Beast Taming: The Beginning of Hatching an Ancient Dragon

Chapter 25: Choosing a Weapon, Breakthrough!

On the spacious training ground, many burly men clad in talisman armor had already gathered. More or less, they all wore expressions of interest as they gazed at the scene from a distance.

A few black lines hung down Li Chang’an’s forehead as he said, “Are all you hunters this idle?”

Duan Ben laughed heartily and explained, “Don’t mind them, there’s no ill intent. It’s just that this branch of the Hunter’s Guild hasn’t seen a newcomer in a long time.”

Li Chang’an was surprised. This was the Hunter’s Guild, after all. How could there be no new members?

A trace of melancholy appeared on Duan Ben’s hearty smile as he said, “There’s no helping it. Life has been much more peaceful these past years. Many parents are unwilling to let their children face danger.”

“You know, hunters face far more dangers than beast tamer hunting groups.”

“Where hunting groups go, hunters go; where hunting groups dare not go, hunters still go. There are times when someone must deliver information back to the city.”

Li Chang’an understood. In times of peace, people think of danger, but now there is only peace, and little thought of danger.

This was also why the Hunter’s Guild was facing a shortage of new blood.

“I see. So how do I choose a weapon that suits me?”

Duan Ben returned to his boisterous self and pushed out a beast puppet over four meters tall from a small hut by the training ground.

“This is the selection method. Only in dangerous situations can one’s potential be unleashed. The same goes for hunters. We’ll see how long you can last with a weapon against this puppet.”

Li Chang’an’s face stiffened as he asked, “Can I use my beast?”

Duan Ben showed a somewhat “wicked” smile, “What do you think?”

Fortunately, Li Chang’an wasn’t sent into the test completely unprepared. Duan Ben handed him a bracelet.

The bracelet had about a dozen switchable light points.

“This is a temporary memory projection bracelet. Each switchable key represents a type of weapon. After switching, your mind will temporarily be filled with the basics of using that weapon.”

“Then go up and test it. Go by your feeling and how long you can last. I’ll be watching from the side.”

“Of course, a reminder: don’t think about using this bracelet to cheat in skill. Although it’s standard basic skill, everyone’s body and habits are different. You need to adjust it to the skill that best suits you during training.”

Li Chang’an nodded in understanding. He glanced at the types of weapons on the bracelet.

Close-range heavy weapons included greatswords, war hammers, battle axes, and spears.

Close-range light weapons included katanas, single-handed swords, dual blades, and long staffs.

Ranged weapons included heavy crossbows, light crossbows, and hunting bows.

Li Chang’an started with the greatsword, easily picking up an iron greatsword the size of a door and two fingers thick. He swung it once and nearly threw out his back.

Duan Ben promptly took the greatsword from his hands, saying regretfully, “It seems you don’t have a talent for heavy weapons.”

Li Chang’an was puzzled. Duan Ben pointed at himself and then at Li Chang’an, explaining, “See the difference between you and me?”

Li Chang’an slightly looked up at Duan Ben’s head. Being as intelligent as he was, he immediately understood the reason.

He had the strength, but the difference in size was too great. He was 1.7 meters tall, while Duan Ben was 2.1 meters.

Though not exactly a beanpole, compared to the hunters, he could be considered slender.

Compared to Duan Ben, his center of gravity was unstable with the greatsword, easily being dragged around by it and risking injury.

Duan Ben pointed to another weapon rack next to the heavy weapons, “Try the close-range light weapons.”

Li Chang’an picked up a katana. Even though it was a light weapon, the size of this katana was vastly different from what he remembered in his past life.

The length of this katana, when stood upright, was taller than him!

The other light weapons weren’t much better. The single-handed sword was about the size of a two-handed sword from his past life.

According to Duan Ben, dual blades came in the most varieties, but most were sword-like.

When Li Chang’an heard the name “dual blades,” he thought of two daggers, but they turned out to be two single-handed swords the size of those from his past life.

Truly, the hunters’ weapons emphasized one word: big!

Li Chang’an gripped the katana, activated the temporary memory projection function of the bracelet, and the basics of using the katana appeared in his mind.

Duan Ben started the beast puppet, which creaked and slowly began to move.

Suddenly, a stream of water shot out from the puppet’s mouth. Li Chang’an quickly dodged, the water stream cutting off a few strands of his hair.

Li Chang’an’s eyes widened. You call this a newcomer test?

Before he could think further, the puppet’s next attack came.

A tail swipe!

