The Heavenly Cauldron that appeared out of thin air suddenly startled the two Thunderfire Tiger cubs.
They first hopped back several steps with their heads bobbing, then cautiously padded toward the Heavenly Cauldron floating above Meng Haoran's palm.
Ever since they had been stolen from their tiger den in the Tianyang Mountain Range by that female cultivator, they had followed her all over Qingyang County. They were locked in cold iron cages nearly every day and had never seen anything like the Heavenly Cauldron.
Seeing the innocent expressions on the two Thunderfire Tigers, Meng Haoran could not help saying softly, "The reason Thunderfire Tigers are called Thunderfire Tigers is because, countless years ago, Thunder Tigers and Fire Tigers interbred, giving rise to the Thunderfire Tiger bloodline. The books say that once a Thunderfire Tiger consumes enough cultivation resources, it can break through to the third tier. At that time, lightning will flicker all over its body, and scorching flames will pour from its pores. It will be truly majestic!"
Meng Haoran looked at the Thunderfire Tiger that still swayed unsteadily even as it walked and smiled. "Other Thunderfire Tigers walk with the might of a tiger. Why do you still look as though a gust of wind could knock you over?"
The moment he finished speaking, Meng Haoran ignored the cub's yapping roars, grabbed it up, and placed it before the Heavenly Cauldron.
At that moment, the Heavenly Cauldron, which had been steady and still, suddenly trembled. The newly formed Cauldron Liquid inside it also quivered.
The Cauldron Liquid gently sloshed, releasing a faint, fragrant scent.
Upon smelling it, the Thunderfire Tiger actually began baring its claws and fangs, as if it wanted to drink the Cauldron Liquid.
Seeing this, Meng Haoran stirred his mind. The Cauldron Liquid within the cauldron suddenly floated out. He tucked the Thunderfire Tiger beneath his arm, instantly pried open its tiger jaws, and let the Cauldron Liquid flow naturally into its body.
Then he looked at the other Thunderfire Tiger and repeated the process, feeding it some Cauldron Liquid as well.
Less than several dozen breaths after the frail Thunderfire Tiger consumed the Cauldron Liquid, changes began to appear across the surface of its body!
Meng Haoran assumed a guarded stance and watched the Thunderfire Tiger with some wariness.
The scrawny Thunderfire Tiger suddenly spread its limbs and sprawled weakly on the ground. A continuous buzzing sound came from within its body.
Before long, its body began to turn red and hot, while specks of silver light flickered across its fur.
Meng Haoran's heart jolted slightly at the sight. "This is... lightning and fire!"
Seeing the silver light flash and the red glow drift, Meng Haoran naturally recalled the records about Spirit Beasts from the books.
Every Spirit Beast possessed a strand of Ancient Bloodline Power within its body. Only by awakening that Ancient Bloodline Power could a Spirit Beast possibly surpass its own limits, break through its tier, and advance!
Meng Haoran murmured, "The Meng Family is also considered a major household in raising Spirit Beasts, but most of the Spirit Beasts we raise are gentle by nature, and they are all first-tier Spirit Beasts."
Everyone knew of the potential possessed by Spirit Beasts, but why did the Meng Family not raise Spirit Beasts such as Thunderfire Tigers?
That was because Thunderfire Tigers took too much time and effort to raise. The current Meng Family could neither wait for a Thunderfire Tiger to grow up nor afford the cultivation resources needed to raise one.
More importantly, a Thunderfire Tiger was still a Spirit Beast. Unlike members of the Meng Family, it had never truly been one of them.
If the Meng Family were to spend vast amounts of time and Spirit Stones raising a Thunderfire Tiger, then once its beastly nature gave it the strength to contend against the Meng Family, it would be a small matter if it went feral and injured Meng Family members. The truly disastrous thing would be if it escaped the Meng Family.
Looking at the Thunderfire Tiger undergoing these unusual changes, Meng Haoran said, "According to the theories in the books, a Thunderfire Tiger should only display the power of thunder and fire in its body after at least a year. Judging by its size, it is at most three months old, yet such changes have already appeared. This is truly strange."
Meng Haoran turned to look at the other Thunderfire Tiger.
After consuming the Cauldron Liquid, that Thunderfire Tiger showed no obvious changes on its body.
"It seems the Heavenly Cauldron sensed that the Ancient Bloodline Power within that Thunderfire Tiger was easily awakened, which was why it guided me to buy it!"
Although every Spirit Beast possessed Ancient Bloodline Power, whether it could be successfully awakened still depended on each beast's own fortune.
Clearly, this Thunderfire Tiger was not so fortunate.
Meng Haoran focused on the Thunderfire Tiger whose body had changed and continued, "It was the Ancient Bloodline Power within the Thunderfire Tiger, combined with the Cauldron Liquid in the Heavenly Cauldron, that caused such changes in this Thunderfire Tiger."
He scooped the altered Thunderfire Tiger into his arms and said gently, "Little fellow, meeting me is your good fortune!"
If Meng Haoran had not gone to the Black Market, he would not have encountered this frail Thunderfire Tiger, nor would the Heavenly Cauldron in his body have guided him to buy it.
If things had continued that way, this Thunderfire Tiger would surely have died miserably while traveling back and forth with that female cultivator.
