Legendary Beast Cultivator

"I sense something strange in this residence." The child’s calm voice boomed out, causing Chi Leiyang and Xue Jianhong to stop immediately.

The cold wind swirled across the pathway, carrying hundreds of withered red leaves through the air. The massive Gu Clan residence stood silently before the three investigators.

"Strange?" Chi Leiyang muttered, looking at the symbol - Gu.

The child didn’t answer immediately, his eyes remained locked onto the residence. The strange sensation was faint. It was neither murderous intent or a beast essence. Something deep inside the Gu Clan residence carried a lingering presence that appeared for a moment before vanishing into thin air.

"Maybe nothing," the child mumbled, darting his eyes across the residence.

"You stopped both of us for nothing?" Xue Jianhong raised an eyebrow, letting out a suspicious look.

The child turned his head slowly. Xue Jianhong immediately looked toward the Gu Clan gates.

"Beautiful architecture," Xue Jianhong changed the topic.

"Hahaha..." Chi Leiyang covered his mouth, suppressing a laugh.

The three investigators continued forward, their conversation and arrival followed from the investigation into Gu Shiyan and the directions given by the academy disciples.

The sound of their footsteps echoed against the stone pathway. There were two guards standing before the entrance of the Gu Clan residence, both wearing dark-green armor with a small serpent insignia engraved on their chestplates. They clenched long spears in their hands calmly.

The moment the investigators approached, the two guards crossed their spears.

"Stop!" One of the guards commanded. "This is the Gu Clan residence. State your identities and purpose."

Chi Leiyang glanced at the crossed spears, Xue Jianhong scratched his neck back, and the child merely stood silently.

"We are looking for your Clan Head," Chi Leiyang asked politely, taking a step forward.

"Clan Head Gu Yinhun?" The first guard frowned, his face twitching in confusion.

"Yes!" Chi Leiyang immediately answered.

"Why?"

"We need to speak with him about a business," Chi Leiyang smirked, adjusting his bamboo hat.

"About what?" The second guard bellowed, his expression became irritated.

"Something important..." Chi Leiyang sighed, raising an eye brow.

"What important matter?" The guards asked immediate questions as Chi Leiyang politely answered.

But, Chi Leiyang’s smile twitched, and Xue Jianhong looked toward him. "Can I hit them?"

"No!!" Chi Leiyang jeered, exchanging a glance with Xue Jianhong.

"Clan Head Gu Yinhun is currently meditating inside the Training Hall. No one is allowed to disturb him without a proper reason or appointment," The first guard bellowed, tightening his grip around the spear.

"Training Hall," Chi Leiyang nodded once, turning toward the child and Xue Jianhong. "We have the location."

"Good," the child murmured, walking straight toward the gate.

The two guards blinked, sighing synchronously. "Huh?"

Chi Leiyang followed the child, and Xue Jianhong casually walked behind them.

"Wait!" The guards yelled, their faces frowning in disbelief, but none of the three investigators stopped. "I said stop!"

"You cannot enter the Gu Clan residence without permission!" The first guard immediately rushed forward and grabbed Chi Leiyang’s shoulder.

Chi Leiyang looked at the hand resting upon his shoulder, then toward Xue Jianhong. The tall man smiled.

"You touched the wrong one,"

"Wh—?"

Xue Jianhong disappeared from his position, his massive body moving with unexpected speed.

The first guard barely saw a shadow before a palm struck the side of his neck, and immediately his eyes rolled upward, before his body touched the ground.

Instantly, Xue Jianhong pivoted his body, and attacked the second guard who tried to raise his spear. Both guards collapsed simultaneously.

Xue Jianhong stood between their unconscious bodies, dusting his palms calmly. "Problem solved."

Chi Leiyang stared at him, rubbing his temples.

The child walked through the entrance without looking back. "Come on!" His childish voice echoed from ahead. "Let’s go!"

"Yes," Chi Leiyang and Xue Jianhong answered, and immediately stopped arguing.

The three investigators entered the Gu Clan residence. A few clan servants saw them crossing the courtyard, but no one dared to approach. The sight of Xue Jianhong alone was enough to discourage the servants’ curiosity.

The enormous black object wrapped behind his back appeared almost as large as a human body.

The investigators crossed three courtyards before reaching the inner section of the residence. The Gu Clan Training Hall located at the center. It was a circular hall made from dark stone, and numerous serpent carvings coiled around the pillars. A massive jade door stood at the entrance.

"He is inside," the child stopped, a faint smile escaping from his lips.

"The strange aura?" Chi Leiyang scowled, looking toward him.

