The Master of Beasts

Yan Bei, after all, wasn't a very famous disciple. Moreover, with the Beast Breeding Competition underway, only those disciples near that particular arena battle were aware of the Silver Iron Eagle's prowess. Although quite a few disciples came to purchase them, only a handful ultimately made up their minds.

The display platform, which had been slightly bustling for a day, returned to its usual calm.

Not long after, Senior Sister Wen Ruo and Senior Sister Bai Yao returned to the display platform, laughing and holding a monkey with a peculiar appearance.

Bai Yao, looking at the score displayed on the announcement at the display platform, said in surprise, "Junior brother, not bad at all. You've actually sold quite a bit."

The number of points determined the ranking in the Beast Breeding Competition. These points were based on the quantity of Spiritual Beasts sold and the Spirit Stones earned. Seeing his rank was beyond the one-hundred-thousand mark, Chen Jiuge felt rather listless.

Seeing their junior brother was in low spirits, Wen Ruo said with a smile while caressing the strange little monkey in her arms, "Junior brother, do you know what this monkey is for?"

Before Chen Jiuge could ask, Bai Yao excitedly chimed in, "This monkey is just so magical! It was even cultivated by a Heavenly Immortal Elder."

At Bai Yao's words, Chen Jiuge's interest was piqued. "What can it do?" he asked.

"It can conjure Spiritual Springs," Wen Ruo said in amazement.

"Conjure Spiritual Springs???" At these words, Chen Jiuge was startled. Were they talking about the same sort of Spiritual Springs that he was thinking of?

"According to that Heavenly Immortal Disciple, this monkey is called a Spiritual Spring Monkey. Each Spiritual Spring Monkey has been merged with a different Spiritual Spring Eye, allowing it to summon a Spiritual Spring at will. No matter where you are, you can soak in a comfortable hot spring," Bai Yao said joyfully.

"Uh, so it's a bathing monkey?" Chen Jiuge said speechlessly.

"Junior brother, each Spiritual Spring Monkey is different. The Spiritual Spring Eye they've merged with differs, and so does their function. Yaoyao and I bought a monkey that was merged with the Flowers Spring, so naturally, it's only good for baths," Wen Ruo explained.

Chen Jiuge felt a huge blow. Had Spirit Beast Breeding become this competitive? Could they even come with personalized features now?

Silently sipping some Spiritual Tea to calm his shock, Chen Jiuge truly didn't know what to make of this Beast Breeding Competition. It wasn't that they were being flippant; the cultivators indeed showcased newly bred Spiritual Beasts. However, most of these Spiritual Beasts weren't meant for combat. They covered everything from dining and lodging to transportation—everything except fighting. It was truly bizarre.

"Junior brother, since there aren't many people around, why don't you leave a Communication Talisman here and come with us for a look? I've heard there's a Spiritual Beast in the eastern district that can create vestment robes. Let's go check it out," Bai Yao invited.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Jiuge agreed. He really didn't have much business right now. It seemed this Beast Breeding Competition likely had little to do with him anyway. He figured he might as well go and broaden his horizons.

The three of them made their way to the display platform of the Spiritual Beast that could create vestment robes.

The stand's owner was an adorable-looking little girl, and the displayed Spiritual Beast was a tiny pink spider. The display sign even detailed the little spider's abilities—indeed, it could create vestment robes.

"Are you Little Ling?" Bai Yao asked unsurely.

The little girl, looking uncertainly at the two attractive senior sisters before her, responded, "Do you two senior sisters know me?"

"You're Lin Ling from the Lin Family. Your father is Lin Baisheng, right?" Bai Yao pondered.

"Yes," Lin Ling said, somewhat at a loss.

"Is this cultivated by your father?" Bai Yao asked, gently prodding the little spider on the display platform.

"Yes, Father is busy, so I came over to help look after things," the little girl replied obediently.

