Chapter 253: Are You a Master?

Boom!

The Azure Eagle Beast was like a bomb about to explode, with a sound like boiling water coming from within its body. Numerous acupoints on its surface flickered unsteadily, as if a mighty force filled them.

Creak! Creak!

Originally three or four meters tall, with the rumbling inside, it seemed to grow even larger and taller, its fur also lengthening.

"Is this... a bloodline advancement of the savage beast, a breakthrough in strength?"

Hall Master Feng's pupils contracted.

Beast Tamer Lu and Beast Tamer Wang clearly realized this as well, their faces flushed with excitement, their fists unconsciously clenched.

"Bloodline advancement? What's that?"

Someone asked in confusion.

Not everyone in the room was a beast tamer; there were also guards of Yun Tao, Zhu Jinhuang, and others, who didn't fully understand taming.

"The strength of a savage beast is influenced by several factors. The three most common are: first, age. As a savage beast grows older, its strength increases, reaching its limit at adulthood—this is the most ordinary and common. Second, bloodline. The higher the bloodline, the greater the potential; even after adulthood, it can continue to improve over time. Third, cultivation. Some highly intelligent savage beasts can cultivate together with their beast tamer, achieving mutual progress."

A knowledgeable person lowered his voice: "Bloodline advancement is none of these three. It refers to this savage beast, whose originally fixed bloodline suddenly consumes some heavenly treasure or undergoes a special experience, breaking through its shackles to ascend to a higher level!"

"With the bloodline advancement, the originally constrained power naturally breaks the barrier, reaching a higher level. This kind of advancement is somewhat similar to mutation and is extremely rare. I didn't expect this Azure Eagle Beast to have such an opportunity—what luck..."

"Bloodline advancement, strength surging—could this Azure Eagle Beast be about to break through to Half-Step Grandmaster?"

"Yes, once successful, it means this Zhang Xuan has tamed a Half-Step Grandmaster savage beast and truly passed the beast tamer assessment!"

Hearing the explanation, the crowd erupted in commotion.

"This... this is impossible..."

Miss Mo Yu, who had just questioned Zhang Xuan, felt her face flush red, on the verge of going mad.

This Azure Eagle Beast had been her pet; she had investigated it thoroughly. It had already reached adulthood and had no record of consuming any heavenly treasures. Under normal circumstances, bloodline advancement and strength surge were impossible.

Now, after being beaten by this Zhang Xuan, not only had its cultivation broken through, but its strength had also increased...

Are you kidding me!

If I had known it had such an opportunity, I would never have let anyone else tame it!

This was a Half-Step Grandmaster savage beast. Once tamed and cultivated together with a secret technique, breaking through to Half-Step Grandmaster myself would have been much easier...

And now, it's been handed to someone else!

Intense frustration drove her nearly crazy.

"Miss Mo Yu, could it be that this guy's beating just happened to trigger the Azure Eagle Beast's bloodline advancement, leading to the breakthrough?" Zhu Jinhuang couldn't help asking.

"Impossible!" Before Miss Mo Yu could speak, Zhou Xuan, who was nearby, shook his head: "Bloodline advancement in savage beasts almost always results from consuming heavenly treasures or the essence blood of powerful savage beasts, purifying the bloodline within. How could a beating cause a breakthrough?"

Bloodline advancement requires great fortune. Whether heavenly treasures or essence blood of powerful beasts, they must perfectly match the savage beast. The success rate is less than one in ten thousand.

Getting beaten and having one's bloodline change... what a joke!

"Zhou Xuan is right. Even if that kid has some skill and luck, it's impossible for a beating to purify the Azure Eagle Beast's bloodline. The only explanation... is that the Azure Eagle Beast had consumed something earlier, and it just took effect now..."

Miss Mo Yu agreed with Zhou Xuan, nodding and voicing her thoughts: "If I'm not mistaken, I fed it a Soul-Stirring Flower before coming here. I heard it's a great tonic for Azure Eagle Beasts, so I spent a fortune to buy it, hoping to tame it..."

Thinking of the value of the Soul-Stirring Flower, she felt a pang of heartache. Just as she was grinding her teeth, she saw Yun Tao approaching, muttering to himself.

"As expected of Senior Zhang Xuan. Every savage beast he beats undergoes bloodline advancement. The Golden Body Iron-Leopard, the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow... all were like this. I thought it was a coincidence, but now this Azure Eagle Beast has also broken through!"

"What did you say?"

Hearing his words, Miss Mo Yu's intended speech got stuck in her throat. Her eyes widened as she looked over.

"Oh, nothing. I was just saying that Senior Zhang Xuan is amazing. You've seen his Golden Body Iron-Leopard before—it was only at the Acupoint-Opening Realm, but now it's at the Tongxuan Realm! The Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow was only at the early Acupoint-Opening Realm, but now it's reached the middle stage... all because Senior Zhang gave them a beating."

Yun Tao said earnestly.

"A beating... not only makes them submit but also triggers bloodline advancement?"

Miss Mo Yu, Zhu Jinhuang, Zhou Xuan, and the others exchanged glances, feeling driven mad.

How... could what he said be so unbelievable?

