Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Early morning sunlight spilled across the fields. The morning mist was thin, drifting over crowds of early-rising mortals. Some drove large carts, others pushed wheelbarrows. The vehicles were all loaded with children—some scrawny, some bewildered, some bursting with excitement—all heading in the same direction.

In the center of Qingping Town, a high platform had been newly erected. Several disciples dressed in the robes of the Qingyuan Sect were testing the children who had come, one by one, for their Immortal Roots.

With every flash of the Spirit Testing Token, Gu Changfeng, who was watching from the side, felt his heart leap with joy.

Children with insufficient Spirit Root talent would not trigger a reaction from the Spirit Testing Token. Only those capable of stepping onto the path of cultivation could make the Spirit Testing Token glow.

Based on the glow, the talent of this batch of children was roughly divided into upper, middle, and lower grades. As for an Earth-grade Spirit Root, Gu Changfeng had participated in three of these tests over nine years and had yet to discover a single one.

This time, however, Gu Changfeng’s heart was filled with a little more anticipation. This was the first test since the formation of the alliance, and the number of eligible children was more than half again as large as before.

The alliance wasn’t just a nominal agreement for everyone to obey the Qingyuan Sect’s commands; it also involved all sorts of practical matters and vested interests.

Take the ownership of the children tested, for example. According to the alliance pact, eligible children could choose which sect’s testing ceremony they wanted to join. And within the Qingyuan Alliance, who could be more attractive to these children than the Qingyuan Sect?

Of course, the Qingyuan Sect had to leave the other families with their core foundations and couldn’t just snatch everyone away. But for those minor clans with miscellaneous surnames who had been overlooked in the past, this rule was an opportunity.

Qingping Town was on the edge of the Qingyuan Sect’s sphere of influence. In the past, the testing ceremony held once every three years would attract just over two thousand children. This year, however, it drew parents and children from dozens of miles around, from territories that hadn’t previously belonged to the Qingyuan Sect. Adding them all together, the number of prospective Immortals this time broke the five-thousand mark.

The population of children represented the potential of a sect’s power, so even in the White Mountain Territory, the major sects generally encouraged procreation.

An eligible couple would, on average, give birth to five to ten children in their lifetime.

Because of the existence of Immortal Techniques, the risk of mothers dying in childbirth was relatively low. Thus, it often didn’t take more than a few decades or a century for a Land Realm to become overpopulated. This was why the Great Zhou Academy would wage wars of expansion, seeking out key areas in the Barbaric Wilderness to accommodate the growing population.

Interestingly, in wealthy Land Realms like Qi Yun, where food and drink were abundant, the desire to have children was often lower. Conversely, in chaotic places like White Mountain and the Outer Sea, the desire to procreate was actually stronger.

"Steward Gu, we just found someone with a Top-grade Fire Spirit Root. Would you like to go have a look?"

The report from a nearby disciple piqued Gu Changfeng’s interest. Barring any accidents, someone with a Top-grade Spirit Root could generally cultivate to Late-stage Qi Cultivation. If he invested in them early, he could forge a positive connection for his family in the future.

Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were the ceiling for the bottom tier in the White Mountain Territory. If one was lucky enough to reach Foundation Establishment, they could be assigned to an external post, becoming a prominent figure. Eventually, they could even establish a Cultivation Clan, a family that would last for a century.

It only took a little over a decade for a three-year-old child to grow into a core disciple in their twenties at the Qi Cultivation stage. For a Cultivator, that was a wait they could afford.

’A Top-grade Spirit Root is worth the investment.’ Thinking this, Gu Changfeng stood up and walked over to the testing site. Seeing a timid little boy, he smiled at the parents and asked:

"What is this Immortal Child’s name?"

Based on their clothes, the child’s parents were clearly farmers who toiled in the fields for a living. His father was somewhat reticent, his face dark and weathered, and he looked to be of a considerable age. Being questioned by an Immortal Master like Gu Changfeng, he stammered and couldn’t get a word out.

Seeing this, the village chief standing nearby stepped forward to speak:

"Reporting to the honored Immortal Master, this child is Gu the Third’s fifth child, and his name is Gu Tiezhu. Gu the Third is from Xiaogou Village in Sishui Town, under Qingping Town’s jurisdiction. There are five children in his family, and Gu Tiezhu is the youngest.

"Fifty years ago, the Gu Family’s old patriarch was an independent who migrated here and settled down. Tiezhu’s mother is from the nearby Fan Village. In the last ten years, Xiaogou Village also produced an Immortal Master, though he wasn’t from the Gu family, but one of the minor families in the village..."

The village chief was getting on in years and tended to ramble, but Gu Changfeng showed no impatience. He listened quietly as the old man prattled on.

Patience was a fine quality, and one that Cultivators certainly didn’t lack. And because the boy shared his surname, Gu Changfeng found himself liking this Gu Tiezhu even more.

After a long while, Gu Changfeng kindly arranged for Gu Tiezhu’s family to stay at an inn in Qingping Town. Then, he sent someone to bring over Gu Tiezhu’s entire household.

This was to verify their identities and also to arrange for their benefits. As the saying goes, when one person achieves the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. The moment Gu Tiezhu’s Spirit Root talent was discovered, the entire Gu Family’s status was due for an upgrade.

In the future, even if Gu Tiezhu’s father wanted to farm, it could only be called a hobby. As long as Gu Tiezhu didn’t die a premature death, the Gu Family would be set for a generation.

It wasn’t just Gu Changfeng making arrangements on behalf of the sect. When the other villagers heard the news, they all sent congratulatory gifts. And that wasn’t all.

The village, the township, and the town all made gestures of their own. Furthermore, Xiaogou Village’s taxes for the next three years would be reduced by half, and both the township and the town offered their own commendations.

