After using cheats, I became the strongest Beast Tamer

"Where do we even start asking?"

"No rush," Chen Xing replied.

Zhao Guangming wanted to say something else, but as Chen Xing's figure moved ahead, he quickly followed.

They arrived at a small stall by the roadside, where a three-meter-long red Flame Sand Pig was blowing on a bundle of fire.

The fire bundle passed through a hole on the side of the stall, perfectly roasting the meat-filled bread on top.

The old man behind the stall skillfully wrapped the cooked bread in freshly cleaned leaves, tied it with vine, and handed it to another customer in front of the stall.

"Old man, how much?" Chen Xing communicated with him in the Exotic Region's common language.

"Six Spirit Iron," the elder paused for a moment on Chen Xing's pitch-black pupils, then stretched out his hand and made a gesture.

Chen Xing said, "I'll take two."

The elder bent down, took out a cold meat bun from the bamboo basket next to him, and held the bun in one hand.

The Flame Sand Pig standing behind the old man opened its mouth, and a small flame shot through the hole on the side, directly onto the meat bun below.

The elder expertly turned the meat bun, and soon, a faint fragrance emanated from the bun in his hand.

"Do you want to eat now or take it away?" the old man asked.

"I'll eat here," Chen Xing replied as he noticed some stones next to the stall and went over to sit down directly.

Chen Xing and Zhao Guangming sat on the stones next to the stall, each holding a meat bun in their hands.

Zhao Guangming seemed to really enjoy the flavor, eating with great relish.

Chen Xing, on the other hand, conversed with the elder while taking slow, thoughtful bites.

"Old man, these buns are quite tasty, are they a local specialty?"

"No," the elder shook his head.

With no other customers around at the moment, the elder didn't seem to mind chatting with Chen Xing.

The two chatted casually and sporadically.

"There are many delicious foods from Great Xia, and quite a few people from Great Xia come here to do business; the restaurants they've opened are very tasty," he said.

"Thank you," Chen Xing responded.

"My business has been taken away quite a bit," the elder commented.

Chen Xing was taken aback and didn't know how to respond.

Seeing the awkwardness on Chen Xing's face, the elder chuckled and said, "The flavor of my bread is average; it's normal for others not to like it. I often go to the restaurants opened by your people of Great Xia myself."

Seeing that the elder was easy to talk to, Chen Xing asked a question that was on his mind, "Your locals don't have an aversion to people from Great Xia?"

"Why should we?" the elder asked, somewhat surprised.

"There were wars between Great Xia and Fentian Domain." Discover stories with empire

Chen Xing was sure that this elder must know about the wars between Great Xia and Fentian Domain that had lasted for hundreds of years, intermittent as they were, for a Beast Tamer with a Beast Taming Level of 84 surely wouldn't be unaware.

"Oh, that's the business of Fentian Giant City, it has nothing to do with us here in Stone City," the elder shook his head. Seeing the confusion on Chen Xing's face, he explained, "Even within Fentian Domain, wars happen frequently. For example, Jiu Chi City used to raid Stone City often, and sometimes we would engage in wars with the other nearby cities over some resources."

"There was a man from Great Xia who once asked me the same thing, but what I want to say is, although Stone City belongs to Fentian Domain, it's just a matter of geography."

"It doesn't mean I'm a lackey of Fentian Giant City. I was born and raised in Stone City, and maybe one day I'll want to see other places. I might go to Bibo Territory or even farther places."

"I stay in Stone City now because I like the atmosphere here, and the City Lord is good, you know about retirement benefits?"

"My main Beast Taming creature died, and I didn't want to fight anymore, so I retired from the City Guard Army."

"To my surprise, after retiring, I still receive a monthly pension. I'd never heard of such a thing before; it's not something other cities in Fentian Domain have."

"You know, after we leave the City Guard Army, we don't actually have much to do with it anymore."

"The City Lord is a good man. While the pension isn't much, it's enough to live on. And I know there are quite a few old fellows like me; if everyone received a pension, it would be quite an expense for the City Lord's Mansion."

Chen Xing said with a smile, "You're making me want to enlist in Stone City's army."

