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

Danxia Peak.

People come and go in front of Danxia Pavilion.

Chen Qing led Dan Yu and Qing Tian up the steps, attracting the attention of many disciples. In Lingyun Sect, it was rare to see disciples traveling around with spirit beasts, let alone a combination of one big and one small, one white and one gray, which was quite eye-catching.

Ignoring the stares, Chen Qing walked straight into the pavilion.

The air inside was still filled with the aroma of medicine. The blue-robed disciple Chen Qing had met when he bought the "Minor Rejuvenation Pill" was standing behind the counter with a scroll in his hand. Upon seeing him, he paused for a moment, then smiled and said:

"It's you again? What are you buying this time?"

"Greetings, Senior Brother." Chen Qing bowed respectfully. "I'd like to buy some pills for spirit beasts."

The blue-robed disciple put down his book and looked him over with interest: "Spirit beast pills? You've joined the Beast Taming Peak?"

"Exactly."

"No wonder." The blue-robed disciple nodded, turned around and took out several bottles of pills from the medicine cabinet behind him, arranging them on the counter.

"We have four types of pills suitable for first-tier spirit beasts, each with different effects." He pointed to the first bottle and said, "The first type is the Qi-Nourishing Pill, which costs thirty spirit stones per bottle and contains ten pills. It can strengthen the foundation and nourish the vital energy, and is suitable for the daily care of spirit beasts."

He then pointed to the remaining three bottles: "The second type is Spirit Beast Pills, 40 spirit stones per bottle, 10 pills, which can slowly improve cultivation; the third type is Blood Boiling Pills, 10 pills per bottle, 40 spirit stones, which can strengthen the physique of spirit beasts and are suitable for spirit beasts with strong bodies; the fourth type is Mind Concentration Pills, 5 pills per bottle, 50 spirit stones, which can help spirit beasts concentrate and calm their minds, and are of great use when breaking through bottlenecks."

Chen Qing's gaze fell on the second bottle of spirit beast pills.

Song Yang lived not far from him, and they often communicated. According to Song Yang, although the disciples of Beast Taming Peak were quite knowledgeable about spirit beast pills, no one on the peak knew how to refine pills, nor did they have the time to learn. They all bought them from Danxia Peak, and the most cost-effective of them was the spirit beast pill.

"I want two bottles of spirit beast pills."

After speaking, Chen Qing took out a cloth bag from his sleeve, which contained eighty low-grade spirit stones, and placed it on the long table.

The blue-robed disciple counted them, nodded, and took out two bottles of spirit beast pills from the medicine cabinet and handed them to him.

"The Spirit Beast Pill is mild in nature, but since it is for use by spirit beasts, it should not be taken in excess. One pill every three days is sufficient. If the spirit beast becomes agitated or unwell, discontinue use for a few days."

Chen Qing took the porcelain bottle and was about to take his leave when he suddenly felt a gentle tug on the corner of his clothes.

He looked down and saw that Dan Yu had its beak holding his hem, its black bead-like eyes staring straight at the row of pills on the counter, and then at the several pill furnaces placed deep inside the medicine cabinet.

The alchemy furnaces were all cast in bronze, with three legs and two handles. The furnace body was engraved with cloud patterns and mythical beast designs, and faint flames emanated from the furnace belly, radiating waves of heat.

Dan Yu tilted her head, sending out a cool yet curious thought:

"Alchemy?"

Chen Qing paused slightly, then sent a thought: "You're interested in this?"

Dan Yu called out softly, his gaze lingering on the several alchemy furnaces for a moment.

Chen Qing's heart stirred slightly, and he looked up at the blue-robed disciple: "Senior brother, how much are these pill furnaces?"

The blue-robed disciple waved his hand with a smile: "Junior brother is joking. This is a magic tool used for alchemy. The cheapest one costs two thousand spirit stones, and you need a fire spirit root or earth fire catalyst to use it. What would you disciples of the Beast Taming Peak do with this? If you really want to learn alchemy, you should go to the market first. There are some cheap introductory furnaces there. You can find one for a hundred or so spirit stones."

Chen Qing silently calculated that he had given Xu Gui twenty spirit stones yesterday and now he had spent another eighty spirit stones. At this moment, he only had eight spirit stones left. For the next eleven months, he would have to "buy on credit" for chicken manure, just like buying feed.

