Genius Beast Taming: Starting from Awakening an S-Rank Talent

The Demon Slayer Emperor stared intently at Ancestor Linglong: "Since you've said that, there must be another purpose for it."

Ancestor Wanbao stepped forward: "Nothing can be hidden from the Alliance Leader. The Yitian Crystal Jade is for our descendants."

Emperor Lu Xie still harbored doubts: "Among your descendants, there are only a handful of seventh-tier feudal lord beast tamers, and they have only recently advanced. They are still far from becoming eighth-tier monarch beast tamers. Why would you go to such great lengths to exchange for the Heavenly Crystal Jade with me?"

Linglong Ancestor said frankly, "We have a very young junior who needs this item to evolve his beast taming."

The Demon Slayer Emperor showed a hint of interest: "What beast taming?"

Ancestor Wanbao did not hide anything: "The Phoenix-like Azure Luan has evolved into the Colorful-Winged Azure Phoenix."

The Demon Slayer Emperor frowned: "What kind of talent does this junior of yours possess?"

The old patriarch Wanbao replied, "S-level talent."

The Demon Slayer Emperor was utterly perplexed: "He's just an ordinary prodigy with S-rank talent. In the outside world, or among small aristocratic families, he might be exceptionally outstanding. But for powerful families like ours, he's merely a pillar, not someone who can shoulder heavy responsibilities. Is it really necessary for you to expend so many resources to cultivate him?"

Of course, Ancestor Wanbao wouldn't tell Zhou Heng the truth about his special qualities. He just made up a reason: "SS-level talents are too rare, but S-level talents are also worth cultivating."

Seeing this, Emperor Lu Xie pondered for a moment and said, "Since you have made up your minds, I am naturally willing to grant your wish."

With a wave of his hand, a transparent square crystal flew to the front of Ancestor Wanbao; it was the Yitian Crystal Jade.

"Thank you, Alliance Leader." After receiving the Yitian Crystal Jade, Ancestor Wanbao handed over thirty eighth-tier treasures and ten ninth-tier treasures to Emperor Luxie, and then bid farewell to Ancestor Linglong and left.

……

That afternoon, Zhou Heng was having dinner with his parents.

The old patriarch of the Zhou family brought Zhou Heng some good news: "Our ancestor has returned and has obtained the Yitian Crystal Jade from the Alliance Leader."

Zhou Heng asked with concern, "What did the Ancestor exchange with the Alliance Leader?"

The old patriarch Zhou feigned nonchalance: "It's just thirty eighth-tier treasures, ten ninth-tier treasures, and a favor."

Zhou Heng was taken aback: "The Yitian Crystal Jade is only an eighth-grade spiritual item, yet it's so valuable?"

The old patriarch of the Zhou family remained unfazed: "Heng'er, you must understand that things are valued for their scarcity! And bartering is how it works."

Zhou Heng said in a low voice, "I've troubled my family to spend money on me."

Patriarch Zhou patted Zhou Heng on the shoulder: "We're all family, so let's not be formal. The eighth-tier Cave Heaven Heart and Sun and Moon Wutong Clan have already been prepared, and the remaining sixth-tier and seventh-tier spiritual items are also ready. Now that we have the Yitian Crystal Jade, as long as your Phoenix Azure Phoenix advances to the fourth tier, you can start the evolution ritual at any time."

Zhou Heng took out the seventh-tier spiritual artifact, the Azure Flame of the Azure Sky: "This was given to me by the Linglong Ancestor. Please keep it safe for me, Grandpa. I will take it out when the Phoenix Azure Phoenix begins its evolution ceremony."

Patriarch Zhou pushed the Azure Flame back: "The family has already gathered the five elements of spiritual fire needed for the Phoenix Azure Luan's evolution, so this Azure Flame is superfluous. However, it is still a seventh-tier spiritual item, so you can keep it; it may be useful in the future."

Zhou Heng nodded and put away the Azure Flame.

