Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Fang Qingyuan paid no mind to Tu Dai'Er's mocking tone, but her words warranted his serious consideration.

However, after thinking about that finger-point from just now, his conviction firmed. 'What's there to be afraid of? Can Black Wind Valley really just come and shit on the Beast Taming Sect's head?'

'Lechuan's got my back. What's wrong with me hearing a few secrets?'

'I've cultivated for a hundred years, finally reached Golden Core, and worked my ass off to build up this sect. What's wrong with listening in?!'

So, Fang Qingyuan nodded and said,

"Go on, I'm listening. Let's see how you explain this."

Tu Dai'Er wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. She had now recovered her previous composure. She sat down calmly, picked up the fragrant tea, and inhaled its scent. Only after a long moment did she speak.

"Sect Leader Fang, have you ever heard of a physique called the 'Witch Physique'? In terms of cultivation, it's merely the icing on the cake, as it doesn't enhance one's perception of Spiritual Power. However, it has one quality that many people value highly. Would you care to guess what it is, Sect Leader Fang?"

Seeing Tu Dai'Er's calm demeanor and thinking back to what had just happened, an answer faintly emerged in Fang Qingyuan's mind.

'Is it a vessel for descension?'

This suspicion surfaced in Fang Qingyuan's mind, but he held back from saying it. He knew Tu Dai'Er would tell him, and all he needed to do for now was be a quiet listener.

That finger-point from Tu Dai'Er just now was clearly not her own intention, and it wouldn't cause any harm to Jinbao. On the contrary, Jinbao might even gain some fortuitous opportunity from it.

Storing Jinbao back in the Immortal Mansion, Fang Qingyuan quietly awaited Tu Dai'Er's explanation.

"Because of its special nature, the Witch Physique is a favorite among Cultivators of the Divine Dao. Compared to ordinary people, a Witch Physique can withstand much more Divine Power. A normal Cultivator must be at the Nascent Soul Level to bear the descent of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator's divine thought, but a Cultivator with a Witch Physique is different. The Golden Core Realm is sufficient.

"Furthermore, when a descent occurs into a Witch Physique, there is no conflict between the descending divine thought and the original will. You could say that a Cultivator with a Witch Physique is the perfect vessel for those who aspire to the Divine Dao. And as for me... I'm sure you can guess what kind of physique I have, Sect Leader Fang."

Hearing this, a chill went through Fang Qingyuan's heart. Tu Dai'Er had listed so many benefits of the Witch Physique for Divine Dao Cultivators, but what was the cost?

Fang Qingyuan didn't believe that borrowing a Witch Physique came without a price. The stain of Tu Dai'Er's blood on the ground hadn't even dried yet.

"There are thousands of cultivation paths in this world, but the mainstream ones are still the Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist Families. Other cultivation paths are all considered unorthodox, and Black Wind Valley is the prime representative of these unorthodox paths. The Divine Dao is their most outstanding Cultivation Method."

Indeed, as the foremost unorthodox sect in this world, Black Wind Valley's combat prowess was absolutely astonishing. Unlike the Daoist, Confucian, and Buddhist Families, the Divine Dao's cultivation relied on gathering the masses and on empowerment. Under the empowerment of the Divine Dao, even their Nascent Soul Cultivators could erupt with Divinity Transformation-level combat strength.

This would explain why Black Wind Valley could withstand being besieged by a group of this world's major powers like Mingyang Mountain, the Celestial Justice Sect, and the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect. Without Divinity Transformation Cultivators personally entering the fray, no matter how many Nascent Soul Cultivators the other side had, could they truly surround and kill an opponent of the same realm who was empowered by a Divinity Transformation's divine thought?

But while Black Wind Valley's combat strength was immense, the Divine Dao had a huge, even fatal, flaw. Thanks to the empowerment, even ordinary Cultivators could unleash tremendous combat power. But over time, as both their minds and bodies grew accustomed to being empowered by Divine Power, breaking through to the next realm became exceedingly difficult.

