The practitioners of the beast-taming art are indeed rare, even scarcer than those who cultivate talismans. One could almost say they are a dying breed.

Take, for instance, the archipelago near the boundless sea. Here, due to the perpetual warfare with the Sea Race, it’s customary to capture their kind, especially powerful Sea Lords, and imprison their true forms. Through formidable prohibitions and the destruction of their divine intelligence, these unfortunate creatures are bound and repurposed as island-guarding sea beasts.

This is seen as maximizing the utility of the captured Sea Race.

However, this fundamentally cannot be considered the true beast-taming art. It is no different from holding slaves in thrall.

True, orthodox beast-taming involves the deep communion of heart and mind between human and exotic beast. The bond between them is one of partners, of comrades forged in battle.

This ancient technique boasts a long history, its origins potentially tracing back to the primordial era.

In those distant ages, human practitioners with innate Dao Meridians were exceedingly few, their combat strength sorely lacking. It was then that wise sages devised the beast-taming art, enabling humans to tame exotic beasts for tribal use, thereby bolstering their fighting power.

For a time, the significant increase in combat strength offered by exotic beasts made this art immensely popular. It was but one of countless desperate attempts by human sages to survive the difficult years.

But the inherent problem lay in the fact that common wild beasts offered almost no utility in supernatural battles, while exotic beasts possessing supernatural power were seldom seen.

Furthermore, these exotic beasts were generally formidable, many even possessing inherent wisdom, making them exceedingly difficult to tame.

Legends speak of creatures like the Law Beast Bi An, also considered a form of exotic beast.

The beings designated as “exotic beasts” in the ancient era often bore a touch of divinity, possessing qualifications that might even label them as divine beasts.

The beast-taming art typically involved forging ties with the bloodline descendants of these potent exotic beasts.

As the eras rolled on, these creatures transitioned from being “seldom seen” to “rare,” and finally, nearing extinction.

The beast-taming art, consequently, found itself at a dead end.

Later, human sages, building upon their research into Pulse-Opening Pills, innovatively cultivated the “demon beast” race to supplement the source of these vital pills.

Demon beasts truly possessed supernatural combat strength, no less formidable than some exotic beasts. With continuous refinement through cultivation, the strength of demon beasts could still ascend.

Many believed that the beast-taming art might thus experience a revival.

But the most glaringly realistic problem lay in this…

The more powerful a demon beast became, the more it simply represented a higher quality Pulse-Opening Pill.

The fundamental purpose of the beast-taming art was to elevate supernatural power. Yet, demon beasts and human cultivators were fundamentally incomparable.

Survival of the fittest dictated their solitary paths.

Throughout the long history of cultivation, countless methods have been eliminated, the beast-taming art being merely one among them.

Those who mention it in later times inevitably let out a few sighs of regret, but that is all.

As for the exotic beasts themselves, only a sporadic few rare bloodlines have managed to tenuously survive in the present world. The colossal turtle in Tianyou Country is one such example.

But even these are exceedingly rare.

Touching’s puppet art was already a remarkable achievement, whether it be the mechanical iron warrior Chitian Nu or the nimble Piao Hu and the coiling Chain Snake – none were within the manufacturing capabilities of ordinary Mohist school cultivators.

And he, having concurrently cultivated this beast-taming art, had similarly attained an extremely profound realm.

That single-clawed, ghost-faced rat-bat exotic beast, so perfectly tamed, possessed astonishing innate ability. Its mere appearance was enough to strike down Lin Xian.

From the sidelines, the Shen Ce Army generals did not intervene. Touching’s tamed exotic beast was likely counted within his quota of five puppets, thus not a violation of the rules.

Off-field, Qiao Lin was struck dumb with shock.

He even forgot to transmit his voice, instead muttering aloud, “Touching… is so strong!”

This was indeed a battle that defied expectations.

A spectacle of unexpected brilliance!

In the eyes of many, this contest held no suspense whatsoever. Yet, on the arena floor, the twists and turns unfolded one after another.

Lin Xian’s unbound divine ability, combined with the later-displayed knife technique possessing immense killing power, could be said to cleave mountains and cut through water.

