Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Once the white Round Disc Flying Shuttle vanished into the void and Ji Yulang had departed, the gates of the Lingliang Sect reopened. The successor, his appointment approved by the Great Zhou Academy, appeared looking sickly and hurled the rebel’s head out of the sect gate.

The head tumbled a few times before landing in front of Fang Qingyuan and the other sect leaders. Fang Qingyuan stared at the bloodied face and could faintly make out the arrogant expression that had belonged to its owner, Qian Xiaowen. It was a pity this man would never be able to utter another dismissive word.

After tossing the head, the young successor to the Lingliang Sect’s leadership emerged from the gates with a group of injured Cultivators. Seeing this, Yan Nanxing and the others quickly surrounded him. They noticed the new Sect Leader’s pale face and offered words of concern.

"I’m fine. It’s just an internal injury. I’ll recover in a few days. Thank you for your concern, seniors. COUGH, COUGH..."

Fine? He had barely spoken a few sentences before blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. When Fang Qingyuan saw this, he couldn’t help but scoff inwardly:

’You’re seriously injured, yet you’re still trying to put on a brave face. Why don’t you just find a place to rest?’

Even Fang Qingyuan, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, could tell how severe the Second Generation Sect Leader of Lingliang Sect’s injuries were. The discerning eyes of Late-stage Golden Core Sect Leaders like Yan Nanxing saw it even more clearly. They all realized that this Second Generation Sect Leader was grievously wounded, his very foundation damaged.

The sect leaders exchanged glances, seeing the worry on each other’s faces. The first-generation Sect Leader had died from qi deviation, and now the Second Generation Sect Leader’s foundation was damaged. If this became a chronic ailment, what would become of the sect’s future?

However, the concern from Yan Nanxing and the others was utterly wasted. After a brief exchange with Yan Nanxing, the successor broke away from the crowd and strode quickly toward the delegation from the Pill Alliance. Upon reaching them, he gave a deep bow.

"Thank you, seniors of the Pill Alliance, for your tremendous support. The entire Lingliang Sect is eternally grateful. In the future, if the Pill Alliance has any request, the Lingliang Sect will not hesitate to oblige."

Watching the Lingliang Sect successor’s attitude toward the Pill Alliance and comparing it to his earlier interaction with Yan Nanxing and the other sect leaders, Fang Qingyuan started to sense the underlying meaning.

Logically, Yan Nanxing and the other sect leaders had contributed the most this time, yet their reception was far colder than that of the Pill Alliance members. The successor’s behavior was likely driven by an urgent need to find a powerful backer, lest he end up like his own Patriarch—dead under mysterious circumstances.

Ji Yulang had ruled that Xiao Xuan died from qi deviation, closing the case. But whether the successor—one who had lived alongside Xiao Xuan as his direct disciple—believed it was another matter entirely.

’From his perspective,’ Fang Qingyuan thought, ’the Spirit Wood Alliance must have been behind it. If the Spirit Wood Alliance had the means to assassinate Xiao Xuan, then Sect Leaders like Yan Nanxing, whose cultivation was comparable to Xiao Xuan’s, couldn’t protect him either. Therefore, the Pill Alliance, a power that looks capable of competing with the Spirit Wood Alliance, is the one he needs to curry favor with.’

Understanding this, Fang Qingyuan no longer found the successor’s behavior so contemptible. What was a little humility when it was for his own sake, and for the sake of his sect?

But while the Pill Alliance enjoyed the attention, Yan Nanxing’s group was left feeling bitter. ’We just went through all that trouble to save you, and this is how you treat us? What do we owe you?’

As masters of their own sects, Yan Nanxing and the others had their pride. Seeing the Lingliang Sect successor’s differential treatment, a few of the more hot-tempered ones simply turned and left.

Yan Nanxing and the remaining sect leaders waited patiently for a long time. Only then did a Lingliang Sect disciple finally approach to inform them of the date for their new Sect Leader’s inauguration ceremony and invite them to attend.

At that, everyone felt it was pointless and dispersed, each lost in their own thoughts. The new Patriarch was only at the Early-stage Golden Core realm, while their own sects were led by Late-stage Golden Core cultivators! If they felt generous, they’d treat him as an equal. If not, they’d just send a Foundation Establishment disciple to make an appearance, and that would be the end of it.

...

Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan also returned to the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect on their beast-prowed ship. The trip had been well worth it. Not only did he get to see so many of White Mountain’s prominent figures, but he also witnessed a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Great Zhou Academy investigate a case.

Fang Qingyuan had seen the Great Zhou Academy handle a case once before and was even forced to participate. But his cultivation had been too low back then; he had no idea what was happening from start to finish before it was all over. It was nothing like this time, where he had a clear view of events from beginning to end.

