Chapter 536: Weather Domain

"Then what are your plans next?"

Wen Jiaxi sighed inwardly, looking at Fang Xing as if seeing his former self.

"I plan to apply for graduation, then hunt other heart beasts to complete my team, before embarking on a long journey to hone myself…"

Fang Xing described the typical path of a War Yu-zhe.

This path was naturally perilous, but for him, it was the perfect time to grow.

Three years of patience, confined to the academy, had made him restless—he was now ready to unleash his accumulated strength!

"In the wild, be cautious of everything… even other Yu-zhe."

Wen Lun gave him a solemn warning, then said: "Student Fang Xing, I have examined your core heart beast—it fully meets graduation standards, and can even be called outstanding… The academy offers rewards to outstanding graduates."

He entered his study and returned shortly, carrying a bronze scripture.

"Is this… the Heart Phantasm Sacred Scripture?"

Fang Xing was startled: "It's even bronze-grade? That's far too valuable…"

The 'Heart Phantasm Sacred Scripture' originated from the 'Sacred Hall of Heart,' which Fang Xing viewed as an alien world's Spirit Ball.

But the storage capacity differs!

Iron-grade Heart Phantasm Sacred Scriptures have only three pages of storage, meaning they can hold at most three wild heart beasts.

Bronze-grade ones have six pages—double the capacity!

They also feature functions to query and record heart beast status.

It is said that higher-grade scriptures not only make heart beasts more comfortable, but may even accelerate their cultivation!

Of course, such high-grade scriptures would never be given as a personal favor.

"Thank you, Master."

Fang Xing showed gratitude and accepted the thick bronze brick.

"So this is the result of three years of networking—a small investment? Master Wen seems to see his own reflection in me, otherwise he wouldn't have added this on top of the Black Flame Crystal…"

"Still, the Sacred Hall of Heart releasing such scriptures… hmm… there might be backdoors; better check them thoroughly."

For one thing, if every heart beast's status is recorded, a Yu-zhe with insane luck who finds a royal-grade heart beast cub in the wild might face murder for its treasure…

Though perhaps Fang Xing was being paranoid, he would never entrust his safety to unknowns or others' goodwill.

"Thus, another advantage of a core heart beast emerges… it can stay inside me, never exposing any information…"

"Almost all Yu-zhe pour their greatest effort into cultivating their core heart beast…"

…

"Well, may your future be bright."

Seeing Fang Xing accept it, Wen Jiaxi felt as if his own long-buried dream had found a vessel: "I hope to one day see your name carved on the 'Heart Tower' in Heart City…"

Heart City is the headquarters of the Sacred Hall of Heart and the foremost place in the world today.

The Sacred Hall of Heart built a nine-story 'Heart Tower' there, inviting talents from across the land to challenge and rank themselves.

Those who pass the seventh level of the Heart Tower are granted the title 'Heavenly King'—a glory all Yu-zhe pursue!

Of course, it is extremely difficult—immensely difficult!

Even royal-grade Yu-zhe are not guaranteed to pass the seventh level!

Only those who achieve 'Heavenly King' status are permanently engraved and celebrated for centuries, even millennia!

Thus, Wen Jiaxi's hope is clear—though perhaps it was merely a polite blessing.

Like saying "may your future be bright"—who takes it seriously loses.

"I will."

Fang Xing laughed and took his leave.

Wen Jiaxi watched Fang Xing depart, then sighed.

He knew such expectations were likely too high for a Yu-zhe with a bronze-grade core heart beast…

…

Mount Qinglong.

This was a vast mountain range near Green Forest City, stretching thousands of miles, with treacherous terrain and dense primeval forests, home to countless wild beasts and heart beast clans!

It was the dream destination for Yu-zhe from nearby cities.

As for ordinary hunters? None dared venture a hundred li deep—otherwise, certain death awaited.

On this day,

a boy, carrying a bamboo basket and wearing a conical hat, walked straight into Mount Qinglong's territory.

"Fox Kill Pass… entering through this mountain pass means truly stepping into the wilds—danger and opportunity coexist."

Fang Xing checked the Heart Phantasm Sacred Scripture in his hand, confirmed it, and nodded:

"This time, I need to capture several heart beasts and scavenge some rare resources—or I'll go broke…"

The Fang family was merely a rural gentry; they could barely afford dog food for a soldier-grade beast.

Yet the Blackfire Dog would soon ascend to general-grade, and he'd captured several other heart beasts besides.

Relying on family support would inevitably lead to deficit—he had to venture out and fight for himself.

This was the tragedy of many poor Yu-zhe.

"Come out, Erha!"

Fang Xing uttered a soft command; a streak of light shot out, taking the form of the Blackfire Dog.

Its canine face bore dignity, black flames flickering along its body; upon seeing the wild environment, it grew wildly excited, as if eager to dash off and play.