Had he not encountered an opponent like Touching, he would have had ample opportunity to advance into the main competition.

The synergy of these two powers held truly terrifying potential.

Jiang Wang was certain that if Lin Xian could develop these two powers to their current zenith, he might even have the qualification to contend for first place in this Yellow River Assembly!

It was a pity he was clearly too inexperienced. Rong Country had hidden him too deeply, denying him many opportunities for growth.

Of course, had he achieved fame earlier, perhaps he would not have reached this point today.

A person’s power is ultimately defined by their opponents.

Precisely because Lin Xian was so formidable, the power displayed by Touching was even more alarming.

If even the truly powerful Lin Xian was unable to reverse his defeat, Touching’s strength could only be imagined.

No wonder this man dared to openly challenge the prodigies of Qi Country, possessing a resolve to reclaim honor for Xia Country.

It was only a pity…

Jiang Wang let out a soft sigh: “He has no opportunity now.”

Still in the qualifying rounds, at such an early stage, Touching had just encountered Lin Xian, forcing him to reveal most of his capabilities.

Three of his puppets were destroyed. Even if they could be swiftly repaired, they were now laid bare for all to see.

And the supernatural ability of that single-clawed, ghost-faced rat-bat was also revealed to the world.

Touching at most still had the quota for one puppet or one exotic beast; the remaining space was too limited. On the battlefield, this would be called “loss of strategic depth,” a harbinger of inevitable defeat.

At an event like the Yellow River Assembly, even before he had stepped down from the stage, the details of this spectacular battle had likely already reached the ears of all his formidable opponents.

But for Jiang Wang…

He felt no joy at losing this powerful opponent.

Instead, he felt regret that he would likely not have the opportunity to cross hands with someone possessing such unique techniques.

For a moment, Qiao Lin’s thoughts were not clear, still concerned by the power of the Xia Country prodigy. But upon hearing Jiang Wang’s words and seeing the grim expression on Touching’s face, he roughly understood.

At this moment, Touching stood alone on the stage, not a hint of triumph on his face.

The single-clawed, ghost-faced rat-bat hovered beside him.

Lin Xian had fallen, his fate uncertain. The three puppets, cleaved apart by the firewood knife, lay scattered around him.

For a long time, no one spoke.

Many people only realized in retrospect that the Yellow River Assembly did not prohibit matters of life and death…

Furthermore, even a weak nation like Rong Country, maintaining a low profile, had sent Lin Xian alone to participate.

This meant that the unconscious Lin Xian, unable to actively surrender, had his life and death now resting in Touching’s hands.

Would Touching then kill this opponent who had destroyed his puppets and shattered his hopes for the Yellow River Assembly?

“Lord Jiang.” Qiao Lin swallowed, transmitting his voice: “Will he kill Lin Xian?”

After the baptism of such a wonderful battle, Jiang Wang’s mood was exceptionally calm at this moment. He countered, “How do you hope he will act?”

Qiao Lin pondered for a moment before saying, “Kill him.”

The reason was simple: Lin Xian was a prodigy of Rong Country.

And Rong Country was situated right beside Qi Country.

Such a tiny Rong Country, yet its genius hidden so deeply, displayed an obvious vigilance and resistance towards Qi Country.

If Lin Xian died, it would be akin to severing Rong Country’s last hope. This was, of course, something Qi Country would welcome.

Jiang Wang said, “Then Touching will not kill him.”

On the arena, Touching gazed down at the fallen Lin Xian, his eyes reflecting an undeniable killing intent.

Sword Peak Mountain, that supremely significant and renowned mountain, had been “decreed to return.”

Xia Country was already a laughingstock of the world.

As one of Xia Country’s representatives, he had come to participate in this Yellow River Assembly, seeking to reclaim some measure of honor for his nation.

Yet, he was thwarted by a mere cultivator from Rong Country, forced to expose many of his trump cards in the early stages of the selection competition.

How could he not harbor hatred?

But after a long moment of silence, he finally turned to the Shen Ce Army general presiding over the arena and said, “The outcome has been decided, yes?”

The Shen Ce Army general, his expression impassive, raised a hand and declared, “Winner of the Geng character platform, Xia Country’s Touching!”