Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

The surging undercurrents among the upper echelons became monstrous waves for those below. To a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, Fang Qingyuan was a nobody, but in the Land Realm of the Qingyuan Alliance, he was undeniably the sky itself.

After persuading (or rather, sweet-talking) Bear Wind and seeing that he had successfully stirred up the beast’s hopes, Fang Qingyuan hurried back to the Qingyuan Sect.

Although he had presented a convincing case to Bear Wind, making it seem as if everything was part of his grand plan, Fang Qingyuan had no real idea what the chances of success were.

So much was beyond his control. All he could do was his best and leave the rest to fate.

However, Fang Qingyuan had barely set foot in the Qingyuan Sect when a disciple came to report that the Golden Core Cultivator who had been their guest before, Tu Dai’Er, had come to visit.

’So soon?’

Fang Qingyuan was startled. He hadn’t expected Tu Wuzhao to move so quickly; he’d thought it would be delayed for at least half a year, if not a full one.

Based on his own calculations, Yue’e’s plot against Awakening Lion Valley was not something that could succeed in just a few short years. It would be a great feat just to conquer it before the next war broke out.

Seeing Tu Wuzhao act with such speed, he suspected that Yue’e’s plans might be moving ahead of schedule.

He had the disciple show Tu Dai’Er in. When they saw each other again, both of their expressions were rather awkward.

Tu Dai’Er looked particularly resentful. She had just said last time that she didn’t expect they would ever meet again, yet here she was, reluctantly returning after only half a year.

Looking at her expression, Fang Qingyuan silently apologized. ’A cultivator with a witch physique like Tu Dai’Er is the perfect candidate to carry out Tu Wuzhao’s missions. If she doesn’t do it, who will?’

But using her body as a vessel for the descent of a Divinity Transformation Cultivator would cause immense damage, as her true cultivation was only at the Golden Core realm.

"You’re quite the troublemaker. Because of you, I haven’t had a moment’s peace lately."

Tu Dai’Er shot Fang Qingyuan a resentful glance. Her pretty, round face held a hint of a pout, but it was mixed with the particular charm of her feminine features, making it impossible to tell if she was truly angry or just wanted him to think she was.

Fang Qingyuan gave a relaxed smile and asked what she planned to do next.

"I’m going to Celestial Gate Mountain to see Yue’e Ancestor in person, of course. I’ll just explain the situation. The Black Wind Valley and the Beast Taming Sect are allies, and my master has some friendly history with Yue’e Ancestor. It’s just one Ancient Beast of the Wilderness. What’s so difficult about it?"

Tu Dai’Er’s tone was shockingly arrogant, which made Fang Qingyuan give her a second look. Perhaps because she regularly served as Tu Wuzhao’s vessel for his descent, the Nascent Soul Cultivators she encountered were all extremely respectful in her presence. For now, it seemed Fang Qingyuan was the only one who still treated her like a Golden Core Cultivator.

"There’s no time to lose. Let’s set off now," Fang Qingyuan said. "Yue’e Ancestor is likely just here to take a look. She won’t stay for long."

Fang Qingyuan invited Tu Dai’Er aboard his flying shuttle, and they quickly sped toward Celestial Gate Mountain. All told, from the moment he had flown away from Celestial Gate Mountain after leaving his inscription, to persuading Bear Wind in the Barbaric Wilderness, and then fetching Tu Dai’Er, less than ten days had passed.

Inside the flying shuttle, Tu Dai’Er closed her eyes to rest and prepare for the upcoming divine descent. Fang Qingyuan watched her from the corner of his eye, his mind preoccupied with how he would face Lechuan once they reached Celestial Gate Mountain.

He recalled their easy rapport in the flying shuttle just ten days ago. Only a few days had passed, but Fang Qingyuan could already feel an invisible yet distinct barrier between himself and Lechuan.

Jinbao was Fang Qingyuan’s most treasured secret. He had revealed this matter to Lechuan back then, partly out of trust, and partly because it involved Bear Wind and the future strategic layout of the White Mountain Beast Taming Sect.

If Fang Qingyuan had continued to hide Jinbao’s identity, Lechuan would have treated Bear Wind just like the Cloud-Clawed Lizard—another Ancient Beast of the Wilderness to be conquered. They were both on the same side, yet they would have been forced to fight to the death because of his secrecy. Knowing the truth, Fang Qingyuan simply could not stand by and watch that happen.

But his original plan had now taken a completely different turn. ’Such is the cruel irony of fate,’ he thought.

Ultimately, the greatest point of divergence between Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan was their status. Lechuan had been dispatched by the Beast Taming Sect to serve as the branch Sect Leader at White Mountain; his entire fate was tied to his superiors.

Fang Qingyuan, on the other hand, had built his own foundation from scratch. The moment he had established his independence from Lechuan, a fundamental rift had formed between them.

As long as no major incident occurred, this rift could be papered over, with their personal relationship acting as a lubricant. But now, that point of divergence had arrived, and both were forced to act instinctively in their own self-interest.

To protect his position and seize the chance for further advancement, Lechuan had revealed Bear Wind’s existence to Yue’e Ancestor, hoping to earn merit for it.

Yue’e Ancestor could decide Lechuan’s fate with a single word. Within such a top-down power structure, Lechuan, as an insider, was simply acting on instinct—serving the source of his authority.

In Lechuan’s eyes, Bear Wind was a bargaining chip to help him climb the ladder. In fact, one of the arguments Fang Qingyuan had originally used to persuade him was that having Bear Wind as a Companion Beast would strengthen Lechuan’s standing within Yue’e’s faction.

But Bear Wind was not truly his Companion Beast. In Lechuan’s eyes, what was such a nominally subordinate beast—one who would heed a call to battle but not a summons to court—worth compared to the favor of Yue’e Ancestor?