Wu Bufan was taken aback, watching the little Violet Thunder Beast that showed no intention of fleeing. His emotions were a tangled mix of surprise, confusion, and something he couldn’t quite name.
Normally, demonic beasts were extremely reluctant to form contracts with humans. This one, however was it that the little creature thought they were incapable of subduing it, or was it actually offering itself to be contracted?
He sighed helplessly. “Do you think I can just form a contract whenever I please?”
Demonic beasts were divided by bloodline into four tiers heaven, earth, profound, and yellow. The purer and higher the bloodline, the greater the potential of the beast.
To form a contract with a heavenly-tier beast was equivalent to gaining a powerful ally, one that could fight alongside its master in life and death.
However, heavenly bloodlines were rare. And among those, finding a cub was rarer still. Whenever news spread of a heavenly-tier cub being born, it would inevitably draw countless cultivators into fierce competition.
Everyone knew that a cub was easier to tame than a full-grown beast, and much easier to contract.
Unfortunately, beast tamers were scarce across the Northern Continent. As for those few capable of taming a heavenly-blooded beast true heavenly-rank tamers they could be counted on one hand. Because of that, contracted heavenly-tier beasts were exceedingly rare, almost mythical in number.
“I didn’t tell you before?” Chao Chen said suddenly, blinking as realization struck him. “I actually know how to tame beasts! I’m not some great master, but with a small thing like this, I can handle it easily.”
Wu Bufan was speechless for a moment. The techniques in the Art of Chaotic Illusions truly covered everything among its countless strange and mysterious arts, there was even a beast-taming method.
But still… a heavenly-bloodline beast, and he called it a small thing?
The Violet Thunder Beast, who had been pretending to stay calm, now looked visibly nervous. Its beady eyes darted about, and the next instant, it began to shuffle backward, clearly preparing to run.
Wu Bufan noticed but didn’t stop it. He simply said, “Forget it.”
He felt a little guilty, as if bullying a child.
To his surprise, the Violet Thunder Beast froze, its round eyes widening in disbelief. It clearly hadn’t expected a human to refuse to contract it.
Chao Chen shrugged. “He’s right. It’s too weak anyway. Contracting it won’t help us much. If anything, we’ll end up having to take care of it.”
The Violet Thunder Beast was stunned. Then, after confirming that both humans were completely serious, it grew furious.
It leapt forward, planted itself right in front of Chao Chen, and forcefully pushed its small head into his palm, glaring up as if shouting
‘Hurry up and tame me! Contract me already! If you won’t take me, I’ll make you!’
Chao Chen stared blankly at it. “What are you doing?”
The little beast raised its chin defiantly, staring right into his eyes.
“You’re not trying to stick with us, are you?” Chao Chen asked suspiciously.
Without hesitation, the Violet Thunder Beast hopped straight into Wu Bufan’s arms, its tiny claws grabbing onto his collar as it turned its head and glared fiercely at Chao Chen, as if to say,
‘Exactly!’
Wu Bufan fell silent. He looked down at the small creature and asked softly, “You really want me to form a contract with you?”
The beast nodded earnestly, eyes shining.
Wu Bufan glanced at Chao Chen, intrigued. “Then why don’t you give it a try?”
Even if a beast was willing, most could not control their own spiritual power. When a human’s mind force entered theirs, their instinct was to resist. No matter how willing the beast was, a skilled tamer was always needed first to calm its spirit before attempting a contract.
Chao Chen waved lazily. “Come here.”
The Violet Thunder Beast bounded over at once, tail wagging. It pressed its head into his palm again, eyes squeezed shut, as though facing execution.
‘Come on then! Let the storm strike!
This beast will show these ignorant humans what true power looks like!’
But the next moment, an overwhelming surge of spiritual energy burst into its mind. The Violet Thunder Beast’s legs gave out, and with a pitiful thud, it fell to its knees before Chao Chen.
It had been wrong. So very, very wrong.
‘I am the ignorant one!’ it cried silently.
