Chapter 261: The Beast-Taming Competition

"Pass the assessment?" Zhang Xuan was completely baffled. "When did I... take an assessment?"

Before the other party had even finished speaking, he had come to treat this Howling Heaven Beast. Now he didn't even know what the content of the Two-Star Beast Tamer assessment was—how could he have suddenly passed?

"The Two-Star Beast Tamer assessment is much simpler than the One-Star. It only requires taming a Zongshi-level savage beast... Now that the Howling Heaven Beast has submitted to you, you've fully met the conditions!"

Beast Tamer Lu spoke from the side.

"Uh... that simple?" Zhang Xuan was dumbfounded.

For the One-Star assessment, he had to run around and answer questions; he never expected the Two-Star to be so easy.

Hearing his words, everyone was speechless.

When a savage beast reached the Zongshi realm, it had its own dignity and pride, and would not easily submit to humans. This was evident from the fact that the Howling Heaven Beast had never submitted to anyone in all these years.

You happened to help it when it was sick, curing it, which made it grateful and directly submit. Under normal circumstances, how could it be so simple?

"Beast Tamer Zhang, your Two-Star Beast Tamer badge may not be completed today; it will be delivered at least by tomorrow. Why not stay today? I also have something to discuss with you."

Hall Master Feng smiled.

"This..." Zhang Xuan hesitated.

"The Howling Heaven Beast has reached Half-Step Zunshi, and its speed is even faster. Although the Red Lotus Mountain Range is far, it can be reached in two days. Leaving early tomorrow morning won't make much difference."

Hall Master Feng continued.

"Alright."

Looking up, after all the commotion, it was indeed late, with dusk approaching. Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.

"Then, Beast Tamer Zhang, this way please."

Seeing him agree, Hall Master Feng looked delighted and gestured.

"Let's go." Zhang Xuan nodded and followed.

Seeing that the Howling Heaven Beast was not only cured but had also submitted to someone else, the others knew it was pointless to stay, so they turned and left one by one.

...

"You say... Beast Tamer Zhang not only cured the Howling Heaven Beast but also made it submit and become his beast pet?"

"He cured an illness that even Zongshi Qingyang couldn't treat?"

"You're not pulling my leg, are you?"

"The Iron-Toothed Howling Heaven Beast broke through to Half-Step Zunshi?"

The news spread quickly. Everyone in the Beast Hall who heard it was in disbelief, especially Shen Biru, who was waiting outside, utterly stunned.

She knew this Teacher Zhang was never at peace wherever he went, but she never dreamed he would be this restless!

He diagnosed an illness that Zongshi Qingyang couldn't identify... When did this guy become knowledgeable about medicine?

Taming the Howling Heaven Beast and becoming a Two-Star Beast Tamer...

"I wonder, if I tell Han Qiong about this when I get back, will she believe it?"

After digesting the news for a while and confirming it from Yuntao, Shen Biru smiled bitterly again.

Her good friend Han Qiong had spent countless effort and only managed to become a beast taming apprentice. For years, she couldn't become a real beast tamer. But this guy, coming to the Beast Hall just to ride a beast mount...

As a result, he not only became a full-fledged beast tamer but also a Two-Star one. More importantly, he even stole the Beast Hall's treasure...

If she told Han Qiong about this, she really wondered if the girl would go crazy on the spot.

...

Having become a Two-Star Beast Tamer, his treatment improved, and he was immediately allocated a mansion in the Beast Hall. Knowing that Shen Biru had no place to stay for now, Zhang Xuan let her move in first, while he followed Hall Master Feng into a spacious hall.

"Beast Tamer Zhang, with your exceptional talent and being a master teacher apprentice, I believe this item will be of some use to you."

Once seated, Hall Master Feng smiled slightly and took out an object, handing it over.

Taking it casually, Zhang Xuan couldn't help but be startled: "Mingli Jade Crystal?"

What Hall Master Feng handed over was none other than the Mingli Jade Crystal that Zhao Ya's father, City Lord Zhao Feng, had given him. It was extremely helpful for improving the heart realm of the Mingli realm.

"Indeed." Hall Master Feng nodded.

Zhang Xuan looked at him in confusion.

Back then, Zhao Feng had searched the entire White Jade City to find just one piece, showing how precious it was. Now this Hall Master Feng casually gave one away...

"I obtained this by chance. It's useless to a beast tamer, but you are a master teacher apprentice. To take the master teacher assessment, improving your heart realm is essential. It's better to give it to you than to let it go to waste in my hands."

Seeing his confusion, Hall Master Feng explained.

Zhang Xuan nodded and was about to speak when he saw Beast Tamer Lu smiling at him from the side: "I see that Beast Tamer Zhang's cultivation has reached the peak of Tongxuan realm, not far from Half-Step Zongshi. I happen to have the cultivation techniques and insights from when I was training back then. I'll give them to you directly! Although you have a formidable teacher and these may not mean much, consider it a small token of my appreciation."

With that, he took out a few books and handed them over.

Zhang Xuan casually flipped through them; they were indeed manuals and cultivation insights for breaking through from Tongxuan to Half-Step Zongshi.

"I'm not as generous as these two old men, nor do I have many good things. I only have a longsword, forged by the weapon-refining grandmaster Qingshanzi of the Tianwu Kingdom. I'll give it to Beast Tamer Zhang."

