Chapter 495 - 354: Attaining the Realm of Mastery

Chapter 495: Chapter 354: Attaining the Realm of Mastery

Thus, without much effort, he had already cultivated this Cultivation Technique to its absolute limit.

"Attaining the Realm of Mastery..."

Yu Changsheng’s eyes were closed. In his mind, every aspect of the Beast Taming Technique surfaced—from the finest details all the way back to its inception. Everything was laid bare for him to see.

Attaining the Realm of Mastery was a theoretical realm of achievement; even the founder of a Cultivation Technique would struggle to reach such a level.

And though the Beast Taming Technique was not particularly profound, cultivating it to such a realm revealed that the most fundamental principles were often the most important.

’This Cultivation Technique... perhaps some parts of it could be improved...’

A realization dawned on Yu Changsheng, but he shook his head to suppress the thought. He then snapped his eyes open, his gaze as sharp as lightning as he looked up at the ninety-nine Beast Souls.

"Beast Taming!"

Yu Changsheng let out a low growl. The Golden-Winged Eagle, Colorful Star Deer, and Red Purgatory Dragon materialized around him. As they confronted the Beast Souls, both his Ten Thousand Spirits Technique and Beast Taming Technique began to circulate wildly, extending to envelop the souls.

"Touch Spirit!"

His Divine Sense merged with the spirit, enveloped by Dao Rhyme. Yu Changsheng was completely immersed in the process while the Red Purgatory Dragon and his other Spirit Beasts stood guard.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Technique and the Beast Taming Technique activated simultaneously, and in an instant, one of the Red Flame Lions was swept into their influence.

"ROAR! ROAR! ROAR!"

The Red Flame Lion roared, its body shuddering as it struggled to break free. However, the instant Yu Changsheng’s spirit made contact, a flicker of confusion appeared in its crimson eyes.

The Beast Taming Technique took effect on it, while the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique lowered its resistance. Somehow, in that moment, the Red Flame Lion gradually quieted down. It even began to look at Yu Changsheng with a flicker of warmth in its gaze.

’This kid... to cultivate a technique to this level, turning the ordinary into the extraordinary... he’s truly something else.’

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit nodded to itself, inwardly impressed.

"RUMBLE!"

Seeing the Red Flame Lion offer no resistance, Yu Changsheng’s expression grew more solemn. He cautiously extended his Divine Sense into the Beast Soul and began a careful probe.

’The next step is to find its True Spirit...’

The further he proceeded, the more cautious Yu Changsheng became, his Divine Sense moving with increasing care. He used the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique and the Beast Taming Technique in tandem to control the Red Flame Lion, soothing its emotions to prevent any resistance.

Fortunately, this Beast Soul was only a remnant, so finding its True Spirit wasn’t complicated. Before long, Yu Changsheng located what he needed deep within the center of the Red Flame Lion’s brow.

’Found it...’

A flicker of joy lit up Yu Changsheng’s eyes. Suppressing his excitement, he carefully probed deeper. There, within the core of the Red Flame Lion’s Beast Soul, an image of the lion, shrunk countless times over, floated silently with its eyes closed.

This was the True Spirit of the Red Flame Lion.

By comparison, Yu Changsheng’s own True Spirit was immeasurably more substantial. He immediately reined in its brilliance and gently guided it to touch the True Spirit of the Red Flame Lion.

In the outside world, the Red Flame Lion suddenly shuddered. It opened its mouth to roar and struggle, but was instantly pinned down by the menacing Red Purgatory Dragon, whose massive jaws were aimed right at it.

The flames dancing on the Red Flame Lion’s body froze. It lowered its head, let out a pair of whimpers, and didn’t dare to resist.

The moment their True Spirits made contact, Yu Changsheng’s body trembled. His gaze turned vacant, and a look of bewilderment washed over his face.

From within the Red Flame Lion’s True Spirit, a speck of phosphorescent white light emerged, floated over to Yu Changsheng, and gently merged into him.

’Did he get it...?’

A glint flashed in the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s eyes, and a faint smile touched its lips.

As the speck of phosphorescent light merged, the whimpering Red Flame Lion completely stopped struggling. When it raised its head again, the look of warmth in its eyes as it gazed at Yu Changsheng was unmistakable.

Yu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes. He glanced down at the Red Flame Lion, a thoughtful expression on his face. He could feel a faint connection forming between himself and the lion’s Beast Soul.

