Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Black Wind Valley had a reputation for being unreasonable. They would never admit to something like this without concrete proof. Even if the Gui Family was in the right, Black Wind Valley would never willingly hand over the Wind Stabilizing Pearl.

Ultimately, strength was the only language that mattered—especially for those in the Divinity Transformation Realm.

"Then can't we ask the Realm Master to intervene and pressure the Tu Family into handing over the Wind Stabilizing Pearl?"

At Gui Qingkong's words, Gui Zheng sighed.

"How many years has it been since the Realm Master last made an appearance?"

Gui Qingkong paused, then answered hesitantly,

"Nearly five hundred years."

"Exactly. Five hundred years. If the Realm Master had any interest in managing such affairs, the conflict between the Gui Gu and Gui Ru factions wouldn't have become so intractable."

The mention of the Gui Gu and Gui Ru factions within the Great Zhou Academy dampened their spirits. Both men were alumni of the academy and still held a certain affection for it.

After a few moments of silence, Gui Qingkong asked, unable to accept it,

"So we're just going to let it go?"

"How could we? In addition to leading a team to aid our allies in the Celestial Justice Sect, as I mentioned, you are to root out and dismantle all the shadowy forces in the surrounding regions. I, on the other hand, will go speak with Monk Ku Rong. For now, the most pressing matter is to bring this affair to a respectable conclusion."

Gui Qingkong thought of the mess left in the wake of the Wind Stabilizing Pearl's theft—the spatial turbulence throughout the Land of Trial that had trapped so many Golden Core Cultivators in dimensional rifts. He let out a heavy sigh, bowed to Gui Zheng, and turned to attend to these matters.

After Gui Qingkong departed, Gui Zheng gazed at the shattered forest of steles before him. With a pained look, he took out several top-grade, spatial-attribute Spirit Stones. He then channeled his Magical Power, melting them into a viscous liquid that he began to spread over the broken engravings.

...

Over the next few days, as more and more Golden Core Cultivators were rescued, Fang Qingyuan knew the trial, which had started with a bang and was ending with a whimper, must be drawing to a close.

During this time, Gui Qingkong inspected each of the Golden Core Cultivators, but Tu Dai'Er handled his scrutiny with ease, arousing no suspicion.

The culprit who had murdered the other cultivators was eventually found—a Golden Core Disciple from a sect within Qi Yun called the Qimeng Sect. The sects of the deceased cultivators were outraged and immediately demanded an explanation from the remaining disciples of the Qimeng Sect.

Ignoring the clamor, Fang Qingyuan found himself with some leisure time. After learning the reason for Tu Dai'Er's friendly overtures, he had let his guard down slightly.

After all, Black Wind Valley and the Beast Taming Sect were still allies. That, combined with their shared connection to Jinbao and the fact they were still in the Gui Family's Land of Trial, made Fang Qingyuan less worried that Tu Dai'Er would try to harm him.

A few days later, the Gui Family distributed a number of Magical Artifacts and treasures to compensate everyone for the ordeal. Fang Qingyuan even benefited, receiving some Tier-Three materials. Though not particularly valuable, it was a welcome surprise.

The Gui Family then released everyone to go their own ways. After all, having over a hundred Golden Core Cultivators lingering was no small burden for them.

Once free, Fang Qingyuan immediately set off for White Mountain. To his surprise, Tu Dai'Er refused to leave, stating that she wanted to follow him back to the Qingyuan Sect to see Jinbao.

Having witnessed her uncanny methods, Fang Qingyuan didn't dare refuse Tu Dai'Er outright. He tried to put her off by claiming Jinbao was at a critical juncture in his development and could not be disturbed.

But Tu Dai'Er insisted it was no problem; she was willing to wait. With her response, Fang Qingyuan was left with no further excuses.

The journey back, like the journey there, was with a companion. This time, however, Fang Qingyuan's feelings were far more complicated.

Upon arriving at the Qingyuan Sect, Fang Qingyuan summoned Liu Xun and instructed him to prepare their finest Quiet Chamber for Tu Dai'Er. Once she was settled in, Fang Qingyuan rushed off to find Lechuan at the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, which had not yet completed its relocation.

When he saw Lechuan again, both men were taken aback. Since they had last parted, both had broken through to the next layer of their respective realms.

Fang Qingyuan had broken through the barrier to the Fourth-Layer Golden Core, stimulated by the Tier Five Spirit Land. Lechuan, who had already broken into the Late-stage Golden Core, had advanced to the Eighth-Layer Golden Core in the years since.

"Congratulations, Master! Your path along the Great Dao is smooth. At the Eighth-Layer Golden Core, you are just a step away from perfection."

Fang Qingyuan said with a grin, laying on the flattery. Seeing this, Lechuan returned the praise.

