Bio-engineered Dinosaur in the immortal world

Inside Zou Fang's spiritual sea of consciousness, Wei Long suddenly froze mid-sentence—a rare occurrence.

Something in his head clicked.

Then, he screamed.

"HEY, ZOU FANG!"

Zou Fang flinched.

"What?! Why are you shouting?!"

"Answer me this—did that old man Fan Ming just say that all this beast food—this massive pile of smelly but high-quality beast feed—was just a week's worth for that fat-ass lizard?"

Zou Fang blinked. "Uh… yeah?"

Wei Long lost it.

Inside the spiritual sea, a thunderous roar of frustration exploded, shaking the entire space. If the mental world had walls, they would have cracked.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!" Wei Long howled. "NO WONDER THAT LIZARD GOT FAT! NO WONDER IT WAS DYING! IT WASN'T SICK—IT WAS LIVING A DAMN LUXURIOUS LIFE! YOU'RE TELLING ME THIS BIG, USELESS, FAT REPTILE EATS THIS MUCH EVERY SINGLE WEEK?!"

Zou Fang scratched his head. "Uh… yeah, pretty much."

Wei Long's frustration only intensified.

"THEN WHY THE HELL DID I PUSH YOU INTO BECOMING A BREEDER?!"

Zou Fang was taken aback. "What?"

"DO YOU EVEN REMEMBER WHY WE JOINED THIS STUPID BREEDING BRANCH?!" Wei Long continued, his voice filled with deep regret.

"IT WASN'T BECAUSE I WANTED YOU TO CARE FOR THESE OVEREATING BEASTS! IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE FOOD! THE GOOD STUFF! THE ACTUAL DELICACIES THAT THE AUTUMN DRAGON SECT GAVE US YESTERDAY!"

Zou Fang's expression turned stiff.

Oh.

Now that Wei Long mentioned it…

That was true.

They had originally chosen to infiltrate the beast breeding branch because Wei Long had been thinking about all the delicious, fragrant food from the sect banquet.

The plan had been to gain access to top-quality meals under the guise of working with the beasts.

And yet…

Now they were surrounded by beast feed.

"Dammit!" Wei Long continued ranting. "I WAS EXPECTING FRESHLY COOKED MEALS! GRILLED SPIRIT BEAST MEAT! SPICED HERB-INFUSED DISHES! NOT A DAMN STOCKPILE OF SMELLY, PELLET-LIKE LIZARD FOOD!"

Zou Fang sighed. "Well… it's still high quality."

"IT'S FOR BEASTS! NOT FOR US! IF I WANTED TO EAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS, I'D GO ROLL IN THE DIRT WITH THE MONSTERS!"

Zou Fang didn't know what to say.

Wei Long's outrage only grew stronger.

"THAT FAT LIZARD WAS LIVING BETTER THAN ME! THAN US! THIS IS A TRAVESTY! A SCAM! A BETRAYAL OF MY EXPECTATIONS!"

"Alright, alright, calm down!" Zou Fang grumbled.

"NO! I WILL NOT CALM DOWN!" Wei Long huffed. "But… I have a new plan."

Zou Fang perked up. "Oh?"

"Listen carefully. Since being important in this sect comes with benefits… then we need to rise higher and claim even more perks."

Zou Fang narrowed his eyes. "You're not thinking of something crazy again, are you?"

"Of course not," Wei Long replied smoothly. "I'm thinking of something brilliant."

Zou Fang had a bad feeling about this.

---

Meanwhile…

Elder Fan Ming, standing before the gathered disciples, puffed out his chest proudly. His deep, commanding voice echoed across the hall.

"Since everyone seems so eager to discuss direct discipleship…" Fan Ming began, his gaze sweeping across the breeders, "let me make one thing clear—if any of you wish to become my personal, direct disciple, you must prove that you are worthy!"

The crowd stirred.

Someone muttered, "Here it comes…"

Another whispered, "I bet it's some insane requirement…"

Fan Ming ignored them.

He spread his arms wide and began the longest explanation imaginable.

"A direct disciple of mine must possess resilience beyond ordinary limits. One must show an unbreakable will, a firm dedication, and a deep understanding of temporal breeding techniques.

