Beast Taming: the More the Better Chapter 3 Forest Wolf Catalog, Magic Potion: ’Heart of Woods

~5 minute read · 1,214 words
Previously on Beast Taming: the More the Better...
Su Ping discovers a rare, mutated green wolf cub left behind by his father in the cultivation base. Recognizing the potential of its Wood and Poison dual attributes, he successfully establishes a Soul Contract with the creature, naming it Xiao Qing. The binding triggers his dormant Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas, which unlocks for the first time and grants him the Eye of Truth ability. With his new power, Su Ping can now analyze the specific stats and potential of the little wolf.

Focusing his attention, Su Ping watched as the sole illuminated pattern within the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas gradually expanded until it filled his vision.

[Catalog: Forest Wolf]

[A lupine species highly skilled in utilizing Wood Attributes, boasting incredible vitality. A typical mature Forest Wolf is classified as Elite Level, possessing abilities such as Sunlight Absorption, Vine Strangling, Self-Healing, and Accelerated Growth.]

[Current Catalog Level: 1 (300/500)]

Known Evolutionary Atlas, special cultivation:

[Not yet discovered]

Preferences and habits:

[Fond of basking in sunlight, frolicking in forested areas; they travel in packs and demonstrate significantly heightened combat prowess during daylight or when positioned in woodland environments.]

Record log:

[Encountered and interacted with a Forest Wolf afflicted by a Poison Attribute mutation; intimacy levels satisfy the criteria. Catalog Experience +300!]

[This Forest Wolf is a unique mutant. For every day spent in its company, you gain 5 points of Catalog Experience! Daily interactions provide a potential chance to uncover the origin of the bloodline mutation. Alternatively, you may consume a substantial amount of Catalog Experience to analyze the root cause of this mutation.]

[Catalog Experience is earned daily based on the frequency of interactions with such creatures and their current level. Experience can also be gained by augmenting the natural abilities of creatures that meet the intimacy threshold, thereby refining the Catalog and increasing its rank.]

Reviewing the comprehensive analysis of the Forest Wolf, Su Ping blinked in contemplation.

As he processed the discovery of his 'Eye of Truth,' a flare of excitement ignited within him.

The Catalog records clearly indicated that consistent interaction with its creatures, coupled with higher quality specimens, would yield more Catalog Experience.

Moreover, the Forest Wolf entry had only unlocked after he forged a Soul Contract with Xiao Qing.

After all, the number of slots a Beast Tamer possesses for contracted creatures is strictly limited.

Each progression to a new Great Realm only grants a Beast Tamer one additional slot for a Pet Beast.

Essentially, Su Ping would be unable to contract another Pet Beast until he personally ascended to the Elite Level.

However, upon re-examining the Catalog—specifically the final line of the record—his gaze fixated on one word.

Intimacy!

With this revelation, he finally understood that the Pet Beast Breeding Base his somewhat reckless father had abandoned might actually hold significant potential and utility.

In an instant, Su Ping discarded all thoughts of heading out on an impulsive adventure.

Drawing upon years of knowledge regarding Forest Wolves and the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base, he felt a sudden surge of motivation.

He gathered Xiao Qing into his arms, retreated to the living quarters, and began a thorough search of Su Anyong’s room. After a lengthy period of rummaging, he recovered the item he had been seeking.

It was an ancient, yellow-paged manuscript.

In this modern age, such artifacts were remarkably rare. Yet, according to his father, this was the Su family heirloom and the fundamental reason the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base had managed to survive until this day.

Previously, his father had played a game of secrecy, forbidding Su Ping from viewing it until he reached the age of eighteen, awakened his Talent, and successfully became a prospective Beast Tamer.

Now, the book lay discarded beneath a cabinet, clearly lacking the reverence or preservation one would expect for an heirloom.

The title was quite lengthy: "Forest Wolf Breeding and Training Manual with the 'Heart of Woods' Magic Potion Recipe."

The foundation of their family’s Pet Beast Breeding Base was contained within these pages.

His father always claimed this was the culmination of his grandfather’s lifelong research.

Magic Potions were complex mixtures derived from various resources combined through precise formulas, typically intended for the consumption of Pet Beasts.

The 'Heart of Woods' was evidently one such concoction.

These potions possessed diverse effects: some accelerated growth, some boosted a creature's realm, others restored vigor, triggered evolution, or even taught entirely new Skills.

Among these, potions capable of inducing evolution in Pet Beasts were undeniably the most prized—a fact that went without saying.

Following closely were those that enabled the learning of specific Skills.

And the 'Heart of Woods' formula buried in this ancient tome was exactly that.

'Heart of Woods' was indeed a Skill. While not a 'Super-Rank' ability comparable to the world-shaking spells found in the games of his previous life, its utility was truly impressive.

On Blue Star, Pet Beast Skills are generally categorized into ordinary Skills and Super-Rank Skills.

Even though 'Heart of Woods' was merely an ordinary Skill, it was an incredibly rare ability, often proving more valuable than certain offensive Super-Rank Skills.

Its effect was simple: all Wood Attribute Skills belonging to the Pet Beast received a passive boost. Furthermore, if injured or exhausted, the creature could actively draw sustenance from surrounding vegetation for Rapid Recovery.

Combined with the innate prowesses of a Forest Wolf, this ability was an unparalleled treasure during woodland or prairie skirmishes!

Across the entirety of Blue Star, few Wood Element creatures naturally possessed the 'Heart of Woods' technique.

Were it not for the fact that the family's recipe had an exceptionally low success rate—with only a few triumphs over as many decades—and was limited exclusively to Forest Wolves, this formula alone could have easily secured the top honors at the Breeder Association’s annual competition, catapulting the family to national fame regardless of its monetary worth.

However, as it was now a family heirloom and Su Ping had committed himself to revitalizing the family Breeding Base, mastering this technique was essential.

He bypassed the familiar sections regarding basic Forest Wolf husbandry and focused intently on the 'Heart of Woods' formula.

'Raw materials: three segments of hollow willow wood, one Wood Spirit herb, three drops of hundred-herb extract, one nectar-sipping bee stinger.'

'Production method: The hollow willow branches must be hand-crushed for 30 minutes over a flame until obliterated. Combine with 100ml of pure water and one drop of the hundred-herb extract. Continue crushing by hand for another 30 minutes to achieve a paste-like consistency. Subsequently, add one additional drop of the extract and one Wood Spirit herb. Further crush by hand for 30 minutes until it forms a pulp. Finally, incorporate the bee stinger. Continue pounding into a concentrated liquid, then allow it to cool for over six hours until it sets into a jelly. Only then is the process complete.'

'Effect: Upon consumption, there is roughly a one percent chance for a Forest Wolf to acquire the rare Heart of Woods Skill, plus a possibility of increasing the creature's Level.'

'Higher innate Talent in the Forest Wolf increases the probability of success.'

After finishing the manual, Su Ping exhaled slowly.

He was prepared to rise, but suddenly paused in disbelief.

Without his input, the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas within his mind began turning its own pages, opening once more to the Forest Wolf entry.

Feedback from the Catalog manifested in his consciousness:

[Discovery of a 'Forest Wolf' special cultivation method: 'Heart of Woods' Magic Potion.]

[Detected: The 'Heart of Woods' Magic Potion formula is incomplete. Do you wish to expend 285 Forest Wolf Catalog Experience to perfect the 'Heart of Woods' Magic Potion recipe?]

Su Ping’s jaw dropped, his face lit up with an expression of stunned, mounting ecstasy.