Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

At this moment, Fang Qingyuan had a million questions for Lechuan. ’Why did you have to bring that up? Because of what happened to the Great White Bear, Bear Wind is clearly resentful toward the Beast Taming Sect. The alliance is already on shaky ground, and now you want to force him to be a mole? What do you take Bear Wind for?’

A traitor to beasts? Or a traitor to demons?

Fang Qingyuan just wanted to ask one thing: By what right?

The connection between Jinbao and Bear Wind wasn’t an excuse for him to act entitled. In his relationship with Bear Wind, he was clearly the one who had benefited more.

Whether it was the Gold Spirit Power that Bear Wind secretly gifted him at the start, or the Fourth-rank Spiritual Land provided later, he had benefited immensely from them all.

In contrast, what had the Beast Taming General Mountain ever given him?

The promises he had made to Bear Wind felt more like empty words. They sounded good, but actually delivering on them was another matter entirely, a monumentally difficult one at that.

’I already feel I’ve let Bear Wind down. Am I now supposed to listen to this Di Yuanpu and persuade Bear Wind to do something that goes against my own conscience?’

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan’s spine straightened slightly. As he watched Di Yuanpu pitch his scheme to Yue’e, a flash of indignation crossed his face.

The cultivators present were all at least at the Golden Core realm; how could they fail to notice Fang Qingyuan’s subtle expression? Di Yuanpu paused mid-sentence, turned his head toward Fang Qingyuan, and asked:

"What? Do you have a differing opinion?"

In the presence of Yue’e Ancestor, Di Yuanpu did not unleash his Nascent Soul pressure. He asked in a casual tone, yet his expression alone was enough to terrify anyone who knew him.

But Fang Qingyuan wasn’t falling for it. ’Di Yuanpu, you’re a Nascent Soul from the Beast Taming Sect. If I respect you, I’ll call you Uncle Grandmaster. If I don’t, you’re just an old bastard to me.’

’After all, I’m no longer a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, but the proper, named Sect Leader of the Qingyuan Sect, enfeoffed by the Great Zhou Academy.’

It was precisely with this confidence and this fallback option that Fang Qingyuan refused to do something that went against his principles. He met Di Yuanpu’s gaze and said:

"Reporting to Uncle Grandmaster Di, it is true that I have a history with the Golden Wind Owl Bear Beast. However, it’s hard to say how much of that goodwill remains.

"Bear Wind was on the verge of secretly pledging his allegiance, but then Chunyu Hua showed up out of nowhere. His people killed Bear Wind’s Golden Core offspring, and now the two sides are mortal enemies. By extension, I am no longer welcome either.

"Therefore, regarding what Uncle Grandmaster Di just proposed—to have Bear Wind willingly act as an inside man to vie for territory in Awakening Lion Valley—I do not believe it’s feasible."

"Something like that happened?"

Di Yuanpu looked surprised. Lechuan hadn’t mentioned this.

Lechuan said helplessly,

"It’s true. Not long after Chunyu Hua and his group arrived at our sect, they provoked Bear Wind without cause and killed one of his descendants—a Golden Core Demon Beast, a Great White Bear. This happened just before the end of last year."

At the mention of Chunyu Hua, Di Yuanpu thought for a moment before turning to Yue’e Ancestor to clarify.

"That would be the Chunyu Clan, from the direct lineage of Wuzhiqi, correct? I knew they were coming to White Mountain, but I was not aware of their specific purpose. Ancestor, would you care to enlighten us?"

Yue’e said faintly,

"Chunyu Qulang came to see me a few days ago. He wants to relocate a branch of his clan to the White Mountain Territory. In exchange, he has agreed to support me within the Zongshan and help alleviate some of the pressure from Kaelv Ming, so I agreed."

With that, everyone understood the situation. Di Yuanpu didn’t press the matter further. He just frowned and said,

"Is there a way to reconcile this? It was just a mere Golden Core Demon Beast. If Bear Wind is willing to talk, I can negotiate with Chunyu Hua and have them apologize and make amends. After all, Bear Wind will be one of us in the future, not just some demon beast."

