Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

At the docks before the Qingyuan Sect’s main gate, small flying shuttles zipped back and forth without pause. These shuttles varied in size, with the largest measuring twenty to thirty zhang long and the smallest only three or four.

A constant stream of people converged here. Cultivators shouted and hawked their wares just like mortals, and hulking Yellow Turban Warriors and tall Mountain Beasts hauled heavy cargo. It was a truly bustling scene.

The most eye-catching sights were the various cages holding insectoid beasts. Made from all sorts of materials, these cages contained different species, attracting numerous Cultivators from other regions who had come specifically to make a purchase.

"Brother Mu, the Qingyuan Sect has released a new insectoid beast this year—a Giant-Horned Black-Nosed Longhorn. They say it’s well-suited for excavation in mines. While it’s not as clever as a Shrimp Transport Beast, its strength is no joke, and it’s easy to raise. We have a few mines back home. Should we buy a few and give them a try?"

At the edge of the docks, a white-haired old man was offering advice to a young man in lavish brocade robes. The youth gazed at the ceaseless flow of traffic, a hint of envy in his eyes, but his expression remained composed.

"Uncle Wang, you can make the decision on matters like this. You don’t need to report everything to me. I’m only here for three years to gain some experience, and then I’ll be transferred elsewhere."

Uncle Wang simply smiled, his attitude as respectful as ever. No matter what the young man said, as someone with a different surname, he had to remember his station.

Besides, he held a sliver of hope for this particular young master, born of a concubine. In the Cultivation World, background was important, but talent was even more crucial.

Noticing Brother Mu’s expression, Uncle Wang seemed to guess what was on his mind. While his subordinates were loading the cargo, he took the opportunity to ask:

"Brother Mu, are you thinking of trying to join the Qingyuan Sect? Unlike sects in other Land Realms, the Qingyuan Sect doesn’t place much importance on background. You could give it a try."

Li Mu’s eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again. He shook his head.

"I’m already in the Late-stage of Qi Cultivation and nearly thirty years old," he said. "If I join a sect at this age, I’ll never make it into the upper echelons. What would be the point?"

Uncle Wang sighed at his words. If Li Mu had been born of the principal wife, with ample cultivation resources from a young age, he would have already reached Foundation Establishment. To say nothing of the fact that he had been on the verge of that breakthrough when he was sent away to serve as a Steward for three years.

But these were the internal affairs of the main family. As a Golden Core Clan with vast holdings and a living ancestor, they could afford to act as they pleased.

"Huh? That flying shuttle is magnificent. Who does it belong to?"

At that moment, a long, narrow flying shuttle sped in from the distant horizon and slowly descended upon the most spacious part of the docks. Seeing this, and contrasting it with the clamor everywhere else, Li Mu’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

To be afforded a dedicated berth and receive such treatment, one had to be a person of immense power and status.

Uncle Wang saw the shuttle too, his eyes filling with envy.

"That is the personal vessel of the Qingyuan Sect’s leader, Fang Qingyuan," he said. "It originally belonged to the old ancestor of the Yan Nan Sect, who later gifted it to Sect Leader Fang. Everything in this Land Realm belongs to him now. Our survival here will depend on his favor."

Li Mu watched as Fang Qingyuan stepped out of the shuttle, followed by an incomparably beautiful Female Cultivator. The moment she appeared, Li Mu felt the noisy docks fall abruptly silent.

Many people had been watching for Fang Qingyuan’s arrival, some staring openly, others sneaking glances. But when Tu Dai’Er appeared, the very presence of a Golden Core Female Cultivator was enough to captivate every single one of them.

How many Golden Core Cultivators were there in the entire White Mountain region? Not even a hundred. And among them, how many were Female Cultivators? Fewer than twenty.

’An embodiment of power, beauty, and authority like her... when she appears in public, the effect is even more stunning than a major celebrity making an entrance in my past life,’ he thought.

Celebrities, in the end, were only human. But a Golden Core Cultivator represented a complete transcendence on a biological level. It was the primal human instinct for evolution, screaming at him that he had to possess her.

This was exactly how Li Mu felt. The moment he laid eyes on Tu Dai’Er, all the other Female Cultivators he had ever seen seemed to pale in comparison.

At that moment, how Li Mu wished he were the one standing beside the Golden Core Female Cultivator.

’A true man should be just like him! And I can take his place!’

The heroic declaration had just formed in Li Mu’s mind when he saw Fang Qingyuan turn to the Female Cultivator behind him. He said something with a stern face, and the woman stomped her foot before flying off.

’Ah! How dare you? How could you bear to let her go?’

While Li Mu was still in a daze, Fang Qingyuan let out a cold snort and strode out from the shuttle, where a large group of Cultivators immediately swarmed forward to greet him.

