Free Web NovelChapter 28: Chapter 28: The Slacker and the Workaholic
The Iron-Feathered Eagle specializes in Metal and Wind Element Magic. During their youth, they can comprehend spells like Black Wind Slash and Wind Blade within three years. After turning ten, they enter their mature phase, and with dedicated cultivation, they can typically reach the Tier Two Realm.
If they’re lucky, an Iron-Feathered Eagle can even evolve into an Iron Carving King or a Golden-Winged Eagle, making it more than a match for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
For this reason, a hatchling of this Demon Beast usually starts at a price of one hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
Among Tier One Demon Beasts, it was considered a great value, with its species’ potential surpassing even that of the Red Snake. Just as the blue-skirted Female Cultivator said, if not for the defect in its bloodline, there would be absolutely no way it would be listed at a price of eighty-eight!
Yu Changsheng was tempted.
As for the bloodline defect she mentioned, it would be a critical flaw for other Beast Masters. After all, who would want to buy an Iron-Feathered Eagle that couldn’t even use its most basic Talent Magic?
’But for me, this bloodline defect is nothing at all. I have the Spirit Beast Transformation system. I can just spend some essence to fix it, and even purify its bloodline to the absolute limit, turning it into a Golden-Winged Eagle!’
His criteria for choosing a second beast was simple: Comprehension! freёwebnovel.com
It was an attribute recognized by his system and a vital indicator of a Demon Beast’s future growth potential—something that essence could not improve!
Therefore, Comprehension was crucial. He didn’t want to raise a mere Tier Two Demon Beast; he wanted a beast with the potential to reach Tier Three or even Tier Four!
This Iron-Feathered Eagle’s Comprehension wasn’t high, but it wasn’t low either—it was just over forty.
It was right on the borderline of what Yu Changsheng was looking for.
Nearby, the blue-skirted Female Cultivator seemed to read Yu Changsheng’s mind. A smile immediately bloomed on her face as she stepped forward and spoke.
"Immortal Luo, while this Iron-Feathered Eagle does have some flaws, it is an excellent mount. At its current Tier One Fourth Layer, its flying speed is already on par with other avian beasts, and it can travel up to eight hundred miles in a single day!"
"If it breaks through to the Tier One Late Stage, covering fifteen hundred or even two thousand miles a day would be no issue at all!"
"And if it reaches Tier Two, that would be something else! Even a Sword Cultivator’s Flying Sword wouldn’t be able to catch you!"
The blue-skirted Female Cultivator beamed, desperate to get this Iron-Feathered Eagle off her hands and recoup some of the cost.
’Tier One Late Stage? Tier Two? A complete load of nonsense!’
’As I already said, this Iron-Feathered Eagle’s bloodline is defective and its Cultivation speed is slow. In three years of raising it, it hasn’t even broken through a single minor Realm. But that doesn’t stop me from hyping it up a bit first.’
’The goal is to make him think that while it’s useless as a combat Spirit Pet, it’s still an excellent mount.’
Yu Changsheng studied the Iron-Feathered Eagle.
When it saw a Cultivator standing before it, the eagle turned its head, grew quiet, and plopped down inside its iron cage. It then spread its wings, its eyes sparkling.
It displayed all its finest feathers, like a fox spirit trying to seduce someone.
It was pleading to be chosen!
Yu Changsheng found the Iron-Feathered Eagle’s desperate gaze a bit much, and he took a step back with a smile.
The Iron-Feathered Eagle folded its wings and lowered its head, looking dejected.
But a second later, it raised its head again.
"This Iron-Feathered Eagle isn’t bad, but I’m afraid the price is still a bit high. Not many Beast Masters would be willing to buy a Demon Beast with no future prospects. At best, it would be sold off for its meat."
"Furthermore, this Iron-Feathered Eagle is only five years old, meaning it’s another five years away from maturity. If you plan to sell it for meat, you’d have to keep feeding it for five more years. The cost would be even greater."
Yu Changsheng said to the blue-skirted Female Cultivator beside him.
