Chapter 18: Pride of the Heaven's Favorites

"Ahhhhhh!"

With a "Boom!", the spirit bean exploded in the Black Bear Monster's mouth. As black smoke poured from its mouth and nose, its mentality also directly exploded.

"Ahhh!"

It looked angrily at Elder Mo, Lin Jing, and the dumbfounded Pine-Needle Rat.

This...

Lin Jing and the Pine-Needle Rat were terrified; such an alluring spirit bean actually exploded upon entry?

Good thing they didn't eat it themselves!

"I did say I felt the spiritual energy fluctuation of that spirit bean was a bit strange; it actually turned into a 'fierce plant'!" Elder Mo sighed. Spirit plants possess many nutrients, while fierce plants not only have negligible nutrients but are also extremely dangerous.

A bean that explodes is clearly a fierce plant...

"It pisses me off, you felt it was like a fierce plant and still let me eat it!!!" The Black Bear Monster was furious.

"A spirit bean made by a Pine-Needle Rat at the Qi Condensation stage, what are you afraid of as a demon beast that has formed a Demon Core? Not being able to detect it only shows your vigilance is not up to par!" Elder Mo snorted.

The Black Bear Monster gnashed its teeth but was unable to refute, feeling that it was still too naive.

"Alright, you can go back to sleep now." No longer paying attention to his pet beast, Elder Mo recalled the Black Bear Monster and looked at Lin Jing and the Pine-Needle Rat with a rare expression.

"Not improving quality, but changing properties. Not bad, not bad. Although it's not a top-tier divine ability, it's not bad at all!"

"Are the Glazed Immortal Pupils not considered a top-tier divine ability?" Lin Jing felt that these Glazed Immortal Pupils were already very powerful.

"You underestimate rare beasts too much." Elder Mo laughed and said, "The divine abilities awakened during the process of a spirit beast mutating into a rare beast are very likely inherited from immortals in the Immortal World. Compared to this means of turning stones into gold, there are many more powerful rare beast divine abilities."

"Like the Ancient Imperial Clan, they have a rare beast called the 'Realm-Breaking Bird,' which can help cultivators break through realm limits. Under its blessing, an Ancient Imperial Prince with heaven-defying talent not only reached the unprecedented 'Thirteenth Layer of Qi Condensation' during the Qi Condensation stage, but also cultivated a 'Second and Third Physique' during the Foundation Establishment stage, possessing three special cultivation physiques in one person."

"And that Lingdao Sect also has a rare beast called the 'Enlightenment Fish.' The reason why Lingdao Sect has so many cultivators who can cultivate 'Spell Primordial Spirits' is largely due to the Enlightenment Fish."

"Besides these, the Heavenly Secret Tower... the Lotus Chamber of Commerce..." Elder Mo listed many rare beasts he knew of, all of which were held by top forces.

Of course, rare beasts can be very strong, and ordinary ones can also be very ordinary. According to Elder Mo, there were rare beasts that only awakened some bizarre divine abilities and were thus recorded in ancient books. For example, there was a rabbit demon that awakened the Hundred-Fragrance divine ability, capable of emitting over a hundred types of immortal fragrances. As a result, it was caught and eaten by a Deity Transformation old monster not long after. The cooking methods were varied, and it was historically known as the Hundred-Fragrance Rabbit, the number one rare delicacy of all time.

"In short, those rare beasts with heaven-defying abilities possess divine abilities that have the capacity to influence high-level cultivators while they themselves are still weak. Compared to that, its spirit beans and red flying leaves have not yet escaped the 'Qi Condensation tier.' But even so, it's not bad. One shouldn't be too greedy." Elder Mo said.

"Yes." Lin Jing chuckled and said, "Elder Mo, can we sell the resources it synthesizes within the sect to earn some spirit stones?"

As he spoke, he mentioned the effects of the golden spirit rice.

Elder Mo listened and shook his head: "I don't suggest you do that. Although the golden spirit rice you mentioned is magical compared to ordinary spirit rice, it is not without substitutes."

"For example, among first-grade and second-grade pills... there are pills that help with digestion, which disciples of the Beast-Taming Sect can purchase using sect contribution points. Besides that, like those exploding spirit beans, apart from being more deceptive, they can essentially be replaced by attack talismans."

