Destiny Beast Taming

The figure carving behind a pile of stones trembled slightly upon hearing Zhong Yi's words, but still did not raise his head.

"Since you know I am a four-fingered creator, you must know why I live this kind of life in this little shop."

At this point, the figure sighed.

He staggered to his feet from behind the workbench piled with stones, and walked out, supporting himself on the wall with one calloused, thick hand.

This was a middle-aged man with sharp features. Even though his beard covered almost half of his face, his handsome features were still immediately apparent.

Aside from his facial features, the man's body could only be described as broken and mutilated.

The left leg lost its lower leg, the right leg was severed along the leg root, the right arm was broken off at the shoulder, and only the left hand remained intact.

Instead of fitting his amputated body with prosthetics, the middle-aged man tightly wrapped the wooden cane around the severed limb with strips of cloth.

As the man struggled to walk out sideways, Zhongyi could see a fist-sized dent on the left side of his skull.

It's hard to imagine what hardships this man had endured.

"The wood and stone carvings here are quite good. If you're planning to buy, take your time to choose. If you're here to amuse yourself, then leave now."

After saying this, the man bent down with great effort and picked up a stone that was not much bigger than a human head, and placed it next to the workbench.

Zhong Yi showed no intention of leaving, nor did he look at the lifelike wood and stone carvings.

Instead, he wiped the dust off the wooden stool by the door and sat down steadily.

"You can't even concoct the most basic attribute potions anymore?"

"That's true. If one can concoct attribute potions, one can be considered a creator. There's no need to manipulate soul power with a four-finger level of control to carve these small ornaments with a file."

Upon hearing this, the man slammed the file in his hand onto the workbench, knocking open a button tied to his chest and revealing a corner of a badly damaged animal pattern.

"Now I've been reduced to being ridiculed by a little kid!"

"You can leave now. I don't want to argue with you. Don't ever come to my shop again."

Zhong Yi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, and continued speaking as if she hadn't noticed the man's intention to drive her away.

"The fact that the beast markings are still there means your tamed beasts are not dead. Don't you want to heal them and become a respected four-fingered creator again?"

The man was initially furious, but upon hearing Zhongyi's words, he couldn't help but chuckle mockingly.

The laughter was both manic and unrestrained!

"Heal my beast and my injuries?"

"Ha, if it could be cured, would you still have the chance to waste your breath on me here?"

As he spoke, the man habitually reached for the wine jug on the counter, but the jug's light weight made him awkwardly withdraw his hand.

The New Xia Federation has only four creators who have condensed six soul fingers, and twenty-six creators who have condensed five soul fingers.

Even if there are many creators who can condense four soul fingers, they won't be much more numerous than the number of chosen ones.

He recalled how glorious he was back then, and even after suffering a life-or-death ordeal, countless powerful figures came to offer their condolences.

However, once all the factions realized that his injuries were irreparable and that there was no way to help him recover, his business became deserted within a year.

Even after moving from Snowforest to Starlight City, powerful forces in Starlight City still sought him out.

The injuries on his body may appear to be severe, but what truly prevents him from using his soul power to become a creator is the injury on his head.

If he could still prepare medicine, his two old buddies wouldn't have been stuck in a deep sleep within their soul foundations due to injuries.

The man clenched his left hand tightly as he thought of the primal trauma his two old buddies had suffered.

I'm afraid my two old friends won't make it through this winter...

Just as the man was lost in thought, the boy's clear voice rang out again from the doorway.

"You must be very resentful!"

"If someone could heal you and your beast's injuries, allowing you to return to being a four-fingered creator, what would you say?"

If Zhong Yi had been in Zhao Kaigang's place when he was injured, he might have hesitated and considered it.

But now, having dragged this crippled body along for so many years, Zhao Kai, who has experienced the vicissitudes of life, already has the answer in his heart.

Previously, Zhao Kai, the four-fingered creator, had not attached himself to any powerful figure, because Zhao Kai was not someone who liked to be controlled by others.

However, several years ago, every time Zhao Kai came into contact with a powerful force, he desperately hoped that those forces would have a way to save and cure him.

Even if it meant being exploited by some power for the rest of his life, Zhao Kai didn't want to live like this, without dignity and like a piece of trash.

A creator couldn't even protect his own beast, watching helplessly as the beast's essence was damaged and its life was lost.

This feeling is like being pierced by a thousand arrows every moment!

After so many years of hardship, the arrogant four-fingered creator had long been utterly defeated by a sense of powerlessness.

Given Zhao Kai's temperament, if someone had said such nonsensical things to fool him, he would have kicked them out long ago.

But now, Zhongyi's words resonated with Zhao Kai's hopes and dreams over the years, so Zhao Kai calmed down and said with a self-deprecating smile.

"Do you, little brat, know what price you'll have to pay to heal my injuries?"

"There aren't many people in this world with such abilities!"

"If that day ever comes, I am willing to give up everything, even if I can no longer become a four-fingered creator, and the injuries to my two beast tamers will never be healed."

"But as long as someone can keep my two tamed beasts alive despite their crippled bodies, I'm willing to do anything."

Zhao Kai is a very clear-headed person, and he knows very well that he no longer has any value.

Being in a high position means that even a cough will attract a crowd.

When you're at your lowest point, those who once supported you turn into wolves.

Scenes from the past few years flashed before his eyes, and Zhao Kai gave a bitter smile.

"Alright, you've asked all the questions you needed to ask. You can leave now."

"Having talked to you so much, it can be considered a kind of fate that we met once."

"I'm not feeling well, please close the door behind you when you leave, we're closed today!"

Zhao Kai was preparing to sit back down on the stone-covered workbench and calm himself down through carving.

Just then, the boy who had been sitting on the wooden bench asking him pointed questions stood up and walked towards him.

As the boy approached, he activated his Soul Foundation, and a blood-red beast with long, thin, crimson bristles appeared in his palm.

From a distance, it looks just like a freshly picked dragon fruit.

"I really don't know what price you and your two beasts will have to pay to heal from your injuries."

"However, this is not necessarily an impossible task."