"Haha, welcome! Our City Guard Army of Stone City doesn't care about your origins; any Beast Tamer is welcome."

Chen Xing half-jokingly said, "If I work for the City Guard Army for thirty years, how much would I get for a retirement fund every month after I retire?"

"You don't need thirty years. The City Lord has said that once you join the City Guard Army, everyone is a brother, treated equally. Just work for ten years, and after retirement, you'll receive one Spirit Gold every month."

One Spirit Gold?

Chen Xing was somewhat surprised.

The exchange rate between Spirit Iron and Spirit Gold always fluctuates, but currently, the ratio is maintained at around ten thousand.

One Spirit Gold could be exchanged for ten thousand Spirit Iron.

If it's just for living, it would at least guarantee you wouldn't starve to death.

The main concern is Beast Taming; the appetites of beasts are much bigger than those of Beast Tamers.

But then again, a Beast Tamer with a beast could go for adventures in the wild.

This one Spirit Gold is more like a last resort for those Beast Tamers who have lost their beasts and have no other source of income.

"One Spirit Gold, huh? That's not a low number. Then, how much would my salary be if I worked within the City Guard Army?"

The old man said, "Salary? You mean military pay, right? Inside the City Guard Army, the pay is based on strength. For every increase of five Beast Taming Levels, one receives one Spirit Gold in military pay. Plus, if you participate in a war, you can keep fifty percent of the loot from the enemy—this is where the real money is."

Chen Xing curiously asked, "But if you're an Advanced Beast Tamer, doesn't that salary sound a bit too low?"

Upon hearing this, the old man laughed and said, "Hahaha, what Advanced Beast Tamers receive is definitely not the same as what we get. It's said that those Advanced Beast Tamers can take part in the City Guard Army's profit-sharing. For example, from the total loot of a battle, the remaining fifty percent is divided among those Advanced Beast Tamers."

Chen Xing nodded, now having an idea in his mind.

If he wanted to set his own salary, he could refer to the City Defense Army's military pay.

And from the old man's words, it seemed they didn't see much significance in Advanced Beast Tamers taking more resources.

The rule of the survival of the fittest seemed to be a given for them.

However, Chen Xing didn't fully trust what he said. Although it was his first day here and he hadn't brought anyone else along, and even though the old man was just randomly picked from the street, what if?

After thanking the old man, Chen Xing went on to wander around the city with Zhao Guangming.

Just like the old man said, quite a few retired Beast Tamers like him were living in the city.

Some might have lost the drive to keep striving and chose to settle down instead, doing odd jobs or opening stores.

Chen Xing interacted with them as a guest.

The answers he got were all similar.

"Shall we head back? We've asked over a dozen people already; the military pay in the City Guard Army should be around this rate," Zhao Guangming said, massaging his back. The young man seemed to have endless energy. It was already dark, and they said that in cities of Exotic Regions, the night tended to be more dangerous.

"Do you think they might have colluded in advance?"

"Huh?" Zhao Guangming was startled and then shook his head. "That probably isn't the case."

"I also think it's highly unlikely, but it's not a small amount of money," Chen Xing said, pulling Zhao Guangming towards a nearby shop.

"Hold on, why are you taking me here? I'm not that kind of person!" Zhao Guangming said righteously, trying to push Chen Xing's hand away.

Chen Xing let go on purpose, Zhao Guangming was stunned for a couple of seconds, then continued to grab Chen Xing's arm. "I must accompany you inside to supervise you, to make sure you don't go astray!"

"..." Chen Xing was speechless. He felt like Zhao Guangming might have misunderstood, but he was too lazy to explain. Zhao Guangming would find out soon enough.

They pushed open the door of the pleasure house and the temperature inside was slightly higher than outside.

The air carried a faint fragrance.

A man approached them with impeccable manners, "May I ask if you two would like to experience our special personal services or our Beast Taming specialties?"

Zhao Guangming was shocked. There were services for beasts, too?

Wait a minute!

Zhao Guangming's face twitched weirdly as he sensed the stupid dragon in his Beast Taming Space getting restless.

At the same time, the ears of the four beasts in Chen Xing's Beast Taming Space perked up.