I Tame Beasts by Feeding

Chapter 31: Chapter 31: Ulterior Motives

Tang Xing was summoned to a small room.

Previously, he would have been secretly overjoyed, but now he only felt resentment.

"Tang Xing, this is Master’s Direct Disciple. From now on, you will address him as Senior Brother," Gongsun Yang said, gesturing toward Yu Changsheng.

Tang Xing lifted his eyes. Looking at the boy who was younger than him, with a face no older than sixteen or seventeen, a thick wave of jealousy surged in his heart!

’On what grounds! I was clearly here first!’

But Tang Xing was a master of concealing his thoughts. He knew that being indignant was useless and would only serve to needlessly offend Gongsun Yang.

Inner Chamber Disciples already learned a great deal. The differences compared to a Direct Disciple were resources, status, and Gongsun Yang’s more dedicated tutelage.

Lashing out now was pointless. ’I should wait for an opportunity. If this Direct Disciple before me were to die in an "accident," wouldn’t I become the sole candidate?’

At this thought, Tang Xing quickly bowed his head and said with a smile,

"Tang Xing pays his respects to Senior Brother!"

Yu Changsheng, of course, had no idea what sinister thoughts the person before him was harboring.

They had spoken before when entering the academy, and Tang Xing seemed like a decent person, so Yu Changsheng’s impression of him wasn’t bad.

"Junior Brother, you’re too kind. We should help each other out in the future."

"Of course. When you come to Jade Cauldron Peak in a few days, Senior Brother, I’ll host a banquet to welcome you. Don’t look at my Realm being only at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer—I still know quite a few people on Jade Cauldron Peak. I can introduce you to some of them then. It will make it much easier for you to establish yourself!"

Tang Xing said flatteringly, a smile playing on his lips.

However, Yu Changsheng glanced awkwardly at Gongsun Yang, unsure if he should reveal the news that he would be joining Beast Taming Peak.

After all, this concerned Gongsun Yang’s reputation.

However, Gongsun Yang waved his hand dismissively. "There’s no need to go to all that trouble."

"For certain reasons, your Senior Brother won’t be joining Jade Cauldron Peak. He will still participate in the sect selection to become an Outer Disciple of Beast Taming Peak."

What?

Hearing this, Tang Xing froze for a moment. His eyes darted between Yu Changsheng and Gongsun Yang, his expression one of utter disbelief.

"Senior Brother, you’re going to join Beast Taming Peak?"

Yu Changsheng nodded. "I wish to focus my Cultivation on the way of Beast Taming, so I cannot join Jade Cauldron Peak." freewebnovel.cσ๓

Hearing these definitive words, Tang Xing’s gaze fixed on Gongsun Yang.

’I can’t believe Gongsun Yang would concede this much just to take Yu Changsheng as a Direct Disciple. Could his talent for Alchemy really be so high that it makes people disregard everything else?’

For one’s own Direct Disciple to belong to another peak... if word of this got out, many Elders would surely find it incomprehensible and mock him for it.

An Elder actually compromising for a disciple? Could this disciple be a monstrous, once-in-a-century genius?

’If his talent in the Alchemy Dao is truly that terrifying, then why not join Jade Cauldron Peak?’

’What’s that? You say his talents in other areas are just as terrifying?’

’Hahaha, absolutely impossible!’

A person’s energy is finite, and the same goes for Cultivators. Yu Changsheng is only sixteen, and the Alchemy Dao is an extremely time-consuming path. No matter how talented he is, how could he possibly reach Mastery in everything?

At least in the thousand-year history of the Wanxiang Sect, no one had ever achieved Mastery in multiple paths without it affecting their Cultivation.

Tang Xing instantly felt much better, thinking that the other party was squandering his talent. With a smile on his face, he said, "I’ve heard that life on Beast Taming Peak is not easy. Their Cultivation Techniques are difficult to bring to Great Success, and supplementing Beast Taming with the Alchemy Dao is a hard road to walk."

"It would be better to wholeheartedly practice the Jade Cauldron Peak’s Cultivation Techniques, which can complement the Alchemy Dao."

Yu Changsheng just smiled and shook his head.

"Thank you for the advice, Junior Brother, but my mind is made up."

"Is that so..." Tang Xing sighed pretentiously. "Since Senior Brother has already made up his mind, then I won’t say any more."

