Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

In the Earth Fire Palace of the Nanchu Sect, Chu Hongshang was curled up in a massive, crystal rock throne. Wisps of fiery-red Spiritual Power flowed along the runes inscribed on the throne and into her body.

By the time Chu Duo arrived at the Earth Fire Palace, Chu Hongshang had just completed one full cycle of her cultivation. A faint flame flickered on her crimson palace dress, then vanished without a trace.

The only thing left behind in the Earth Fire Palace was a faint, bloody scent. It was surprisingly sweet and fragrant, yet carried a hint of scorching heat, much like the cooling temperature of the palace’s Earth Fire.

After completing her technique, Chu Hongshang’s complexion was rather flushed. Chu Duo entered but didn’t dare to look at her for long, lowering his head to stare at the fiery bricks on the floor as he reported:

"Sect Leader, the Qingyuan Sect Master, Fang Qingyuan, requests an audience. He said he has something to tell you. He also specifically mentioned that it concerns the matter from three years ago."

The matter from three years ago was, of course, the assassination attempt on Chu Hongshang. At the time, Fang Qingyuan had lent a hand, relieving some of the pressure on her. To Chu Hongshang, it was a debt she could not forget.

Hearing Chu Duo’s words, Chu Hongshang looked slightly weary. The Blood Soul Ban in her body still flared up from time to time, and for the past three years, it had caused her unspeakable suffering.

Although the Great Zhou Academy had stepped in to help regulate her condition, and an old ancestor from the Gan Family, a healing specialist recommended by Qi Yunzhong, had also examined her, it was no use. On the day it was cast, the Blood Soul Ban had already latched tightly onto Chu Hongshang’s very soul. Removing it would require a slow, grinding effort.

Although the One-armed Nascent Soul failed to take Chu Hongshang’s life, he had, in a sense, achieved his goal: to suppress her cultivation.

Otherwise, her cultivation speed—reaching the Mid-stage Nascent Soul realm in less than a thousand years—was simply too terrifying.

With the Blood Soul Ban in place, Chu Hongshang’s cultivation speed had plummeted to less than a third of what it once was. Most of the Magical Power she had just gathered was spent grinding away at the ban.

"Then let him come. I still haven’t properly thanked him for what happened three years ago."

Hearing Chu Hongshang’s command, Chu Duo nodded. He then strode out of the Earth Fire Palace to find Fang Qingyuan.

Meanwhile, Fang Qingyuan was conversing with Chu Wuying. The atmosphere was cordial enough.

Chu Wuying was a man of few words, but Fang Qingyuan felt that if he were to utter a single falsehood or try to be evasive, Chu Wuying would see through it instantly.

Even his Mind Divine Techniques had little effect on him. ’It seems this Golden Core Cultivator, Chu Wuying, practices a truly special Cultivation Technique.’

"Are you also planning to participate in the Jixia City trials in half a year?"

Chu Wuying nodded. He sensed no hostility from Fang Qingyuan, and besides, Chu Duo had already told him about Fang Qingyuan’s background. To a certain extent, Fang Qingyuan had some ties to the Nanchu Sect.

"Oh? Then who is accompanying you this time?"

’There’s no way the Nanchu Sect would dare let a genius like Chu Wuying go to the Jixia City trials alone,’ Fang Qingyuan thought. ’They’ll definitely send a prudent and experienced Golden Core Cultivator with him. My guess is it will be Chu Shen.’

’It definitely won’t be Chu Duo. After I became a disciple of Lechuan and was appointed as the Vice Master overseeing Nanchu affairs, I began gathering and analyzing intelligence on the Nanchu Sect.’

’They’re our neighbors, after all; it’s always good to be informed. I had only been gathering this intelligence for a few years before unforeseen circumstances forced me to stop.’

’But from my analysis during those few years, I discovered that the Nanchu Sect is incredibly powerful. Yet, they remain confined to the territory they were originally granted, never once attempting to expand.’

’That’s what’s so strange. Expanding one’s borders should be an extremely attractive prospect for someone like Chu Hongshang, but she has forcefully restrained the sect. For hundreds of years, they haven’t moved their boundary markers a single step toward White Mountain or the Southern Border Territory.’

’Back then, I couldn’t understand it. Chu Zhen was still alive, and the Chu Family was at the height of its power. Even if they had seized some land from White Mountain and the Southern Border, no other power would have likely dared to object.’

’Looking at it now, I still don’t fully understand their motives, but I have a faint sense that the Nanchu Sect isn’t just a regular enfeoffed sect. It’s more like they’re carrying out some secret mission, holding their ground here without advancing or retreating.’

This feeling grew stronger the more he learned about the Nanchu Sect. But it wasn’t something he could ask Chu Hongshang about directly. For now, it was enough to simply be aware of it.

Just as Fang Qingyuan was chatting with Chu Wuying, the figure of Chu Wuying suddenly shattered, dissolving into fragments of shadow that flowed back into a corner of the room.

At that same moment, Chu Duo appeared.

"Come with me. The Ancestor wishes to see you."

Fang Qingyuan glanced at the patch of shadows, getting the distinct feeling that a pair of curious eyes was watching him from within it.

...

Inside the Earth Fire Palace, when Fang Qingyuan saw Chu Hongshang again, she showed no trace of the weakness he had witnessed three years prior. Back then, she had been too weak to even walk.

Now, looking at the dignified Female Cultivator seated upon the crystal rock throne, Fang Qingyuan found it hard to reconcile the sight with the image in his memory.

Having seen Chu Hongshang at her absolute weakest, Fang Qingyuan found that he could no longer feel any sense of awe, even when she put on her most imperious expression.

’I suppose once you’ve seen the ocean, all rivers look small.’

As if sensing his thoughts, the corner of Chu Hongshang’s mouth twitched. She dismissed Chu Duo from the room. Then, she slumped back into the crystal rock throne and asked: