Chapter 533: Heart Beast Wolf

San Shan Village.

In a room in the back courtyard of the Fang residence.

Fang Xing held a bound book in his hand, studying by lamplight: "The quality of heart beasts is divided into Rotwood Rank, Black Iron Rank, Bronze Rank, Commander Rank, King Rank, Emperor Rank, Legendary Rank… Among these, Rotwood Rank heart phantoms are nearly impossible to cultivate, impossible to solidify… meaning they cannot even reach Soldier Rank."

"And in the wild, all beasts—even wind, clouds, thunder, lightning, natural phenomena, flowers, birds, fish, insects… as long as they give birth to a 'heart beast,' their minimum rank is Soldier Rank Lower Tier… thus, a Rotwood Rank heart phantom cannot become a Master, nor can it ever tame any heart beast…"

"Once a heart phantom solidifies, it immediately becomes Soldier Rank Lower Tier… The three great advantages of a Core Heart Beast are: First, it is immortal! Tamed heart beasts die permanently if slain in battle, but if your Core Heart Beast dies, as long as its master lives, it merely reverts to its phantom form and can be reshaped and grown again…"

"The second great advantage is that it can protect its master. In this world's combat, opponents always strike first to kill the Master. But as long as your Core Heart Beast lives, it grants you protection and absorbs all your injuries… Therefore, to kill a Master, you must first kill his Core Heart Beast!"

"The third great advantage is that once a Core Heart Beast reaches Gao Jie, it can awaken a 'Fusion Technique,' merging with its Master to grant the Master immense power…"

'Kings, Emperors, Legendary beasts… are even more extraordinary…'

In one, one looks `'

"Fang Leng?"

At that moment, the old steward entered, his expression strange: "Master… Young Master Fang Leng is gone."

"I always felt… maybe I misread it. My black fire pup… its quality isn't ordinary…"

'Indeed, at this point, a son is the mother's best guarantee. My future is bright—even Fang Lianshan won't dare turn against me lightly… Best to pretend nothing happened.'

Fang Xing was performing his daily training.

He went to the door and saw only darkness.

During casual training, he thought of Fang Leng: 'Rotwood Rank signifies "rotten wood cannot be carved." It's nearly impossible to advance as a Master. It's said even forming a Core Heart Beast is difficult… Precisely because one cannot form a Core Heart Beast, one cannot achieve Soldier Rank Lower Tier combat power—taming wild heart beasts becomes nonsense…'

"It's probably not Gong Lanxiang. After all, Fang Leng has already been confirmed as a waste heart phantom—this is even worse than disfigurement or losing a leg. He's no threat at all. Now is the time to show the mistress's generosity and grace."

…

Moreover…

Otherwise, how will you cross mountains and rivers to find and tame heart beasts? "Young Master, something's wrong!"

Heart beasts are the same, even more demanding.

Beside him, Gong Lanxiang was still weeping: "Wu wu wu… my poor child…"

"Hmm, it's definitely Fang Leng, not disguised…"

The steward immediately handed him a letter.

Fang Xing thought of Fang Leng, wondering if the boy had any protagonist fate, any chance of a comeback.

Fang Lianshan was slightly startled: "What happened?"

A white cloth covered the stretcher, blood seeping through. When slightly lifted, Fang Leng's stiff face was visible.

"Is it Fang Leng?"

"Ying ying…"

"The countryside has become unsafe. No one should go out at night… Also, someone must stand guard and patrol every night. The night watchman must not slack off."

Fang Xing calmly finished his last sip of porridge and asked: "Father, when do I go to Green Forest Academy?"

The next day.

Fang Xing closed the final page of "A Brief Introduction to Heart Beasts": "So, the Core Heart Beast is crucial… To solidify a heart phantom, one must go to Green Forest Academy. There, they teach the method to solidify the heart phantom—and… it seems that during solidification, one can invest many resources and treasures to enhance the heart phantom's quality or power?"

'As for a Commander Rank Core Beast, it already has the potential to evolve into a Lord—perhaps one day ruling a territory, at least becoming a county magnate…'

'Unless Fang Leng one day rises to power and delivers a "Don't underestimate the young" comeback… nothing will change.'

'By the time all are cultivated and return to the original self, perhaps they'll have assembled the "Pan Wu Great Dao"…'

Though this body is merely mortal, its physicality must be pushed to the human limit.

"Hmm, this world isn't bad. Good—I'll be heading to Green Forest Academy in a few days…"

Fang Xing thought with anticipation.

Thus, those who awaken a Rotwood Rank heart phantom are, in this world, mostly doomed to live their entire lives as ordinary people.

"It was just an accident…"

After all, revenge by a youth fails nine times out of ten. Only the one success became a famous tale.

Fang Xing nodded inwardly—he felt little emotion toward this brother sent by his reincarnation.

Unless one is a true Master, one cannot match it.

