461: Taotie, an ancient ferocious beast

Chapter 461: Ancient Fierce Beast - Taotie

Subsequently, after further understanding the power of the Fierce Beast Bloodline from Wu Xian, Master Lu was even more astonished.

"There's actually such a Heaven-Defying Bloodline power? This, this, this..."

At this moment, Master Lu had long since cast other matters aside, his mind filled with obsession and curiosity about the Fierce Beast Bloodline.

Xu Qingshan, standing nearby, was not much better.

"Little Zhou, right?" Master Lu's eyes flickered as he suddenly asked, "You shouldn't have any Revered Master, right?"

"Ah?" Zhou Qi was puzzled.

"So there isn't one then?" Master Lu's eyes lit up, as if he had discovered some Treasure Trove. "Come, come, my precious Disciple, let's complete the apprenticeship first. I, your Revered Master, am willing to pass on all my life's knowledge to you.

And Little Wu, why don't you just join too? Save the trouble."

"..." Wu Xian was speechless. "You should take Brother Zhou as your Disciple first; don't be too greedy."

Zhou Qi, however, was overjoyed. While Wu Xian might not value this Revered Master-Disciple relationship, he certainly did.

After all, Master Lu was a big shot at the Divine Beast Dojo.

Although he was only the principal of the Divine Beast Dojo's university, no one would ever question his status within the Divine Beast Dojo.

The mere subject of Bloodline Structure was enough to establish his important position.

Moreover, as a principal, he now had Disciples scattered across the world. Among the high-ranking members of the Divine Beast Dojo alone, there were a great many of his students. Even the current Divine Beast Dojo Revered Master would respectfully address him as Old Principal.

To be able to become a Disciple of Master Lu was absolutely a blessing accumulated over eight lifetimes.

To put it this way, the moment he successfully became a Disciple, he would instantly join the ranks of the Dojo's second-generation elite.

"Disciple Zhou Qi, greets Revered Master!" Zhou Qi knelt down quite readily.

After all, Master Lu had always been his idol.

Being able to take his idol as a Revered Master would make him wake up smiling even in his dreams.

"Hahaha, rise, Disciple. Later, I'll have the Dojo Revered Master register you. If you want to stay and develop here, that's fine too. We'll be family sooner or later, right?"

Master Lu joked, glancing at Wu Xian, clearly not giving up.

Wu Xian shook his head and smiled, not answering.

In fact, with Zhou Qi's connection, they would indeed be family in the future.

At least Master Lu and the grandfather-grandson pair would definitely be family, but the others in the Divine Beast Dojo might not be.

This guidance of Zhou Qi to become Master Lu's Disciple was actually intentional on his part.

He had originally intended to guide and facilitate the connection, but he didn't expect Master Lu to accept a Disciple so decisively.

Before Wu Xian could even speak, Master Lu himself couldn't hold back.

"Little Wu is right. Disciple's core conceptual idea for this Fierce Beast is Heaven-Defying. In the future, combined with my life's learning, there is certainly great potential." Master Lu could not hide his excitement, full of hope for his new Disciple's future.

At this moment, he was already planning to create a separate category system for his Disciple's "Vicious Beast" within the Divine Beast Divine Domain.

Subsequently, the few of them began to integrate various Bloodline data and refine the subsequent Taotie Bloodline Structure.

Of course, since the Taotie hadn't been created yet, the specific details of its Bloodline were unknown.

But a general idea could be deduced.

"Reverse-engineering like this isn't a good method; it's too time-consuming," Master Lu mused. "If possible, you should create a basic scroll first, a bronze scroll will do, to at least establish the general direction and framework."

"Alright."

Wu Xian didn't waste words. He immediately took out a batch of recently collected Materials, preparing to create a simple Taotie first.

After all subsequent research was complete, it wouldn't be too late to reconstruct and upgrade it.

Seeing Wu Xian take out so many high-quality, top-tier Materials, Master Lu couldn't help but be surprised. "It's just a bronze scroll; do you need such good Materials?"

"This... perhaps the rank of my scroll's concept is relatively high," Wu Xian said with a smile.

Master Lu was secretly startled.

At least in his opinion, the bronze scroll versions of even the top-tier Divine Beasts in the Divine Beast Dojo wouldn't require such high-spec piling of Materials.

However, considering Wu Xian's absurd concept of "endless appetite," a higher specification was normal.

Little did he know, for the Taotie, even Materials of this specification were barely adequate.

During the subsequent creation, he would also need the God of Wealth to lend a hand and then use the power of incense to add fuel to the fire.

A moment later, everything was ready, and the drawing began.

Wu Xian also intentionally incorporated some conceptual elements of the "Fierce Beast" to facilitate the adaptation and Fusion of the Taotie's Bloodline with the Fierce Beast's Bloodline power later on.

The process of incorporating the Fierce Beast concept was far smoother than imagined.

"Oh?"