"This is not a mere title—it is a responsibility. A direct disciple of mine must wake at the break of dawn, before the first rays of sunlight even touch the land, and immediately set to work tending to the beasts with unparalleled devotion.

"You must understand their diets, monitor their health, clean their habitats, and ensure their emotional well-being."

The breeders started looking at each other with growing dread.

"A direct disciple of mine must not only care for beasts but must also train them, nurture their growth, and assist them in breaking through their limits.

"You must understand their instincts, guide them toward evolution, and ensure that they reach their peak state.

"You must be able to identify the slightest signs of illness, irregular behavior, or dietary deficiencies. And if you wish to follow my path, you must also prepare to sacrifice everything for the sake of beast-rearing!"

Zou Fang's eye twitched.

"To be a true beast master, you must live as they live, endure what they endure! You must sleep where they sleep, eat what they eat, and train alongside them!

"I myself, in my younger days, spent an entire decade living amongst spirit beasts in the wilderness, learning their ways, befriending them, bonding with them in the most profound manner possible.

"I bathed in rivers alongside spirit bears, hunted with sky-eagles, and spent nights nestled in the dens of fire-wolves, feeling their warmth as the only source of heat in the coldest winter nights.

"I wrestled with iron-fanged boars and engaged in mock battles with stone-scaled serpents. This is the true way of a beast master! A beast master does not merely control his creatures—he becomes one with them!"

A disciple in the back whispered, "Uh… this is starting to sound more like a survivalist cult than beast breeding…"

Another muttered, "Did Elder Fan Ming actually live with beasts for ten years?!"

Fan Ming's passionate speech continued.

"Therefore, if you, Zou Fang, or anyone else in this hall wishes to be my direct disciple, you must show me that same dedication!

"Who among you is willing to abandon comfort, to train like a beast, to endure the hardships of the wild, to spend every waking moment in pursuit of absolute mastery over beast-rearing? Who among you possesses the iron will to walk my path?!"

Silence.

Deep silence.

The breeders looked at each other.

No one moved.

Even Zou Fang was completely still.

Then, slowly—deliberately—Zou Fang opened his mouth.

And said—

"I decline."

Fan Ming's entire speech collapsed.

The entire hall was stunned.

The elder's eyes twitched.

"What?" Fan Ming asked, as if he had misheard.

Zou Fang crossed his arms and repeated himself.

"I decline."

Fan Ming blinked.

The breeders gawked.

No one had expected this.

Shock, Disbelief, and a Long-Winded Explanation

For a moment, the entire hall was silent.

Then, chaos erupted.

"What?! He declined?!"

"Is he insane?!"

"Did he just turn down a chance to become Elder Fan Ming's direct disciple?!"

"Wait, is he scared? Maybe he's afraid of the qualifications!"

Whispers and murmurs exploded from every direction.

The breeder disciples looked at each other, some with confusion, others with outright disbelief.

Even the other elders in attendance had their brows furrowed.

To turn down a direct disciple position—especially from a respected elder like Fan Ming—wasn't just unexpected; it was practically unheard of.

Elder Fan Ming's gaze sharpened.

"You decline?" He repeated, his voice firm.

Zou Fang nodded.

"Why?"

That single question hung in the air.

The breeder disciples, who had been shouting just a moment ago, suddenly leaned in, waiting for his response.

But Zou Fang...

Zou Fang said nothing.

Seconds stretched.

Then a minute.

Then another.

The room grew tense.

More whispers.

"Why isn't he answering?"

"Is he thinking of an excuse?"

"Maybe he really is scared!"

Another minute passed.

Now people were staring directly at Zou Fang.

Fan Ming's fingers tapped against his robes.

Even Angola—the fat lizard that had just recovered—was watching with wide, reptilian eyes.

But still, Zou Fang said nothing.

The pressure in the room mounted.

The weight of the question grew heavier and heavier, suffocating the air.

And finally…

Finally…

After what felt like an eternity—

Zou Fang sighed.

A long, slow, exaggerated sigh.

Then he looked at Fan Ming.

And, with an expression that carried the weight of a thousand lifetimes, he said—

"I'm not interested anymore."

