Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Next were the nine subordinate Golden Core Sects, who had also come to show their support. At their head was Yan Nanxing of the Yan Gui Sect. Among them, the Second Generation Sect Leader of the Lingliang Sect tagged along, his face pale.

Once most of the various factions had arrived, Fang Qingyuan announced the start of the banquet. As all sorts of Spirit Wine were served in an endless stream, the Loose Cultivators at the foot of the mountain ate and drank with great delight.

Meanwhile, in the great hall at the mountain’s summit, more than twenty Golden Core Cultivators from the various sects were seated. For the seating arrangement, Lechuan had deliberately placed a Golden Core Cultivator from a Beast Taming Sub-Sect next to someone from a White Mountain faction to keep certain groups apart. After all, the Pill Alliance was still hostile toward the Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances.

Furthermore, the Hehuan Sect was blocking the supply routes of both the Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances. The conflict between these factions was something no one could mediate for the time being.

Tu Dai’Er was also seated among the guests. Upon seeing this Cultivator from Black Wind Valley, everyone from Chai Yi and Lang Jigao to the Cultivators of the Pill Alliance and Hehuan Sect couldn’t help but let their minds wander.

Fang Qingyuan was pleased by this. ’Let them all speculate,’ he thought. ’It makes my lavish hospitality for Tu Dai’er all the more worthwhile.’

Di Qing of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect was currently sitting beside Lechuan. The two of them drank wine and watched the song and dance performances while conversing privately:

"Senior Brother Le, you’ve really made some moves these past few years! You even managed to conquer Moyun Valley. With such a massive piece of land, I wonder if I, your junior brother, might get a piece of the action?"

Lechuan chuckled as he looked at this relative of Di Yuanpu. He nodded and said:

"Since you’ve asked, Junior Brother Di, I won’t beat around the bush. To be honest with you, I intend to build a new Marketplace in Moyun Valley. If you’re interested, you can invest and purchase several shares. I’ve offered this plan to the other sub-sects as well, but of course, their stakes won’t be nearly as large as yours."

"Oh, a new Marketplace? Wouldn’t that conflict with Nine Stars Square? Would those nine sects agree to it?"

Di Qing’s expression was first joyful, then became conflicted. Thanks to its prime location, Nine Stars Square had been flourishing in recent years. Lechuan’s plan to build a new marketplace in Moyun Valley would put it in close proximity to the Nine-star Marketplace.

"It’s different. We’ll be specializing in goods related to Wilderness Demonic Beasts. I believe we must leverage the unique strengths of our Beast Taming Sect. As for the Nine-star Marketplace, there will be some minor overlap at most, but it won’t be a major issue."

"Is that so?"

Di Qing looked skeptical. As a sect leader himself, he was no novice when it came to managing a marketplace, so he naturally didn’t buy Lechuan’s explanation.

Seeing his skepticism, Lechuan launched into a detailed explanation.

In a somewhat secluded corner, Situ Jingyu was conversing with Tu Dai’Er. They must have touched upon an amusing topic, as both of them began to laugh. However, compared to Situ Jingyu’s hearty and open laughter, Tu Dai’Er was more reserved, covering her mouth even as she giggled.

Yan Nanxing, sipping his wine, caught Fang Qingyuan’s eye and shot him a meaningful glance. Fang Qingyuan nodded in understanding, signaling that they would speak later.

After a round of song and dance, during a lull in the entertainment, Fang Qingyuan approached Yan Nanxing. Yan Nanxing then said:

"Younger Brother Fang, I have a feeling I might be summoned up the mountain in the coming days. You mentioned before that you would go to the Nanchu Sect to procure a Tribulation Secret Technique for me. Is there any news on that?"

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan looked at Yan Nanxing and asked in return:

"You’re still thinking about going up the mountain at a time like this? Have you no idea what’s happening up there? We can constantly hear the roar of battle from the summit, even down here at the base. What else could it be but the Nascent Soul experts going at each other’s throats?"

"In all these years, not a single command has come down from the Nascent Soul cultivators. Otherwise, White Mountain wouldn’t be in such chaos. If you go up there to undergo your tribulation now, no Tribulation Secret Technique will be of any use."

Yan Nanxing’s expression turned bitter. It wasn’t that he didn’t know all this, but watching his lifespan dwindle year by year, he felt helpless.

"Then forget the Tribulation Secret Technique. Younger Brother Fang, please, I’m asking you to use your connections and find me a Nascent Soul Spiritual Land. If you can make it happen, I’ll agree to any condition you name."

Fang Qingyuan was left speechless. ’A Tier Five Spirit Land isn’t something you can just conjure up,’ he thought. ’Does he really think Lechuan is some kind of miracle worker?’ He had no choice but to bluntly refuse Yan Nanxing’s request.

"You should give up on the idea of your Nascent Soul Transformation outside the sect. As per White Mountain’s rules, there has never been a precedent for anyone doing so in all these years. How about this? After the ceremony ends, I’ll take you with me to visit Sect Leader Chu Shen at the Nanchu Sect."

