I'm Just a Beast Tamer

"You...!"

Zong Tianpei cried out in shock and anger, trying to pull back and create distance.

But this time, before he could react, Jiang Zuo’s right hand shot out like a phantom, clamping around his neck and silencing him.

His body felt as if it were pinned to the ground by a mountain, completely immobile.

Xiaoqing was summoned at the same time, but Jiang Zuo was still pondering how to deal with Zong Tianpei.

’He definitely has to be killed. The question is what to do afterward.’

’Should I just find a place to bury him myself, or report it to the sect?’

’If I report it to the sect, my participation in this sect competition will probably be over.’

Zong Tianpei was his opponent in the arena, after all. It was hard to guarantee that someone else wouldn’t try to kill him on the stage.

His future actions might even be restricted.

However, after careful consideration, Jiang Zuo decided to report it to the sect.

After today’s preliminary match, Jiang Zuo was well aware that first-tier Magic was still too weak. If Xiaoqing didn’t use its Cyan Light and he didn’t put in some real effort himself, it would be impossible to defeat all his upcoming opponents and take first place.

He was already being targeted by someone who wanted him dead.

If he revealed even more of his talent, they might just get ruthless and send a Death Warrior with high Cultivation to kill him.

If the assassin were a Divine Body Realm Cultivator, he couldn’t guarantee he would escape injury.

And if it were a Three Flowers Realm expert launching an all-out ambush, he would almost certainly die.

The main purpose of participating in this competition had basically been achieved. The only thing left was the Earth Core Flowing Fire.

’The assassin didn’t come at any other time, but appeared right now. This most likely means that word has gotten out about me writing the Gold Threaded Lark Breeding Method.’

’If the sect asks me to withdraw, I can take the opportunity to demand an Earth Core Flowing Fire as compensation.’

Jiang Zuo quickly made his decision.

This wasn’t a wild guess. Although he was in seclusion for long periods, he still went out occasionally.

If they had wanted to assassinate him, they didn’t need to wait until today.

Once Jiang Zuo had decided, Xiaoqing raised its head and spat out a ray of Cyan Light, piercing through Zong Tianpei’s chest.

Zong Tianpei had been struggling with all his might, unwilling to die just like that, but in the end, he could only watch helplessly as the Cyan Light pierced his body.

When Zong Tianpei’s breathing ceased completely, Jiang Zuo let him go, allowing him to fall to the ground.

Taking out his Identity Token, Jiang Zuo sent a message to Yan Bocheng.

A short while later, Yan Bocheng rushed over.

"What happened? Did this man try to assassinate you?"

Yan Bocheng stared at Zong Tianpei’s corpse on the ground, his face a mixture of shock and rage.

Jiang Zuo had already fabricated a story.

In his version, he had sensed something was wrong ahead of time and summoned Xiaoqing, who had cast a Spirit Shield on him just in time, allowing him to escape harm.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Then, he had Xiaoqing use its hidden trump card, a powerful spell, to kill the assassin.

"I understand. For now, go back inside the Array on Taihao Peak. I will take this person to the Ministry of Justice Hall and have them investigate his identity. I’ll also send people to stand guard here."

Seeing that Jiang Zuo was indeed unharmed, Yan Bocheng calmed down.

He instructed Jiang Zuo, and only after watching him enter Taihao Peak and activate the Array did he leave, carrying Zong Tianpei’s body.

Jiang Zuo didn’t know what Yan Bocheng said to the sect’s higher-ups, but the final result was more or less what he had expected.

The sect asked him to withdraw from the competition. As for the Earth Core Flowing Fire he wanted, the sect agreed, but required him to exchange Sect Contribution for it.

Although it was highly likely that Jiang Zuo was targeted for assassination because he wrote the Gold Threaded Lark Breeding Method, with the assassin dead, there was no proof. The sect couldn’t simply hand out compensation just because a disciple was attacked.

This rule wasn’t aimed at Jiang Zuo. Rather, if the sect set such a precedent, it would lead to huge problems over time.

Gradually, the disciples would lose their sense of unity, always thinking about compensation first.

Furthermore, how much to compensate, by what standards, and how to define the terms would all cause numerous problems.

Therefore, in situations like this, the sect would offer certain preferential measures depending on the circumstances.

Jiang Zuo didn’t mind. His Sect Contribution points came easily, and because his Cultivation was too low, he had almost no use for them anyway.

There were many good things to be exchanged for in the sect, but the problem was that with Jiang Zuo’s current Cultivation, he wouldn’t be able to use them even if he acquired them.

The very next day, Jiang Zuo exchanged his points for a tier-two Earth Core Flowing Fire.

At the same time, news spread throughout the sect: Jiang Zuo had been attacked, suffered heavy injuries, and was forced to withdraw from the sect competition.

At first, many people didn’t believe it, but when they heard that Taihao Peak had been temporarily placed off-limits, they realized it must be true.

Who would want to assassinate Junior Brother Zhou, who was only at the third layer of Qi Cultivation?

Could it be out of jealousy for his Beast Taming Talent?

Many couldn’t understand it.

But soon, a rumor began to circulate.

It was said that Junior Brother Zhou was a heaven-sent genius in the path of Beast Taming. In just two short years, he had written another work, the Gold Threaded Lark Breeding Method, and this was what had drawn the assassination by a Death Warrior.

Many people were unfamiliar with the Golden Lark, but after being informed, they all lamented that Zhou’s Beast Taming Talent was terrifying, and it was no wonder he had been targeted for assassination.

While Jiang Zuo hid on Taihao Peak to focus on his Cultivation, his Beast Taming Reputation continued to rise.

"This is outrageous! They are deliberately spreading this news to make more sects hostile toward Zhou Yong!"

