Chapter 594: Beast Taming Contest

Although he was a four-star alchemist, he had obtained his badge through debate on alchemy; as for actual alchemy... he knew nothing at all!

If the other party truly challenged him to refine pills on the spot, he wouldn't be able to produce anything and would definitely lose.

However, alchemy required an extremely long time and the preparation of many medicinal herbs; it shouldn't appear easily in the Grandmaster Competition.

"Anyway, his auxiliary professions are very strong. You just need to refuse the challenge, and that's it. Whatever comes after doesn't matter!" said Ruohuan Gongzi.

This Wei Changqing, though weak in cultivation, was extremely skilled in auxiliary professions. Their side, though without the chance to choose the contest content, had one right of refusal. If it came down to it, they could just refuse.

While they discussed how to deal with it, the Zijing Sect side was shrouded in gloom.

"This Master Zhang has been cutting down all challengers and sweeping everything before him. I fear it will be very hard for you to win!"

An elder of the Zijing Sect frowned deeply.

"Yes, he has almost no weaknesses. How can we compete?"

No one was very optimistic about their sect's genius.

If it were anyone else, even Luo Xuan would have a fighting chance, but facing this freak, no matter how they looked at it, they felt powerless.

"He is indeed impeccable in terms of master teacher skills, but I don't believe... his auxiliary professions can be just as formidable!" Wei Changqing narrowed his eyes.

His greatest strength was auxiliary professions; he didn't believe he couldn't win in that area.

"I've asked around. His four auxiliary professions are: five-star appraiser, four-star formation master, four-star physician, and four-star beast tamer!"

Wei Changqing counted on his fingers: "My auxiliary professions are four-star artifact smith, four-star tea master, four-star calligrapher and painter, and four-star beast tamer! The only overlap is beast taming, but that alone is enough!"

"Enough? You're not thinking of challenging him to beast taming, are you?" The elders exchanged glances. "Beast taming is very troublesome..."

In the Grandmaster Competition, auxiliary profession contests required overlap; otherwise, if you could forge artifacts and the other couldn't, the contest would be unfair.

Although Zhang Xuan also had many auxiliary professions like alchemist, calligrapher, and painter, none had reached four-star, so they didn't count. The only common ground between them was beast taming.

Zhang Xuan was unaware of this rule and had been worrying for a long time, thinking he would be challenged to alchemy.

However, beast taming required spending days and nights with spirit beasts; sometimes taming one took at least several years...

But in the Grandmaster Competition, contests usually had to yield results within the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Competing in this seemed a bit rushed!

"Don't worry, I've prepared in advance. In beast taming, I will not fail!" Wei Changqing's eyes flashed.

"It's good that you have confidence, but if you really can't succeed, don't force it..."

"Yes, when you lose later, be sure to be polite. When we return to the sect, I'll apply for a reward for you!"

"If it's really not possible, just concede now. That way we can maintain our sect's dignity..."

The elders had little confidence in him.

"..." Wei Changqing rolled his eyes.

Are you on my side or Zhang Xuan's?

Not only do you not encourage me, but you also think I'll definitely lose... I'm speechless!

"Hmph, Zhang Xuan, I will defeat you and shut these old guys up!"

Gritting his teeth, Wei Changqing roared inwardly.

Clenching his fists, he stepped toward the arena.

This contest was no longer just about the top ten spots; more importantly, it was about his... dignity.

He would stand for his dignity, defeat this Master Zhang, and prove himself!

...

On Arena D.

Looking at the young man across from him, Wei Changqing ground his teeth audibly.

Zhang Xuan was completely baffled.

It seemed he was meeting this guy for the first time, so why did he look like he had a vendetta as deep as murder or adultery?

With a strange look, he tentatively asked, "Have we met before?"

"No! But I must defeat you!"

Wei Changqing let out a long cry: "I choose an auxiliary profession contest, that is... a beast taming contest. Does Master Zhang dare to accept?"

"Beast taming?" Not expecting such a contest, Zhang Xuan frowned. "How is it conducted?"

"Simple. Since you are also a four-star beast tamer, you must have your own beast pet. Let's summon them and give each other the time it takes to burn an incense stick to interact. During that time, whoever gains higher loyalty wins!"

Wei Changqing said.

"Swap beast pets and have the time of one incense stick to tame them... Are you sure?" Zhang Xuan looked at him with a peculiar expression.

The other's meaning was simple: you tame my beast pet, I tame yours; whoever makes the other's beast pet more loyal wins.

This was a common contest method among beast tamers.

But... did this guy really want to compete with him in beast taming?

"Of course!"

Wei Changqing sneered, his face full of confidence: "What? The top contender for the championship, worried about my beast taming skills, afraid?"

"Alright then!"

Seeing the other's earnest request, Zhang Xuan nodded.

...

"Compete with Master Zhang in beast taming? Is this guy... crazy?"

Hearing the contest content, Zhao Feiwu looked at him as if he were an idiot, full of sympathy.

Haven't you seen Master Zhang tame the Yaochen Beast? It took less than two breaths in total. Competing with him... isn't that asking for trouble?

