I Tame Beasts by Feeding

’I should get a good night’s sleep later...’

As the thought floated through his mind, Yu Changsheng willed it, and his data panel appeared.

[Name: Yu Changsheng]

[Realm: Qi Refining Peak]

[Physique: Spirit Beast Affinity]

[Cultivation Technique: Chang Chun Technique - Proficient (56/10,000), Refining God Technique - Minor Achievement (60,500/5,000,000), Beast Taming Technique - Mastery (3,250/100,000), Three-coin Fire Refining Technique - Mastery (11,200/100,000)]

[Magic: Fireball Skill - Minor Achievement (55,200/100,000), Shadow Flash - Mastery (4,350/50,000), Wind Travel Skill - Mastery (435/10,000), Wood Shield Skill - Mastery (1,688/10,000), Rainwalking Skill - Beginner (11/100), Thousand Thoughts Slash - Proficient (1,725/100,000), Beast Shadow (Part 1) - Mastery (6,870/100,000)]

[Skills: Tier One Spirit Plant (5/1,000), Tier Two Alchemy Dao (10,800/50,000)]

[Spirit Pet: Red Refining Snake, Golden-Winged Eagle, Colorful Star Deer]

[Remaining Essence: 0]

’Not a single drop of essence is left, but the rewards were just as immense...’

Yu Changsheng felt the Magical Power surging within him and smiled faintly. He inspected his Inner Realm. It was safe to say his Spirit Beasts had played a crucial role in this battle.

"Huh? What’s this?"

Yu Changsheng’s brow twitched in surprise. From all corners of the Wanxiang Sect—from its mountains, rivers, lakes, and all its living beings—streams of an invisible aura flowed toward him. Yu Changsheng couldn’t see it, and even the Divine Sense of a Golden Core master wouldn’t have been able to detect the anomaly.

’My Inner Realm has expanded again? And my three Spirit Pets... they seem a little different.’

Astonished, Yu Changsheng carefully examined his Inner Realm. It seemed an invisible force was empowering it, causing the already vast space to expand even further. Meanwhile, his three sleeping Spirit Beasts suddenly began to shimmer with a brilliant light as their injuries rapidly healed.

The Red Refining Snake seemed to sense something. Its eyes remained tightly shut, but its head drew back slightly as its forked tongue flicked out.

’Is this because of the Celestial Ladder’s magic?’

Yu Changsheng was lost in thought but didn’t dwell on it for too long. In any case, it seemed to be a good thing.

The light of the Teleportation Array faded, and Yu Changsheng’s figure appeared at the foot of the mountain. The three-hour time limit had just ended. The Celestial Ladder trial was officially over.

Some were elated, some regretful, some resentful, and some filled with hatred... But when Yu Changsheng appeared, everyone’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to him. Their looks of admiration were tinged with a hint of... fear?

Yu Changsheng opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the figures of Lu Ruikai and a group of Elders.

Lu Ruikai stepped forward. He looked at Yu Changsheng, his eyes holding both a strange light and a complex emotion. After a long moment, he clapped him on the shoulder and said warmly,

"Not bad. You successfully carved your own Dao Mark. Very good. In this Celestial Ladder trial, you are number one."

To know what is beyond one’s control and be at peace with it... If the heart has a destination, why fear a long and arduous path?

Lu Ruikai knew that Yu Changsheng must have seen his carving and responded with this line of his own. The contrast between the two made the difference in their mindsets clear.

At this thought, Lu Ruikai chuckled. The last trace of dissatisfaction he held for Yu Changsheng vanished like smoke.

"It was all thanks to the elixir you granted me, Sect Leader."

Yu Changsheng said respectfully, showing no signs of pride. He now understood why Lu Ruikai had made him swallow a Life-Returning Pill.

On the last few steps of the ladder, the greatest aid hadn’t been his own power, but precisely that Life-Returning Pill. Without its support, he never would have been able to endure.

This must have been why Lu Ruikai gave him the Life-Returning Pill. It could be said that the Sect Leader’s contribution was indispensable, that he had single-handedly made it possible.

