Choosing Treasures (Thanks to Bookworm for the 5,000-coin reward)

The next day, rain fell over Lingyun Peak once more.

It had begun in the latter half of the night.

But unlike the usual drizzle, this time it was a torrential downpour. Raindrops as large as beans pounded the ground, making crackling sounds.

Ye Jingcheng did not know how long it had been since he had seen such heavy rain.

He only knew that when he pushed open the doors and windows, puddles stretched out before him. Leaves washed away by the rain lay scattered everywhere, while mist rose across the mountains.

Lingyun Peak was different from Taihang Market. Its formation did not prevent rainwater from falling. Ye Jingcheng had once heard Fourth Brother say that the family did this to better follow the Dao of nature.

Such a simple four-word phrase left Ye Jingcheng only half-understanding.

Ye Jingcheng still began feeding his Spirit Beasts as usual. After all, they had gone through a major competition.

First came the Crimson Flame Fox. Its meal consisted of two Spirit Feeding Pills, one Azure Spirit Pill, and a large chunk of Spirit Beast Meat. After finishing its pills and food, the Crimson Flame Fox stretched out its head, allowing Ye Jingcheng to feel its scorching forehead.

Ye Jingcheng happily pressed it twice, then poured in the Treasure Light from the Treasure Book.

The Crimson Flame Fox slowly lay down, its two crimson forepaws resting before it.

Its gaze grew languid.

After channeling Treasure Light for a while, Ye Jingcheng took out the Golden Scale Beast again. The Golden Scale Beast's meal was two Spirit Feeding Pills, one Body Tempering Pill, and a large chunk of Spirit Beast Meat.

Its Earth Spike Art had also performed exceptionally well. As it tore into the Spirit Beast Meat with great bites, Ye Jingcheng channeled some Treasure Light from the Treasure Book into it as well.

Unlike before, when the Spirit Beasts had not yet belonged to Ye Jingcheng and he had only fed them a wisp at a time, he now gave the Golden Scale Beast no less than the Crimson Flame Fox.

Naturally, this was also because two pages of Ye Jingcheng's Treasure Book had been opened, and both pages could now store Treasure Light.

The Treasure Book's reserves of Treasure Light were no longer small. Ye Jingcheng supplied the Golden Scale Beast and Crimson Flame Fox with all he had.

Yet he also understood that, aside from healing injuries, the Treasure Book's greatest use was allowing young beasts to grow stronger, improving their absorption of spiritual energy and Spirit Beast food.

If a cultivator ate one serving of spiritual food, they could use their cultivation method to absorb eighty percent of it.

Spirit Beasts, however, could only rely on their bodies' natural functions and absorb fifty percent. But with Treasure Light added, they could absorb one hundred percent.

That was even higher than some cultivators using ordinary cultivation methods.

This was why Ye Jingcheng's Spirit Beasts grew faster than those of other cultivators.

Once the Golden Scale Beast had been fed, he took out the Jade Ring Rat. He gave this beast much less: one Spirit Feeding Pill, a little Spirit Beast Meat, and some Treasure Light.

Its potential was limited, after all. Still, the Jade Ring Rat chirped happily. In the Green Cloud Mountain Range, it had spent its days in gloom and darkness. Where else could it find such fine treatment?

As for Treasure Light, Ye Jingcheng did not reduce its share.

Once all three Spirit Beasts had quietly settled down, Ye Jingcheng put them back into the Spirit Beast Bag.

The rain had yet to stop, but Ye Jingcheng was already impatient. After casting the Rain Avoidance Art and Swift Steps Art on himself, he headed for the Treasure Pavilion.

Today was the day to collect his reward. And having won first place, the rewards naturally would not be poor.

Ye Jingcheng was quite eager for a cultivation method. Of course, if he could look at Spirit Beasts as well, he would be even happier.

Following the winding stone path, the Treasure Pavilion soon appeared before Ye Jingcheng.

Amid the rain and mist, the Treasure Pavilion seemed even more mysterious. Many cultivators had already gathered in front of it.

Those who had taken part in the Clan Competition and earned rewards had all come to exchange them today.

When Ye Jingcheng entered the Treasure Pavilion, he found that the one distributing rewards was not Eighth Elder Ye Haiping, but Ye Xingqi, a clan uncle of the Xing Generation. Dressed in the Ye Family's long robe, he appeared exceptionally busy.

"Jingcheng, Eighth Uncle is on the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion!" As though he had noticed Ye Jingcheng's confusion, Ye Xingqi offered a friendly reminder amid his work.

