Beast Tamer Ascension

Chapter 37: Emerging from the Cavern Heaven

It is said that the Cavern Heaven obscures one’s perception of time.

Even if one cultivates inside for months or years, the cultivators within have no strong sense of time, feeling as though it has passed in the blink of an eye.

Immersed in this state, everyone delved deeply into their cultivation and gained significant insights.

The Silent Swordsman’s sword-shaped Qi became completely internalized, and the sound of his heartbeat resembled the hum of a sword. Each inch of his skin shimmered with a crystalline sword light. Clearly, his sword manual had advanced, bringing him closer to achieving the Sword Body he often spoke of.

The Violet Flame Alchemist refined her control over flames during her alchemy practice. The violet fire inside her cauldron formed nine spiraling layers, continuously tempering the medicinal materials and purging all impurities from the pills.

Even disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, who didn’t have access to the Bodhi Trees, found their cultivation much more focused and efficient, making time pass swiftly without the usual tedium.

Meanwhile, Lin Jing had returned to his usual state. Relying on the Golden Leaf Bodhi Tree, he had memorized the structure of Purple Qi and was reconstructing it. After thousands of attempts and tens of thousands of repetitions, his ability to form Purple Qi became faster and more refined.

Unknowingly, his cultivation advanced from the early stage of Qi Refining to the mid-stage, reaching the fourth level of Qi Refining!

The others were no longer surprised by Lin Jing’s transformation into a dragon. They continued their cultivation, but the Pine Leaf Mouse suddenly turned to look at him.

“It seems feasible,” Lin Jing murmured to himself. He felt he had perfectly replicated the effects of the Purple Dragonbone Flower, marking his entry into the Illusionary Path.

Unlike ordinary illusion techniques, his current Illusionary Path techniques were far more deceptive, capable of fooling even higher-level opponents.

However, using such advanced illusions consumed significant energy. Even after his breakthrough, Lin Jing found his Qi insufficient to sustain them.

What was more concerning was that casting these illusions under the Golden Bodhi Tree’s amplification made it relatively easy. Once outside, it would likely require considerable practice to use them smoothly.

“This Illusionary Path spell can indeed be shaped into other beast forms. In that case, I’ll name it ‘Thousand Transformations,’” Lin Jing decided as he attempted to drive a massive dragon claw toward the Pine Leaf Mouse, wrapping it into the illusory form.

Inside the illusion, the Pine Leaf Mouse saw Lin Jing transformed into the Black Bear Monster.

However, this Black Bear Monster didn’t wear a Daoist robe like it did but was instead clad in a kasaya robe, exuding an intimidating aura befitting a demon king.

If the Pine Leaf Mouse didn’t know better, it would have clutched its storage pouch and fled.

Lin Jing dispelled the illusionary Qi surrounding his body and looked at the Pine Leaf Mouse.@@novelbin@@

“How was it?” he asked.

“Chirp!” The Pine Leaf Mouse sighed. “Nothing. Not a single gain. A flower containing a world? A leaf containing a universe? Lies!”

“I told you, progress has to be gradual. Did you really gain nothing at all?” Lin Jing asked helplessly.

The Pine Leaf Mouse had exceptional talent, and with the Silver Bodhi Tree’s enhancement, Lin Jing was confident it had gained something.

Sure enough, the Pine Leaf Mouse took out a red leaf. If anything, this was its gain.

“What’s this?” Lin Jing asked.

“Chirp!” It tossed a new storage pouch to Lin Jing.

Lin Jing caught the storage pouch from the Snow Plains Cultivator.

The next moment, the Pine Leaf Mouse activated a Flying Leaf Technique, sending a red leaf at the storage pouch in Lin Jing’s hand.

When the red leaf touched the pouch, it vanished.

Moments later, the leaf reappeared and flew off. Although Lin Jing hadn’t done anything, a pile of Spirit Stones spilled out of the storage pouch.

It was as if the pouch had been sliced open by the leaf.

The Pine Leaf Mouse’s Flying Leaf Technique had mutated, allowing it to extract items from a storage pouch.

Lin Jing opened his mouth, wanting to say something but ultimately gave up.

“I was just making a casual suggestion, but you actually managed to pull it off.”

A space manipulation spell!

This was undoubtedly more difficult to learn than Illusionary Path techniques.

Yet the Pine Leaf Mouse had comprehended it by repeatedly placing the red leaf in and out of the storage pouch.

If Lin Jing had known the Pine Leaf Mouse was this monstrous, he would have ceded the Golden Bodhi Tree to it.

“Chirp!” However, the Pine Leaf Mouse didn’t think much of the technique.

Its concern was losing its own storage pouch during combat.

Lin Jing ignored it. Regardless of how impractical the Flying Leaf Technique seemed to the Pine Leaf Mouse, it had now become a storage pouch assassin.

“Let’s call this upgraded Flying Leaf Technique ‘Plucking the Flower with Flying Leaves,’” Lin Jing declared.

The Pine Leaf Mouse didn’t object.

For once, the name sounded decent.

Lin Jing had come up with many names in the past, but the Pine Leaf Mouse found them either unpleasant or perfunctory. Eventually, it insisted on being called Pine Leaf Mouse rather than any of Lin Jing’s suggestions.

The Pine Leaf Mouse resolved that once they had enough money, they would travel to the Literary Domain and consult a learned Feng Shui master for a name worthy of immortality.

“Speaking of which, we’ve made decent gains, but neither my ‘Thousand Transformations’ nor your improved ‘Plucking the Flower with Flying Leaves’ made it onto the rankings.” Lin Jing scratched his chin as he dispersed his illusions, gazing at the monument at the center of the three trees.

