Beyond Saving

Beyond Saving

The Ye Family's Demon Hunting Hall stood halfway up Lingyun Peak, a grand and imposing two-story hall.

The entire hall was built from century-old Iron Sinking Wood, its surfaces carved with countless lifelike Spirit Beast statues that made the place seem all the more transcendent.

Ye Jingcheng entered the hall and registered himself. Inside, quite a few Ye Family members were bustling about. Several had beast blood staining their clothes, lending them a fierce air.

They had clearly just returned from the depths of the Mount Taihang Mountain Range.

Among them was Ye Haiyun, the Ye Family's most renowned alchemist.

Ye Haiyun crouched beside an Exotic Beast laid out on a sheet of cloth. After a long while, he shook his head.

The Exotic Beast was about the size of an ordinary fox, but its fur blazed crimson like fire and its eyes brimmed with spirit. One of its front paws had been injured, however, and the wound had already begun to blacken and wither.

Especially those intelligent eyes—they were slowly dimming, as though they could close forever at any moment.

It let out weak cries, its voice growing fainter and fainter.

The Crimson Flame Fox's injuries were clearly grave, and the poison within it ran deep. The fact that it still clung to a breath of life showed both its tenacious vitality and extraordinary potential.

"This Crimson Flame Fox is beyond saving. What a pity—such a fine Monster Beast had the potential to reach the Second Order Peak!"

As Ye Haiyun spoke, the other Ye Family members sighed and shook their heads in regret.

The Demon Race differed from the Human Race. They placed greater importance on bloodlines.

A good bloodline allowed one to reach greater realms.

A poor bloodline, meanwhile, consumed even more resources than a cultivator's cultivation. That went against the very purpose of cultivators raising Spirit Beasts.

The Crimson Flame Fox before them still had some hope of treatment, but only a Second-Order Spirit Pill could possibly save it.

Moreover, even if the Crimson Flame Fox survived, it might not retain its former potential. To the Ye Family as a whole, such pills were exceedingly precious.

Only Ye Jingcheng's eyes suddenly widened. The Yellow-Covered Ancient Book within his body began turning page after page—this was the first time he had ever seen such a thing.

At last, the image froze. The dazzling pages, which had initially been on the first page, strangely turned to one in the middle. On that page was a crimson fox with no fewer than nine tails, its savage might soaring to the heavens! When it slashed out with a claw, it seemed capable of tearing open the entire sky! Seeing this vision, how could Ye Jingcheng not realize that this Crimson Flame Fox might be anything but ordinary? And that his Ancient Book was connected to raising Spirit Beasts! But at this moment, he did not dare step forward.

Even if the Ancient Book within him could be used to try.

Having lived two lives, he understood all too well the truth that a man is guilty simply for possessing a jade.

"Aren't there still two Flying Cloud Leopards? Once grown, Flying Cloud Leopards have a chance of reaching the Second Order, becoming existences comparable to Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivators. They are the greatest harvest of this expedition. The Jing Generation can choose carefully among them!" said the more stern Third Elder, Ye Haiyi, slowly.

The Ye Family had paid no small price on this expedition to explore a Demon Valley, and their gains had been excellent.

Yet despite being a Beast Taming Family, there were still many members of the Jing Generation without suitable Spirit Beasts.

It was not that the Ye Family did not raise Spirit Beasts. Truly exceptional Spirit Beasts were simply far too scarce.

"Jingcheng, you do not have a Spirit Beast either, do you? Pick a cub here. There are five cubs for you to choose from this time!" After sending out messages with a Sound Transmission Talisman, Ye Haiyi noticed Ye Jingcheng nearby and spoke up.

Then, with a wave of his hand, light shone from his Spirit Beast Bag, and five different young beasts appeared before them.

Two Flying Cloud Leopards were clearly full of vigor, constantly stretching their heads around. Not only were they unafraid of the unfamiliar surroundings, they even let out low, threatening growls! The other three were an Azure Scale Snake and two Jade Ring Rats.

