Falling Cloud Valley.

Outer Sect.

The night was as dark as ink, with only faint starlight filtering through.

On the gentle, low-lying slopes stood rows upon rows of spacious and luxurious spirit beast pens.

Each pen possessed its own independent protective barrier and a specialized Spirit Gathering Array. The environment was beautiful, and the spiritual energy was dense; the living conditions were far superior to the simple wooden huts where Servant Disciples lived.

More than ten spirit beasts resided within these pens, most being spirit pets belonging to elders or deacons.

According to Falling Cloud Valley sect rules, these spirit pets could not be brought into the Inner Sect. Instead, they were collectively raised in these specially designated areas within the Outer Sect.

For Servant Disciples, tending to these high-status spirit pets was absolutely dreaded drudgery they would avoid if possible.

Not only did they have to handle the feeding duties for the spirit beasts, but they also had to clean up their waste. The slightest mistake risked provoking an attack from the beasts, and injuries were a common occurrence.

Most of these beasts were the beloved pets of elders and high-ranking figures within Falling Cloud Valley. Relying on their powerful backing, each was arrogant and hot-tempered, looking down on ordinary disciples completely.

At this moment, inside one of the beast pens, a giant tiger several zhang in length, covered in dark black patterns, lay sprawled on the ground snoring loudly, hot air puffing rhythmically from its nostrils.

Suddenly, ripples of light shimmered across the formation outside the pen, silently splitting open an entrance through which a black-clad, masked figure slipped in.

Target found!

Seeing the giant tiger ahead, the eyes visible above the figure’s black cloth suddenly lit up, his mouth curving into an excited arc.

Like a hunter finally locating his prey, he eagerly stepped forward.

“ROAR—”

The sudden disturbance instantly caused the giant tiger’s eyes to snap open wide with displeasure. It glared angrily at the figure. “You blind fool! You dare disturb your Tiger Grandpa’s rest? Are you tired of living?”

This Foundation Building realm black tiger had developed intelligence and could speak human language.

“Scram! Or Tiger Grandpa will swallow you alive!”

Thinking some foolish Servant Disciple had come bumbling in to disturb its sleep, it didn’t even bother lifting its eyelids fully, its tone utterly arrogant.

“You are Inner Sect Elder Xu’s spirit pet, the Crimson Flame Tiger, correct?”

The figure didn’t seem angry, nor was he in a rush to act. Instead, he strolled leisurely toward the black tiger.

“Wrong! You don’t even recognize your Tiger Grandpa? You’re definitely not one of the servants here!”

Seeing this, alertness dawned on the giant tiger immediately. Its massive body rose from the ground, fur bristling and standing on end, claws bared as it stared intently at the intruder.

“Daring to trespass onto Tiger Grandpa’s territory? Tiger Grandpa won’t let you off today!”

As it spoke, black mist suddenly billowed around the giant tiger’s entire body. Brandishing its sharp claws, it pounced fiercely toward the figure, its imposing manner full of momentum!

The next moment!

THUD!

Before it could even assume a proper stance, a plain, unadorned fist smashed onto its huge head. Dizziness overwhelmed it, and its limbs went weak, causing it to sit back down onto the ground with a heavy thud!

Then, the figure closed the distance, pressed forward, and proceeded to administer a beating…

Several breaths later!

“Ow, ow, ow, ow! Stop hitting! I surrender! I was wrong! Please spare me…”

The black tiger whimpered, hugging its head with both paws, crying and begging for mercy.

“I’m not the Crimson Flame Tiger! My name is the Black Fiend Tiger! I’m Inner Sect Elder Yang’s pet!”

Hearing this, the figure paused momentarily, then sneered coldly, his face full of disdain.

“You mangy beast, you still dare to lie to me? It seems I haven’t beaten you into submission enough yet!”

While speaking, he delivered another round of heavy blows onto the black tiger!

“I’m not lying! I really am the Black Fiend Tiger, ah!”

“Hmph! Keep quibbling!”

The figure clearly didn’t believe it!

THUD THUD THUD THUD THUD!

“No! No more hitting! I submit! I really submit! I admit it, I’m the Crimson Flame Tiger, okay? Fine…”

Hearing the admission, Qi Yuan finally stopped his fists and feet. He exhaled lightly, secretly thinking:

Seems the Crimson Flame Tiger has been tamed by me. The task should be considered completed, right?

Thinking this, he summoned the task list in his mind:

[Because you lack backing within the sect, you were assigned the hardest, most exhausting work at Spirit Beast Peak as a servant responsible for feeding Inner Sect Elder Xu Zhou’s pet, the Crimson Flame Tiger.]

[The Crimson Flame Tiger is a Foundation Building realm spirit beast. It has always been unruly and stubborn, repeatedly injuring people. It is especially difficult and malicious toward you, seriously threatening your career as a servant.]

[Task Objective: Please, through your own efforts, educate the Crimson Flame Tiger and make it become docile.]

[Task Difficulty: Four Stars (Difficult)]

[Task Reward: Four Hundred Counterattack Points, One Top-Grade Spirit Nurturing Pill, Five Hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Obtain Talent: “Spirit Affinity” (All non-human beings’ favorability toward the host increases).]

Looking at the black tiger cowering and trembling in the corner, thoroughly beaten into submission, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth slightly.

Perhaps due to changes in the world line, he wasn’t assigned to Spirit Beast Peak but went to the Herb Garden instead.

Since he no longer held the servant identity at Spirit Beast Peak, wanting to “educate” the beast raised there meant he could only secretly conduct this operation late at night under the cover of darkness…

Of course, there are many ways to tame a spirit beast besides using love, patience, and persuasion. Fists are also a good method, and moreover, they yield faster results.

Qi Yuan thought silently.

But after a while, still no task completion notification sound came through.

Frowning slightly, he glanced at the black tiger in the corner. “Still not convinced?”

The black tiger, hearing this, shuddered violently, its tiger head shaking like a rattle-drum!

“Big Brother, I… uh no, this humble one is truly convinced!”

Seeing that the other party’s expression didn’t seem fake, Qi Yuan’s eyelids jumped. A sudden ominous premonition arose in his heart, and he hurriedly asked:

“You… what did you say your name was just now?”

Hearing this, the black tiger felt like crying but had no tears left. It wailed, saying:

“No, please… I was really wrong! Whatever name you want to call me, call me that! You can even call me Dog Egg, okay…”

Qi Yuan’s expression darkened, though his tone softened a bit.

“As long as you speak the truth, I won’t hit you.”

The black tiger was utterly bewildered but still steeled its nerves and said:

“I… am called… called… the Black Fiend Tiger. Inner Sect Elder Yang’s pet. The Crimson Flame Tiger lives next door…”

DAMN!!!

I really got the wrong tiger!

Are the Falling Cloud Valley elders sick or what? Raising so many tigers for nothing!

Qi Yuan’s expression froze, wishing he could give the creature a few more slaps. “Why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Black Fiend Tiger: “????”

…

After threatening the Black Fiend Tiger again, telling it to keep its mouth shut, Qi Yuan flashed his figure and slipped into the neighboring beast pen next door.

Not long after!

[Ding! Congratulations host for completing the task: Educate the Crimson Flame Tiger. Reward: Four Hundred Counterattack Points, One Top-Grade Spirit Nurturing Pill, Five Hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stones. Obtained Talent: “Spirit Affinity”.]