I tamed beasts and achieved immortality in the world of cultivation.

The next morning, Chen Qing got up early.

As he pushed open the door, the gate to the neighboring courtyard opened just then, and Xiao Chunan walked out, a green jujube dangling from her mouth. She grinned at him, "Oh, so early? Reporting to Beast Taming Peak today, right?"

Chen Qing nodded, caught the green date he tossed her, and took a bite: "Why are you up so early too?"

"I'll give you a ride," Xiao Chunan shrugged. "You'll be staying at Beast Taming Peak from now on, so we'll be going the same way."

Chen Qing was slightly taken aback.

The two had known each other for eight years, having been in the outer sect together since they were ten years old, doing missions and cultivating together.

Last year, Xiao Chunan became a disciple of Jianming Peak.

Sword Echo Peak and Sunset Peak are separated by three mountain peaks, and it takes half an hour longer to travel back and forth each day. He could have stayed at Sword Echo Peak, but he still chose to stay next to Chen Qing.

"Brother Chu Nan..."

"Alright, alright, stop getting sentimental." Xiao Chunan waved her hand and strode forward. "Let's go, let's go to Spirit Beast Peak first. Master Xu said yesterday that he wanted the two of us to go there."

Chen Qing smiled and followed.

……

Spirit Beast Peak.

Xu Gui remained seated at the stone table, holding a booklet in his hands. Seeing the two enter, he put the booklet down, a smile appearing on his face.

"You're here?"

Chen Qing stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "Master Xu, thank you for taking care of me all these years, I..."

"What are you thanking me for?"

Xu Gui waved his hand to interrupt him, gazing at the distant, cloud-shrouded Beast Taming Peak, his tone tinged with emotion: "Back then, I was twenty-three years old when I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. I excitedly went to the Ten Meridians Test, trying Sword Echo Peak, Crimson Cloud Peak, Dharma Image Peak... I tried them all, but failed every single one."

"Later I realized that some things cannot be forced, so in the end I had no choice but to join Ling Shu Peak, become a steward, and spend the rest of my life there."

He turned around, looked at Chen Qing, his eyes filled with complex emotions:

"You are different. Although Beast Taming Peak has declined, your ability to enter is a blessing in itself."

Chen Qing remained silent.

Most people with the four spiritual roots can reach the peak of Qi Refining in their sixties or seventies, but by then their Qi and blood have begun to decline, greatly reducing their chances of successfully establishing a foundation. Moreover, entering the Ten Meridians depends not on cultivation level, but on the corresponding talent.

Xu Gui had no talent. After reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining, he felt that his path forward was blocked, so he gave up the idea of ​​cultivation, saved the resources to raise his descendants, and spent the rest of his life on Spirit Beast Peak.

That's how it is in the world of cultivation: if you're slow at one step, you'll be slow at every step.

One wrong step, and you're doomed for life.

As for the five spiritual roots—let's not even mention them.

Unless, you have a cheat code...

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Xu Gui waved his hand and took out a small cloth bag from his sleeve. "This is your allowance for this month, three spirit stones. Take it."

Chen Qing accepted it and thanked him solemnly.

After leaving Xu Gui's courtyard, Xiao Chunan accompanied him to the fork in the mountain path.

"I'll leave you here." Xiao Chunan stopped and took a bite of a green jujube. "Do well on Beast Taming Peak from now on. If you need anything, come find me at Sword Echo Peak."

"Are you moving back to Sword Echo Peak?"

Xiao Chunan rolled her eyes: "You've already left, why shouldn't I move back? Half an hour's walk every day isn't easy."

Chen Qing smiled.

He knew that Xiao Chunan didn't trust him.

Although Beast Taming Peak has declined, it is still one of the Ten Peaks. Its rules and treatment are very different from those of the outer sect. As a newly arrived disciple, he would inevitably encounter some trouble if no one took care of him.

With Xiao Chunan next door, at least there's someone to talk to.

"Alright, go on ahead." Xiao Chunan waved her hand. "Don't keep them waiting."

Chen Qing nodded and turned to walk towards Beast Taming Peak.

After walking a long way, he looked back and saw Xiao Chunan still standing at the fork in the mountain road, a green jujube in her mouth, waving at him.