Yan Bocheng couldn’t help but fly into a rage when he heard the news.

The Black Tortoise Dao Sect certainly wouldn’t spread this matter itself. The ones causing trouble from behind the scenes had to be the sect that sent the assassin.

Knowing the assassin had failed, they were deliberately muddying the waters and, at the same time, making more enemies for Zhou Yong.

After all, the Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s current strength ranked roughly fifth or sixth among the major sects of the Far West Land.

If the Black Tortoise Dao Sect grew stronger, it would undoubtedly shake the positions of the higher-ranked sects.

And if merely killing a Qi Cultivation disciple could stifle the Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s potential to grow stronger, there would likely be many sects willing to act in the shadows.

"Calm down. It was expected that the mastermind would spread the news. If not for this, we wouldn’t have had to make Zhou Yong withdraw from the competition," a white-browed elder said calmly.

He was the Hall Master of the Ministry of Justice Hall, also known as the Third Elder of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect, Zhou Fengtai.

"For now, our only option is to find a way to raise Zhou Yong’s Cultivation so he has a better chance of protecting himself," Xu Hongyuan, who was also present, said with a frown.

"As far as I know, Luo Taidong gave Zhou Yong a Glazed Fire Cloud Fruit. Zhou Yong’s aptitude should now be lower-mid grade, which matches his current Cultivation. To improve his aptitude further, he’d need a Spirit Fruit like the Bodhi Spirit Purifying Fruit at the very least."

"The Bodhi Spirit Purifying Fruit... That Spirit Fruit is not easy to obtain."

Yan Bocheng shook his head.

"This matter can’t be rushed. By the way, what’s the status on the assassin and the person from Spirit Beast Peak who leaked the information?"

Yan Bocheng looked toward Zhou Fengtai.

"The assassin is a dead end. He came from a mortal family, and anyone who knew him is long gone from this world."

"As for the old man on Spirit Beast Peak, strictly speaking, he isn’t a spy for another sect. He leaked the information only because he was afraid he would lose his value once the method for the Golden Lark was verified and promoted," Zhou Fengtai shook his head.

The trail for Zong Tianpei was completely cold. Investigating his recent contacts revealed no one suspicious.

However, the investigation into the Spirit Beast Peak disciples did uncover some spies planted by other sects.

"It seems we’ll have to pay more attention to this sort of thing in the future. A technique like the Gold Threaded Lark Breeding Method is an invaluable asset to the sect."

"But for some disciples, it means the end of their path."

Hearing this, Yan Bocheng couldn’t help but sigh.

This incident had been a wake-up call for them.

* * *

The attempt on Jiang Zuo’s life caused quite a stir.

However, for most of the sect’s disciples, as the decennial sect competition heated up, they soon put the matter behind them.

Only Cao Guangshan was particularly worried about Jiang Zuo. He contacted Jiang Zuo, but aside from saying he was recuperating, Jiang Zuo didn’t go into detail.

The decennial sect competition soon ended, and the Black Tortoise Dao Sect returned to its usual tranquility.

Taihao Peak was now designated a Forbidden Land. Ordinary sect disciples could not approach, and dedicated guards were posted to watch over it.

For a long time afterward, whenever Jiang Zuo left Taihao Peak, he was closely followed by guards.

The sects that had been entertaining ideas about Jiang Zuo could only give up when they saw this.

Death Warriors at the Dao Foundation and Divine Body Realm were one thing; they weren’t too difficult to cultivate.

But Cultivators at the Three Flowers Realm didn’t just grow on trees. The loss of even one was enough to make them feel the sting.

Given the Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s current high-security measures, even if they sent a Three Flowers Realm Death Warrior to infiltrate, it would just be a suicide mission.

「And so, nearly two more years passed.」

The two Cloud Rock Eagles Jiang Zuo had been raising were now mature, but he no longer needed to go to the Beast Taming Arena to hand them over personally. He just had to send a message, and a disciple from the arena would come to take the Cloud Rock Eagles away.

"Elder Yan, you wouldn’t come here unless it was for something important, would you?"

Jiang Zuo hadn’t expected that shortly after he sent the message, the person who arrived was not a disciple from the Beast Taming Arena, but Elder Yan Bocheng himself.

"Indeed, I have something to discuss with you. In a moment, you will come with me to meet the Nangong Daoist Lord," Yan Bocheng said, getting straight to the point.

"The Nangong Daoist Lord? Who is that? Do we have such a senior in our Black Tortoise Dao Sect?"

Jiang Zuo asked curiously.

Although he hadn’t met most of the Black Tortoise Dao Sect’s upper echelon, he had at least heard of them.

But he had never heard of this Nangong Daoist Lord.

"Do you remember the young lady who gave you the Mica Jade Dew Bottle at the Beast Taming Arena? The Nangong Daoist Lord is her master."

"The Nangong Daoist Lord’s status is rather special. She is not a member of our Black Tortoise Dao Sect, but her lineage has always had a deep connection with us. She is currently recuperating from her injuries here in our sect."

"As for the specifics, you’ll understand after you come with me to meet the Nangong Daoist Lord," Yan Bocheng briefly explained the Nangong Daoist Lord’s situation.

"The master of that young junior sister? Alright then. I’ll just pack a few things and go with you, Elder Yan."

Jiang Zuo thought of Yu Xueyan and nodded in agreement.

Since Yan Bocheng had come all this way, he couldn’t very well refuse.

As for why this Nangong Daoist Lord would be looking for him, Jiang Zuo had a few guesses.

It was probably related to Beast Taming; otherwise, there would be no reason for her to seek out a junior who was only at the third layer of Qi Cultivation.

Once Jiang Zuo was ready, Yan Bocheng immediately flew off with him toward the tall mountain peak where the Nangong Daoist Lord resided.