Taking a Master

Seeing his leg in that enormous bear paw, like a mere twig, Xiao Heng nearly cried at his own stupidity.

"What now? Should I use the Dou Ling Experience Card, then slash it with an Earth Grade Combat Skill?" Xiao Heng considered the chances of success. After roughly estimating them, he figured he could get away, but his leg would probably be gone!

Just as Xiao Heng hesitated, another bear emerged from a nearby cave!

Fuck, fuck, fuck! Even the Dou Ling Experience Card wouldn't be enough now.

Because he could already sense the aura coming from that bear. It was at least fifth-tier!

Why was a fifth-tier Magical Beast here? This place wasn't exactly the outer region, but it was still far from the center of the Monster Mountain Range! A fourth-tier one would have been normal, but a fifth-tier one was going too far! And that bear was also an Earth Stone Bear. He had never heard of Earth Stone Bears living in groups!

Xiao Heng's expression hardened as he kept his attention fixed on the bear before him. The instant it showed even the slightest intention of attacking, he would strike back. Even if he died, he would not let them have it easy.

The Earth Stone Bear stopped upon seeing Xiao Heng, stared at him, and spoke. "Human, leave this place, and I will spare your life!"

"You can actually speak?" Xiao Heng was somewhat surprised. Though fifth-tier Magical Beasts were intelligent, they had not yet reached the point where they could speak—except for certain Magical Beasts with exceptionally powerful talents.

"That is not your concern. Leave this place, and I will spare your life!" The giant bear did not answer Xiao Heng and continued to demand that he leave.

Though he was deeply puzzled as to why this bear was sparing him, he was not suicidal. Since it was willing to let him go, he was hardly going to seek his own death.

Sheathing his sword, Xiao Heng cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Bear King, for sparing my life. I will not come here again!" He would not return to this place even if beaten to death. He added, "Could Bear King please have it release me?"

Upon hearing this, the Bear King said to the bear still clutching Xiao Heng's leg, "Bear Two, wake up and let him go!"

Its voice was thunderous. Xiao Heng could sense the might of a high-tier Magical Beast within it, though that level of volume was probably necessary to wake that stupid bear.

The sleeping bear finally woke up and released Xiao Heng. Rubbing its eyes with its huge paws, it spotted the other large bear and immediately ran over, completely ignoring Xiao Heng.

"Bear One, you're back? What tasty things did you bring me?"

A fourth-tier Magical Beast could actually speak. If a fifth-tier Magical Beast speaking could be called exceptionally gifted, then a fourth-tier Magical Beast speaking was nothing short of astonishing.

Xiao Heng had no time for shock. Nothing was more useful than escaping first! That Magical Beast might change its mind the next second!

But after he had run only a few steps, the large bear spoke again. "Human, wait!"

Xiao Heng stopped. It was not because he wanted to, but because the giant bear was already standing in front of him. Bear Two watched his elder brother block Xiao Heng's path, somewhat confused. Was his big brother going to eat a human? But hadn't their lord said they were not allowed to eat humans? He did not understand! Still, he listened to his big brother.

Xiao Heng stopped, his eyes fixed tightly on the giant bear three times his size. "Does Bear King have some other matter? If it is within my ability, I will certainly do my utmost."

He had no idea what the bear in front of him wanted! But at this distance, he did not believe he could escape its grasp. Not even with the Purple Cloud Wings and the Dou Ling Experience Card. That was why he had immediately sheathed his sword earlier! Before a fifth-tier Magical Beast, his little bit of strength was no different from what it was now. At most, he would struggle a little longer.

The Bear King spoke. "Relax. I mean you no harm. I only need you to enter that cave."

Xiao Heng looked in the direction of the giant bear's gaze. It should have been their nest! He did not know why it wanted him to enter, but it seemed he had no other choice. Still, judging by the bear's attitude, if it wanted to kill him, there was no need to go through so much trouble. He truly did not know what to do now.

He could only leave it to fate and follow the giant bear into the cave. The cave was indeed quite large. They continued onward for roughly ten minutes before the giant bear finally stopped, while the slightly smaller giant bear obediently followed behind them.

"We're here!"

The giant bear stopped and spoke, then stood there. After that, the surface of the stone wall that appeared to be the end of the passage slowly rose. Once the dust settled—

Xiao Heng finally saw what lay within: a stone platform, upon which a set of white bones sat cross-legged. Before the skeleton, a ball of crimson flame burned slowly in the air.

"Heavenly Flames!"

Though he did not know what kind of Heavenly Flames it was, Xiao Heng still recognized it! A wonder of heaven and earth! Before he could finish being shocked, a white phantom slowly drifted out from the Heavenly Flames, gradually taking the form of an elderly figure! The moment the phantom appeared, both bears obediently moved to one side without saying another word.

Xiao Heng immediately understood why these two Magical Beasts possessed such high intelligence. So they had been raised by someone, and that person's strength was likely extraordinary.

He cupped his hands in salute. "This junior is Xiao Heng. Greetings, Senior! Whatever Senior requires, this junior will certainly do his utmost to accomplish!" Though body possession was not common on the Dou Qi Continent, he still had to remain extremely vigilant.

The phantom spoke slowly. Perhaps because he had not spoken for too long, every word came out at a measured pace. "Boy, do not be nervous. I bear you no ill intent. I believe you can see that I am now in a soul state, and I am about to dissipate. Unwilling to let all my abilities go without an heir, I kept you here!"