I've seen people seeking death, but never like this...

Hall Master Kang and the others also twitched their mouths.

Although they had never witnessed Master Zhang's beast taming firsthand, Hall Master Han Chong of the Beast Hall had personally described the process during the assessment that day.

Even the spirit beast he had spent years unable to tame was tamed by Master Zhang and now obediently guards the courtyard. Are you sure you can win?

...

"Now there's a fight. Wei Changqing is a famous beast taming genius; I heard he once participated in a beast taming competition and won the championship!"

"Yes, I've heard that too. Master Zhang shouldn't have agreed to this. Beast taming isn't like other master teacher events where personal ability is enough; more importantly, you need sufficient treasures and methods!"

"I'm afraid his top eight spot is in danger..."

...

Unlike Zhao Feiwu and the others, the other master teachers who were unaware looked solemn.

Beast taming was troublesome; it wasn't just about personal ability; you also needed sufficient treasures.

Otherwise, if you couldn't attract the spirit beast's attention, how could you cultivate loyalty?

The Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance was clearly poorer than the Zijing Sect; in beast taming, the chance of winning was obviously much lower.

"Look, both beast pets are coming!"

Amid the discussion, wind howled in the sky, and two enormous spirit beasts flew over, landing on the arena.

They were the Yaochen Beast and Wei Changqing's beast pet.

Zhang Xuan looked over.

His beast pet was a huge Qingling Beast, roughly at the early stage of Mortal Transcendence Fourth Layer, clearly far inferior to the Yaochen Beast.

"This is your beast pet?"

He had thought the other's beast pet would be similar to his, giving him absolute confidence to gain higher loyalty. But when it flew over, it was so powerful that Wei Changqing's face turned ugly, and he felt like crying.

Normally, a peak Mortal Transcendence Third Layer cultivator taming a Mortal Transcendence Fourth Layer spirit beast was already impressive... You tamed a Harmonious Spirit realm creature; how did you manage that?

"Mm, you go first. I'm not in a hurry."

Zhang Xuan nodded and said to the Yaochen Beast, "This Master Wei wants to tame you. Cooperate nicely."

"Roar?"

The Yaochen Beast paused, turned its huge head to look at the young man nearby, its powerful soul pressure like a torch, ready to burn him clean.

"I..."

Feeling this pressure, Wei Changqing twitched, his body involuntarily swaying, nearly spitting blood.

He couldn't even get close; how could he tame it?

Flipping his wrist, a jade bottle appeared in his palm. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Brother Yaochen, this is the essence blood of a Mortal Transcendence Fifth Layer spirit beast I prepared. Are you interested?"

The jade bottle opened, and a rich spiritual energy surged upward.

Essence blood of a Mortal Transcendence Fifth Layer spirit beast!

"What a generous move!"

"Yes, this bottle of spirit beast blood must be worth at least a dozen mid-grade spirit stones!"

"No less, maybe more. Offering this directly will earn any spirit beast's favor. Master Zhang is in trouble this time!"

"Wei Changqing came prepared..."

Seeing him be so generous from the start, the crowd below erupted in commotion.

High-level spirit beast essence blood was extremely attractive to lower-level spirit beasts; countless spirit beasts would submit for it.

No wonder Wei Changqing dared to challenge Master Zhang to beast taming; he had prepared this in advance.

If Master Zhang couldn't produce something more precious, he would probably lose this round.

"Roar!"

Seeing the Mortal Transcendence Fifth Layer spirit beast blood, the Yaochen Beast's eyes lit up, and it reached out a thick claw, grabbing for the jade bottle.

"Ah?"

Not expecting the creature to just grab it, Wei Changqing twitched: "Don't rush. If you agree to be friends with me, I'll give this to... what are you doing... damn!"

He thought that with this spirit beast blood in hand, he would surely gain favor. But before he could finish, he felt darkness before his eyes; a claw had already stepped on his head, and with a light flick, the spirit beast blood in his hand was snatched away.

"You... give back my spirit beast blood..."

He roared, but before he could finish, he felt the claw on his head suddenly increase in force.

Thud!

The arena immediately had a hole torn open, and he was forcibly pressed into the ground.

"I..."

Wei Changqing wanted to cry but had no tears.

No matter what, he was a four-star master teacher, a renowned beast tamer, and now he was stomped into the ground by a spirit beast... The intense frustration drove him crazy.

"Listen to me... if you let me go, I have more good stuff... Pfft!"

Gritting his teeth, before he could finish, the force of the claw on his body increased again. He felt his ribs creak, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

Next, his finger hurt, and his spatial ring was taken by the huge spirit beast before him.

"You..."

Wei Changqing went mad.

No matter what, you are a Harmonious Spirit realm spirit beast with your own intelligence; directly robbing is too unscrupulous!

As he was spitting blood, he heard the Yaochen Beast roar above, followed by Master Zhang's strange voice: "My Yaochen Beast says... if you submit to it and obediently become its human pet, it will return your ring..."

"Submit? And... human pet? Pfft!"

Wei Changqing's vision went dark.

Brother, I came to tame a beast, not to be tamed by one...