The Master of Beasts

"So, you're saying you found a disciple who can purify the bloodlines of Divine Beast cubs?" Jun Linseng's voice rose.

"Correct," Zhi Duoxing nodded.

"Then, because you weren't sure whether that disciple had awakened the 'Causality Refinement' Divine Ability, you let him continue to work on those little cubs?" Jun Linseng's voice grew even louder.

"You're really causing trouble," Jun Linseng glared fiercely at Zhi Duoxing.

Zhi Duoxing muttered, dissatisfied, "'Causality Refinement,' this Innate Divine Ability, cannot be controlled. Even not using it will still increase one's karma, leading to greater difficulty in the Immortal Ascension Thunder Tribulation. It's better to let him refine those cubs and earn some resources. That way, the probability of becoming an immortal might even be higher."

「...」

Inside the great hall, Chen Jiuge, having placed the resources into his Storage Ring, was planning to return to his room to sort things out. Suddenly, a figure appeared before him. Before he could get a clear look, he was whisked away to a different location by a wave of the figure's hand.

Facing the white-haired figure with a transcendental demeanor, Chen Jiuge cautiously asked, "Senior?"

"I am Jun Linseng, the Sect Master of the Myriad Beasts Sect. What's your name, young one?" Jun Linseng asked with a kind expression.

"Ah, Sect Master! Disciple Chen Jiuge," Chen Jiuge exclaimed, startled.

"Have you taken a master?"

"I have."

"Hmm? You have? Then never mind." Jun Linseng was somewhat surprised. The disciple has barely broken through to Divinity Transformation, yet he has already found a master. Which old ghost has such keen eyesight? His talent seems average too.

"Do you know that the bloodline refinement you performed on those Divine Beasts is a type of karmic Innate Divine Ability?" Jun Linseng went straight to the point.

Chen Jiuge, of course, did not know; he was merely relying on the abilities of his Golden Finger.

Seeing Chen Jiuge shake his head, Jun Linseng sighed. "What you've awakened should be the 'Causality Refinement' Divine Ability. Many years ago, someone in the Myriad Beasts Sect awakened it, and not just one person."

"The power of causality is strong, but the side effect is also obvious: every time you use it, you accumulate a certain amount of karma. This karma then erupts during the Heavenly Tribulation. Of course, because the stature of karma is so high, it will, at the very least, erupt during the Immortal Ascension Tribulation," Jun Linseng said with a hint of pity.

"Then if I don't use it, will I be fine?" I know I'm relying on the Golden Finger and not some causality Divine Ability, but this is too good an excuse not to use.

"Of course not," Jun Linseng said. "Do you think that awakening such a powerful Divine Ability in a mortal body doesn't come with a price? Even if you don't use it, karma will still accumulate, perhaps just slightly less. And you've probably used it quite a bit before this."

Chen Jiuge offered a sheepish smile.

"However, this is a Great Divine Power, after all. As the Sect Master of the Myriad Beasts Sect, I will naturally help you. You should also be practicing Body Cultivation. That's good. Body Cultivators are durable, giving you a greater chance of surviving the Immortal Tribulation."

After a moment of contemplation, Jun Linseng continued, "I will open the Myriad Beasts Blood Pool for you, giving you an opportunity to refine your body. If you're lucky and obtain the Myriad Beasts Holy Body, your chances of overcoming the Immortal Ascension Tribulation will be even greater. However, the energy of the Blood Pond is too violent; your Body Refining Cultivation must at least reach Returning to Void to attempt it."

"Here's the Token. Hold onto it for now, and go there once you've reached Returning to Void. As for the rest, it's all up to your own luck."

"Also, those Divine Beasts are a bunch of gossips. I'm afraid it won't be long before news of your awakened Divine Ability spreads throughout the higher echelons of the Myriad Beasts Sect. Be careful. If anyone forces you, send me a message. Of course, if the price is right, you can use it within reason. After all, the karma is bound to increase anyway, so earning more resources won't hurt," Jun Linseng reassured him.

Clutching the Token and a wealth of new information, Chen Jiuge was sent back to Bai Yao's palace.

Shaking his head, which felt full of paste, Chen Jiuge wondered, Has this day been somewhat of a fantasy?

The Sect Master's strength was unfathomable, so neither Senior Sister knew that Chen Jiuge had already taken a short excursion.

In the remaining two days, a few Divine Beasts came looking for Chen Jiuge. This shocked both Senior Sisters. This Junior Brother is really quite something!

After all, these Divine Beasts were mostly the Contracted Spirit Beasts of Golden Immortal experts, with cultivation levels of at least Heavenly Immortal. Occasionally, there were True Immortals, though they were even rarer than Golden Immortals.

Perhaps because they hadn't caught the first wave, the Divine Beasts that came later were much more polite, and the treasures they brought were even more precious.

However, the most bizarre among them was the Divine Beast Azure Dragon.

Facing about a dozen oddly shaped cubs, Chen Jiuge asked, his face a mask of question marks, "Senior, are these your children?"

The Azure Dragon coughed awkwardly twice. "Well, as a Beast Master, you should know about us Dragon Clan. We're just a tad... open-minded, so there's no helping having a few more children."

Chen Jiuge was at a loss for words. Senior, you're a Golden Immortal! For Golden Immortals to have children, it's all about taking Spiritual Medicine to boost the chances or locking themselves away to make little ones. Without thousands of years, it's hard to have offspring, yet here you are with a whole class of kids. You're truly prolific!

Following the Sect Master's guidance, Chen Jiuge had now disguised himself as a Cultivator who had awakened 'Causality Refinement.' So, he said, somewhat troubled, "Senior, isn't this... a bit too much? You know about my Divine Ability..."

The Azure Dragon thought for a moment and agreed, realizing it was indeed asking a lot. Recalling the enticing figures of each child's mother, it gritted its teeth and pulled out a Vajra Lock from its Storage Ring. "The Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon, the Vajra Lock, in exchange for the bloodline refinement of my children."

Chen Jiuge's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets at the sight of the ordinary-looking Vajra Lock.

A Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon, as its name suggests, is a weapon naturally born from heaven and earth. It is capable of growing with its host and has an almost certain chance of awakening an Artifact Spirit, not to mention its immense power. Most importantly, it carries a trace of the Power of Laws.

"Senior, are you serious?" Chen Jiuge was still in disbelief. These children were clearly hybrids, their Azure Dragon Bloodline diluted and even degraded to that of a common True Dragon. Offering a Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon as the reward seemed far too generous.

"Youngster, rest assured! I am a Dragon, and not just any Dragon, but the supreme Azure Dragon! I have plenty of treasures. As long as you refine my children's bloodlines, this Vajra Lock is yours," the Azure Dragon boasted proudly.

Seeing this, Chen Jiuge didn't hesitate any longer and began to refine the motley crew of Dragon Descendants.

Watching his progeny finally looking a bit more like dragons, the Azure Dragon's eyes brightened. Hey, not bad! This disciple is quite capable. This is how they should look! Before, I was embarrassed to call these bizarre little things my children, but now they look much better.

Patting a child on the head who had sprouted dual horns, the Azure Dragon was very satisfied. It tossed the Vajra Lock to Chen Jiuge and flew off with a hearty laugh.

I wonder if it's more thrilled about the children's purified bloodlines or the thought of their enticing mothers.

Having received the Vajra Lock, Chen Jiuge was also extremely happy. A Heaven and Earth Holy Weapon! I've always lacked a Lifebound Magical Treasure, not just because a treasure would consume my Divine Soul Power, but also because I lacked a strong enough one. This Vajra Lock has arrived just in time!