In fantasy and immortal-cultivation novels, demonic beasts basically all cultivated by absorbing the essence of the sun and moon.
But only a small portion of the Soul Beasts on Douluo Continent cultivated that way. The vast majority, like Soul Masters, absorbed the Soul Power scattered throughout the world.
Watching First, whose body had begun to rise and fall in a wondrous rhythm, a trace of curiosity flashed through Xu Bai's eyes.
Here's a joke: Xu Bai had transmigrated and been reborn with a cheat related to Beast Taming, and had already contracted two Soul Beasts as his companions. Yet this was still his first time seeing a Soul Beast cultivate.
But it couldn't be helped. Soul Beasts on Douluo Continent simply cultivated at that speed. No matter how talented you were—even if you were a once-in-a-million-year prodigy among Soul Beasts—
It would still take at least a decade to cultivate from a Ten-Year Soul Beast into a Hundred-Year Soul Beast, let alone the thousand- and ten-thousand-year stages that came after.
But in that same amount of time, even a Soul Master with mediocre talent could become a Soul Grandmaster.
So for a domesticated Soul Beast like First, rather than waste all that time cultivating, it was better to train its racial skills.
After all, Xu Bai had a cheat. You could toil away at cultivation for over a decade and still not be as effective as a few potions he casually concocted.
As for Little Blue, it spent all day sunbathing, moonbathing, and keeping itself happy. Its age would probably have to increase naturally.
"The speed at which it's absorbing Soul Power is even slower than mine right now. Looks like the Spirit Ascension Liquid really failed."
After carefully sensing the flow of Soul Power in the air, Xu Bai let out a soft sigh.
If the Spirit Ascension Liquid really could speed up a Soul Beast's cultivation, then even if First wasn't creating a Soul Power vortex from absorbing it too quickly, surely its absorption speed should at least be faster than his.
He was a Soul Grandmaster now, which corresponded to a hundred-year Soul Beast, didn't it?
Disappointed, Xu Bai was about to leave with Little Blue.
Just then, a sudden change occurred. The Soul Power in the air began to flow faster, all of it rushing in the same direction.
Sensing something amiss, Xu Bai instinctively looked toward the flow of Soul Power.
He saw a faint golden glow appear on First at some point, flickering in time with its breathing.
Half an inch above First, a vortex of Soul Power began to form, like a funnel rapidly pouring into its body.
Xu Bai was delighted at first. This strange phenomenon clearly meant the Spirit Ascension Liquid had taken effect. It was quite possible First's body simply hadn't started absorbing the medicinal power earlier.
Of course, he was delighted for only a moment before quickly regaining his composure. He raised a hand and immediately sent First into the Beast Taming Space.
They were in Qinghe City, after all. As a midsized city, it had at least two Soul Emperors stationed there, not to mention the Soul Kings and Soul Ancestors.
The commotion First made while cultivating was certainly considerable, but its effects probably didn't reach more than ten meters in every direction.
Even so, Xu Bai thought it better to be cautious. If some powerful figure noticed the commotion First was making, he could be in danger.
There was no need to worry that sending First into the Beast Taming Space would affect its cultivation. Although there was no Soul Power inside, there was a special kind of energy.
Xu Bai had tried it before. Soul Masters found it difficult to refine this energy, but Soul Beasts could refine it easily, and it even had a slight effect on their growth.
That was why Xu Bai had initially felt the Beast Taming Space was an incomplete miniature world.
Given the Beast Taming Space's enormous size, the energy it contained was more than enough to supply First's current rate of absorption.
Looking at the Beast Taming Space, which was already comparable in area to a city, Xu Bai's thoughts suddenly began to stir.
"Every time I advance by one major realm, the Beast Taming Space's area increases dramatically—and it grows by a geometric multiple. If it keeps growing at this rate..."
"By the time I become a Titled Douluo, the Beast Taming Space will probably be comparable to, or even larger than, Douluo Planet."
"Could I build a Beast Taming Plane by then? Then I could create a Summoning-type Martial Soul that connects specifically to that plane, just like the relationship between the dimensional planes and Summoning Magic in Versatile Mage."
"With the power of faith, forget becoming a god—even achieving god-kinghood wouldn't be difficult, would it?"
The more Xu Bai thought about it, the more potential he saw in a Beast Taming Plane. Just as he was about to think further, he suddenly laughed and shook his head.
He wasn't even a Soul Elder yet, but he was already thinking about becoming a Titled Douluo or even a god. Was this the legendary case of reaching for what was beyond his grasp?
'Beast Tamer, do you need me to help?'
Little Blue spoke up, winding a vine around Xu Bai's little finger and giving it a gentle tug.
"No need. So far, it looks like things went pretty well."
Xu Bai came back to himself and rubbed Little Blue's leaves. "Now it's your turn."
'Huh? Me? How does this have anything to do with me?'
Little Blue paused, puzzled.
"Now that I have money, of course I haven't forgotten you."
Xu Bai smiled and gently patted the vine wrapped around his little finger. "Find a comfortable spot to take root. Your Beast Tamer will grant you strength and help you grow stronger!"
Stronger!
Little Blue's leaves trembled, and it suddenly grew a little uneasy. 'Beast Tamer, are you going to kill me again...?'
After what had happened during its second rebirth, Little Blue seemed to have been left with a psychological shadow. Whenever it heard the words "help you grow stronger," it was prone to panic.
"Don't worry. Not this time."
Xu Bai laughed helplessly, but still took a box of Thousand Wood Spirit Powder from the Beast Taming Space and explained, "This time, we're using this Thousand Wood Spirit Powder. Think of it as fertilizing you."
'This time?'
Little Blue latched onto the key words.
"That's right. This time!"
Xu Bai readily admitted it. "Who knows what the future holds? You know your own potential. You're stronger than an ordinary Blue Silver Grass."
"But compared to the Blue Silver King and Blue Silver Emperor, you're still far behind. I don't know what method I'll need to help you break through the limitations of your racial potential in the future."
"If you don't want to use the Thousand Wood Spirit Powder, I could try that evolution method from last time again. It might do something."
As he spoke, Xu Bai took the dagger he had used to pierce Little Blue's stem back then out of the Beast Taming Space.
At the sight of it, Little Blue trembled and said awkwardly, 'Beast Tamer, just fertilize me instead.'
After a pause, it added in a small voice, 'Could you put that dagger away? I'm scared...'
"See? That wasn't so hard."
Xu Bai put the dagger away and glanced at Little Blue. "Are you planning to take root here?"
'No. I still like my old spot.'
Little Blue shook its leaves and used its vines to return to the original corner of the wall, where it put down new roots. It also patted the soil around itself with its vines, making sure it was rooted more firmly.
"Here we go. Pay attention to how your body changes."
Xu Bai walked over, opened the box, and sprinkled out all the Thousand Wood Spirit Powder.
The white powder drifted slowly through the air, glinting faintly in the sunlight.
The powder that landed on the soil quickly seeped into it, while the powder that fell on Little Blue's leaves was rapidly absorbed. But after that, nothing unusual happened.
That was all right, though. Little Blue responded, albeit in a weary tone. 'Why am I suddenly so sleepy? I feel like I'm about to fall dormant again. Beast Tamer, good night...'
Little Blue: zzZ...