The integration of the Fierce Beast conceptual elements seemed to have no impact on the Taotie's own concept; instead, it appeared very harmonious.

Could it be that the ancient Vicious Beasts were inherently linked to the mysterious "Fierce Beast" power?

If so, then he would add more and see.

It wasn't until Wu Xian integrated the complete core concept of the Fierce Beast that the Taotie's overall concept remained as stable as an old dog, harmonious and compatible.

This both surprised and delighted Wu Xian.

It seemed that the idea of integrating the Fierce Beast Bloodline power later on would present virtually no difficulties.

Not long after, a malevolent Qi, accompanied by the power of the laws of heaven and earth, converged on the painting, secretly startling Master Lu and the other two.

"What a malevolent Qi, it can even associate with the aura of the laws of heaven and earth," Master Lu exclaimed.

Zhou Qi also couldn't hide his shock. "How come it feels even more ferocious than my Nether Fiend?"

As he spoke, the scroll had already condensed and, adorned by the power of heaven and earth, rolled up the painting.

On the painting, a terrifying monster with only a head and mouth was vividly alive, with twisted gray-black mist behind it vaguely forming the monster's body. Just one glance made it feel as if it would rush out of the painting to devour you.

Ancient Vicious Beast - Taotie

Type: original (gold embroidered border)

Grade: bronze scroll

painting spirit: ★ ★ ★

Spirituality: 38

Innate Traits: Devour, Source of Gluttony

As a bronze scroll, it couldn't carry much power, only one innate trait: [Source of Gluttony].

As for the [Devour] trait, it was a standard trait from the "Fierce Beast" concept.

Through the Law Veins of the divine scroll, carefully sensing the Taotie's Bloodline power, there were clearly many characteristics of the Fierce Beast Bloodline, and they were directly integrated into the large Bloodline framework.

Perhaps, the Bloodline power of the Taotie itself had some origins with the mysterious "Fierce Beast" Bloodline power.

"It's actually done?" Master Lu was full of enthusiasm. "Let this Old Senior take a look at what's going on?"

Until now, Master Lu still didn't quite believe the concept of "endless appetite."

It was too abstract, too fantastical.

However, when Wu Xian summoned the Taotie, Master Lu immediately put away his doubts.

The ferocious Qi, as if it would devour everything, was enough to make one's scalp tingle just by looking at it.

Zhou Qi and Xu Qingshan dared not look directly into the Taotie's eyes.

How to describe it? It was as if their "gaze" was being devoured by the monster, causing them a spiritual discomfort.

Amidst his shock, Master Lu inadvertently unleashed a mysterious power around him.

That power was clearly not on the spiritual energy level, nor was it a power that humans should possess.

Wu Xian and the God of Wealth in his Sea of Consciousness keenly noticed this.

"Oh ~ this Old Senior also seems to have a lifebound scroll," the God of Wealth said with great interest.

Wu Xian had obviously realized this too, and his gaze towards Master Lu became strange.

That power just now was clearly the power of a painting spirit, and only a lifebound scroll could directly invoke the power of a scroll without releasing the scroll itself.

Just like Wu Xian could summon the God of Wealth's Wealth Qi at any time.

Interesting, Master Lu was hiding quite a lot.

Of course, Wu Xian found it inappropriate to directly expose such a special secret.

"This power..."

With the help of the lifebound scroll's power, Master Lu was able to look directly at the Vicious Beast Taotie before him.

However, while sensing the Taotie's power, there was a hint of doubt and peculiarity in his eyes.

"Is there a problem?" Wu Xian asked, puzzled.

"No, not at all," Master Lu's eyes flickered, and he mused, "It's just that this Vicious Beast's Law Veins and power style seem to have a subtle similarity to one of my scrolls."

"Is that so?" Wu Xian was surprised.

After a moment of hesitation, Master Lu's thoughts stirred, and a strange-looking, imposing exotic beast appeared beside him, radiating a faint aura of divinity and nobility.

It was a six-legged exotic beast with four splendid wings on its back. Its overall appearance was slightly plump and bloated, and it had no ears, eyes, mouth, or nose. It looked like a large ball of flesh with wings and six legs.

The moment they saw the exotic beast, Wu Xian and the God of Wealth in his Sea of Consciousness were both stunned.

Good heavens, isn't this Comrade Dijiang?

But it was the classic of mountains and seas version of Dijiang, and a beautified, deified Dijiang.

There was no integration of the later primordial setting; if it were integrated with the primordial setting, its prestige and strength would be a bit outrageous.

It would directly be the head of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, controlling the Law of Space, the fastest legend of the primordial era.

Of course, this Dijiang before them was clearly of the classic of mountains and seas Bloodline, and its Bloodline was slightly off, leaning towards the style of a Divine Beast and Auspicious Beast.

"How is it? Does it feel a bit like the same origin?" Master Lu asked.

