From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 166 Before the Mountain of Ten Thousand Beasts, the Beginning of Beast Taming

"They're here..." Ling'er's voice was almost whispered in my ear, barely audible.

I held my breath. The light from the dew-covered grass could only illuminate a small area around me. Further away, there was still an impenetrable darkness, and this unknown only added to my fear.

The rustling sound grew closer, and I could even feel the ground vibrating slightly.

Suddenly, several dark figures darted out of the darkness. I instinctively waved my Dew-Gathering Grass, and the light illuminated them—a group of small mythical beasts that resembled rats but had sharp fangs, their eyes flashing with ferocity.

They were incredibly fast; before I could even react, they had completely surrounded me.

Ling'er exclaimed in surprise and hid behind me.

I waved the Dew-Gathering Grass, trying to drive them away, but the faint light seemed to have no effect on these ferocious mythical beasts.

Their sharp claws scratched at my clothes. I hurriedly dodged, but my foot slipped on a loose stone, and I stumbled, feeling a sharp pain in my ankle.

"Hiss—" I gasped and collapsed to the ground. Damn it, I twisted my ankle!

Seeing me fall to the ground, these small mythical beasts pounced on me even more recklessly. I brandished the Dew-Gathering Grass, barely managing to fend off their attacks, but I felt utterly powerless.

"Sister Xiao Yao, be careful!" Ling'er's voice was full of worry.

I gritted my teeth, my heart filled with despair. Was I going to die here? I hadn't found my way home yet, I hadn't...

Just then, an aged voice came from afar: "Who is making a ruckus in Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain?"

Immediately afterwards, a bright light pierced the darkness, illuminating the entire valley.

I squinted and saw an old man in a gray robe slowly walking towards me, followed by several disciples, each with a serious expression.

The old man walked up to me, his gaze sweeping over my disheveled appearance and the small mythical beasts around him, his brows furrowing slightly.

"Elder Feng, it's her, it's her!" A sharp voice came from afar. I looked up and saw a beautiful woman in a white dress walking towards us. Behind her were several disciples, each with an arrogant expression.

"Fairy Mingyue." Elder Feng nodded slightly.

Fairy Mingyue walked up to me, looking down at me with a cold smile: "Oh, isn't this Xiao Yao? What, you also want to tame a celestial beast? With your abilities?"

I bit my lip, trying hard not to let the tears of pain and humiliation fall.

The disciples behind Fairy Mingyue whispered among themselves, their words full of sarcasm.

"Her? Taming beasts? She should know her own worth." "She can't even handle a few ground squirrels, yet she wants to tame a divine beast? What a pipe dream!"

Fairy Mingyue glanced disdainfully at my sprained ankle. "Overestimating yourself. Mount Wanshou isn't a place just anyone can come to. Some people would be better off going back to embroidery." The sarcasm in her tone pierced my pride like a sharp knife.

Ling'er supported me worriedly and whispered to comfort me, "Sister Xiao Yao, don't listen to her nonsense, you can definitely do it." But her comfort seemed so powerless. In front of Fairy Mingyue's powerful aura, we were like two trembling little rabbits.

Elder Feng coughed lightly, interrupting Fairy Mingyue's taunts.

“Fairy Mingyue, since you’re here, why don’t we observe and learn together?” He turned to me, his tone calm but with a hint of scrutiny. “Xiao Yao, you’re new to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, so you must remember the incantations and techniques I taught you before. All beasts have spirits, and the best way is to control them with your heart.”

I forced myself to nod, despite the pain.

The beast-taming knowledge taught by Elder Feng seemed so pale and powerless in the face of this predicament.

Those profound incantations seemed to have no effect on these ferocious low-level immortal beasts.

I tried to circulate my spiritual energy and silently recite the incantation, but I felt that my spiritual energy was empty and I couldn't mobilize it at all.

Seeing this, Fairy Mingyue let out another cold laugh: "It seems that some people can't listen to Elder Feng's teachings." Her tone was full of superiority, as if I was destined to fail.

I struggled to my feet, the pain in my ankle causing me to stumble.

Ling'er quickly helped me up. "Sister Xiao Yao, are you alright?" I shook my head and looked firmly into the depths of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain.

