I'm Just a Beast Tamer

Auspicious celestial phenomena either herald the appearance of Treasures of Heaven and Earth, the descent of a Divine Soldier, or the birth of a Divine Beast.

"It’s an Ancient Divine Beast, a Fire Phoenix!"

"There’s no mistaking it! I saw the phantom image of a Fire Phoenix!"

Soon, rumors that the auspicious celestial phenomenon was caused by the birth of a Fire Phoenix spread throughout the Black Tortoise Dao Sect.

The various elders of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, and even the Second Elder, Yin Zhongkun, were all alarmed and rushed to the area where the Fire Phoenix was suspected to have been born.

The Black Tortoise Dao Sect didn’t stop its disciples from searching for the Divine Beast. With the area blanketed by the elders’ Divine Sense, it was impossible for any disciple to find a Fire Phoenix before they did.

After a thorough search, both the disciples of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect and the group of elders came up empty-handed.

However, there was still one place they had yet to check.

"This matter is of great importance. Although it’s unlikely, we still need to get to the bottom of it."

Yin Zhongkun said to Yan Bocheng.

"Very well. I’ll let Zhou Yong know."

Yan Bocheng said after some thought.

The only place the group hadn’t inspected yet was Taihao Peak.

Yin Zhongkun’s intention was to investigate inside Taihao Peak.

The reason this group of elders was being so polite was certainly not because of a talented junior like Jiang Zuo.

If it were only Jiang Zuo’s residence, the elders wouldn’t have hesitated so much.

But this was Luo Taidong’s residence. With Luo Taidong absent, it would be inappropriate for them to enter and inspect it, no matter the reason.

But with an Ancient Divine Beast at stake, they couldn’t just give up.

A newly born Ancient Divine Beast was of unimaginable value.

If any sect could raise one, it would secure the sect’s foundation for thousands of years.

Therefore, the elders’ plan was to inform Jiang Zuo. If he granted them permission, it would make things much easier to explain when Luo Taidong eventually returned.

Jiang Zuo received Yan Bocheng’s message, and he quickly exited the Array to welcome the group of elders inside.

"This is..."

As the group of elders entered Taihao Peak, they immediately sensed a unique aura.

’Could a Divine Beast have really been born on Taihao Peak?’

In an instant, almost all the elders’ gazes fell upon Jiang Zuo.

Many of them were seeing Jiang Zuo for the first time today, but they had long heard of his name and knew of his extraordinary Beast Taming Talent.

’Could it be that not only is he overflowing with talent, but his luck is also heaven-defying? Did he somehow get his hands on a Fire Phoenix Egg and even manage to hatch it?’

"Zhou Yong, was the auspicious phenomenon of the Fire Phoenix just now related to you?"

Elder Yan couldn’t help but ask, his voice tinged with excitement.

He remembered that more than two years ago, Jiang Zuo had entered the Phoenix Blood Secret Realm of the Phoenix Feather Sword Pavilion.

Elder Yan felt that the possibility was very high.

"Elders, this matter is indeed related to me. However, it might not be what you are thinking."

"Elders, please follow me."

Jiang Zuo nodded and said to the assembled elders.

He led them to where the Fire Phoenix was born: Great Black’s doghouse.

Of course, he had cleaned up the doghouse long ago, and it was now Xiaoqing’s dwelling.

Xiaoqing was lying there quietly.

"What a peculiar fire aura!"

"There’s still a faint trace of an auspicious aura lingering here!"

"Zhou Yong, stop hiding it. Where is the Fire Phoenix?"

After sensing how extraordinary this place was, one of the elders couldn’t help but ask Jiang Zuo.

It wasn’t just him; several other elders were looking at Jiang Zuo with the same expectant gaze.

"Wait! This Spirit Turtle of yours... a few years ago, wasn’t it only at the late-stage of the second rank? How is it at the late-stage of the third rank now?"