’Fang Qingyuan sneered inwardly. ’Apologize to Bear Wind?’’

’Easier said than done. For someone like Chunyu Hua, a descendant of the clan of a Divinity Transformation Ancestor, to apologize to a Wilderness Demonic Beast? That’s absolutely impossible. Even if you, Di Yuanpu, went to his door personally, you’d likely get snubbed.’

’Besides, even if Chunyu Hua did apologize, would Bear Wind be obligated to accept?’

’All Bear Wind wanted was the life of the murderer who killed the Great White Bear. Nothing else.’

And that was something Di Yuanpu could not give Bear Wind. This was the greatest point of contention between them.

From what Fang Qingyuan knew of Bear Wind, if this issue wasn’t resolved to his satisfaction, he would absolutely refuse to ally with the Beast Taming Sect. Worst case, he’d do what was done four hundred years ago: take his beasts, leave for some faraway place, and not stick around to take this kind of crap.

Furthermore, based on Fang Qingyuan’s understanding of the Old Lion’s strength and the fact that Yue’e Ancestor was hesitating to act, it was clear that the Ancestor was deeply wary of him.

’At a time like this,’ Fang Qingyuan figured, ’Yue’e wouldn’t stoop to forcefully suppressing Bear Wind.’

Therefore, after Di Yuanpu finished explaining his plan for Bear Wind, Fang Qingyuan said nothing more.

The atmosphere suddenly grew cold. Di Yuanpu glanced at Lechuan, but seeing no reaction, he had no choice but to address Fang Qingyuan directly.

"I know you’re upset. This was a perfectly good arrangement until that idiot Chunyu Hua messed it up. But Chunyu Hua is one of the Beast Taming Sect’s own, and Bear Wind is still just a Wild Ancient Beast. Even if you have a history with him, you need to understand your position! Think of the bigger picture!"

Fang Qingyuan might have been fine if he hadn’t mentioned the ’bigger picture.’ But the moment he heard those words, memories from his past life came flooding back to assault him. A rebellious urge surged within him, and he said in a muffled voice,

"I am no longer a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect. I am the first Sealed Sect Leader appointed by the Great Zhou Academy. If Elder Di wishes for this junior to act as a go-between and negotiate with Bear Wind, then please show some sincerity and make an offer."

Di Yuanpu’s brow furrowed. He couldn’t believe such words were coming from Fang Qingyuan’s mouth. Just as he was about to issue a sharp reprimand, Xiong Youde, who was standing nearby, cut in,

"The kid’s got a point, Old Di. Don’t go playing the bully. Taming a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast is our job in the first place. He’s giving you an opportunity here; he doesn’t owe you anything. It would be one thing if you just didn’t thank him, but what’s this? Are you really going to try and strong-arm him?"

Xiong Youde had a full beard and looked like a ferocious beast himself, so for him to speak up on Fang Qingyuan’s behalf at this moment was something Fang Qingyuan had not expected.

’Fang Qingyuan felt that in front of Yue’e Ancestor, Di Yuanpu had to tread carefully. If he couldn’t even handle a Golden Core junior, it would make him look utterly incompetent.’

Yue’e Ancestor watched this scene with great interest. Whether Bear Wind submitted or not wouldn’t affect the grand scheme of things. From the Beast Taming Sect’s perspective, the Sixth Rank Spiritual Land in Awakening Lion Valley was already as good as theirs.

Even if she couldn’t take it herself, other Divinity Transformation Cultivators would come to claim it. With over twenty Divinity Transformation Cultivators in the Beast Taming Sect, how many could the Old Lion possibly fend off?

Persuaded by Xiong Youde, Di Yuanpu could no longer maintain his arrogant posture. His original plan was to coax Fang Qingyuan into doing the job first and then consider compensation later—a classic tactic of superiors, full of empty promises and lip service.

But Fang Qingyuan had made his position clear. He was a Sealed Sect Leader appointed by the Great Zhou Academy, not some disciple from the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect to be ordered around. He had no obligation to work for them.

It’s better for everyone to just handle this as an official matter.

