"Upgrade the Refining God Technique!"

As Yu Changsheng’s Realm broke through, he poured the essence into the Cultivation Technique he needed most.

In an instant, his Divine Sense expanded to a thousand meters, finally stopping at a range of just over one thousand and forty meters—comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

[Name: Yu Changsheng]

[Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Heaven]

[Physique: Spirit Beast Affinity]

[Cultivation Techniques: Chang Chun Technique (Proficient 5/10,000), Refining God Technique (Mastery 1/100,000), Beast Taming Technique (Proficient 6/10,000), Three-coin Fire Refining Technique (Proficient 356/10,000)]

[Magic: Fireball Skill (Mastery 156/10,000), Wind Travel Skill (Mastery 20/10,000), Wood Shield Skill (Mastery 35/10,000), Rainwalking Skill (Beginner 10/100)]

[Skills: Tier One Spirit Plants (5/1000), Tier Two Alchemy Dao (255/50,000)]

[Spirit Pets: Red Snake King, Iron-Feathered Eagle]

[Remaining Essence: 3566]

The Refining God Technique had reached Mastery. To advance to Minor Achievement would require one hundred thousand essence. At Yu Changsheng’s current rate of acquisition, that would take at least a year and a half.

As for the Beast Taming Technique, Yu Changsheng had spent nearly a thousand essence to raise it to the Proficient level. This strengthened his Contract with the Red Snake King and the Iron-Feathered Eagle, and also allowed him to better command and summon them via his Divine Sense.

His other Cultivation Techniques and Magic hadn’t changed much, though their progress had increased by a few hundred points thanks to his Alchemy practice.

’Now that I’m wearing the Disguise Hanging Pearl, even if a Foundation Establishment Cultivator sees through it, they’ll just think my Qi Refining Fifth Heaven is a second layer of concealment. After all, my Divine Sense is now genuinely at the Foundation Establishment level!’

Yu Changsheng smiled, his heart filling with a sense of security.

After all, in the long history of the Wanxiang Sect, no disciple from the Beast Taming Peak had ever cultivated the Refining God Technique to Mastery while still in the Qi Refining Stage. It was incredibly deceptive.

If he reached Minor Achievement in another year and a half, his Divine Sense would be able to cover ten thousand meters—the same as the limit for the Foundation Establishment Peak.

However, Yu Changsheng didn’t plan on upgrading the Refining God Technique any further for the time being. He was still only in the Qi Refining Stage; his Realm could barely keep up with the technique as it was.

Besides, he still needed a large amount of essence to raise his Spirit Pets and cultivate his Magic.

’To this day, my strongest Magic is still just the Fireball Skill...’

’Once I become an Outer Disciple of the Beast Taming Peak, I’ll be able to acquire other Magic. It’d be best to find an offensive spell that targets Divine Sense. That way, I’ll have the confidence to stand my ground, even against someone at the Qi Refining Peak.’

Yu Changsheng familiarized himself with his new Divine Sense. He could perceive with perfect clarity what Old Wang next door was doing, and quickly retracted it, the sight an assault on his eyes.

’I still have 3566 essence. That’s enough to transform the Iron-Feathered Eagle. I’ll use what’s left to select suitable Demon Beast materials for assimilation.’

He beckoned to the cheerful Iron-Feathered Eagle.

As if sensing what was about to happen, the Iron-Feathered Eagle took quick, short steps and rushed before him. It then excitedly lowered its head, nuzzling against his palm.

"KREE! KREE!"

’Back in the Inner Realm, it had heard from Big Bro Red Snake King that their master’s palm held a kind of Magic Power that could make a Spirit Pet transform.’

’It had been waiting for so long. Was it finally its turn?!’

[Spirit Beast Transformation]

[Iron-Feathered Eagle → Iron Carving King]

[Essence Required: 2410]

After a month of feeding, the required essence had decreased by more than two hundred.

With a thought, Yu Changsheng initiated the transformation.

The next moment, the Iron-Feathered Eagle felt a mysterious power surge from the palm into its body, making the blood in its meridians boil!

"SKREEE!"

Three stiff feathers sprouted on the Iron-Feathered Eagle’s head. These were its previously underdeveloped iron-black feathers, which now grew to their full length and swept back over its head.