And this accounts for seventy or eighty percent of the population!

He raised his hand, and a phantom black fire pup appeared, tiny strands of black flame burning stubbornly.

After all, Fang Leng was dead. The dead deserve dignity—his funeral must be handled well.

"After this, I'll probably need to tame a Strength Heart Beast…"

Fang Lianshan's voice was dry: "Cold's abdomen was ripped open—all internal organs devoured… It must have been a heart beast wolf roaming in."

Fang Xing stared at the black flame, thoughtful: "Is this… Destruction Flame? Though this world forbids comprehending Laws, my heart phantom's manifestation—Destruction Law made flesh—is this black fire pup? Or should I call it—'Destruction Demon Wolf'?"

At this moment, a Master is a guarantee of safety! Not to mention Fang Lianshan himself is a Combat Master, already at Soldier Rank Upper Tier!

Fang Xing stepped out of the hall and strolled casually: 'I must go to the Academy… The cultivation methods may be known to others, but not everyone has a dedicated teacher. The key lies in 'heart phantom solidification'—when transforming into a Core Heart Beast, the Academy provides the best environment, even rare materials…' "Hmm, the term starts in a few days. I've already enrolled you. Don't worry about living expenses…"

The Fang family's breakfast was simple: thick white porridge, eggs, duck eggs, a few small dishes of pickled vegetables.

Fang Lianshan spoke calmly: "Besides, if we spot that heart beast wolf, I'll handle it myself."

Unsurprisingly, Fang Xing heard quarreling coming from the master bedroom.

Fang Xing's gaze was dark: "A youth, resentful, seeking revenge? Now? Feeling this home is unbearable, so you ran away?"

Around San Shan Village, peace had always reigned. At most, there were wild wolves—but hunters had nearly wiped them out.

The greenish duck eggs were pickled, their yolks red like crab roe.

"It's a wolf—not an ordinary one!"

…

Even the weakest heart beast is Soldier Rank Lower Tier—far beyond ordinary people.

Fang Lianshan found it strange: his son usually acted arrogant to the point of insolence—why was he so calm today? Even he felt unable to scold him. He'd planned to reprimand him, but now couldn't find the words.

'To awaken Black Iron Rank is luck. Bronze Rank is great fortune…'

To tame a wild creature, you must appear stronger than it!

"And from the wounds, it does look like bites from some creature… no poison, no other fatal injuries…"

Fang Xing teased it—the puppy phantom let out a soft "ying ying."

"I really hope you stumble upon some miracle, then come back to slap my face and gift me treasures…"

"As my heart beast grows, my understanding of Destruction Law will deepen? This world's rules are strange—is the heart beast the physical form of a Law?"

Click!

Fang Xing stepped out and saw the steward, pale with panic.

Fang Lianshan mentioned this, his face turning solemn: "Remember—focus on your cultivation. Don't concern yourself with other matters."

Afternoon.

Fang Xing rarely ate such food—he lifted the porridge, sniffed it. It had been boiled a long time, rich with starch, fragrant.

Hearing this, everyone nearby was startled.

But the heart beast wolf is different!

"Green Forest Academy… I still need to go… Hmm, if one has a Rotwood Rank heart phantom, even with cultivation methods, can one never solidify it in a lifetime?"

"Here is the letter he left behind."

Other villagers dispersed with grim faces. The Fang family began preparing for the funeral.

"I'm done eating."

"Hmm?"

He had to admit—he enjoyed the taste.

"It's Young Master Cold… he, he…"

At that moment, a commotion erupted outside.

A footstep sounded, then quickly faded away.

'This body's mother… is clever…'

He stepped forward, solemn, and found Fang Lianshan: "Father… what happened?"

Just as Fang Xing was about to blow out the lamp and sleep, he suddenly stirred, walking to the window: "Who's there?"

"What is it?"

"But…"

"According to novel tropes, shouldn't I have stumbled upon a miracle by now?"

Fang Lianshan glanced at the letter, his face flushed. He glared fiercely at Gong Lanxiang beside him—but then glanced at Fang Xing, and held his tongue.

Fang Xing nodded. No further issues.

He seized an opportunity to approach and carefully examine Fang Leng's corpse.

Fang Xing walked over and saw many people gathered around a stretcher in the center.

He had no real desire to chase after and eliminate the threat.

The steward struggled to speak: "He's been brought back… right up ahead…"

"Understood."

Fang Xing was surprised: "My younger brother… really died like this?"

He'd even hoped the boy would gain some divine artifact, return to slap his face, and gift him treasures.

"Sigh… this is the norm, isn't it? To defy heaven and change fate—nine out of ten die halfway. Only the one lucky survivor becomes legend, inspiring generation after generation to rush forward…"

Fang Xing sighed, stroking Fang Leng's face, and gently closed his unseeing eyes: "That heart-beast wolf will be slain soon enough—rest easy now…"

(End of Chapter)