325 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

### Chapter 325: The True Form of the Greater Beast Ancestor, Breakthrough to Divine Appearance Realm Upon hearing the command, Red Cat widened his eyes and said sternly, "Bring that person to me!" "But, my lord, that person isn't weak. Capturing him won't be easy," the spirit beast said. Hearing this, Red Cat looked at the group of spirit beasts beyond the sixth rank with a deep voice, "Who would volunteer to capture him?" "I will, my lord!" Snow Wolf leapt forward immediately, not giving the other beasts a chance. He quickly gathered the spirit beast and dashed out of the grand hall to lead the way in capturing the person. In a certain area of Tianlingzhou, Zhu Xing was once again attempting to deceive spirit beasts. However, he was puzzled about the differences in these beasts compared to the past. Previously, entering Tianlingzhou to deceive and ultimately control spirit beasts was not all that difficult. But now, it had become somewhat challenging. These spirit beasts were now covering their ears to resist deception, behaving as if they were wary of his silver-tongued tricks. "Strange, my methods of deceiving spirit beasts haven't been leaked. Why do these beasts act as if they're afraid of being charmed by me?" Zhu Xing was perplexed. Suddenly, his expression changed: he sensed a spirit beast beyond the sixth rank! Yet he quickly composed himself. Just a sixth-rank spirit beast? That's not unmanageable. After reaching the pinnacle of the Refining Divine Heavenly Being realm, he was now ready to deceive a spirit beast of such rank. "Zhu Xing of the Wan Shi Alliance greets the Spirit Beast King!" Regardless of whether the opponent was a Spirit Beast King, given its rank, flattery was his best option. "So, you're the one conning our beast tribe? Come over here!" Zhu Xing was dumbfounded. The beast tribe? Moreover, the other party was aggressive right from the start. He wanted to resist, but the opponent's strength was too overwhelming, far beyond his own. Any resistance would lead to conflict escalation. "Beast King, let's discuss this peacefully. I mean no harm… here, I have…" He was about to produce an elixir and use the Wan Shi Alliance name to lull this sixth-rank spirit beast. "Who are you calling beasts? Your grandfather belongs to the beast tribe, the grand elder of the beast tribe!" Snow Wolf retorted angrily. Zhu Xing was completely bewildered. I honor you as a Beast King; how did it become an insult? Furthermore, a grand elder of the beast tribe? Within the Spirit Domain, when has there ever been a beast tribe? Aren't these just sixth-rank spirit beasts? "By the order of the mightily imposing Great Beast King, I'm here to capture you!" Snow Wolf announced, grabbing Zhu Xing with one swipe. Inside the grand hall, Red Cat sat on his throne, overlooking the proceedings below. Standing solemnly on either side of the hall were numerous sixth-rank spirit beasts who watched as Snow Wolf brought Zhu Xing inside. At this moment, Zhu Xing felt nervous and finally realized things were not looking well! Smack! Snow Wolf tossed Zhu Xing on the floor respectfully and said, "O mighty Great Beast King, as instructed, I have captured this person." "Good," Red Cat nodded. Zhu Xing's face turned pale with anxiety, seeing that the entire hall was filled with sixth-rank spirit beasts. More terrifyingly, the spirit beast clan now had a true king! One who ruled over the entire spirit beast tribe. Lifting his head, he saw three thrones. On the center throne sat a tiger with a resplendent gold chain around its neck, exuding grandeur and the aura of a nouveau riche. To the left was a jade dragon serpent, and to the right—a Mountain-Swallowing Toad? Such a powerful Mountain-Swallowing Toad? "Esteemed Great Beast King, I am Zhu Xing, an envoy from the Wan Shi Alliance here in Tianlingzhou to discuss forming an alliance with the spirit beast tribe…" Zhu Xing spoke hurriedly, feeling the immense pressure. Pulling out the might of the Wan Shi Alliance and referring to himself as an envoy should prevent any lethal action against him. "To show the Wan Shi Alliance's sincerity, we have prepared some exceptionally rare elixirs to present to the esteemed Great Beast King," he quickly offered a bottle of elixirs. Thanks