"No," the child nodded his head, slowly looking toward the Training Hall. "Something stronger. A True Beast Realm cultivator."

"Huh... You sensed his realm from here?" Xue Jianhong frowned, folding his arms at his chest.

"And his beast..." The child’s eyes became slightly sharper, "is a Dragon."

Chi Leiyang’s expression twitched. "Dragon Beast?"

The three investigators approached the Training Hall, and the jade doors were closed.

Xue Jianhong placed one hand upon the door. "Should I—"

"No," Chi Leiyang interrupted instantly. "I was only going to open it. I don’t trust you."

But the child instantly pushed the door calmly, ignoring Chi Leiyang and Xue Jianhong.

The enormous jade doors slowly opened, an obtuse wave of Beast Essence immediately withered out from the hall.

Chi Leiyang’s robes fluttered against his body, and Xue Jianhong narrowed his eyes.

At the center of the vast hall, a man sat cross-legged upon a stone platform. He appeared to be in his late forties, the long black hair wavering behind his shoulders, while a few silver strands appeared near his temples. He wore magnificent dark-green robes with golden dragon patterns.

His eyes remained closed, his breathing was slow. Every breath caused the Beast Essence inside the hall to flicker slightly.

He was Gu Yinhun — Clan Head of the Gu Clan, a True Beast Realm — Lower Stage Cultivator, and also a divine Dragon Beast holder.

The child glanced at him only once before understanding everything. ’Interesting.’

He calmly stepped inside, and Chi Leiyang and Xue Jianhong followed. Their faint footsteps echoed throughout the Training Hall.

They stopped a few paces away. The child folded his hands behind his back.

"Sorry for the intrusion, Clan Head Gu Yinhun," the child bowed, his voice booming across the hall. "We are investigators from the Detective Faction of the Qinglin Continent."

Gu Yinhun’s eyebrows twitched before his eyes opened. A strong pressure instantly erupted throughout the hall.

Chi Leiyang immediately tightened his body. Xue Jianhong’s hand moved toward the wrapped object behind him. Only the child remained unaffected by the pressure.

"Detective Faction?" Gu Yinhun’s cold eyes moved between the three intruders, his voice was deep and filled with anger. "You entered my residence without permission and interrupted my meditation."

Gu Yinhun slowly stood, the Beast Essence surrounding him disappeared as his expression became calm. But the anger remained within his eyes.

"I am Gu Yinhun, Clan Head of the Gu Clan." Gu Yinhun grunted, adjusting the sleeve of his robe. "Why are investigators from the Qinglin Continent’s Detective Faction standing inside my Training Hall?"

"We came to investigate an incident involving your son," Chi Leiyang said, stepping forward.

"My son?" Gu Yinhun sighed, his face twisted in anger.

"It was about Gu Shiyan... We received information that Gu Shiyan exposed signs of a forbidden demonic cultivation method during the Academy Competition," Chi Leiyang continued, ignoring the anger of Gu Yinhun.

"What do you want to know?" Gu Yinhun grumbled, clenching his fist slightly.

"Simple things." Chi Leiyang calmly observed Gu Yinhun’s face. "Did you notice any changes in Gu Shiyan’s behavior before the competition?"

"No."

The answer came instantly. Chi Leiyang’s single eye narrowed.

"Gu Shiyan is my son. I watched him grow from childhood," Gu Yinhun continued, his voice calm and steady.

"Was there any unusual behavior?" Xue Jianhong immediately questioned.

"No."

"Did he disappear from the residence frequently?"

"No."

"Did he possess any secret cultivation manuals?"

"No."

"Did he interact with strangers?"

"I said no!"

As the barrage of questions landed on Gu Yinhun, his anger burst out and his voice thundered through the hall. Chi Leiyang remained calm.

"My son was innocent," Gu Yinhun groaned, letting out a deep breath. "He was a kind child."

Xue Jianhong and Chi Leiyang exchanged a brief glance.

"Kind?" Xue Jianhong slowly turned toward Gu Yinhun again, a calm smile breaking into a mockery laugh. "Hahaha! Interesting!"

"What is amusing?" Gu Yinhun questioned coldly, his eyes raged with anger.

"We talked with students from the academy," Xue Jianhong elucidated. "They didn’t describe your son as kind. They described him as cruel."

As the words came out of Xue Jianhong’s mouth, Gu Yinhun’s expression turned cold and deadly.

Xue Jianhong raised another finger. "They described him as a strange, disgusting, and cold guy. Also increasingly violent before his death."

"Children exaggerate." Gu Yinhun argued, his jaw clenched tightly.