After they enjoyed a moment of mutual praise, Fang Qingyuan held back from immediately mentioning Tu Dai'Er. He decided not to tell Lechuan about the strange events in the Land of Trial. The only things he could bring up were Tu Dai'Er's discovery of Jinbao's identity and the whereabouts of the ancient beast incarnation that was likely Jinbao's sire.

For now, they discussed matters of cultivation. Compared to such 'trivial affairs,' their personal progress was what mattered most.

While the Eighth-Layer Golden Core was only one layer away from the Golden Core Perfection Realm, the time required to cross that final gap was immense.

"Master, at your current pace, how much longer will it take you to reach the Golden Core Perfection Realm?"

Fang Qingyuan asked the question that concerned him most. Lechuan calculated for a moment before replying with a hint of resignation.

"Around fifty more years. If things go smoothly, forty at the very least."

Twenty years per layer wasn't fast, but progress slowed considerably in the Late-stage Golden Core. Moreover, during this process, one also had to begin attempting to sense the Great Dao.

Just as Core Formation required a 'core treatise,' the most critical part of Nascent Soul Formation was using that treatise as a guide to comprehend the Great Dao and enter a state of true celestial communion. This step, in particular, required an enormous amount of time.

If one could only be considered a true cultivator after Foundation Establishment, then Nascent Soul Formation was the first step in shedding one's mortal coil to forge an immortal vessel. Spiritual Power was the wellspring of a cultivator's strength.

Yet from Qi Cultivation all the way to the Golden Core Realm, there remained one place within the body that Spiritual Power could not reach: the Sea of Consciousness, which housed the soul, spiritual awareness, and one's life-bound treasures.

Before Nascent Soul Formation, a blood-brain barrier staunchly protected the Sea of Consciousness. Only by achieving celestial communion and borrowing the power of the Great Dao could one surge their Spiritual Power upward, shatter the barrier, and reach the Sea of Consciousness directly. Then, like mixing water and clay, the soul, spiritual awareness, and Spiritual Power would meld into a harmonious whole. The final result of this process was the Nascent Soul.

The process of Nascent Soul Formation was inherently perilous, but the most difficult part was the preceding step: comprehending the Great Dao and achieving celestial communion. Lechuan was already approaching four hundred years of age. By the time he reached the Golden Core Perfection Realm, he would be well over four hundred, leaving him with, at most, a single opportunity to break through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Unfortunately, Lechuan had been stuck at a bottleneck for decades when transitioning from the Mid-stage to the Late-stage Golden Core. Had he not, he would now be in his prime, and his chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm would be far higher than they would be decades from now.

A Golden Core Cultivator's lifespan was five hundred years at most, but few ever reached that age. The life of a cultivator was fraught with hidden dangers—lingering injuries from duels, deviations in one's meridians during cultivation, or spiritual damage from extreme joy or sorrow. All these things could secretly shorten one's life.

If Lechuan were to attempt his breakthrough at the age of 440 or 450, it would be considered very late. A Golden Core Cultivator of that age was seen as having one foot in the grave.

Lechuan was clearly aware of this future, and his expression turned somber. Without realizing it, he, too, was growing old.

His past glory felt like it was only yesterday. The high-spirited young man who had arrived in the Southern Border all those years ago was now forced to contemplate his end.

He felt a pang of bitterness, thinking how it had taken him over 130 years in the Southern Border and as the White Mountain Gatekeeper to finally carve out a true foundation for himself.

Seeing Lechuan's desolate expression, Fang Qingyuan offered some words of comfort.

"Breaking through to a new layer is still a good thing, Master. Besides, our plan for Nascent Soul Transformation hasn't completely failed. The Cloud-Clawed Lizard may have escaped, but the Wind Breath Returning Soil Beast is still there. Based on the requirements from the Beast Taming General Mountain, we should be able to fight our way there within ten or twenty years. Then you can attempt the Nascent Soul Transformation technique again."

"Easier said than done." Lechuan shook his head. "As long as the Old Lion is there, who would dare approach?"

An idea sparked in Fang Qingyuan's mind. He asked, "Doesn't the Beast Taming General Mountain have any way to find out why the Old Lion appeared in the first place?"

Lechuan hesitated.

"I believe there is a way. It involves sending a Nascent Soul Companion Beast deep into the area to observe. I seem to recall the task was assigned to Martial Uncle Di Yuanpu, but I don't know what the current situation is."

「At the same time」

Far away, deep within the Barbaric Wilderness, on a Spiritual Land inside Awakening Lion Valley, a colossal crocodile gazed tearfully in the direction of the Southern Border. She opened her maw as if to cry, but then seemed to remember something. Glancing back at a silver, flying insect in the sky, she choked her tears back down.