Beast Tamer Ascension

Chapter 66: The Demon of the Deep Wasteland

In the depths of the Great Wasteland, after finding a suitable cultivation spot, Lin Jing began constructing a simple Spirit Gathering Formation using Spirit Stones, establishing a temporary cave dwelling. While the spiritual energy here wasn’t as abundant as within the Beast Taming Sect, Lin Jing had a wealth of 100,000 Spirit Stones. Even if the ambient energy was lacking, this financial advantage allowed him to sustain a reasonable cultivation pace.  

With this many Spirit Stones, even the slow cultivation of a Longevity Body could be sped up. After all, what inefficiency couldn’t be solved by throwing money at it?  

While Lin Jing set up the formation, the Pine Leaf Mouse eagerly grabbed a Bloodsucking Vine and began channeling its energy to absorb its wood essence. Although Bloodsucking Vines were considered deadly to most beasts, this particular vine wasn’t fully mature. Moreover, the Pine Leaf Mouse, empowered by the Everlasting Emperor's Longevity Art, exerted a natural suppression over such malignant plants.  

The modified Everlasting Emperor's Longevity Art had four stages: Entry, Minor Accomplishment, Major Accomplishment, and Perfection. Reaching Minor Accomplishment alone extended lifespan by 500 years—the average lifespan of a Golden Core cultivator.  

According to Elder Divine Pine, once the Pine Leaf Mouse achieved Minor Accomplishment, the resulting life-force transformation would enhance its ability to control plants. It would even be able to transform an ordinary mountain ginseng into a century-old spiritual ginseng in moments.  

"Finished setting up? If so, start bleeding," Elder Divine Pine urged.  

By the lakeside, the Pine Leaf Mouse clung to the vine, its innocent eyes wide open. Green energy swirled around it, draining the vine's vitality.  

Lin Jing nodded and, with a small cut to his finger, let a drop of blood fall onto the vine.  

The Longevity Blood dripped onto the vine, which immediately began to convulse violently as if awakened by instinct. It absorbed the blood greedily, and within moments, the vine grew thicker and longer, swelling as if imbued with years’ worth of power. It now wriggled like a massive green python.  

“That’s... intense.”  

Lin Jing took a cautious step back. It was his first time witnessing the effects of his Longevity Blood. This was just an ordinary drop, not even his essence blood, and the amount he had used was negligible.  

"Chirp!"  

The Pine Leaf Mouse, thrown into the air by the now revitalized vine, refused to let go. Instead, it bit down on the plant and continued siphoning its essence with the Everlasting Emperor's Longevity Art.  

As the essence coursed through its body, the Pine Leaf Mouse felt a profound change. The wood energy nourished its entire being, making it feel as if it had shed years off its young one-year-old age, returning to an almost prenatal state.  

A green seed seemed to germinate within its body, spreading vitality throughout, refining its organs, and suffusing it with life force.  

“No wonder the Longevity Body can awaken such ‘spirituality’ in a Bloodsucking Vine in this era,” Elder Divine Pine remarked, its pinecone form floating nearby. “It’s a shame that it still can’t grant true sentience to plants. Perhaps when your cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul stage, a single drop of blood might create plant spirits.”  

“Are you feeling lonely, Senior?” Lin Jing asked, noting the scarcity of sentient plants in this age.  

“I am. Back in my homeland, I devoured all the other plants that achieved spirit alongside me. It’s been ages since I’ve had a proper ‘companion.’ I hear there are more plant spirits in Qingzhou. I must visit someday,” the demonic pine muttered.  

“...” Lin Jing stopped commenting and focused on observing the Pine Leaf Mouse’s transformation.  

As the Pine Leaf Mouse drained the vine dry, Lin Jing offered another drop of blood. The process repeated, with the vine regaining its vitality, becoming even more vigorous than before.  

Day after day, this cycle continued. Unknowingly, the Pine Leaf Mouse reached the eighth layer of the Qi Refining stage. Its emerald eyes glowed more brilliantly, and each breath it took seemed to draw reverence from the surrounding plants.  

Meanwhile, Lin Jing sat cross-legged, cultivating the Beast Taming Technique while occasionally feeding blood to the plants. The lake was cleared of threats, so he allowed the dragon carp to enter the waters.  

The carp, besides feasting on small insects and shrimp, also nibbled on aquatic plants and fallen seeds. Occasionally, it even chewed on the weakened Bloodsucking Vine.  

The carp’s favorite delicacy, however, seemed to be the mosquitoes that tried to drink Lin Jing’s blood.  

Some mosquitoes, after sipping even a trace of Longevity Blood, began undergoing life-force transformations. The more gifted among them even reached the first layer of Qi Refining, becoming mosquito spirits.  

“These mosquitoes have stumbled upon incredible fortune, consuming what even Demon Kings and Emperors would covet,” Elder Divine Pine marveled.  

“Too bad their lives are so short.”  

Most mosquitoes were swatted away by Lin Jing or burned by the carp’s fiery breath, becoming the fish’s next meal.  

“Blub… blub…” The dragon carp bubbled contentedly, claiming credit for protecting its Beast Tamer from these terrifying ‘monsters.’ Over time, it had begun developing intelligence, albeit at a low level, comparable to the Pine Leaf Mouse in its early days.  

“As expected of you. From now on, any beast that harms me is yours to deal with,” Lin Jing encouraged the carp, earning a spirited display of swimming from the fish.  

Turning to Elder Divine Pine, Lin Jing asked, “Senior, can you discern this carp’s bloodline?”  

“Of course. It’s a dragon carp,” Elder Divine Pine said plainly.  

Lin Jing fell silent. While true, it wasn’t particularly enlightening.  

“Dragonblood creatures have a direct correlation between bloodline strength and physical prowess. If you want to know the potency of its dragon blood, observe its physical potential. Only carp capable of leaping over the Dragon Gate possess the strength to resist waterfalls.”  

“Are you suggesting I begin body tempering with it now?”  

“Indeed. Before that, however, I have a demonic technique that can test its physical limits.”  

Another demonic technique?  

“I’m joking,” Elder Divine Pine chuckled. “It’s merely a common-sense method in the cultivation world. For beasts with powerful bloodlines, extreme pain can stimulate their physical potential, pushing them to display extraordinary strength.”  

“Beasts with no potential will grow weaker from pain, while those with latent talent will gain strength.”  

“Many beasts achieve breakthroughs after life-or-death battles, driven by the pain of combat to unlock their hidden power. Do you understand?”  

The dragon carp, though newly intelligent, was not foolish. It dove to the lakebed, avoiding the conversation entirely. Clearly, it recognized the danger.  

Lin Jing shook his head. Such methods seemed too cruel. Instead, he pulled out several black peppers, intending to improve the carp’s meals as a reward for its diligent service.  

“Senior, care for one?” he offered, holding out a pepper as if passing a cigarette.  

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