……

Beast Taming Peak.

Chen Qing arrived at the Beast Taming Pavilion from yesterday, where Zhou Ruoqing was already waiting at the door.

"Junior Brother Chen." She nodded. "Come with me. Uncle Shentu wants to see you."

The two walked up the bluestone steps.

The higher they went, the sparser the surrounding buildings became, replaced by denser forests and the occasional glimpse of spirit beasts. Chen Qing noticed that the aura of these spirit beasts was much stronger than that of those in Hundred Beast Valley.

"These are all the spirit beasts of the disciples within the peak," Zhou Ruoqing said as she walked. "There aren't many disciples on the Beast Taming Peak, but each of them has two or three spirit beasts that they raised from a young age, and they have very deep bonds with them."

Chen Qing nodded, understanding dawning on his mind.

About an incense stick's time later, an ancient and simple palace appeared before us.

This hall is built against the mountain, with a foundation of bluestone and beams of paulownia wood. The eaves and brackets subtly reveal the luster of runes. Above the door hangs an ancient plaque with three simple, ancient characters inscribed on it—

Beast Control Palace.

Although it no longer possesses the grandeur of its former glory, its former magnificence is still evident.

Zhou Ruoqing stopped in front of the palace gate, cupped her hands and said, "Uncle-Master Shentu, Junior Brother Chen Qing has arrived."

"Come in."

A lazy voice came from inside the door.

Zhou Ruoqing pushed open the door, stepped aside to let Chen Qing in, and stayed outside. Chen Qing took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold.

……

The hall was spacious and bright, yet its furnishings were simple.

In the center is a sandalwood desk, and behind the desk sits a person.

The man appeared to be around forty years old, with a resolute face and a short but stiff beard. He wore a moon-white Daoist robe typical of the Foundation Establishment stage, with a silver-threaded beast claw pattern embroidered on his chest, except that it had an extra gold trim compared to Zhou Ruoqing and Song Yang.

What is most eye-catching are the five spirit beasts surrounding him.

A silver-gray Silver Moon Wolf, much larger than Song Yang's Silver Moon Wolf, stared coldly at Chen Qing with its eerie green eyes, exuding a sharp aura.

A jet-black shadow leopard lay quietly beside the table, seemingly blending into the shadows; its presence was almost imperceptible unless one looked closely.

A golden-feathered thunder eagle stood on a horizontal beam in the hall, its claws as hard as iron, its eyes sharp, and its body crackling with electricity.

A giant bear with an iron back sat crouching beside the table. Its body was as large as a mountain, and its fur gleamed with a metallic sheen. Just sitting there gave people a suffocating sense of oppression.

Closest to that person lay a lovable iron-eating beast with black and white fur and a round body, chewing on a spirit bamboo with a crunching sound, completely unaware of its surroundings.

Chen Qing's pupils contracted slightly.

Five spirit beasts, all of them at the second tier!

The Golden-feathered Thunder Eagle and the Iron-backed Azure Bear possessed particularly powerful auras, most likely being second-tier high-grade!

Late foundation building!

This Uncle Shentu may seem unassuming, but if he really gets into a fight, he could probably take on ten people of the same level.

Although Beast Taming Peak has declined, this Uncle Shen Tu is truly extraordinary.

Behind the sandalwood table, Uncle Shentu raised his head and looked at Chen Qing. His gaze was calm as water, yet it seemed to see through people's hearts.

Chen Qing's heart skipped a beat. He stepped forward and respectfully bowed.

"Outer disciple Chen Qing greets Martial Uncle Shentu."

Uncle Shentu nodded slightly, saying nothing, but simply sizing him up.

A moment later, the silver moon wolf suddenly stood up, walked to Chen Qing's side, sniffed at the hem of his clothes, and looked up at him, a hint of doubt flashing in its dark green eyes.

Immediately afterward, the Shadow Leopard also moved.

It emerged from the shadows, circled Chen Qing once, and finally squatted at his feet, squinting its eyes and letting out a low growl.

The Golden-feathered Thunder Eagle, the Iron-backed Azure Bear, and the Iron-eating Beast also slowly approached Chen Qing, a hint of gentleness flashing in their eyes.

Chen Qing: "..."

Uncle-Master Shentu: "..."