The so-called “Heart-Linking Ring” was a mystical artifact personally crafted by Emperor Sanmo.
At first glance, it appeared as a circular doorway radiating a blue glow. When a beast passed through it, only an instant would pass in the real world. However, in that fleeting moment, the beast would experience countless lifelike illusionary realms, indistinguishable from reality.
The “Heart-Linking” test aimed to assess whether a beast would ever act against its master under extreme circumstances.
Forging this “Heart-Linking Ring” was no easy task, and in their haste, the Beast Taming Sect managed to create only one. Although the test itself took very little time, the sheer number of beasts in the sect was overwhelming. It wasn’t just the personal spirit beasts of the disciples; there were also beasts used for labor, tending spirit fields, and guarding the sect—an entire horde of masterless beasts.
Although they were called “masterless,” these beasts were all enslaved under the rule of the Beast Taming Sect.
The key to their control was the sect’s supreme treasure, the Ten Thousand Beasts Reincarnation Wheel. It was said that this wheel bore engravings of nearly every known beast in existence. Even when a new species of beast emerged, its image would soon appear on the wheel.
From the moment a beast was born, the Ten Thousand Beasts Reincarnation Wheel would imprint a brand upon its soul, binding it for eternity, ensuring that it could never escape the wheel’s control.
It was said that this treasure had originally been brought from the Nanming Sacred Beast Mountain by Emperor Sanmo and given to the sect’s founding ancestor, Wan Shiyong. It was from the Ten Thousand Beasts Reincarnation Wheel that Wan Shiyong comprehended the profound [True Art of Beast Control].
However, despite its incredible abilities, the Ten Thousand Beasts Reincarnation Wheel had several fatal flaws. It could only be used on newborn beasts. Additionally, any beast imprinted with its brand would suffer excruciating, never-ending pain, known as the Agony of the Wheel. This agony severely stunted their intelligence, making them capable of only the simplest tasks.
Thus, Beast Taming Sect cultivators used the True Art of Beast Control to nurture their life-bound spirit beasts from a young age. They never considered relying on the beasts controlled by the Ten Thousand Beasts Reincarnation Wheel.
This also led to the Beast Taming Sect suddenly falling into an extremely difficult situation after the great calamity of the inability to cultivate the same Dao technique descended
Fortunately, the evacuation was personally overseen by Emperor Sanmo. Under the gaze of this long-browed, white-haired elder, neither man nor beast dared to disobey. The Heart-linking Ring test was carried out in an orderly manner.
By the end of the first day, only one-tenth of the beasts had been tested. At this rate, the selection process would take nearly half a month to complete. Beasts that passed the test were reunited with their masters, shedding tears of relief, and were the first to board the Ten Thousand Beasts Ark.
Soon, they would embark on this flying artifact, leaving the Xuanhuang Realm to seek refuge in an unknown minor world.
As for the beasts that failed the test, no matter how much their masters wished otherwise, they were forcibly separated. It was said that these beasts would be temporarily imprisoned and later released after the Beast Taming Sect had fully evacuated.
On the seventh day of testing, that night—
Xu Ke, who had been absent all day, suddenly appeared before Li Fan, his face full of panic.
“Xiao Hei, this is bad! You need to get out of here, now!”
Li Fan, who was meditating and cultivating the Creation Furnace Technique, opened his eyes, glanced at him indifferently, and remained unmoved.
Xu Ke continued urgently, “This time, I’m not joking. If you stay here, you’ll really die. Forget about me—just leave the Beast Taming Sect quietly!”
Li Fan yawned, stretching his mouth.
Xu Ke became even more anxious. “Xiao Hei, did you even hear what I just said? Today, I overheard Senior Brother Lu Ya saying…”
“That the beasts who fail the test won’t actually be set free as promised, but will instead be executed. Isn’t that right?” Li Fan interrupted.
Xu Ke froze. “You… how do you know?”
“Did you eavesdrop on our conversation?” A trace of shock flashed across Xu Ke’s face.
Li Fan scoffed, raising his head arrogantly. “You don’t need to eavesdrop to figure that out—it’s just common sense.”
“Think about it. These beasts, once belonging to the Beast Taming Sect, know countless sect secrets. The evacuation of the Xuanhuang Realm is a matter of life and death for the sect. If word gets out, who can guarantee that these beasts won’t lead pursuers to the minor world? If that happens, there will be no escape—it would be total annihilation!”
“That Emperor Sanmo is no kindhearted, merciful figure. Anyone who could hand over a method for enslaving his own kin to the humans…” A dangerous glint flickered in Li Fan’s eyes.
“In short—these beasts must all die!” Li Fan declared coldly, his words firm and unwavering.
After a long time, Xu Ke finally reacted. He stared blankly at Li Fan and asked, “Since you’ve figured everything out, Xiao Hei, why are you still so calm? Aren’t you afraid?”
Li Fan stood tall, staring intently at Xu Ke, pressing him, “What a joke! Why would I be afraid? Do you really think I wouldn’t pass that so-called Heart-Linking Ring test? Do you have so little confidence in me?”
Overwhelmed by Li Fan’s imposing aura, Xu Ke couldn’t even meet his gaze. He stammered, “That’s not what I meant… Nothing in life is absolute. What if…”
Li Fan flapped his wings and flew over Xu Ke’s head, landing a fierce claw strike. “There is no ‘what if’!”
He declared firmly.
Xu Ke hesitated, wanting to say more. Although he was deeply worried, he knew this stubborn bird’s temperament all too well, so he refrained from further persuasion.
Three anxious days passed, and finally, the day arrived for Xiao Hei to undergo the test.
Under the intense and watchful eyes of those around, Li Fan stepped into the Heart-Linking Ring.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
In the next instant, the Heart-Linking Ring burst into a gentle blue glow—a sign of successfully passing the test!
“Ah! Xiao Hei, you’re amazing!” Xu Ke shrieked and rushed forward, attempting to hug Li Fan tightly—only to be ruthlessly kicked away by a sharp claw.
“The test is complete. Next.” Lu Ya announced, glancing at Li Fan with slight surprise.
Five days later, after all the spirit beasts of the Beast-Taming Sect had completed the Heart-Linking Ring test, the Ten Thousand Beast Ark was filled to the brim.
It was finally ready to set sail towards an unknown homeland.
“Senior Brother Lu Ya, aren’t you coming?” On the deck, Xu Ke curiously looked at Lu Ya, who stood at the bow of the ship, tilting his head as he asked.
Lu Ya reached out and patted Xu Ke’s head. “Some people have to stay behind. The Ten Great Immortal Sects still care about appearances. If they don’t even bother to put on a show, it wouldn’t be good to provoke unnecessary trouble.”
Xu Ke nodded in half-understanding.
“Go on. The future of the Beast-Taming Sect depends on you now.”
Tying a red string around Xu Ke’s right wrist, Lu Ya spoke with a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
“Wow! This is a red string woven by Mr. Bai!” Xu Ke immediately recognized the unique knotting style.
Back when they were still in the abandoned temple of Ningyuan City, every time Mr. Bai cured a sick child, he would tie such a red string around their wrist, praying for their future safety and well-being.
Xu Ke raised his hand, staring at the red string, inspecting it closely over and over again.
Li Fan also fixed his gaze on the red string, an indescribable feeling stirring in his heart.