Another round of silence.

Then—

"What?!"

"That's it?!"

"Not interested anymore?! That's the reason?!"

The breeder disciples exploded.

Even the elders looked stunned.

Not interested anymore?!

AFTER ALL THAT?!

The tension that had built up for minutes collapsed into pure outrage.

"What do you mean, not interested anymore?! You made us wait so long for THAT?!"

"If you weren't interested, why didn't you say so earlier?!"

"Are you messing with Elder Fan Ming?!"

Even Fan Ming's lips twitched.

This was the first time in decades that someone had wasted this much of his time.

He narrowed his eyes. "You're not interested anymore?"

Zou Fang nodded, completely serious.

Fan Ming crossed his arms. "Why?"

More silence.

The disciples were practically vibrating in frustration now.

"JUST ANSWER!"

"SPEAK, DAMMIT!"

Another long pause.

Then Zou Fang…

With the same slow, deliberate movements…

Scratched his head.

And finally—finally—he answered.

"Well… it's not really me, you see. My Bashawk and my other beasts… they're just not interested."

Silence.

More silence.

Fan Ming's face twitched.

"…Your beasts."

Zou Fang nodded sagely.

"Yes. My Bashawk, my Iron-Spined Mole, my Shadow-Tailed Lynx, even my Stone-Eyed Goat. They all had a long discussion about this. They thought about it deeply, weighed the pros and cons, and ultimately… decided they weren't interested."

A disciple muttered, "…The hell kind of beasts are having deep discussions?!"

Another whispered, "I thought spirit beasts relied on instinct, not boardroom meetings."

Fan Ming raised an eyebrow. "And what, exactly, was their reasoning?"

Zou Fang took a deep breath, as if preparing for an extremely long speech.

Then, with absolute confidence, he began:

"Well, first of all, my Bashawk believes that this position doesn't align with his long-term aspirations. You see, he has a grand dream of one day soaring higher than any other bird in the sect, touching the very edges of the sky, becoming a legend among aerial beasts.

"He feels that being tied down as a direct disciple's beast will limit his freedom. After all, how can he be expected to achieve aerial supremacy if he is constantly being called to perform mundane breeding tasks?"

Fan Ming blinked.

Zou Fang continued.

"As for my Iron-Spined Mole, he has expressed his personal grievances regarding the living conditions of domesticated beasts.

"He believes that being associated with an elder's direct disciple would mean a higher likelihood of being confined to training areas instead of freely tunneling and exploring the underground expanses of the sect.

"And, as a creature that thrives in darkness and solitude, he simply cannot abide by such a restrictive lifestyle."

A breeder disciple whispered, "…Doesn't that thing just dig all day?"

Another grumbled, "How the hell does he know what the mole wants?!"

Zou Fang ignored them.

"Now, let's move on to my Shadow-Tailed Lynx. She is, by nature, an extremely independent being. She enjoys lurking in the shadows, observing without being seen.

"However, as a direct disciple's beast, she would be forced into the spotlight far too often. Public attention? Routine inspections? Training demonstrations? She would rather die!"

Someone coughed violently.

"And finally… my Stone-Eyed Goat. Now, I know what you're thinking—goats don't have strong opinions. But you'd be wrong.

"You see, my Stone-Eyed Goat has a firm belief in the principle of neutrality. He has no interest in engaging in direct disciple politics.

"He simply wants to eat his spirit grass, meditate under the sun, and contemplate the deeper meanings of existence without interruption."

More silence.

Fan Ming stared.

The breeder disciples stared.

Even Angola, the fat lizard, looked like it had given up trying to understand.

A disciple finally muttered—"This guy… is completely insane."

Another whispered, "His beasts are more dramatic than people…"

Fan Ming rubbed his temples.

"So, in short… you're refusing because your beasts… aren't interested?"

Zou Fang nodded firmly.

"Exactly."

Another long silence.

Then—

"Fine."

Zou Fang blinked.

Fan Ming sighed. "Then tell me, Zou Fang—if you don't want to be my direct disciple… what DO you want?"

The hall fell silent once again.

All eyes turned to Zou Fang.

What would he say next?

Zou Fang would open his mouth, "hmmm a good question."