Chapter 744: Chapter 744

It wasn’t long before a number of escape lights flew from the distant horizon and landed in the Stone Pavilion.

Aside from Shen Peng and Shen Mei, there was also a burly blue-clad young man, a plump woman in a golden dress, and a broad-shouldered, rotund man in red.

"How did it go? Who won?"

"He’s too cunning, always using the Thunder Escape Technique to dodge my attacks,"

the blue-clad young man complained.

Shen Jiu, whose true form was the Nine-Headed Ghost Pigeon, had grown an additional head after advancing to the sixth rank.

"Speak as if you took my thunder methods head-on. Besides, I’m your older brother,"

Shen Peng said sternly.

Shen Peng, Shen Long’s Life-Bound Spirit Beast, considered himself the eldest brother. Shen Jiu was the second eldest, Shen Lie ranked third, Shen Ao fourth, and Shen Mei fifth. The others’ ranks were based on the order of their transformations,

Shen Xiao and the rest didn’t care about their ranks, but Shen Jiu did; he always wanted to be the eldest brother.

"It’s not set by the master, I don’t acknowledge it,"

Shen Jiu retorted, smirking.

"Enough, each of you talk less. there’s something I need to tell you."

Shen Peng and the others sat attentively and looked towards Shen Long.

"Shen Xin, Shen Lin, the Red Fire Monkey, Golden Flame Lion, and Five-Colored Worm are under your management; Shen Xiao, Shen Mei, and Shen Chan, the Spirit-Seeking Mouse, Eight-Winged Soul-eating Centipede, and Shen Die will be managed by you; Shen Jiu, Shen Lie, you are in charge of the fourth layer, managing the Thunder Manta and the Sea-Stepping Turtle; Shen Ao will manage the Ice Eagle; Shen Peng, you are responsible for managing them. Understand?"

Shen Long said slowly.

He refined their functions and delegated them to Shen Xin and the others.

Shen Xin was the Gold-Winged Fire Ant Queen, Shen Lin was the Fire Qilin Beast, and Shen Chan was the Hundred Eyes Cicada.

Currently, there are two Red Fire Monkeys that have grown to the sixth rank. The number of monkeys in the tribe had already surpassed a thousand, but their Purity of Bloodline varied. Only those with high bloodline purity were the primary targets for cultivation.

Shen Lang couldn’t always be enlightening the Spirit Beasts himself. With the Nine-Headed Ghost Pigeon, Ice Flood Dragon, and others transformed into human form, they were the backbone of the Spirit Beast Hall and were naturally better suited to managing the Spirit Beast legions.

Shen Long was setting up a framework to simplify management and also to strengthen Shen Jiu and the others’ management and organizational skills.

Shen Peng and the others answered in unison.

"You didn’t object, that’s odd,"

Shen Peng said curiously, looking towards Shen Jiu.

"I listen to the master. If the master tells me to listen to you, then I’ll listen to you. I’ll do it even better than you will,"

Shen Jiu replied confidently.

"Whether it’s bantering or sparring, know your limits and don’t fight amongst yourselves. You are family, understand? Anyone who dares to treat their own kin ruthlessly, don’t blame me for being unkind,"

Shen Long said gravely.

In his plan, he managed Shen Peng, Shen Jiu, and Shen Xin, while Shen Peng and Shen Jiu were responsible for managing the other Spirit Beasts.

Shen Peng and the others agreed in chorus.

Shen Jiu merely wanted to prove he was stronger than Shen Peng; he had no intention of causing internal strife. Nevertheless, Shen Long still drew an unquestionable red line.

"You haven’t been in human form for long. Start by learning from Shen Lang. He will teach you the foundational knowledge of cultivation and guide you in combined tactics. Whatever he teaches you, you will teach to the other Spirit Beasts, Spirit Birds, and Spirit Insects, understand?"

Shen Long instructed.

Shen Peng and the others responded.

