Chapter 242: Could Zhao Xing Become the Leader of the Three Factions? (15,000)

Twin Island's acquisition of orders from three powerful armies, along with the training contract from the Beast Taming Bureau of the Bi Shui Academy, quickly drew the attention of surrounding islands.

At the Dragon Lion Island in the Eastern Sea, Tong Wanyang, the Director of the Dragon Horse Bureau, sat atop a Golden-Eyed Dragon Lion, listening to a subordinate's report.

"Since the end of last year, the Dragon Horse Bureau of Twin Island began importing a batch of ranked young beasts; after the start of the year, their number of ranked young beasts rapidly expanded to fifty thousand."

"The young warhorse beasts are ranked immediately upon delivery; after half a year of cultivation, many have already become adult warhorses of the eighth and seventh ranks." reported a Farming Bureau official dressed in cloud robes.

"Oh?" Tong Wanyang dismounted and walked while chatting with his deputy, "They mature in half a year? Is Brother Pengcheng's intelligence accurate?"

"Accurate," Yu Pengcheng nodded, "I visited the Dragon Horse Bureau of Twin Island in mid-July; it is indeed as the rumors say."

"Twin Island, where did they get such vast wealth?" Tong Wanyang looked at the intelligence report. "They don't even have a ranking."

What Tong Wanyang referred to was the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition ranking; the Dragon Horse Bureaus of the Zixiao Islands hold competitions in four districts: East, South, West, and North.

Dragon Lion Island is the leader of the West; Twin Island doesn't even have a ranking because they don't even have a Divine Selection Bureau, haven't entered the preliminary rounds for a long time, so how could they have a ranking?

Normally, the growth cycles for Dragon Whiskers, Purple Lightning, Sky Horses, and Fire Falcons range from one to three years.

To shorten this cycle is simple: feed them well.

This requires massive financial support; among the western islands of Zixiao, only those Dragon Horse Bureaus ranked in the top hundred can achieve such a situation.

"I heard they received support from Princess Youruo, and the Chongming Prefecture also loaned a batch of supplies to them," Yu Pengcheng said.

"I see, a connection-based appointment," Tong Wanyang smiled.

"It is indeed based on connections," Yu Pengcheng said, "but the Director of the Dragon Horse Bureau does possess some strength; he is a former Military Farming Official and is said to be skilled in the spells of the Benwo Sect."

"I visited their planting area; the feed consumed by the warhorses is of very high quality."

"How high?" Tong Wanyang asked.

"Lower than ours, but comparable to the four Dragon Nose Islands."

The four Dragon Nose Islands are among the top twenty in the West.

"What?" Tong Wanyang exclaimed in surprise, "Such boldness? It seems this Yuan Rang Marquis aims for the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition."

"He certainly has such thoughts," Yu Pengcheng smiled, "both the previous and current directors of the Twin Island Dragon Horse Bureau are the same; neither gives up."

"However, the previous director was exiled to Minghuang Island; we don't know if Zhao Xing will bring any changes."

"How is the situation with their Divine Selection Bureau?" Tong Wanyang asked.

"Acceptable," Yu Pengcheng pondered, "Yuan Rang Marquis merged and modified the Ten Thousand Beasts True Mantra and the Slave Seal Law; in a short time, they have indeed achieved some results."

"However, in my view, most of this is attributable to infrastructure and food supply," Yu Pengcheng commented.

Many people know the Ten Thousand Beasts True Mantra and the Slave Seal Law.

Different Farming Officials apply these two methods differently; improving these methods is not something only Zhao Xing has done; others have done it too.

In Yu Pengcheng's view, this is nothing special, merely a difference in focus. The direction Zhao Xing trains in simply happens to suit the army's appetite; for those nobles, it might not be so appealing.

Furthermore, as long as there is enough financial power, replacing the Farming Official could also produce such results.

Who doesn't know how to conduct high-intensity training?

Infrastructure and food supply are the key points!

If the horses don't eat well, after training they cannot recover properly at the Tuoquan Palace; train for half a month and they will be crippled.

The previous director of the Twin Island Dragon Horse Bureau simply could not secure such vast financial resources.

"The orders they signed with the army are high-priced, but the costs are not low either."

Tong Wanyang nodded: "Spending money to buy political achievements; when noble children become officials, it has always been this way."

"Should we make contact?" Yu Pengcheng asked.

"No need," Tong Wanyang closed the documents and said indifferently, "They don't even have a ranking in the western Zixiao; let them wait until they obtain a preliminary slot and see if they can withstand the siege of many powerful islands."

Dragon Lion Island is the leader of the West; the current Twin Island does not even catch Tong Wanyang's eye; he does not consider Twin Island a competitor at all.

It was only the recent movements of the Chongming Prefecture that drew the attention of his subordinates. But to participate in the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition and secure a place within it is not that simple.

"Yes."

…………

At the Twin Island Dragon Horse Bureau, Zhao Xing dispatched a Ten Thousand Arts Clone and arrived before the Law Beast Tower Ship.

At this moment, Ji Zixuan was waiting below the Tower Ship with one hundred students.

"Senior Brother."

"Hmm," Zhao Xing nodded, then looked at these Academy students, "Are all the first batch of students from the Academy's Beast Taming Bureau here?"

"Yes," Ji Zixuan handed over a list, "A small portion was specially selected by me; the rest were assigned by the Academy."

"Are they registering?"

"Lord Cao has already gone up."

"Let's go up and see," Zhao Xing and Ji Zixuan boarded the Tower Ship to inspect it.

In a short while, he saw Cao Jiang leading people surrounding a pet beast resembling a tiger with black patterns; Cao Jiang held an instrument in his hand and drew a few drops of blood from the pet beast.

The vessel holding the blood was flat, long, and transparent, resembling a storage card; subsequently, Cao Jiang inserted it into the back of a half-human-high three-dimensional box.

The ground mirror at the front of the three-dimensional box immediately lit up.

【Name: Shadow Tiger】

【Rank: Late Eighth Rank】

【Bloodline: Elegant Grade, Third Stage】

"Senior Brother, is this the Shangheng Detector?" Ji Zixuan stopped, looking at it with interest.

"Yes," Zhao Xing nodded, "A measuring instrument invented by 'Shangheng', one of the founders of Shangluo Academy."

"However, this is only a Fifth-Stage Shangheng Instrument; it can only measure realm and bloodline grade."

"Skill grades cannot be measured directly."

Zhao Xing flipped through the data of this Shadow Tiger.

The data written above was even more detailed.