‘There’s always a stronger being beyond the next mountain! Spirits above, this human is terrifying!’
Within moments, Wu Bufan completed the contract effortlessly. His cultivation surged, rising an entire level in one breath.
Chao Chen looked down at the beast lying limp on the ground. “What happened to it?” he asked curiously.
Wu Bufan’s voice was calm. “It’s questioning its life choices.”
Chao Chen chuckled. “A little brat, and already overthinking things.” He poked the beast’s soft side with a finger. “Where are its parents, anyway?”
Wu Bufan answered after a moment of thought. “Its mother was a White Thunder Beast with an earth-tier bloodline. It gave birth to a litter, but only this one came out violet-black. Maybe she felt the bloodline pressure from its purity and thought it wasn’t her child… so she threw it out of the nest.”
Wu Bufan’s gaze softened slightly. “It’s lucky she didn’t kill it.”
Newborn demonic beasts were fragile; one strike from an adult could easily end them.
Chao Chen grimaced. “But this little one’s the real deal. Violet Thunder Beasts are the original bloodline. White Thunder and Black Thunder Beasts are diluted descendants. It’s a throwback to its ancestors stronger, purer and yet its own mother rejected it. So much for beastly wisdom.”
He sighed. “Seems ignorance isn’t limited to humans. Beasts have their fair share too.”
Wu Bufan lifted the small creature and set it gently on a cushion. “When what’s rare becomes common, the common turns strange. That’s how the world works.”
He smiled faintly. “We’ll call you Little Zi from now on.”
The Violet Thunder Beast rolled over, presenting its round, fluffy backside toward him in wordless protest.
Chao Chen smirked wickedly. “Judging by that reaction, I’d say you like the name.”
The little beast’s fur bristled. It whipped its tail in fury, glaring at them with all the menace it could muster. But before Chao Chen could make another teasing remark, its eyelids drooped, and it promptly fell asleep.
Chao Chen’s mouth twitched. “Little Zi might be missing a few brain cells.”
Wu Bufan nodded in full agreement.
Still, Little Zi proved to be an invaluable companion. Having grown up in the Tianyao Mountains, it knew every terrain, every dangerous ravine, and every place where fierce beasts prowled.
Under its guidance, the two managed to traverse the treacherous range in half a month. Along the way, they collected plenty of yellow-tier spirit herbs.
There were profound-tier herbs too, but those were guarded by powerful beasts. Since they valued their lives more than greed, neither of them dared to pick a fight they couldn’t win.
When they finally reached Tianyao Prefecture, the guards at the gate demanded an entry fee one gold coin per person.
After paying, Wu Bufan and Chao Chen followed the flow of people into the bustling city. The streets were lively, full of vendors and travelers. From under Wu Bufan’s black robe, a small violet head poked out Little Zi’s curious eyes darting everywhere, eager to take in the sights.
Wu Bufan didn’t stop it.
Chao Chen had said that pure-blooded Violet Thunder Beasts were so rare that no ordinary person would recognize one, especially when it was in its mimicked form.
After wandering for a while, they found a comfortable inn. They enjoyed a hearty meal, then returned to their room, finally able to rest after half a month of travel through the wilderness.
After spending so long in the Tianyao Mountain Range, neither of them had the chance to truly rest or wash up properly.
So the very first thing they did upon entering their room was to each order a full tub of hot water for a proper bath.
Inside his mind, the little light spirit chattered incessantly, its voice brimming with impatience.
“Hurry up! Hurry and take your little Dao companion to gamble on spirit stones! Win a few more spirit stones, come on!”
Wu Bufan’s temple twitched. The last time, all three stones Chao Chen picked turned out to be spirit stones. But when Wu Bufan stored them inside his personal spatial ring, those stones had been immediately absorbed and dissolved by the space itself.
To this day, he still had no idea how to tell Chao Chen about it. After all, Chao Chen had been the one to select those stones, and Wu Bufan had originally planned to gift the spirit stones to him as thanks.