Beast Tamer Wang also smiled, stroking his beard, and took out a longsword, handing it over.

"Hold on..."

Seeing the three old men giving him gifts as soon as they arrived, all smiling at him, Zhang Xuan quickly waved his hand.

One should not accept favors without merit.

He didn't think he had such a big face that three Two-Star Beast Tamers would give him treasures at first sight.

"Please, just tell me what you need,三位 Beast Tamers."

"Beast Tamer Zhang is indeed straightforward!" Hall Master Feng exchanged glances with the other two and nodded. "In that case, I'll speak plainly. Actually, we have a favor to ask."

"A favor? Me?"

Zhang Xuan was startled.

He had just become a Two-Star Beast Tamer, but so were these three. Besides, they had been in the Beast Hall for so long, they were old and experienced. What favor could they possibly ask of him?

Could it be...

"The 'Beating Beast Taming Method' was created by my master. He instructed that it not be passed on, so..."

After reading the Beast Hall's library, he also understood why beating a savage beast would tame it and why everyone was so astonished.

It was because the Heavenly Way true energy was pure, and the Heavenly Way Library could see the flaws of savage beasts, allowing them to submit. Even if he taught it, others couldn't learn it, and it might even expose the Heavenly Way Divine Art.

These three old men, giving gifts and asking for a favor at first sight—if they wanted to learn this, could he even teach it?

Better to decline in advance.

After all, in this world, the master-disciple relationship was strict; if the master forbade passing it on, it couldn't be passed on. They couldn't say anything about it, making it the best excuse.

"Uh, every beast tamer has their own secret techniques, and we won't ask about them if you're unwilling to share. The favor we ask is not this."

Hearing this, Hall Master Feng shook his head.

Beast tamers, like alchemists, have various techniques for alchemy, and the same goes for beast taming. Moreover, everyone's temperament and cultivation techniques differ; even if they learned someone else's methods, they might be useless.

It was better not to offend a beast tamer by asking.

"Not this?" Zhang Xuan thought of something and looked over in confusion: "Could it be... all three of you have incurable diseases and want me to treat you? Not like the Howling Heaven Beast, unable to sleep at night? If so, you could try Zongshi Qingyang's method..."

"Ahem!"

Hearing this, Hall Master Feng and the others nearly choked on their saliva.

They felt a chill in their lower regions and were covered in black lines.

What was all this?

We just have a favor to ask, and if you keep talking, we might end up eunuchs...

"It's like this!" Afraid that continuing would ruin their reputations, Hall Master Feng quickly interrupted: "The Beast Hall, like the Alchemist Guild, has many branches. As a full-fledged beast tamer, I'm sure I don't need to explain much."

"Mm." Zhang Xuan nodded.

After reading the books, he understood these matters clearly.

The Beast Hall was not unique; this one was just a branch.

"Our Beast Hall is a second-class kingdom-level branch, under the jurisdiction of the Xuanyuan Kingdom Beast Hall."

Branches also had levels, progressing layer by layer.

The Xuanluo Mountain Range Beast Hall interacted with over a dozen second-class kingdoms around it and was at the lowest level.

Xuanyuan Kingdom was the nearest titled kingdom.

Kingdoms were divided into titled, first-class, second-class, and unranked (those without a master teacher to assess their level).

Tianxuan Kingdom was the last; Bei Wu Kingdom, with a One-Star master teacher, ranked as second-class.

Tianwu Kingdom, with a Two-Star master teacher, ranked as first-class.

As for Xuanyuan Kingdom, it had a Three-Star master teacher, qualified to build large teleportation arrays, buy and sell various goods, and had envoys from many kingdoms, with a flourishing national power.

"The Xuanyuan Kingdom Beast Hall holds a beast-taming competition every five years, inviting young beast tamers from subordinate branches to compete."

Hall Master Feng continued: "You passed the assessment at our Xuanluo Mountain Range branch, so you belong to our branch. I hope... you can participate in this competition on behalf of our Beast Hall."

"Beast-taming competition?"

"Yes, this beast-taming competition gathers talented beast tamers from countless surrounding kingdoms. If you can make a name for yourself and win the top prize, you will surely attract the attention of the Beast Hall, and our branch will gain great fame."

Hall Master Feng finished, looking at him with full expectation.

"This..."

Not expecting the favor to be this, Zhang Xuan looked over: "When is the competition?"

If it was soon, he didn't have the time.

Right now, his main priority was to find a way to resolve the poison in his body and then take the master teacher assessment.

As for beast taming, it was just something he did on a whim to ride beast mounts for free, not his goal.

"Half a year from now, at Xuanyuan Royal City." Hall Master Feng said.

"Half a year? That... depends on whether I have time." Zhang Xuan didn't dare to agree.

He didn't want to accept a few items and then have to fight for others.

"You are so young and have already reached the level of a Two-Star Beast Tamer, and you are proficient in medicine and master teacher techniques. If you participate, you will surely make a name for yourself..."

Seeing that he showed little interest after several attempts, Hall Master Feng recalled something and said: "Moreover, if you win the championship, you will receive a generous reward!"

"The reward doesn't matter; the main thing is I don't have time!" Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Seeing his refusal, Hall Master Feng and the others couldn't hide their disappointment. But before this emotion could last long, they heard his voice continue.

"Ah, by the way, what... was the reward?"