Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Jue Wu Gou was the Qingyuan Sect’s first Immortal Seedling with a Celestial-grade Spirit Root, so naturally, Fang Qingyuan had immense expectations for the child.

But Fang Qingyuan knew well the folly of rushing development and didn’t arrange any obvious special treatment for Jue Wu Gou. As it happened, Jiang Wanqin’s daily cultivation was quite relaxed, and she had both the time and the willingness to help, so Fang Qingyuan entrusted Jue Wu Gou to her care.

Jue Wu Gou was only three years old, but once their Spirit Root aptitude was discovered, they could no longer live among mortals and had to begin their cultivation.

This year’s batch of new Immortal Seedlings numbered over twenty in total, enough to form a small class to be taught by instructors of cultivation and literature.

In addition to classical texts, cultural studies, and history, Fang Qingyuan also added subjects like arithmetic and management principles to their curriculum.

Of course, the most important thing for a Cultivator was cultivation itself; this other knowledge merely served to enlighten them and broaden their minds.

Based on their different Spirit Root aptitudes, a gap in cultivation progress would likely appear among these twenty-odd children, aged one to three, within five or six years. Some would fall behind and be held back a year, while others might skip three grades at once. In any case, it was unlikely they would all have the chance to cultivate and grow up together.

The Qingyuan Sect now had a well-established training program, so this matter didn’t require Fang Qingyuan’s personal attention. He simply valued Jue Wu Gou so highly that he couldn’t help but inquire a little more than usual.

After Jiang Wanqin led Jue Wu Gou away, Liu Xun, who was standing to the side, stepped forward to report the next matter. This one, however, gave Fang Qingyuan pause.

"The Qingyuan Alliance is newly formed, and with so much to be done, now is the time for you, Alliance Leader, to realize your grand ambitions. However, several sects in the alliance noted that you have no one to attend to your personal needs. They discussed the matter and decided that each would offer one Qi Cultivation Disciple, hoping that you, Golden Core Ancestor, will accept them as Concubines."

’They want me to take concubines? Several at once, no less. Isn’t that a bit ostentatious?’

The thought immediately flashed through Fang Qingyuan’s mind. He had cultivated alone for 130 or 140 years, and this was the first time anyone had been so eager to give him concubines.

’Well, back when I first reached Foundation Establishment, I was close with Jiang Kui, and no one was tactless enough to try something like this. Later, I fled to the Outer Sea, where my position was unstable, so I had no mind for such things.’

’After I established the Qingyuan Sect, some families were willing to marry their daughters to me, but I was focused solely on cultivation and worried about exposing the secret of my Immortal Mansion, so I refused them all. But now, I’m a Fourth-Layer Golden Core Cultivator. In the White Mountain Territory, I’m a prominent figure. Taking a few concubines is hardly a major affair, is it?’

’I’ve cultivated for over a century, weathering every storm and overcoming countless dangers. Now that I’ve finally reached the Golden Core Realm, can’t I enjoy myself a little?’

’White Mountain has a population of nearly one hundred million, yet there are barely more than a hundred Golden Core Cultivators. Once you reach the Golden Core Realm, you become the master of millions. And as the head of my own power, my position is far more comfortable than that of a Golden Core Elder in a sect like Spirit Wood or Departing Fire.’

’Why has no one brought this up before? Probably because it’s been too short a time since my breakthrough. It has only been four years since I broke through to the Golden Core Realm.’

’For three of those years, the Qingyuan Sect was embroiled in the war to open up Moyun Valley. Now that the alliance has just been formed, these Foundation Establishment Sects are seizing the opportunity to curry favor with me.’

"How many sects are there in total?"

"Five!"

"So that’s five of them? Isn’t that a few too many?"

Seeing that Fang Qingyuan was tempted, Liu Xun quickly tried to persuade him further.

"It’s not many at all! If you look at all the Golden Core Ancestors in the White Mountain Territory, every single one of them has at least ten or twenty Concubines, and many of those are even Foundation Establishment Female Cultivators. For you to have a mere five is not excessive in the slightest.

Besides, these five are a gesture of goodwill from the five core sects of the alliance; it would be improper to refuse any of them. Accepting them will also demonstrate your magnanimity and put everyone’s minds at ease. With the alliance newly formed, this move accomplishes several goals at once."

Fang Qingyuan was swayed by Liu Xun’s words. He wasn’t a eunuch; naturally, he appreciated beautiful women.

’Female Cultivators are rarely unattractive to begin with. And since these five are a gift meant to curry favor with me, they must be quite beautiful. Otherwise, would sending someone ugly with a bad temper be an attempt to please me, or a death wish?’

’Though a Concubine’s status is far below that of a proper wife, it’s much higher than a mere servant’s. At the very least, she would be an intimate companion, someone who could whisper in my ear during a bit of pillow talk.’

As for his earlier worry about a partner potentially exposing the secret of his Immortal Mansion, such a concern seemed insignificant when it came to a Concubine.

A cultivation partner would be an equal, someone he’d spend every day with. In such close, daily interactions, it would be difficult not to let something slip eventually.

A Concubine, however, had to act according to Fang Qingyuan’s every whim. He had no real responsibility toward her and could disregard her feelings, coming and going as he pleased.

If Fang Qingyuan were more ruthless, he could even place restrictive seals on these Concubines, holding their very lives in the palm of his hand.

Of course, Fang Qingyuan couldn’t bring himself to go that far. He wasn’t that paranoid or extreme.

Seeing Fang Qingyuan lost in thought, Liu Xun assumed he still had reservations. He gritted his teeth and said:

"Sect Leader, may I be so bold as to say something?"

"Oh? Speak freely."

Having received Fang Qingyuan’s permission, Liu Xun spoke boldly.

"I once overheard some gossips in the Marketplace discussing you, Sect Leader. There was one thing they said..."

"What did they say?!"

Fang Qingyuan was suddenly struck with a bad feeling. He watched as Liu Xun hemmed and hawed before finally speaking.

"They said... you suffer from the ’King’s Malady’."

CRACK!

A surge of rage overcame Fang Qingyuan, and he couldn’t stop himself from smashing the table beside him to splinters. In this world, the "King’s Malady" had two meanings: one was insatiable lust, and the other was impotence.