"Different? How?" Hong Ling inquired after hearing Lan Yingying’s mumble, her face filled with curiosity. Enjoy more content from freewebnovel "I consumed some of my master’s blood and initiated the contract myself," she explained. "That’s what I did, too." Feng Yuxiang added. "I see… Well, there are several methods to form a contract, and Divine Beasts are inherently different, so it’s not that weird your method was different," said Hong Ling. "As for our Heavenly Beast Sect, this is how we teach our disciples." "Also, we’re not done yet." Hong Ling shifted her attention back to the Earth-Shattering Ape and the disciple, who were silently staring at each other, almost as if they were communicating through voice transmission. Several minutes later, the disciple’s aura suddenly weakened, and his cultivation, which was at the peak of Spirit Enlightenment, suddenly dropped to the seventh level of Spirit Enlightenment. Meanwhile, the Earth-Shattering Ape, which was at the fifth level of Spirit Enlightenment, suddenly soared to the peak of Spirit Enlightenment. "While the master only lost two levels, the servant’s cultivation increased by four whole levels. This is why magical beasts willingly form contracts with humans." Hong Ling said. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎 "Can the servant forcefully take the master’s cultivation?" Lan Yingying asked. "Yes, it’s possible, and it has happened before, albeit rarely." "What typically leads to such an outcome?" Xi Meili asked next. "In my experience, such incidents only occur when the beast is severely neglected or abused by its master. After all, forcefully taking their master’s cultivation significantly reduces the beast’s own longevity, so it doesn’t truly benefit much from doing so." "What happens to the master?" Xi Meili asked. "Most die shortly after having all of their cultivation forcefully removed. Some have managed to live a few more years, but I don’t know anyone who has managed to live a normal life afterward." Lan Yingying then asked, "If the beast can take their master’s cultivation… can the master do the same to their beast?" Hong Ling fell silent after hearing such a question. With a heavy sigh, she spoke, "Yes, it’s also possible. However, it rarely happens because when a human takes our cultivation—even if it’s only slightly—our longevity will decrease." "In cases where a human forcefully takes their beast’s cultivation," Hong Ling continued, her tone turning somber, "the human doesn’t lose their longevity. However, over time, they start losing their sanity, and if they do it too many times, they eventually become beast-like themselves." She paused for a moment before adding, "That said, humans can get away with doing it a few times without immediate consequences. It’s not a fair system, but that’s just the way it works." "Has it happened in the Heavenly Beast Sect before?" Feng Yuxiang suddenly asked, her tone curious yet serious. "Which…?" Hong Ling inquired hesitantly. "Either," she clarified. Hong Ling sighed deeply, her expression tinged with reluctance. "I probably shouldn’t say this, but there’s no point in hiding it since it’s already public knowledge," she admitted. "Yes, we have had such incidents before—both ways." "However, these incidents occurred during the sect’s earlier days, when we didn’t know much and weren’t teaching our disciples properly. We haven’t had such incidents in centuries." "Anyway, let’s talk about something less depressing. Once a disciple successfully forms a contract, they will have to spend the next year building a bond with their beast. Let me show you." They left the building shortly after, and Hong Ling led them to their next destination on the flying treasure. Sometime later, the group arrived at a vast expanse that closely resembled the untamed wilderness. Rolling hills stretched into the distance, dotted with dense patches of forest and rocky terrain. The air was filled with the sounds of nature—birds chirping, leaves rustling, and the occasional roar of a magical beast echoing in the distance. "Disciples who have recently formed a contract with their beasts will spend a month here. During that time, they’ll do whatever is necessary to strengthen their bond with their partner—whether it’s casually strolling together to build trust or engaging in battles with other magical beasts to grow stronger together," Hong Ling explained. "While the goal is to strengthen their bond, there’s always a chance the opposite might occur. For instance, the disciple might come to realize that the beast is incompatible with them, or they may notice issues that weren’t immediately apparent at first." "This actually happens quite often. When they do, it’s up to the disciple and the sect to decide the next steps—whether it’s continuing the partnership or seeking a more suitable match. Building a bond isn’t just about strength; it’s about compatibility and mutual growth." "I must say, I’m very impressed with the Heavenly Beast Sect. I have been to several sects that focus on beast taming before, but none of them are as organized and dedicated as you guys," Feng Yuxiang said. Hong Ling’s face brightened at her complement. "Thank you very much! You have no idea how much that means to me—and the sect! This isn’t even half of our sect! Come, let me show you more!" She eagerly led them to the next destination. When they reached their next destination, a sprawling training ground divided into several distinct areas, Hong Ling gestured toward the open space and said, "This place is for sparring and combat training. Disciples and their beasts come here to learn to fight together and prepare for real battles." "If you’d like, we can let you experience what it feels like to fight a beast tamer and their partner." "Really? I’m interested." Xi Meili was the first one to volunteer. In fact, she raised her hand almost immediately. Hong Ling nodded before scanning the training ground, her gaze darting between the disciples and their beasts to find a suitable sparring partner for Xi Meili. "I know you’re only a Divine Warrior, but the weakest magical beast currently available is at the seventh level of Divine Master. If you would like a weaker opponent, we can set that up for you." "No, a Divine Master is fine," Xi Meili responded with a confident and excited smile on her face.