Chen Qing's lips twitched slightly: "...Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

Dan Yu withdrew her gaze and resumed her aloof demeanor, as if her earlier curiosity was merely an illusion. However, before leaving, she secretly glanced again in the direction of the alchemy furnaces.

Chen Qing observed this, made a mental note of it, and then turned and left with the two spirit beasts.

……

It was already afternoon when we returned to Beast Taming Peak.

Chen Qing led the two little guys to feed the fish in the pond again. This time, Qingtian was smarter. Although his movements were still clumsy, at least he didn't scatter the feed all over the ground. Danyu was still elegant and composed, as if even scattering feed was a kind of fairy-like thing.

After finishing his work, Chen Qing returned to the courtyard halfway up Beast Taming Peak, meditated and regulated his breathing for a while, and only opened his eyes when it got dark.

The moon was high in the sky, and all was quiet.

Chen Qing sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, while Qingtian squatted in front of him, his golden-brown eyes curiously staring at the porcelain bottle in his hand; Dan Yu stood by the bed, her slender neck slightly lowered, also looking at him.

Chen Qing uncorked the bottle and poured out two pale red pills.

The spirit beast pill was about the size of a lotus seed, with a smooth surface, but it emitted a faint fishy smell, which was completely different from the small rejuvenating pill I bought last time. It lacked that refreshing quality and had a rougher smell.

"Here, one for each of you."

Chen Qing handed a pill to Qingtian's lips.

Qingtian sniffed it, reached out his little hand to take it, carefully put it in his mouth, chewed it, his eyes lit up, and he squeaked as he reached out his hand again.

"No, one pill every three days." Chen Qing shook his head.

Qingtian pouted, withdrew his hand, and a hint of grievance flashed in his golden-brown eyes.

Chen Qing smiled, ruffled the golden fur on its head, and then offered another one to Dan Yu's mouth.

Dan Yu lowered her head, gently picked up the pill with her beak, tilted her head back, and swallowed it with elegant and composed movements. A moment later, a cool and clear thought emanated from her:

"It's acceptable."

Chen Qing's lips twitched slightly.

After spending time together, he had already figured it out: Qingtian was somewhat insecure and withdrawn, while Danyu was aloof.

But now it seems that this bird is a bit of a germaphobe and arrogant.

Chen Qing shook his head, ignoring it, and closed his eyes to sense the changes within the two spirit beasts.

A moment later—

A faint spiritual energy fluctuation suddenly surged from Qingtian's body. Although the fluctuation was not strong, it was long and persistent, like a trickle of water, slowly flowing through its body.

Chen Qing opened his eyes and observed carefully.

He noticed that Qingtian's thin body had swollen slightly. Although it was not obvious, he could still see this change since he had been with it day and night.

Meanwhile, on Danyu's side, the fluctuations of spiritual energy were more stable. Its slender neck was slightly raised, and a faint layer of spiritual light flowed around its body before receding and returning to calm.

Chen Qing felt a slight stirring in his heart and closed his eyes to look inward.

Within his dantian, the shallow pool of spiritual energy rippled slightly, exceeding the amount he accumulated during the day by a fraction, roughly equivalent to the amount he gained from a full day of meditation.

"System feedback, finally here!"

Chen Qing muttered to himself, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

Although the amount is small, it is a steady stream. One pill every three days, and a hundred or so pills a year. The cultivation boost from these pills is equivalent to more than a hundred days of hard work.

Moreover.

The system feedback on cultivation level is also related to the spirit beast's aptitude, realm, and intimacy level. As they grow and their intimacy level reaches its maximum, the cultivation level feedback will only increase.

"Indeed, raising spirit beasts is the right path."

Chen Qing smiled, in a great mood.

He patted Qingtian's head, then patted Danyu's wings, and whispered:

"Cultivate diligently, and we'll grow stronger together in the future."

"Squeak!"

"Separated—"

Qingtian nodded vigorously, his golden-brown eyes filled with excitement. He quickly climbed onto Chen Qing's shoulder and rubbed against his ear.

Dan Yu called out softly, though she didn't speak, her thoughts carrying a gentle tone.

The moonlight outside the window was like water, the old pine tree in the courtyard cast swaying shadows, and the distant mountains were like dark eyebrows. The night breeze brought the babbling sound of the stream. Chen Qing stared out the window for a moment, then looked away, sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, and closed his eyes to cultivate.

Within his dantian, spiritual energy circulated slowly, growing slightly stronger than yesterday, though not by much.

but……

Though the road is long, we will reach our destination if we keep walking.