Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 347: Chapter 347. Mental Link’s Effects

Seeing success, Amon exerted more force into his energy cord. The cord rammed into the red energy core with full power. Multiple energy blasts erupted repeatedly from the point of contact. The more forceful Amon pushed, the more powerful the backlash became. In the end, his energy shield ruptured. He was blasted a distance away.

”Hm...,” Though this brute force method was a sure win, Amon wasn’t satisfied with it. It consumed too much time.

Ha Gild might have told him to take his time, but this was because the tutor considered this a learning process. Amon didn’t have the same mindset. He considered this a real task. If this were a mental link performed on a wild beast in the wilderness, he wouldn’t have the advantage of time on his side.

He could feel it. The longer his presence stayed inside this energy space, the more agitated the space owner was. The reason he was not short on time was because Ha Gild was out there holding the Marsh Howling Hound. If the spirit beast was not restrained, the agitation would have caused it to lash out and attack Amon. In a real taming attempt, the situation would not be as controlled as this.

Hence, Amon thought of a way to shorten the process.

Analyzing his prior attempts, he knew that the resistance from the red energy core was proportional to the force he exerted. Unless the power he applied completely trumped the core’s defense, he needed another way to speed up the mental link.

Based on cultivation alone, his Intermediate Transformation Stage could compete against mid superior beast. If he could exert full power, he should be able to break through the hound’s mental defense. However, this was the first time he performed this mental link. He could not yet utilize his full power. He could sense that his energy cord could be stronger. Yet, after giving it a try, he still felt it lacking.

Maybe this was another reason why Ha Gild asked him to take his time. With practice, he could strengthen the energy cord so it would be more aligned with his cultivation power.

He didn’t mind training if it could make his energy cord stronger. However, he wanted to try a different method.

He approached the red energy core again. His energy cord was still floating above the core, waiting for the command for another linking attempt.

This time, he didn’t use the same brute method as before. When his energy cord almost touched the red energy core, Amon willed it to break apart. The energy cord split into tiny threads like when they came out of his energy core. These tiny threads surrounded the red energy core. Amon arranged them so they were all spread evenly at the same distance.

Once he was ready, he sent the command. All the tiny threads advanced and stabbed onto the surface of the red energy core at the same time. Tiny sparks resulted from the contact. Since it was so numerous, the sparks made it as if the entire red energy core was alight. Since the pressure from the tiny threads was small, the backlash was also small. Amon hardly felt it.

Even though the pressure was so small, the tiny threads spread all over the red energy core. With all of them pushing at the same time, the sum of aether injected into the red energy core was the same as when it was a complete energy cord. Without the powerful backlash, Amon had the tiny threads push non-stop.

Slowly, the red energy core flickered. After some time, Amon saw a tiny thread pierced through the wall of the core. Another followed soon after, and another, and another. As more and more threads penetrated the red energy core, the core’s defense decreased significantly. Like a tidal wave, all the remaining threads entered the red energy core. Before long, the red energy core was connected to his energy cord, which in turn connected to his energy core.

As that happened, a stream of sensations poured into him. He was inside the Marsh Howling Hound’s mind. He could see what it saw, hear what it heard, feel what it felt, and think what it thought. The sensation was so bizarre he recoiled from it.

His hand left the Marsh Howling Hound’s head at the same time he opened his eyes. What he saw was the hound’s eyes staring back at him. He could no longer feel what he felt earlier but knew they were still connected.

”You... succeeded...?” Ha Gild said. Disbelief was in his tone.

”What?” The assistant standing behind displayed a shocked expression. There were indeed some talented students who successfully tamed the spirit beast on their first try, yet the process consumed an extremely long time. This was the first time a beginner tamed a spirit beast in such a record time.

”Mas... Master Ha Gild... Are you sure?” The assistant found this to be too unbelievable.

Ha Gild didn’t answer his assistant. He himself was having trouble believing it. He let go of the Marsh Howling Hound. He also removed the engraved rein on the hound’s neck.

The hound rose to its feet and walked to Amon. Its head remained low the whole time, but its eyes were on Amon. It stopped before Amon’s feet.

”Sit,” Amon uttered.

The Marsh Howling Hound obeyed and sat like a good puppy.

”My goodness, you truly did it!” Ha Gild exclaimed. Now that he had seen it, there was no reason to deny it. ”I know there is something special about you. You might have the potential to become the best beast tamer in this world!”

”Master... That may be a bit too much,” the assistant remarked.

Amon was still getting used to the sensation. He continued testing by sending mental commands to the hound. It went around doing whatever commands he sent with complete obedience. He and the Marsh Howling Hound were apart, but he could feel the invisible link connecting them.

At one time, the hound started running and banged its head into the fence. Since the fence was protected by powerful words of power, it wasn’t damaged. Instead, it was the hound that showed a wound on its head. It was bleeding.

”What the hell do you think you are doing?” The assistant asked angrily.

”Student Lin Mo. That is not a way to treat your tamed beast,” Ha Gild also admonished Amon.

”This mental link makes it obey my command even if it endangers its life?” Amon asked.

”The Marsh Howling Hound is only a lower superior beast. It lacks willpower to begin with,” Ha Gild said. ”If you tame higher-grade beasts, it will be different. Especially if the beast possesses conscious intelligence, it can even defy your command. But if such a case occurs, you can punish it by causing it pain through your mental link.”

”Hm... Like this?” Amon asked. The Marsh Howling Hound started whimpering as it quivered on the ground.

”Stop that!” The assistant scolded.

”Student Lin Mo...,” Ha Gild uttered.

The hound stopped whimpering.

”I’m sorry. I’m grasping at what I’m capable of with this mental link,” Amon said.

”You are capable of much more than that,” Ha Gild said. ”Come here regularly. I will teach you more ways to use this mental link. The more you practice, the better you will be at utilizing your tamed beast.”

”Thank you. I plan to do that. I would also like to tame a higher-grade beast. I understand I can spend my academic points to choose a stronger spirit beast?” Amon asked.

”You can. However, I suggest you get used to this ability with this hound first. The difficulty increases exponentially with stronger beasts. Once you have enough training, you can sever your mental link from this hound and choose a new beast to tame.”

”Sever the mental link? I can’t have two tamed beasts at the same time?” Amon asked.

”You can only form one mental link with your energy core,” Ha Gild answered.

’One with one core, eh...?’ Amon thought.

”That said, it is inadvisable to sever the mental link too often,” Ha Gild said. ”The spirit beast suffers a similar outcome as when the mental link fails, although not to the extent of dying. As for the tamer, it is advisable to rest for at least a day before attempting another taming attempt. If you sever your mental link too often, it might even cause lasting mental damage. Your energy cord can also weaken, making it harder for you when you wish to tame another spirit beast.”

”In other words, choose your spirit beast wisely before you proceed to tame it,” the assistant said.

”You also don’t need to worry too much about changing your spirit beast every time your cultivation increases,” Ha Gild added. ”Since you and your tamed beast are linked, your cultivation will influence your beast to become stronger. Unless your tamed beast is extremely shitty, it is better to stick with the same beast.”

”I see...,” Amon uttered.

”It is enough for today. Go home and rest,” Ha Gild said. ”You must feel slight numbness. That is a sign you exhausted your mental power. Going through a mental link process can do that. If you feel like it, you can come again tomorrow. We can discuss this further.”

Amon nodded. He didn’t feel the numbness Ha Gild mentioned but didn’t contradict it. He walked toward the exit. The Marsh Howling Hound followed behind him. Its head was still bleeding from its wound.