https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-367-Night-Visit-to-the-Beast-Enclosure/12544421/
Chapter 366: The End of Cultivation Training
Chapter 366: The End of Cultivation Training
Based on the information gathered earlier, this Four-Winged Thunder Tiger wasn't as wild and unruly as it appeared on the surface; it was all an act to disguise its true nature.
The reason for this charade was simple: it didn't want to appear tame and domesticated, as that would mean being assigned to guard the sect's important locations.
During the taming process, it would occasionally put on a show of being untamable and even assume an aggressive posture.
However, it was careful to maintain a delicate balance. During Lu Chen's training sessions, it would behave as expected, only revealing its more aggressive side afterward.
If it truly attacked Lu Chen during the taming process, it would face severe punishment or even be killed on the spot.
By acting up after the training, it could maintain the appearance of being untamable while avoiding punishment, thus prolonging its stay in the taming phase.
"In a nutshell, it's deliberately delaying its graduation and avoiding work," Lu Chen summarized.
"It's a pity that this Four-Winged Thunder Tiger doesn't quite understand the nature of its work."
"Guarding key locations of the sect may be a bit boring, but it's a job that countless cultivators and magical beasts envy."
"You get a stable work environment, guaranteed safety, pure and abundant spiritual energy, a free supply of spirit fruits and magical beast meat, the best benefits, and simple tasks."
"It doesn't know how good it has it."
Lu Chen understood the underlying meaning behind the Four-Winged Thunder Tiger's behavior and decided to find a way to correct it.
Time flew by, and several days passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Chen had been leading a taming course for over a dozen young beasts, teaching them to recognize various types of information.
By discerning the nature of spiritual power, the robes worn, and identity badges, the beasts could roughly determine a cultivator's origins and prevent accidental attacks on fellow Heavenly Sword Sect disciples during their guard duties.
"Brother Lu, how has your progress been in taming the spirit beasts lately?"
Just before returning to the stone pavilion, Lu Chen encountered a middle-aged cultivator with an ordinary appearance.
The middle-aged cultivator, who had reached the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, was tending to and taming some spirit beasts in the nearby area. Unlike Lu Chen, he had been at it for quite some time, and his spirit beasts had grown to be quite capable and independent.
"It's Brother Xiong," Lu Chen replied with a light sigh. "The taming process has been going relatively smoothly, but a few of the young beasts are giving me a hard time. Some are disobedient, while others struggle to understand my intentions."
"Is one of the disobedient ones the Four-Winged Thunder Tiger?" Brother Xiong asked, a hint of sympathy in his eyes as he spoke. "From what I know, other brothers have tried to tame that particular cub before. While it usually behaves, it often displays wild and unruly behavior. It's quite the veteran among the sect's young beasts."
"It's just a troublesome beast," Lu Chen said confidently. "I'll bring it to heel eventually."
"Hahaha! Then I wish you smooth sailing, Brother Lu," Brother Xiong said, sounding a bit dubious as he laughed and walked away.
Upon returning to the stone pavilion, Lu Chen's thoughts wandered.
Over the past few days, he had been using conventional methods to tame the dozen or so young beasts, and it had been effective for most of them, including the hybrid lion-bird beast with the lowest spiritual intelligence.
However, the Four-Winged Thunder Tiger remained stubbornly resistant, popping up from time to time to challenge Lu Chen.
"Since you don't want an easy life and insist on causing trouble, I'll have to change my taming methods," Lu Chen thought to himself.
The next day, he took some time to visit the library and spent half a day there before returning to the stone pavilion.
"Come here. I have something good to show you today.
Maintaining his smile, Lu Chen took out two Water Mirror Talismans from his storage bag.
"I know you don't want to stay in the sect, guarding important locations and performing repetitive, mundane tasks day after day. You yearn for freedom," Lu Chen said. "But have you ever thought about what the consequences of your actions might be in the long run?"
He infused a wisp of spiritual energy into the Water Mirror Talismans.
In the mirror's surface, a massive eight-zhang-long Four-Winged Thunder Tiger appeared, lifelike and vivid.
The Water Mirror Talismans could imprint and store images for a certain period, and Lu Chen had spent quite some time in the library to find the two specific recordings he needed.
The moment the young tiger saw its predecessor in the mirror, it froze, its eyes gleaming as it stared intently at the clear reflection.
"When the sect invests a lot of time and resources into you, they expect you to demonstrate your value as a guardian spirit beast," Lu Chen continued. "Failing that, there are only two outcomes that await you."
"One, they wait until you're more mature and then put you down, recovering the materials from your body to recoup some of their losses."
"Or two, they assign you to an inner sect disciple as a contracted spirit beast, and you lose your freedom entirely. You'll be taken to various secret realms, facing vicious and poisonous demons and dark creatures, constantly fighting for your life."
In the mirror, the majestic giant Four-Winged Thunder Tiger was surrounded by several equally powerful demons. In the distance, a few Foundation Establishment cultivators flew in formation, using an array to restrain the tiger's lightning-fast speed.
The giant tiger soon succumbed, its silvery-white body riddled with deep and shallow wounds, blood flowing like a river, staining the entire mirror surface crimson.
Finally, it was torn to pieces by the demons.
"Roar!"
The young tiger lifted its head, looking at Lu Chen with a mix of warning and fear.
"Keep watching," Lu Chen said softly, his palm turning crystalline as he firmly held the young tiger's head.
Even as thunderous lightning crackled, he remained unmoved.
With its current level of attack, the young tiger posed no threat to Lu Chen's robust physical body.
The second Water Mirror Talisman.
The mirror displayed a different scene—no fierce battles or dazzling spells, just a single Foundation Establishment cultivator dissecting a Four-Winged Thunder Tiger while explaining the uses of each part of the tiger's body.
"The Four-Winged Thunder Tiger is a treasure trove of resources. Fellow Daoists, don't waste any part of it if you come across one."
"The tiger's bones can be used to refine high-grade magical artifacts, and its whip-like tail is extremely nourishing. It can be used to brew rare spirit wine, and its blood is an excellent material for drawing superior talismans..."
As the cultivator explained, the giant tiger was quickly reduced to countless fragments.
The young tiger seemed to empathize with its counterpart, and even though it was watching through a screen, its small body trembled. Gone was its former rebelliousness, and it was evidently terrified.
"You see, if you can't be tamed, these are the likely outcomes," Lu Chen said.
"Of course, either way, the end result is the same—being torn to shreds."
"So, for a spirit beast like you, the culmination of your cultivation is to guard and protect the sect."
A sinister smile curved Lu Chen's lips, a smile that seemed extremely evil in the young tiger's eyes.
The two Water Mirror Talismans had a profound impact on the young Four-Winged Thunder Tiger!
(End of Chapter)
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