【Talent Ability: Shadow Rampage】

【Effect: The Shadow Tiger activates the bloodline power within its body, increasing strength, speed, and defense by an additional fifty percent, lasting for one shichen.】

【Secret Technique: Shadow Assault (Mid-tier, Fifth Transformation)】

【Effect: After training, the Shadow Tiger can skillfully utilize its innate talent, condensing its aura to transform into a shadow, slipping behind an enemy to launch an attack.】

【Secret Technique: Shadow Clone (Mid-tier, Sixth Transformation)】

【Effect: After training, the Shadow Tiger can skillfully utilize its innate talent; when attacking, the innate secret patterns across its entire body will form six shadow clones. The clones possess no offensive power but serve to create confusion.】

"Truly rare; I have never seen a tiger that knows the shadow-escape technique before." Ling Ruoxue, standing beside Cao Jiang, also looked at the data, somewhat excited: "My Lord Zhao, have you ever seen such a thing in the army?"

"No." Zhao Xing smiled and put the data back.

Ji Zixuan glanced at Ling Ruoxue beside him, her eyes narrowing slightly, before relaxing again.

This woman is beautiful, but she should not be the type Zhao Xing likes.

"My Lord Cao, compare them carefully," Zhao Xing instructed. "When they arrived, what realm were these pet beasts in, and what level of skills did they possess? All must match the data."

"Rest assured, my lord," Cao Jiang nodded. "I will inspect every single one carefully three times; only after confirming no errors will I bring them off the ship."

Only by confirming the situation before arrival, and then recording again after sending them back, if any growth occurred in between, would the Dragon Horse Bureau be considered to have fulfilled the agreement.

After glancing casually for a few moments, Zhao Xing disembarked, as there were no pet beasts worth paying much attention to.

For this first cooperation, the Dao Academy would not possibly send any powerful pet beasts for the Dragon Horse Bureau to raise.

Fifty million seems like a lot, but this batch of students numbers one hundred, and a Beast Tamer owns more than one pet beast.

During this period, they eat and sleep at the Dragon Horse Bureau, and their levels must be raised; when averaged out, the profit is actually not great.

However, for this first batch, Zhao Xing did not intend to make any profit; the main goal was to make a name for himself.

On the military side, he lacked no mid-to-low-end orders; with just the Black Armor Army alone, Zhao Xing's official achievements for these years were not to be worried about.

But on the Dao Academy side, it was a blank slate.

"Do you have time to stay at the Dragon Horse Bureau next?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Yes, my master gave me two months." Ji Zixuan replied; she was now a Scholar Feng Chen of Princess Youruo.

"Very well, then you shall reside at the Director's Mansion; I will arrange training for you," Zhao Xung said.

"Thank you, Senior Brother." A flicker of excitement passed through Ji Zixuan's eyes.

"Gather the Dao Academy students; I have a few words to say."

"Very well."

Zhao Xing walked to the formation of the one hundred Dao Academy students.

The students from the Bishui Dao Academy headquarters were of high quality; seeing Zhao Xing approach, they stopped their discussions.

"I am Zhao Xing, Director of the Twin Dragon Horse Bureau, and also the main person in charge taking over your pet beast training."

"You only need to do one thing here: bring your pet beasts to the training location, and after training ends, bring your pet beasts back to your residence."

"My beast-taming methods accept no questioning or opposition."

"Let me state the ugly truth upfront: this training process will be somewhat painful. In the Dao Academy's contract, it is also clearly stated that a certain number of casualties among the pet beasts is permitted."

"If anyone is too attached to their pet beasts, you may apply to withdraw now; I will explain to the Dao Academy and send others to take your place."

After Zhao Xing finished speaking, he quietly waited for these students to make their choice.

He did not want someone crying and begging to withdraw halfway through the training.

The Great Zhou had been internally peaceful for over two thousand years; most of this batch of students had never seen blood.

The reason the strange beasts they cultivate are called pet beasts rather than war beasts is because many Tamers, after graduation, will ultimately not enter the battlefield.

Most will become Tamers for the Wangshi Sect or nobles, primarily driving strange beasts for ceremonial performances during sacrifices.

The Wangshi Sect and nobles have more frequent sacrificial activities; they live long, their families are vast, and they have many ancestral tablets; monthly sacrifices are the norm. Wei Xuancheng's later policy of destroying ancestral temples and abandoning shrines was precisely to strike at this extravagant wastefulness.

The Chenghua Bureau within the Dragon Horse Bureau is also one of the employment directions for these Tamers; the function of the Chenghua Bureau is also to command gentle pet beasts to perform ceremonies and the like.

Regarding the aforementioned two directions, it is hard to say which one leads to a better life; entering the Chenghua Bureau counts as an official position of some size, but the salary is low; serving as a Tamer under the Wangshi Sect or nobles holds no formal official position, but the money paid is high.

Of course, Tamers for the Wangshi Sect royal relatives generally hold official positions and high wages; this is considered an ideal post for those Tamers who dislike fighting and killing.

Of course, there is also a third choice: cultivate combat-powerful Beast Tamers to join the army, or participate in official competitions such as the Ten Thousand Beasts Arena.

"No one is withdrawing? Very good." Zhao Xing waited a while, seeing no one withdraw, then turned to Tao Anchun beside him: "My Lord Tao, take them to the inn to check in."

"Yes."

…………

Starting the next day, the Bishui Dao Academy students led their pet beasts onto flying boats, heading for the Lei Chi in the wasteland.

Upon arrival, the pet beasts were taken inside, while they waited at a venue several li away.

As soon as Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui entered the venue, they heard fellow students complaining.

"Marquis Yuanrang is truly unfeeling; I merely asked one question about what kind of training would be performed on my pet beast, and he didn't even acknowledge me."

"Exactly, isn't he just a sixth-rank official? My family has many sixth-rank Scholars Feng Chen, yet I have never seen anyone with such authority."

"So mysterious; who knows how much skill he actually possesses."

"What a terrible place; not even tea to drink, and the tables are hard as stone."

"Did anyone of you bring food?"

"I did."

Those who could enter the Bishui Dao Academy mostly came from good families; Zhao Xing's mysterious behavior provoked dissatisfaction among many noble youths.

Many others also complained that the Marquis's lodge was shabby and the food provided was poor.

Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui found a quiet place and sat cross-legged.

Both they and their pet beasts had formed soul contracts.

At this moment, as he sat cross-legged cultivating, a square contract emerged from the vortex within his Origin Dantian, bearing an image of a strange beast.

Su Minghui's spirit sank downward, and the phantom of this contract instantly reflected within her Sea of Consciousness.

Since they were not far apart, they quickly connected with their respective bonded beasts.

When she opened her eyes again, a 'Shadow Tiger' roaring toward the sky appeared in Su Minghui's vision.

In Shang Ziyan's eyes, a 'Sky Sword Bird' with silver wings and a beak sharp as a sword appeared.

They briefly gained the perspective of their bonded beasts and could empathize with them.

"Huff, finally connected, and it was quite a distance," Su Minghui said to her friend. "Ziyan, you... hey? What's wrong with you?"

Shang Ziyan suddenly began to tremble all over, her delicate body shaking uncontrollably; before long, she lay on the ground with her eyes rolled back.

"What's wrong with you... ah, hiss..." Su Minghui was about to check on her friend when suddenly she too was struck as if by lightning, collapsing to the ground and convulsing uncontrollably.

Zhao Xing, who was practicing the Hou Transformation Method in the Lei Chi Wasteland, suddenly frowned.

Immediately, with a thought, a clone outside the arena instantly walked inside.

After a quick glance around the hall, he immediately spotted Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui lying on the ground.

"They've gone so far out, yet these two can still connect with their own bonded beasts?"

Zhao Xing approached the two fallen figures and was left speechless.

Overexertion is no good either; these two are now completely numb.

"Whoosh whoosh~"

Zhao Xing pointed his finger, sending forth two streaks of Jin Guang, channeling a wisp of Primordial Qi into their bodies.

After alleviating the spasms in their flesh, he used the Sleepy Worm Method to gently stimulate their Life Souls.

These two girls finally stopped convulsing.

"My lord," Su Minghui and Shang Ziyan, upon waking, quickly straightened their clothes and bowed.

"Did you just connect with your bonded beasts via a Soul Contract?" Zhao Xing asked.

"Yes, yes."

Zhao Xing smiled: "You truly got injured by your own strength."

"If my lord forbids it, we will not dare again," Shang Ziyan said, fearing she might incur Zhao Xing's displeasure.

Zhao Xing pondered, "Theoretically, what you did has benefits; it can stimulate the will of the bonded beast. However, in the actual process, you also become extremely painful."

"If you are willing to share this pain with your bonded beasts, I have no objection; it depends on whether you yourselves are willing to endure this hardship."

Shang Ziyan said without hesitation: "I am willing."

Su Minghui also said: "I am also willing; please grant your permission, my lord."

Zhao Xing nodded. "Very well, rest for two hours first; I will dispatch a physician from Wan Island."

Ji Zixuan guessed correctly; Zhao Xing admires those who strive and is willing to show some care to such people.

As for others, if they have the ability to endure this hardship, he treats them all equally, so he might as well send a physician to stay permanently.

After finishing the inspection, Zhao Xing exited the arena again.

In the Lei Chi Wasteland, his main body continued practicing the Hou Transformation Method.

"Boom-crack!"

"Boom boom boom boom boom!"

The two hundred and thirty-one bonded beasts below immediately scattered in all directions.

But where could they escape to?

Before long, they were all struck by Lei Ting.

"Roar!"

"Screech!"

"Awooo~"

For a moment, these bonded beasts all roared, and some even launched attacks against Zhao Xing.

However, after half an hour, the vast majority of the bonded beasts had fainted; only four remained conscious.

"Swish~"

Zhao Xing's figure appeared on the ground.

★￠o

"Shadow Tiger, Sky Sword Bird, Purple-Backed Ape, Silver Moon Wolf."

"These four strange beasts are all late-stage Grade Eight; although their grade and bloodline are not the strongest, their usual training intensity is high, and their willpower is good," Zhao Xing nodded slightly.

For ordinary bonded beasts, whether they can become war beasts, battle will is a very critical indicator.

Strange beasts of the same grade, raised by the Chenghua Bureau, are as obedient as dogs; even cases occur where Grade Seven beasts fear ordinary humans, because their wildness has been completely eroded, and they have become mere performance tools.

War beasts, however, are indomitable, crawling out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood; their combat power also becomes stronger.

Of course, these bonded beasts currently have not yet reached that level.

Because as soon as Zhao Xing walked over, these strange beasts became panicked and disoriented.

"Roar roar!"

The Shadow Tiger retreated repeatedly, threatening Zhao Xing not to come closer.

Zhao Xing flashed forward, directly mounting its back; with a squeeze of his legs, he immediately pinned the Shadow Tiger to the ground.

"Hou Hou Hou!" The Shadow Tiger struggled desperately but could not break free.

The Sky Sword Bird emitted a sharp cry, the Purple-Backed Ape pounded its chest, while only the Silver Moon Wolf, silent and without roaring, quietly crept behind Zhao Xing, revealing a cruel gaze.

"Swish swish swish~"

Zhao Xing's figure flashed past the three strange beasts again; he extracted a drop of blood from each and vanished on the spot.

Only four strange beasts remained, standing dazed in the wasteland.

"Crack~" Zhao Xing inserted the vessel containing blood into the Shang Heng Instrument.

Subsequently, data for four samples was displayed.

"The Shadow Tiger was originally late-stage Grade Eight, with a Jun-level third-tier bloodline; now it is Jun-level fourth-tier."

"The Sky Sword Bird was originally Jun-level fourth-tier bloodline; now it has reached Jun-level fifth-tier."

"The Silver Moon Wolf had the greatest leap, going from Jun-level first-tier to Jun-level fourth-tier."

"As for the Purple-Backed Ape, there was no change in the Shang Heng Instrument, but its talents and skills should have strengthened; the instrument simply failed to detect it," Zhao Xing thought silently.

Talents and skills cannot be detected by low-to-mid-tier Shang Heng Instruments.

Zhao Xing had tested the Thunderous Marquis Transformation Method on the Unicorn Wild Boar countless times; now he could control advancement in three directions.

First, grade; second, bloodline; third, talents and skills.

Zhao Xing had just performed a screening to see which strange beasts performed well and could be cultivated with emphasis.

The Bishui Dao Academy needed elite individuals; naturally, he had to cater to their desires.

Produce a few typical examples to submit as a report.

"It is you four lucky ones," Zhao Xing smiled slightly.

"Whoosh~" Four Myriad Dharma Divisions appeared beside the Sky Sword Bird, the Purple-Backed Ape, the Silver Moon Wolf, and the Shadow Tiger.

Before they could react, they were seized and taken to the center of the Lei Chi to be struck individually.

As for the remaining two hundred and twenty-seven strange beasts, they continued to be struck together, advancing by fate.

…………

On July 28, the first day of strange beast training, a bizarre scene unfolded within the arena.

Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui of the Bishui Dao Academy were as if possessed, convulsing wildly.

After fainting, they were healed by physicians, only to convulse into unconsciousness again shortly after.

"What is wrong with them?"

"I don't know; could they be possessed?"

"They look like they are in great pain."

"What a terrible place; it's so strange..."

The other Dao Academy students watched, shivering with dread.

Upon learning that Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui had become this way because they were connected to their pet beasts via soul contracts, many students began to worry about their own pet beasts.

Some went to ask Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui, but both looked utterly bewildered.

"I can't remember clearly..." Shang Ziyan said in confusion, "I vaguely recall some pain, as if struck by lightning."

"What about you, Minghui?"

"I am the same," Su Minghui pondered. "If my guess is correct, certain areas of the training ground must have been set up with the Forget-Worry Stele."

Their guess was correct.

Zhao Xing had indeed requested Sun Shizhao to bring people to set up the Forget-Worry Stele in certain areas of the wasteland's Lei Chi.

Otherwise, these strange beasts would eventually suffer psychological trauma.

"If humans are in such pain, what about the pet beasts? Someone! Someone!"

"I want to see my pet beast!"

Ji Zixuan's figure appeared within the arena. Looking at the shouting crowd, her expression was cold: "Shouting and screaming; what a disgrace!"

"Cheng Yao, Wu Yuan, do you two intend to abandon this opportunity?"

"Senior sister..." a young girl with a head full of pearls and gems was about to speak.

"Do not call me senior sister. I am the Commander of the Jinwu Guard! Address me by my title when on official duty!" Ji Zixuan shouted.

"J-Jinwu Commander, I, I..." Cheng Yao, struck by her shout, immediately stammered, unable to speak.

Ji Zixuan then looked at the others: "Marquis Yuan Rang established the rules long ago: one may withdraw, but no questioning is allowed."

"Those who wish to withdraw may simply walk out of the arena; I will arrange for people to send you back."

"Cease the noise immediately; do not disturb others. If anyone dares to offend again, they will be expelled from this training group!"

"Y-Yes, yes." These students were instantly subdued.

They might not understand Marquis Yuan Rang, but Ji Zixuan was someone who could speak directly with the Masters of the Beast Taming Bureau.

She was also the favored disciple of Princess Youruo and the granddaughter of Prince Chenglan; the Dao Academy students recognized these titles.

Seeing no one speak up again, Ji Zixuan walked out.

In the Lei Chi wasteland, Lei Ting flashed continuously.

Inside a small valley.

The Sky Sword Bird, the Purple-Backed Ape, and the Shadow Tiger had also collapsed, falling into unconsciousness.

A Lei Guang covered their bodies as their forms underwent some kind of transformation.

However, this transformation lasted only a moment before vanishing.

Finally, only the Silver Moon Wolf remained standing; its size at this moment was a full circle larger than when it arrived in the morning.

Three streaks of gold had appeared in the silver fur on its forehead.

"Awooo~"

At this moment, the Silver Moon Wolf let out a long howl to the sky.

The Lei Guang on its body flashed, slowly gathering on its forehead; finally, a vertical line appeared within those three streaks of golden fur.

It had successfully advanced to Silver Moon Wolf King!

"Whoosh~"

Zhao Xing appeared beside the Silver Moon Wolf King again and drew some of its blood.

"Awo~" A flicker of panic flashed in the Silver Moon Wolf King's eyes; the excitement of its recent breakthrough vanished.

Recalling the painful ordeal just now, it was brought about by this very human!

Zhao Xing activated the Shangheng Instrument.

Subsequently, a string of information appeared on the Earth Mirror.

【Name: Silver Moon Wolf】

【Grade: Eighth Grade Perfection】

【Bloodline: Famous Grade First Stage】

"When I came this morning, this Silver Moon Wolf was only Handsome Grade First Stage; now it has reached Famous Grade First Stage."

"Its grade has also advanced from Eighth Grade Mid-Stage to Eighth Grade Perfection."

"The effect is not bad." Zhao Xing stroked his chin.

He then carried a box and walked over to the Wolf King's side.

"Splash~"

A huge pile of fragrant pork appeared before the Wolf King.

"Eat quickly; after eating, we still have to train," Zhao Xing said.

"Roar~" The Silver Moon Wolf King bared its teeth and growled low.

"Oh? You dare bare your teeth? Ao Tian, hit it," Zhao Xing shouted.

Whoosh~

A black shadow darted out and swiped a claw at the Silver Moon Wolf King.

"Smack!"

The Wolf King, nearly two meters tall at the shoulder, was instantly pinned to the ground.

"Woo~" The Wolf King's eyes instantly became clear.

"Meow~" The Mountain Cat approached the Silver Moon Wolf step by step, raising its right paw.

The meaning was: Will you eat? If not, I'll beat you again!

The Silver Moon Wolf King immediately tucked its tail and obediently began eating the meat.

"Well done," Zhao Xing praised the Mountain Cat.

The Hou Bian Method advanced the bloodline and even raised the grade; how could it work without eating?

This Wolf King ate fifty meals in a single day.

Zhao Xing's beast-taming process was as follows:

Step one: Get struck by Thunder.

Step two: Eat.

Step three: Recover physical strength and vitality, spar with the Mountain Cat, let the Wolf King familiarize itself with its new realm, and hone its secret techniques.

Step four: After consolidating the realm, continue getting struck.

Repeating this, by the end of the day, this Silver Moon Wolf King endured the longest.

Zhao Xing calculated that within twelve shichen, the Silver Moon Wolf King endured eight hundred and eleven bolts of Lei Ting.

It ate fifty-one meals and was beaten by the Mountain Cat fifty-two times.

"That's all for today; Ao Tian, wrap it up," Zhao Xing said.

"Meow~" The Mountain Cat hopped onto the flying boat cheerfully.

Subsequently, in the Wasteland Lei Chi, a large number of pet beasts were roused, loaded onto the flying boat, and then transported to the arena outside the wasteland.

"Everyone come out and soothe your pet beasts."

"You have three shichen of rest time; after three shichen, I will return to collect them."

After saying this, Zhao Xing opened the barrier on the flying boat and released the pet beasts.

Although the Forget-Worry Stele had been set up, the emotions of these strange beasts were still difficult to calm in the short term.

Strange beasts have higher alertness and more sensitive emotions; most of them remained in a state of panic, though they did not know why they were panicking.

"Roar!"

"Woo woo woo~"

"Awo awo~"

All the pet beasts fled the flying boat as if escaping, returning to their masters' sides.

Wu Yuan felt that his pet beast, 'Lightning Leopard', was emotionally off, and immediately wanted to soothe it.

However, as soon as he placed his hand on it, he recoiled as if struck by electricity.

"What's going on?" Wu Yuan looked bewildered; he had just been shocked. "Hmm? The Lightning Leopard's secret technique has advanced one level? Is it that it couldn't control itself and shocked me?"

Not only Wu Yuan; at this moment, many exclamations echoed through the arena.

"How did my Phantom Leopard break through to Eighth Grade?"

"Hiss, the Dragon Lion's reverse scales are five fingers wide; isn't that the characteristic of a Handsome Grade Fifth Stage bloodline? But it should only be Fourth Stage?"

"Fire! Fire! My Fire-Spitting Wolf keeps spitting fire; it can't control itself; someone help me!"

"Ouch, Sirius, stop licking; you're going to crush me to death..."

Inside the arena, chaos reigned.

Most had not achieved any breakthrough, merely becoming emotionally agitated.

Among the two hundred-plus pet beasts, only one-tenth showed progress on the first day.

However, for some people, their pet beasts' breakthroughs were very obvious.

Su Minghui and Shang Shang Ziyan each brought two pets this time: Shadow Tiger, Sky Sword Bird, Purple-Backed Ape, and Silver Moon Wolf.

Among them, the Silver Moon Wolf and the Sky Sword Bird were Shang Shang Ziyan's pets.

The Shadow Tiger and the Purple-Backed Ape belonged to Su Minghui.

When the pets returned, the two women were greatly shocked.

"Heavens, Huihui, my Silver Moon Wolf has advanced to Wolf King!" Shang Shang Ziyan exclaimed. "Mid-Tier Eighth Grade, elevated to Perfection of the Eighth Grade!"

"And the Sky Sword Bird, its beak has become sharper, and its secret technique 'Sky Sword Dance' has advanced one turn!"

"My Shadow Tiger and Purple-Backed Ape have also leveled up." Su Minghui was also plunged into shock.

Although during the process of the soul contract connection, one could vaguely perceive the pets' progress.

But only when they truly returned could one discover how astonishing this progress was!

"No wonder Senior Sister said that Yuan Rang Hou is a genius of this age." Shang Shang Ziyan excitedly hugged the Silver Moon Wolf King, "Silver Moon's bloodline has risen a full major rank!"

"Awooo~" The Silver Moon Wolf King's voice held some grievance; did you know how much suffering I endured?

That wretched place not only had lightning strikes, but a cat kept beating me up!

Silver Moon, Purple-Backed Ape, Sky Sword Bird, and Shadow Tiger were unaffected by the Forgetfulness Stele; Zhao Xing had specifically added extra training for them because he valued their strong wills.

"Silver Moon, endure it." Shang Shang Ziyan kept stroking it, "I will bear it with you."

On the other side, the Shadow Tiger was also feeling grievous in Su Minghui's arms; it too had persisted until the latter half and suffered no small amount.

However, under their masters' comfort, the four pets slowly calmed down and fell asleep.

Only that while sleeping, they would occasionally twitch suddenly.

Shang Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui exchanged a glance, somewhat helpless.

Yuan Rang Hou's training effect is good, indeed, just a bit too harsh; they are even twitching while asleep.

…………

Zhao Xing did not care how they comforted them; if they could not even handle such a small thing, then the students of the Bishui Dao Academy were too weak, and he would not earn this money; you all go back where you came from.

The students and the strange beasts rested, but Zhao Xing did not rest.

At this moment, Zhao Xing's true body, accompanied by Ji Ji Zixuan, arrived at the planting area on the eastern side of the Land Island.

They landed before a row of houses built from bamboo.

"During these three double-hours of their rest, you will practice the Gluttony Eating Method here." Zhao Xing said. "These bamboo houses store various supplies."

"I will train you according to military methods; when you cannot bear it, you may speak."

"Senior Brother, rest assured, I can endure it." Ji Ji Zixuan said with full confidence, "I have also been cut by blades and struck by lightning."

"Do not speak too fully; try the beginner plan first." Zhao Xing opened a warehouse door.

"Boom~" As the door opened, a heavy fishy smell rushed to their noses.

Ji Ji Zixuan immediately frowned, stepped back half a pace, and covered her nose.

But she immediately realized this action would give Zhao Xing a bad impression, so she released her hand.

"Senior Brother, what is in here? Where does the beginner training plan start?"

"Fire-Glow Green Gold, Numb Fish Fruit." Zhao Xing waved his hand, and a fruit and a segment of a fiery red root appeared in his palm.

"Absorbing the primordial energy from the Numb Fish Fruit brings a sour and numbing sensation; the taste is fishy and disgusting; it has slight toxicity, but the dosage is not large."

"The thorns of the Fire-Glow Green Gold root can be removed for consumption; it can replenish a large amount of primordial energy, but the flaw is its pungent taste."

"These two are merely Tier Four supplies."

"I have a friend named Xia Jing; back when we were training, he was only Eighth Grade, yet he could eat thirty thousand jin in a single day without even frowning." Zhao Xing said.

He did not speak falsely; Xia Jing indeed did not frown; he was just crying while vomiting.

"My requirements for you are not high; within these three double-hours, you will eat ten thousand jin."

Upon hearing this, Ji Ji Zixuan's fighting spirit was instantly aroused.

Xia Jing at Eighth Grade could eat thirty thousand jin in a day; she is now Sixth Grade, how can she be on the same level as Xia Jing?

Ji Ji Zixuan voluntarily increased the amount: "Senior Brother, within these three double-hours, I will eat thirty thousand jin!"

Zhao Xing shrugged and said, "As you wish; as long as you are happy."

"The amount inside this house is sufficient; go in yourself."

"I have arranged a female physician for you; her name is Wen Mujin, and she lives in the pharmacy next door. If you have any problems, you can call her."

"Remember, do not force yourself." Zhao Xing instructed, "You have just begun practicing; if there are problems, you must call the physician, otherwise it is easy to explode from the body."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for the reminder; I will." Ji Ji Zixuan nodded, then walked into the wooden house.

Seeing Ji Ji Zixuan go inside, Zhao Xing immediately activated the Mirage Pearl inside the house to record the images.

He absolutely did not want to record the Shadow Assassin's dark history; he was purely worried she would have problems!

…………

One double-hour later.

"Ugh~"

Ji Ji Zixuan's face flushed red as she leaned against the door wall and vomited.

But because of the Fire-Glow Green Gold, she could not even vomit it out.

Wen Mujin glanced at Zhao Xing watching the spectacle under the pear tree and wanted to say something, but Zhao Xing raised his hand and said, "No need to speak much; this is her own choice; you just treat her."

Wen Mujin then pulled her to the adjacent side room, removed her clothes, and inserted needles.

Two quarter-hours later, Ji Ji Zixuan walked out, her face pale, bent over, her legs trembling.

"Junior Sister, how does it taste?" Zhao Xing asked with a smile. "If you cannot bear it, do not force yourself."

"Seni-or, rest assured, I, can, endure..." Ji Ji Zixuan's throat was hoarse, and she rushed back into the room again.

Zhao Xing could not help but sigh. "Brother Xia truly has a successor; if he saw this scene, I wonder what he would think."

Facts proved it.

Extreme gluttony training silences all who refuse.

Three hours later, Ji Zixuan emerged from Wen Mujin's room with red-rimmed eyes, clearly having cried.

Ji Zixuan no longer possessed her initial bold boasts.

She dared no longer speak of being on the same level as Xia Jing.

She had become entirely docile, carrying an air of pitiful fragility.

"Come here."

Supported by Wen Mujin, Ji Zixuan slowly walked over.

Zhao Xing grabbed Ji Zixuan's wrist and probed her internal condition.

He then looked at Wen Mujin: "Why hasn't the fire poison in her body been fully expelled?"

"My skills are lacking."

"..."

Lord Zhao couldn't help but laugh in anger: "You speak with such boldness."

"Did my lord forget? I am a beast doctor."

"..."

"Then why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You told me not to speak unnecessarily."

"..."

Zhao Xing thought, and indeed, it was true.

