Beast Tamer Ascension

Vol 2 Chapter 57: The True Successor of the Divine Pine

“What the h*ll is this squirrel…?” A burly gentleman among the academy’s teachers shot to his feet in shock.

The newly enlightened Pine Leaf Mouse was far too terrifying.

With the Rainfall Bodhisattva uprooted and the rain ceasing, a deluge of red leaves filled the sky. These crimson leaves were far more menacing than the prior rain. Even cultivators skilled enough to avoid being touched by a single drop of rain couldn’t defend themselves against the power of the falling leaves.

Each leaf carried ripples of spatial energy, and as the waves spread, treasures spilled from the cultivators’ storage pouches like cascading rain. Spirit stones, magical artifacts, pills, and demonic beast materials littered the ground.

Though reclaiming the fallen resources was technically possible, the Pine Leaf Mouse’s incredible speed left everyone in the dust.

It darted through spatial nodes like a streak of red light, and each time it passed, the scattered treasures were swept up in a blink. The geniuses present felt their hearts bleeding at the sight.

The most horrifying aspect wasn’t even its strange spatial technique but its overwhelming strength.

Had the Pine Leaf Mouse relied solely on its spatial abilities, the geniuses would have cornered and subdued it despite its speed. However, the moment it had knocked Tang Yun—ranked sixty-sixth on the Genius Rankings—flying with a single punch, everything changed.

Tang Yun wasn’t just any cultivator. He was a late Foundation Establishment expert with the Innate Cloud Mist Physique, the second strongest among the participants, surpassed only by Liu Yu.

If even Tang Yun couldn’t withstand a single strike, challenging the Pine Leaf Mouse seemed suicidal.

“This squirrel has been hiding its strength,” someone muttered in astonishment.

When the teachers probed it again, they were shocked to discover that, despite being in the early Foundation Establishment stage, the Pine Leaf Mouse’s mana rivaled that of pseudo-Core Formation cultivators.

For a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment beast to possess such mana was unheard of. If it underwent two more elemental baptisms, its strength would be unimaginable.

Upon breaking into Foundation Establishment, both cultivators and beasts experience three baptisms: the first from Qi Refinement to Foundation Establishment, the second when advancing to mid-Foundation, and the third when reaching late-Foundation. Each baptism significantly enhances one’s mana reserves.

Having mana equivalent to a pseudo-Core Formation cultivator after just the first baptism suggested only one possibility—the Pine Leaf Mouse’s bloodline was close to that of a royal demonic beast descended from a Demon Emperor!

“This squirrel isn’t just a product of Lin Jing’s training. It’s likely that the Nascent Soul-transformed Divine Pine behind Lin Jing isn’t protecting him but this squirrel!”

Some teachers noted that the Pine Leaf Mouse’s organs were becoming plant-like, a sign of its potential evolution into a fully wood-based lifeform.

“This Pine Leaf Mouse… is the true successor of the Divine Pine!”

“D*mn it! What’s wrong with this squirrel?!”

Though the Pine Leaf Mouse’s Diamond Subduing Demon Fist hadn’t knocked Tang Yun unconscious, it had severely injured him. Protected by the mists surrounding his body, he used a secret healing art to quickly recover, but his internal organs remained shaken.

Meanwhile, the Pine Leaf Mouse had shifted its attention to two new targets—the ripest sheep in the flock.

Wang Xiao, the bearer of the Heavenly God Physique.

Liu Yu, ranked eighty-first on the Genius Rankings and wielder of the Eight-Eyed Innate Physique.

Only these two had managed to withstand its flying leaf techniques without losing resources.

The Pine Leaf Mouse’s gaze first fell on Wang Xiao’s hand, where a silver ring gleamed. Next, it shifted to Liu Yu, who wore a jade bracelet radiating brilliance—both items far superior to ordinary storage pouches.

“Why did I even come here…” Wang Xiao sighed inwardly. His Battle Tiger’s fur bristled with unease.

Fortunately for Wang Xiao, the Pine Leaf Mouse’s gaze passed over him, as Lin Jing intended to recruit him into the Dragon Palace.

As for Liu Yu…

“It wants to rob Liu Yu!”

The teachers were stunned. Liu Yu was one of the academy’s top talents, ranking within the top three. Stronger geniuses had already graduated, leaving Liu Yu as a de facto leader. ᚱâℕọ฿ËṢ

“Your courage knows no bounds…” Liu Yu began, but before he could finish, the Pine Leaf Mouse vanished, reappearing before him via a red-leaf teleportation.

Its tail’s crimson maple leaf, sharper than the others, was like a spatial blade. As it materialized, treasures began pouring out of Liu Yu’s vicinity.

“Extinguish!”

Liu Yu’s third eye opened, emitting golden divine light. This Heavenly Eye targeted the soul and spirit, an unparalleled weapon in the Foundation Establishment stage where few cultivated soul defenses.

But just as Liu Yu prepared to obliterate the Pine Leaf Mouse’s consciousness, an incredible sight unfolded. The mouse calmly met his gaze, revealing a third eye of its own—formed from a pinecone!

“You…” Liu Yu’s heart sank.

The moment their gazes locked, he was plunged into a shadowy forest. Before him stood a towering pine tree, its branches seemingly connecting to the heavens, exuding an aura that overwhelmed his spirit.

When he regained consciousness, his third eye was bleeding, and the Pine Leaf Mouse was gone, along with all his resources.

“Liu Yu’s Heavenly Eye failed?!”

The onlookers were dumbfounded. Not only had Liu Yu failed to stop the mouse, but he’d also lost his treasures in the process.

“The third eye…” one teacher murmured. “That pinecone eye proves it—this squirrel is the Divine Pine’s successor. Far more terrifying than Lin Jing ever was.”

Out of mana, the Pine Leaf Mouse paused its rampage. The Demonic King Form it had attempted to activate consumed too much energy, leaving it powerless.

Calming itself, it began consuming pills while flying toward Lin Jing, planning a strategic retreat. It needed Lin Jing’s protection to recover its strength.

Meanwhile, Liu Yu clenched his fists, a mix of anger and fear in his heart.

“Boss, it’s out of mana!” members of Liu Yu’s Eye Alliance whispered.

“Chase it?”

“No.”

Though the Pine Leaf Mouse was currently powerless, Liu Yu refrained. Its earlier display of a spiritual shadow had shaken him to the core, its might exceeding even his clan’s Nascent Soul Ancestor.

The geniuses, however, erupted in anger and prepared to pursue the fleeing mouse.

“Get our storage bags back!”

“That d*mn thing took the sword my partner gave me!”

“That’s nothing—it stole my partner!”

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