I Tame Beasts by Feeding

"A deeper partnership?"

Yu Changsheng looked up, a little surprised.

"That’s right. The First-Grade Medicine Hall doesn’t have many restrictive rules for our Honored Guest Alchemists. If you agree, fellow Daoist, you’ll receive a discount on all future material purchases."

"We would only trouble you when outside Cultivators commission us to refine rare or special Elixirs. We would provide compensation based on the difficulty, and you would also get to learn the Pill Formulas from these outside Cultivators. It’s a win-win."

"Additionally, even if there’s no business, we provide our Honored Guest Alchemists with fifty Lower Grade Spirit Stones every month as a token of our appreciation."

You couldn’t blame Xi Wenyu for being so enthusiastic. There were far too few Alchemists in the Fish Market who could produce Pill Patterns. Even those who could were mostly from sects and not people he could recruit.

The First-Grade Medicine Hall’s development had hit a bottleneck in recent years. If they wanted to continue expanding their Elixir business, they had to recruit Honored Guest Alchemists.

Xi Wenyu had tried for several years and had only managed to recruit three Honored Guest Alchemists. In terms of skill, they were likely inferior to the fellow Daoist standing before him.

Yu Changsheng’s brow furrowed slightly as he internally weighed the pros and cons of the matter.

He didn’t want to get involved with too many factions, as that would increase the probability of his identity being exposed.

’If a Foundation Establishment Great Power shows up, my Divine Sense won’t be able to withstand their probing before my Refining God Technique reaches Minor Achievement.’

But the plan Xi Wenyu proposed was very tempting, especially since he desperately needed resources right now.

"You can rest assured, fellow Daoist. The First-Grade Medicine Hall is very lenient with our Honored Guest Alchemists. Whether you accept a job is entirely up to you. We will never force you, and we certainly won’t pry into your identity."

Xi Wenyu glanced at the mask on Yu Changsheng’s face and smiled. "If you run into any danger or need help outside, our First-Grade Medicine Hall will also do everything in our power to assist you."

"My Xi Family has some influence in Bright Moon City, and we have a Foundation Establishment Ancestor in the clan."

’I’m afraid that Foundation Establishment Ancestor of yours is exactly who might show up!’

Yu Changsheng complained silently in his heart.

Still, cooperating with Xi Wenyu was indeed a good path. Moreover, once he became an Outer Disciple, and then an Inner Sect Disciple, the Xi Family—a Foundation Establishment Clan renowned for its Elixirs—could prove to be a powerful ally.

"Alright, I accept," Yu Changsheng said calmly.

Xi Wenyu’s expression lit up with joy. He took out a Guest Minister Jade Token and smiled. "May I ask for your name, fellow Daoist?"

"Luo Lesheng."

...

After leaving the First-Grade Medicine Hall with the Guest Minister Jade Token in hand, Yu Changsheng mulled over the potential dangers of the arrangement.

’My only real worry is a Foundation Establishment Great Power seeing through my disguise, connecting me to Yu Changsheng, and digging up all my past experiences, including the matter of the Spirit Chicken King’s transformation.’

’But Foundation Establishment Great Powers don’t usually leave their residences. There are only a handful in the entire Fish Market, so the probability of running into one is low.’

’But no matter how low, it’s still a risk!’

Yu Changsheng narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself.

’When I get back, I’ll first save up essence to advance my Refining God Technique. Once it reaches Minor Achievement, my Divine Sense will extend over a thousand meters. Even though I won’t be at Foundation Establishment, my Divine Sense will be comparable. It won’t be so easy for anyone to see through my disguise then!’

With that thought, Yu Changsheng made his way to the Ten Thousand Beasts Tower.

"Immortal Luo, do you have a new Spirit Chicken King for us?"

The one who greeted him was the same Female Cultivator in the blue skirt. They had been cooperating for over a month now, during which Yu Changsheng had sold four Spirit Chicken Kings.

While the frequency was a bit high, it was still plausible, since the reason he gave was that his family raised them.

Coupled with his disguise as a Peak Qi Refining Cultivator and the use of a fake name, his story was flawless.

"This time, I’m looking to buy a suitable Spirit Pet for a junior."

Hearing that there was business, the blue-skirted Female Cultivator quickly asked with delight, "We have many types of Spirit Pets. Are you looking for a bird or a beast?"

