The Master of Beasts
Chapter 49: The Birth of the Fire Qilin

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Birth of the Fire Qilin

After sending Chen Xiaoyu off, Chen Jiuge finally had time to cultivate the Fire Qilin.

As for a suitable host for the Fire Qilin, Chen Jiuge had an excellent candidate in mind: the Medicine Snake. A creature with a completely pure bloodline, it was perfect for grafting another single bloodline into.

Although this wouldn’t result in a pure-blooded Fire Qilin, the Secret Technique, Bloodline Transformation, only needed to be imprinted as a Divine Skill to completely cleanse one bloodline. It seemed tailor-made for him.

He called Da Bai, Er Bai, and San Bai into the clearing.

Watching the three snakes, which had grown from tiny serpents into massive creatures tens of meters long, Chen Jiuge pondered for a moment, then said, "I have an opportunity here, but it might be dangerous. Who among you is willing to try?"

The infusion of the Golden Finger bloodline posed a risk of obliterating the minds of Spiritual Beasts that had already developed Spiritual Wisdom. Although new Spiritual Wisdom would emerge after the transformation, it wouldn’t be the original consciousness. Therefore, Chen Jiuge didn’t want to unduly force the three Medicine Snakes, as they had been with him for many years and had a good relationship with Yue Meng and the other Spiritual Beasts.

The three snakes looked at each other. Their innately reserved serpentine nature made it difficult for Chen Jiuge to read any changes in their expressions. With a slight frown, Chen Jiuge said, "It’s alright if you don’t want to."

Just as he was about to invoke the Contract Decree in his mind and dismiss the three snakes, a message came from Da Bai.

"Master, let me do it."

Da Bai’s childlike thoughts echoed in Chen Jiuge’s mind.

Chen Jiuge looked at Da Bai, who was a full circle larger and mentally more mature than the other two snakes. Gazing intently at Da Bai, he saw his ruby-like eyes were unwavering. Chen Jiuge agreed.

Dismissing the other two snakes, Chen Jiuge set up a large defensive Array specifically for Da Bai. He then took out a Wisdom Fruit, saying, "Remember, do not forget who you are. Your name is Da Bai."

"I understand, Master."

The Fire Qilin Bloodline infusion began.

BOOM!

No sooner had the infusion begun than orange flames erupted on Da Bai’s body. Listening to Da Bai’s pained roars, Chen Jiuge could only encourage him, "Da Bai, hang in there! Don’t fall asleep!"

"I will persist! I definitely will!"

It was unclear whether the Qilin Bloodline was simply of too high a rank or if the Golden Finger wasn’t providing enough support, but the infusion progressed slowly.

The flames burning on Da Bai slowly turned from orange to red, then to crimson, growing increasingly hotter. Even with the Golden Finger’s protection ensuring no harm would come, Chen Jiuge, despite his Fourth Rank Body Refining Cultivation, began to sweat profusely.

The infusion was complete.

Immense pain completely overwhelmed Da Bai, and the transformation officially began. _{f|re(e)web.n\ovel. (c)o.m}

The snake’s originally snow-white, slender body began to shrink. Its scales slowly reddened, and four small protrusions appeared on its belly. Its head started to swell, and bloodied, antler-like horns gruesomely broke through the flesh on its crown.

Feeling Da Bai’s intense agony in his mind and seeing the dimming Contract Decree, Chen Jiuge felt a surge of panic. A failure here would mean a great loss, he thought.

The snake’s hisses, "HISS... HISS... HISS...", began to transform. They softened into gentle bleats, like those of a deer. As this happened, the once nearly lightless Contract Decree burst forth in brilliant light. Chen Jiuge laughed heartily. "I knew you could do it! Hahaha!"

Medicine Snakes accumulate vital energy to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. The infusion of the Fire Qilin Bloodline, fortuitously, made use of this stored energy, greatly aiding the process. This robust vital energy nurtured a stronger body, and it was with this strength that Da Bai managed to endure the most difficult phase of the transformation.

As time passed, Tribulation Clouds began to gather above Da Bai, but Chen Jiuge, focused solely on Da Bai’s transformation, did not notice.

「In a cave mansion at the summit of Hundred Herbs Peak」

Two Elders were playing Go. One of them, looking at the Tribulation Clouds not far away, complained, "What’s going on? I remember the Peak Master designated a specific area for Disciples to undergo Tribulation, didn’t he?"

"Heh, isn’t this perfectly normal? Tribulation is like one of a mortal’s three urgencies—can you really hold it in?" the other Elder chuckled.

