Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

「Half a month later.」

Fang Qingyuan traveled to the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect and sought out Lechuan again.

When Lechuan saw him, his expression was tinged with anticipation. After all, Fang Qingyuan’s previous achievements were far too remarkable. Who would have ever imagined that a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator could win over a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast for him?

The last time Fang Qingyuan left, he had said he would help Lechuan plan his Nascent Soul Formation. Had it been anyone else, Lechuan would have dismissed it as empty boasting. But coming from Fang Qingyuan, he felt a flicker of anticipation he knew he shouldn’t have.

Now that Lechuan and Fang Qingyuan were at similar cultivation realms, the sense of superiority Lechuan once felt as a Golden Core Cultivator had all but vanished in Fang Qingyuan’s presence. This had nothing to do with Fang Qingyuan’s attitude; it was simply the respect due to a fellow Golden Core Cultivator.

"Disciple Fang Qingyuan greets Master."

"No need for such formalities. You’re a Golden Core Cultivator now. In the future, we might even have to address each other as peers."

Lechuan chuckled in response and asked the purpose of Fang Qingyuan’s visit. Fang Qingyuan didn’t hide anything and directly laid out his plan.

Fang Qingyuan wanted to find three Nascent Soul Cultivators to help subdue the Cloud-Clawed Lizard. He had three candidates in mind: Bear Wind, Chu Hongshang, and one from the Black Hand Organization.

Fang Qingyuan was laying this all out because he wanted Lechuan’s opinion. After all, Lechuan had been cultivating for many years and had far more connections than him. Perhaps Lechuan himself had other avenues to explore.

Sure enough, after Fang Qingyuan named his three proposed sources of Nascent Soul Battle Power, Lechuan frowned. He spoke with great caution:

"The Black Hand can’t be trusted. Even if they could be, we shouldn’t use them. They aren’t an organization that operates in the light of day. If we use them for a moment’s convenience now, I’m afraid the repercussions will be impossible to clean up later. Once you’re entangled with them, it’s difficult to ever break free."

Lechuan’s clear distrust of the Black Hand Organization made Fang Qingyuan begin to re-evaluate his own perception of them.

In Fang Qingyuan’s mind, the Black Hand was a shadowy organization of assassins—you pay them Spirit Stones, and they get the job done. Of course, that was his perception back in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

But now Fang Qingyuan was a Golden Core Cultivator, and he required Nascent Soul Battle Power. To apply the same understanding he had during his Foundation Establishment days would be foolishly shortsighted.

For an organization like the Black Hand, low-level jobs might be done for Spirit Stones, but were high-level jobs still purely about Spirit Stones?

It was hard to say. It was more likely that favors were repaid with favors. In any case, it wouldn’t be a simple transaction.

Realizing this, Fang Qingyuan calmed down and temporarily shelved the idea of cooperating with the Black Hand.

So, besides the Black Hand, which other Nascent Soul Cultivator could they enlist?

Di Yuanpu?

He was the true patron of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect and also belonged to Yue’e’s lineage. Could he be brought in to help?

When Fang Qingyuan mentioned Di Yuanpu’s name, Lechuan shook his head.

"If we were only hunting the Cloud-Clawed Lizard, he might lend a hand for the sake of us being from the same sect and lineage. But if he figured out that I intend to use this opportunity to attempt my Nascent Soul Transformation, we’d be lucky if he didn’t try to sabotage me, let alone help. The only thing stopping him would be some lingering sentiment from our past."

Lechuan’s pessimistic words made the internal competition within the Beast Taming Sect seem all the more tragic to Fang Qingyuan.

"Then in your opinion, Master, are there any other suitable allies?"

Lechuan stood up and began to pace. After a moment of thought, he said:

"Do you remember when I was looking for a Core Formation Spiritual Land for you? The one I petitioned was the Hu Family Ancestor. This Nascent Soul Uncle was my own ancestor’s closest friend when he was alive. For so many years, he has taken great care of my Le Family. If we can’t find anyone else, I’m afraid we’ll have to ask the old master to help us just this once. The only problem is, doing so will completely use up the goodwill between our two families."

Hearing that Lechuan had such a connection, Fang Qingyuan was overjoyed. He quickly reassured him, saying:

"As long as you successfully achieve your Nascent Soul Transformation, Master, the bond between our families will only grow stronger, not break."

Lechuan laughed heartily. Fang Qingyuan’s words had struck a chord with him. Relationships had to be mutually maintained. The Le Family had been under the Hu Family’s care for years without being able to offer anything in return. No matter how strong the bond, it would eventually fade over time. But if Lechuan stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, the relationship would become reciprocal, and the bond would remain strong.

As for the consequences of failing his Nascent Soul Transformation, Lechuan didn’t need to consider them. If he failed, he wouldn’t survive anyway. What happened after he was gone wasn’t worth his concern.

"We’ll take a two-pronged approach. First, I’ll go sound out Bear Wind and see if I can persuade him to help. Meanwhile, Master, you need to collect the materials required for the Spirit Transformation Technique and any Secret Techniques for enduring the tribulation. You also need to bolster our defenses and have the sect’s disciples begin training so we aren’t caught unprepared when the time comes."