"We respectfully welcome the Ancestor’s arrival!"

Everyone knelt and paid their respects. Fang Qingyuan gave a cool nod, motioning for them to rise.

These were the local Stewards and disciples of the Qingyuan Sect, as well as members of the Qingyuan Alliance. Upon Fang Qingyuan’s arrival, they had dutifully come forward to pay their respects to their ancestor.

At the same time, seven or eight Cultivators ducked inside the flying shuttle to begin routine inspections and maintenance.

Large, man-made Magical Artifacts like these flying shuttles were a hassle. They ought to be inspected after every flight to confirm that none of the Arrays had malfunctioned.

Previously, Yan Nanxing had found it too troublesome and never bothered with inspections, only making repairs when a problem arose. Fang Qingyuan was different. His Qingyuan Sect had members of the Qi Family, who specialized in Artifact Refining; repairing and maintaining this shuttle was their specialty.

This Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle was something Yan Nanxing had purchased from the Celestial Artifact Sect. This Refining Sect, located in the Qi Yun Territory, was known for producing a variety of flying shuttles. The Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle had three modes: one for maximum speed, used for explosive escapes; one for normal flight, used for travel; and a final mode that activated a Void Array, allowing it to shrink down to a half-meter model that could be placed in a special storage pouch.

However, using this last mode consumed a significant number of Top-grade Spatial Spirit Stones and also caused a certain amount of wear on the shuttle’s hull, so Fang Qingyuan rarely used it.

During the journey, Fang Qingyuan had been discussing the subsequent handling of Bear Wind with Tu Dai’Er. Out of respect for Tu Wuzhao, Yue’e had readily agreed to remove Bear Wind from the Beast Taming Sect’s plans.

But even though things were settled with Yue’e, actually getting Bear Wind out of the Barbaric Wilderness would require a lot more effort.

First, the Great Zhou Academy would have to grant its official approval. Otherwise, Fang Qingyuan would be considered to be privately consorting with an Ancient Beast of the Wilderness, which was a violation of the rules.

Furthermore, for Bear Wind to enter the human Land Realm, he needed the recognition of this corner of the world—in other words, certification from the Great Zhou Academy.

As Fang Qingyuan understood it, a clear but intangible dividing line existed between the human world and the Barbaric Wilderness. This was the result of a grand modification project known as "Dingtian Kanyuan," which human Cultivators had been undertaking ever since their arrival in this world.

It was a kind of active defense mechanism the human world employed against the Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness. The higher an Ancient Beast’s realm, the stronger the repulsive force it would suffer upon entering the human world.

There were still occasional cases of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts invading the borders, but such incidents were extremely rare for those at the Golden Core Realm.

As for Nascent Soul Stage and Divinity Transformation Ancient Beasts, not a single one had crossed this invisible line in the past ten thousand years.

It was like a colossal barrier protecting all human-inhabited lands. If Bear Wind wanted to enter without being repelled, he would have to obtain authorization from the Great Zhou Academy.

This was something Fang Qingyuan would have to work on in the days to come.

Besides securing this certification of identity, there was one more thing Fang Qingyuan needed to do before Bear Wind would pledge his allegiance.

Hao Shi, the one who murdered the Great White Bear, had to die!

Fang Qingyuan had wanted to kill him before but had been stopped by Lechuan, who cited some greater principle. Now that Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan had parted ways, the so-called principles of the Beast Taming Sect held even less sway over him.

Killing Hao Shi would not only avenge the Great White Bear but also win the loyalty of Bear Wind and his followers. If he let the man live, then even if Bear Wind’s faction submitted, they would at best go through the motions without any real commitment.

This was a thick wall standing between Fang Qingyuan and Bear Wind’s faction. Fang Qingyuan was now going to shatter it, seizing the opportunity to win the hearts of Bear Wind’s followers—one with Nascent Soul Battle Power and four with Golden Core battle power.

His argument with Tu Dai’Er just now had been precisely because she’d told him not to stir up extra trouble.

But how could he possibly listen to her? He had dismissed her with a single sharp retort. ’Hmph. Women. They only cloud my judgment,’ he thought. ’Still, how to kill Hao Shi... this will take some thought.’

’I can’t just storm his residence and kill him, can I?’

’Hm?’ At this thought, Fang Qingyuan’s eyes lit up. ’On second thought, maybe that’s not such a bad idea. Some Cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect value honor above all else. If I can provoke Hao Shi into initiating a duel of honor, won’t that solve the problem completely?’

’Or, I could back Hao Shi into a corner where refusing a duel would bring such shame upon his master, Chunyu Hua, that Chunyu Hua himself would have no choice but to force him. Under that kind of pressure from his master, could Hao Shi possibly refuse?’

’A dog has to know its place, Hao Shi!’