Bai Yao simply shook her head with a "tsk-tsk" and said no more, then purchased two of the highest-grade spiders. These reportedly could create Seventh Rank vestment robes on the spot—a simply preposterous ability.

After leaving the display stand, Wen Ruo curiously asked, "Yaoyao, do you know that little girl's father?"

"Senior Sister Wen, you probably know him—the Lin Family's most talented disciple of this generation, the biggest heartthrob among the prospective Core Disciples. That girl is likely a consequence of his past affairs. He invited us when the child had her full moon celebration, but you didn't come," Bai Yao said with a sneer.

"I see. I'm not really interested in them; I've never even heard of Lin Baisheng," Wen Ruo said, shaking her head.

Bai Yao said, exasperated, "Oh, Wen Ruo! They're your future competitors. After all these years, you don't even know who they are. You'll be at a disadvantage when the time comes!"

"I don't have much desire for the status of a Core Disciple. If I could get rid of this title of prospective Core Disciple, I wouldn't be carrying it," Wen Ruo said, shaking her head.

As the Eldest Senior Sister of Hundred Herbs Peak and the most talented individual of the Wen Family's current generation, Wen Ruo's temperament wasn't dominant; one could even say it was very gentle. She wasn't one to compete fiercely. To her, the so-called Core Disciple status was less important than taking good care of her Master and junior brothers.

Bai Yao knew her best friend's character well but couldn't help shaking her head in slight disapproval.

Meanwhile, Chen Jiuge hadn't heard this gossip. He was instead drawn to a peculiar display stand showcasing a bright red little insect that didn't seem particularly special, but it was surrounded by a crowd.

"Charge! Charge!"

"Damn, don't tell me it's going to lose again?"

Having squeezed his way through the crowd, Chen Jiuge discovered that the stand featured a miniature battlefield sand table filled with red insects. Were they engaged in battle?

After watching for a while, Chen Jiuge was amazed. These insects, like mortals, knew how to deploy troops and maintain formations! They even understood military strategy. It was astonishing, given they only seemed to possess First Rank Spiritual Energy fluctuations. Where could they have acquired such high Spiritual Wisdom?

Fortunately, after the battle ended, the stand owner stood up to explain.

It turned out that the owner had repeatedly undertaken tasks to garrison mortal kingdoms and had seen many wars between mortals. Finding them quite amusing, he took advantage of the Beast Breeding Competition to create these war-capable insects. Unfortunately, he had been in a hurry, so he was just there to have some fun.

In essence, these insects were more like Spiritual Beast Puppets without Spiritual Wisdom. They had programs set within them, but these programs could be modified. If two cultivators each took control of one side, the winner would depend on which cultivator's strategic and calculating abilities were stronger.

After listening, Chen Jiuge's eyes lit up. These insects were interesting—much more fun than playing chess or anything like that!

After buying a large number of these Soldier Insects, Chen Jiuge was quite satisfied. Who to play with after the Beast Breeding Competition ended? Would Senior Sister Wen dislike this game?

Just as the two senior sisters finished their gossip, they realized their junior brother was missing. When they turned around, they saw Chen Jiuge with a silly smile on his face, holding a bunch of Soldier Insects.

Chen Jiuge, coming to his senses and noticing their expressions, hurriedly approached to explain, boasting about the advantages of these Soldier Insects, which could help everyone exercise their minds.

Action-oriented as ever, Bai Yao immediately stopped browsing. She dragged Chen Jiuge directly back to their display stand, declaring she wanted to have a "war."

Chen Jiuge looked helplessly at the impetuous Bai Yao. "Senior Sister Bai, we don't have a battlefield sand table, and the Soldier Insects will take some time to hatch. I can't just fight by myself. They need to leave behind offspring, don't they?"

"Use the Life Origin Ore we got a few days ago. Just place it nearby. They're only First Rank Spiritual Insects; the ambient Life Force it disperses will be enough for them to grow quickly," Wen Ruo reminded.