"Its use of the Glazed Immortal Pupils must consume quite a bit. Compared to selling resources, I suggest you keep the synthesized resources for your own use! This way, you save the process of exchanging for resources from the sect, which indirectly counts as earning spirit stones."

"Putting your mind into earning spirit stones will inevitably affect the focus of your cultivation. Rest assured, from this moment on, I will once again increase your disciple treatment, so you won't have to worry too much about resources."

"Thank you, Elder Mo." Lin Jing was one who listened to advice.

"Just focus on improving your cultivation." Elder Mo said, "And since you are a Longevity Body, there's no need to be too impatient. During this process, learning more things and reading more books will be more beneficial for your future travels in the cultivation world."

Lin Jing nodded. Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, "Elder Mo, you went out this time to investigate the Yinshi Sect, right? What was the result?"

"No result." Elder Mo said, "However, the Yinshi Sect should have no time to pay attention to you for now."

"I learned from a friend who works in the Demon-Elimination Division that the Tianyuan Grand Gathering is imminent. The heaven's favorites of major sects are going out for training, and the Demon-Elimination Division and major top sects will increase their efforts to crack down on the Yinshi Sect. They are currently hiding and have no time to spare."

"Oh, by the way, do you know about the Tianyuan Grand Gathering?"

"I don't..." Lin Jing shook his head.

"The Tianyuan Grand Gathering is a grand event of the Tianyuan Ancient Kingdom, held once every sixty years. At that time, cultivation sects and families from the nine domains of the ancient kingdom will all participate, and the Ancient Emperor will also personally attend."

"During the grand gathering, heaven's favorites from major cultivation sects will be arranged to compete in magic battles. Forces that perform outstandingly will be favored by the True Dragon of Luck, increasing the sect's luck."

"The Sect Master is not in the sect recently because he led several major true-transmission disciples of the sect to the Ancient Domain for training, to welcome the Tianyuan Grand Gathering one year from now."

"Of course, for such a grand gathering, our Beast-Taming Sect has always been just a supporting role. Top immortal sects like the Lingdao Sect and the Heavenly Sword Gate are the protagonists. But even so... we must fight for it! If we don't fight, why cultivate?"

Elder Mo said, "When I was young, I also participated in the Tianyuan Grand Gathering. Unfortunately, compared to those true heaven's favorites, my performance was truly mediocre, and I could only end up as a foil. At that time, I made a grand wish that one day, I would make the reputation of our Beast-Taming Sect resound throughout Tianyuan!"

"After I grew old, I knew that with my own talent, it would be difficult to achieve this goal. So, after losing hope of forming a Nascent Soul, I retreated behind the scenes to cultivate disciples, hoping to nurture more excellent juniors for the sect."

"Are you curious why the Pine-Needle Rat mutated and became a rare beast?"

"When you entered the sect, I didn't tell you that anyone with a special cultivation physique who forms a bloodline contract with a pet beast has a tiny probability of causing it to mutate!!"

"Because of this intelligence, I applied to the Sect Master for a large amount of resources, specifically to find those immortal seedlings with special cultivation physiques and dig them into the Beast-Taming Sect. Unfortunately, from elemental spirit bodies to disciples like Ouyang Hao with the Yuan Yang Body, a total of six disciples with special cultivation physiques failed to cause their pet beasts to mutate!"

"And you... Longevity Body, and the Pine-Needle Rat, are the first and only one among the disciples I dug up who finally caused a pet beast to mutate!" Elder Mo laughed heartily: "Now, when the Sect Master returns, I finally have something to account for."

"This Tianyuan Grand Gathering might not work, but the next one, even if your Longevity Body cultivates slowly, with the help of a rare beast, you will definitely be one of the protagonists, competing with those heaven's favorites from immortal sects and raising the prestige of our Beast-Taming Sect."

"For now... isn't the Dragon Ascension Festival coming soon? I see the Pine-Needle Rat's red flying leaves are quite extraordinary, so you should perform well in the Dragon Ascension Festival first, and try your best to show your talents. The sect has sect rules; only in this way will the sect treat you as the future of the Beast-Taming Sect and nurture you with all its might."

"Don't go picking at the scraps of sect missions anymore. At the Dragon Ascension Festival, if you can take the top spot, there will be resources, and there will be storage bags." ===== CHAPTER 19 =====