Wen Mujin was not his subordinate; she had been sent by Princess Youruo to assist.

The Dragon-Horse Pavilion required physicians, naturally prioritizing beast doctors; in this medicinal herb cultivation area, there were plenty of beast doctors at work.

However, for now, they could only make do.

Zhao Xing turned Ji Zixuan's body around so her back faced him.

He then struck her back with a palm.

"Pfft~"

Ji Zixuan let out a "Wah!" and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Zhao Xing cultivated the Yin-Yang Original Self Sutra and had spent so much time in the army with Yuan Yang and the others; he also knew a little about medicinal properties.

This palm strike directly expelled the fire poison from her body, though it inevitably caused some injury.

"Rest here; come for training again in twelve hours," Zhao Xing instructed.

"Yes."

Three hours later, Zhao Xing flew back to the Lei Chi wasteland.

He ordered the students of the Dao Academy to drive the pet beasts in the arena onto the flying boat to be dragged away.

Among them, three hundred and twenty-seven pet beasts were still left in the Lei Chi wasteland to undergo a collective baptism of thunder.

Silver Moon Wolf King, Purple-Backed Ape, Sky Sword Bird, and Shadow Tiger received individual extra training.

"Boom-Crack!"

A new day of training began again.

September 29th, the second day of training ended.

The Sky Sword Bird reached the First Rank of the Fame Tier bloodline.

October 3rd, the Purple-Backed Ape also reached the First Rank of the Fame Tier bloodline.

October 7th, the Shadow Tiger reached the First Rank of the Fame Tier bloodline.

October 15th, these four pet beasts had all reached the peak of the Eighth Grade; their innate secret techniques had also improved greatly, increasing by roughly three turns each.

Among them, the Silver Moon Wolf King, with the most resilient willpower, had reached the Third Rank of the Fame Tier bloodline; its three secret techniques had all reached the mid-stage peak, and a high-stage secret technique had even appeared.

With the support of fifty meals of nutritional supplements per day, its grade had climbed to the early stage of the Seventh Grade.

The greatly strengthened Silver Moon Wolf King challenged Ao Tian Miao once more.

At Zhao Xing's instruction, Ao Tian Miao fought the Silver Moon Wolf King for an hour before knocking it down with a single palm strike.

The Sky Sword Bird, Purple-Backed Ape, and Shadow Tiger received the same treatment.

Each time, the mountain cat won by only a small margin; thus, combined with the tamers' soothing efforts, these four pet beasts always maintained high fighting spirit.

October 15th, an accident occurred in the arena.

Twenty-six students could not control their rampaging pet beasts and actually began attacking each other.

Even with the Forget-Worry Stele present, these pet beasts' strength had grown too fast; their bloodline leaps had triggered the beast instincts hidden within their bodies.

The tamers had not adapted in time, resulting in a counter-effect.

"Roar! Roar!"

The riot triggered a larger-scale disturbance; nearly a hundred strange beasts went berserk, on the verge of losing control.

Seeing that an incident was about to occur, Shang Shang Ziyan's Silver Moon Wolf King took action.

The Silver Moon Wolf King defeated forty-eight pet beasts one by one, crushing them all.

"Awooo~" The Silver Moon Wolf King calmed the situation in an extremely short time.

Shang Shang Ziyan and her Silver Moon Wolf King instantly became the most eye-catching presence in this arena.

However, when Zhao Xing brought beast doctors in to treat the other strange beasts.

The Silver Moon Wolf King shrank back again, just as a cat would before a mouse.

The other strange beasts were the same; though they did not know why, seeing this man before them, they felt fear.

Beast doctors entered to treat them, while the students of the Azure Water Dao Academy fell into deep thought on the sidelines.

"Shang Ziyan was originally only at an average level within the academy, and her Silver Moon Wolf initially possessed only a Jun-grade, first-rank bloodline."

"How is it that in less than half a month, there has been such a great change?"

"Could it be due to the anomaly before?"

And after Zhao Xing's clone entered the arena, he announced the reason for the Silver Moon Wolf King's progress.

From this day on, all the students of the Azure Water Dao Academy began attempting Soul Contract connections, sharing pain with their pet beasts to ignite their fighting will.

The atmosphere of intense competition immediately swept through the student body of the Dao Academy.

Although among these people, only a small portion were destined to endure such pain.

But in this way, the strange beasts also became more resilient.

…………

On October 20, Zhao Xing commanded the Silver Moon Wolf King, the Purple-Back Ape King, the Sky Sword Bird King, and the Shadow Tiger King to conduct grouped combat training against the remaining strange beasts.

At this time, these three hundred-plus strange beasts instinctively feared Zhao Xing.

Their bloodline leaps came from the Thunderous Marquis Transformation technique Zhao Xing cast; this was a fear carved into their very bones.

Zhao Xing could command them without needing a Soul Contract.

Over two hundred strange beasts began intense combat.

The injury rate began to rise.

By November 10, Zhao Xing stopped the training.

He led all the strange beasts back to the arena.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~"

All the strange beasts returned to their masters' sides.

Zhao Xing stood on the flying ship, looking down at the strange beasts and students below, and nodded slightly.

Compared to the very beginning, both the students and the strange beasts had undergone great changes.

Of course, not everyone persisted.

Nor were all the strange beasts unharmed.

Twelve students withdrew early half a month ago.

Of the two hundred and thirty-one strange beasts, forty-five could not be treated in time and ultimately died on the wasteland.

Three-fifths of the students neither persisted in 'establishing a Soul Contract' to share pain nor chose to withdraw.

One-fifth of the students attempted it occasionally, intermittently.

Only fifteen people persisted throughout the entire process, using Soul Contracts to connect and ignite their pet beasts' fighting spirit.

However, whether top students or poor students, the eighty-eight Dao Academy students remaining here now looked at Zhao Xing with three parts fear and seven parts admiration.

Especially Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui, who were utterly awestruck.

Because the two of them had gained the most benefit!

"Your training at the Twin Dragon Horse Stable ends here," Zhao Xing looked down from above.

"For the next period, you need to allow your pet beasts sufficient rest time; for at least half a month, do not conduct high-intensity training."

"Now, take your pet beasts and board the multi-story ship!"

The students below bowed to Zhao Xing one after another: "Thank you, Marquis Yuanrang!"

Shang Ziyan and Su Minghui, amidst their gratitude, also felt some reluctance to part.

However, they also knew that this special training session had ended.

After everyone boarded the multi-story ship.

Cao Jiang, Tao Anchun, and others once again held the Shangheng Instruments to test and register the strange beasts one by one.

A file was recorded upon arrival, and a file must also be recorded upon return.

At this moment, Ji Zixuan was also on the warship; her training had also concluded.

After the inhumane supply training, Ji Zixuan's Gluttonous Devouring Method had entered the third layer.

Looking at a list in her hand, she could not help but be greatly shocked.