to ties with the Evergreen Pavilion and speaking of those old connections, having some rapport with Fang Hao, who was Su Lingxiu's junior disciple, he had acquired numerous elixirs. His rapid increase in strength was partly due to these elixirs. These years, he has used elixirs to lure many spirit beasts away from Tianlingzhou. Zhu Xing was confident that invoking the Wan Shi Alliance and gifting elixirs would ensure his safe passage today. Red Cat, eyeing the elixirs in Zhu Xing's hands, fell into thought. These worldly elixirs could only come from the Evergreen Pavilion, and only Su Lingxiu in the entire Spirit Domain could concoct them. He is the saintess of the beast tribe! If Zhu Xing is acquainted with the Evergreen Pavilion, then he can't just kill him. However, Red Cat wasn’t updated on Evergreen Pavilion's current activities nor whether they have started selling elixirs externally. With a wave of his paw, the elixirs flew from Zhu Xing's hand. Upon opening them, they were confirmed to be elixirs indeed and definitely crafted by Su Lingxiu's hand. Red Cat kept them aside. Seeing this, Zhu Xing exhaled in relief. "Hand over your storage pouch," Red Cat then raised a paw, showing a sharp claw, and beckoned him. "Alright, alright!" Zhu Xing muttered complaints inwardly, but obediently surrendered the storage pouch. "I’m lucky I got a storage ring from the young alliance master, or I'd be stripped clean." Zhu Xing comforted himself internally—his precious items were all in the storage ring. He had placed only a few valuables in the storage pouch, specifically in case of days where he might be robbed. "Hand over that ring too," Red Cat gestured with his claw again. "Respected and mighty Great Beast King, this ring was given by my beloved as a token of our love. I hope, your majesty, you can spare me. She has left me, and this is the only token left behind…" Zhu Xing's heart skipped a beat; why was this fat tiger focusing on his storage ring? Nonetheless, he started spinning a tale, claiming it was a love token. His eyes reddened, and tears seemed imminent, genuinely evoking sympathy for someone so true-hearted. The gathered spirit beasts couldn't help but send sympathetic looks towards Zhu Xing. "Hand it over. I won't take your ring," Red Cat insisted. Internally cursing, Zhu Xing felt the sharp gaze, forcing him to hand the ring over with a gulp. "Don't worry. The ring made by the young alliance master has my mark; no one else will discover the space within." Zhu Xing composed himself slightly, "Respected Great Beast King, I hope you can return my love token. Without it, I don't know how I could go on…" "Rest assured, it will be returned to you." Red Cat nodded before, to Zhu Xing's shock, Red Cat erased his mark on the storage ring and transferred its contents into a storage pouch, then tossed the ring back to him. "Here you go!" Zhu Xing felt crestfallen, filled with loss, but only managed a thankful expression, "Thank you, Great Beast King!" "Alright." Red Cat smiled coldly, knowing such tricks wouldn't fool him. He got up, walked on two legs over to Zhu Xing, and with a swift motion pulled him up, frightening him pale. "How much did these elixirs cost?" Red Cat sternly asked. "Ah?" Zhu Xing was taken aback. "I know far more than you think. Speak up!" Red Cat emphasized his authority. "Elixirs… are costly…" Zhu Xing initially intended to exaggerate the price, but intuition warned him exaggeration could lead to trouble. Thus, he altered his statement, "Elixirs are expensive, yes, but I have connections. Buy one, get one free. If my liege needs them, I can procure them for you!" Red Cat understood. This buy-one-get-one means this fellow indeed has some ties with the Evergreen Pavilion. "You all, dismiss yourselves and quickly spread my orders. The beast tribe is newly established, and there's much to be done. Snow Wolf, you and several others, draw up some regulations to present to me." With a wave of his paw, Red Cat commanded. "Yes, my lord!" The spirit beasts departed, assigned various tasks, as the beast tribe’s establishment heralded busier times ahead. Red Cat draped an arm around Zhu Xing’s shoulder as one would a small chick and said, "Come, let’s have a good chat…" Yu Xiaolong and Xiao Ha also joined in. ... In Dazhou, at the Golden Lotus Lake, aboard the Evergreen Pavilion flying boat, Su Lingxiu and Yue'er were discussing their next destination. "Why not head to Shengzhou?" Yue'er pondered and suggested. "The State of Great Zhou?" Su Lingxiu mused, then nodded in agreement. --- **New Terms Translated:** 1. Zhu Xing (朱行正) - He retained the original name as it represents a character's specific identity within the story. 