But Elder Yan seemed to have noticed something and exclaimed sharply.

"A late-stage third-rank Spirit Turtle?"

"This Cultivation... it’s indeed late-stage third-rank, no doubt about it!"

"But I remember this Spirit Turtle was only late-stage second-rank during the last decennial sect competition!"

"Could it be..."

The elders vaguely arrived at a guess.

"Your guess is correct, Elders. My Spirit Turtle likely consumed some Treasure of Heaven and Earth, like Phoenix Blood, which caused its Cultivation to soar."

"Sometime ago, I obtained an ancient bone. After studying it for a long time, I discovered that it might contain some extremely extraordinary Spirit Beast Blood, so I gave it to my Spirit Turtle, hoping it would gain some benefits by consuming the blood."

"But who would have known? The blood within the bone was far beyond my imagination. After my Spirit Turtle consumed it, it shot up to the late-stage of the third rank in a short time and even triggered the auspicious celestial phenomenon."

"As for the origin of the bone, it’s inconvenient for me to say, but Elder Yan should be aware of it."

Jiang Zuo cupped his fists and explained.

"This Spirit Turtle does indeed carry the lingering scent of some unknown blood."

"Is that really what happened?"

"To allow a second-rank Spirit Turtle to instantly advance to the late-stage of the third rank... the blood in that bone must have been Phoenix Essence Blood!"

"Elder Yan, do you really know the origin of the bone Zhou Yong mentioned?"

After hearing Jiang Zuo’s explanation, some of the elders remained skeptical.

But there seemed to be no other possibility besides this explanation.

Still, some elders looked toward Yan Bocheng, asking for the real story.

’For a mere Qi Cultivation disciple like Jiang Zuo to obtain such a treasure, that place must be extraordinary.’

"I am indeed aware of this matter. Have you not noticed that Zhou Yong’s Cultivation is already approaching Qi Cultivation Perfection?"

"Five years ago, he was only at the third layer of Qi Cultivation."

"More than two years ago, I sent him into a Secret Realm. Inside, he cultivated to the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation. It’s not so strange that he had some fortuitous encounters with good luck."

"As for which Secret Realm it was, I cannot disclose that. It is enough for you to know the general situation."

Hearing Yan Bocheng’s words, the group of elders suddenly realized that Jiang Zuo’s Cultivation had soared by several layers since the last sect competition.

One elder recalled Jiang Zuo’s aptitude and couldn’t help but be astonished.

’To allow a disciple with such poor aptitude to experience a huge leap in Cultivation in such a short time... that Secret Realm must be incredible.’

’With good luck, obtaining some treasures isn’t strange at all.’

"Let’s leave the matter at that. It’s enough that you all know; do not spread this."

Yin Zhongkun instructed.

The group of elders, who had arrived in high spirits, left disappointed.

As for Xiaoqing, a few elders gave it a second glance, but none were particularly interested.

In the Cultivation Realm, very few people raise Spirit Turtles.

The Cultivation progress of a Spirit Turtle is simply too slow. Out of ten people who raise them, nine will die of old age while their turtle is still young.

Only sects are suitable for raising Spirit Turtles.

But even then, only special Spirit Turtles are worth raising.

Xiaoqing was a second-rank Spirit Beast at birth, which meant its bloodline was actually quite good.

Unfortunately, it just had to be a Spirit Turtle.

Even after devouring the Phoenix Blood Essence, and even if its bloodline had improved, there were still limits.

And its third-rank strength was of no use to them.

Even if it had a chance to advance to the fourth rank in the future, that would be an extremely distant prospect.

Perhaps by the time they passed on to the Immortal Realm, this Spirit Turtle would still be dawdling at the third rank.

Of course, the most important thing was that Xiaoqing didn’t seem to match any of the special Spirit Turtle species they knew of.

It looked more like a mixed-blood Spirit Turtle.