"It's time to rely on you."

Fang Xing pulled out several cloth strips and tossed them: "Remember these scents, then find them…" The strips carried scents he had painstakingly collected.

Among them were traces of rare herbs and minerals, as well as those of heart beasts he intended to capture.

"The outer reaches of Mount Qinglong are paradise for soldier-grade and general-grade heart beasts…"

"Any heart beast of bronze-grade or higher—even if I can't use it—will fetch a fortune if sold…"

Over these three years, Fang Xing had already planned meticulously.

He came to this world primarily to perfect the Law of Destruction—naturally, this rested on Erha.

The rest focused on the Law of Force.

"Heart beasts are manifestations of laws—I need a pure force-type heart beast… Titan Ape or Power God Ant fit perfectly, but their grades are too high; even if I encountered them now, I couldn't guarantee capture…"

"If absolutely necessary, Brutal Ape or Power King Ant will do for now—I'll test them, and can always swap later…"

"Beyond that, I must assemble a team to challenge the 'Heart Tower'—passing even one or two levels brings rich rewards… I'll certainly attempt this later."

"Erha, let's go!"

Fang Xing broke into a light jog; Erha immediately bounded after him, ecstatic.

After entering the pass, not long after, he encountered a golden sea of flowers.

Golden blossoms shimmered under sunlight, breathtakingly beautiful.

"Wang wang… aowu!"

Erha had spent this time pretending to be a Blackfire Dog and had mastered canine speech; though the sounds were odd, his ten years of cultivation showed—immediately, he forced out a glow from the flower sea.

Within the glow, a golden plant heart beast emerged.

"Sunflower… a plant heart beast, iron-grade… roughly six years of cultivation!"

"It primarily absorbs sunlight to replenish energy… if well-cultivated, it has some healing ability…"

His solid foundation allowed Fang Xing to judge instantly: "If I wanted to open a flower shop, I might capture it—but not now."

He thought, and Erha immediately turned.

Seeing him leave, the Sunflower did not pursue, but retreated back into the flower sea.

"Plant heart beasts are not only too gentle in nature, but also severely limited in mobility… even if I wanted a defender or controller, I'd need 'Carnivorous Flower' or 'Thousand Vine Tree'…"

Fang Xing shook his head, yet still found Erha impressive.

At least, his dog nose could detect a heart beast hidden in a flower sea!

"Don't dally with flowers—find what I truly want."

He scolded, his mind deep in thought.

"A War Yu-zhe's team usually consists of five heart beasts, because Heart Tower battles are either 5v5 team fights or 5v5 rotation battles…"

"Typically, a team needs one strong attacker, one defender, plus mobility, healing, support, and control…"

After all, Yu-zhe must survive long-term in the wild—heart beasts must fulfill these roles.

"My Destruction Wolf is unquestionably the primary attacker…"

"As for control? Maybe I should form a Weather Team…"

Fang Xing stroked his chin, watching Erha, who had begun playfully tormenting insects and birds along the path, thinking to himself.

A 'Weather Team' refers to a team that enhances all members or heavily controls opponents by manipulating the environment.

Among Yu-zhe, Weather Teams already had prototypes—the 'Agricultural Yu-zhe'—who primarily captured heart beasts of wind, cloud, rain, and thunder; their crowd control was formidable, with almost no flaws except weak direct offense.

Fang Xing wouldn't copy them directly, but he believed his Destruction Wolf had strong potential as a weather handler.

After all, once the Destruction Wolf matured, it would likely awaken a 'Destruction Domain.'

Domain power would enhance and control far better than manipulating weather.

"So the Destruction Wolf is the absolute core—both attacker and weather handler—then I just need a few decent companions to complement the wolf…"

"Most minor foes won't even need Erha to act—they'll be dealt with easily."

"When facing true enemies, I'll probably still need Erha to sweep all five at once…"

Fang Xing knew that, given Erha's growth rate, his companions would struggle to keep up.

Sssha!

At that moment, Erha, who had been advancing deep into the forest, suddenly halted, his dog face turning solemn.

Ahead, within the trees, dark shapes emerged, followed by pairs of emerald, bloodthirsty eyes.

"A wolf pack?"

Fang Xing pondered as he watched the gray wolves appear: "At this scale, the Alpha must have reached the Heart Beast standard…"

Not long after, he saw a gray wolf twice the size of an ordinary one emerge.

One of its eyes was blind; the other glowed with cruelty and bloodlust as it fixed its gaze on Erha.

But Erha lifted his head proudly.

"Aowu!"

The next instant, a terrifying aura of authority surged forth, causing all the gray wolves to tuck their tails and whimper.

— Sovereign Presence!

This was a unique field possessed only by Heart Beasts of Royal quality, known as the "Royal Dignity"!

(End of Chapter)