Chapter 535: Solidify Form

After class.

Fang Xing walked through the quiet garden, gazing at a field of jade millet not far ahead.

"This is 'Jade Millet' planted by one of the academy's Agrarian Handlers… that Agrarian Handler controls a High-Rank Soldier-class 'Jade Millet Spirit,' capable of producing vast quantities of Jade Millet grains—eating them regularly strengthens the blood and qi, benefiting Heart-Power cultivation… and they also serve as food for many Heart Beasts…"

"In truth, Agrarian Handlers are incredibly powerful in battle… especially after reaching Lord Rank—they can easily alter weather, summon natural disasters, and wipe out entire armies of ordinary soldiers…"

Fang Xing glanced a few times, then turned away and returned to his dormitory.

I can feel my Heart-Power has reached a bottleneck… to break through, I must now solidify my Heart-Form into a Bloodline Heart Beast.

He sat cross-legged and summoned his 'Blackfire Dog' Heart-Form.

"Aowu!"

The Blackfire Dog now looked nothing like the tiny, whimpering puppy no bigger than a fist—it was about a foot long, its fur glossy black, wreathed in thin strands of black flame.

"So it's grown from a puppy into a little dog."

Fang Xing sighed: "No, you were originally a wolf—don't try to pass yourself off as a Husky…"

He pulled out a black crystal.

It was the fruit of his three years at the academy.

Due to consistently ranking among the top in exams, and after presenting substantial gifts to several instructors on behalf of the Fang family, he received the academy's reward—'Blackfire Crystal'!

When used during Heart-Form solidification, it greatly increases the chance of enhancing the Bloodline Heart Beast's cultivation, slightly increases the chance of granting additional innate skills, and has a minuscule chance of elevating its quality.

There's an extremely slim chance it could upgrade the Bloodline Heart Beast's quality.

For example, if a Bronze-rank Blackfire Wolf got lucky, it might ascend to Commander-rank 'Blackfire Dog,' giving it a strong chance to break past the hundred-year cultivation limit and become a Lord-rank Heart Beast with centuries of cultivation!

"So theoretically, even a Worthless-rank Heart Beast has a chance to break into Iron-rank—but it requires true heavenly treasures… the cost far outweighs the return; unless absolutely necessary, no one would do this!"

What counts as "absolutely necessary"?

Based on rumors Fang Xing had gathered, even the direct heirs of county noble families didn't get this treatment.

Only true aristocratic clans, or the illegitimate sons of cardinals or the Pope… had even a slight chance.

Of course, the world is vast, and creation's mysteries are beyond ordinary comprehension.

Perhaps an ordinary mortal might stumble upon such a heavenly treasure while wandering the wilds!

The Dao of Heaven's Four-Ninety always leaves one thread of hope—this is precisely why.

Precisely because of this, countless Soldier-rank and General-rank Handlers enter the wilds every year, seeking to defy fate.

"Let's begin!"

Fang Xing gripped the Blackfire Crystal and smiled faintly: "I chose this myself. Though it's officially suited for Blackfire Dogs and fire-aligned, it secretly harbors a thread of destruction… if any other Blackfire Dog used this to ascend, failure would be likely—but my 'Destruction Demon Wolf' is perfectly matched. Now… emerge!"

Boom!

His Heart-Power spread, merging completely with the Blackfire Dog—this was nothing unusual, since it was his Bloodline Heart-Form, with an initial compatibility of 100%!

The Blackfire Dog devoured the Blackfire Crystal and let out a roar, landing on the ground.

Thud!

Its previously ethereal form instantly solidified, making a clear sound upon impact.

Moreover, its body rapidly grew—from one foot to three feet long!

In an instant, it became a full-grown large dog!

Even more, Fang Xing felt a new Heart-Form space opening within his body.

As this space formed, he clearly sensed the Blackfire Dog's cultivation surging.

Normally, a standard Iron-rank Bloodline Heart Beast's solidification begins with at least one year of cultivation.

Bronze-rank might yield two or three years.

But now, the Blackfire Dog's cultivation surged wildly, leaping past three years to five—this was the Blackfire Crystal's limit, but not the Destruction Demon Wolf's.

"Aowu!"

With a commanding roar, white stripes appeared across the black dog's body, its eyes glowing emerald, like two fine emeralds.

Above the emerald eyes were two white patches.

Its cultivation instantly shattered the Soldier-rank Lower Limit of five years, climbing to Soldier-rank Upper Limit, and only halted at ten years.

Fang Xing sensed the dog still had room to grow, but he deliberately stopped—sudden ascension to General-rank with decades of cultivation would destabilize its foundation, so he paused to stabilize it.

"But this appearance…"

He reached out and ruffled the dog's head; the dog's dignified expression instantly cracked into a sly, flattering grin, tongue lolling out.

"Even more like a Husky now… purebred at that…"

Fang Xing closed his eyes, silently sensing his Bloodline Heart Beast's skills.

