Rapidly Expanding Scale

Only Thorne, lacking access to vast magic beast resources yet possessing near-endless spiritual energy, could attempt this path of forging wild beasts into magic beasts with spiritual power.

His next step was evolving into a Spiritual Lake, which would grant even vaster spiritual reserves.

With his first success, Thorne scaled up for the second attempt. He had Tylen and the others gather a hundred wild beasts, dug dozens of pits, and began the prior training regimen.

Meanwhile, he nurtured Tylen and his crew. These dozen-plus were already the Huang Tribe's top talents, now even more exceptional after Thorne's Blessing.

Yet, the Huang Tribe had declined for centuries, lacking the foundation of greater clans, so their cultivation wasn't as dazzling as other prodigies.

Now, with the memories of several Transcendent Tier mages—including their training experiences—in his mind, Thorne could access them anytime.

After organizing them, he transmitted them directly to Tylen and the others via soul. Grandi and Elysis's experiences, sharing the same origins as the Huang Tribe, were especially valuable.

He even gave Tylen Elysis's bow. Though lacking her special arrows, paired with Tylen's handmade ones, it significantly boosted his combat power.

Despite prior experience, this nurturing yielded only twenty-plus successes.

As time passed, even with Tylen's careful selection of the best beasts, the success rate dwindled.

Thorne didn't mind. Wild beasts were abundant, and these successes could breed, raising their offspring's awakening odds.

The first batch—especially the Red Flame Windchaser and Wood Spirit Deer—had smoothly become Mortal Tier magic beasts. With Thorne's limitless spiritual energy, they neared Mortal Tier Level 2.

Thorne noticed these nurtured beasts felt an innate closeness to him. Even his water-formed figure was recognizable to them—they'd approach willingly.

He entrusted them to Tylen, whose Huang Tribe instincts excelled at handling beasts and communicating with them. Thorne sent Tylen with them to fetch their herds.

Two days later, Tylen returned with the Red Flame Windchaser and Wood Spirit Deer, followed by vast herds of wild horses and deer.

The next day, Thorne repeated the tactic. The dozen Huang Tribe members, with awakened beasts, led their kin to the lake region.

Thorne assigned each herd a territory, forbidding conflicts.

Though not the strongest, these beasts had successful precedents. Drinking lake water daily would gradually enhance their physiques.

Nurturing continued, but Thorne no longer micromanaged. He supplied daily spiritual water, leaving the rest to Tylen.

"Ding, congratulations to the host for nurturing a magic beast. Reward: 1,000 energy points."

Since the Red Flame Windchaser's breakthrough, this heavenly sound had chimed several times, thrilling Thorne.

Checking his system panel:

Host: Thorne

Identity: Lake

Level: Lv7

Energy: 175,000 points

Skills: Spring Breeze Rain Lv6, Water Bind Lv6, Water Arrow Lv7, Ice Cage Lv7, Blessing (on cooldown)

"Finally, I can upgrade!"

Thorne stirred waves in excitement.

"System, I want a double upgrade."

"Ding, upgrade successful."

The lake erupted in massive waves. Tylen, forewarned, had the magic beasts organize the wild ones to retreat.

Thorne's lake now spanned tens of thousands of square meters—too vast to see across.

Such a lake meant each of Thorne's strikes wielded the force of a hundred-thousand-meter water domain—beyond even Transcendent Tier resistance.

"Ding, congratulations to the host for reaching Level 9 Lake. New skill unlocked: Awakening."

"Awakening: Helps creatures awaken dormant bloodlines. Usable once monthly."

Thorne rejoiced. The system was perfectly tailored—delivering exactly what he needed. This skill would drastically boost his nurturing speed and success rate.

He envisioned a day when, with a call, hundreds of thousands of former wild beasts roared—a spectacle rivaling the beast tide.

But mass-nurturing without alerting the elves or other factions required careful planning.

Tylen and the others gazed at the lake with boundless reverence—Thorne was an omnipotent god to them.

As they knelt in devout worship, the magic beasts behind, though uncomprehending, mimicked them, prostrating.

A greater surge of faith power gathered around Thorne, then dissipated into the world.

At that moment, elsewhere in the desert, a kindly-looking middle-aged man tended a wounded Transcendent Tier magic tiger.

Despite its rank, the tiger was docile as a lamb, its massive jaws open, letting the man remove a stuck bone.

Suddenly, a compass-like device on him flashed. His face lit up, and he rose to leave. The tiger rubbed his leg reluctantly.

Without looking back, the man waved his right hand. A light blade flashed, beheading the tiger, its body collapsing.

He headed straight for Thorne's lake.