I Tame Beasts by Feeding

’Is it because... it was originally formed from the Origin of a Profound Turtle, so when it encountered a real one, it naturally lost all ability to resist?’

Yu Changsheng mulled it over, a guess forming in his mind.

After they dealt with the Half-step Golden Core Blood-Scaled Three-Tailed Kui Ox, the vast, three-thousand-li expanse of white fog visibly thinned.

Without further delay, the trio continued on under Yu Changsheng’s lead, clearing out more straggling Fog Beasts.

Although it would be difficult for Yu Changsheng’s three beasts to advance again given their current Realms, the Essence Points were a tangible reward he couldn’t possibly pass up.

And so, when the final day quietly drew to a close, the Fog Beasts within the entire Illusion Mist Beast Valley had been all but wiped out. The three-day trial was over. The light of a Teleportation Array enveloped Yu Changsheng and his two companions.

"This really is a place of great fortune. It’s a shame we’ll have to wait a hundred years to enter again."

Li Minghan sighed emotionally. He had gained a great deal from this venture.

Hearing this, Yu Changsheng glanced at Li Minghan, shaking his head with a smile without saying anything more.

’If all goes as planned, the Illusion Mist Beast Valley will be closed for good after this.’

HUMMM...

Outside, at the foot of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, the teleportation vortex, which had been still for three days, began to spin once more, shimmering with a multicolored brilliance.

The crowd waiting there felt a jolt of excitement. Murmurs broke out as smiles appeared on their faces, full of anticipation.

"Here they come! It’s over. Three days have passed. I wonder what they managed to gain in there?"

"Every time the Illusion Mist Beast Valley opens, many disciples seize the opportunity to have a breakthrough in their Cultivation. It’s not uncommon for some to even jump two minor realms. I just wonder who will shine the brightest this time."

"It’s a shame the Illusion Mist Beast Valley is its own self-contained world. There’s no way to see what’s happening from the outside. If there were, I’d love to get a glimpse..."

The disciples chattered amongst themselves, whispering back and forth.

Meanwhile, the composed Lu Ruikai, Mo Pengchen, Mu Yongxian, and Qing Zhu Master from the Purple Rainbow Sect were also filled with anticipation, chuckling softly.

"Inside the Illusion Mist Beast Valley, the stronger one is, the greater their gains. With their abilities, I imagine they will have improved significantly by the time they emerge."

"Speaking of which, Peak Master Mo, you entered the Illusion Mist Beast Valley yourself back in the day, didn’t you? What was it like?"

"It is merely a small, self-contained world. Nothing more..."

...

As the elders chatted, the seven-colored vortex began to churn, sending out waves of teleportation energy.

Space began to warp. When it stabilized, ten columns of light appeared. They slowly started to solidify, though they remained hazy. It would take a while longer for them to become clear and for the disciples to fully materialize.

"Ten? Shouldn’t there be eleven?"

Mo Pengchen raised an eyebrow, looking at the ten columns of light below with some surprise.

The spots for the Illusion Mist Beast Valley had been given to the top ten from the inter-sect competition—five from the Spirit Dragon Sect and five from the Wanxiang Sect. With the last-minute addition of Meng Wuan, that made for a total of eleven.

Yet now, looking at the columns of light, there were only ten.

"In the Illusion Mist Beast Valley, as long as the disciples don’t go looking for trouble, there usually isn’t any mortal danger. But it is a place of crisis, after all. If an accident truly happened, there’s nothing to be done about it."

Lu Ruikai said lightly, his expression unchanged.

"I just wonder which sect lost a disciple," Qing Zhu Master said softly, stroking his beard and shaking his head.

Hearing this, Mu Yongxian said nothing. His expression remained placid, but for some unknown reason, a faint sense of unease flickered in his heart.

Unfortunately, with the light yet to fade and the teleportation incomplete, they couldn’t see who the ten individuals were.

One hundred breaths later, the light faded and space stabilized. The figures of ten people appeared before the crowd.

"Where is Yang Chengxu?!"

Mu Yongxian’s Divine Sense swept across the group. His face changed in an instant, and he shot to his feet, his expression grim.

The disciples who entered the Illusion Mist Beast Valley had all been marked. Once the time was up, they would be expelled by that world and teleported out.

The only exception would be if the marked person had died within the Secret Realm. Only then would they not be teleported out.

