Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book

Chapter 34: Chapter 34: The Master of the Golden Scale Beast

In the following days, life was exceedingly calm. Ye Jingcheng spent his time refining Spirit Pills for the family shop and nurturing Spirit Beasts.

The Red Flame Fox grew larger, its fur glowing an even brighter red, exuding Spiritual Light at all times, showing signs of an impending breakthrough, which made Ye Jingcheng pay more attention to it.

More Treasure Light was infused into it regularly, and almost all the Spirit Pills were allocated to the Red Flame Fox, leaving the Jade Ring Rat somewhat neglected.

The news of his Red Flame Fox’s unusual growth had already spread within the Ye Family.

Having visited the Ye Family’s Ancestral Hall and the Patriarch, Ye Jingcheng was well aware that the family’s foundation was far more profound than what appeared on the surface, so he had fewer concerns.

However, the owner of the Golden Scale Beast remained unaccounted for, having not returned.

Ye Jingcheng could only wait for news. Although he desired this Spirit Beast, it did not yet belong to the Ye Family.

This waiting period allowed him to slowly accumulate Spirit Stones.

Outside the market, the news about the evil cultivators became increasingly rampant. Initially, it was lone Loose Cultivators disappearing, but soon even small groups and minor family cultivators began to fall victim.

Meanwhile, the Mo Clan began to organize an alliance to hunt down the evil cultivators.

Of course, these external events didn’t attract much of Ye Jingcheng’s attention at the moment.

He focused on nurturing the Pill Furnace, while the Red Flame Fox continuously released flames.

The terrifying high temperatures turned the entire Pill Furnace a fiery red, and the Spirit Patterns on the furnace came alive as if they were animated.

Gradually, anticipation grew in Ye Jingcheng’s heart.

This time, the feedback from the Pill Furnace was unprecedented. If this attempt succeeded, it would signify a further advancement in his Alchemy Skill.

A faint pill fragrance began to waft through the air, which excited Ye Jingcheng further. The Red Flame Fox, too, intensified its flame, its color deepening to a vivid crimson, reminiscent of the midday sun.

In the next moment, as the lid of the Pill Furnace soared high, the Red Flame Fox, under Ye Jingcheng’s command, retracted its flame.

Within the Pill Furnace, eight fully-formed Cyan Spirit Pills appeared before Ye Jingcheng, each one plump and brimming with Spiritual Marsh.

A denser pill fragrance was also released.

“Eight pills completed; once I have nine, I can attempt to refine a Tier One High-Grade Elixir!” Ye Jingcheng was overjoyed.

Only a year and a half had passed since he started using the Red Flame Fox for alchemy, and his Alchemy Skill had improved considerably.

Even with the most challenging Cyan Spirit Pills, his success rate had improved to four successes out of five attempts.

The number of pills per batch had increased from three or four to almost consistently six or seven.

This time, producing eight pills resulted in a Spirit Fragrance akin to that which accompanies a Tier One Lower Grade Spirit Feeding Pill.

“Here!” Ye Jingcheng took out a Pill Bottle and stored six pills in it, leaving the remaining two, as per usual, to be placed into the mouth of the Red Flame Fox!

The Red Flame Fox happily swallowed them in one go, its blue pupils narrowing into slits.

After swallowing the pills, the Red Flame Fox let out two sharp cries!

Its entire coat became brilliantly fiery red.

The next moment, it leaped onto the stone table and lay down.

The stone table was completely taken up by the fox, and Spiritual Light continued to disperse. Ye Jingcheng hurriedly retrieved an isolating Array Disc to further isolate the Red Flame Fox.

“Finally, it’s about to break through!” Ye Jingcheng was overjoyed as he watched the Red Flame Fox that was emanating red light.

Once the Red Flame Fox broke through to the Late Stage of First Tier, he could cultivate the Beast Communication Pattern. At that time, he could leverage the Spiritual Power differential to advance to the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer.

Reaching the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer would increase his chances of refining Tier One High-Grade Spirit Pills significantly!

Calming his mind, Ye Jingcheng stepped out of the room, as he hadn’t done for a while. He went to the inner courtyard to check on the Ye Family’s Spirit Beasts, a habit he had developed over time.

He would provide a bit of Treasure Light to any injured Spirit Beast.

After all, the Ye Family’s Spirit Beasts were captured as Spirit Beast Cubs from the Taihang Mountain Range, and injuries were quite common.

This had improved the Ye Family’s business considerably of late.

Ye Jingcheng’s steps turned towards the Golden Scale Beast, which had grown slightly in the past six months.

The beast showed considerable affection towards Ye Jingcheng, every time he approached, it would lay its forepaws on the ground, nodding its head at him eagerly.

Ye Jingcheng understood the Golden Scale Beast’s intentions, laid his hand on its head, and scratched its Hard Armor a few times, then infused a bit of Treasure Light.

The Golden Scale Beast’s body softened and it settled fully on the ground.

Seeing this, Ye Jingcheng was exceedingly pleased.

Although the Golden Scale Beast wasn’t yet his Demon Beast, it was the most affectionate towards him among all at the Ye Family Shop.

At this moment, the large courtyard outside opened, and his Thirteenth Aunt walked in with a beautiful female cultivator.

The young woman, looking around sixteen or seventeen, wore a green dress, appearing quite youthful. Upon seeing the Golden Scale Beast, she hurried forward, wanting to touch its head.

The Golden Scale Beast immediately stood up, baring its teeth with a low growl, retreating towards its enclosure!

Now, letting someone touch its head without the promise of that Treasure Light was absolutely out of the question, as it rejected anyone other than Ye Jingcheng.

It disliked freeloaders!

“Ye Daoist, this is my father’s Golden Scale Beast!”

“Please, Ye Daoist, save my father. If you can, the Golden Scale Beast will be gifted to your Ye Family!” The young woman in the green dress was now on the verge of tears.

“Miss Xiu Chun, please don’t rush. The chief steward of our Ye Family is currently not present!” Ye Xinghong comforted her.

Through this conversation, Ye Jingcheng realized that the Golden Scale Beast was captured by Xu Xiuqing’s father as a Spirit Beast meant to be sold to gather Spirit Stones for her to join a sect.

However, Old Xu had gone missing when attempting to contact a buyer, suspected by other Loose Cultivators to have fallen victim to an evil cultivator preying on lone cultivators.

Witnessing this had naturally made Xu Xiuqing feel shattered.

Given these circumstances, neither Ye Xinghong nor Ye Jingcheng could agree to step in.

Though he wanted the Golden Scale Beast, he couldn’t compromise his family’s honor or act against the odds.

Moreover, the evil cultivators were beyond what he could handle.

Even if his Red Flame Fox had a breakthrough, and even if he had reached the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer, he was aware of his own limits.

Thus, he could only express regret towards the Golden Scale Beast.

“Your Ye Family is renowned for Beast Taming. Surely, you have ways to help. If you can save my father, I am willing to reveal the location of a Spiritual Ore mine to the Ye Family!”

Now, Xu Xiuqing seemed desperately resolved, as she took out two unpolished Spirit Stones, her chest heaving with determination.

Though Spirit Stones are mined from natural Spiritual Ores, they don’t naturally come out as perfectly shaped pieces. They’re normally cut and polished by cultivators.

Yet, Xu Xiuqing’s Spirit Stones were clearly unpolished.

Just then, Ye Xinghe emerged from the inner yard.