"Hmm... there's a bit of that," Wu Xian pretended, and then probed, "May I ask what this Divine Beast is called, and where did you get the inspiration and concept from?"

"This scroll is named the Four-Winged Beast Ancestor, and it is the result of my many years of research into various exotic beast Bloodlines," Master Lu said with considerable pride. "It took me almost half my life to perfect this concept."

Wu Xian was secretly amazed.

Good heavens, did he glimpse the classic of mountains and seas while researching various Otherworld Bloodlines?

He was definitely a Genius Scroll Master born in the Scroll World!

"My concept is relatively simple; I just thought of it casually. Perhaps it inadvertently coincided with Senior's in some aspects?" Wu Xian bluffed.

"Tsk tsk, didn't I say you, lad, have a fated connection with me?" Master Lu said enthusiastically, "Are you still not going to become my Disciple?"

"Uh, I'll pass on the apprenticeship, as Junior already has a Revered Master."

Wu Xian politely declined. Although his Revered Master was not very useful, a Revered Master for a day is a Revered Master for life.

Hearing this, Master Lu secretly regretted it.

"But speaking of which, if Junior isn't mistaken, your Divine Beast is a lifebound scroll, isn't it?" Wu Xian suddenly asked.

"Hmm?!" Master Lu's expression changed slightly. "Could it be that Little Friend also...?"

One must know that people who don't understand Ancient Scroll lifebound scrolls cannot perceive the special existence of a lifebound scroll; they would only treat it as an ordinary scroll. After all, Ancient Scrolls, when the scroll body is not released, are no different from normal scrolls.

Only those who truly understand lifebound scrolls can confirm them through certain details.

Wu Xian grinned, harmless to humans and animals.

"Hiss~!" Master Lu was secretly startled, and couldn't help but re-examine Wu Xian before him.

At such a young age, he had already mastered something like the life-bound Ancient Scroll?

This young fellow is quite something!

In a trance, Master Lu seemed to have thought of something, and subtly asked through Divine Thought transmission, "Good Luck?"

Hearing Master Lu's Divine Thought transmission, Wu Xian was also stunned.

His brain rapidly processed the information, and he instantly identified Master Lu's forum ID. "Are you Senior Four Generations Under One Roof?"

Possessing an Ancient Scroll and being a big shot in the Divine Beast Dojo, it seemed only that Senior Four Generations Under One Roof fit the description.

"Precisely, precisely," Master Lu appeared calm on the surface, but his Divine Thought transmission was filled with intense excitement. "Hahaha, I should have thought of it earlier. Only a young man like Little Senior could be so outstanding, so Heaven-Defying.

Oh right, you also inquired about the Wang Family before. The Wang Family happens to be within your Tianfeng Province. Oh dear, I should have thought of it earlier. Look at this mess."

"By the way, why did you all delete your forum accounts?" Wu Xian asked, puzzled.

"Didn't we all gradually create our Ancient Scrolls? Once we successfully crossed the river, it was natural to dismantle the bridge."

"..." Wu Xian was dumbfounded.

While Wu Xian and Master Lu secretly recognized each other as online acquaintances, Xu Qingshan and Zhou Qi were still shocked by the matter of the lifebound scroll.

"Brother Wu has a lifebound scroll?" Xu Qingshan's eyes flickered.

Zhou Qi, however, was confused. "What is a lifebound scroll?"

"Nothing, nothing, just a special kind of scroll," Wu Xian waved his hand with a smile. "With Old Senior Lu's guidance in the future, Brother Zhou might also be able to try."

Zhou Qi was also a smart person. After a moment of recollection, he instantly understood. "I see. Brother Wu's humanoid scroll riding a black tiger is his lifebound scroll. No wonder he kept it so tightly guarded."

Wu Xian nodded and smiled. "Compared to conventional scrolls, Ancient Scroll lifebound scrolls depend more on fate, and their power is also somewhat stronger."

"Ancient Scroll?" Zhou Qi caught on quickly. "The kind that doesn't use spiritual Materials, but directly draws upon the power of heaven and earth through the painting itself?"

"Haha, a teachable child indeed." Master Lu praised with satisfaction. "Later, I will give you some pointers and see who, you or Qingshan, can create an Ancient Scroll first."

Hearing this, Zhou Qi was naturally overjoyed.

Coincidentally, Wu Xian had just gained some new insights into the creation of Ancient Scrolls.

That was the scroll compatibility he had experienced from Tattoo Bro.

If he wasn't mistaken, if one could mentally and temperamentally align with the characters in the scroll's concept, it could greatly assist in the formation of an Ancient Scroll.

Thus, it seemed that for the concept of an Ancient Scroll, it wasn't about being as powerful as possible, but rather as suitable for oneself as possible.

Therefore, it was unrealistic for Zhou Qi to try to create an Ancient Scroll using his Fierce Beast concept.

Unless he himself became like those Fierce Beasts, turning into a zombie without consciousness or emotion, or becoming a vicious villain who devours people whole.