"Hmm? Four already… First is the inevitable 'Protection'—as long as the Bloodline Heart Beast lives, the master can never be injured…"

"Second skill—Stealth: can suppress one's aura and disguise cultivation level?"

Seeing this, Fang Xing glanced again at the Husky-like Destruction Demon Wolf: "Why are you so familiar with this? Heart-Forms are extensions of the master's spiritual power… Did you learn this from me? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

He shook his head and continued sensing.

"Third skill—Fatal Bite… through the Husky Eyes—no, Destruction Demon Eyes—you can more easily spot an enemy's fatal weakness, locate the 'Death Line'… sever the Death Line, and the enemy dies instantly! The final skill is 'Destruction Flame'… the Destruction Demon Wolf's strongest ability—once even a trace clings to a target, it can never be shaken off until total annihilation… and worse, after destroying another Heart Beast, it absorbs a portion of its cultivation? Sss… such a sinister, powerful skill!"

Fang Xing's eyes gleamed.

Without doubt, this 'Destruction Flame' was the Destruction Demon Wolf's core ability.

Even future rapid ascension to Lord-rank or King-rank would hinge on this skill.

As for whether he'd get stuck?

With the Destruction Demon Wolf's quality, it was at least an Emperor—perhaps even legendary…

In other words, for the next hundred thousand years, he needn't worry about being unable to break through.

'So I'm a prodigy?'

Fang Xing chuckled silently, then ordered: "From now on, you're still called Blackfire Dog… and your cultivation is to be suppressed to five years."

Five years of cultivation—peak Soldier-rank Lower Limit—perfectly matched the image of a Blackfire Dog enhanced by rare materials.

Fang Xing now sought quiet growth; he didn't want to draw attention—this disguise was essential.

Conveniently, the Husky had the ability to suppress its aura.

"Aowu!"

The Blackfire Dog roared, its aura instantly dropping back to around five years.

"Excellent. A Handler commands their Bloodline Heart Beast as effortlessly as an extension of their own arm… other Heart Beasts forcibly tamed? Not so simple—betrayal is common, depending entirely on the Handler's skill and the wild beast's nature…"

Fang Xing raised his hand; the Husky dissolved into a streak of light and vanished into his body.

Within his Heart-Form space, a Blackfire Dog now lay lazily on the ground, scratching its neck with a hind paw…

…

'The Heart-Form space can only contain the Bloodline Heart Beast… and the Protection skill can remain active indefinitely.'

Fang Xing raised his hand, seeing a faint white glow on his skin.

This was the protection granted by the Husky.

Though only Soldier-rank, it was impervious to any ordinary mortal's attack.

With this step, he had transcended humanity—now standing above all common folk.

This was the allure of power residing within oneself!

'Soldier-rank Protection Aura is merely average—still vulnerable to heavy siege weaponry…'

Only General-rank, Lord-rank, or King-rank protective auras allow one to move freely through armies unharmed—only Handlers of equal or higher rank can break through…

Fang Xing hadn't walked far when he saw someone ahead—Ning Jian.

As classmates, their relationship wasn't exceptional, but it was decent.

"Fang Xing, you…" Ning Jian began greeting him, then his expression changed: "Protection Aura… you've already solidified your Bloodline Heart Beast?"

"Yes."

Fang Xing made no effort to hide it, smiling instead: "I heard Pei Ziyue succeeded too—and even got taken as a direct disciple by an Agrarian Handler. You should work harder."

He'd deliberately paced his breakthrough slightly slower than Pei Ziyue.

"I'll lock myself in seclusion. I won't emerge until I've solidified my Bloodline Heart Beast."

Ning Jian clenched his fists.

…

Instructor Zone.

Instructor Wen Lun studied Fang Xing's Blackfire Dog, then nodded approvingly: "Excellent, excellent—five years of cultivation. Clearly, the Blackfire Crystal's power was absorbed perfectly…"

He looked at Fang Xing, silently marveling: 'This student's talent may surpass Pei Ziyue—even though Ziyue has county noble family backing and that teacher behind him, he only barely edged ahead of Fang Xing…'

But he said nothing, only stroking the Blackfire Dog's fur: "After solidifying your Heart-Form into a Bloodline Beast, you must feed it. Though the academy's Jade Millet grains suit most Heart Beasts, they're inferior to real meat—preferably meat infused with fire. You've excelled in Heart Beast Feeding, so you know this… and later, skill training will require a visit to the Holy Hall…"

Instructor Wen offered a few pointers, then sighed.

He knew his outstanding student's path ahead would be harder than Pei Ziyue's.

To become a great Handler, one needs constant support.

Otherwise, even daily feeding and skill training could crush you.

Fang Xing's family were merely ordinary gentry—they might support him up to Soldier-rank, but after that, he'd be on his own.

By contrast, Pei Ziyue's future path was far wider.

Even if Fang Xing's talent seemed superior, it meant nothing!

(End of Chapter)