"Thank you, Uncle Qi!" Ye Jingcheng nodded and headed toward the second floor. This was his third time coming here, but his expectations were far greater this time. He could choose an entire Profound Rank Cultivation Method.

In the Great Yu Cultivation World, cultivation methods were divided into the four ranks of Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. Each rank was further divided into supreme, high, mid, and low tiers.

His Li Fire Art was merely a Yellow Grade Mid-Tier cultivation method. Its only advantages were decent power and ease of cultivation.

Although Ye Jingcheng possessed Four Spiritual Roots, with the enhancement provided by his Spirit Beasts, he no longer needed to choose only simple cultivation methods.

Upon entering the second floor, Ye Jingcheng found Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingteng, Ye Jingyong, and the others there as well.

"Fifteenth Uncle, Big Brother, Second Brother, Fourth Brother!"

Ye Jingcheng greeted them one by one, then bowed toward Ye Haiping at the front.

"Eighth Grandfather!"

Ye Haiping glanced at Ye Jingcheng before finally speaking.

"Alright, the time has come. We can begin. Everyone remain where you are. Follow me one at a time!"

"There is a formation set up here. It is different from usual!" Ye Haiping added as a warning.

Ye Jingcheng now noticed that the counters on the second floor had been arranged differently today. The Spirit Patterns on the stone pillars along the walls were also glowing.

Ye Jingcheng and the others all nodded.

The first to follow Ye Haiping was Ye Jingteng. As the first-place winner among the Qi Refining Late Stage contestants, he was naturally the first to receive the family's reward.

Ye Jingteng emerged soon afterward, looking rather disappointed, as though none of the cultivation methods had caught his eye.

"Big Brother, how was your harvest?" Ye Jingyu said nothing, but Ye Jingyong asked openly.

Ye Jingteng merely shook his head. He seemed to want to say something, but held it back.

Next came Ye Jingyu and the clan uncles of the Xing Generation.

After the two followed Ye Haiping inside, they emerged with disappointed expressions as well.

Then it was Ye Jingcheng's turn.

Ye Jingcheng took a deep breath. Naturally, he still had expectations.

Thus, as Ye Haiping walked ahead, Ye Jingcheng followed close behind. Before long, they reached the end of the wooden shelves and entered a small compartment.

There was only one wooden rack inside, with several Jade Slips placed upon it.

As soon as Ye Jingcheng entered, the compartment door closed. Layers of spiritual light rippled outward, forming an airtight formation.

"Bright Mark!" Ye Haiping said sternly.

Ye Jingcheng froze, his face turning blank with confusion. Ye Haiping's expression did not change. He merely spread out his hand, revealing two three-inch Beast Communication Marks.

"Not bad. You have vigilance!"

Seeing the Beast Communication Marks, Ye Jingcheng smiled awkwardly, then revealed his own five-inch Beast Communication Mark. At that moment, the mark also bore the spiritual silhouette of a little Crimson Flame Fox.

"As expected, five inches!" Ye Haiping nodded.

"The cultivation methods are here. There are Profound Rank Cultivation Methods and Yellow Grade Supreme-Tier cultivation methods. We did not give you any Yellow Rank Cultivation Methods. Remember, you may choose freely, but you must not reveal even the slightest bit of them!" With a wave of Ye Haiping's hand, several more Jade Slips suddenly appeared on the wooden rack.

The sight of those Jade Slips made Ye Jingcheng feel a little awkward. He somewhat understood why Ye Jingteng had looked disappointed.

The family was guarding against him.

Thinking back to the scene where he had persuaded Ye Jingyu, Ye Jingteng likely did not even know about the Beast Communication Mark.

After all, Ye Jingteng possessed Two Spiritual Roots.

Ye Jingcheng was now rather curious about the Ye Family's criteria. What did one need to qualify to learn the Beast Communication Mark?

"Also, take a look at the Spirit Beasts here. You may choose a Spirit Beast as well, though I would not recommend it." Ye Haiping took out another Jade Slip and added.

There was clearly no detailed information on the Spirit Beasts for him to inspect directly; they were presented through the Jade Slip instead.

Thanks to Bookworm for the 5,000-coin reward, and to Yan Chenchen for the 400-coin reward. Thank you!!!

This is the first time I've received a 5,000-coin reward. Even though it is not yet 10,000, I'll still add an extra chapter, though it will be posted tomorrow night. Tomorrow is the most important day, brothers—make sure to keep following tomorrow. There is another chapter coming shortly. Thank you!