Because being empowered meant a loss of self, a loss of the spiritual nature that was most crucial in cultivation. How could they then pursue higher breakthroughs? How could they possess the transcendent will needed to advance? In other words, Black Wind Valley was lacking in top-tier combat power.

A lack of successors was Black Wind Valley's greatest hidden danger.

As far as Fang Qingyuan knew, Qi Yun had over a dozen Divinity Transformation Cultivators. The Beast Taming Sect, if you included their Companion Beasts, had even more than Qi Yun. The Confucian Family forces also had more than a dozen. Although the Buddhist Family had fewer than ten, their territory was small. Yet Black Wind Valley, as the foremost unorthodox sect, only had two Divinity Transformation Cultivators holding down the fort.

Well, actually, the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect was in an even worse state, with only one. However, the sword that this individual wielded had already birthed a Primordial Spirit, so it could be considered a second Divinity Transformation-level power. Moreover, the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect was famous for its immense combat strength. Its Divinity Transformation Ancestor, with just one man and one sword, had slaughtered his way to a point where other powers dared not provoke him, only privately referring to him as 'Nie the Madman'.

Just now, two Divinity Transformation Cultivators had clearly descended into Tu Dai'Er from afar. No wonder it could cross a distance of over a hundred thousand li. Such an incredible Divine Technique could only be accomplished through the Divine Dao.

As for a certain Old Lion, he didn't even cross Fang Qingyuan's mind at this moment. Sometimes, when a being is too powerful, they can only be seen as a natural disaster, not as an individual.

The first to descend should have been Tu Dai'Er's "convenient" master. The second, if Fang Qingyuan wasn't mistaken, was Jinbao's long-lost biological father, that Divinity Transformation Bear Beast.

It was likely that Jinbao's biological father had a request for Tu Dai'Er's master, and used Tu Dai'Er as a medium to finally see Jinbao from over a hundred thousand li away.

As for what price was paid for this meeting, that was beyond Fang Qingyuan's knowledge.

And that final finger-point was also from Jinbao's father. He must have been sending something to Jinbao from across the distance. Because the distance was too great, even with her Witch Physique, Tu Dai'Er couldn't withstand the power transmission. That's why she was severely injured, and the descent was interrupted.

The situation was now clear. Fang Qingyuan felt that knowing this much was enough. As for the entangled relationship between Tu Dai'Er's master and Jinbao's biological father, Fang Qingyuan had no desire to get involved. After all, the gap in their cultivation realms was far too wide.

Thinking of this, Fang Qingyuan's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Tu Dai'Er again. On the surface, she was a top disciple of Black Wind Valley whose master was a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, a position of immense prestige. But in reality, she too had unspeakable hardships.

Perhaps it was only because Tu Dai'Er possessed the Witch Physique that she was accepted as a disciple against convention. It might even be that she was pushed into this position only after her physique was discovered.

In that fleeting glimpse just now, Fang Qingyuan was startled to discover that Tu Dai'Er's temperament was seventy to eighty percent similar to her master's. This was clearly not a good thing, as it meant that most of Tu Dai'Er's sense of self had been assimilated by her master.

In that case, how much of the Tu Dai'Er before him was her true self?

"Since you're injured, you should rest and recuperate here. There's no hurry to leave."

Hearing Fang Qingyuan's less-than-sincere words, Tu Dai'Er shot him a resentful glance, then stood up and said,

"My task is complete. I didn't tell you the truth before because I was afraid of causing unnecessary complications. Now that it's over, I must return to Black Wind Valley. Fang Qingyuan, I hope we don't have to meet again."

Fang Qingyuan could understand Tu Dai'Er's resentment. He had been guarding against her as if she were a thief, and his intention to make her leave had been perfectly clear. No wonder she was angry.

But Fang Qingyuan felt, 'If I can't afford to provoke her, can't I at least hide from her?' Now that the matter was finally settled, Tu Dai'Er's feelings were no longer important.

"Shall I see you out?"

"No need!"

...

