Versatile Sword Cultivator

Chapter 52 – Picked up an Iron-Eating Beast

Lin Jichen's eyes lit up when he saw the Iron-Eating Beast.

Following his gaze, Tianyuan also noticed the Iron-Eating Beast and inwardly cursed.

Just as he was about to move the Iron-Eating Beast away, Lin Jichen beat him to it.

"I want this Iron-Eating Beast!"

Tianyuan's mouth hung open, swallowing back the words he was about to say.

"This one is not for you," Tianyuan said, changing his mind.

"It only has the strength of the early Foundation Establishment stage. Why not?" Lin Jichen asked, puzzled.

"Are you kidding? Do you think Iron-Eating Beasts are so easy to come by? This Spirit Beast Garden only has a few, and this is the only juvenile. The others are all adults with at least Elemental Infant cultivation. They have potential for growth. How could I give you such a precious spirit beast?"

Tianyuan was adamant, refusing to budge.

But to his surprise, while he was talking to Lin Jichen, Nangong Yue had already run over and picked up the panda cub.

"Junior brother, take it. It's yours now. Just drip some blood on its forehead, and it will be yours. Iron-Eating Beasts can be used as mounts and are great in battle, making them perfect pets."

As she spoke, Nangong Yue placed the Iron-Eating Beast into Lin Jichen's arms.

Tianyuan panicked and tried to snatch it back, but Nangong Yue blocked him.

"Grandpa, you always taught me to keep my word, but you're not doing that yourself?"

"Silly granddaughter, do you know how precious this Iron-Eating Beast is? Give it back, and I'll pick a Crystal Realm pet for him instead!" Tianyuan pleaded desperately.

Nangong Yue pouted, "No way! This Iron-Eating Beast is at the Foundation Establishment stage, which meets your conditions. Junior brother chose it, and you can't go back on your word!"

"No, absolutely not! I am going back on my word!"

Tianyuan couldn't accept the fact that Lin Jichen was getting an Iron-Eating Beast for free and insisted on taking it back.

"Fine, if you don't keep your word, I'll go tell the other eleven grandpas about all the 'good' things you've done to them!"

"What did I do?" Tianyuan asked, confused.

Nangong Yue chuckled mockingly, "For example, last month when you were fishing with Grandpa Tianqing, you secretly put a three-eyed greedy raccoon in the lake to eat all the fish near him, and then you won a box of Nine-Leaf Mystic Spirit Tea from him."

Tianyuan's expression began to freeze.

Nangong Yue continued, "Three months ago, when you were playing chess with Grandpa Tianjian, you secretly invited the top chess master from Fengqu City and used mental power to have him hide and guide you. You won a book of Earth Grade sword techniques from Grandpa Tianjian."

"And half a year ago, when Grandpa Tianque asked you for the blood essence of a Golden-Eyed Divine Rhinoceros to forge a sword, you swapped it with the blood essence of a Mist Wind Rhinoceros and shamelessly took an Earth Grade magic treasure as payment. When Grandpa Tianque's sword forging failed, you blamed his forging skills."

By this point, Tianyuan's face was twitching.

"And..."

"Enough! Stop talking."

Tianyuan hurriedly interrupted, not daring to listen any further.

If his granddaughter really revealed these secrets, he could imagine the consequences.

He would definitely be 'torn apart' by the other eleven elders.

The Iron-Eating Beast was important, but his life was more important.

To save his life, Tianyuan had no choice but to give up.

"Take it, take it! Just leave! From now on, if you ever show up on my turf again, I'll beat you up every time I see you!"

Tianyuan stormed off in a huff, not wanting to look at Lin Jichen or the Iron-Eating Beast he had given away. His heart was bleeding.

He had no choice; he had such a 'dutiful' granddaughter.

After Tianyuan left, Nangong Yue showed no guilt for making her grandpa angry.

"Hehe, junior brother, quickly drip your blood to establish ownership. My grandpa is known for being shameless and might come back to snatch it."

Lin Jichen, a bit scared, quickly bit his finger and dripped blood onto the little Iron-Eating Beast's forehead.

"After dripping the blood, place your palm on the spirit beast's forehead to sense its emotional fluctuations and communicate with it mentally."

"But the success of establishing ownership depends on luck and the spirit beast's attitude towards you. If it dislikes you or looks down on your strength, it might reject you."

Nangong Yue explained the process and preemptively comforted Lin Jichen in case he failed.

The blood quickly seeped into the Iron-Eating Beast's forehead.

Lin Jichen placed his hand on the Iron-Eating Beast's forehead, quietly sensing its fluctuations.

As expected, the Iron-Eating Beast began to resist fiercely, its spirit strongly opposed.

Lin Jichen didn't rush. He closed his eyes and began to use his mental power and spirit to communicate with the Iron-Eating Beast, soothing its emotions.

The general process went something like this...

Iron-Eating Beast: "You, a mere Qi Refining stage weakling, want me to serve you? Pfft, get lost!"

Lin Jichen: "Let's talk this out. We can negotiate."

Iron-Eating Beast: "Negotiate your ass! I'm an Iron-Eating Beast! The pride of the beast clan! Beast clan, never slaves! Awooo~"

Lin Jichen: "If you serve me, I'll take you to taste all the world's delicacies, spirit herbs, and medicines. How about that?"

Iron-Eating Beast: "Hmph, I've eaten everything."

Lin Jichen: "Really? There's a small island south of Yuehua Province, full of Immortal Bamboo. Eating one can equal a year's worth of beast spirit power cultivation. Have you eaten that?"

Iron-Eating Beast: "No..."

Lin Jichen: "In the Crystal Secret Realm of Mu Xian Province, there's a bamboo forest full of Purple Arrow Bamboo. It's sweet and crisp, crunchy and not dry. Have you eaten that?"

Iron-Eating Beast: "No... I haven't..."

Lin Jichen: "On Penglai Immortal Island east of Huafeng Province, there's a kind of immortal fruit called the Tongxuan Fruit. Eating one can extend your life by a hundred years. Have you eaten that?"

Iron-Eating Beast: "...."

Lin Jichen: "In the western sea of Yuehua Province, there's a fish called the Ranyi. It has the body of a fish and the head of a snake, with eyes like ears. Eating it makes you immune to all poisons and cures old ailments. Have you eaten that?"

Iron-Eating Beast: "...."

Lin Jichen: "And..."

Iron-Eating Beast: "Stop! I'm so hungry! If I follow you, can I really eat all those things?"

Lin Jichen: "A gentleman never goes back on his word. But those things are too precious, guarded by powerful beasts. We have to wait until my cultivation level improves."

Iron-Eating Beast: "But you won't let me starve until then, right?"

Lin Jichen: "Don't worry, I'll take care of your three meals a day and provide lodging."

Iron-Eating Beast: "Alright! It's a deal! Master~"

With a flash of light on the Iron-Eating Beast's forehead, Lin Jichen successfully acquired his first pet.

[Spirit Beast: Iron-Eating Beast (Juvenile)]

[Name: Not Named]

[Owner: Lin Jichen]

[Strength: Early Foundation Establishment]

[Health: 8000/8000]

[Attack: 90]

[Defense: 85]

[Speed: 65]

[Skills: Furious Bite, Thunderstorm, Head Smash]

After reading the Iron-Eating Beast's stats, Lin Jichen knew he had struck gold.

At that moment, a game announcement suddenly sounded.

"Announcement! In ten..."