In ancient times, the ancestors had invented symbiotic cultivation. A cultivation channel formed between human and lifebound beast, giving rise to beastmasters. Through symbiotic cultivation, human and beast exchanged blood and wisdom, thereby inheriting each other's strengths and compensating for each other's weaknesses.
The first stage of cultivation was the Beast Vein Stage. Both beastmasters and lifebound beasts possessed nine veins, and cultivation at the Beast Vein Stage required linking their veins together. Each connected vein strengthened the blood bond between them.
After that, special methods could be used to convert the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into beast ki, which was stored in the beast veins. Beastmasters and lifebound beasts shared their ki, allowing them to exchange power with one another.
Through symbiotic cultivation, the hidden power in the beast's blood veins strengthened the master's body, while the hidden power from the beastmaster's blood veins enhanced the beast's intelligence.
"Ever since Midas died, I've lost all my ki, and all my veins have withered as well. Without a lifebound beast, my path as a beastmaster should have ended."
No matter what this Eternal Infernal Phoenix truly was—whether a Primordial Chaos Beast or something else—at the very least, it would allow him to cultivate again.
Naturally, Li Tianming had never heard of the legends of the Primordial Chaos Beasts before. Prior to being framed by Lin Xiaoting and Mu Qingqing, he had linked all nine pairs of beast veins with Midas, reaching the ninth level of the Beast Vein Stage and even breaking through to the Spiritual Source Stage.
"Since my lifebound beast has changed, I need to reconnect all the veins from scratch. In essence, I'm starting over from zero."
The first step of the Beast Vein Stage was to locate the veins on both sides. While Li Tianming tried to sense where the little chick's beast veins were, he could feel the chick doing the same. As soon as their first veins successfully connected, they would reach the first level of the Beast Vein Stage.
"How can such a tiny chick have such thick beast veins?!" Li Tianming exclaimed.
Within the chick's minuscule body, each beast vein was like a dragon—terrifying yet majestic. It was hard to imagine what kind of fearsome beast these veins belonged to. Li Tianming's own veins looked like tiny worms in comparison to the chick's beast veins.
"Look at this rookie with his pathetic little veins—clearly lacking in manliness. Now look at mine! Thicker. Longer. More perfect than yours!" The chick was clearly mocking Li Tianming.
But why did that sound so strange?
"We'll see if you can keep bragging later. Don't forget—your beast veins will eventually become mine as well." Li Tianming fired back with an insult of his own.
After some time, their veins began to connect with one another. Though the chick's beast veins were thicker, it didn't complicate the process, as this was more of an "activation" than a literal physical merging. As long as they could sense each other, the two veins would eventually fuse and form an unbreakable bond.
Li Tianming was no novice, but only when the first vein connected did he realize just how much the Eternal Infernal Phoenix's blood could do for his body.
"It can't be..."
When their veins linked, it was akin to a dragon merging with a centipede. Li Tianming felt his own veins transforming into dragon-like veins.
As the dragon roared within his body, he distinctly sensed the beast's blood coursing through his torso, transforming every inch of him. For a moment, he even felt as though he had become the Eternal Infernal Phoenix himself.
His Four-Winged Midas had transformed his body before, but never to this extent. This must be the power of a true Primordial Chaos Beast! Li Tianming understood that this was an enormous opportunity for him.
The gleam in his eyes showed that Li Tianming had changed. Once his veins grew to match the size of the chick's, the connection process would be complete—and with it, the conquest of the first level of the Beast Vein Stage!
The next step would be to use cultivation techniques to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the veins in the form of beast ki.
The quality of beast ki depended on factors such as the quality of the technique and the blood of the lifebound beast. Li Tianming had used the best technique available in Flamehaven—the Darkgold Technique—to create Darkgold Beast Ki.
Just as he prepared to execute the Darkgold Technique, the chick suddenly shouted:
"What the hell are you doing? What is this garbage?"
"What do you mean?" Li Tianming was clearly puzzled—this "garbage" was the best technique in the Vermilion Bird Kingdom!
"Just shut up and let me take the lead in cultivation. We're using the Eternal Infernal Codex!"
"What?" Before Li Tianming could react, something unimaginable happened...
A lifebound beast guiding him in cultivation—and with its own cultivation technique? But the moment the Eternal Infernal Codex began to operate, it became clear that the Darkgold Technique could indeed only be called garbage.
After three full years without cultivation, Li Tianming's spirit blazed with joy at being able to cultivate once more. Before he knew it, an entire night had passed, during which Li Tianming and his chick broke through to the third level of the Beast Vein Stage!
Of course, Li Tianming already had some foundation. Nevertheless, such speed was unheard of across the entire kingdom. Even his body had become an Eternal Infernal Body, somewhat similar to the little chick's. Such a body possessed immense strength and speed, not to mention enormous potential.
"This beast ki at the third level of the Beast Vein Stage… it feels even stronger than the beast ki I had at the fifth level with the Darkgold Technique!"
As the beast ki flowed through his three connected veins, Li Tianming felt as though lava were coursing through his body. The beast ki had turned him into a volcano ready to erupt at any moment.
"There are still nine eggs left in my lifebound space, and one of them is already showing signs that it will hatch soon—though the cracks haven't appeared yet. What Primordial Chaos Beast will appear next?"
Li Tianming was filled with anticipation for what the next one—and the rest—might bring. Could it be possible that he would obtain all ten Primordial Chaos Beasts as his lifebound beasts?
"Once, I thought my dream was over, that I would never be able to return to the Institute. Even when my mother encouraged me every day, I saw no hope. But the heavens have not abandoned me—Li Tianming!"
"Lin Xiaoting, Mu Qingqing, just wait—I will return! I will take back everything you stole from me! And of course… your lives…"
Li Tianming gazed out the window, thinking about what he wanted to do in the future. Most importantly, he could not allow his mother to suffer any further…
His mother—Wei Jing—had already lived a difficult life, and his expulsion from the Flameyellow Scions Institute had only made things worse. Throughout these three years, all her suffering and helplessness had been deeply etched into his memory. Even after the symbiotic cultivation session ended and the chick had fallen asleep, Li Tianming continued to cultivate.
Today was his mother's birthday.
"How happy she will be if she sees that I have regained my strength and that I have a future again? If I can cultivate once more, I can gather more Pure Spirit Grass to extend her life even further…"
As the family member who had raised him for the past twenty years, Li Tianming only dreamed of seeing her joyful face. However, at that moment, commotion arose outside the house. It seemed someone had just burst into their home.
"Wei Jing, Li Tianming, open up!"
"We have a big, big gift for you!"