There was a wind-up, not too fast, but heavy and powerful.

If hit, even with the help of a healing beast, he might end up bedridden for a few days.

Li Chang’an hurriedly blocked with his sword, taking the hit head-on.

With a clang, the sword vibrated violently, numbing Li Chang’an’s hand, nearly making him drop the katana.

This couldn’t go on. Li Chang’an dodged another charge from the puppet and began to use the basic techniques of the katana.

Vertical slash, upward slash, diagonal slashes (left and right), and thrust.

With each slash Li Chang’an used to dodge the puppet’s attacks, he gained more insights.

His grip on the sword became steadier, his strikes faster.

Duan Ben, watching from the side, felt his scalp tingle. What kind of monster was this?!

From Li Chang’an’s initial performance, it was clear he had no prior professional training.

His footwork was unsteady, his strikes chaotic.

But his rapid progress was undeniable!

In such a short time, his strikes had already taken form, his footwork was orderly, and he had clearly grasped the basics.

How many times had Duan Ben been beaten when he was choosing his weapon?

Duan Ben sighed to the heavens. The gap between people in this world was just too vast.

Not only Duan Ben felt this way, but the surrounding hunters shared the same sentiment.

As Li Chang’an deepened his insights, a burgeoning force seemed to be accumulating within him, eager to break free.

Li Chang’an didn’t know what to do. The memory projection didn’t cover this, and the pent-up feeling grew more uncomfortable with each strike.

Some sharp-eyed hunters noticed Li Chang’an’s state and advised, “Focus your mind, channel it into the blade, then release it.”

Li Chang’an took the advice but didn’t know exactly how to do it. He could only repeatedly try to channel that force into his katana based on feeling.

With each failure, his accumulated insights grew.

Finally, during a stepping vertical slash, a white light burst from the katana’s blade.

Following the slash, it left a shallow mark on the beast puppet’s steel-like body.

Then, two follow-up strikes fell from the void onto the beast puppet.

Blade Breaker!

The double strike of Prison’s Shadow!

The training ground fell silent.

Duan Ben stood with his mouth agape, staring in disbelief at Li Chang’an, who stood there looking exhilarated.

A hunter whispered, “Does the memory projector teach Blade Breaker?”

“Impossible, that’s advanced technique. Instructors don’t teach it until you’ve mastered the basics of the katana.”

The hunter who had advised Li Chang’an was also amazed. It had been a long time since he’d seen a newcomer with such talent.

With just a hint, he had figured out how to use the advanced technique, Blade Breaker.

Duan Ben quickly stopped the beast puppet and gave Li Chang’an a thumbs up.

“You’re something else, old Duan is no match for you. It seems there’s no need to test further; the katana suits you.”

Li Chang’an still refused the suggestion. He had now understood why his parents had so strongly recommended he become a hunter.

The talent of being dexterous and clever was incredibly useful!

As long as it was something he could get his hands on, Li Chang’an could continuously gain insights through training.

When these insights accumulated to a certain point, there would be an eruption, akin to an epiphany.

The earlier strike was the result of such an inspiration burst.

Moreover, because of this epiphany, his spiritual power had increased significantly. The life energy around him was gathering towards him, and the accumulation of curse power far exceeded his usual meditation practice.

At this rate, with two more epiphanies, he could break through to a Level 2 Beast Tamer.

Therefore, he couldn’t pass up the chance to try other light weapons!

Seeing the bright determination in Li Chang’an’s eyes, Duan Ben couldn’t refuse and let him continue testing.

He tried the single-handed sword, dual blades, and long staff, all with decent results.

Then, right in front of Duan Ben, Li Chang’an sat down cross-legged. Life energy gathered around him in large amounts from the void, stirring up gusts of wind.

He was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Now, not only was Duan Ben stunned, but all the onlookers were as well.

They had seen people break through in battle, but those were high-level beast tamers.

They had never seen a Level 1 Beast Tamer start breaking through after just handling a few weapons.

As life energy merged with spiritual power in the beast taming space,

Life, void, and mind intersected, and a large amount of curse power continuously poured out, filling the vast beast taming space.

Drip!

A sound like a water droplet echoed in Li Chang’an’s heart. A dark crack appeared once again on the Star Pearl in his soul contract.

The beast taming space rapidly expanded, 1100 cubic meters… 1200 cubic meters… 1500 cubic meters… until it reached 2000 cubic meters before the spatial transformation stopped.

Level 2 Beast Tamer achieved!