Those three looked somewhat listless.

Their physiques and potential were clearly several levels poorer.

Ye Jingcheng had memorized the appearances of these Spirit Beasts since childhood. He had once looked forward to having one himself, so he naturally liked them greatly now.

"Third Grandfather, I should wait for Fourth Brother and Second Brother to choose first!" Ye Jingcheng wore an expression of fondness, but as though he had recalled something, he reluctantly declined.

The Fourth Brother and Second Brother he mentioned were both Ye Family members who currently lacked suitable Spirit Beasts, and both possessed Three Spiritual Roots.

"There is no harm in it. In the Ye Family, you have decent talent in Alchemy, and you cultivate diligently as well. You should choose first!" Ye Haiyi had always held a favorable impression of Ye Jingcheng.

Among the Jing Generation, Ye Jingcheng might not have had the best talent, but he was absolutely the most diligent and hardworking. He seized every moment to cultivate, and outside of cultivation, he read alchemy manuals and practiced Alchemy.

In the Cultivation World, poor talent did not necessarily mean one could not travel far, but an unsteady will certainly meant one could not!

Ye Jingcheng still shook his head. If he chose first yet did not choose a Flying Cloud Leopard, it would truly be impossible to justify.

Seeing that Ye Jingcheng remained insistent, Ye Haiyi said no more.

He merely closed his eyes slightly and waited for the other members of the Jing Generation to arrive.

Not much time passed before several young people dressed in Ye Family robes strode inside.

The broad-chested man at the front was Ye Jingcheng's Second Brother, Ye Jingyong. Behind him came Fourth Brother Ye Jingyu, Sixth Brother Ye Jingli, and Seventh Sister Ye Jingyu.

Ye Jingcheng greeted them one by one.

Then he very naturally moved to the back.

Seeing this, Ye Haiyi and Ye Haiyun's expressions shifted slightly.

Yet they also sighed.

In the Cultivation World, such modesty and deference were not a good thing! The two exchanged glances, intending to find an opportunity to advise Ye Jingcheng.

Without any suspense, Ye Jingyong and Ye Jingyu chose the two Flying Cloud Leopards.

Ye Jingli and Ye Jingyu respectively chose the Azure Scale Snake and a Jade Ring Rat!

They all took out their Family Tokens and began transferring Contribution Points. A Flying Cloud Leopard cost four hundred Contribution Points, while the Azure Scale Snake and Jade Ring Rat cost two hundred each.

Then it was Ye Jingcheng's turn to step forward.

"Third Grandfather, Fourth Grandfather, may I choose this Crimson Flame Fox?" Ye Jingcheng asked.

At this moment, his heart was somewhat uneasy.

As though he had hesitated for a very long time.

This scene left everyone else stunned and unable to understand.

The Crimson Flame Fox was already a dying beast. When Ye Haiyi had brought it back, he had merely intended to try his luck.

"This Crimson Flame Fox is already at death's door!" Ye Haiyun reminded him from the side.

Ye Jingcheng's Alchemy had been taught by Ye Haiyun, and Ye Haiyun could not bear to see him choose such a Crimson Flame Fox.

Ye Jingcheng nodded, showing that he understood.

"Then take both of them. Two hundred and fifty Contribution Points in total. If you do not have enough Contribution Points, you may owe the family first!" Ye Haiyi then came up with a solution that pleased both sides.

Ye Jingcheng happily nodded and hurriedly took out his Family Token for Ye Haiyi to deduct the points.

"Thank you, Third Grandfather. Thank you, Fourth Grandfather!" Ye Jingcheng hurriedly thanked them.

After the exchange was complete, Ye Jingcheng chatted with his brothers and sister for a while. Then, anxiously clutching the two Spirit Beasts, he headed toward his own courtyard.

At this moment, if anyone could see inside Ye Jingcheng's body, they would discover that the Ancient Book was continuously emitting spiritual light, mysterious beyond measure!