2. Tianlingzhou (天陵州) - Retained as is to represent a specific location within the narrative's universe. 3. Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟) - Kept original form to denote a specific organization, linking to Zhu Xing’s affiliation. 4. Evergreen Pavilion (長青閣) - Retains the original name to highlight its importance and exclusivity. 5. Dazhou (大泽州) - Maintained the original term to signify a particular region in the story's world. 6. Golden Lotus Lake (金荷湖) - Kept literal translation to convey a geographical point. 7. Yue'er (月儿) - Her identity is revealed through her unique name, keeping character consistency. 8. Xiao Ha (小哈) - Retained to preserve character recognition. 9. Shengzhou (胜州) - Kombin original form to represent a distinct region in the fictional setting. 10. State of Great Zhou (大周国) - Literal translation favored to indicate proper name reference, enhancing reader’s orientation in the setting. In the narrative, the humor arises with Zhu Xing's misinterpretation of titles and perceptions of spirit beasts, which leads to a playful misunderstanding emphasizing the term "beast tribe" with Snow Wolf's reaction, enhancing the depth of interaction. ### Shengzhou: The Autonomous Realm of Dazhou Kingdom Shengzhou, governed by the Dazhou Kingdom, stands as the only territory within the Spirit Domain not subjected to the rule of the Spiritual Sects, rivaling their authority. Among the eighteen states, Shengzhou remains the sole place with an existing martial academy. The martial academies of Dazhou are established to identify prodigies, serving as the foundation for cultivating powerful individuals for the kingdom. In the capital of Dazhou, the Royal Martial Institute resides, and those admitted are invariably individuals of extraordinary talent. The offspring of Dazhou's officials with exceptional gifts also train at this academy. "Then let's head to Dazhou. It’s a good chance to visit some old acquaintances," Su Lingxiu considered. The jade token held by Zi Yun comes from the Dazhou royal family, though it’s uncertain how she currently fares in Dazhou. "After visiting Dazhou, let’s proceed to Yunshanzhou," Su Lingxiu suggested. Both Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao are at the Tai-Miao Sect. Having been in the Spirit Domain for such an extended period, it’s about time we gather. After all, we're both from the Inner Domain and share a good relationship. "We’ll stay for three more days, and then depart," Su Lingxiu decided. In the pavilion, Li Xuan exhaled, finally memorizing the Dao pattern from the eleventh page of the Great Dao Golden Book. "The twelfth page will be deeper, harder to memorize," he mused to himself. Suddenly, the Great Dao Golden Book flipped open, radiating golden light. "Your pet, Red Cat, has established the beast tribe and recognized you as the Greater Beast Ancestor. You have obtained the True Form of the Greater Beast Ancestor!" Li Xuan was taken aback. The beast tribe? "This Red Cat is quite something!" he couldn't help but marvel, then felt a surge of joy. Nurturing Red Cat with such dedication truly hadn’t been in vain! The True Form of the Greater Beast Ancestor differs from the Martial Divine Avatar. While the latter is akin to a clone and not equal in strength to the original, the True Form mirrors his own realm. The stronger the beast tribe becomes, the more powerful the True Form gets, potentially channeling the collective strength of the beast tribe to temporarily enhance its power. However, it comes with a limitation: the True Form can only use beast tribe techniques, even the divine arts—it’s fixed in that regard. Moreover, the True Form doesn't have a constant shape, capable of assuming a humanoid form or various Greater Beast forms. Every technique of the beast tribe is inherently known by the Ancestor form, with power doubling in intensity. Additionally, the True Form can convey the