Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

"You?!"

Bear Wind roared with laughter, his bone-white fangs jutting past his lips and gleaming with a heart-stopping, cold light.

The dust collected in the cavern trembled with his laughter, and the entire grotto seemed to be in the throes of a violent earthquake.

It was clear Bear Wind was laughing with wild abandon. A Fourth-Layer Golden Core Cultivator telling a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Ancient Beast of the Wilderness—one on the verge of breaking through to the Late-stage—to throw in his lot with him and be protected? Who wouldn’t laugh at such a notion?

Fang Qingyuan was also smiling, but his was a sincere smile. Jinbao, not understanding why, saw the two who were kindest to him—the Cultivator and his kin—both laughing, so he began to giggle foolishly as well.

After a long moment, Bear Wind stopped laughing. The smile vanished from his lips, and he retorted:

"You think you can protect me? Will the Beast Taming Sect agree to this? What, are you planning to turn on the Beast Taming Sect?"

Faced with these questions, Fang Qingyuan carefully chose his words as he laid out his thoughts:

"I thought about this carefully on my way here. What you lack right now is a legitimate status—one that signifies your acceptance by a human power. You don’t care who grants you this status.

Previously, we were all locked into a paradigm set by the Beast Taming Sect. It’s as if in this entire Cultivation Realm, only the Beast Taming Sect can accept an Ancient Beast of the Wilderness like you, and only they are permitted to do so.

But my century of cultivation has taught me that there seems to be no such explicit rule in the Cultivation Realm. If such a rule really existed, how could the Great Zhou Academy possibly be the strongest power in this world?"

At Fang Qingyuan’s words, Bear Wind’s eyes lit up. ’That’s right,’ he thought, ’why must I pledge allegiance only to the Beast Taming Sect?’

Just as Fang Qingyuan had reasoned, the Beast Taming Sect’s authority on matters concerning the Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness was so absolute that, over many years, everyone had fallen into a fixed mindset. It was as if only members of the Beast Taming Sect could take in such beasts. But that wasn’t the case. As long as a Cultivator had the ability and desire to take a Wilderness Demonic Beast as their Companion Beast, could the Beast Taming Sect really intervene?

Over the years, countless human Cultivators had adventured into the Barbaric Wilderness, taken a liking to a demonic beast, and found a way to make it their own. Wasn’t that perfectly normal? How was it that when it came to Nascent Soul Ancient Beasts, everyone tacitly acknowledged them as the exclusive preserve of the Beast Taming Sect?

Such was the influence of one of the top three sects in the realm. People automatically steered clear, not daring to challenge the authority of the Beast Taming Sect.

Though no explicit rule existed, everyone adhered to this unspoken agreement. Over time, it had become as if it were a law of nature.

However, if someone who took things seriously decided to reclaim their rights, the Beast Taming Sect couldn’t openly move against them for that reason alone.

"I believe I’ve made the first point clear. Though I am no longer a disciple of the Beast Taming Sect, the Qingyuan Sect—as a sect enfeoffed by the Great Zhou Academy—should be qualified to find its own Mountain Guardian Divine Beast. This is a right granted to me by the Great Zhou Academy. The Beast Taming Sect has no grounds to object."

Fang Qingyuan was beginning to lay the legal and moral groundwork for his plan. To take in an Ancient Beast of the Wilderness like Bear Wind before the Qingyuan Sect was strong enough to stand on its own, he had to find as much legitimate justification as possible.

"Even if you are qualified, what about the Beast Taming Sect? Would they really stand by and watch as they lose a Nascent Soul Level ancient beast? Just let you reap the rewards? And if I were to join you, what would happen to my cultivation grounds? Could I continue to occupy this territory?"

After his initial elation, Bear Wind began firing off one question after another. Every single one was a major obstacle standing before them. It was simply too difficult for a Golden Core Sect to absorb the power of a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast.

Even if Bear Wind and Fang Qingyuan were both willing, they couldn’t pull it off without the Beast Taming Sect’s approval.

Fang Qingyuan didn’t shy away from the issues Bear Wind had raised. Since he had made the offer, he had naturally considered all these things.

Fang Qingyuan remained composed and answered with sincerity:

"Yes, the Beast Taming Sect won’t agree. Di Yuanpu already sees you as a bird in a cage, and Xiong Youde wants to subdue you to be his own Companion Beast. Those two Nascent Soul Cultivators will certainly not let this go. But... they don’t have the final say."

"Oh? And what do you mean by that?"

Bear Wind straightened his posture, captivated by Fang Qingyuan’s words. The wild amusement from before had completely vanished from his expression.

Fang Qingyuan didn’t gloat. He stated bluntly:

"Before Yue’e Ancestor, Di Yuanpu and Xiong Youde can only obey orders. The Ancestor’s main objective on this trip is to claim the lands of Awakening Lion Valley. As for you... to be honest, you aren’t that important in her eyes. Within Awakening Lion Valley, there are at least six other Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness at your level, if not more.

If someone could persuade Yue’e Ancestor to release you, the opposition from the Beast Taming Sect would vanish. You would be a free agent. The vast sea allows the fish to leap; the high sky lets the birds fly free. You would finally be unbound."

These words made Bear Wind’s heart pound. After all, throwing his lot in with Fang Qingyuan would be far better than being shackled by the Beast Taming Sect. At his age, Bear Wind no longer coveted the abundant resources of the sect; he just wanted to live out his days in peace.

But he saw how easily Fang Qingyuan spoke, as if persuading Yue’e was a simple matter. ’A Divinity Transformation Ancestor...’ he thought. ’An ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator couldn’t even hope for an audience with her, let alone persuade her. How could it be as easy as he makes it sound?’

"Are you saying you can persuade Yue’e to remove me from their plans? That she would overrule the opinions of her own men, Di Yuanpu and Xiong Youde, just for you?"