I can't give up, I must prove myself!

Suddenly, a scorching heat filled the air, and an intense sense of oppression made it almost impossible for me to breathe… “What is that…”

The scorching heat grew stronger and stronger, and the oppressive feeling made it almost impossible for me to breathe.

"It's a Flame Wolf!" Ling'er exclaimed, her voice trembling slightly.

My heart sank. The Flame Wolf, one of the most ferocious mythical beasts in the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, is known for its cruelty and tyranny.

Before I could react, a powerful pressure swept over me, and everything went black before my eyes, and I felt dizzy.

"Sister Xiao Yao!" Ling'er's anxious voice rang in my ears. I tried to steady myself, but my legs felt weak and I could barely stand.

Seeing this, Fairy Mingyue curled her lips into a mocking smile. "It seems some people can't even withstand the pressure of the Flame Wolf. How laughable." Her disciples behind her echoed her sentiments, their jeers piercing my eardrums like needles.

Manager Zhao stood by and watched coldly, expressionless, as if none of this concerned him.

I gritted my teeth and struggled to resist this powerful pressure.

Elder Feng's teachings echoed in my ears: "All beasts have a spirit, and the best strategy is to control them with your heart..." But how can I "control the beast with my heart" when faced with such a ferocious Flame Wolf?

I felt like a tiny ant facing a colossal creature, with no chance of winning.

Just when I was about to despair, I suddenly sensed something unusual.

Although the Flame Wolf's aura was powerful, it seemed to carry a hint of... unease?

I tried to concentrate and feel everything around me.

The Flame Wolf's breathing was heavy and rapid; it seemed to be on guard against something, yet it also carried a hint of barely concealed anxiety.

I closed my eyes, cleared my mind, and completely immersed myself in this atmosphere.

Gradually, I seemed to sense a faint fluctuation, which was... fear?

The Flame Wolf is actually afraid?

I suddenly opened my eyes and looked in the direction where the Flame Wolf was.

There was a dense thicket of bushes, and something seemed to be hidden deep within it.

Could it be...? I took a deep breath, forcing myself to overcome my weakness, and walked towards the bushes.

Ling'er tugged at my sleeve worriedly, "Sister Xiao Yao, what are you going to do?" I didn't answer, but just gently patted her hand to reassure her.

“Perhaps…” I whispered, “I’ve found the key to taming it…”

The bushes rustled, a foul stench wafted towards me, and a mythical beast, covered in barbs and resembling a porcupine but several times larger, roared as it charged toward me.

My heart skipped a beat, and I quickly dodged to the side. The sharp barbs grazed my arm, and my sleeve was instantly torn open.

"Ling'er, be careful!" I shouted, drawing the dagger from my waist, channeling my spiritual power, and stabbing it fiercely into the beast's abdomen.

The mythical beast had thick hide and flesh; the dagger only pierced a small part of its flesh, yet it aroused its ferocity.

It let out a deafening roar, thrashing its massive body as it tried to knock me away.

I dared not confront them head-on, and could only rely on my agility to weave and dodge among the trees.

The surrounding trees became my barrier, and also restricted the movements of the mythical beasts.

I seized the opportunity, leaped onto a tall tree, and from my vantage point, plunged the dagger into the beast's back once more.

The mythical beast, in pain, thrashed about, nearly throwing me off. I quickly grabbed a thick tree branch to steady myself.

It struggled violently, and blood dripped down the dagger, staining the tree trunk red.

I took a deep breath, gathered my spiritual power again, and pulled out the dagger with a swift motion, then stabbed it in the eye with lightning speed.

The celestial beast let out a mournful cry, and its massive body crashed to the ground.

I jumped down from the tree, cautiously observing my surroundings, and only breathed a sigh of relief when I confirmed that it was completely lifeless.

Ling'er ran over, her face filled with worry, "Sister Xiao Yao, are you alright?" I shook my head, "I'm fine, it's just..." I looked in the direction where the Flame Wolf was, where the scorching heat still lingered, "The real challenge is only just beginning..." I gripped the dagger in my hand and walked towards the Flame Wolf, my steps light yet unwavering.

Something seemed to flash by in the shadows behind the bushes...