Chapter 6: Acquiring a Divine Beast as a Martial Companion

“Congratulations to player Wu Tian for slaying the level-nine beast boss, Black Dragon Python. You have gained 100,000 experience points, and your Instant Kill proficiency has increased by 60 points.”

“Congratulations to player Wu Tian for leveling up nine times in a row. You are now level 20 (Martial Master, tenth tier).”

“Congratulations to player Wu Tian for obtaining the level-nine Dark Attribute Black Dragon Python Beast Core.”

“Congratulations to player Wu Tian for obtaining the divine weapon, Black Dragon Blade (Upgradeable, currently Yellow Grade).”

...

As soon as Wu Tian slew the Black Dragon Python, a series of notifications sounded in his mind.

Defying the heavens—it was simply unbelievable!

Not only had he leaped nine levels in an instant, but he’d also obtained a level-nine beast core, while his Instant Kill proficiency soared by sixty points. This was practically cheating.

Leaving aside the nine-level increase, even the level-nine beast core was a rarity throughout the entire Empire of Martial Fury—there were only a handful in existence, making its value beyond estimation.

Of course, what excited Wu Tian most was that the Black Dragon Blade, a divine weapon, had dropped. A divine weapon! Not only was it rare in the Martial Fury Empire, but even across the entire Divine Dragon Continent, few such weapons existed. What thrilled Wu Tian even more was that this divine weapon was upgradable. As he examined the weapon’s description in his status panel, a wide grin spread across his face.

Weapon: Black Dragon Blade (with innate Black Dragon Blade Technique)

Grade: Divine Weapon (currently Yellow Grade, upgradable)

Origin: Legend holds it was forged from the spine of an ancient, heaven-defying black dragon. It is currently sealed and will grow stronger as the player levels up. Note: The Black Dragon Blade is part of a divine set—collect the other four pieces to upgrade the set’s grade.

Attack: At its present Yellow Grade, it boosts the player’s base attack power by 50% and raises critical hit rate by 10%. It deals double damage to beasts and even divine beasts.

The blade itself was pitch-black, resembling a coiled, mighty black dragon. Unfortunately, it remained sealed for now; its edge hidden, its aura suppressed. Anyone unfamiliar would mistake it for a mere woodcutter’s blade.

Clutching the all-black Black Dragon Blade, Wu Tian felt a surge of power flow through him. He sensed the blade calling to him, a palpable connection in his grip.

Exhilaration—sheer exhilaration! At just Yellow Grade, it already boosted attack power by 50% and critical rate by 10%. When its quality improved, the results would be unimaginable.

Ding!

Suddenly, another notification echoed in Wu Tian’s mind.

“Player Wu Tian has triggered a hidden quest!”

“Hidden Quest: Assemble the Black Dragon Set.”

“Quest Reward: 2,000,000 experience points, seal removal.”

“Quest Clue: None.”

Wu Tian was nearly overwhelmed with delight. Not only had he obtained the Black Dragon Blade, now he’d received the Black Dragon Set quest as a bonus. A divine set—if fully assembled, its power would be beyond imagination. Unfortunately, no clues were provided, so the journey to collect the remaining four artifacts would be long and arduous. Still, possessing the Black Dragon Blade alone was already a stroke of great fortune.

Of course, the Black Dragon Blade also came with its own technique—the Black Dragon Blade Technique. As a divine weapon’s innate skill, it was naturally extraordinary.

Wu Tian didn’t hesitate and began cultivating the Black Dragon Blade Technique, whereupon the skill’s attributes appeared in his panel.

Skill: Black Dragon Blade Technique

Description: The Black Dragon Blade comes with its own technique, consisting of nine tiers. Currently, the player can only practice the first tier, which increases damage by 10%. When used with the Black Dragon Blade, damage is doubled.

“Incredible, truly incredible! Not only does the Black Dragon Blade increase my attack power, its technique further boosts my damage. Combined, they amplify my strength—I bet that, as a tenth-tier Martial Master, even without activating Instant Kill, I could slay a first-tier Martial Spirit with the Black Dragon Blade alone!”