But now, the stones were gone utterly gone. Where on earth was he supposed to find new ones to give back?
He pressed his fingers against his throbbing temples and muttered coldly, “Shut up.”
A splash sounded nearby. The little Purple Thunder Beast, soaking in its own tub, jerked its head up in shock, big glistening eyes staring at Wu Bufan as though accusing him of committing some unspeakable crime.
Wu Bufan fell silent for a moment, then said helplessly, “I wasn’t yelling at you.”
The small beast clearly didn’t believe him. Its watery eyes trembled, and moments later, tears began to spill down its furry cheeks.
Wu Bufan could only sigh in defeat. He reached into his spatial ring and pulled out the steamed egg pudding he had just stowed away earlier, offering it up as a peace gift.
The little creature immediately perked up, sniffling a few more times for effect before happily munching away at the offering. As it ate, it even flashed a sly little grin between bites.
‘Pretending to cry was such a wonderful trick’ it thought.
‘I’ll have to use it again next time!’
By the next morning, after a full night’s rest, both Wu Bufan and Chao Chen awoke feeling completely refreshed.
They had originally planned to order food in a private box upstairs, but all the private rooms were already full. So, they settled for sitting together in the bustling main hall.
Halfway through their meal, Wu Bufan decided it was time to confess. He leaned closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. “Those three stones… I used them.”
Chao Chen froze mid-bite, his eyes lighting up instantly. “You mean, all three of them were spirit stones?”
Wu Bufan nodded silently.
Chao Chen’s eyes gleamed brighter, excitement sparking across his face. “There should be stone gambling houses here in Tianyao City, right?”
A sly grin tugged at his lips. “This time, we won’t cut them open on the spot.”
Wu Bufan blinked, then couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re really not angry that I used them all up?”
Chao Chen looked puzzled. “Angry? Why? You were the one who paid for them. How could that count as taking something that wasn’t yours?”
Then, as realization dawned on him, his tone dipped into mild irritation. “Besides, these past few days, everything I’ve eaten, worn, and used was paid for by you. I never said a word about that.”
Wu Bufan rubbed his nose with a faint smile. “That’s because I wanted to.”
Chao Chen lowered his head, muttering softly, “And I want to help you too.”
The words were quiet, but they brushed across Wu Bufan’s heart like a feather. It felt as though a tiny claw had scratched at his chest soft, ticklish, yet impossible to ignore.
Meanwhile, the little Purple Thunder Beast, sitting beside them, darted its gaze left and right. Seeing that the two humans were preoccupied, it seized the opportunity to devour everything on the table.
By the time Chao Chen finally noticed, all the meat dishes had completely vanished.
Chao Chen’s expression darkened. “From today onward, you’re only allowed to eat cold meat!” he declared fiercely.
When they had first met, the little Purple Thunder Beast hadn’t been drawn in by the scent of roasted chicken because it was particularly tasty, but rather because the meat had been steaming hot.
The little creature had a particular fondness for freshly cooked dishes warm, juicy, and fragrant. Anything cold or stale, it refused to touch.
The beast’s little legs stiffened. Then it flopped dramatically onto the floor, staring blankly into space, tears welling in its large eyes.
Chao Chen’s mouth twitched. He turned to Wu Bufan. “Let’s go. Ignore it.”
Wu Bufan chuckled and rose from his seat. But he hadn’t taken two steps when a purple blur shot from the table straight into his sleeve.
The little beast clung to his arm indignantly, digging its claws lightly into his wrist as if accusing him of betrayal for not standing up for it.
Wu Bufan could only sigh and stroke the small creature’s back gently. “I can’t help you,” he murmured, voice filled with helpless amusement. “I’m afraid of him too.”
Afraid of him being angry. Afraid of him ignoring people.
Inside the wide sleeve, the little Purple Thunder Beast wriggled once, then finally let out a resigned sigh. It decided to forgive Wu Bufan just this once.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The coffee spirits are watching. 👁️☕
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind