Beast Taming: the More the Better Chapter 4: The Perfect Recipe! Forest Wolf Breaks Through Racial Limits

Su Ping could barely believe it! Even with the mental fortitude honed over two separate lives, his hand, clutching the ancient text, couldn't help but tremble with the sheer force of his excitement.

Without a moment's hesitation, Su Ping immediately confirmed his selection upon seeing the prompt from the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas.

It was evident that the Experience Points for the Forest Wolf Catalog held immense importance. Every time the Catalog leveled up, it granted Su Ping—the master of the system—rewards that surpassed his wildest dreams. For instance, the activation of the Beast Tamer Talented Ability, Eye of Truth, had been the initial gift. Beyond that, Catalog Experience could be accumulated by nurturing the Forest Woves, spending time with them, guiding their evolution, or discovering rare, mutated specimens like Xiao Qing.

However, the influence of the Heart of Woods, the fundamental legacy of his family’s cultivation base, proved to be nothing short of transformative for the Forest Wolf.

In an instant, the Forest Wolf Catalog, which had been glowing brightly, dimmed significantly. A moment later, a previously empty field labeled 'Known Evolutionary Atlas, Special Cultivation' displayed a brand-new entry:

['Heart of Woods' Magic Potion production: Once consumed by a Forest Wolf, it enables the awakening of the prized Skill 'Heart of Woods.' The benefits of further level upgrades remain unknown. The formulation process is as follows...]

Watching the update materialize within the Forest Wolf Catalog, Su Ping released a long, shaky breath; his eyes sparkled with intense anticipation and fervent excitement.

Yet, a minor headache emerged. The recipe perfected by the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas included a new ingredient.

It wasn't that the ingredient was prohibitively expensive. Although his father was somewhat unreliable, their family's expansive cultivation base carried no land rent and had likely accumulated decent savings over the decades. Interestingly, the bulk of these funds didn't come from selling top-tier Forest Wolves at high prices, but rather from leasing a massive vacant lot adjacent to their base to their neighbors, the Yun Tian Pet Beast Combat Resort.

What troubled Su Ping was the specific nature of this additive: 'Wolf Tobacco'. While the name suggested a link to the Forest Wolf, there was no actual relation. The name existed simply because the plant, when incinerated, emitted a thick cloud of smoke like a signal fire, and the odor was...

Ironically, Wolf Tobacco grew in abundance, spreading like a weed across various regions. Fire-type Pet Beasts or reckless Beast Tamers often ignored regulations, leading to Pet Beast skirmishes in the wild that sparked forest fires. For the Safety Bureau's firefighting units, the primary concern was ensuring their own Pet Beasts were protected from this very substance. In the annals of the Dragon Nation, numerous accounts detailed how Water-type Pet Beasts, tasked with extinguishing wildfires, were suffocated by the toxic fumes released when Wolf Tobacco caught fire.

Because Wolf Tobacco was largely useless, reeked in such an unpleasant way, and its smoke could induce dangerous hallucinations, it held a wretched reputation. Furthermore, no other practical application had been uncovered—or at least none made public. Consequently, Su Ping harbored doubts about whether this weed could truly refine the Heart of Woods Magic Potion.

Nevertheless, banking on his Golden Finger and the irrefutable accuracy of his Eye of Truth, Su Ping chose to believe.

Filled with restless anticipation, he made his way toward another structure on the grounds.

The Magic Potion Workshop.

Of all the facilities in the Heart of Wood Cultivation Base, this area had the tightest security. The materials required for Magic Potions were incredibly rare, and the specialized equipment needed for their manufacture was worth a fortune. This was a place his father had forbidden him from visiting until he reached adulthood. But things had changed.

Just as he arrived at the threshold, a massive shadow loomed behind him. Xiao Qing, curled up in his arms, instantly became rigid.

Su Ping spun around, only for a hulking, dark form to pounce, pinning him to the soft grass. A sensation, warm and damp, spread across his cheek.

Unable to decide whether to laugh or cry, Su Ping looked up at the immense, cyan-furred wolf scrambling onto him, enthusiastically licking his face in a display of affection. 'Alright, alright, that's enough,' he chuckled.

Hauling himself up, Su Ping wiped the saliva from his face. He reached out to stroke the thick fur under the chin of the giant beast—which stood nearly level with him—and asked, 'Old Sha, has everything been calm while Dad was away? Are the little ones behaving?'

'AWOOO...'

The massive Forest Wolf, Old Sha, gave a slow shake of his head.

Old Sha had been raised by Su Ping's grandfather, making him, for all intents and purposes, a peer to his father. Though no Soul Contract existed between the wolf and his father or grandfather, he had spent decades as the closest thing to kin for the Su family.

As a Pet Beast grows stronger, so too does its intelligence. Old Sha was a prime example. He was the only Forest Wolf within the entire Heart of Wood Cultivation Base to have surpassed his racial limitations, successfully reaching the Commander Level. For years, he had reigned as the undisputed Wolf King of the base's population. With Old Sha’s watchful eye, the rowdy and lazy Forest Wolves kept their behavior in check, which was exactly why Su Anyong could operate the base for years without hiring extra staff.

Su Ping activated his Eye of Truth while looking at Old Sha. The beast felt the subtle activation of the ability but remained calm, showing his absolute trust. This allowed Su Ping to view the details of Old Sha’s status:

[Forest Wolf (Wild)]

[Current Level: Commander First Stage]

[Racial Potential: Elite Tenth Stage]

[Skills: Sunlight Absorption (Perfection), Vine Strangling (Proficient), Self-Healing (Proficient), Accelerated Growth (Proficient), Wolf King Majesty (Beginner)]

Old Sha’s stats were fairly typical. His skills were at standard ranks, with the notable exception of Sunlight Absorption, which had reached the Perfection Level. Clearly, Old Sha’s ability to break through his species' potential was tied to that perfection and his status as a king; he had undoubtedly stumbled upon his own unique opportunities early in life.

Before Su Ping could contemplate further, a fresh notification scrolled across the log of the Myriad Spirit Beast Atlas's Forest Wolf Catalog:

[Interaction successful: Discovered a Forest Wolf that has exceeded its Racial Potential. Affinity requirements satisfied. Forest Wolf Catalog Experience +100!]

[This Forest Wolf is a formidable specimen. For every subsequent day spent in its company, Forest Wolf Catalog Experience +2!]

Su Ping blinked in surprise, then allowed a genuine smile to grace his lips.