170: Chapter 170 Is this the ferocious Crimson Armor Beast?

You are received by an old man in grey robes. When you see him, your heart stirs slightly.

Recently, through various channels, you have gained a rough understanding of some information regarding the upper echelons of the Zhao family. This old man is named Zhao Chengshan, one of the Elders of the Zhao family, with a cultivation level of Qi Refining Perfection. He is specifically responsible for managing this vast Spirit Beast Garden. He has a rigid personality, rarely smiles, and holds considerable prestige within the Zhao family.

You did not expect that he would personally handle the reception of new arrivals.

When Zhao Chengshan sees you walk in, he is visibly stunned for a moment.

His turbid gaze sweeps over your cold and peerless face, and his brows knit imperceptibly. He thinks to himself: "To think there is actually such a beautiful, delicate female cultivator willing to take on this arduous task of feeding Spirit Beasts? Could she be some vase who wants to come here to gild herself and slack off?"

However, he does not show it on the surface; he simply checks your identity jade token coldly.

"Lin Shuangwan, Qi Refining Second Layer." Zhao Chengshan throws the jade token back to you, his tone blunt. "The Spirit Beast Garden is not like other places. Here, we don't care about looks, only about how diligent you are. If you can't do the work, get lost early; don't be an eyesore here."

"Rest assured, Elder, this Junior will certainly do her best," you reply, neither humble nor overbearing.

Zhao Chengshan snorts softly, turns around, and walks into the garden: "Follow me, I'll take you to get familiar with the place first."

You follow behind him, passing through rows of massive beast enclosures. As he walks, Zhao Chengshan speaks at a very fast pace, introducing the types of Spirit Beasts here, feeding times, and various taboos that need to be noted.

"This is a Green-Scaled Horse, gentle in nature, just needs to be fed Spiritual Plants three times a day. That is a Wind-Running Wolf, carnivorous; do not get too close when feeding, they are protective of their food..."

You listen while silently recording it with your Divine Sense, nodding from time to time.

Soon, you arrive in front of a heavy-duty beast enclosure made of refined steel and black iron. Before you even get close, you hear a low, manic roar coming from within, and a scorching, fishy wind rushes towards you.

"This is a Red-Armored Beast," Zhao Chengshan stops and his expression becomes serious. "A First-Grade Medium Grade Yao Beast, extremely irritable and vicious in nature. Their red armor is excellent Materials for refining Magical Artifacts. The area you are responsible for includes this place."

He turns his head to look at you, emphasizing his tone: "Remember, when cleaning their beast pens and feeding them, you must stand outside the defensive Formation and use your Spirit Power to manipulate tools. You must never get within three feet of the iron bars! Last month, a Guest Elder at the first level of Qi Refining didn't listen to advice and got too close; he was swiped by a claw, breaking three ribs, and almost lost his life here."

You follow his gaze and see seven or eight Vicious Beasts, the size of oxen and covered in crimson scales, lying in the beast enclosure.

Besides those three adult Red-Armored Beasts, there are four cubs in the corner that are noticeably smaller, with light red fur and shells that have not yet fully hardened. They are looking at you curiously.

You tentatively take half a step forward.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengshan frowns.

He had just finished giving instructions, and this girl is already leaning forward. Does she take his words as wind in her ears?

He originally wanted to shout a stern stop, but then he thinks, this female cultivator is so arrogant just because she has a bit of beauty. If he doesn't let her suffer a little, who knows what kind of trouble she will cause in the future.

Thus, he silently withdraws the hand he was preparing to pull you back with. His cultivation of Qi Refining Perfection gives him enough confidence to act instantly before anything happens, so that you can learn a lesson.

You do not know Zhao Chengshan's internal thoughts; you walk to the iron bars, less than a foot away from those behemoths.

Zhao Chengshan's Spirit Power is already quietly circulating, ready to act at any moment.

But the next instant, his movements freeze.

Those originally manic and restless adult Red-Armored Beasts, upon seeing you approach, miraculously quiet down. The dark red in their eyes gradually fades, replaced by a look similar to confusion and curiosity.

Most shockingly, the few slightly smaller juvenile Red-Armored Beasts wobble over to the iron bars and use their large, scale-covered heads to rub against the back of your hand through the gaps, emitting "purr-purr" sounds of fawning similar to a pet dog.

You smile slightly and extend your fair fingers, gently scratching the chin of one of the small Red-Armored Beasts. The small beast narrows its eyes in comfort and rolls over on the ground, exposing its soft belly.

Zhao Chengshan, standing behind, is so shocked his eyeballs are about to pop out.

Forty-three years; he has managed this Spirit Beast Garden for forty-three years, and he has raised this species of Red-Armored Beast for six whole generations. When has he ever seen them take the initiative to show goodwill to a stranger?

The bloody scene of that mother beast swiping someone away last time is still vivid in his mind, and now it is actually lying down? Those cubs that fear nothing and bare their teeth at everyone are actually wagging their tails?

He recalls the Guest Elder who was swiped away last month, and then looks at you, who are currently "petting" the Red-Armored Beasts, and his worldview is severely impacted.

Zhao Chengshan takes a deep look at you, a glimmer of light flashing in his turbid eyes.

"This girl... is absolutely not simple," he thinks to himself. "Could it be that she possesses some special Physique that has an affinity with Yao Beasts? If that is the case, then I have truly struck gold."

Zhao Chengshan coughs lightly, masking the shock in his heart, and steps forward. "Cough... It seems these Red-Armored Beasts quite like you."

You turn your head and smile modestly. "Perhaps it is because this Junior has no Killing Intent on her, and they feel I pose no threat."

Zhao Chengshan does not refute, nor does he say anything more; he just looks at you with a little less contempt and a little more inquiry and gravity. He gives some more detailed instructions and then turns and leaves.

Just like that, your days in the Spirit Beast Garden settle down.

Your tasks during the day are to clean the beast pens and feed Spiritual Plants to these Yao Beasts, which seem incredibly vicious to others but are quite "cute" in your eyes. Because of your special affinity, this originally high-risk task is incredibly easy for you.

At night, you return to your residence, unfailingly going into seclusion to Cultivate the Burning Heaven True Art, and spending a great deal of energy practicing talisman drawing.

The five generous contribution points each month are, without hesitation, exchanged by you for talisman paper and Spiritual ink.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, three months have passed.

During these three months, the more Zhao Chengshan sees of you, the more satisfied he is. Seeing that you work earnestly and steadily, never slacking off, and do not spend all day thinking about hooking up with the direct descendants of the Zhao family like other female cultivators, his attitude towards you, his capable helper, becomes increasingly close.

After all, most of the Guest Elders previously sent to the Spirit Beast Garden could not last for a few days before complaining loudly, disliking the dirt and smell, or even being scared away by the Yao Beasts. Yet you not only keep the Spirit Beast Garden in perfect order, but even the most irritable Yao Beasts are as obedient as pet dogs under your care.

This evening, just as you finish cleaning the Green-Scaled Horse's enclosure, Zhao Chengshan strolls over with his hands behind his back.

"Emperor Shuang Wan, girl, finished with your work?" Zhao Chengshan smiles and hands you a bottle of Medicinal Pill for replenishing Spirit Power.