Beast Taming: the More the Better

Chapter 4 - 4: The Perfect Recipe! Forest Wolf Breaks Through Racial Limits

The Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas actually has this effect?!

Su Ping could hardly believe it! But even with a disposition tempered by two lifetimes, his palm, gripping the ancient tome, couldnʼt help but tremble slightly from the intensity of his excitement.

Perfect the Magic Potion recipe!

Su Ping didnʼt even need to think before he immediately confirmed his choice in the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlasʼs prompt!

It was clear that the Experience Points for the Forest Wolf Catalog were also very important. And each time it leveled up, it would give Su Ping, the owner of the Catalog, rewards beyond his imagination. For instance, after activating it, the Beast Tamer Talented Ability: Eye of Truth, was granted. However, Catalog Experience could be earned by spending time with the Forest Wolf, nurturing it, evolving it, and even discovering mutant species like Xiao Qing.

However, the Heart of Woods, as the primary legacy of their familyʼs cultivation base, had an impact on the Forest Wolf that was nothing short of revolutionary.

In an instant, Su Ping saw that the Forest Wolf Catalog, which had been mostly illuminated, dimmed considerably. The next moment, a blank entry below the Forest Wolf Catalog changed. It was the ”Known Evolutionary Atlas, Special Cultivation” entry. Previously, this entry was blank, but now, an addition appeared:

[”Heart of Woods” Magic Potion production: Upon consumption by a Forest Wolf, it can awaken the treasured Skill ”Heart of Woods.” The effects of other Level upgrades are unknown. The production method is as follows...]

Seeing the change appear in the Forest Wolf Catalog, Su Ping let out a long breath, his eyes shining radiantly, filled with anticipation and excitement.

Indeed! This time, the Forest Wolf Catalogʼs description of the Heart of Woods Magic Potion made no mention of the *chance* to awaken the Skill ”Heart of Woods.”

The implication was obvious.

However, what gave Su Ping a bit of a headache was the recipe perfected by the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas. A new ingredient had been added to the recipe.

It wasnʼt that this new ingredient was particularly expensive. Even though his old man was unreliable, their familyʼs large cultivation base didnʼt require rent and had likely amassed some savings over the years. The primary source of these savings, however, wasnʼt from selling well-cultivated Forest Wolves for a high price. Instead, it was purely from renting out a large vacant lot connected to their cultivation base to their neighbor, the Yun Tian Pet Beast Combat Resort.

The reason Su Ping looked troubled was because of this one addition to the perfected recipe. Its name was ʼWolf Tobaccoʼ. At first glance, it seemed related to the Forest Wolf, but in reality, there was no connection. This was purely because when lit, the plant produced a dense smoke, like a beacon fire, and the smell...

Ironically, this Wolf Tobacco was extremely abundant, growing wild all over the place in some areas. Often, Fire-type Pet Beasts or Beast Tamers would ignore the law and engage in Pet Beast battles in forests, igniting wildfires. For the firefighters from the Safety Bureau responsible for extinguishing those fires, the most critical task was to have their own Pet Beasts take precautions against this Wolf Tobacco. In the history of Dragon Nation, there had been many cases where Water-type Pet Beasts, particularly those extinguishing wildfires, were choked to death by the noxious fumes erupting from burning Wolf Tobacco.

Thinking of this, Su Ping silently mourned the brave little Pet Beast heroes who died extinguishing forest fires and protecting wild Pet Beasts. He also condemned the Beast Tamers who carelessly used Fire-type Pet Beasts for battles in forests.

It was precisely because this Wolf Tobacco was largely useless, had a terribly pungent smell, and its smoke could easily cause hallucinations when burned that Wolf Tobacco had such a bad reputation. Moreover, no one had discovered any other uses for it—though, perhaps someone had and simply hadnʼt made it public. Therefore, Su Ping was somewhat skeptical about whether this Wolf Tobacco could truly perfect the Heart of Woods Magic Potion.

However, trusting his Golden Finger and the undeniably real Eye of Truth he now possessed, Su Ping chose to believe.

Full of anticipation, he arrived at the door of another building in the base.

The Magic Potion Workshop.

This place, within the entire Heart of Wood Cultivation Base, had the most surveillance. After all, the resources needed for Magic Potions were extremely precious, and the auxiliary equipment for their creation was incredibly valuable. This was also the place his father had strictly forbidden him from approaching before he came of age. But now...

However, just as he was about to step into the workshop, a huge shadow suddenly appeared behind him. Xiao Qing, nestled in his arms, immediately tensed.

Su Ping whipped his head around. The next moment, a massive dark shadow pounced, knocking him onto the soft grass. A warm, damp sensation immediately spread across his cheek.

Su Ping didnʼt know whether to laugh or cry. He looked at the massive, cyan-blue wolf sprawled on top of him, enthusiastically licking his face to show affection, and quickly said, ”Alright, alright...”

Struggling to his feet, Su Ping wiped the drool from his face. He then fondly stroked the soft fur under the chin of the giant wolf—who was nearly as tall as he was—and asked, ”Old Sha, have there been any problems these past two days while Dadʼs been away? Are the little ones alright?”

”AWOOO...”

The giant Forest Wolf named Old Sha shook his head.

Old Sha was a Forest Wolf raised by Su Pingʼs grandfather and, strictly speaking, was of the same generation as his father. Although Old Sha hadnʼt formed a Soul Contract with his grandfather or father, over the years, he had become the Su Familyʼs closest kin.

As a Pet Beastʼs strength increased, so did its intelligence. Old Sha was clearly no exception. He was the only Forest Wolf in the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base that had broken through his race limit and reached the Commander Level. He was also, over many years, the sole Wolf King of the Forest Wolves in the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base. With Old Sha around, the mischievous and lazy Forest Wolves would behave and listen obediently. This was the main reason Su Anyong had been able to save money by not hiring others for help, managing everything himself all these years.

Looking at Old Sha before him, Su Ping activated his Eye of Truth. Old Sha could sense Su Ping using an ability on him but didnʼt resist at all. It was precisely this trust that allowed Su Ping to see some of Old Shaʼs Abilities:

[Forest Wolf (Wild)]

[Current Level: Commander First Stage]

[Racial Potential: Elite Tenth Stage]

[Skills: Sunlight Absorption (Perfection), Vine Strangling (Proficient), Self-Healing (Proficiency), Accelerated Growth (Proficient), Wolf King Majesty (Beginner)]

Old Shaʼs panel was relatively normal. His Skill training levels were standard, except for Sunlight Absorption, which had astonishingly reached the Perfection Level. Clearly, Old Shaʼs ability to break through his race limit was related to this Perfection-Level Sunlight Absorption and his status as Wolf King. He must have had his own fortuitous encounters in his early years.

However, before Su Ping could dwell on it further, a new message appeared in the log of the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlasʼs Forest Wolf Catalog:

[Discovered and interacted with a Forest Wolf that has surpassed its Racial Potential limit. Affinity requirements met. Catalog Level Experience +100!]

[This Forest Wolf is a powerful individual. For each subsequent day spent with it, Forest Wolf Catalog Experience +2!]

Su Ping was startled, then a smile touched his lips. Indeed, returning to Heart of Woods to inherit the family business was an absolutely correct decision.