Chapter 736: Receiving into the ring

"What? Still not admitting it?"

Seeing the stubborn, unyielding expression on the beast's face, its mouth twitching uncontrollably, Zhang Xuan frowned.

If this creature truly refused to confess, he wouldn't hesitate to use a powerful technique: soul refinement!

The soul refinement method of a Soul Oracle allows one to extract a soul and painfully refine it to death. It's an unfailing technique for interrogation.

Such a method would condemn the interrogated to eternal damnation, a cruelty he preferred to avoid. Yet, this creature proved to be exceptionally stubborn!

I heard everything in the beast language just now. You arranged for flying spirit beasts to besiege the Master Teachers, and you still refuse to admit it? Do you truly believe I have no other recourse?

Do you think I can't finish you off in minutes?

"If you wish to kill me, then do so! Though I am a beast, I am no coward. I will not tolerate your insults, nor will I ever betray my master!" the Purple Sun Saint Beast declared, gritting its teeth.

The opponent was clearly trying to slander it. If it yielded, its reputation would be irrevocably tarnished. Even in death, how could it ever face its master?

The Old Dean had dedicated his life to protecting humanity. As his spirit companion, if it were to succumb to the Otherworldly Demons and fabricate lies, it would die from guilt even if it survived.

"Keep beating it!"

Unexpectedly, this creature was incredibly stubborn, choosing death over betraying its Otherworldly Demon master. Zhang Xuan frowned and gestured with his arm.

"Cough, cough..."

As the numerous puppets were about to advance, the ruthless figure from the book finally spoke up, "Teacher Zhang, if you continue, I fear it will die here!"

Hearing this, Zhang Xuan realized the puppets were striking with extreme force. The creature was on the brink of death; further blows would undoubtedly kill it on the spot.

"What should I do?"

Zhang Xuan rubbed his temples, feeling utterly frustrated.

Other spirit beasts would typically submit after a beating followed by a reward, but this one preferred death over compliance!

Despite his harsh words, he couldn't actually beat the creature to death.

If it died, the questions of who commissioned it and why it attacked the Master Teachers would become an unsolved mystery. As long as the Otherworldly Demons behind it remained at large, the Master Teacher Academy would face immense danger.

Even if he didn't care about others, he certainly didn't want to be secretly targeted while he was still at the Master Teacher Academy.

"Alright... I'll heal its injuries first, and then you can beat it again to see if it will yield!"

After much deliberation, Zhang Xuan devised a plan. He flicked his wrist, produced a wine gourd, and infused it with true qi.

Since the last incident, he had discovered the convenience of using wine to conceal his Heavenly Dao true qi, so he had purchased numerous wine gourds to carry on him.

He poured the wine from the gourd over the Purple Sun Beast. Its external injuries only fully recovered an hour later. Being merely at the Bridging Heaven realm, his Heavenly Dao true qi could easily heal injuries of a similar level, but restoring a Saint's injuries proved far more challenging.

Once the external injuries were completely healed, he instructed four puppets to restrain its limbs and two others to pry open its mouth, forcibly pouring half a gourd of wine down its throat.

After forcibly pouring four or five gourds into it, and spending over half an hour, its internal injuries were finally completely healed.

"Alright... continue beating it!"

Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the creature's injuries had healed.

Since killing it was not an option, he decided to proceed slowly.

You get injured, right? Well, I'll just heal you, and then we'll continue. Eventually, you won't be able to endure it!

"Roar!"

At his command, the puppets' eyes gleamed with excitement. They charged forward with roars, resuming their frantic assault.

Shortly after, the Purple Sun Saint Beast was once again swollen and bruised all over, barely clinging to life.

Zhang Xuan again expended his true qi to heal its injuries, and once it was mostly recovered, the beating recommenced.

After three repetitions of this cycle, the Purple Sun Saint Beast's eyes dulled, its will to live utterly extinguished.

Yet, it still didn't divulge a single detail about the Otherworldly Demons, appearing exceptionally loyal to its master.

"That's enough for today..."

He glanced up to see the sun beginning its descent. Knowing that he wouldn't pass today's assessment if he didn't return soon, Zhang Xuan reluctantly ceased the beating.

It was quite frustrating that after torturing it for most of the day, not even a Saint Beast had submitted.

Then again, if this creature didn't fear death, what good would exposing its flaws do?

If death held no fear for it, what else could?

Continuing to torment it would only waste time. He would simply have to outlast it and see when it finally yielded.

In any case, he had all the time in the world.

"This guy is so big, I can't just carry it, can I?"

Regardless of whether he returned or not, he absolutely had to take this creature with him. But how could he transport something so large?

He could carry it, but it was a Saint Beast. If word got out that it had been beaten so severely, the existence of the ruthless figure and the puppets might be uncovered.

Given the involvement of Otherworldly Demons, discretion was paramount.

Furthermore, having just arrived at the Master Teacher Academy, it was best to maintain a low profile. There was no need to stir up a huge fuss and let everyone know he could subdue even a Saint Beast.

"Although the Thousand Ant Hive is a bit small, if I roll this guy up, it should fit..."

Zhang Xuan measured it, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

The Purple Sun Beast resembled an ape-like spirit beast. Though its size was considerable, if its head were tucked between its legs, its body rolled up, and then bound with ropes, it might just fit into the two-meter-diameter hive.