"Every hundred years, there will be an assessment. The quantity and rank of your managed tribes will be a key focus. Furthermore, Spirit Beasts, Spirit Birds, and Spirit Insects that awaken their intelligence need to be taught the basics of cultivation and how to fight together and cooperate. A comprehensive score will be given based on performance. The higher the ranking, the more generous the reward. The one in the last place will not receive any resources for their tribe for a hundred years. If ranked last for three consecutive times, there will be no cultivation resources for a thousand years."

Shen Long explained unhurriedly.

"Ah! Master, this is too difficult! We have no experience! It’s one thing to fight or teach them the basics, but is it necessary to hold an assessment?"

Shen Xin’s face showed his unease.

"In the Cultivation Realm, every power has a system of rewards and punishments. You must also have a system of rewards and punishments; otherwise, everyone will slack off. As long as you teach diligently, if you don’t do well, that’s another matter, but if you skimp on your duties, I will not let it slide lightly. The Artifact Spirits are watching you all!"

Shen Long said sternly.

"As long as I’m not at the bottom, it should be fine."

Shen Xiao broke into a grin.

"Useless fellow, if you’re going to do something, do it to the best of your ability. Watch and learn as I set a good example for you all."

Shen Jiu said confidently.

"Right now, I am conveying this message to you, and in the future, I will directly ask about the conditions of the other groups. You are the backbone of the Spirit Beast Hall; these groups are your subordinates. The stronger they are, the more cultivation resources you will have. Do you understand?"

Shen Peng and the others promptly agreed.

"Master, what am I in charge of?"

Shen Zhan asked, his face full of anticipation.

"You, the Pursuing Spirit Beast, and the Tree Demon will advance to the sixth rank; then, I’ll assign you tasks. For now, follow them and learn. You’ll also manage other spirit beasts and spirit birds in the future."

"Okay, I will study hard."

Shen Zhan quickly promised.

"You can start learning now. In a while, I will observe your assessment. Only by passing the assessment, you’ll be able to manage other spirit beasts and spirit birds."

Shen Long instructed and left the Myriad Beasts Tower.

He took out a messaging plate that flickered with red light, injected a spell, and the voice of Li Tianxue rang out, "Junior Brother Shen, Li Yunpeng and Taoist Friend Li are holding a dual-cultivation ceremony and have invited us to participate. Are you available?"

"Taoist Friend Li is holding a dual-cultivation ceremony?"

Shen Long thought briefly and said, "I am available; there’s not much else. It’s good to meet more Taoist friends. Senior Sister Li, when shall we leave?"

"Ten years later; there’s still plenty of time. I’ll inform you when it’s time to leave,"

"Okay, thank you, Senior Sister Li."

Shen Long expressed his gratitude.

"What’s there to thank for? If it weren’t for that top-grade Seven-Leaf Jade Lotus Pill you gave me, my Life-Bound Spirit Bird, the Gold-Winged Wind Owl, wouldn’t have been able to mutate."

Li Tianxue said gratefully.

Shen Long had given Li Tianxue a top-grade Seven-Leaf Jade Lotus Pill, which she fed to her Life-Bound Spirit Bird, the Gold-Winged Wind Owl. Its Purity of Bloodline had reached five, successfully mutating.

"Senior Sister Li, you’re being modest. When I first ascended to the Realm of the Spiritual Pivot, you took good care of me; one top-grade Seven-Leaf Jade Lotus Pill is nothing."

Shen Long said with a smile.

"I won’t say more out of gratitude, then. You go on with your work. If there’s anything I can help you with, just let me know,"

Shen Long agreed and put away the messaging plate.

He entered the practice room, summoned the Qianyang Cauldron, and began alchemy.

As Shen Jiu and others gradually advanced to the sixth rank, Shen Long felt increasingly pressured. He needed to exchange top-grade elixirs for more resources to cultivate spirit beasts and build his own army of spirit beasts.

He opened his mouth to release Qinglian True Flame, which landed at the bottom of the Qianyang Cauldron, rapidly increasing the room’s temperature.

He added the materials to the cauldron one after another, covered the cauldron with its lid, and closely monitored the situation within the cauldron with his Divine Sense.