Mechanical Technique.
Among the myriad arts of the cultivation world, there is a distinction between difficulty levels, and Beast Taming is relatively easy to master.
Even if other cultivators don't practice the Beast Taming Technique and cannot form a bloodline contract with spirit beasts, there are other means, such as pills, magical treasures, and poisons to control demon beasts.
Aside from the Beast Taming Sect, it's very common for cultivators from other sects to keep one or two pet beasts or mounts.
As for Mechanical Technique, Lin Jing doesn't know much, but he heard that Elder Yu has been obsessed with Mechanical Technique for years but has never been able to create a mechanical beast with combat power comparable to his contracted pet beast.
"Elder Yu intends to pass on his Mechanical Technique. He really is deeply affectionate, but within the Beast Taming Sect, I fear no one would be willing to learn Mechanical Technique." Lin Jing folded his arms as he continued to look at the task bulletin. Rationally speaking, mechanical beasts without intelligence are far inferior to pet beasts with thoughts of their own.
The upgrading of mechanical beasts relies entirely on the mechanical master. Some complex mechanical beasts require the master to invest great energy in controlling them during battle. If a mechanical beast is damaged, it is much harder to repair, whereas pet beasts... not only do they cultivate on their own, they also fight autonomously. Even when injured, healing pills and herbs are available, while mechanical beasts cannot consume healing pills.
While mechanical beasts might have their advantages, they likely have little to do with most Beast Taming Sect disciples, as the sect inherently lacks advanced cultivation techniques suited to Mechanical Technique.
Currently, Lin Jing is learning "Alchemy," at the phase of memorizing thousands of alchemical materials, not yet practicing, therefore he has no energy to focus on learning Mechanical Technique.
Thus, this reward does not hold much attraction for Lin Jing.
Though from a broader perspective, it wouldn't hurt to study a bit more with the Longevity Body.
"The Bamboo Dragon at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation should be manageable."
He withdrew from the crowd. Cultivation is cultivation, and battle power is battle power. Even at the same level, Qi Cultivators of most types might not be a match for Sword Cultivators. With both mechanical and dragon elements combined, they surely aren't weak.
Yet, Treasure Beasts are even stronger. Though the Glazed Immortal Pupil cannot make the Spirit Mouse fight across large stages, within the Qi Cultivation stage, it grants unimaginable suppression power. For instance, the spirit bean bomb formed by the immortal pupil terrified the Black Bear Monster with its impressive power, sufficient to devastate late Qi Cultivation.
"Unfortunately, rewards aren't cumulative. Reaching the final tier means the previous tier's rewards can't be claimed."
Actually, the sixth tier reward, "Dragon Blood Pill," is also good.
Second-grade pill, refined with dragon blood, upon consumption, can strengthen beast bloodlines, with a slight chance to generate a dragon bloodline!
Of course, in terms of value, even excluding insights into Mechanical Technique, just the "Mechanical Soul Core" alone would surpass the Dragon Blood Pill. But Lin Jing thinks if he acquires the "Mechanical Soul Core" and sells it for a Storage Ring, Elder Yu would certainly be furious.
...
"Three days remain until the Ascending Dragon Festival." After borrowing books, Lin Jing returned to the courtyard and glanced at the Spirit Mouse meditating under the bare tree.
And behind it, the box piled with red flying leaves and spirit bean bombs!
Ever since realizing the power of the red flying leaves, the Spirit Mouse has stopped hoarding spirit stones.
Its cultivation expanded in focus.
Early in the morning, it absent-mindedly hastens the maturity of Spirit Rice and Spirit Beans.
Then, sitting nearby, it uses spirit stones and Spirit Supplement Pills to replenish energy.
Following that, it synthesizes golden Spirit Rice, eating them resolutely while lying amidst the rice pile.
Using a perfect digestion state to convert the nutrients gained from ordinary Spirit Rice, enhancing Spiritual Power.
Once sated, it synthesizes red flying leaves and spirit bean bombs, accumulating them.