Ancestor’s will to all the beast tribe members, even giving guidance and legacy through a dream-like connection. "I need to focus more on the Greater Beast Martial Path, as Red Cat's strength isn't sufficient, and it lacks the concept of Greater Beast Divine Skills. I need to pass on more Greater Beast techniques and divine arts to it," Li Xuan pondered, deciding to deeply explore the Greater Beast Martial Path. With the True Form of the Greater Beast Ancestor now available, it was the perfect time to pass on concepts of Greater Beast Divine Skills to Red Cat, encouraging its continual cultivation. "Who would have imagined that the cat I casually picked up back then would possess such talent?" Li Xuan mused. He observed that since Red Cat learned to read from Madam Xu, its perceptiveness had increased and intelligence continuously enhanced. It truly became a cultured tiger. "The direction of the Greater Beast Martial Path has been set, so there's no need to worry. However, to enrich it, I should impart more Greater Beast techniques to Red Cat," Li Xuan thought excitedly. Just imagining the scenario where a formidable enemy assumes they're fighting evenly and suddenly activating the Ancestor form for a two-on-one battle, obliterating their foe, thrilled him. Thus, Li Xuan decided to momentarily set aside studying the twelfth page of the Great Dao Golden Book and instead enriched the Greater Beast Martial Path, especially in the concepts of beast tribe divine arts. Three days later, the Evergreen Pavilion's flying boat soared into the sky, heading for Dazhou. Above the clouds, a spectacular flying boat traveled at a speed comparable to a practitioner of the Refining Divine Realm, devoid of hurry. "Hopefully, Red Cat doesn't let me down," Li Xuan finally concluded the enrichment of beast tribe divine arts, mainly composed through formation patterns, as Red Cat’s Greater Beast techniques originated from those. These formation patterns, Li Xuan weaved with the Laws of Heaven and Earth, and the final few included some Dao patterns from the tenth page of the Great Dao Golden Book. "Should I use the True Form to impart a dream to Red Cat? Let this big cat witness its master's capability," Li Xuan intended to employ the True Form's ability to contact Red Cat through a dream. Yet, upon opening the Great Dao Golden Book suddenly: "Your apprentice, Xu Yan, has comprehended the Martial Path to the Divine Appearance Realm, and you have broken through to the Divine Appearance Realm!" In that moment, his strength surged incredibly, as if he could command the Laws of Heaven and Earth at will. He broke through to the Divine Appearance Realm! Li Xuan was exhilarated, finally achieving another breakthrough. The Divine Appearance Realm meant truly commanding the Laws of Heaven and Earth! With his insight into these laws, having now broken through, he could nearly manipulate the Laws of Heaven and Earth at will. Moreover, the breakthrough endowed him with the capability to comprehend above the Laws of Heaven and Earth—the Dao patterns. The Laws of Heaven and Earth were now visible to Li Xuan, and with a mere thought, he could control them, transforming them into a Martial Divine Appearance, harnessed for his use. And beyond these laws, he began sensing even more profound Dao patterns. Faintly, they seemed to correspond to the Dao patterns operating within the tenth page of the Great Dao Golden Book. --- **New Terms Translated:** 1. Shengzhou (勝州) - Maintained the name as it represents a specific and significant regional division within the narrative. 2. Dazhou Kingdom (大周國) - Kept as is for proper noun fidelity to reflect a prominent monarchy within the world context. 3. Yunshanzhou (雲山州) - Retained to indicate another distinct location within the fictional realm. 4. Jade Token (玉令) - Maintained for its symbolic association with royalty and authorization within the narrative. 5. Xu Yan (許炎) - Identified and gendered as 'He' based on character modeling, consistent with narrative pronouns. In this narrative slice, a theme of authority and hierarchy pervades, as seen in governmental and tribal structures, augmented by martial education. Language puns include Red Cat's dual identity, serving as comic relief juxtaposed with serious themes, enriched through consistent world-building.