Beast Taming: The Beginning of Hatching an Ancient Dragon

Chapter 29: Exploiting Loopholes

After leaving the reading room, Li Chang’an headed straight to the training ground to begin his daily practice. At the edge of the training ground, he picked up a tachi from the weapon rack. He first practiced the basic techniques a few times, and after gaining some insights, he moved on to the advanced techniques.

The basic techniques of the tachi in Li Chang’an’s hands leaned towards quickly accumulating sword momentum. According to the books in the reading room, an average tachi user needed about fifteen to twenty effective strikes to accumulate one full layer of momentum. Li Chang’an, however, required fewer strikes, needing only ten to fill one layer.

This trait was not uncommon in the history of hunters, but what truly set them apart was the realm of “Seeing the Divine.” The realm of Seeing the Divine was essentially a leap beyond the existing foundation, achieving effects that were otherwise impossible. For example, in the “Mingyi” realm, similar to Li Chang’an’s, some hunters could accumulate a full layer of sword momentum with just one strike, while others could seamlessly switch between rapid momentum accumulation and blade-breaking strikes, cycling through them effortlessly.

Li Chang’an was still unsure of his future path. Currently, he was a complete novice among novices. Having seen too little and lacking experience as a hunter, even with his natural talent, it was difficult for him to reach the realm of Seeing the Divine in a short time. Therefore, he focused his daily efforts on practicing advanced techniques.

The advanced techniques of the tachi included the “Blade-Breaking Strike” and the “Spirit Blade Slash,” corresponding to the two aspects of momentum: release and accumulation.

The “Blade-Breaking Strike” involved releasing all the accumulated sword momentum in one go, dealing significant damage. Li Chang’an had witnessed its effects firsthand—it was incredibly powerful. Even with an unsharpened tachi, it left a clear slash mark on a steel-like puppet. No, three marks, including two follow-up attacks that also left traces.

The “Spirit Blade Slash” continuously consumed the accumulated sword momentum, but during the process, it refined the user’s sword momentum, making it purer and sharper. After the consumption, the user’s sword momentum would start accumulating again from a higher baseline. This baseline momentum was formidable, visible to the naked eye as a faint white glow on the tachi’s blade. After the second refinement, the momentum would appear as a yellow glow. Finally, after the last refinement, the tachi would transform into a crimson blade, earning tachi users the nickname “Blood-Blade Wielding Madmen.”

In the crimson blade state, whether it was a basic strike or a Blade-Breaking Strike, the power was terrifying. It was said to be capable of piercing the scales of a pure-blooded dragon of the same level. It’s worth noting that while dragon bloodlines appeared to increase linearly, their power actually surged exponentially. Pure-blooded dragons were exceptionally fearsome.

Dragon bloodlines could be categorized from highest to lowest as pure-blooded, sub-dragon, hybrid, mixed-blood, rare-blood, and at the bottom, dragon beasts. At the same level, each bloodline had absolute dominance over the ones below. For example, a rare-blood dragon stood no chance against a mixed-blood dragon of the same level unless a beast tamer used a beast resonance to assist the rare-blood dragon against a wild, ownerless mixed-blood dragon. Otherwise, there were no exceptions.

The fact that a tachi user’s attack could break through a pure-blooded dragon’s defense spoke volumes about the tachi’s offensive power. However, mastering the crimson blade technique required a high level of proficiency in controlling sword momentum.

Although Li Chang’an’s advanced techniques had reached the “Ruwei” realm, theoretically allowing him to stack up to the second-level yellow blade state, he had only just managed to condense a white blade using the Spirit Blade Slash technique before exhausting himself, nearly losing control of the white blade’s momentum. After several attempts with the same result, Li Chang’an decided to ask Old Mu for advice.

Upon learning of Li Chang’an’s predicament, Old Mu laughed heartily and said, “The accumulation of sword momentum is different from skill. Even if your skills are divine, without the baptism of real combat, they are nothing more than flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water. How can the momentum you condense be solid? For example, compared to a formal tachi user’s white blade, yours is like cotton—pretty but useless. A tachi user who has experienced bloody battles has momentum condensed into a single strand of white steel. If you clash with them, you’ll shatter instantly. How can they be the same?”

