Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

[...Beast Taming Secret Technique: 100% (Perfection Traits: Slightly increased Demon Beast control, slight Cultivation Experience with Divine Soul Secret Skills)]

...

In the Half-Mountain Courtyard,

Shen Changchuan came to a stop, standing in its center.

A new line of text had appeared on the panel in his line of sight. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

This was the fruit of his seven days of arduous cultivation.

During these seven days, in his rush to cultivate the technique to Perfection, Shen Changchuan had skipped out on everything else. He hadn’t even gone to see the grand spectacle in the eastern village’s commercial district, where three merchant associations had moved in one after another, hosting various events to welcome newcomers and attracting a huge crowd of visiting Cultivators for trade and Immortal Cultivation.

Now that he saw the progress bar on the panel had reached 100%, Shen Changchuan finally breathed a small sigh of relief.

However,

as he stared at the progress panel in his vision, his brow furrowed slightly.

’It actually took seven days...’

His reaction was understandable.

Ever since advancing to the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer, whenever Shen Changchuan practiced other Basic Magic, he could generally bring them to Perfection within two or three days.

This was likely a benefit of his transformed and enhanced Divine Sense; it allowed him to perceive the subtle variations in Magical Power when casting Magic, making it much easier to grasp the essentials.

Yet, when Shen Changchuan practiced this Beast Taming Secret Technique,

it had taken him more than twice as long.

In fact,

it was even more difficult than when he was still at the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer, before he had even practiced the Nine Elements Divine Extraction Technique!

Shen Changchuan had a feeling that,

if he hadn’t advanced to the Qi Introduction Seventh Layer,

successfully mastering this technique would have required at least half a month of painstaking effort, if not more!

’Could it be that this is a High Level Secret Technique, making it that much harder to cultivate?’

As the thought flashed through his mind, Shen Changchuan’s brow relaxed a little.

Based on his experience grinding out all sorts of Magic, the more advanced the skill, the greater the difficulty and the slower the progress bar filled.

If that was all it was, then he had no need to worry.

That said,

the difficulty of cultivating this Beast Taming Secret Technique,

among the many types of Magic Shen Changchuan had practiced, was likely second only to the Cyan Wood Sword Light!

’I wonder where that person got this Secret Technique.’

’Whatever. No point dwelling on it. Now that I’ve successfully cultivated the Beast Taming Secret Technique, it’s time to take control of that beast!’

A glint flashed in Shen Changchuan’s eyes as he pushed aside his various thoughts.

He turned and headed toward the rear of the Half-Mountain Courtyard.

Deep in the rear of the courtyard

was a dungeon carved out of the mountain rock.

Shen Changchuan arrived at the dungeon entrance and had the two guards on duty outside lead him into its depths.

The entire dungeon was dim and gloomy.

The oil lamps lining the passage flickered, looking as though they might go out at any moment.

Shen Changchuan paid it no mind, however.

The dungeon wasn’t very large,

and after just a few dozen meters, he reached the end of the passage.

At this moment,

before him,

inside the cell, a massive bird resembling a falcon was bound by shackles cast from hard, refined iron, locking its talons and wings.

Iron chains crisscrossed its body, binding it completely.

But even so,

the two mortal guards standing behind Shen Changchuan couldn’t hide the terrified panic on their faces upon seeing the fierce beast within.

This thing was no pushover!

They knew full well

that the refined steel chains binding the creature were little more than a psychological comfort.

What truly held it in check was the Talisman-like pattern spreading across its forehead.

According to rumor, that was the Immortal Master’s handiwork,

and it was what Restricted all of the beast’s power.

Otherwise,

with the beast’s power, a single, casually summoned Wind Blade would have been enough to slice through the chains.

And it,

was none other than the Gale Falcon,

that Shen Changchuan had captured two or three months prior!

"Immortal Master, please!"

One of the guards took out a key, unlocked the gate’s chain, and then pulled the heavy door open,

gesturing for Shen Changchuan to enter.

Shen Changchuan stepped inside.

He waved a hand behind him.

The two men took the hint and withdrew.

Once the guards were gone,

Shen Changchuan slowly approached the nearly immobile Gale Falcon.

The Gale Falcon at this moment had long since lost its former wild defiance.

It lay on the ground, its eyes lifeless.

Its feathers were dry and molting, making it look like a gigantic, trussed-up, bedraggled bird.

When it saw Shen Changchuan,

a pleading look seemed to surface in its lifeless eyes.

Two to three months of imprisonment akin to solitary confinement, deprived of sufficient food and water,

had completely ground its will to resist into dust.

Shen Changchuan considered for a moment,

then, without dwelling on it,

he reached out

and placed a hand on the Gale Falcon’s head.

HUMMM!

As he performed the Beast Taming Technique, a soft white light bloomed from his palm.

At the same time,

the formless, intangible Power of the Divine Soul began to invade the Gale Falcon’s mind, planting a Restriction seed within.

Throughout the process,

the Gale Falcon offered no resistance.

Perhaps it was because more than two months of cruel captivity had destroyed its fighting spirit.

Or perhaps it was because Shen Changchuan’s Beast Taming Secret Technique had reached Perfection, its power vastly increased.

But regardless,

the Beast Taming Secret Technique was performed smoothly.

Having gained control of the beast so smoothly and without any mishaps

made Shen Changchuan a little suspicious,

so he decided to test it by sending a thought through the Restriction seed in its mind:

"From today on, I am your master!"

"Ma... master... what’s that?"

A somewhat juvenile Divine Thought wavered back through the Restriction seed in response.

Shen Changchuan’s brow furrowed.

Still, he sent another thought through the Restriction seed:

"It means I’m your boss. When I tell you to go east, you can’t go west. When I tell you to go south, you can’t go north."

"Okay, boss."

After receiving Shen Changchuan’s simple explanation, the juvenile voice quickly replied.

But a sliver of doubt still rose in Shen Changchuan’s mind.

’Could this thing be intelligent? Is it just feigning compliance, waiting to turn on me the moment it’s free?’

But his worry quickly vanished.

He hadn’t forgotten that the seed Restriction’s purpose wasn’t merely communication;

it also gave him control over the life and death of the subjugated Demon Beast!

’Whether it’s intelligent or not doesn’t matter.’

’As long as I hold its life in my hands, that’s all that matters!’

"Very good. From now on, your name is Xiaofeng."

"Xiaofeng, what do you want right now?"

Shen Changchuan continued to probe the creature as these thoughts ran through his mind.

"Want..."

"Boss... thirsty... hungry..."