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

Nine days later.

Lingyun Sect, Mountain Gate.

Chen Qing dismounted and looked up at the majestic mountain gate before him. A sense of familiarity welled up in his heart. After being away for nearly two and a half years, returning home felt like coming home.

He showed his disciple's token, and the disciple guarding the mountain verified his identity before letting him pass.

Chen Qing passed through the outer gate and headed straight for Beast Taming Peak.

The ancient trees on both sides of the mountain path are a few inches taller than they were two years ago, and the aura of the spirit beasts in the forest is still strong. Occasionally, a few spirit birds will fly out from the branches, circle a few times in mid-air, and then land back on the branches.

As we went uphill, it became quieter and quieter.

There weren't many disciples on Beast Taming Peak to begin with. After Chen Qing joined Beast Taming Peak, although a few people came to take the test in the four years that followed, not a single disciple actually joined. Now, there are only a handful of people who reside permanently on the peak, and you can't find a single person on the mountain path.

Chen Qing didn't mind and walked up the bluestone steps, heading straight for the Beast Taming Hall at the summit.

As soon as we reached the summit, the gates of the Beast Taming Hall opened by themselves.

"Come in."

Shen Tu Yu's lazy voice came from inside the door.

Chen Qing's eyes lit up, and after taking a deep breath, he stepped across the threshold.

The interior furnishings remained simple. Behind the sandalwood table, Shen Tu Yu sat holding a cup of spiritual tea. On the table in front of him was a letter, the one Chen Qing had written more than a month ago.

The spirit beasts remained in their respective positions.

The Silver Moon Wolf lay on the edge of the table, its eerie green eyes glancing at Chen Qing, its tail swaying gently. The Shadow Leopard peeked out from the shadows, squinted at him, and then retreated. The Golden Feather Thunder Eagle stood on the crossbeam, its sharp eyes lacking the fierceness it had shown at first sight. The Iron-Backed Bear sat motionless to the side, its mountain-like body remaining perfectly still.

However, Chen Qing's eyes swept over the area and he didn't see the round, iron-eating beast. Without thinking much about it, Chen Qing stepped forward and respectfully bowed, saying, "Disciple Chen Qing greets Uncle Shentu."

Shen Tu Yu waved his hand, gesturing for him to sit down, picked up the letter on the table, and waved it: "I only saw your letter five days ago."

"Five days ago?" Chen Qing was taken aback.

"Just came out of the secret realm." Shen Tu Yu took a sip of tea. "Those two second-tier secret realms in Lan Kingdom were more troublesome than I expected, and they took several months to clear. Ruo Qing is still inside, and I guess she'll have to stay for a while longer."

Chen Qing nodded; it was just as he had expected.

Shen Tu Yu put down his teacup, looked at Chen Qing, and said calmly, "I've read your letter. Ruo Qing also mentioned the matter in Yunzhou to me."

Chen Qing felt a chill run down her spine and sat up straight.

"I understand what you mean." Shen Tu Yu leaned back in his chair, speaking slowly and deliberately. "But sects have their rules. Border guards are rotated every five years. If you want to move before the time is up, you either need a powerful background, or... you know what I mean."

Chen Qing remained silent.

"But you don't need to worry too much." Shen Tu Yu changed the subject, his tone becoming more relaxed. "Although the Blood Soul Sect is arrogant, they don't dare to launch a large-scale invasion. At most, there are small-scale border skirmishes. It's been like this for the past few hundred years. They come to provoke us every now and then. They're just disgusting."

He glanced at Chen Qing and chuckled, "You've contracted two spirit beasts. If you really fight at the same cultivation level, it's hard to say who will come out on top. Just be careful in the wild and don't go into dangerous places, and you'll be fine."

"As for high-level cultivators..." Shen Tu Yu paused, "Don't worry, although Lingyun Sect is not as powerful as it used to be, it's not so powerful as to let its disciples be bullied. If a high-level cultivator does make a move, the sect will send people over immediately."

Chen Qing nodded silently.

He understood the logic, but he knew it was better to rely on himself than others. By the time these big shots arrived, the banquet would be over...

Shen Tu Yu seemed to see through his thoughts, smiled, and stopped trying to persuade him. She changed the subject, "Let's get down to business. You've come back this time to contract a third spirit beast?"

Chen Qing nodded: "Yes. This disciple has cultivated the Soul Nourishing Technique for four years, and now I feel that my soul is strong enough to support the third spirit beast."

Upon hearing this, Shen Tu Yu glanced at Chen Qing and sensed his cultivation level.

"Sixth level of Qi Refining?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Shen Tu Yu's eyes.

Chen Qing had only been with Beast Taming Peak for a little over four years, yet he had already progressed from the fourth to the sixth level of Qi Refining. While this speed couldn't compare to that of top-tier geniuses, it was certainly not slow. Moreover, he was also guarding the border and seemed to be raising quite a few fish and chickens, so his cultivation time was already much less than that of other disciples.

"Not bad." Shen Tu Yu nodded, not thinking much of it, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Have you decided which spirit beast to contract with?"

Chen Qing shook his head, cupped his hands and said, "This disciple has limited vision, I humbly request guidance from my senior uncle."

Shen Tu Yu laughed and pointed outside the hall. A round, black and white figure squeezed through the crack in the door—it was the Iron-Eating Beast.

