Beast Tamer Ascension

Vol 3 Chapter 23: Unparalleled Talent

The news that cultivators from Tongtian Tower were arriving in Tianqing City had long been known to the major families. For them, the recruitment of disciples by Tongtian Tower was an opportunity no faction could ignore.

Tongtian Tower represented the strongest alchemy heritage in the cultivation world, a place where the Grand Dao of Immortal Pills existed—an absolute holy land for countless alchemists. However, most cultivation family disciples were unable to pass the alchemy examinations to enter Tongtian Tower.

This force had extremely strict requirements for passing down alchemy knowledge. Unless someone possessed unparalleled talent in pill refinement, it was nearly impossible to become a core member of Tongtian Tower.

The disciples being recruited this time were more akin to alchemy attendants and test subjects!

They were selecting young cultivators with great potential to become outer disciples of Tongtian Tower—serving as bodyguards and test subjects for core alchemists, growing together and forming a mutually beneficial bond!

Nearly every core alchemist in Tongtian Tower had several powerful cultivators assigned to protect them. In exchange, these alchemists would distribute a portion of their refined pills to these protectors…

Anyone who became a core alchemist of Tongtian Tower was an absolute genius in alchemy. Following them as an attendant meant that achieving Nascent Soul was almost certain, and at the very least, they would reach the Golden Core stage.

Thus, even becoming an alchemy attendant was something that countless cultivation family disciples eagerly pursued.

Tianqing City, Central Plaza

The major cultivation families had already set up the venue, led by Ling Quan Zun-zhe, the local head of the Qingming Commerce Guild in this city, to welcome the esteemed alchemists from Tongtian Tower.

As the flying ship from Tongtian Tower arrived, Ling Quan Zun-zhe laughed heartily, "So it’s Alchemist Jie Geng! I’ve long heard that Alchemist Jie Geng has advanced to the fifth rank in alchemy. Congratulations, congratulations..."

"It’s been a while, Senior Ling Quan."

A figure stepped out from the flying ship—a young female alchemist dressed in a simple white robe. Though she was only at the late Golden Core stage, even a Nascent Soul expert treated her with great respect.

The Nascent Soul cultivators from various major families were also stunned, immediately offering their greetings.

Although this female cultivator was only at the Golden Core stage, she was a core disciple of Tongtian Tower. She had advanced to a fifth-rank alchemist before the age of thirty, meaning she was already capable of refining fifth-grade pills!

Fifth-grade pills were valuable even to Nascent Soul cultivators. A young Golden Core cultivator capable of refining them had limitless potential—reaching the sixth rank in alchemy was not out of the question in the future. 𝑅ἁＮꝋ₿Ęṩ

Even if one disregarded her own talent, just the fact that she had the backing of Tongtian Tower and a powerful master meant that everyone present had to show due respect.

"I’m only here to recruit alchemy attendants for Tongtian Tower. There’s no need for such grand gestures." Jie Geng spoke softly.

"How could we not? Alchemist Jie Geng, please—Tianqing City’s most outstanding cultivation family disciples have all gathered here today. Let’s see who has the fortune to join Tongtian Tower."

Ling Quan Zun-zhe looked toward the crowd, where over a hundred young cultivators, all above Foundation Establishment, were eagerly waiting, their gazes burning with anticipation for Alchemist Jie Geng.

Even if they were not qualified to follow this particular alchemist, every single alchemist from Tongtian Tower would at least become a sixth-rank alchemist in the future. No matter who they followed, their cultivation resources would be secured—this was an opportunity for a meteoric rise that few would want to miss.

"Alright." Jie Geng nodded, her figure gracefully descending onto a central arena.

Ling Quan Zun-zhe glanced at the flying ship and sensed several overwhelming auras—Nascent Soul Great Perfection cultivators. He couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. With these experts, combined with the power of alchemy and formations, even an ordinary Soul Formation cultivator would struggle against them.

"This is my trial beast. It has reached Perfection of the Foundation Establishment stage. Anyone in the Foundation Establishment stage who can defeat it will be accepted as an outer disciple of Tongtian Tower…."