In his previous life, he had seen exceptionally skilled yoga practitioners easily squeeze into small fish tanks.

"Let's try it!"

Without further ado, he retrieved a piece of spirit beast hide from his storage ring, fashioned it into ropes using his Ice Rain Sword, and handed them to the puppets.

The puppets once again beat the Purple Sun Beast into a semi-conscious state, then rolled it up, bound it with ropes, and, stepping on it, pulled forcefully several times.

After all, it was a Saint Beast with robust vitality, and with his true qi nourishing it, dying wouldn't be easy.

After a quick assessment, he determined it could fit. Zhang Xuan then flipped his wrist, produced the hive, and with a mental command, placed the beast inside.

Inside the hive, the Thousand Ant Queen was instantly squeezed against the edge, her face contorted against the surface. Her body was twisted into a distorted 'Great' character, on the verge of being crushed.

Slightly smaller than a human, the queen had previously lived comfortably within the two-meter-diameter hive. Now, with the Purple Sun Beast crammed in, it felt as though it would vomit from the crushing pressure.

Fortunately, its physique was robust; otherwise, it would have been instantly crushed to death.

"Alright, just bear with it for now. I'll release you both once I find a suitable place to stay!"

Aware of the cramped conditions, Zhang Xuan awkwardly offered an explanation.

Bringing out either the Purple Sun Beast or the Thousand Ant Queen would cause a sensation, so it was best to let them remain squeezed inside for now, until he had secured his own living quarters.

After returning the hive to his storage ring, Zhang Xuan looked around, then reached out and caught two storage rings that had fallen into his palm.

These were the very rings the flying spirit beast had snatched from "Brother Yu" and Feng Wu.

The Purple Sun Beast had been beaten senseless by the puppets, so its rings had naturally fallen off some time ago. With his Eye of Insight, Zhang Xuan found them without difficulty. He then touched one ring, allowing a drop of his blood to merge with it.

The soul imprints on them had long been erased by the Purple Sun Beast, allowing him to claim ownership immediately.

"So many spirit beast inner cores... these should be more than enough for me to pass the assessment and win the bet. Looks like I won't need to continue hunting!"

A quick scan with his spiritual sense revealed a considerable number of spirit beast inner cores.

"Brother Yu" and Feng Wu, utilizing beast scale incense and tracking mice, had hunted numerous individual spirit beasts, resulting in a rich harvest within their rings.

Passing the assessment was a given. With these lost, it would be extremely difficult for his opponents to hunt so many more within half a day, effectively guaranteeing Zhang Xuan's victory in the bet.

Furthermore, the medium-grade spirit stones alone amounted to several thousands, and the rings contained a complete assortment of treasures, even array formations, indicating immense wealth.

"These two are truly wealthy! Well, this should help me out of my current predicament!"

He was currently quite short on funds, and acquiring these two storage rings would alleviate many of his immediate concerns.

As for whether to return them...

What a joke!

He hadn't robbed them himself. After expending such great effort to subdue the Purple Sun Beast, receiving a ring as a reward was hardly excessive.

Just as he was about to pocket the rings, something occurred to him. He flipped his palm, and a jade talisman appeared in his grasp.

It shimmered with a crystal-clear radiance; it was precisely the Sky-Striking Talisman "Brother Yu" had wagered.

He had previously examined it with the Library of Heaven's Path and confirmed it was indeed a valuable item.

He had expected to obtain it only by winning the bet, but it had fallen into his hands unexpectedly.

"With this, I won't fear even a sneak attack from a Saint-level expert!"

He smiled faintly and stored it safely on his person.

His former Dragon Scale Talisman had saved him multiple times, but this item was even superior. Carrying it meant he could remain unharmed even if ambushed by a Saint realm expert.

As long as he evaded the initial ambush, he could react by unleashing the ruthless figure and his puppets, thereby completely reversing the situation.

"It's a pity that tracking mouse wasn't captured..."

He put away the rings and numerous treasures. Recalling the tracking mouse, Zhang Xuan shook his head with a hint of regret.

That creature could track spirit beasts or other objects by scent, making it an invaluable treasure.

The flying spirit beast had only retrieved the rings, not captured the mouse, perhaps out of consideration for it being another spirit beast.

Once a tracking mouse was free from control, its keen sense of smell made it nearly impossible to recapture.

"Let's go back!"

After scanning the thatched hut and finding no more treasures, Zhang Xuan, with a touch of disappointment, put away the puppets and the ruthless figure, then flew straight down the mountain.

After beating the Purple Sun Beast, he had instructed the Thousand Ant Queen to send a message to the flying spirit beast, telling it to release the Master Teachers. Once the siege was lifted, it wouldn't be difficult for the Master Teachers to hunt a few beasts and pass the assessment, given their abilities.

No need to worry.

After all, he was also here for the trial, not some benevolent savior. If someone died from being besieged by spirit beasts, it would merely signify their own lack of skill; he felt no obligation or responsibility to rescue them.

Executing the Red Dust Stride, he moved with incredible speed. Passing several valleys, he observed signs of battle, indicating minor casualties for both the spirit beasts and the Master Teachers.

Within acceptable limits.

He flew swiftly, encountering a few heedless spirit beasts along the way. He dispatched each with a single punch and collected their inner cores.

Soon, he reached the foot of the mountain. Spotting people gradually emerging ahead, he found a secluded spot to land, then discreetly joined the crowd walking toward the base of the mountain.