’Eighty-eight Lower Grade Spirit Stones is already very cheap, but now the Ten Thousand Beasts Tower is desperate to sell. It’d be foolish not to press my advantage. I’ll bargain for every last coin!’
’Every single Spirit Stone I have was hard-earned!’
The blue-skirted Female Cultivator gave a wry smile. "Immortal Luo, this is already our lowest price. As you know, Iron-Feathered Eagles live on cliffs deep within the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. They are incredibly difficult to capture. Even if a Foundation Establishment Cultivator makes a move, they risk being severely injured by the parents."
"Besides, we’ve already raised it for three years..."
Unmoved by her endless spiel, Yu Changsheng simply turned and made as if to walk out.
"I suppose I’ll go check out the other beast towers, then."
The blue-skirted Female Cultivator froze for a moment, then hurriedly called out, "Wait, Immortal Luo! Eighty Lower Grade Spirit Stones! That’s the absolute best we can do!"
Yu Changsheng figured it was unlikely he could get them to go any lower, so he nodded reluctantly. "Alright, that price is acceptable. But you can also prepare some of its favorite food for me."
The blue-skirted Female Cultivator’s face immediately lit up with a smile. "How generous, Immortal Luo! That is well within our duties. Quick, prepare a month’s supply of black pork for Immortal Luo."
She hastily called over an attendant and made the arrangements.
A short while later, Yu Changsheng had paid the Spirit Stones and received a manual titled Notes on Rearing an Iron-Feathered Eagle.
"Immortal Luo, please come see us again the next time you need a Spirit Pet!"
The blue-skirted Female Cultivator waved as she saw Yu Changsheng off, a grin plastered on her face. He couldn’t help but wonder if she was getting a commission on the Spirit Stones.
「Back at his wooden cabin.」
With a calm expression, Yu Changsheng summoned the Iron-Feathered Eagle from his Spirit Beast Pouch.
The Iron-Feathered Eagle was quite docile now, just as the sign had described, keeping its head tucked down inside the iron cage.
Its eyes, which were secretly sizing up Yu Changsheng, were filled with apprehension.
It was afraid of disappointing the Cultivator who had bought it.
Afraid that after forming the Contract, it wouldn’t perform well and would be abandoned.
Afraid of the unknown fate that awaited it!
In response, Yu Changsheng gave it a gentle smile. He opened the iron cage, reached out to stroke its head, and said softly.
"Don’t be afraid. Follow me, and one day you will spread your wings and soar above the Nine Heavens. I will raise you to be as majestic as a Golden-Winged Roc!"
It didn’t know what kind of Demon Beast a Golden-Winged Roc was.
But it could sense the sincerity from his touch, and so it let out a cry of acceptance.
"KREH!"
The contracting process went smoothly, and a new companion was added to Yu Changsheng’s Inner Realm.
The Red Snake King was sprawled lazily in the Inner Realm. When it saw the Iron-Feathered Eagle appear, it was so startled that it immediately lifted its head.
The natural enemy of snakes is the eagle, and a great eagle like this was an even more ferocious predator than a typical one.
Although this kind of natural counter was weaker among Demon Beasts, the Red Snake King still reacted with subconscious hostility upon seeing its race’s natural enemy.
"HISSSS!"
"KREH?"
The Iron-Feathered Eagle flapped its wings, not understanding why this old-timer was so worked up.
Fortunately, the Red Snake King’s Realm was two layers higher. Once it realized this was the master’s new contracted beast, it immediately retracted its hostility. Still, it couldn’t help but feel a little sour.
’How long has it been? Three months! A measly three months, and Master already has a new favorite!’
’Is it because I’ve been too lazy? Is that why Master wants to raise this stupid bird?’
’But I’m already so much more diligent than before! My daily Cultivation time went from two hours to eight hours—that’s a four-fold increase!’
However, as it lay there in the Inner Realm, it watched the Iron-Feathered Eagle begin to cultivate.
Two hours... six hours... ten hours... sixteen hours!
’Wait a minute! Don’t you ever sleep or rest?!’
The Red Snake King lifted its head in shock. A sense of crisis washed over it. ’I’ll add another hour to my Cultivation schedule,’ it decided. ’No, wait—two hours!’