Wu Tian’s heart soared, and he took a moment to check his status.

Player: Wu Tian

Class: Warrior

Level: 20 (Tenth-tier Martial Master)
(Realm ranks on the Divine Dragon Continent: Martial Novice, Martial Master, Martial Spirit, Martial King, Martial Lord, Martial Ancestor, Martial Emperor, Martial Sovereign, Martial God; each realm has 1–10 levels.)

Instant Kill (Beginner): 86/100 (Currently Beginner level; allows the instant slaying of enemies up to one level higher than the player. Cooldown: half an hour. Ranks: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Divine, Super-divine, Heaven-defying.)

Health: 100 (100/100)

True Qi: 100/100

Main Skill: Black Dragon Blade Technique

Auxiliary Skills: Alchemy (0/100), Forging (0/100), Beast Taming (0/100), Puppetry (0/100), Disguise (0/100)

Luck: 55 (max 100)

Charm: 51 (max 100)

“Human, please... please save me!” As Wu Tian was reviewing his status panel, the Silver Wolf’s voice echoed in his mind.

Only then did Wu Tian notice the Silver Wolf lying limp beside him, her silvery fur stained crimson with blood. The health bar above her head was nearly drained, and she was at death’s door.

“Even if I could save you, what if you killed me afterward?” Wu Tian eyed the Silver Wolf warily. He wasn’t a fool—if he could slay the Black Dragon Python, the Silver Wolf could just as easily slay him.

“I am willing to form a Heaven and Earth contract and recognize you as my master,” the Silver Wolf replied weakly, unable even to move her body.

Wu Tian nodded. “That’s a good proposal. Let’s form the contract.”

On the Divine Dragon Continent, there was a law of the heavens: Beasts, even divine beasts, could form a Heaven and Earth contract with humans. Once such a contract was formed, the beast would become a martial companion. If a martial companion attempted to harm its master, the law of heaven would reduce it to ashes.

At this moment, a prompt appeared in Wu Tian’s mind.

“Silver Wolf requests to become your martial companion. Do you accept?”

“Yes!” Wu Tian chose without hesitation.

A red pillar of light shot up above both Wu Tian and the Silver Wolf, and an unbreakable bond seemed to form between them.

“Master, please save me!” the Silver Wolf cried out in agony.

Wu Tian grew anxious. Now that the Silver Wolf was his companion, letting her die would be a waste.

“The Primal Chaos Spirit Fruit—if I eat it, I can be reborn!”

Wu Tian looked at the golden, glowing Spirit Fruit at the cave’s entrance, hesitated for a moment. Such a fruit was a priceless rarity; if he gave it to the Silver Wolf, he would have none left for himself. Yet now that she was his companion, saving her meant gaining a powerful guardian at his side.

“Very well, the Primal Chaos Spirit Fruit is yours!” Gritting his teeth, Wu Tian entered the cave to harvest the fruit for the Silver Wolf.

Upon examining the Spirit Fruit’s attributes, Wu Tian realized it far exceeded his current capabilities; he simply could not use it yet. Giving it to the Silver Wolf was no loss.

He promptly fed the fruit to her.

The dying Silver Wolf, after swallowing the Spirit Fruit, suddenly began to swell, her body radiating golden light. Wu Tian felt an immense surge of spiritual energy spreading out, forcing him to step back in awe.

“What an enormous amount of spiritual energy—only a level-nine beast could withstand it,” Wu Tian remarked as he retreated.

When the Silver Wolf’s body reached its limit, a loud bang rang out! Her body seemed to shed a layer of wolf skin, and instantly, a tiny golden wolf, no larger than a head, appeared amidst the golden light, its fur shimmering.

“Master! Thank you!” The little golden wolf bounded towards Wu Tian, leaping into his arms.

When Wu Tian checked the little wolf’s attributes, he was so startled he nearly fell over.