It could feel its bloodline growing richer, all of its former deficiencies corrected. It no longer had to worry about leaking Spiritual Qi when it consumed Elixirs!

Furthermore, the Iron-Feathered Eagle had grown in size. Even crouching, it was now half as tall as a man. Its wings were tough, and a flap from them was like the swing of a sharp axe.

It was now confident that it could successfully unleash Black Wind Slash.

After all, this was its species’ innate Talent Magic!

The transformation was complete.

"CAW! CAW! CAW!"

The Iron Carving King trotted around Yu Changsheng like a child, the picture of pure joy.

’Once considered useless, it now had the potential to reach Tier Two. It vowed to cultivate diligently from now on and never let its master’s efforts go to waste.’

The Iron Carving King nuzzled against Yu Changsheng’s chest, forcing him to sidestep with a wry smile.

"Whoa there, stop. You’re too big now. You’ll crush me if you keep trying to get in my lap."

The Iron Carving King quickly and obediently backed away, staring at him with sparkling eyes.

It seemed to be eagerly awaiting a command.

Sensing its eagerness, Yu Changsheng patted its head and chuckled. "You want to go for a flight?"

"KREE!"

The Iron Carving King nodded repeatedly and gave an excited flap of its wings. The resulting gust of wind sent all the nearby pots, bowls, and utensils flying into a corner, where they crashed together with a loud CLATTER.

Seeing this, it immediately ducked its head, looking as if it had done something wrong.

Nearby, the Red Snake King stared at the Iron Carving King with some alarm. ’This little bro’s strength has grown so much since his transformation,’ it thought. ’The only advantage I have over him now is probably my Realm.’

’Does this mean I’ll have to cultivate for twelve hours a day from now on???’

The moment that horrifying thought occurred, the Red Snake King immediately dismissed it, settled back down, and gave a lazy yawn.

Seeing the Iron Carving King’s expression, Yu Changsheng’s lip twitched before he spoke.

"You really aren’t suited for moving around in the servant’s courtyard anymore."

"From now on, you can stay over by the Spirit Chicken Garden. Once I become an Outer Disciple and get my own immortal’s cave, I’ll let you out at night to stretch your wings."

"Come on, let’s go for a test flight."

Hearing this, the Iron Carving King neatly folded its wings and, along with the Red Snake King, turned into a flash of white light and returned to the Inner Realm. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Yu Changsheng went to the outskirts of the Spirit Chicken Garden.

It was situated in a valley between the Outer Peak and the Beast Taming Peak, with the Cloud Mist Mountain Range rising up behind it. Aside from himself and Steward Chang, very few Cultivators ever came this way.

This made it the perfect place to test the Iron Carving King’s strength.

He summoned the Iron Carving King and pointed to a boulder up ahead. "Alright, try out your Black Wind Slash. Attack that."

The Iron Carving King gave a tense flap of its wings and leaped into the air. It then shot forward like a sharp arrow, beating its wings fiercely a few times as it spun.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

Several black Wind Blades crisscrossed as they slashed into the boulder, dicing it into hundreds of pieces. Some fragments were even annihilated by the turbulent winds.

’Worthy of its title as an overlord of the skies among Tier One Demon Beasts,’ Yu Changsheng noted internally. ’In terms of power, that’s no weaker than a Wind Blade cast by a Late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator.’

Yu Changsheng nodded to himself. The Iron Carving King was still only at Tier One Fourth Layer, so being able to unleash such power was already quite impressive. It was definitely worth raising.

The Iron Carving King was overjoyed to see how much stronger it had become.

’To think that before, it couldn’t even break out of a refined-iron cage,’ it thought. ’Now, shattering it would probably only take a few flaps of its wings.’

’And this was all thanks to its master!’

The Iron Carving King spread its wings, crouched down, and tilted its head at Yu Changsheng, letting out a cry. "COO! COO!"

Yu Changsheng smiled, placed a hand on its wing, and swung himself onto its back.

"Let’s fly! Toward Chao Fish Market!"

The Iron Carving King gave a joyful cry and soared into the sky with him on its back.

The ground rapidly shrank away below him.