Chapter 611: Competition in Beast Taming

Although he was a four-star alchemist, he had only earned his badge through a pill debate. When it came to actual alchemy, he was completely clueless! If his opponent truly challenged him to on-the-spot alchemy, he wouldn't be able to refine anything and would surely lose.

However, alchemy required a very long time and many medicinal ingredients, so it was unlikely to be a common event in the Master Teacher Tournament.

“His auxiliary professions are formidable anyway,” Young Master Ruo Huan said. “You just need to refuse the challenge, and whatever you compete in afterward won't matter!”

This Wei Changqing, though not strong in cultivation, was extremely skilled in auxiliary professions. While their side didn't have the chance to choose the competition's content, they did have one right to refuse. If things were really bad, they could simply decline.

While they discussed how to handle the situation, the Purple Gold Sect was steeped in gloom.

“Master Zhang has overcome every challenge and swept aside all opposition. I fear it will be very difficult for you to defeat him!”

An elder from the Purple Gold Sect frowned deeply.

“Indeed, he has almost no weaknesses. How can we possibly compete?”

No one had much confidence in their own sect's genius. If it were anyone else, even Luo Xuan would have a chance, but facing this anomaly, they felt powerless no matter how they looked at it.

“He is indeed impeccable as a master teacher, but I don't believe... his auxiliary professions can be just as formidable!” Wei Changqing narrowed his eyes. He was most skilled in auxiliary professions, and he refused to believe he couldn't surpass Zhang Xuan in this area.

“I had someone inquire,” he continued, “and his four auxiliary professions are a five-star Appraiser, a four-star Formation Master, a four-star Physician, and a four-star Beast Tamer!”

Wei Changqing counted on his fingers: “My auxiliary professions are a four-star Artifact Forger, a four-star Tea Master, a four-star Calligraphy and Painting Master, and a four-star Beast Tamer! The only overlapping profession is beast taming, but that alone is enough!”

“Enough? You don't mean you want to challenge him to beast taming, do you?” The elders exchanged bewildered glances. “Beast taming is very troublesome...”

For auxiliary profession competitions among master teachers, there had to be an overlap in skills. Otherwise, if you knew artifact forging and others didn't, it wouldn't be fair to compete. Although Zhang Xuan also possessed many other auxiliary professions like alchemy and calligraphy/painting, none of them had reached four stars, so they didn't count. The only overlapping skill between the two was beast taming.

Zhang Xuan was unaware of these competition rules and had been needlessly worried for a while, thinking he would be challenged in alchemy.

However, beast taming required spending day and night with spirit beasts. Sometimes, taming just one could take at least several years... Meanwhile, competitions in the Master Teacher Tournament usually required a result within the time it took an incense stick to burn. Competing in this seemed a bit hasty!

“Don't worry, I've already prepared in advance. I will absolutely not fail in beast taming!” Wei Changqing's eyes gleamed.

“It's good that you're confident, but if it really doesn't work out, don't force it...”

“Yes, and when you lose later, be polite. I'll apply for a reward for you when we return to the sect!”

“If it's truly impossible, just concede now. That way, we can still maintain our sect's dignity...”

The many elders had very little faith in him.

“...” Wei Changqing rolled his eyes in exasperation. *Are you on my side or Zhang Xuan's? Not only were you unsupportive, but you also thought I would definitely lose... It was utterly ridiculous!*

“Hmph, Zhang Xuan, I must defeat you and make these old geezers shut up!” Gritting his teeth, Wei Changqing roared inwardly. He clenched his fists and strode towards the arena. This competition was no longer just about a top ten spot; more importantly, it was about his... dignity. He would stand for his dignity, defeat Master Zhang, and prove himself!

On Platform D.

Looking at the young man opposite him, Wei Changqing's teeth ground audibly. Zhang Xuan was completely bewildered. It seemed like this was their first meeting, yet he looked as if Zhang Xuan had killed his father or stolen his wife. With a strange look, Zhang Xuan tentatively asked, “Have we met before?”

“No! But I *will* defeat you!” Wei Changqing let out a long breath: “I choose an auxiliary profession competition, specifically... beast taming! Master Zhang, do you dare to accept?”

“Beast taming?” Zhang Xuan frowned, surprised by the proposed challenge. “How do we compete?”

“It's simple. Since you're also a four-star Beast Tamer, you must have your own beast pet. Let's summon them. We'll each give the other an incense stick's worth of time to interact with their beast. Whoever earns higher loyalty from the other's pet wins!” Wei Changqing stated.

“Swap beast pets and give an incense stick's time to tame them... Are you sure?” Zhang Xuan looked at him with a strange expression.

The other party's meaning was simple: Zhang Xuan would tame Wei Changqing's beast pet, and Wei Changqing would tame Zhang Xuan's. Whoever could achieve higher loyalty from the other's beast pet would win. This was a common competition method among beast tamers.

But... was this guy really going to compete against him in beast taming?

“Of course!” Wei Changqing sneered, his face full of confidence. “What? The favorite to win is worried about my beast taming methods and scared to accept?”

“Alright then!” Seeing the other party's earnest request, Zhang Xuan nodded.