His Ten Thousand Spirits Technique, however, showed no trace of change.

’Is it because there isn’t enough? I’ll keep going.’

Yu Changsheng shook his head. He glanced at the ninety-eight remaining Beast Souls and felt a headache coming on.

But practice makes perfect. With the added, discreet help of the Sui Xian Sword Spirit, it wasn’t long before Yu Changsheng successfully captured the True Spirit of a second Beast Soul. Another speck of crimson-white light emerged and merged into him.

This continued until Yu Changsheng had touched the True Spirits of twenty-three Beast Souls. By then, the constantly merging specks of phosphorescent light had begun to form something tangible.

’A Dao Seed...?’

Sensing the white speck of light in the center of his Sea of Consciousness, Yu Changsheng became pensive as information about Saint-level Techniques surfaced in his mind.

This white speck of light, existing somewhere between the real and the illusory, had been formed by the coalescence of the white dots emerging from the Beast Souls’ True Spirits. It was diamond-shaped, emitted a faint white halo, and rotated gently.

An intangible force emanated from it, connecting to the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique. Under its influence, the circulation of the technique seemed to be undergoing strange new changes.

’Saint-level Techniques are different from ordinary ones. They have many restrictions, so only those who are compatible can practice them. More importantly, one needs the technique’s Dao Seed to even begin cultivation.’

’The Dao Seed is the core of a Saint-level Technique. Because Saint-level Techniques are too powerful and domineering, they are rejected by heaven and earth and constrained by the rules. Therefore, if one tries to forcibly cultivate without a Dao Seed, not only will their efforts be twice as hard for half the result, but they will also be susceptible to backlash.’

’The Dao Seed is the tangible manifestation of the Cultivation Technique’s Origin. It drives the technique’s circulation. Only by using the Dao Seed as a medium can a Saint-level Technique smoothly communicate with heaven and earth, allowing cultivation to proceed.’

Yu Changsheng hadn’t known any of this previously; the Sui Xian Sword Spirit had informed him ahead of time.

’That must be why Saint-level Techniques are so powerful, and why those who cultivate them are so rare—not even one in ten thousand...’

...

Lost in thought, Yu Changsheng slowly withdrew his focus. After examining the changes for a moment, he resumed making contact with the remaining Beast Souls, continuously enriching and solidifying the nascent Dao Seed in his Sea of Consciousness.

’Almost there. Once I’ve absorbed from all ninety-nine Beast Souls and the Dao Seed is fully formed, I wonder what changes my Ten Thousand Spirits Technique will go through.’

Yu Changsheng thought in anticipation. After swallowing two more Elixirs, he pressed on without a moment’s rest.

Fortunately, faced with his ultimate Ten Thousand Spirits Technique and a Beast Taming Technique that had Entered the Realm of Mastery, the remaining Beast Souls offered little intense resistance. For the most part, they were cooperative, and everything proceeded smoothly.

’This kid’s Beast Taming skills are no worse than Master’s,’

the Sui Xian Sword Spirit muttered softly, the smile in its eyes growing wider.

An hour later, Yu Changsheng had already subdued half of the ninety-nine Beast Souls. They obediently cooperated with his actions as specks of white light emerged from their True Spirits and merged into the Dao Seed in his Sea of Consciousness.

In an instant, the Dao Seed was half-full. A faint brilliance spilled from it, suffusing Yu Changsheng’s entire body. Moreover, guided by an intangible force, the circulation path of the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique seemed to be subtly changing.

More of the white light flowed into every corner of Yu Changsheng’s body, moving in and out of him to form a cycle.

’Is this refining my aptitude, making me better suited to cultivate the Ten Thousand Spirits Technique...?’

Yu Changsheng realized that the Dao Seed’s purpose was to remold a Cultivator’s body, making them better suited to practice the Saint-level Technique.

It was, in a way, creating an ideal environment in advance, allowing his body to adapt to the technique.

The process was currently very slow, but it gradually accelerated as Yu Changsheng continued to extract the white light from the True Spirit of each Beast Soul.

And after the specks of white were extracted, every single Beast Soul lay obediently on the ground, showing no signs of resistance.

’It’s a shame these Beast Souls are just incorporeal, remnant souls. Otherwise, in my current state, forming a Contract with them would be incredibly easy...’

Within the ruins, fifty of the ninety-nine Beast Souls had already been subdued by Yu Changsheng. They lay there obediently, following his will without any thought of resistance.