"Maybe..." Xue Jianhong shrugged, nodding his head. "But two different testimonies saying similar things aren’t easy to ignore."

"Are you accusing my son?" Gu Yinhun yelled, his voice boomed across the hall.

"No." Xue Jianhong said calmly.

"My son was corrupted!" Gu Yinhun ranted, slamming his palm against a pillar. "Some demonic bastard corrupted his kind soul and forced him toward that path!"

Then the child’s eyes slowly moved toward Gu Yinhun. Until now, the child had remained silent.

"What if nobody corrupted him?" The child queried, raising his eyebrow. Gu Yinhun looked at him as the child continued calmly. "What if Gu Shiyan willingly chose the demonic path?"

"He would never!" Gu Yinhun roared, taking a heavy step forward.

"How certain are you?" the child sneered, giving a pathetic gaze toward the clan head.

"I know my son!"

"Do you?"

Gu Yinhun’s eyes widened slightly, and the child took one small step forward.

"Your answers are fast, your certainty is impressive," the child snorted, taking a few steps forward. "But your words differ with the behavior described by those who spent time around him."

"What are you implying?" Gu Yinhun yelled, clenching his fists.

"Perhaps..." the child boasted, his eyes bearing no fear. "...you were the one who corrupted his soul?"

The entire Training Hall trembled from Gu Yinhun’s anger.

"How dare you!" Gu Yinhun’s roar shook the stone pillars, a massive wave of light violet beast essence erupted from his body.

A colossal Dragon silhouette emerged behind Gu Yinhun, its long body swirled through the hall. The dark golden scales covered its enormous body, and two gigantic horns curved backward from its head, while sharp claws shimmered faintly. The Dragon opened its mouth, letting out another roar.

ROARRR!!

The roar rattled the hall like thunder. Chi Leiyang immediately stepped backward, and Xue Jianhong’s eyes became cold. Gu Yinhun pointed toward the child.

"How dare you blame me for my son’s death!" Gu Yinhun yelled, commanding his dragon to attack. The Dragon silhouette rushed forward.

The child’s oversized black robe fluttered against the violent gust in the hall, but the child didn’t blink his eyes in fear.

Then, the air changed. A strange rupture descended upon the Training Hall, and the dark blue light emerged behind the child. At first two magnificent antlers resembling the branches of an ancient divine tree appeared from the light, then a proud head covered with shimmering golden-green scales came out. Its mane wavered like heavenly flames.

The massive creature possessed the powerful body of a deer, but every scale covering it radiated a magnificent brilliance. Its hooves rested upon small clouds of blue fire, while its long tail swayed violently. It was QiLin – the mighty divine beast which gained its place by equal with Dragon and Phoenix by a great battle. The creature opened its eyes and let out a terrifying roar.

The Qilin’s roar slammed against the Dragon’s roar.

The Beast Essence pressure exploded throughout the Training Hall. Many cracks spread across the stone floor.

"A..." Gu Yinhun’s eyes widened, his breathing stopped for a moment. "...Qilin?"

The Dragon silhouette hesitated. For the first time, Gu Yinhun properly looked at the child standing before him.

Before Gu Yinhun took a step forward to speak, a terrifying metallic sound echoed throughout the hall.

Xue Jianhong had pulled the large object from his back. The black cloth tore apart and fell. A colossal broadsword appeared within his hands. The weapon was almost as tall as Xue Jianhong himself.

The blade was covered with ancient black inscriptions that appeared to move on the surface. The edge of the blade reflected a faint icy radiance, while a few cracks at edge resembled scars earned through countless battles.

Chi Leiyang’s expression became serious. It was one of the Twenty-Five Great Swords of the Origin World.

In an instant, the enormous broadsword stopped beside Gu Yinhun’s neck. Only a finger’s distance separated the blade from his skin.

"Take back your beast." Xue Jianhong warned, his eyes were cold. Gu Yinhun slowly looked toward him as Xue Jianhong tightened his grip. "Take your Dragon away from our master... Mu Yue Cang Ming."

Gu Yinhun froze, petrified, and the Dragon silhouette stopped. His eyes slowly moved toward the child. "Mu Yue?"

For the first time since the investigators entered the Training Hall, genuine shock appeared upon the Gu Clan Head’s face. Cang Ming stood beneath the magnificent Qilin silhouette, his small hands remained hidden within his sleeves.

Gu Yinhun stared at him for another moment, and the Dragon silhouette immediately disappeared.

Xue Jianhong slowly lowered his broadsword.

"Mu Yue..." Gu Yinhun murmured, taking a step forward. He repeated the name quietly. Then his expression became solemn. "Are you from the mighty Mu Yue Clan?"