“Compete with Master Zhang in beast taming? This guy... isn't he crazy?” Upon hearing the details of the competition, Zhao Feiwu looked at Wei Changqing as if he were an idiot, filled with pity. “You haven't seen Master Zhang tame the Demon Fowl, which took less than two breaths in total. Competing with him... isn't that just asking for trouble?” She had seen people courting death, but never like this...

Hall Master Kang and others also twitched their lips. Although they had never personally witnessed Master Zhang taming beasts, Hall Master Han Chong of the Beast Hall had personally recounted the process during that day's assessment. Even a spirit beast that he had spent years trying to tame was subdued by Master Zhang and was now dutifully guarding his courtyard. Were they sure Wei Changqing could win?

“Now there's a fight! Wei Changqing is a famous beast taming genius, rumored to have participated in a Beast Taming Competition and won first place!”

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

“It seems a spot in the top eight might be at risk...”

Unlike Zhao Feiwu and the others, the other unaware master teachers looked grim. Beast taming was quite troublesome. It wasn't enough to just have strong personal ability; one also needed sufficient treasures. Otherwise, if you couldn't attract the spirit beast's attention, how could you cultivate loyalty? The Myriad Kingdoms Alliance was clearly poorer than the Purple Gold Sect. In terms of beast taming, their chances of winning were significantly lower.

“Look, both of their beast pets are here!”

Amidst the discussions, a whistling sound filled the air as two enormous spirit beasts flew over and landed on the platform. They were the Demon Fowl and Wei Changqing's beast pet.

Zhang Xuan looked over. Wei Changqing's beast pet was a massive Green Spirit Beast, roughly at the early Transcendent Mortal 4-dan. It was clearly far inferior to the Demon Fowl.

“Is this your beast pet?” Wei Changqing had thought the other's beast pet would be similar to his own and had been absolutely confident in earning higher loyalty. But upon seeing it fly over, so incredibly powerful, his face turned grim, and he almost wanted to cry. “Normally, a peak Transcendent Mortal 3-dan cultivator would be impressive if they could tame a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan spirit beast... But you've tamed a Harmonious Spirit realm fellow? How did you do that?”

“Hmm, you go first. I'm not in a hurry!” Zhang Xuan nodded and said to the Demon Fowl, “Master Wei wants to tame you. Please cooperate well!”

“Roar?” The Demon Fowl was stunned for a moment. It turned its massive head to look at the young man not far away, its powerful soul force pressing down like a blazing torch, threatening to incinerate him.

“I...” Feeling this pressure, Wei Changqing's mouth twitched, and his body involuntarily swayed. He almost coughed up blood. *This... he couldn't even get close. How was he supposed to tame it?*

With a flick of his wrist, a jade bottle appeared in his palm. Gritting his teeth, he said, “Brother Demon Fowl, this is the blood essence of a Transcendent Mortal 5-dan spirit beast that I prepared. Are you interested?”

The jade bottle opened, and a rich spiritual energy surged upwards. The blood essence of a Transcendent Mortal 5-dan spirit beast!

“What a grand gesture!”

“Indeed, this bottle of spirit beast blood is worth at least over ten mid-grade spirit stones!”

“No less, perhaps even more. Offering this directly would earn the goodwill of any spirit beast. Master Zhang is in trouble this time!”

“Wei Changqing came prepared...”

Seeing him act so generously from the start, a clamor arose among the onlookers. High-grade spirit beast blood essence held immense attraction for lower-grade spirit beasts, and countless spirit beasts were willing to submit for it. No wonder Wei Changqing dared to challenge Master Zhang to beast taming. He had clearly prepared in advance and acquired such an item. If Master Zhang couldn't produce something even more valuable, he would likely lose this round.

“Roar!” Seeing the Transcendent Mortal 5-dan spirit beast blood, the Demon Fowl's eyes lit up. Its thick, powerful paw suddenly stretched out and snatched the jade bottle.

“Ah?” Unexpectedly, the creature just snatched it. Wei Changqing's mouth twitched. “Don't be so hasty! If you agree to be friends with me, I'll give this to you... W-what are you doing... Good heavens!” He had thought that with the spirit beast blood in hand, he would definitely gain its favor. But before he could finish speaking, his vision went black as a paw was already on his head. 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 pressure of the paw on his head suddenly increase.

*Thump!* The platform immediately formed a crater as he was forcefully pressed into the ground.

“I...” Wei Changqing was on the verge of tears. No matter what, he was a four-star master teacher, a reputable beast tamer, yet he was directly stomped into the ground by a spirit beast... The intense frustration made him almost frantic.

“Listen to me... if you let me go, I have more good things... Pfft!” Gritting his teeth, he still hadn't finished speaking when the force of the paw on him increased again. He felt his ribs creak and coughed up a mouthful of fresh blood. Next, his finger throbbed with pain as the massive spirit beast before him took his Spatial Ring.

“You...” Wei Changqing was driven mad. “Regardless, you're a Harmonious Spirit realm spirit beast with your own intelligence; directly snatching things is too unseemly!”

While spitting blood, he heard the Demon Fowl roar from above, followed by Master Zhang's strangely amused voice: “My Demon Fowl says... as long as you submit to it and willingly become its human pet, it will return your ring...”

“Submit? And... a human pet? Pfft!” Wei Changqing's vision went black.

“Seriously, I came here to tame beasts, not to be tamed by them...”