So that was it. Though he had taken human form, he was incomparably illusory, as though he might dissipate at any moment! Still, Xiao Heng would not believe him so easily. "Senior possesses such abilities. Why must you pass them on to this junior? If you fear your skills will be lost, you could find countless others. This junior is not blessed enough and likely has no fortune to accept them."

A smile appeared on the figure's face as his aged voice slowly rang out. "Boy, there is no need to be so cautious. If I wished you harm, I could simply act directly. Why go through all this trouble?"

On second thought, Xiao Heng found that reasonable. When the cart reached the mountain, there would be a road through it! He probably could not escape anyway. Of course, he could place his hopes on the system. If he managed to draw a Dou Huang Experience Card, it might save him, though even that might not necessarily work.

Someone capable of preserving their soul after death might not even be a Dou Zong, and he had just heard the man refer to himself as "this Venerable." "Venerable" was not a title one could use casually. From that, this old man had likely been a Dou Zun expert in life. Even if such an expert had fallen, Xiao Heng did not believe he lacked even the slightest ability to fight back.

He could only agree helplessly. He bowed deeply toward the figure before him and said, "Yes, Senior! Then this junior offers his thanks to Senior!"

Only then did the old man nod, saying with some satisfaction, "I had thought my inheritance was destined to be lost, yet I unexpectedly encountered you. To speak frankly, I also chose you because your talent is not bad. Otherwise, if I passed all my abilities to mediocre people, they would likely disappear before long as well."

Xiao Heng knew he said this to dispel his suspicions, but Xiao Heng was already fish on the chopping block and had no way to resist.

The old man paused before continuing, "My name is Myriad Beasts Venerable. When I was young, my family fell into decline. Later, I fortuitously obtained the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame. By coincidence, my family had considerable knowledge of beast taming, so I combined the Myriad Beasts Spirit Flame with that knowledge. After several centuries, I created the 'Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture.'"

It was clear that when he mentioned the so-called "Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture," the eyes of this aged phantom were filled with pride!

Changing his tone, Myriad Beasts Venerable continued, "In my life, I have known lows and glory alike. I have also killed nearly all my enemies, so I have no regrets! There is only one person to whom I owe far too much!"

As he spoke of this, Myriad Beasts Venerable's mood sank considerably. Yet he continued, "If you receive my inheritance, you need not take me as your master, nor must you avenge me. There is only one thing you must do for me! You must deliver a letter for me. Even if you die, you must ensure this letter is delivered! Can you agree to that? If so, swear an oath!"

Who would not want the inheritance of a Dou Zun? Even Xiao Heng, who possessed the system, was no exception. Understanding a person required a long time, but judging one did not. Though Xiao Heng did not fully trust him now, a Dou Zun's inheritance was worth taking this risk for... Perhaps even Xiao Heng himself did not realize that his bones were filled with a madness that craved such risks.

He admitted that the inheritance had tempted him. Born into this world, he did not have many choices to begin with. Anyone else would likely be unable to refuse such an opportunity, unless their strength had already surpassed that of a Dou Zun and they truly did not care!

Thus, he decided not to hesitate any longer. He dropped to his knees and solemnly declared, "This disciple, Xiao Heng, takes you as his master today. I will surely deliver Master's letter. Should I break this oath, may my body and soul be annihilated!"

After kowtowing three times, Xiao Heng remained prone on the ground without rising. This was the greatest gamble he had made since coming into this world. If anything went wrong, both his body and soul would perish.

Seeing Xiao Heng kneel, Myriad Beasts Venerable suddenly burst into hearty laughter! "Hahaha! I never expected that, before my death, I would still be able to accept such a beloved disciple! Heaven truly favors me! Hahaha!"

Bear One beside him also offered congratulations. "Congratulations, my lord, on accepting such an excellent disciple!" As for Bear Two, there was no need to mind him!

Myriad Beasts Venerable finished laughing, a smile on his phantom face as he raised his left hand. "Rise!"

With a slight lift of his left hand, Xiao Heng found himself unable to control his own body as he was forced to stand! His mind trembled, and he could not help thinking, Is this the power of a Dou Zun? Even on the verge of death, he is still this powerful!

But he could not spare the thought any further. He had already accepted him as his master—could he still back out now? How could someone who hesitated over everything ever achieve great things? He continued, "Thank you, Master!"

Myriad Beasts Venerable was in an excellent mood. He had thought that his lifelong inheritance would be lost, yet he had unexpectedly found an inheritor at the very end. Moreover, Xiao Heng seemed to possess decent character. However, his time truly was running out. His expression immediately turned solemn as he said, "Focus your mind. I shall pass the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture on to you."

As soon as he spoke, his right index finger pressed against Xiao Heng's forehead. Instantly, Xiao Heng felt a mysterious surge of Soul Power uncontrollably flooding into his mind! It gradually formed a sphere of soul light. More and more Soul Power poured in, slowly exceeding the limits of his control.

Soon, blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his vision suddenly went black. By the time the transmission was complete, an hour had passed. Myriad Beasts Venerable's already faint phantom had become even more ethereal, yet he still stared fixedly at Xiao Heng.

The inheritance of the Myriad Beasts Spirit Scripture was not so simple. Cultivation methods and Dou Techniques above the Earth tier all possessed something unique; without that thing, obtaining the cultivation method was pointless. And the prerequisite for cultivating the Myriad Beasts True Scripture was enduring Myriad Beasts Soul Devouring! If he endured it, he would be qualified to cultivate the Spirit Scripture. If he failed, there was only one outcome: death! There would be no other ending.