuo was taken aback.

"Spiritual Objects that enhance Spirit Root Talent are indeed precious, but this Glazed Fire Cloud Fruit isn’t as valuable as you might think."

"It has no effect on those who already have good Spirit Root Talent. At best, it can only raise someone from a low-grade talent to the lower level of the middle grade."

Luo Taidong shook his head.

’If it were a Spirit Fruit with a more potent effect, it wouldn’t have been used to repay a favor.’

"Thank you for this treasure, Master!"

Jiang Zuo knew that no matter how potent this fruit was, it would have no effect on him whatsoever.

But he understood that even if it could only raise a low-grade Spirit Root to the lower level of middle grade, the Glazed Fire Cloud Fruit was still immensely valuable.

Countless people in the Cultivation Realm would be willing to pay a high price for such a fruit.

This apprenticeship gift from Luo Taidong was already exceptionally precious.

The Spirit Fruit would have no effect on him, but Jiang Zuo had no reason to refuse it.

Given the persona he had established, there was no way he could refuse the Glazed Fire Cloud Fruit.

"Master, if I may ask, why did you want to take me as your disciple?"

"If you only wanted me to stay, making me an Inner Sect Disciple would have been more than enough."

After stowing the Glazed Fire Cloud Fruit, Jiang Zuo couldn’t help but ask.

With his poor aptitude for Cultivation, it made no sense for Luo Taidong to take him as a disciple.

’My Cultivation won’t advance, so I’ll live two or three hundred years at most.’

’One day he might emerge from a long seclusion only to be told his disciple had died of old age.’

’Surely no one enjoys hearing news like that.’

And if he hadn’t taken him as a disciple, Luo Taidong wouldn’t have needed to give such a precious gift.

"I did have some selfish reasons for taking you as my disciple."

"Several thousand years ago, our Black Tortoise Dao Sect was a Beast Taming Major Sect, no weaker than the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect."

"Back then, what is now the Beast Taming Arena wasn’t called that. It was Beast Taming Peak!"

"However, several thousand years ago, the Black Tortoise Dao Sect suffered a major catastrophe."

"Since then, Beast Taming Peak has ceased to exist, leaving only the Beast Taming Arena."

"The Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s Beast Taming capabilities plummeted as well."

"Zhou Yong, your Beast Taming Talent is unprecedented. It might be greater than that of any disciple in the history of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect."

"If you can fully develop your potential, we might just be able to rebuild Beast Taming Peak and return the Black Tortoise Dao Sect to its former glory!"

Luo Taidong looked at Jiang Zuo, and after a moment’s hesitation, he spoke slowly.

"Master, you think too highly of me."

Jiang Zuo hadn’t expected this to be the reason, and he felt a little abashed.

"Don’t feel any pressure. It’s useless to think too much about it before you’re strong enough."

"I’m only telling you this to stop you from overthinking things."

Luo Taidong said, reassuring Jiang Zuo.

He was speaking the truth. Reviving the glory of Beast Taming Peak was beyond the current Jiang Zuo’s abilities.

Jiang Zuo possessed impressive Beast Taming Talent, but it was limited to low-tier Spirit Beasts.

The higher a Spirit Beast’s level, the less friendly it is toward strangers, especially those with low Cultivation.

Someone who hadn’t even established their Dao Foundation attempting to approach those High Tier Spirit Beasts was simply courting death.

...

「Xingluo Peak.」

This was the location of the Cultivation Cave Mansion of Yin Zhongkun, the Second Elder of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect.

The Grand Elder and the Second Elder were the two oldest members in the entire Black Tortoise Dao Sect.

In terms of seniority within the sect, even the current Sect Leader of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect was their junior.

"Master, may I ask why you’ve summoned me?"

Luo Cheng walked into the grand hall, his heart pounding. He looked at Yin Zhongkun at the head of the hall and asked nervously.

Luo Cheng was one of the youngest Sect Elders in the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, and his current achievements were inseparable from Yin Zhongkun’s support.

As Yin Zhongkun grew older, even though he was the Second Elder, he rarely involved himself in sect affairs.

He would not have summoned Luo Cheng if it weren’t for something important.

"Luo Cheng, I am very disappointed in you."

Yin Zhongkun gazed at Luo Cheng and couldn’t help but sigh.

"The day of my passing is not far off. I know of the grudge between you and Xu Hongyuan, and I had hoped to help you resolve it before I go."

"To that end, I went so far as to arrange for the two of you to serve as Rotating Elders together."

"But who knew that at your age, you would still be so unable to let things go."

"You’ve let your feud cloud your judgment to the point where you can’t even distinguish right from wrong while handling official duties, all just to spite Xu Hongyuan!"

"If that were all, I might let it pass. But you still find all sorts of excuses for your actions."

"But I have to ask you: what was your intention in secretly spreading the news about Luo Taidong’s new disciple?"

"What on earth were you thinking? Was it just because Luo Taidong’s decision to accept that Outer Disciple made you lose face? Did you hope some ’accident’ would befall the boy?"

"And that disciple, no less, is a prodigy with Beast Taming Talent the likes of which our sect hasn’t seen in a thousand years!"

"If Luo Taidong’s disciple hadn’t admitted to accidentally letting it slip himself, the Ministry of Justice Hall would have traced it back to you by now!"

As Yin Zhongkun spoke, his gaze and tone grew increasingly severe until, by the end, his sword-like brows looked sharp enough to kill.

"Master, I was wrong!"

Drenched in sweat, Luo Cheng’s legs gave way, and he knelt before Yin Zhongkun.

"Enough. I’ve grown tired of your excuses. Back then, I felt the sect owed your father a debt, so I was too lenient with you. That’s what led to you developing this kind of character."

"I have already had you removed from your position as a Rotating Elder."

"Starting today, you are to go to Siguoya and reflect on your actions for fifty years!"

"Fifty years? Master, that’s too long! Ten years! Ten years is more than enough!"

How could Luo Cheng possibly accept that?

’Fifty years at Siguoya... Is that any way for a person to live?’

"Get out of my sight! Say one more word and you can stay there and reflect for a hundred years!"

𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Seeing Luo Cheng still daring to bargain with him, Yin Zhongkun roared in fury.

"Yes... Master..."

Luo Cheng didn’t dare say another word. Swallowing his anger, he silently retreated from the Cultivation Cave Mansion.

’Hmph! If my father were still alive, would I only be at the early stage of the Three Flowers Realm?’

’This is all a debt the Black Tortoise Dao Sect owes me, and now you’re going to punish me with fifty years of reflection at Siguoya!’

’Xu Hongyuan, Luo Taidong, and that brat... just you wait!’

Luo Cheng thought hatefully, his heart filled with resentment.

...

’Finally, I can go to the Scripture Pavilion!’

The Identity Token for a Direct Disciple was more complex to create. After another two days, Jiang Zuo finally received his.

With the token in hand, Jiang Zuo immediately headed for the Scripture Pavilion.