Yu Changsheng thought for a moment. He already had the Red Snake King for combat, so it would be best to get a Contract with a Spirit Pet that could serve as a mount and carry him through the air.

So he said, "A bird."

"Preferably a Tier One Middle to Late Stage Demon Beast."

The blue-skirted Female Cultivator understood and gestured with one hand.

"This way, please, Immortal Luo. Over here are the Demon Beasts carefully raised by our Beast Breeding Pavilion. Although they are not cubs, none are over ten years old, so they can still be shaped for the future."

"This Wind Wild Bird is at the Tier One Late Stage and excels at Wind Magic. It has a body length of one and a half meters and considerable combat power. Not only can it serve as a combat Spirit Pet, but it can also be a mount. Its flight speed can reach a thousand li a day."

A thousand li a day was outstanding for a mount among Demon Beasts, comparable to the Sword Flight of a Qi Refining Sword Cultivator.

But when Yu Changsheng glanced at the price, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he immediately gave up on the idea.

Seven hundred and twenty Lower Grade Spirit Stones. He couldn’t afford that even if he sold himself.

The blue-skirted Female Cultivator clearly noticed his financial straits. With a slight smile, she began introducing the other Demon Beasts nearby.

"This is a Golden Flame Bird, Tier One Middle Stage, proficient in Fire Magic..."

"This one is..."

After looking at the whole selection, Yu Changsheng’s smile had vanished.

He couldn’t afford the ones he liked, and he didn’t like the ones he could afford.

It seemed this trip was for nothing.

Just as he was about to speak and ask the enthusiastic Female Cultivator to stop, a series of DONG DONG DONG sounds came from up ahead.

An entirely brown Iron-Feathered Eagle came into view.

"What’s this?"

Yu Changsheng looked over curiously.

Inside a five-meter-tall iron cage, an Iron-Feathered Eagle with bloodshot eyes was relentlessly attacking the bars, ramming its head against them again and again with ferocious intensity.

He looked at the sign hanging outside, which read:

Iron-Feathered Eagle, Tier One Fourth Layer, Metal and Wind Element. Current age: five years. Has been raised for three years. Gentle temperament, never throws tantrums. Has achieved Spiritual Wisdom and is very obedient to Beast Masters. A rare and excellent Spirit Pet.

’Huh? Are they serious about the "gentle temperament"?’

Yu Changsheng’s mouth fell open as he watched the Iron-Feathered Eagle let out a cry, flap its wings, and ram its head against the iron cage once more, creating a loud BANG BANG BANG sound.

Its eyes seemed to be filled with anxiety and rage.

After so many impacts, the iron cage hadn’t bent in the slightest. It was hard to say whether the cage was just that sturdy, or if the Iron-Feathered Eagle’s head wasn’t hard enough.

"Are you trying to pass off a newly captured wild Demon Beast as a tame one?" Yu Changsheng couldn’t help but chuckle.

The blue-skirted Female Cultivator said awkwardly, "That’s not the case. We have indeed raised this Iron-Feathered Eagle for three years. It has been tamed and is a Spirit Pet ready for an immediate Contract."

"It’s just that it suffered a mishap at birth, so its bloodline purity isn’t high. We’ve spent a lot of resources on it, but its Cultivation has only reached the Tier One Fourth Layer. Furthermore, the black iron feathers on its head have never fully grown in, so it has been unable to comprehend its Talent Magic, the Black Wind Slash. That’s why it rams the cage day and night, hoping to achieve enlightenment through this effort."

"So you’re saying it’s actually quite diligent?" Yu Changsheng was a bit surprised.

"Naturally. It’s probably the most diligent Demon Beast in our entire Beast Breeding Pavilion. It’s just a pity that its bloodline is flawed and its advancement is slow, which is why it’s being sold at this price."

"Otherwise, Immortal Master, do you really think we would list a Demon Beast species like the Iron-Feathered Eagle, which has the potential to reach Tier Two, for such a cheap price?" the blue-skirted Female Cultivator added with a self-deprecating smile.

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng finally noticed the price listed below the sign and was shocked.

Eighty-eight Lower Grade Spirit Stones!

That was practically an insult to a Demon Beast like the Iron-Feathered Eagle!