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s words, Yan Nanxing sighed and said:

"I suppose that’s my only option. I have another matter as well. It’s about the Second Generation Sect Leader of the Lingliang Sect. Ever since his foundation was damaged, his cultivation has not only stagnated for many years but is also at risk of deteriorating. I was hoping to ask Sect Leader Le to see if he can find a Secret Technique from the Beast Taming Sect to alleviate the symptoms."

"For seeking pills and medicine, shouldn’t you be looking for the Qi Yun Daoist Sect? The Beast Taming Sect doesn’t seem to specialize in such methods, do they?"

"If we had the connections, we would have already sought them out. Unfortunately, none of our nine sects have a deep enough background to get an audience with a true Nascent Soul Zhenren. Besides, the Beast Taming Sect’s blood-feeding techniques are said to be miraculously effective for treating these kinds of injuries..."

"Alright then. I’ll try asking, but I can’t guarantee anything."

"Then I thank you, Sect Leader Fang."

...

At this time, the Golden Core Cultivator from the Pill Alliance had also huddled together with Elder Zhong Xingyue of the Hehuan Sect.

The Pill Alliance had taken a huge risk by sending a Golden Core Cultivator to Fang Qingyuan’s Core Formation Ceremony. Fang Qingyuan could guarantee the cultivator’s safety within the Qingyuan Sect, but once he left, Fang Qingyuan would be powerless if he were ambushed by the Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances.

But it was also the only opportunity for the Pill Alliance’s Golden Core Cultivator to meet with the Hehuan Sect face-to-face.

The two parties were whispering together, drawing cold sneers from Chai Yi and Lang Jigao. However, as this was Fang Qingyuan’s grand Core Formation Ceremony, they could only watch from a distance and not interfere.

After the lengthy song and dance performances concluded, Fang Qingyuan figured the Loose Cultivators at the mountain’s base had eaten their fill. He then raised his voice and thanked everyone for attending and showing their support.

After a few words of gratitude, everyone understood that the lecture on the Dao was next. This also served as a signal that those who wished to depart could do so now.

But everyone looked at each other, and seeing no one make the first move to leave, they were led to their seats in the viewing gallery.

Seizing this opportunity, Fang Qingyuan called Lechuan, and together with Chai Yi and Lang Jigao, the four of them went to a secret chamber to discuss their prior agreement.

After a brief round of haggling, they reached an agreement. Chai Yi would cede his ten-percent stake in the Artifact Talisman Alliance to the Li Huo Alliance. In addition, he would also hand over a portion of the territory left behind by the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect. In return, the Li Huo Alliance would cease all interference in the Far East Land Realm.

Meanwhile, the Spirit Wood Alliance would receive the former mountain gate of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect, including four thousand square kilometers of territory.

The Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances were allies, currently facing pressure from both the Pill Alliance and the Hehuan Sect. They certainly didn’t want to add the Qingyuan Sect and the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect to their list of enemies. If the Pill Alliance, Hehuan Sect, Qingyuan Sect, and White Mountain Beast Taming Sect were to form even a loose coalition, the Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances would find themselves in a much more disadvantageous position.

Now that the Li Huo Alliance had obtained substantial benefits at the mere cost of no longer interfering in the territory of little strategic value that was the Far East, they were naturally willing.

However, while signing the contract, the Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances tried to add a condition: that the Qingyuan Sect must stop transporting supplies to the Pill Alliance. Lechuan rejected this, stating that it was a separate issue. If they wished to negotiate that point, they would have to come up with new terms. It could not be conflated with the present agreement.

Once the contract was finalized and drawn up in quadruplicate, each of the four parties took a copy. With the agreement secured, all four of them broke out in cheerful laughter.

"KYEHEHEHEH."

Looking at the contracts in their hands, the laughter of the four men rang out simultaneously in the secret chamber.

.....

For the following lecture on the Dao, Fang Qingyuan naturally put his true skills on display. This was a demonstration of his own strength. A good demonstration could save him a lot of trouble, but a poor one would expose him as a fraud and naturally cause others to look down on him.

Fang Qingyuan still lectured on the Five Elements. In White Mountain, the Five Elements Dao was something that everyone, from Loose Cultivators to Golden Core Cultivators of major powers, had their own comprehensions of. Fang Qingyuan chose this as the topic for his lecture with the deliberate intention of making a name for himself.

After integrating it with the Five Directions Star Realm, Fang Qingyuan’s understanding of the Five Elements Dao had already reached a profound level. Coupled with insights from his Innate Divine Technique, the Five-Colored Divine Escape, his lecture was certain to be enlightening for the many Cultivators in attendance.

Fang Qingyuan lectured for three days and three nights straight. Among the numerous Loose Cultivators listening, three managed to achieve a Breakthrough Realm on the spot. The Qingyuan Sect, of course, had people mark these three individuals for future recruitment.

Three days later, Fang Qingyuan stopped his lecture. Before the crowd could awaken from their captivated state, a piece of news spread like wildfire: the grand army of the Hehuan Sect had launched an attack on the Spirit Wood and Li Huo Alliances.