Thus, the red flying leaves and spirit bean bombs increase steadily.
Spirit stones and other resources diminish continually.
Yet the Spirit Mouse doesn't care.
After all, no matter how many spirit stones there are, they can't aid it in battle, but red leaves can.
The Spirit Mouse aims to seize the opportunity of the Ascending Dragon Festival, to gain more resources, trading small for large.
Embracing an undercurrent of determination, in no time, the month's sect-provided resources and task resources, including Spirit Supplement Pills, have been largely used by the Spirit Mouse.
Unlike Lin Jing, given such accumulated resources, the Spirit Mouse's cultivation effects are impressive, forming a stack of trump cards while its realm edges toward the fifth level of Qi Cultivation.
Lin Jing has not grabbed even a single spirit stone, with the most being a bit of leftover Spirit Rice, which he used to make fried leaf rice.
If there's a difference between Beast Taming Sect disciples and cultivators from other sects in raising spirit beasts, it would surely be that Beast Taming Sect disciples mostly give their best resources to pet beasts, while other sects' cultivators at most provide some remnant resources to pets and mounts.
Lin Jing quietly returned, not disturbing the Spirit Mouse, and began reading beside it.
Until half a day later, the Spirit Mouse ceased cultivation and began discussing the rewards for "Dragon Struggle Beast Fight" with Lin Jing...
Upon learning the best reward was Mechanical Technique and materials, it felt as if the sky had fallen.
"Squeak! Squeak squeak! Squeak squeak squeak!"
"Calm down, Mechanical Technique isn't so bad. Upon mastery, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to make mechanical beasts."
"Have you heard of a 'machine gun'?"
"Using that to launch spirit bean bombs would certainly consume less than using the Flying Leaf Technique for throwing."
Under Lin Jing's reassurance, time passed slowly.
...
In the blink of an eye.
The day of the Ascending Dragon Festival arrived.
The Dragon Struggle Beast Fight event begins at noon on the Ascending Dragon Festival day.
In the courtyard, Lin Jing wore a long blue robe, the standard attire for an outer disciple, with the Spirit Mouse at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation perched on his shoulder, looking conflicted.
It glanced at the slightly bulging pockets of Lin Jing's robe, containing all its possessions.
Considering that the upcoming battle might cause many of its belongings to disappear, the Spirit Mouse felt a reluctance to proceed.
"Squeak..."
Lin Jing paid no heed to its thoughts, and after three days, he returned once more to the central plaza.
More people gathered here, not yet the hour, and the crowd along with pet beasts already surrounded the plaza.
A multitude of outer disciples donning similar attire varied in age, the youngest barely over ten, while some older resembled uncles, whether due to age or rapid growth was unknown.
At the plaza's center floated a lifelike Bamboo Dragon, aided by a minor wind array.
Lin Jing gazed at this Bamboo Dragon. It was several feet long, with every bamboo scale shimmering vibrant green. The dragon head was particularly exquisite, its eyes crafted from bamboo glowed with spirit; its dragon horns made from sturdy bamboo sections, stood tall and sharp, adding to its majesty.
The dragon's mouth slightly opened, revealing intricate mechanical structures within, faintly showing delicate bamboo wheels and intertwined slender bamboo threads forming gears, as well as... a white Dragon Pearl.
"Feels like Elder Yu's Mechanical Dragon this time... is more meticulously crafted than those of past years." Whispered a disciple, eyeing the Bamboo Dragon's body.
Its surface adorned with neatly aligned bamboo pieces, appearing finely polished, the dragon's spine composed of tightly linked bamboo nodes formed smooth curves, akin to the spine of a real dragon, rendering the entire mechanical structure fluid in appearance.
"Indeed, this feels not like a beast at the Qi Cultivation stage, but more like a Foundation Establishment beast forcibly constrained to the Qi Cultivation stage." One disciple speculated maliciously.
"Probably overthinking it. It's a festival after all, meant for celebration, why would Elder Yu trouble us with such effort?"