"When we arrived, all the pet beasts were Grade Eight; now they are all Grade Seven!"

"Among them, twelve have even reached Grade Six, and the Silver Moon Wolf King has even reached the peak of Grade Six."

However, this was not what shocked her the most.

"The bloodline of every strange beast has increased by at least three minor ranks."

"All have reached the threshold of the Ren-grade bloodline; twelve have exceeded the threshold, and the Wolf King has even reached the seventh rank of the Ren-grade bloodline?"

As for skill talents and such growth, the average data was not quite so exaggerated.

Because the Thunderous Marquis Transformation technique mainly raises grades and bloodlines; skill levels require the pet beasts to grind and refine them themselves afterwards to match the new grades.

Only those who received special tutoring, the few beasts frequently beaten by the mountain cats, had made significant breakthroughs in skill levels as well.

"Senior Brother, reporting back this time will likely shock them greatly," Ji Zixuan looked at Zhao Xing.

"You need not flatter me," Zhao Xing smiled. "Shock is unnecessary; it would be good enough if they feel it was worth the price. This time, I am losing money just to make a name."

The fifty-million contract under the Azure Water Dao Academy required all Grade Eight strange beasts to reach the Grade Seven level, and in terms of bloodlines, to collectively increase by one rank.

As long as this point was achieved, the agreement would be fulfilled.

The maximum time allowed was three months, but Zhao Xing spent only one and a half months and exceeded the Dao Academy's requirements.

To cultivate this batch of pet beasts, Zhao Xing also invested considerable effort; the cost approached ten million, primarily spent on food, as well as the medicinal herbs required for the beast doctors' treatments.

Of course, part of this was grown by Zhao Xing himself, but the value of the materials spent was indeed this high.

Adding Zhao Xing and Shan Mao's labor costs, calling it a loss is a bit exaggerated, but the profit on this order isn't much either.

"Senior Brother, if you do this, the Dragon Horse Bureaus on the other islands will be crushed by your competition." Ji Zixuan laughed. "I'm afraid someone will hold a grudge against you."

The army's orders aren't a big deal, but the Dao Academy's orders are limited.

Ji Zixuan surmised that the Dao Academy would definitely increase its order volume; if Zhao Xing took on more, the other islands would receive fewer.

Zhao Xing mastered the Rearing-Type Climate Change Method; this was the core competitiveness!

He surmised that Twin Island would rise rapidly in the future.

Zhao Xing said calmly, "The Dragon Horse Bureau is a government-run institution. Even when the Twin Island Dragon Horse Bureau was in such a bleak state before, it wasn't abolished; how could so many people hold a grudge against me?"

"My competition won't cause anyone to lose their official post; it will only affect those who want promotions."

"And promotions are inherently a matter of the capable rising and the weak falling, survival of the fittest, and the adaptable surviving."

"I am currently just..."

"With over two thousand years of peace, the Dragon Horse Bureau has become too bloated."

"If I were the highest supervisor of Chongming Prefecture, the Dragon Horse Bureaus across the Purple Dawn Islands should be streamlined by seventy percent!"

"If I were a Second-Rank Vice Minister of Agriculture, the Dragon Horse Bureaus across the entire Eastern Sea would undergo a major reform! At least thirty percent must be abolished."

Ji Zixuan's eyes sparkled; this was the first time she had heard Zhao Xing mention his ambitions, and she felt he seemed to glow when he spoke.

After Zhao Xing bragged a bit with the young lady, he descended from the pavilion ship.

Ji Zixuan then led the students back to the Bi Shui Dao Academy.

When the magical beast pavilion ship returned to the Beast Taming Office of the Bi Shui Dao Academy.

Eighty-eight students disembarked with their pet beasts, drawing many glances from onlookers.

"When did the Beast Taming Office gain so many majestic and extraordinary pet beasts?"

"Hmm? Judging by their appearance, they all seem to be of famous beast bloodlines."

"Hiss, the pressure that Wolf King exerts is so strong."

"Its eyes are so terrifying."

Students from the Outer Court chattered among themselves, and the students of the Beast Taming Branch were even more surprised.

"Isn't that Cheng Yao? When did her battle pet become so majestic?"

"Shadow Tiger King, Purple-Backed Ape King; are these two King Beasts? But it's only been two months; why has Su Minghui's pet changed so much?"

"What a powerful Silver Moon Wolf King! Eh? What's wrong with them?"

At this moment, inside the Beast Taming Office, a student walked by leading a wildcat.

Although it was merely an ordinary Handsome-Rank First-Tier bloodline, all the strange beasts saw this wildcat and instinctively stepped back a few paces.

Even the Silver Moon Wolf King was somewhat agitated, letting out a long howl.

"Truly strange." The youth leading the wildcat couldn't help but feel very puzzled.

Since when had his wildcat become so majestic, able to trigger the alertness of so many King Beasts?

Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong, the two Masters of the Classics who served as the Directors of the Beast Taming Office, quickly appeared and cleared the area.

"Master Wen, Master Zhai, I have brought them back." Ji Zixuan bowed and said, "These are the detailed records submitted by Marquis Yuan Rang; please send someone to verify them."

Wen Ji took the list and glanced at it, immediately stunned: "You got the wrong one, right?"

"What's the situation?" Zhai Zhong asked, tilting his head.

Wen Ji handed it over: "Look for yourself; twelve Sixth-Rank beasts, all Seventh-Rank, all of Famous-Rank bloodlines."

"Hmm?" Zhai Zhong took the data and looked, also somewhat surprised.

He looked up at the surrounding students and noticed their eyes were all very bright, showing a very obvious change compared to two months ago.

They couldn't remain unchanged; anyone struck by lightning every day would develop mental resilience.

If the students' changes weren't too great, those strange beasts could be described as having been reborn!

"Bring the Shang Heng Yi immediately, the highest grade!" Zhai Zhong immediately ordered someone.

"Yes."

In a short while, the Seventh-Tier Shang Heng Yi was brought over.

Zhai Zhong first took a sample of the Shadow Tiger's blood.

Buzz~

The Earth Mirror immediately displayed detailed data.

【Name: Shadow Tiger】

【Rank: Sixth-Rank Mid-Stage】

【Bloodline: Famous-Rank Fourth-Tier】

【Talent Ability: Shadow Rampage】

【Effect: After Climate Change, the Shadow Tiger's bloodline power is greatly enhanced; strength, speed, and defense are additionally increased by three times, lasting for two double-hours.】

【Secret Technique: Shadow Assault (High-Stage First Transformation)】

【Effect: After Climate Change, the Shadow Tiger's innate ability is greatly enhanced; it can condense its aura, transform into a shadow, and slip behind an enemy to launch an attack.】

【Secret Technique: Shadow Clone (Mid-Stage Perfection)】

【Effect: After training, the Shadow Tiger can skillfully utilize its innate ability; when attacking, the innate secret patterns across its entire body will form nine shadow clones. The clones possess a certain attack power and carry a confusion effect.】

Zhai Zhong compared it with the data from two months ago.