Out of five thousand children, only three Immortal Children were found in the end. Among them, Gu Tiezhu had the best talent, while the remaining two both had Lower-grade Spirit Roots.

Just as Gu Changfeng was thinking he had reaped a Top-grade Spirit Root and would finally be able to show off in front of the other Stewards this year, news arrived that made his jaw drop. In Leping Town, in the northwest corner, a child with a Celestial-grade Wood Spirit Root had actually been discovered.

Suddenly, a sour feeling welled up in Gu Changfeng’s heart. It made him feel as if the Top-grade Spirit Root right in front of him was nothing special after all.

...

On the summit of the Qingyuan Sect, Fang Qingyuan looked at the timid little brat before him, inwardly shocked. ’So this is the legendary Celestial-grade talent? He looks so... ordinary.’

’He doesn’t look any different from other children.’

Spirit Root talent was merely a latent factor. Without training in a Cultivation Technique, it would be difficult for any extraordinary traits to manifest, and the person themselves would be unable to set foot on the path of cultivation.

This was a fundamental difference from the other living beings of this world. Fang Qingyuan guessed it was perhaps because the human species was foreign to this world.

Inside the great hall, besides Fang Qingyuan, many other sect members had gathered to see the legendary Celestial-grade Spirit Root. Jiang Wanqin, in particular, was overflowing with maternal affection. Unable to resist, she stepped forward to coo at the child, pulling him into her embrace.

A three-year-old child had never seen such a scene before and was about to burst into tears. But with a few simple tricks, Jiang Wanqin quickly had him smiling happily.

Watching the scene unfold, Fang Qingyuan sighed to himself. ’How many years has it been? Nearly sixty years since the Qingyuan Sect was founded. We finally have a true Immortal Seedling of our own.’

Liu Xun stood to the side, reporting on the child’s background:

"This child is from a remote mountain village outside our sect’s territory. The village has no more than a dozen households, all hunters. Looking back several decades, not a single talented Immortal Child has ever appeared there.

"In past years, it wasn’t considered part of the Qingyuan Sect’s sphere of influence. But because of the alliance, its original ruling family ceded it to us as a way to curry favor. And on this very first occasion, we discovered this Celestial-grade Spirit Root. Fate truly works in mysterious ways."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan paused, and Liu Xun immediately understood.

"Sect Leader, rest assured, all loose ends have been taken care of. I’ve moved the entire village to the foot of our mountain to be well provided for. As for the original ruling family, I’ve given them Spirit Stones as compensation. With the alliance pact in place, they won’t be able to stir up any trouble."

Fang Qingyuan nodded slightly. A Celestial-grade Spirit Root was a great thing, but only if one had the ability to protect it. For a sect not enfeoffed by the Great Zhou Academy, the appearance of a child with Celestial-grade Spirit Root talent could be either a blessing or a curse.

If the original ruling family truly tried to make an issue of this, Fang Qingyuan wouldn’t mind letting their entire sect suffer a beast calamity, leaving none of them alive.

Listening to Liu Xun’s report, Fang Qingyuan found himself liking the boy more and more. A Celestial-grade Spirit Root represented a future Golden Core Great Cultivator. Currently, the Qingyuan Sect’s foundation was insufficient; as far as Fang Qingyuan could see, not a single member had the makings of a Golden Core Cultivator.

Liu Xun was busy with the Sect Leader’s administrative duties, and his talent was only a Top-grade Gold Spirit Root; reaching Golden Core was likely out of the question for him.

The same went for Jiang Tianfang. Chen Huicheng, on the other hand, was devoted to Alchemy and had a sliver of hope, but it was slim indeed.

Jiang Wanqin was single-mindedly focused on cultivation, but alas, her talent was insufficient. For someone with a Top-grade Spirit Root to achieve Core Formation... it was difficult!

As for the other disciples of the new generation, few had even reached Foundation Establishment, let alone Golden Core.

Currently, Fang Qingyuan was still the one carrying the Qingyuan Sect on his shoulders. If anything were to happen to him, the sect’s momentum would be instantly shattered, returning it to its original state.

But now, things were different. With a disciple of Celestial-grade Spirit Root talent, the future of the Qingyuan Sect had an extra layer of security.

"The child’s surname is Jue. I’ve checked his background; it’s clean. His family migrated from the Outer Sea sixty years ago. His grandfather was a fisherman. The island they lived on was devastated by a demonic calamity, and the surviving islanders were relocated here by the Great Zhou Academy to settle down."

Oh? Hearing this story, Fang Qingyuan recalled the demonic calamity he had encountered in the Outer Sea. He never expected the repercussions of that event to manifest here.

Back then, to avoid the expansion wars, Fang Qingyuan had been sent by Lechuan to Iron Wind Island to find leverage against Zhao E Lian. During that time, he had encountered the demonic calamity, which the Great Zhou Academy and the Beast Taming Sect had joined forces to quell.

This little fellow’s ancestors must have been among those relocated at that time. To think that sixty years later, it would lead to him obtaining a Celestial-grade Immortal Child.

"What’s the child’s name?"

"His nickname is Goudan, but that certainly can’t be made public. Therefore, we’ll need the Sect Leader to personally bestow a name upon him."

A corner of Fang Qingyuan’s mouth twitched. The children of hunters were often given lowly names, as it was thought to make them easier to raise. But in the future, this child would be the face of Qingyuan; he definitely needed a more impressive name.

And so, Fang Qingyuan mused aloud:

"Ultimate brightness penetrates the abyss; ultimate purity is without stain. I hope he grows to be a person of utmost purity and character. Let’s call him Jue Wu Gou."