Yan Bocheng still had his doubts, but he didn’t stay behind alone. Instead, he left with the others.

"Looks like I got away with it."

Seeing the group of elders leave, Jiang Zuo breathed a sigh of relief.

He had wanted to deny any connection to the auspicious phenomenon, but alas, even though he had already moved the Fire Phoenix into the Pet Beast Spirit Garden, an undeniable aura still lingered within Taihao Peak.

Left with no other choice, Jiang Zuo decided to pin the whole thing on Xiaoqing.

To deceive the elders, Jiang Zuo even smeared some Phoenix Essence Blood in Xiaoqing’s mouth.

This way, Xiaoqing’s surge in Cultivation was also explained.

It killed two birds with one stone.

’Still... I wonder how much of that the elders actually believed,’ Jiang Zuo mused.

He didn’t think for a moment that the elders would completely believe his story.

Jiang Zuo had also considered simply telling Elder Yan the truth.

But after some deep thought, he abandoned the idea.

’So what if I tell Elder Yan the truth?’

’Unless I hand the Fire Phoenix over to the sect, any unusual actions from Elder Yan would only draw more suspicion to me.’

’And if Elder Yan took no extra action, then it would be no different from the current situation.’

Handing over the Fire Phoenix was out of the question for Jiang Zuo.

So it was better not to tell anyone.

Shaking his head, Jiang Zuo didn’t dwell on the matter.

’There’s no point in overthinking it. If things really go south, I can just run away and start over with a new identity.’

However, just as Jiang Zuo was cautiously cultivating with the intention of never stepping out unless necessary, his master, Luo Taidong, unexpectedly returned, bringing with him a third senior brother Jiang Zuo had never met.

Jiang Zuo had been in secluded Cultivation when he sensed someone entering the Array. He immediately stopped his practice and went out to see who it was.

Then he saw Luo Taidong descending from the sky with a bald young man.

"Zhou Yong... Huh? How are you already at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation?"

The moment Luo Taidong returned to Taihao Peak and saw Jiang Zuo, his first thought was that his disciple was truly diligent, not slacking off and running around even when his master was away.

He didn’t expect to get a huge shock when he took a closer look.

He had only been gone for a little over ten years, yet Jiang Zuo was already at the ninth layer of Qi Cultivation, on the verge of reaching Perfection.

This Cultivation speed was even more heaven-defying than that of geniuses.

"I had a few small fortuitous encounters."

Jiang Zuo said with a grin.

’It’s great that Luo Taidong is back.’

With Luo Taidong around, he now had a powerful backer. He wouldn’t have to live on edge in the sect every day.

"Never mind, we’ll talk details later. This is your Third Senior Brother, Yu Ying. He offended someone, and they demanded he keep his head shaved for a hundred years before they would let him go."

Luo Taidong said to Jiang Zuo, pointing at the bald young man beside him.

"Greetings, Yu."

Jiang Zuo called out respectfully.

"Haha, hello, Junior Brother Zhou! On our way here, Master told me a lot about you."

"From now on in the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, I, your senior brother, will have your back. If anyone offends you, just come find me, and I’ll take care of them for you!"

"Especially if you like any of our senior or junior sisters! Leave it to me, your senior brother, and I guarantee you’ll win the beauty’s heart!"

This newfound third senior brother, Yu Ying, laughed heartily.

Just by his looks, he seemed like a bright and sunny young man, not at all like a scumbag.

But the words that came out of his mouth painted a completely different picture.

However, Jiang Zuo had a feeling Yu Ying wasn’t just bragging.

This newfound senior brother of his was actually at the initial stage of the Three Flowers Realm!

"Don’t be a bad influence on your junior brother!"

Luo Taidong gave Yu Ying a sharp rap on the forehead without hesitation.

At the same time Luo Taidong returned, outside the main gate of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, an old man stood atop a high mountain peak, his hands behind his back, gazing impassively at the sect’s entrance.