He discovered the Shadow Tiger had previously only been Eighth-Rank Mid-Stage.

Handsome-Rank Third-Tier bloodline.

The bonus provided by the talent ability was only fifty percent, with a duration of one double-hour.

But now, it has increased to three times!

"Ho! The bloodline of this Silver Moon Wolf King has reached the Fame Grade, Seventh Tier!"

Wen Ji beside him let out an exclamation.

"Jumping from Handsome Grade, First Tier to Fame Grade, Seventh Tier bloodline... this is simply outrageous."

"This Sky Sword Bird is the same. With a Fame Grade, Fifth Tier bloodline, how can the power of Sky Sword Dance be High Grade?"

"And the Purple-Backed Ape, the Lightning Leopard..."

After one round of inspection, Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji were left speechless.

The actual condition of these beast companions was stronger than what was recorded in the data.

Because the combat techniques had improved, Zhao Xing found it tedious to register them; the contract had no such clause, so he treated it as a 'gift' for their initial cooperation.

Yet precisely because it was measured by their own people from the Beast Taming Bureau using the Shangheng Instrument, the result was even more shocking.

Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong pulled Ji Zixuan aside.

"Zixuan, did Marquis Yuanrang make a losing deal?" Wen Ji asked.

Zhai Zhong said, "Even if it wasn't a loss, there was at least very little profit."

A contract of fifty million, averaged over two hundred strange beasts, came to only two hundred and fifty thousand per beast. A comprehensive improvement in grade, bloodline, and talent—even if Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong themselves had managed it, achieving Zhao Xing's results in one and a half months would not have been easy.

Ji Zixuan smiled, "I am not clear on that, but Senior Brother mentioned future cooperation intentions. If the two teachers are still satisfied, you might as well place a few more orders."

Satisfied? Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji were extremely satisfied.

Because they immediately tested the group of strange beasts in actual combat and found they indeed had no major flaws.

It was not the kind of improvement with severe side effects.

Hmm, after careful testing, there was indeed a tiny bit.

They were afraid of cats.

"Afraid of cats?" Qin Hongying, hearing the report from her two subordinates, put down the documents in her hand, looked up, and shot them a questioning glance.

"Yes, all the strange beasts have shown symptoms of fear toward cats," Wen Ji said.

Zhai Zhong pondered, "What is strange is that they do not fear all cats, only the wildcat variety."

"Even the most ordinary wildcat, placed before the Silver Moon Wolf King, can trigger its stress response; it must be soothed by the Beast Tamer nearby to return to normal."

"This problem is not too big," Wen Ji said. "Beast Tamers do not stray too far from their battle pets; a brief emotional surge can be recovered from."

"Only in a peak duel could one seize a flaw in that split second."

"It seems Zhao Xing used his wildcat as a sparring partner," Qin Hongying said, glancing at the results and letting out a light laugh.

"You are saying this side effect is entirely acceptable; with some future training, it will disappear."

"Dean, should we send more battle pets over?" Wen Ji asked.

"Yes," Qin Hongying nodded. "Administrators who master the Succession Transformation Method are rare; those who can cultivate strange beasts to advance are even rarer. Once his reputation rises, the price may not be what it is now."

Zhai Zhong agreed, "Indeed. We just do not know how large an order Zhao Xing can handle, or if he has the ability to cultivate Fifth Grade and Fourth Grade strange beasts."

The first batch was merely testing the waters; what would truly help the Dao Academy was cultivating a large number of Medium Grade battle beasts.

Because the Bishui Dao Academy also had the qualification to participate in the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition.

Ninety percent of the secret realms in the Longting Ancient Land allow only Fourth Grade strange beasts to enter.

That is to say, the main force exploring the Longting Ancient Land is actually Fourth Grade battle beasts.

In the Ten Thousand Beasts Competition, only Fourth Grade strange beasts fight; high-grade strange beasts are rare, the slots are fixed, and they are not sent to fight to the death. When the time comes, the high-grade strange beasts dispatched by Great Zhou and the Water Clan can enter directly.

While Wen Ji and Zhai Zhong were still thinking, Qin Hongying directly set the strategy: "No need to think about it. The Longting Ancient Land will open in twenty years. Even if he cannot do it now, he certainly will in a few more years."

Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji listened silently.

"You two go personally to negotiate," Qin Hongying said, raising one index finger. "My absolute bottom line is that the Bishui Dao Academy must obtain priority rights from him."

"As for the rest, negotiate as well as possible. If we can bind his development twenty years from now, that would be a great merit."

Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji exchanged a glance, both finding it incredible. Did Vice Dean Qin really have such high expectations?

To have them negotiate such a distant future.

If the other party were Liu Tianning, that might make sense, but Zhao Xing is currently only a Sixth Grade.

Qin Hongying seemed to see the doubt in their hearts: "You do not know him well."

"A few days ago, I went to Princess Youruo's residence and happened to ask about Zhao Xing's situation."

"He and Liu Tianning are completely different."

Qin Hongying said, "Liu Tianning focuses mainly on the Benwo Sect, and having immersed himself in the Fifth Grade for a century, he specializes in the Benwo Sect. The Ten Thousand Methods Straw Man occupies all his thoughts; he has no path back."

"Zhao Xing has no clear factional traces. The Succession Transformation Method belongs to the Heavenly Timing Sect, yet when he was in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, he joined the Earth Advantage Institute. Now, merely a Sixth Grade, he has already cultivated the Ten Thousand Methods Clone."

Qin Hongying tapped her fingers lightly on the table, her gaze profound: "Suppose, I say suppose, Liu Tianning becomes the first Benwo Sect Grand Administrator of our dynasty in the future."

"Under his protection, Zhao Xing's chance of perishing is very small. Zhao Xing is young enough and talented enough, with ample time to be Shenjiansan Sect."

"In the future, he may become the first Grand Administrator of our dynasty to unify the Heavenly Timing, Earth Advantage, and Benwo three sects!"

Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji were instantly stunned.

Unifying the three major schools, becoming the leader of the three sects?

Vice Dean Qin's hypothesis was indeed bold enough.

Even Wu Cheng, the Third Lord Wu, the Grand Administrator of the founding period, with all his prestige, never achieved this.

It is not enough to have high combat power; one must also unify the philosophies of the three sects. Just regarding the Five Elements and Four Seasons Theory, the three sects have major disagreements.

One must also possess supreme merit, and prestige comparable to Wu Cheng's, for it to be possible.

However, Qin Hongying was only hypothesizing. Zhai Zhong and Wen Ji did not argue on this topic because it was too far away.

Seeing that Qin Hongying had such high expectations, Zhai Zhong could not help but ask, "Dean, how much leverage are we allowed to offer during this negotiation?"

Qin Hongying smiled lightly, "No upper limit."