Especially Miss Mo Yu, who had just boasted that the Azure Eagle Beast's breakthrough was due to her Soul-Stirring Flower. Hearing this, she felt her face burning, as if it had been slapped repeatedly.

Who was she?

A prodigy of her generation, a top-tier genius renowned throughout the Beast Hall and even the Tianwu Kingdom.

Her beast taming rating was first-class, overshadowing everyone. At the height of her pride, this guy not only tamed her beast but also beat it into a breakthrough...

Are you deliberately trying to slap my face?

Otherwise, why does everything I doubt come true...

Boom!

Amidst the shock and frustration of the crowd, the Azure Eagle Beast's rising aura finally came to a halt.

Its body had grown a size larger, reaching four or five meters in height. Its aura was even more profound. With a light grip of its thick claws, cracks appeared on the bluestone floor.

Half-Step Grandmaster!

This Azure Eagle Beast had truly reached the Half-Step Grandmaster realm!

"Three masters, have I... passed this time?"

Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"Pass!"

The three beast tamers nodded simultaneously.

If this wasn't passing, what was?

Moreover, they were filled with doubts.

Miss Mo Yu might not see it, but as two-star beast tamers, they could clearly perceive that the Azure Eagle Beast's bloodline advancement was definitely related to this young man.

Causing a savage beast's bloodline to advance...

If this could be done with any savage beast, it would be a major event shaking the entire Beast Hall.

Thinking of this, Hall Master Feng couldn't help cupping his fists: "Beast Tamer Zhang, I have a matter I wish to inquire about..."

"I know what you want to ask. Are you wondering why this Azure Eagle Beast suddenly advanced in bloodline and surged in strength?"

Zhang Xuan looked over.

"Yes!" Hall Master Feng couldn't help saying.

Hearing their conversation, the others also turned their gazes over.

Beating the Azure Eagle Beast into submission, not only did it yield, but its bloodline also advanced—if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they wouldn't have believed it even if beaten to death.

Everyone wanted to know what had happened.

"Very simple. I used the essence blood of the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow as bait to make it submit, and then... fed it to it, allowing it to break through naturally," Zhang Xuan said.

Helping a savage beast break through was too astonishing. If others knew his true qi could do it, there would be no end of trouble.

So, he directly pinned it on the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow.

After all, there were precedents of swallowing pure bloodline to break through in strength... The Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow, as an ancient relic beast, had pure blood. Although the Azure Eagle Beast was huge, it was also a type of bird; perhaps the two could be compatible...

As for anyone wanting to try it, if they died from eating it, they had only themselves to blame.

Moreover, the most important point was that the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow was Yun Tao's beast. Even if others investigated, they wouldn't trace it back to him.

Since that fellow had received the ancient relic beast he gifted, he ought to take the blame for him, no matter what!

"I see!"

Hearing his explanation, Hall Master Feng and the others exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.

It seemed only this could explain it.

Otherwise... a beating would lead to a breakthrough... They scratched their heads, unable to figure it out.

"It's the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow..."

Upon hearing the explanation, Miss Mo Yu suddenly understood and felt even more regretful.

If only she had known that the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow could help the Azure Eagle Beast advance its bloodline, she would have built a better relationship earlier, rather than ending up like this, with the other party taming her savage beast...

Now, she had nothing left...

The savage beast had been completely tamed by the other party, its loyalty reaching forty-five. Even if she had previously said it was a "borrow," it would probably never be returned...

"Being able to recognize the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow and having so many methods... Could it be..."

Suddenly recalling something, Miss Mo Yu hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Zhang Xuan.

"Damn it!"

Seeing her expression shift repeatedly and then go directly to that Zhang Xuan, Zhou Xuan and Zhu Jinhuang clenched their fists.

All their glory had been overshadowed by this guy. Without a doubt, Miss Mo Yu was interested.

"I heard this kid is from the Tianxuan Kingdom, with no power or backing. If it comes to it..."

Zhu Jinhuang made a killing gesture.

Yun Tao was competing with them, but as a prince, they dared not go too far. This kid was different—just a nobody with no status or background, nothing to worry about.

Although they were no match for him, as princes, finding a few powerful subordinates was easy.

"Agreed!"

Zhou Xuan also gritted his teeth.

Today, a nobody with nothing had slapped their faces. If they didn't take revenge, they couldn't quell the hatred in their hearts.

With no power or background behind him, daring to offend two princes—he was definitely asking for trouble!

Just as the two were discussing how to find an opportunity to kill this Zhang Xuan, Miss Mo Yu had already arrived in front of him, her eyes gleaming as she couldn't help but voice the doubt in her heart.

"Using the Cloud Lightning Ancient Sparrow's bloodline to help the Azure Eagle Beast break through is only one condition. The main reason is another. If I'm not mistaken... you should be a Master Teacher!"

"Master Teacher?"

Zhou Xuan and Zhu Jinhuang, who were discussing how to kill someone, trembled all over and simultaneously cried.

Those two fools had actually wanted to assassinate a Master Teacher... How bold could they be!

Damn it, didn't they say he had no background?

This background was bigger than the heavens...