"It’s just that the sect selection isn’t easy. If you don’t pass, Senior Brother, there’s still a chance to have Master help you switch peaks."

Beside them, Gongsun Yang also nodded. "Changsheng, what your Junior Brother says makes sense. You shouldn’t be too fixated on Beast Taming."

"For Cultivators like us with Mixed Spirit Roots, if we want to live long and reach Foundation Establishment, the only thing we can rely on is the Alchemy Dao."

"Yes, Master. I will definitely study the Alchemy Dao diligently under you," Yu Changsheng said.

"Good. I’ve given you the Cultivation Technique and Pill Formulas you need. Starting tomorrow, you can come find me at any time. I will reduce my teaching hours at the academy and focus my energy on training you two."

"Once you have learned the essentials, I must also enter seclusion to prepare for Foundation Establishment."

After Gongsun Yang finished speaking, the two disciples took their leave.

"Senior Brother, take care. If you need anything, you can find me on Jade Cauldron Peak. Here is my communication talisman."

Tang Xing saw Yu Changsheng off with a beaming smile. But as he stared at his retreating back, a gloomy shadow flashed in his eyes, and he sneered inwardly.

’The sect selection... now that’s an opportunity.’

...

「Back at the wooden cabin.」

The first thing Yu Changsheng did was take out the Pill Formulas Gongsun Yang had given him.

’I already have the formula for the Qi Gathering Pill. The Spirit Gathering Pill isn’t very useful. The Yellow Dissolving Pill can restore twenty percent of one’s Magical Power during Qi Refining, isn’t hard to concoct, and is suitable for me. The Antitoxic Pill can neutralize the venom of most Tier One Demon Beasts, as well as poisonous mists in some dangerous areas.’

’Then there’s the Spirit Enhancement Pill and the Qi Enhancement Pill. These are the best Elixirs for Cultivation during the Qi Refining Stage. Their Pill Formulas are incredibly valuable.’

’Most importantly, there’s this Pill Formula... the Foundation Establishment Pill!’

Yu Changsheng stared at the Pill Formula with immense joy. This was a formula that ordinary Loose Cultivator Alchemists could never get their hands on. Every time one was revealed to the public, it would incite bloody battles among Qi Refining Cultivators!

’If I could successfully concoct a single batch and sell it to the First-Grade Pill Hall, I could get tens of thousands of Lower Grade Spirit Stones at the very least!’

He excitedly finished reading the Pill Formula, and then his heart sank.

’Just gathering all these Spiritual Medicines would be incredibly difficult. The main ingredients—Jade Marrow Mushroom, Purple Monkey Flower, and Celestial Spirit Fruit—would cost several thousand Spirit Stones at a minimum. Plus, they have a price but no market, meaning they’re so rare that only some of the great clans could possibly obtain them.’

’Of course, I could also commission the First-Grade Medicine Hall to acquire them, but the price would be even higher. And with my current Alchemy skill, concocting it won’t be easy. If I fail even once... bankruptcy...’

Yu Changsheng sighed, extinguishing his desire to concoct the Foundation Establishment Pill for now. He picked up the Pill Formulas for the Spirit Enhancement Pill and Qi Enhancement Pill again.

’I have to accumulate wealth step by step. I’ll start by mastering these smaller things. As long as I can fully grasp these two Pill Formulas, I won’t have to worry about being unable to buy the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill. Besides, I’m still young, and my Realm hasn’t reached the Qi Refining Peak yet. No rush, no rush.’

’Master’s bottle of Qi Enhancement Pills came at the perfect time. It’s enough for me to break through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, and I might even have a chance to reach the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.’

The most pressing task was to raise his Realm and participate in the sect selection four months from now. As long as he could become an Outer Disciple of Beast Taming Peak, his combat power would increase rapidly.

’Master really gave me a lot.’

"Come out, Red Snake King, Iron-Feathered Eagle."

Yu Changsheng marveled to himself, then formed a hand seal and summoned the two tamed beasts from his Inner Realm.

Other Cultivators would need several days or even a week to fully refine a single Qi Enhancement Pill. They also couldn’t take them consecutively because the meridians of a Qi Refining Cultivator were fragile. But Yu Changsheng had no such worries.

He could just leave all the digestion to his tamed beasts, and he would reap all the benefits!