Inside the ancestral hall, the flames of two candles flickered brightly, making the entire hall appear even more sacred.
Ye Jingcheng solemnly sat on the zafu, finally taking down the jade talisman.
"Third Uncle, I've remembered everything!" Ye Jingcheng spoke, then crushed the jade talisman into a pile of jade shavings.
After reading the jade talisman's instructions, he was even more shocked at the power and mystery of the Beast Communication Pattern, far beyond what he had imagined.
For instance, during combat, the spirit beast can provide spiritual power to the cultivator, or the cultivator can provide spiritual power to the spirit beast...
"Drop a drop of essence blood on this jade disc; it's the clan's jade disc. It can form a layer of prohibition in your mind, preventing other cultivators from performing soul search on you!" Ye Xingliu took out the clan's jade disc again.
Of course, Ye Jingcheng also understood there was another unspoken sentence.
If a forced soul search were attempted, it would automatically explode.
Divine soul annihilation.
This is a characteristic of all clan jade books, jade discs, and sect jade books and jade discs.
The clan's jade disc was not large, oval in shape, made entirely of mutton fat jade, appearing exceptionally pure and flawless. Yet on it, countless spirit patterns rippled like spirit waves, incredibly magical.
Ye Jingcheng also extracted a drop of essence blood and dropped it onto the jade disc.
As the essence blood hit, the jade disc rippled like a lake surface.
The next moment, the jade disc manifested a spirit pattern.
As soon as this spirit pattern was formed, Ye Jingcheng felt an inexplicable change in his mind.
"Alright, Jingcheng, from now on, the clan will first recognize the beast pattern. Know the inner family, and others should not discuss clan matters. In the future, you will have the qualification to participate in the selection for inheriting a suitable spirit beast. Of course, our Ye family also follows the spirit beast's choice..." After Ye Xingliu spoke, he explained some other prohibitions to Ye Jingcheng.
Along with some rules of the clan.
"Moreover, until you can hide your Beast Communication Pattern, do not leave the family mountain peak. Wait until you stabilize before visiting the market!" On his way out, Ye Xingliu added.
Ye Jingcheng also nodded, and as he left the ancestral hall, he couldn't help but glance back, only to see that at some point, the sandalwood had been lit again.
Pale blue smoke spiraled up toward the sky, forming a larger misty rain.
And within the ancestral hall, Ye Haicheng had appeared at some point.
In his hand, he held an object resembling a small tower, and spoke towards Ye Xingliu:
"Strange, today's consumption of the Beast Communication Tower is four times that of an ordinary cultivator!"
"Indeed strange, but Jingcheng's talent is quite good. He has condensed five inches and two points!" It's said that condensing a one-inch spirit pattern only indicates the potential for Beast Communication.
Even with three one-inch spirit patterns, it remains so.
Only when three one-inch spirit patterns converge to form a three-inch spirit pattern can one be truly initiated, having no barriers with spirit beasts.
Most of the Ye Family cultivators are like this.
If they could have three three-inch spirit patterns, it would be enough to consider them a remarkable talent in the Ye family.
With Ye Jingcheng's five-inch Beast Communication Pattern and still having two one-inch patterns left, he can certainly be worthy of Ye Xingliu's words, "a decent talent."
"Moreover, perhaps he can really give our Ye family a surprise!" Ye Xingliu added thoughtfully.
Ye Haicheng also nodded, very satisfied with Ye Jingcheng. While Ye Jingcheng had his secrets, for the Ye family, there was no need to investigate. After all, the Ye family was inherently a family with secrets, and delving too deeply would only diminish the family's cohesion.
He then proceeded to ask about other matters:
"How's the Blood Heart Pill testing going?"
"Ground into powder and tested on Vegetable Rats, no results yet. Despite encountering loose cultivators with this batch of Blood Heart Pills, it still went smoothly, though a bit deliberately. As Big Brother said, there's still a significant chance of issues, but the medicinal properties are there!" Ye Xingliu replied.
"Test it out as soon as possible!" Ye Haicheng also nodded.
The ancestral hall quickly fell into silence once more.
…
Returning to his own small courtyard, Ye Jingcheng looked at the five-inch beast pattern on his arm, still clear, whereas the two smaller patterns seemed to be dissipating; he hurriedly followed the tips in the jade talisman.
Sitting cross-legged, he infused spiritual energy to nourish them.
From the jade talisman, he knew well that the Beast Communication Pattern related to his future Beast Communication cultivation, as well as the execution of Borrowing Spirit and the speed of beast body integration.
He naturally didn't dare to delay; losing the two small patterns would be a significant loss.
Yet the next moment, he suddenly discovered that apart from the Beast Communication Pattern on his arm, on that mystical ancient book, there was actually also a Beast Communication Pattern up to seven inches long. At this sight, Ye Jingcheng was dumbfounded!
It was apparent that within that mysterious tower, the ancient book had also absorbed the Beast Communication Pattern.
However, the next moment, Ye Jingcheng was somewhat hesitant. He didn't know if he could control the Beast Communication Pattern on the ancient book.
Hence, he nourished it with spiritual energy bit by bit.
Being able to nourish meant being able to use it; it was inherently a mystical medium of the world.
With the infusion of spiritual energy, the Beast Communication Pattern indeed brightened a bit.
"There's hope!" Ye Jingcheng was instantly overjoyed.
This meant that his Beast Communication Pattern was effectively seven inches with one five-inch and two one-inch patterns.
He had seen Ye Xingliu's Beast Communication Pattern before, only five inches in size, indicating his talent was greater than that of a five-inch pattern, even if aided by the ancient book.
But the real benefits he could gain in the future were tangible.
With the surprise of the Beast Communication Pattern, Ye Jingcheng became even more diligent in his cultivation, being someone who could endure loneliness. Despite having four spirit roots, he'd always had high standards for himself.
Although his talent and circumstances had improved now, to him, diligence was still his greatest magical treasure.
In the days that followed, Ye Jingcheng's life became increasingly serene.
Three hours for alchemy, three hours for nurturing the Beast Communication Pattern, two hours for practicing joint attacks with the Red Flame Fox to improve combat power, and finally reserving four hours for cultivation.
Every day was fulfilling.
Until twenty days later, Ye Jingcheng awoke from his cultivation.
At this moment, his Li Fire Skill had advanced once more, the spiritual energy becoming more robust. This time, if he were to activate the Iron Wood Token, he was confident he could execute it faster.
The most crucial thing was his control over the beast pattern; it could now be freely concealed into his skin or into his body.
At this time, the Red Flame Fox was also more willing to come close to his left hand, occasionally chirping contentedly. Its scarlet figure was now over three feet tall and more than four feet long, with an enormous tail as sizeable as ever.
"Once you advance to the late stage of the first tier, it will be good!" Ye Jingcheng looked at the Red Flame Fox and couldn't help but speak.
Enhancing a cultivator's cultivation through the Beast Communication Pattern naturally increases the disparity, making it easier to amplify.
Ye Jingcheng was at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, and once the Red Flame Fox advanced to the late stage of the first tier, it would assist him more in swiftly breaking through to the late stage of Qi Cultivation.
Afterward, Ye Jingcheng continued his usual routine, preparing food for the two spirit beasts, the Red Flame Fox being the main one and the Jade Ring Rat the secondary.
The Red Flame Fox must quickly break through to the late stage of the first tier, while the Jade Ring Rat could be more casual, as it was mainly there to foresee any potential danger at critical moments.