Inside Lechuan’s residence, Lechuan gestured for Fang Qingyuan to sit and brewed a pot of Spirit Tea, motioning for him to help himself.

Fang Qingyuan rinsed the leaves a few times, then poured a cup for Lechuan. Lechuan sipped the fragrant tea, his brow furrowed in thought.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan didn’t dare disturb him. He summoned Jinbao and gave it a look, signaling it to act according to the situation. Jinbao’s round body waddled off, and it began to search for goodies in Lechuan’s home.

A moment later, Jinbao had collected a hoard of delicacies, eating some and stashing others. Lechuan paid it no mind. He turned to Fang Qingyuan and asked:

"What do you think is the reason behind the Spirit Wood Alliance’s aggressive actions?"

Faced with Lechuan’s question, Fang Qingyuan tried to analyze the situation and offered his hypothesis:

"Could it be that the Spirit Wood Alliance has a new Nascent Soul, and their original territory can no longer support them? Is that why they’re expanding so desperately?"

Lechuan shook his head slightly at Fang Qingyuan’s answer. He stated frankly:

"A Nascent Soul Cultivator’s need for support from their sect is already very small. They are more concerned with the sect’s potential. On one hand, it’s to ensure their lineage doesn’t die out. On the other, it’s the hope that a junior from within the sect will rise in cultivation to become their right-hand man. Take Chai Guan and Chai Ping from the Spirit Wood Alliance, for example. They are a thousand years apart. Chai Ping was a seed planted by Chai Guan a millennium ago. After a thousand years of waiting, it has finally borne fruit."

Hearing Lechuan’s explanation instantly broadened Fang Qingyuan’s horizons. To a Nascent Soul Cultivator, a plan a thousand years in the making was worth the wait. This kind of millennium-spanning patience and planning was something Fang Qingyuan, with a life experience totaling less than one hundred and fifty years, could hardly comprehend.

Originally, Fang Qingyuan had harbored a subtle sense of superiority, born from the knowledge of an entire civilization from his past life. But now, it seemed that even five thousand years of world civilization was less than the lifespan of a single Divinity Transformation Cultivator in this world. What right did he have to feel superior?

In that instant, Fang Qingyuan’s mind cleared. His aura grew steadier as he gained a clearer understanding of his own nature and let go of that baseless superiority. This manifested in his state of mind, which now aligned more closely with the Great Dao of this world.

Lechuan was still in the middle of his analysis when he was surprised to find that his closed-door disciple had suddenly fallen into a meditative trance.

’Could this be a moment of enlightenment?’

The experienced and knowledgeable Lechuan felt a pang of jealousy. His disciple’s comprehension was truly enviable. But the jealousy was quickly replaced by joy. Fang Qingyuan had chanced upon an opportunity, and as his master, Lechuan was genuinely happy for him.

Lechuan carefully exited the area, grabbing the scruff of Jinbao’s neck—its cheeks bulging with food—and carrying it out with him so as not to disturb Fang Qingyuan’s epiphany.

Then, Lechuan sat cross-legged by the door, closed his eyes, and stood guard for Fang Qingyuan.

.......

Half a day later, when Fang Qingyuan awoke from his mental epiphany, he found that Lechuan, who had just been speaking to him, was gone. Not only was Lechuan gone, but Jinbao was also missing.

But he soon saw them both. Lechuan, having sensed Fang Qingyuan’s awakening, deactivated the protective Array and pushed the door open to enter.

"Well now, not bad! You broke through to the Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment, kid?"

Sensing that Fang Qingyuan’s aura was unstable and his Magical Power had clearly increased by a large margin, Lechuan asked with a wide smile.

Fang Qingyuan didn’t speak immediately. He rose and first bowed to Lechuan as he entered. Only then did he express his gratitude:

"It was your words, Master, that enlightened me. Thank you. This disciple has gained some insight and made progress. My realm is still unstable from the recent advancement, so I won’t stay any longer. I’ll return to the sect to consolidate my cultivation and come back to listen to your teachings another day."

With that, Fang Qingyuan took Jinbao, who had stashed away many delicacies, and hurried back toward the Qingyuan Sect. Lechuan watched his departing figure with a gratified smile and murmured to himself:

"The seed I planted back then is also about to bear fruit. I can’t manage a thousand-year plan, but who knows what the next millennium may hold? Qingyuan, don’t disappoint me."

After saying this, Lechuan sat down cross-legged and quietly circulated his Cultivation Technique. Unstable fluctuations of spiritual energy pulsed from his body. Five days later, when Lechuan opened his eyes again, a divine light shone within them. The Mid-stage Golden Core bottleneck that had held him back for decades had quietly loosened, revealing a crack.