Mu Yongxian had his own theories about the missing person, but he had never once considered that it could be Yang Chengxu. In his mind, that was impossible.

And when the teleportation vortex dimmed and slowly dissipated after delivering the ten people, Mu Yongxian completely lost his composure. His hair seemed to stand on end, his eyes turned bloodshot, and his entire body trembled uncontrollably, whether from fear or from fury.

A Heaven-reaching aura erupted from him in an instant. The oppressive might of a Golden Core expert swept through the air, stunning everyone present.

"Who?! Who killed my disciple?!"

Mu Yongxian’s face was terrifyingly dark as he roared. His enraged gaze swept past the others to land directly on Yu Changsheng, and the full weight of his Golden Core pressure bore down on the young man.

In his mind, the only one likely to have had a conflict with his disciple was Yu Changsheng.

"Hmph. Peak Master Mu, please compose yourself."

Lu Ruikai frowned and, with a wave of his hand, neutralized Mu Yongxian’s oppressive aura.

"Rational? My sect’s chosen prodigy, my own disciple, has died in your Secret Realm! Are you telling me the Wanxiang Sect won’t provide an explanation? How can I not seek vengeance for my disciple?!"

"With his strength, who could possibly have harmed him, aside from some treacherous villain with ulterior motives?"

Mu Yongxian took a deep breath, but waves of fury kept erupting from within him. He roared, veins bulging on his forehead.

"Your beloved disciple isn’t necessarily dead," Mo Pengchen interjected. "Perhaps there was an accident, and he’s just temporarily unable to come out. It’s not impossible. Why must you be so hasty in your judgment, Peak Master Mu?"

Mo Pengchen frowned, trying his best to remain level-headed. His gaze flickered, seemingly unintentionally, toward Yu Changsheng.

Hearing this, Mu Yongxian took a deep breath. After composing himself slightly, he performed a Finger Technique. A lamp appeared, glowing with a faint, eerie light and exuding Yang Chengxu’s aura. As if stirred by a gentle breeze, the Flame atop its wick swayed for a moment before suddenly going out.

CRACK...

Mu Yongxian’s face became utterly grim. His eyes were bloodshot as he panted heavily, and he crushed the lamp in his hand.

"The Soul Lamp is shattered... he is well and truly dead..."

The air fell silent. Mo Pengchen said nothing, and Lu Ruikai held his tongue. Only Mu Yongxian’s suppressed shock and rage could no longer be contained, erupting from his grim expression.

"Who..."

Mu Yongxian’s voice was low and strained, his face ashen. His body swayed as he gritted his teeth and performed another Finger Technique. A wisp of green smoke drifted out from the shattered remains of the Soul Lamp.

The green smoke seemed alive. It circled the remains of the lamp three times before shooting directly toward the group of ten disciples.

The eyes of Mo Pengchen and the others were glued to it, following its path until it finally came to a slow stop before one of the ten... Meng Wuan.

"It was you?! You killed my beloved disciple?!"

Mu Yongxian was overcome with shock and fury, his face contorted in a snarl. His gaze, sharp enough to pierce the void, locked onto Meng Wuan.

This Soul Lamp contained a trace of Yang Chengxu’s soul. Its extinguishment meant that its owner was well and truly dead. Furthermore, the residual soul trace would follow a mark Mu Yongxian had previously placed on one of Yang Chengxu’s possessions, allowing it to point to the killer. After all, it was only natural for a killer to also take their victim’s treasures.

And now, with the soul trace hovering around Meng Wuan, it was clear that something belonging to Yang Chengxu was in his possession.

A flicker of surprise crossed Meng Wuan’s face. He calmly met Mu Yongxian’s gaze as a Jade Hairpin inside his Storage Pouch began to hum, drawn by the soul trace.

Meng Wuan considered for a moment, then simply retrieved the hairpin, holding it firmly in his hand to still its humming. Only then did he nod at Mu Yongxian.

"That’s right. I was indeed the one who killed Yang Chengxu," Meng Wuan admitted freely, his expression impassive.

"Why would you do such a thing? You had no grievances between you."

Mu Yongxian took a step forward, his face as black as ink, his oppressive aura bearing down on Meng Wuan.

Qing Zhu Master frowned and stepped in front of Meng Wuan, his own gaze calm. "Peak Master Mu, please remain calm. If my disciple acted, he must have had his reasons."