Di Yuanpu then laid out a few compensation packages—or rather, the terms being offered to entice Bear Wind to act as their mole in Awakening Lion Valley. Fang Qingyuan neither accepted nor refused on Bear Wind’s behalf, simply noting everything down to relay to him later.

As for why Di Yuanpu wanted Bear Wind to be the mole instead of his own Desolate Wood Flood Dragon Crocodile, there were two reasons. First, Di Yuanpu was reluctant to put his own Spirit Beast in danger. Second, his Desolate Wood Flood Dragon Crocodile had been raised at the Beast Taming Sect’s Main Mountain since birth and was completely out of its element among the Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness; it would be exposed in an instant.

It was like a city slicker moving to a remote village. They’d stick out like a sore thumb. It might be fine if they just kept to themselves, but if they started fighting over land and water, their cover would be blown immediately.

The local, Bear Wind, was the most suitable candidate. If he became the Beast Taming Sect’s mole, the Nascent Soul Ancient Beasts in Awakening Lion Valley would never suspect a thing.

However, setting aside the animosity from the Great White Bear’s death, even without that, Bear Wind harbored a bone-deep hatred for humans from an incident four hundred years ago. He hadn’t sought revenge only because he lacked the power. But to willingly help a tyrant do evil? That was something Bear Wind would never do.

Sometimes, demon beasts understood right and wrong better than humans did.

Once Di Yuanpu finished listing his terms and telling Fang Qingyuan to pass the message to Bear Wind, there was nothing left for Fang Qingyuan to do.

The affair with Bear Wind was, at best, a major detour. They still needed to discuss their main objective: how to conquer Awakening Lion Valley.

As Fang Qingyuan left the Grand Council Hall, he couldn’t tell whether he felt relieved or regretful. The words he’d spoken and the stance he’d taken had certainly displeased Di Yuanpu. The man probably despised him now.

’But who cared? The thought of swallowing my pride to help Di Yuanpu deceive Bear Wind was disgusting; I would never do such a thing. If I were to abandon my principles just to curry favor with a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Beast Taming Sect, I’d feel my century of cultivation would have been for nothing.’

This could very well become a heart-demon for Fang Qingyuan, one that would fester and deal him an unimaginable blow when he faced his Nascent Soul Celestial Tribulation.

’What was the point of living if not to have a clear conscience? Even after I’d said all that, it wasn’t like Di Yuanpu could actually do anything to me. So why be so meek and cowardly?’

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan burst out laughing. There, in front of the Grand Council Hall of Southern Border Heavenly Gate Mountain, he strode alone to the edge of a cliff—the most scenic spot in the entire Southern Border. He gazed at the roiling sea of clouds halfway down the mountain, recalled his recent feeling of liberation, and couldn’t help but recite aloud:

"I climb high to gaze on the sea of clouds, how vast is heaven and earth!

Glory flows away like an eastern river; all of life is but a ripple.

The sun conceals its fading light; the drifting clouds have no anchor.

So let me return, for the way is hard, and this is the song of my sword."

After reciting the short verse, Fang Qingyuan didn’t bother with a Spiritual Boat Flying Shuttle. Ignoring the immense pressure from the Celestial Gate Mountain Protection Array, he leaped from the clifftop and soared into the sky, heading straight for the Barbaric Wilderness.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, the corners of Yue’e’s lips curled into a slight smile. Under the powerful Divine Sense of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, everything Fang Qingyuan had just done might as well have happened right before her eyes. The array in the Quiet Chamber designed to block Divine Sense was, to her, less substantial than a spiderweb.

In Fang Qingyuan, Yue’e vaguely saw an old acquaintance from years past—the same youthful spirit, the same defiance in the face of power.

"The road is hard, indeed."

Yue’e murmured. Di Yuanpu, startled, asked in confusion,

"Ancestor?"

Seeing their confused faces, Yue’e suddenly lost interest. Her smile faded as she said softly,

"When one gets old, one’s mind tends to wander. I’m a little tired. We will discuss this another day."

Yue’e stood and walked toward the back of the chamber. At once, led by Di Yuanpu, the others all knelt to respectfully see her off. Of them all, Lechuan’s rear was raised exceptionally high.