Rank 100.

Feng Jiutian, Foundation Establishment Stage, created the Wind Emperor Body in the Bodhi Cavern Heaven.

Lin Jing didn’t know who Feng Jiutian was or what the Wind Emperor Body entailed, but possessing two special physiques in the Foundation Establishment Stage was undoubtedly remarkable.

Lin Jing wondered if he could cultivate a second physique beyond the Longevity Body during his Foundation Establishment Stage…

Shaking his head, he lamented not being able to see rankings beyond the top 100. He was curious to know how his and the Pine Leaf Mouse’s techniques ranked among all the cultivators who had entered the Bodhi Cavern Heaven.

No additional rewards this time.

He hoped for another chance to enter the Bodhi Cavern Heaven in the future.

As that thought crossed his mind, the Cavern Heaven rumbled as if it were about to close.

...

Sword Domain

The Heavenly Sword Gate, the top sword cultivation sect in the Ancient Celestial Kingdom, stood in the Sword Domain.

In the outer sect, as a massive pillar of light dissipated, the outer sect elder of the Heavenly Sword Gate, who had been waiting patiently, looked toward the Silent Swordsman, clutching his Demon-Slaying Sword.

“Yuanjing!” The elder heaved a sigh of relief upon seeing the Silent Swordsman emerge, his face lighting up with delight.

“Well done! In the past ten years, you are the fourth disciple of the Sword Gate chosen by the Cavern Heaven! Entering it with a mortal body—just like your senior sister did in her time!”

“Greetings, Elder.” Yuanjing, the Silent Swordsman, bowed slightly, a hint of nervousness in his demeanor.

Elder Jianxu asked, “Yuanjing, which Cavern Heaven did you enter?”

“Reporting to the elder: it was the Bodhi Cavern Heaven.”

“The Bodhi Cavern Heaven? The one for enlightenment? And it allowed a Qi Refining cultivator to enter...” Elder Jianxu was momentarily speechless. The Bodhi Cavern Heaven worked best for those with profound cultivation, who could draw upon their life’s knowledge to create their own techniques or physique.

For a Qi Refining cultivator, who hadn’t even fully mastered their sect’s foundational techniques, it seemed like a waste.

However, entering a Cavern Heaven was a blessing regardless. One shouldn’t refuse a free opportunity.

The elder regarded Yuanjing with a thoughtful expression. Though this disciple didn’t possess an extraordinary physique, his sword cultivation aptitude was exceptional, easily surpassing those of his generation with special physiques. Yuanjing had risen to the top of the outer sect, a testament to his potential. This trip to the Cavern Heaven further solidified his capabilities.

“Did anyone else enter the Bodhi Cavern Heaven with you? Did you manage to seize the Golden Bodhi Tree?” Elder Jianxu finally broached the most pressing question.

This was the question Yuanjing had been dreading.

“Elder, this disciple was unable to secure the Golden Bodhi Tree. I shared the Green Bodhi Tree with another, bringing shame to the sect. I vow to redouble my efforts in cultivation to atone for my failure.”

Elder Jianxu blinked in surprise. Yuanjing, despite not having an extraordinary physique, had extraordinary swordsmanship. Yet he had only managed to claim the Green Bodhi Tree?

“No need for self-blame. There’s always someone better. I see you’ve already cultivated a Sword Heart; you’re not far from forging the Sword Body. Progress matters more than momentary victory.” The elder reassured him. “Which sect’s Qi Refining disciple claimed the Golden and Silver Bodhi Trees?”

“This time, twelve individuals entered the Bodhi Cavern Heaven,” Yuanjing explained. “A scholar from Shengyun City in the Literary Domain, an alchemist from the Fire Domain’s Danxia Sect, eight disciples from the Beast Taming Sect of the Wasteland Domain—seven of whom entered by coincidence—and one Snow Plains Cultivator.”

He paused before continuing, “The Golden Bodhi Tree was claimed by a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. As for the Silver Bodhi Tree...”

“It was claimed by his contracted beast.”

“What?” Elder Jianxu was stunned. “The Beast Taming Sect? That Beast Taming Sect?”

“You lost to a disciple from the Beast Taming Sect?”

“Elder, I… His contracted beast… I don’t know how to explain it. What he knows, it knows; what it can do, he can do better. It’s beyond explanation.” Yuanjing was at a loss for words.

...

Fire Domain, Danxia Sect

A similar scene played out in the Danxia Sect. The Violet Flame Alchemist, renowned for her alchemical talents, returned as a rising star within the sect. Her achievements during her time in the Cavern Heaven drew even greater attention to her potential.

The name “Tang Seng” of the Beast Taming Sect also began circulating among the elite disciples of major sects.

...

Literary Domain

In the Literary Domain, a blue-robed scholar dragged a bruised and battered Snow Plains Cultivator into the city. Surrounded by peers and onlookers near the light pillar, the scholar wiped the blood from his face and clasped his hands together in a salute.

He appeared as though he wanted to etch the words “I’m here for promotion!” onto his forehead.

...

Wasteland Domain, Beast Taming Sect

In the Beast Taming Sect, numerous elders awaited anxiously outside the Cavern Heaven. When Lin Jing and his group returned unscathed, the elders were overjoyed.

However, their joy was mingled with curiosity. Among the eight disciples and eight contracted beasts, it was clear that Lin Jing and the Pine Leaf Mouse were at the center of attention. The others followed behind them like a protective entourage, their gazes filled with awe and reverence.

The elders couldn’t help but wonder—what exactly had happened inside the Cavern Heaven?

Elder Yu of the Mechanized Workshop was particularly baffled.

Why were several disciples looking at him so intently, their gazes burning with enthusiasm?