Father Zhou reminded him, "My good son, the specific steps of the evolution ritual are all contained in the inheritance crystal. Although the ancestor will supervise you at that time, you must memorize the corresponding steps thoroughly and even practice them. This will benefit the Phoenix and Azure Phoenix."

The old patriarch Zhou said, "There's no need for such trouble. Beasts that show signs of autonomous evolution have an almost 100% chance of successfully evolving. As long as we gather all the materials, there's no way they'll fail to evolve."

Zhou Heng immediately said, "Grandpa is right, but Dad is also right. After all, the Phoenix Azure Phoenix will not only evolve this once, but will evolve several more times in the future."

The old patriarch Zhou smiled broadly: "Good child, I am very pleased that you are so farsighted."

……

Qiongqi Meng Family.

Emperor Lu Xie pondered for a moment: "I have a feeling that something is wrong with what happened today."

Emperor Minghui looked up: "Ancestor, what makes you say such a thing?"

Emperor Lu Xie made a reasonable deduction: "The Yi Tian Crystal Jade can almost be considered the most precious among eighth-tier spiritual items, even surpassing the value of many ninth-tier spiritual items. It can directly elevate an eighth-tier beast by one minor level, saving an eighth-tier monarch-level beast tamer decades or even centuries of hard work—an effect that many ninth-tier spiritual items cannot achieve. Using the Yi Tian Crystal Jade to initiate the evolution ritual for the Phoenix Azure Luan, even if it successfully advances to the Rainbow Winged Azure Phoenix, would only result in obtaining a mid-level overlord-quality beast, which is simply not worthwhile."

Emperor Minghui speculated, "I remember that the Rainbow Winged Azure Phoenix can evolve all the way into the Emperor Flame Azure Phoenix of lower-level mythical quality. If all goes well, the Zhou family will have another eighth-level combatant in a few hundred years."

Emperor Lu Xie disagreed with this statement: "How could it be so easy? Let's not even talk about the possibility of failure in the process of Feng Yi Qing Luan evolving into Cai Yi Qing Feng. Even if it successfully evolves into Cai Yi Qing Feng, it still needs to evolve into San Shou Qing Feng before it can evolve into Di Yan Qing Feng. The probability of success decreases as you go further. It's a losing proposition."

Emperor Minghui added a piece of information: "According to news sent by the garrison of Xuanxiao Star some time ago, the Phoenix Azure Phoenix, contracted by a young genius of the Yu generation in the Zhou family, has shown signs of autonomous evolution. With the Yitian Crystal Jade, after initiating the evolution ritual, it is 100% certain to evolve into a Rainbow-Winged Azure Phoenix. The probability of it evolving into a Three-Headed Azure Phoenix and an Emperor Flame Azure Phoenix will also greatly increase. Moreover, this young genius is the product of a marriage alliance between the Zhou and Li families."

The Demon Slayer Emperor's sixth sense was very sharp: "That makes sense, but I still feel something is amiss."

Emperor Minghui, puzzled, asked, "What else is wrong?"

The Demon Slayer Emperor analyzed, "This young genius is from the Zhou family. It's understandable that the Prince of Wanbao would personally make this trip to protect his descendants. But the Prince of Linglong is from the Li family. Although the Zhou and Li families are allies, and this young genius from the Zhou family also has the blood of the Prince of Linglong, he ultimately doesn't bear the surname Li. Why did the Prince of Linglong come along as well?"

Emperor Minghui also realized what was going on: "Now that you mention it, it's true. He's just an ordinary S-rank prodigy, not an SS-rank super prodigy, yet two eighth-rank Monarch Beast Tamers have come out of their way. Do King Wanbao and King Linglong really care so much for their juniors?"

The Demon Slayer Emperor sighed, "His love for the younger generation is genuine, but there must be other reasons behind it. Unfortunately, I don't have time to concern myself with that now. I advanced to the ninth-tier Emperor Beast Tamer when I was over five hundred years old, and more than four hundred years have passed since then. In the blink of an eye, my time is almost up! Time truly flies and waits for no one..."