The One-Horned Caterpillar's pitch-black eyes observed Yuan Liang.
Luo Xiangming spoke up, "You need to introduce yourself to it."
"Choosing a spirit beast is always a mutual process—if you want to take it with you, you need to gain its approval."
"Whether you can gain the spirit beast's approval is very important," he added.
"Only by both recognizing each other can you achieve twice the result with half the effort in cultivation."
"I understand," Yuan Liang nodded.
Persuading others with words? That was his specialty.
"My name is Yuan Liang, and I am a new disciple of the Great Love Sect."
He looked at the mulberry-eating caterpillar, thinking it would agree.
However...
The One-Horned Caterpillar lowered its head and continued eating mulberry leaves.
'A person with no special qualities wants to form a contract with me?' it seemed to think.
Yuan Liang fell silent. It looked like taming this quirky spirit beast would not be easy.
But Yuan Liang wasn't an ordinary person either.
Gazing at the caterpillar enjoying its leaves, he quickly thought of a strategy.
"Once you become my spirit beast, I'll provide you with high-quality mulberry leaves every day. You can eat as much as you want."
"And most importantly, I won't make you cultivate."
Recalling Luo Xiangming's earlier words, Yuan Liang immediately recognized that this One-Horned Caterpillar was as lazy as he was.
The caterpillar perked up, its eyes shining brightly.
Seeing his words had an effect, Yuan Liang clenched his fist.
"This actually worked?" Luo Xiangming was surprised. He hadn't expected it to be so simple.
The One-Horned Caterpillar eagerly crawled forward.
Yuan Liang extended his hand, and it immediately climbed up, happily spinning around in his palm.
Excited about finally leaving this place, it didn't realize it was walking right into a new 'trap.'
Luo Xiangming led Yuan Liang to his living quarters.
They arrived at a small, modest room. Inside, it had only the most basic furnishings.
"You'll stay here for now."
"A month from now, the sect will hold an assessment for inner disciples."
"At that time, you can participate in the assessment."
"For now, get familiar with the sect," Luo Xiangming said as he handed Yuan Liang a bundle.
"These are some basic resources for new disciples."
Yuan Liang accepted the bundle, bowing respectfully. "Thank you, Senior Brother Luo. Is the assessment difficult?"
The One-Horned Caterpillar also bowed its head to thank Senior Brother Luo.
"I'm not sure; the assessment varies each time depending on the elders' mood."
"My inner disciple assessment was… well…" Luo Xiangming hesitated, then added, "Forget it; it won't help to tell you."
Then he glanced at the One-Horned Caterpillar. "Remember to listen to Yuan Liang, alright?"
The caterpillar nodded.
As Luo Xiangming was about to leave, he noticed Yuan Liang opening his mouth as if to say something.
"Do you need something else?" Senior Brother Luo asked.
"I wanted to ask about Senior Brother Xu Hong," Yuan Liang replied, eager to learn more about his new sect.
"He's an inner disciple of the Beast Taming Faction, and incredibly talented."
"He's already at the late Bronze Stage and is on the verge of reaching the Silver Stage. Soon, he'll be taken under Elder Huo's wing; his future is very bright."
Senior Brother Luo continued, "How do you know him?"
"Really? Senior Brother Xu Hong is that amazing?"
"He was the reason I joined the sect," Yuan Liang replied, marveling at his newfound knowledge of Xu Hong's strength.
However, as an outer disciple, he usually wouldn't be allowed into the inner sect's mountain unless there were special circumstances.
It seemed he would have to wait for another chance to meet Senior Brother Xu Hong.
Soon, Senior Brother Luo left, and Yuan Liang sat on a stone, poking the One-Horned Caterpillar with his finger.
"From now on, we'll be cultivating together. I don't even know your name."
The caterpillar lifted its head, giving him a look that clearly said, 'Are you kidding me?'
It couldn't speak yet; how was it supposed to respond?
Awkwardly, Yuan Liang changed the subject. "When will you be able to talk?"
The One-Horned Caterpillar shook its head.
As Yuan Liang was about to name it himself, a white crane flew over, dropping an identity token in front of him.
Seeing the crane, Yuan Liang happily waved. "Elder Yu, you've come!"
"I'm not that annoying woman," the crane replied in a gruff, male voice.
"Keep that identity token safe. Without it, you won't be able to go anywhere in the future."
With that, the crane flew off, giving Yuan Liang no time to respond.
Picking up the token, he saw his name on the front and the words "Outer Disciple" on the back.
Opening the bundle from Senior Brother Luo, Yuan Liang found a set of outer disciple robes, a small jade tablet, and two spirit stones.
The jade tablet contained information about the sect and an entry-level cultivation method called the 'Beast Taming Mind Technique.'
If he wanted more resources, he would have to do tasks.
Tasks like farming, mining, or transporting supplies—basic tasks to earn rewards.
As Yuan Liang held the jade tablet, an enormous flow of spiritual energy surged into his mind.
"Absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, integrate it into your body, and transform it into beast-taming spiritual energy to nourish yourself."
"You can transfer your spiritual energy to a spirit beast or have the beast transfer energy back to you for quick recovery."
"At the initial stage of the Black Iron Rank, a cultivator will produce a drop of special blood."
"Imprinting this blood on the beast's forehead completes a bloodline contract, spiritually linking both parties."
"This 'Beast Taming Mind Technique' allows cultivation up to the Bronze Rank."
"Once a disciple reaches the Bronze Rank and passes an assessment."
"They can learn more advanced beast-taming techniques in the sect and craft spatial artifacts to house their spirit beasts."
Yuan Liang processed the information, massaging his temples.
"It seems I'll need to get stronger," he muttered.
Hearing Yuan Liang mention getting stronger, the caterpillar gave him a surprised look.
'Hey, didn't you say I didn't have to cultivate?'
As Yuan Liang looked at the two spirit stones, a thought struck him, and he jumped to his feet.
Since arriving in this world, he hadn't yet tried alchemy.
"Whatever I do, just stay still, alright?" Yuan Liang said as he placed the One-Horned Caterpillar on an open patch of ground.
He used a small stone to draw a formation on the ground, which the One-Horned Caterpillar watched curiously, obediently staying still.
It could sense that Yuan Liang meant it no harm.
The formation on the ground was simple, but Yuan Liang didn't mind.
He placed the two spirit stones to the left and right of the caterpillar.
"Don't be afraid."
Yuan Liang clapped his hands together, quietly chanting an incantation.
The next moment, a faint light emerged from the formation, enveloping the One-Horned Caterpillar.