As for the Dao Mark the Sect Leader had mentioned, Yu Changsheng was taken aback for a moment, but he had a good idea of what he meant.

"In that case..."

Lu Ruikai nodded, glanced around at the crowd, and announced loudly, "First place in the Celestial Ladder trial, Yu Changsheng, eight thousand steps!"

"Second place, Gu Zhen, seven thousand five hundred steps."

"Third place..."

The names were read out one by one. All disciples who had climbed past the five-thousandth step had passed, but the most dazzling among them was, without a doubt, Yu Changsheng.

Elder Li listened to the announcement and sighed softly, his gaze on Yu Changsheng complex.

Yun Hejing smiled gently. Though she looked a bit dazed, her expression was mostly one of relief. She immediately teased Elder Li,

"What’s this, Elder Li? Surely you haven’t forgotten our bet."

"Hmph," Elder Li snorted, flicking his sleeve. His expression returned to one of indifference. "I won’t. When he reaches Foundation Establishment, tell him to come find me at Sword Control Peak. I will naturally give him the spot. Do you take me for someone who goes back on their word?"

"Of course not. Thank you, Elder Li."

Yun Hejing’s smile widened.

Elder Li waved a hand and patted his chest, feeling a tightness there.

Logically, since Yu Changsheng had killed Huang Suyu, the disciple he had always valued so highly, he should have hated Yu Changsheng. But in truth, he couldn’t bring himself to hate him now.

After all, he was still an Elder of the Wanxiang Sect. He was happy that another genius had appeared in the sect, even if that genius wasn’t from his Sword Control Peak.

It was just a pity about Huang Suyu. If he hadn’t died, they would have had two geniuses this year.

’Forget it. It’s all in the past.’

Elder Li sighed internally. With conflicted feelings and a pained reluctance, he took out a Jade Bottle and handed it to Yun Hejing.

"Inside is one Foundation Establishment Pill. A loss is a loss, there’s nothing more to say."

"You are magnanimous, Elder Li. Truly befitting the bearing of a Sword Cultivator."

Yun Hejing praised him but didn’t hurry to accept it. Instead, she glanced at Yu Changsheng and said thoughtfully, "The Foundation Establishment Pill isn’t for me. I was only betting on behalf of that little fellow. I’ll have to trouble you to personally deliver it, Elder Li."

"Very well." Elder Li was surprised for a moment, but he immediately understood Yun Hejing’s intention. His expression softened, and he nodded in agreement.

Yun Hejing was hoping to do him a favor. Although the elixir was ultimately for Yu Changsheng, the significance of him delivering it personally would be completely different.

With that in mind, Elder Li walked past the others and came to stand before Yu Changsheng, handing over the elixir with a gentle expression.

"I just lost a bet with Elder Yun. This was one of the stakes—a Foundation Establishment Pill. I hope you reach Foundation Establishment soon and that your path of cultivation is smooth."

Yu Changsheng was stunned. Beside him, Yun Hejing smiled and explained, "Go on, take it. This is a token of Elder Li’s goodwill. He’s a man who honors his bets..."

She then briefly explained the bet between her and Elder Li. Understanding dawned on Yu Changsheng, and he cast a grateful look at Yun Hejing before accepting the elixir.

"Thank you, Elder Li. Thank you, Elder Yun. I will remember this kindness always."

Elder Li waved his hand. He looked as if he wanted to say something but ultimately didn’t, just giving a slight nod.

After stowing the elixir away safely, Yu Changsheng felt a little dazed. He never expected that the Foundation Establishment Pill he had been searching for for so long would fall into his hands just like that. Beyond the excitement, a warmth spread through his heart, and he felt even more grateful toward Yun Hejing.

’She stood by my side unconditionally, even willing to wager a Tier Two Peak Spirit Beast on me. Why is this Elder Yun so good to me?’

Yu Changsheng found it strange but didn’t let it show. He decided to just chalk it up to their brief previous encounter, figuring there was some fate at play.