On the mountaintop, watching Tu Dai'Er's figure rapidly fly away, Fang Qingyuan sighed softly. 'What a good person.'

After his moment of sentiment, Fang Qingyuan hurried back to his Quiet Chamber. He still needed to check on Jinbao.

As soon as Fang Qingyuan's soul entered the Immortal Mansion, he was surprised to see Jinbao practicing a fist form, each move precise and formal.

'Huh? When did Jinbao learn a fist technique? Before, when fighting enemies, he just swung his fists wildly.'

After observing for a while, Fang Qingyuan was amazed to find that Jinbao not only knew how to practice fist forms but also how to sit in meditation, regulate his breathing, and enter a state of cultivation.

This piqued Fang Qingyuan's interest. Jinbao's old routine was just eating and sleeping. Such a change had to be the effect of that finger-point.

By communicating with Jinbao through the Voice of All Things, Fang Qingyuan finally understood what that finger-point had truly brought him.

It was a father's teachings, a hundred years late.

Concentrated within that single point was a dense stream of information and intent. This stream was poured into Jinbao's sea of consciousness in a miraculous way.

Because the amount of information was too vast, Jinbao couldn't receive it all at once. Thus, the information was sealed into the shape of an iceberg, which now bobbed in his sea of consciousness. From time to time, a fragment would break off the Divine Thought Ice Mountain, dissolve into his sea of consciousness, and be absorbed by Jinbao.

The fist form from just now was called the Vajra Tiger Subduing Fist, which was clearly an unorthodox Buddhist fist art. The Heart Method Jinbao used for meditation and breath regulation was called the Great Mighty Ming King's Heart-Admonishing Spell, also a Buddhist Cultivation Technique.

The Buddhist Family had always had unorthodox Cultivation Methods. It looked like the intention was to raise Jinbao to be a Dharma Guardian Vajra.

Fang Qingyuan had some thoughts about this. 'Jinbao is my cub! Why should he be practicing some Buddhist Divine Technique?'

So, Fang Qingyuan told Jinbao to stop cultivating the Bright King Spell. The fist form was fine to practice; it would give him some structure when fighting enemies in the future. But as for this Heart Method, he could forget about it.

Besides, Fang Qingyuan didn't believe that this Divine Thought Ice Mountain contained only this kind of information. There had to be more important secrets hidden deep within the iceberg, waiting for Jinbao to discover them himself.

Having resolved the trouble that was Tu Dai'Er, Fang Qingyuan felt a sense of relief. The next step was to wait for the alliance matter to be settled. After that, he could cultivate in peace.

Advancing from the Fourth-Layer Golden Core to the Fifth-Layer Golden Core would take at least twenty years of cultivation, given Fang Qingyuan's aptitude. 'If I'm not diligent enough, when will I ever reach Golden Core Perfection?'

With this in mind, Fang Qingyuan began a period of peaceful cultivation. However, just after the new year, he was summoned by Lechuan.

Lechuan told Fang Qingyuan that Zongshan had indeed sent someone, and their purpose was just as Fang Qingyuan had predicted: they were coming to steal the credit.

Hearing Lechuan say this, Fang Qingyuan found it a little strange. This was something they already knew, so it didn't warrant such a reaction from Lechuan. Could there be some hidden complication?

Lechuan let out a short sigh.

"I thought it would be someone from our Yue'e faction. Even if they were trying to steal credit, I could still report them to Yue'e Ancestor and have her uphold justice. But the latest news is that this person is a direct disciple of another Divinity Transformation Cultivator. In terms of backing, his is much stronger than your master's."

"What? Are you thinking of giving in, Master?"

Fang Qingyuan said teasingly, earning a glare from Lechuan.

"What are you talking about? I'm just worried that if he loses, he'll go back crying and tattling, which would damage my reputation."

In front of Fang Qingyuan, Lechuan was never willing to show any weakness. Fang Qingyuan looked at the outwardly-strong-but-inwardly-weak Lechuan and chuckled, but a cold glint shone in his eyes.