It had half a bamboo stick in its mouth, but two small beasts followed behind it.

It was entirely crimson, about three feet tall, covered in fine scales, with thick limbs and claws that gleamed with a faint firelight. It made a thumping sound as it walked, exuding an imposing aura.

The other one was entirely silver-gray, with a slender body, about three feet long, with agile limbs, a pair of bright green eyes that were lively and alert, and light steps that landed silently.

The two small beasts followed closely behind the iron-eating beast, curiously observing Chen Qing inside the hall.

Shen Tu Yu glanced at the two small beasts, then looked at Chen Qing: "It's better to be lucky than early. Take a look at these two little guys."

Chen Qing's gaze fell on the two small beasts.

"That crimson one is called the Flame Armor Bear." Shen Tu Yu pointed to the small, crimson beast. "It's a low-grade first-tier spirit beast, reaching mid-grade second-tier upon adulthood. It excels at defense, with thick hide and a natural tank. Moreover, its scales have fire-attribute damage reflection; if an enemy punches it, they'll get a blister on themselves."

He then pointed to the small, silver-gray beast: "This one, the Silver Moon Wolf, you should be familiar with it. Song Yang's was a Silver Moon Wolf. When it grows up, it can also reach the mid-level of the second rank. It is extremely fast, good at ambushes and pursuits, and is a natural assassin."

After Shen Tu Yu finished speaking, he looked at Chen Qing and said, "Although there are still a few cubs with the potential of second-tier high-grade in the spirit beast cave, there is not much difference. Your two spirit beasts, Qingtian, are good at close combat and restraint, and Danyu is good at long-range harassment. You are different from Ruoqing and Song Yang. You have cultivated a lot of life-saving techniques. It is more suitable to match these two. It is up to you to choose."

Chen Qing looked at the two small beasts and quickly made a decision in his mind.

Flame Armor Bear, a defensive tank.

Silver Moon Wolf, a speed-type assassin.

He was in Half Moon Lake, where he could face danger at any moment. Although the Flame Armor Bear could withstand the attack, the growth of a spirit beast takes time, and it couldn't withstand much in a short period of time.

The Silver Moon Wolf is different; even if it can't win a fight, it can run away.

Moreover, the speed of the Silver Moon Wolf, combined with Dan Yu's long-range harassment and Qing Tian's frontal restraint, makes the three of them extremely flexible.

Chen Qing didn't hesitate for long. Before he came, he had thought of several suitable spirit beasts, and the Silver Moon Wolf was one of them: "Uncle-Master, this disciple chooses the Silver Moon Wolf."

Shen Tu Yu nodded, unsurprised, and took out a contract scroll gleaming with golden light from his storage bag, casually tossing it over.

"The Symbiotic Spirit Pact, take it."

Chen Qing took the scroll, carefully put it into his storage bag, and cupped his hands, saying, "Thank you, Martial Uncle."

"Alright, you can go now." Shen Tu Yu waved his hand, picked up his teacup, and gestured for the guest to leave.

Just as Chen Qing was about to turn around, Shen Tu Yu suddenly spoke again: "Wait."

He took out five jade bottles from his storage bag, and then took out three talismans that glowed with spiritual light, and flew over together.

"Take these five bottles of Qingyuan Pills and use them."

Chen Qing was taken aback.

Although he no longer needs the Qingyuan Pill, one bottle costs eighty spirit stones, and five bottles would cost four hundred spirit stones.

This might not seem like much to Shen Tu Yu, who is in the late Foundation Establishment stage, but it's no small amount for a Qi Refining stage disciple.

"Your cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining in Yunzhou is still a bit weak," Shen Tu Yu said calmly. "Although I have confidence in the combat strength of the disciples of Beast Taming Peak, when it comes to cultivation, every bit higher means a greater chance of survival."

He then pointed to the three talismans: "These are communication talismans. I occasionally travel to the north. If you're lucky, your uncle might be able to save your life."

Looking at the pills and communication talismans on the table, Chen Qing felt a warm current surge in his heart.

He solemnly cupped his hands, about to say a few words of thanks, when Shen Tu Yu impatiently waved his hand: "Alright, alright, stop with the fussing and go."

Chen Qing took a deep breath, bowed deeply, and turned to leave the Beast Taming Hall.

……

Inside the hall.

Shen Tu Yu held his teacup, but his divine sense had already quietly reached out, watching Chen Qing's back as he walked down the bluestone steps, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"After cultivating the Soul Nourishing Technique for four years, one can form a contract with a third spirit beast..."

He muttered to himself, put down his teacup, and tapped his fingers lightly on the table.

"Although it can't compare to the level of the five heads that the ancestor contracted back then, at this rate, four heads should be no problem."

"I dare not even dream of revitalizing Beast Taming Peak, but if he could break through to the Golden Core stage someday..."

Shen Tu Yu's eyes flickered as he looked out the window at the distant sea of ​​clouds and sighed, "At least it won't be like it is now, with hardly any spiritual lands even in the heart of the Lingyun Sect, and not even a place for disciples to grow."

Outside the window, the sea of ​​clouds surged, and several birds flapped their wings and soared into the sky, disappearing into the distant horizon in an instant.