Perhaps it had heard Meng Haoran's words, for the Thunderfire Tiger actually bared its teeth at him in what seemed like a smile.
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
"Brother Haoran, are you in there?"
Hearing that familiar voice, Meng Haoran held the Thunderfire Tiger, rose to open the door, and said, "Xiao Ran, it's you. I'm inside."
The door opened, and a young man slightly younger than Hao Ran entered with a smile on his face.
This person was Meng Bohai's son, Meng Xiaoran.
"Brother Haoran, I just came from my father's place. He said that you went out with him this time and bought two Thunderfire Tiger cubs, so I came to take a look."
Meng Xiaoran was somewhat younger than Meng Haoran, and his cultivation was also slightly behind Meng Haoran's. Before Meng Haoran had gone to Qingyang County, Meng Xiaoran had often received guidance from him regarding cultivation, so the two naturally shared a closer relationship.
"There are two in all. One is here with me, and the other is over there."
Meng Haoran stepped aside and gestured for Meng Xiaoran to enter. "Xiao Ran, do you want that Thunderfire Tiger?"
Meng Xiaoran crouched down. Hearing this, he asked in delight, "Brother Haoran, can I? I heard from my father that you bought both Thunderfire Tigers yourself."
Meng Haoran nodded. "That's right. After buying these two Thunderfire Tigers, I've been left with mountains exhausted and rivers drained!"
Meng Xiaoran smiled. "Brother Haoran, how about this? I'll buy this Thunderfire Tiger. Once I gather enough Spirit Stones later, I'll give them to you. What do you think?"
Meng Haoran replied, "Forget it. I'll just give it to you."
Meng Xiaoran had not yet reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining. All his food, clothing, shelter, and daily needs still depended on the care of his elders.
Within the Meng Family, only cultivators who had reached the Third Layer of Qi Refining or above could directly receive Spirit Stones from the clan.
"Give it to me?" Meng Xiaoran was slightly stunned.
Meng Haoran continued, "Your most important task right now is to hurry and raise your cultivation to the Third Layer of Qi Refining. Consider this Thunderfire Tiger my gift to you!"
Meng Xiaoran asked joyfully, "Really?"
Meng Haoran smiled. "Your Brother Haoran has never had the habit of breaking his word. But there is one thing I must tell you in advance."
Meng Xiaoran nodded. "Brother Haoran, tell me."
"Thunderfire Tigers are unlike ordinary wild beasts, and they are also unlike the Spirit Beasts raised by our Meng Family. They are genuine wild Spirit Beasts, and the beastliness within them is harder to erase. It is still young, so you cannot see where its beastly nature lies. As it gradually grows, that beastly nature will slowly reveal itself before you. Therefore, you must keep it under control. If you cannot control it, then you can only bear the pain and part with it, no longer raising it!"
Meng Haoran continued, "A Thunderfire Tiger is a Spirit Beast. Like us cultivators, it needs cultivation resources and nourishment from spiritual items and Spirit Stones. While cultivating yourself, you must also take proper care of it. Otherwise, if external resources are lacking, the beastly power in its body will be exhausted, and it will die. You must remember that as well."
Meng Xiaoran replied seriously, "Brother Haoran, I understand. I will not be raising this Thunderfire Tiger alone. I still have my father."
"That's right. Whether in cultivation or in life, if you encounter any difficulty you cannot resolve, ask Clan Uncle Bohai. He will certainly be able to help you settle it," Meng Haoran reminded him.
Meng Xiaoran picked up the Thunderfire Tiger and smiled. "Brother Haoran, although you said this Thunderfire Tiger is a gift from you, once I have Spirit Stones in the future, I will definitely repay you in full!"
Having said that, he did not wait for Meng Haoran to speak. Holding the tiger-headed Thunderfire Tiger in his arms, he vanished in a flash.
Watching Meng Xiaoran's retreating figure gradually disappear, Meng Haoran shook his head and chuckled.
He then sat on the stone steps by the doorway and began pondering his future cultivation plans.
"Since the Heavenly Cauldron can actively guide me to purchase a Spirit Beast like the Thunderfire Tiger, it must possess many other functions. I simply have not uncovered them yet."
"Since this Thunderfire Tiger has already begun shedding that frail state, I must make good use of the Cauldron Liquid in the Heavenly Cauldron and carefully raise it, awakening as much of the Ancient Bloodline Power in its body as possible. In the future, it can become a great aid in my battles and cultivation."
"Then there is the matter of the Spirit Plant Field. In about seven days, that batch of Spirit Plants in the Meng Family's Spirit Plant Field will all mature. At that time, I must quietly harvest those Second-Tier Spirit Plants, the Six-Pattern Wheat, into Xinghua Village."
"Now that the clan leader has ordered that I take charge of the newly established Spirit Plant Field, I can use the Heavenly Cauldron's Cauldron Liquid freely and boldly. Second-Tier Spirit Plants like Six-Pattern Wheat differ from First-Tier Spirit Plants like Three-Pattern Wheat. During their growth, they require more particular amounts of heaven and earth spiritual energy, as well as other supporting Daoist Magic. This can also temper my daily Daoist Magic abilities."
With that thought, Meng Haoran rose and walked outside.
"I should also take good care of those Spirit Plants!"
Before you continue