Dragon Tamer

Chapter 496: Chapter 498: Spirit Key Shepherding Technique
 

The cultivation speed had suddenly increased so much that it wouldn’t be long before Zhu Minglang could solidify the Azure Phoenix Azure Dragon and Refining Ash Black Dragon’s cultivation base to the peak.

Once the cultivation base reached the peak, and after perfect condensation, he could really achieve the small goal of being Monarch Level Unmatched.

Of course, this was just a short-term goal during the growth period, and all of this was ultimately in preparation for the final Complete Period, at which point he would be reserving two Dragon King titles!

“Strange, why does my chest feel warm, as if there’s a little flame?”

While Zhu Minglang was planning his Dragon Shepherd career, he suddenly felt a peculiar sensation.

“What little flame, that’s the Spirit Key of a Dragon Shepherd, have you even properly read the books I gave you?” Mr. Jinli said irritably.

“Spirit Key!” Zhu Minglang rejoiced internally.

This thing was truly excellent.

When Big Black Tooth was transforming into a dragon, Zhu Minglang had felt a very special kind of spiritual energy, as if it had opened a grand door to his Dragon Shepherd abilities, behind which lay many special Dragon Shepherd skills to choose from…

Back then, Zhu Minglang had chosen Soul Collecting Pearl Brewing, and the next time he felt the same sensation, he had consolidated that particular skill, making this ability even more powerful.

If he hadn’t done so, in the Mark of the Earth, Zhu Minglang truly wouldn’t have been able to take away both the Gold Demon Dragon King’s and the Holy Candle Dragon King’s Dragon Balls, let alone obtain the Fire Chi Dragon’s…

A Dragon Shepherd’s road to wealth depends on this ability, which the God and Mortal do not possess.

And the abilities of a Dragon Shepherd are far more than this, it’s just that opportunities to obtain the Spirit Key are not frequent.

“Mr. Jinli, do you have any good suggestions? This Spirit Key seems to be able to unlock a certain cultivation technique.” Zhu Minglang asked.

Zhu Minglang could feel that this little flame in his chest could be guided at will. Wherever it was led to also related to the type of Dragon Shepherd technique he was about to obtain.

For example, leading this little flame to the palm of his hand would allow him to gain the cultivation technique of Soul Collecting Pearl Brewing.

Zhu Minglang didn’t know much about the cultivation techniques and was even unaware before that the little flame in his chest could be used like a key to open a gate to the abilities of a Dragon Shepherd.

“Do you even need to ask? Of course you should increase Spirit Contracts. You have too few of them, which is why you’re not fundamentally solid enough!” Mr. Jinli declared.

Zhu Minglang had become a Dragon Shepherd in too short a time. Others who had been on the path of a Dragon Shepherd from a young age had at least ten Spirit Contracts at his stage, whereas Zhu Minglang relied on just this one Spirit Contract Ring to have a total of six Spirit Contracts— he would have nowhere to put them if Little Glow Spirit and Little Wild Jiao transformed into dragons!

“Just one Spirit Key, just to get another Spirit Contract? I might as well continue to cultivate; maybe it will naturally increase,” Zhu Minglang said somewhat reluctantly.

Actually, he wanted to unlock the Spirit Seeking Eye, which was also a way to get rich. In the depths of the mountains and forests, he could quickly locate where there were Spirit Fruits, Spirit Grass, and Spirit Veins with the use of this Spirit Seeking Eye.

“Two more Spirit Contracts, no more wasting words. Quickly lead the fire of the Spirit Key to your forehead. How can a successful Dragon Shepherd not reserve Spirit Contracts? If another opportunity like the Nuwa Dragon comes along and you lack a Spirit Contract, you’ll regret it immensely!” Mr. Jinli scolded with annoyance.

“Two, huh? That’s quite a bargain, then let’s initiate the Spirit Contract.” Zhu Minglang said.

Zhu Minglang drew the flame of the Spirit Key to his forehead and immediately felt two soul connections emerge within his soul. However, the other ends were empty.

This was akin to reserving spots for Little Glow Spirit and Little Wild Jiao. Even if their transformation into dragons was slow, it didn’t matter. The Spirit Contract would naturally grow over time and cultivation, or there could be other ways to increase the number of Spirit Contracts.

“Mr. Jinli, what Dragon Trainer skills can this Spirit Key open? Why have you never talked to me about this knowledge before?” Zhu Minglang asked.

“I didn’t tell you because I was afraid you’d take detours, attracted by some skills that could bring only temporary benefits but were impractical, wasting the most precious Spirit Key of a Dragon Shepherd. The Spirit Keys a Dragon Shepherd gains during cultivation are limited; you have to choose the most suitable skill according to your own and your dragons’ conditions. One wrong step could bring great impact to your future, even to the point of irredeemable regret,” Mr. Jinli said earnestly.

“Mr. Jinli, your concern is heartening!” Zhu Minglang exclaimed, then continued, “So, are there other Dragon Trainer skills?”

“Plenty. There’s the Insight of Dragon Recognition, which allows you to perceive the potential of Juvenile Spirits and their hidden dragon traits.”

“There’s also the Art of Sharing, which means you can use a certain ability from a Dragon of the Spirit Pact. Take Pupil Domain, for example; didn’t you unexpectedly acquire Big Black Tooth’s Pupil Domain ability?”

“On the path of growth in cultivation, Dragon Shepherds will unexpectedly acquire the basics of similar abilities—enhanced perception and insight, natural increase of Spirit Contracts, accidental mastery of a Dragon Skill, keen sense of Spiritual Energy… But with a Spirit Key, you can become more specialized in these directions.”

“Then there’s the Condensing Qi Cultivation Technique, which enriches the Spiritual Energy in your Spirit Realm. You don’t really need this, since you have Little Glow Spirit and the Nuwa Dragon, whose talents in this area are more than a hundred times stronger than yours, a human Dragon Shepherd.”

“There’s also the Taming Momentum, which greatly increases your success rate when you want to tame any wild dragon. Of course, there’s also Dragon Language Affinity, which allows you to communicate more deeply with unfamiliar dragons, invisibly increasing their fondness for you as a Human Dragon Shepherd, and it’s also a method to acquire wild dragons.”

“The Harmonious Spiritual Chain I mentioned before is also one of the advanced Dragon Trainer skills. Eventually, when you have more dragons, teamwork will be needed. Remember those Bat Wing Sorcery Dragons? Although their cultivation base wasn’t high, they were able to pose a significant threat. The Harmonious Spiritual Chain can have a similar effect.”

Mr. Jinli said a lot in one breath, describing them in a dazzling fashion. Indeed, a few of them did tempt Zhu Minglang.

But there was no choice; he hadn’t been on the path of a Dragon Shepherd for long and didn’t have many Spirit Key flames. He indeed had to use them very cautiously.

“Many Dragon Trainer skills can be compensated for later in life. For instance, if you’re particularly wealthy, you don’t need to learn Soul Collecting Pearl Brewing…”

“Money, I can never have too much of that,” remarked Zhu Minglang casually.

“Soul Beads are good, no issue with that,” Mr. Jinli said.

“The Art of Sharing seems good; otherwise, a Dragon Shepherd often looks like a record keeper on the battlefield,” Zhu Minglang remarked offhandedly.

“You have a Sword Spirit Dragon; you absolutely don’t need to initiate this Art of Sharing.”

“Oh, right.”

“Purple Dragon, hurry and find a Purple Dragon! The Harmonious Spiritual Chain is a very powerful skill. Don’t you like to challenge beyond your level? This is an essential skill for winning against stronger opponents and for playing possum!”