“To achieve success in sword momentum, you need not only refined skills but also killing intent, murderous aura, and an absolute will to face death without fear.”

Li Chang’an sighed deeply. He was just a student and didn’t qualify for hunting missions. How could he engage in real combat?

Old Mu, aware of Li Chang’an’s dilemma, tapped Li Chang’an’s head with his smoking pipe. “Ouch!” Li Chang’an exclaimed in pain.

Old Mu took a puff of his pipe and said, “You’re so rigid! Just because you’re not qualified in the Hunter’s Guild doesn’t mean you’re not qualified in the Beast Taming Association! Didn’t you know? Hunters from the Hunter’s Guild can also register as formal beast tamers in the Beast Taming Association. Your level and your pet’s strength should meet the requirements. Go take the formal beast tamer exam at the Beast Taming Association, and then you can take on missions.”

“Others use their pets to fight, but you can just go in with your tachi. The Beast Taming Association doesn’t care how you complete the mission, as long as it’s legal.”

Li Chang’an’s eyes lit up. That’s right, there was this loophole! He also remembered the young receptionist mentioning that the Hunter’s Guild and the Beast Taming Association identities didn’t conflict. His pet, Mao Mao, had already reached the 1-star transcendent (supernatural) level, which was enough to pass the formal beast tamer exam.

Li Chang’an thanked Old Mu, promising to bring some good wine next time. Old Mu pretended not to care, but his eyes showed satisfaction. Before Li Chang’an left excitedly, Old Mu reminded him, “Remember to use a wooden sword. An iron sword will kill too quickly and won’t provide any training value.”

Li Chang’an waved without looking back, shouting, “Got it!”

At the Hunter’s Guild’s logistics department, Li Chang’an bought ten wooden training tachis and stored them in his spatial ring. The receptionist glanced at Li Chang’an, who still had a look of anticipation on his face, and pointed to a potion name on the purchase list.

“Buy some healing potions too. Better safe than sorry. Even if you’re confident, you should still be prepared.”

Li Chang’an was surprised because he sensed that the receptionist wasn’t trying to upsell him. Then he heard the receptionist add, “I’ve seen countless young people like you over the years. Sigh, forget it. The regulations between the two organizations do have some loopholes. But I must remind you, many students have lost their lives due to carelessness. You’d better be mentally prepared.”

Li Chang’an’s expression turned serious, and he immediately ordered ten healing potions, spending all his monthly allowance. The receptionist handed him ten light green healing potions, saying, “They can be used externally or internally. If there’s infection or pus, make sure to treat the wound before applying the potion.”

Li Chang’an thanked the receptionist, who had worked there for over a decade.

The Beast Taming Association wasn’t far from the Hunter’s Guild. After leaving the Hunter’s Guild, Li Chang’an took the No. 11 bus and arrived at the Beast Taming Association after a few stops. Compared to the Hunter’s Guild’s old wooden doors, the Beast Taming Association was much more impressive, with tall gates and white walls. The polished floors alone surpassed the Hunter’s Guild’s stone bricks, and the place was bustling with activity.

People and pets of various kinds moved in and out of the gates—Blue Lake Dogs, White Electric Cats, Heavenly Orchids, and more. Li Chang’an even spotted a rare Dark-Scale Horse, its owner seemingly a high school student. He could only admire such daring individuals who would contract a dark-type pet as their first. Without the right talent to resist it, the dark element’s corruption would weaken the body, and over time, it could shorten one’s lifespan. How much lifespan was lost depended on whether one’s cultivation progressed faster or their lifespan depleted quicker. As long as one reached the King-level beast tamer before their lifespan ran out, the dark element’s corruption would no longer be a concern.

The same applied to light-type pets, except the side effect was emotional excitement instead of lifespan reduction. Due to the light element’s purifying effect, the beast tamer’s body would remain awake for long periods, essentially forcing them into a 007 work schedule or worse. Over time, the risk of sudden death was extremely high, even more so than with dark elements.

Li Chang’an dared not take such a life-draining path—it was even more dangerous than being a hunter. This was why schools always emphasized not to covet powerful attribute pets, as they could literally kill you.

Li Chang’an took a number and waited for a long time before his turn came. A well-dressed receptionist asked, “Sir, what service are you looking for?”