Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

The gray-haired old man smiled upon seeing the three of them.

"We arrived almost at the same time. I had just returned to the sect myself when you showed up. Had I known, I would have hitched a ride on your flying shuttle. It would have saved me the trouble of flying all this way with so many disciples."

Fang Qingyuan didn't take Chu Shen's joke seriously. The Nanchu Sect was a large and prosperous enterprise; of course they had their own flying shuttle.

After chatting with Chu Shen, the group entered the sect's main reception hall. Once tea had been served three times, Fang Qingyuan stated the purpose of their visit.

Of course, he couldn't just come out and say they were here to collect a debt. Chu Hongshang must have known the full story behind Yan Nanxing's use of the Heaven-Reaching Order back then. Now that Fang Qingyuan had come not alone, but with Yan Nanxing himself—the party involved—she would naturally understand.

Sure enough, within half a day, a verbal message came from Chu Hongshang, summoning Fang Qingyuan and Yan Nanxing to the Underground Fire Palace to meet with her.

Only the Second Generation Sect Leader of the Lingliang Sect was left behind to continue drinking tea with Chu Shen.

Guided by a disciple past layers of heavy security, Fang Qingyuan and Yan Nanxing arrived in the heart of the Nanchu Sect: the Underground Fire Palace.

The temperature rose sharply. At the end of a long underground corridor was a Bronze Gate. The Nanchu Sect disciple pushed it open and gestured for them to enter.

The two stepped through the enormous Bronze Gate. Their eyes were immediately drawn to the figure seated high upon the Flame Crystal Throne: the thick-thighed beauty herself, Nascent Soul Ancestor Chu Hongshang.

Facing Fang Qingyuan and Yan Nanxing—two old acquaintances who had once helped her—Chu Hongshang's attitude was not the least bit distant.

Perhaps it was simply her nature. With people she knew and trusted, Chu Hongshang could never bring herself to put on the airs of a Nascent Soul Ancestor.

The corners of Chu Hongshang's lips were turned up in a slight smile, a clear sign she was in a decent mood. Her eyes fell on Fang Qingyuan, and she congratulated him.

"You've made great progress. How long has it been since we last saw each other, and you're already at the Fourth-Layer Golden Core? I'd say it's not out of the question that you might even achieve Nascent Soul Formation before your master."

Fang Qingyuan was genuinely pleased by Chu Hongshang's praise. However, he was here on official business for Yan Nanxing. Having accepted the man's payment, he naturally intended to do his utmost.

"Thank you for your praise, Elder Chu. I've come this time because I've encountered a difficult matter and was hoping to ask you for…"

Before Fang Qingyuan could finish, Chu Hongshang cut him off with a wave of her hand.

"You don't have to say it. I know. If it weren't for the two of you back then, I might not be sitting here today. Sect Leader Yan, I already know what you seek. However, I am bound by sect rules. The Tribulation Secret Technique is absolutely not to be shared with outsiders.

But I can make a one-time exception. Go find Chu Shen later and have him withdraw item number three from Category A in the main treasury. It is a single-use magical item created based on our sect's Tribulation Secret Technique. I trust it will meet your expectations."

Yan Nanxing was overjoyed to hear Chu Hongshang's words. A Tribulation-Crossing Secret Treasure was something that could typically only be passed down within a Nascent Soul Family. The Nanchu Sect had likely created this Secret Treasure for Chu Shen or Chu Duo to use.

Even if Yan Nanxing didn't use it himself, leaving it to his sect to bolster its heritage would be an incredible boon.

After expressing his gratitude, Yan Nanxing read the mood from Chu Hongshang's expression and tactfully took his leave. Once Yan Nanxing was gone, Chu Hongshang shifted her posture.

Settling into a more languid pose, Chu Hongshang looked at Fang Qingyuan and spoke in a low voice:

"Aren't you curious about what Nangong Zhi was plotting when he came to visit all that time ago?"

Fang Qingyuan quickly shook his head, not daring to show any interest. But at this, a smirk played on Chu Hongshang's lips as she divulged a piece of news:

"Fine, if you don't want to know. Then I suppose you also don't care that Nangong Zhi is planning to make trouble for Lechuan?"

"Hm?"

At that, Fang Qingyuan's head snapped up.