As she spoke, Jie Geng waved her hand lightly.

On the arena, a massive three-headed serpent covered in ink-black scales roared into existence, emanating a chaotic aura.

Though the serpent’s body was a uniform dark color, each of its heads was a different shade, seemingly infused with eight distinct elemental forces.

Seeing this beast, many younger cultivators from cultivation families took a deep breath, feeling the powerful bloodline emanating from it!

"…Even among king-tier bloodlines, this is considered potent!"

"That’s the trial beast? If we have to defeat that… this year’s requirement to become an alchemy attendant for Tongtian Tower is lower than before!"

Despite the murmurs, many cultivation family disciples showed hesitation at the sight of the three-headed serpent. But under the firm orders of their family elders, they gritted their teeth and stepped onto the arena one by one—only to be utterly crushed.

The serpent, wielding eight elemental forces—lightning, fire, ice, and more—overwhelmed every challenger with ease.

Pfft!

Yet another Foundation Establishment cultivator was sent flying off the stage.

Jie Geng sighed.

"Is this the best they have?"

After seeing over twenty young cultivators fail, the alchemist shook her head. The reason she had brought this three-headed serpent was to research False Core techniques—she wanted the serpent to condense three monster cores.

Yet even in its current state, it wasn’t at full power, and still, these challengers couldn’t defeat it.

These people were completely unqualified to become alchemy attendants for Tongtian Tower.

Ling Quan Zun-zhe also shook his head, disappointed. It seemed that Tongtian Tower would leave Tianqing City empty-handed this time. He hadn’t heard of any remarkable geniuses appearing in the city over the past decade.

"I’ll do it!"

Just as fear of the three-headed serpent spread among the young cultivators, someone suddenly stepped forward from the crowd!

A red-eyed youth pushed through the throng and strode straight onto the arena!

"Isn’t that Xia Yan…?"

"When did this kid reach Perfection of Foundation Establishment?!"

Among the Summer Clan’s cultivators, several people were momentarily stunned. They clearly remembered that not long ago, Xia Yan had only been at Early Foundation Establishment!

And yet, that wasn’t the most shocking part. What truly left them dumbfounded was the power Xia Yan displayed as he stepped onto the stage!

Blazing fire-attribute true essence surged from both his hands, illuminating his entire body. His near-perfect mastery of fire spirit power finally caught Jie Geng’s interest.

For most geniuses, cultivating a special physique to Minor Completion in Foundation Establishment was already impressive.

But this boy—his physique was nearly at Great Completion!

If Full Completion meant fully unleashing the physique’s potential at 100%, Minor Completion was at 30%, and Great Completion was at 70%. The gap between these levels was massive, akin to a complete difference in class!@@novelbin@@

"Not only has his Fire Spirit Body nearly reached Great Completion, but his control over fire is also…"

Xia Yan raised his hands, summoning ten fiery tornadoes that intertwined with the power of storms.

As the three-headed serpent let out an electric roar, the two forces clashed fiercely on the stage.

Watching this, Jie Geng asked, "This boy possesses unparalleled talent. At under twenty years old, he already has such strength. He should at least qualify to become an alchemy attendant. He may even have the potential to become an alchemist of Tongtian Tower.

"Senior Ling Quan, do you know this youth?"

Ling Quan Zun-zhe, standing beside Jie Geng, wore an equally bewildered expression.

"I do… His name is Xia Yan, from the Summer Clan."

"His father was the number one alchemist in Tianqing City—Soulfire Pill Sovereign Xia Jie. But a year ago, Xia Jie was reportedly assassinated by demonic cultivators from Netherworld Hall.

"I saw Xia Yan at Xia Jie’s funeral. Back then, he was only at Early Foundation Establishment.

"For him to reach this level in less than a year… even if his father left him a substantial inheritance, this growth rate is simply absurd!"

Ling Quan Zun-zhe felt a deep sense of regret. If he had known Xia Yan had such talent, he would have recruited him into the Qingming Commerce Guild long ago—he wouldn’t have left this opportunity for Tongtian Tower!