Lechuan accepted all of Fang Qingyuan’s suggestions. As for approaching Chu Hongshang and the Hu Family Ancestor, that would have to wait until these other matters were finalized.

As the two were discussing their plans, a disciple at the door announced a visitor: Ji Yuanjian, a Patrol Disciple from the Great Zhou Academy, requested an audience.

Hearing the name, Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan exchanged a look, each reading the other’s expression.

Lechuan was worried; Fang Qingyuan was puzzled.

"Ji Yuanjian never shows up unless he’s after something. He must be here for you. Why don’t you hide for now? He can’t use force here in my territory."

Fang Qingyuan thought for a moment, then sighed softly and said:

"You can’t run from trouble. This cultivator from the Great Zhou Academy showing up so suddenly must mean he knows I’m here. If I hide, it will only confirm his suspicions. I’d rather see what he’s planning."

Seeing Fang Qingyuan’s resolve, Lechuan felt helpless. He didn’t understand why Fang Qingyuan had passed up the Zongshan Spiritual Land to achieve Core Formation in the Barbaric Wilderness with Bear Wind. But what was done was done. He could only resolve to protect Fang Qingyuan. Lechuan made a silent vow: if Ji Yuanjian tried to use force, he would ensure the man never left this mountain.

After a brief exchange, a disciple escorted Ji Yuanjian into the room. The moment he entered, Fang Qingyuan’s heart skipped a beat. ’So, it’s him.’

He had seen this man before. Back when he was the Vice Master of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, it was because of this very person that he had been forced to seek refuge in the Outer Sea.

An image of Huo Hu succumbing to the demonic path flashed through Fang Qingyuan’s mind. Looking at Ji Yuanjian, he smiled.

’You’re like a persistent ghost. I’ve been living peacefully for so many years, yet you still refuse to let me go. Ji Yuanjian, are you truly so impartial, or do you have some other ulterior motive?’

"Ji Yuanjian, Patrol Disciple of the Great Zhou Academy, greets Fellow Daoist Lechuan and Fellow Daoist Fang."

Ji Yuanjian’s initial attitude was perfectly polite. Seeing this, Lechuan also smiled in greeting. Whatever he might be thinking, appearances had to be maintained.

"It’s a rare pleasure to have Fellow Daoist Ji visit my White Mountain Beast Taming Sect. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"

Ji Yuanjian’s gaze flickered past Lechuan to Fang Qingyuan, who stood behind him. He then said bluntly:

"I came here with a few questions for Fellow Daoist Fang."

Fang Qingyuan’s eyes narrowed slightly. ’Ji Yuanjian addressed me as Fellow Daoist from the start. It seems he already knows about my Golden Core Cultivation. Otherwise, having not sensed my aura when he walked in, he would have either ignored me or called me Sect Leader Fang.’

’In that case, he must be here to ask about my Core Formation.’

With this in mind, Fang Qingyuan spoke.

"Ask away."

Ji Yuanjian ignored the displeasure on Lechuan’s face and said directly:

"As I understand it, Sect Leader Fang was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator a month ago, yet now you have entered the Golden Core realm. May I ask where you chose for your Core Formation Land?"

Fang Qingyuan offered a mild smile.

"The Beast Taming General Mountain."

"Your Beast Taming General Mountain is over a hundred thousand li from White Mountain. You made a round trip in a single month?"

"That is a sect secret, which I am not at liberty to disclose."

"What a coincidence. Half a month ago, there was a disturbance in the Barbaric Wilderness. The Spiritual Power in a thousand-li stretch of land grew turbulent, and tribulation lightning descended. It was clearly someone undergoing a tribulation. The time and place seem to fit you perfectly, Sect Leader Fang."

"Coincidences happen all the time. Do you have any proof, Fellow Daoist Ji?"

"Don’t think we are without recourse. The Great Zhou Academy has more methods at its disposal than you can possibly imagine..."

Ji Yuanjian’s face twisted in anger as he began to utter threats. Fang Qingyuan listened with disdain. ’The typical face of a Law Enforcement Cultivator.’

’First threats, then intimidation. Even Golden Core Cultivators love to play this game. It’s the lowest-cost method, after all, saving them the time and effort of actually having to find evidence.’

But Fang Qingyuan wasn’t concerned. His status was special. As a member of one of the Sealed Sects, it wouldn’t be so easy for a Golden Core Cultivator like Ji Yuanjian to target him directly.

Besides, Lechuan, the leader of this branch of the Beast Taming Sect, had yet to say a word.

"Fellow Daoist Ji," Lechuan’s steady voice carried the weight of the Beast Taming Sect, and it successfully suppressed Ji Yuanjian’s arrogance. "This is the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, not your Patrol Division. Does the Great Zhou Academy hold the honor of the Beast Taming Sect in such low regard?"

The tactic worked.

Ji Yuanjian fell silent for a moment. Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan exchanged a look and were about to show him the door when Ji Yuanjian slowly began to speak again.

"We’ll drop that matter for now. I actually came here today with one main question for Sect Leader Fang. Where is Huo Hu now?"