"Given the scale, it’s just a Nascent Soul Tribulation. What’s there to hold back? I’m just going into seclusion for cultivation; surely the world won’t change that quickly. I’ll go take a look." With that, the Elder vanished in a flash.

The other Elder shook his head helplessly. "He’s almost facing the Life Span Tribulation to become a Heavenly Immortal, yet he’s still so impetuous."

He looked down at the game board, and his calm expression instantly changed. "Old codger, I was about to win! Don’t you run off!" He, too, vanished in pursuit.

"Old codger, you..."

"Quiet and watch carefully."

"Watch what? It’s just a Disciple or a Spiritual Beast undergoing... What in the world?! It’s a Qilin!" The Elder’s eyes widened in shock.

「Meanwhile」

Chen Jiuge, unaware that two Heavenly Immortal experts were observing him from a hidden spot, finally noticed the impending Heavenly Tribulation. Seeing the descending Heavenly Thunder and Da Bai’s transformation only halfway complete, his heart sank. Is it going to fail?

Unlike a normal Tribulation, this time the power of each individual thunderbolt was comparable to that of the Divinity Transformation stage. Moreover, their numbers were dense and unceasing. The intense flashes of lightning completely engulfed Da Bai, making it impossible to see his condition at the center of the Heavenly Tribulation.

The furious Heavenly Thunder lasted for a full hour. When it finally subsided, Chen Jiuge felt a wave of foreboding.

As he approached, he saw a blackened lump, and his heart ached even more. Before Chen Jiuge could go over to what he grimly assumed was Da Bai’s "corpse," the blackened lump moved.

CRACK! CRACK!

Pale golden horns broke through the charred shell first, followed by a majestic head. Its eyes, blazing with spirit, seemed to hold infinite fireworks, and its beautiful mane fluttered in the wind.

The robust body leaped out, its crimson scales neatly arranged. Flames occasionally flickered between the scales, and clouds of fire wreathed its four paws. Its long tail, tipped with flames that flowed like drifting clouds, swished, perhaps still a little unaccustomed to its new form.

Reborn, Da Bai joyfully pounced toward Chen Jiuge, but two figures snatched him in mid-air: the two Elders, who began to examine him intently.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk! It really is a Fire Qilin! The Bloodline seems even purer than the one contracted by that girl from Vermilion Bird Peak. Old Wen, this Disciple is wasted on Hundred Herbs Peak. How about handing him over to me?" Zheng Yuanjia, the Heavenly Immortal known as Venerable Liuming, said with a hint of delighted surprise.

"Bullshit, Old Ghost Zheng! Don’t think I’m afraid of you just because you’re from Xuanwu Peak! Get lost!" Wen Tianming snapped furiously.

After his outburst, Wen Tianming turned to a bewildered Chen Jiuge with a grin. "Boy, I’m the Third Elder of Hundred Herbs Peak. Are you interested in becoming my Disciple?"

"Kid, what’s so great about Hundred Herbs Peak? Come to my Xuanwu Peak instead! I’m also an Elder of Xuanwu Peak," Zheng Yuanjia interjected eagerly.

"Old Ghost Zheng, what do you think you’re doing?" Wen Tianming’s fists clenched, his expression hardening.

"Elders, are you... are you really considering taking me as your Disciple?" Chen Jiuge asked, hardly believing his luck. His talent was merely above average. When he joined the Myriad Beasts Sect’s Outer Sect, he was in the lower-middle tier, never daring to dream that an Elder would take him on.

"Nonsense! I am a dignified Heavenly Immortal, a Venerable! Would I jest with you?" Wen Tianming said, sounding displeased.

"My apologies, Elder Zheng. When I first joined Hundred Herbs Peak, it was Senior Sister Wen who spoke on my behalf. I cannot leave without a compelling reason," Chen Jiuge said to Zheng Yuanjia with a deep bow.

"Ah, what a pity. If fate wills it so, then let it be," Zheng Yuanjia said with an air of magnanimity, preparing to leave.

"Old Ghost Wen, you can deal with your newly acquired Disciple. I’ll take my leave now." Zheng Yuanjia departed with a flourish.

Wen Tianming laughed triumphantly for a moment, then his expression turned serious. "Since you’ve decided to become my Disciple, let me tell you the basic rules. I currently have only one Disciple; you will be the second. I don’t have many rules. The only one that truly matters is that you must not betray your master or your lineage."

"As for the apprenticeship ceremony, I’ll arrange it later; we’ll have to postpone it for now. However, I’ll ensure your name is added to the roster and your status as a True Disciple is issued in advance. You don’t need to worry about that."