novellhall Chapter 167 - 144: Beast Taming Methods
Chapter 167 - 144: Beast Taming Methods
Fang Qingyuan rode Yinbao, taking the lead at the very front. Following him were some two hundred Cultivators, organized into groups of ten and teams of twenty. They rode upon Camel Beasts that Fang Qingyuan had borrowed from the Beast Taming Sect, flying in orderly formation behind him.
However, although there were many Cultivators, the number of Camel Beasts was even greater. After all the Cultivators had boarded, several Camel Beasts remained unoccupied. These were laden with numerous items, all covered by black cloths, their contents a mystery to onlookers.
Fang Qingyuan did not personally know many of these Cultivators. However, bound by Zhao Liangde’s orders, they had come to lend their strength to Yuanling Mountain and were to follow Fang Qingyuan’s commands.
These were Cultivator Clans and minor sects who made their living within the territory of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. With the backing of Zhao Liangde, the sect’s second-in-command, each clan had sent about ten members. By mobilizing just a small number of these clans, Zhao Liangde had gathered a hundred and fifty people for Fang Qingyuan.
These people were not helping for free. Fang Qingyuan had promised that after the battle, they would be rewarded according to their contributions. In any case, he would ensure that the Cultivators who came to his aid would not be at a disadvantage.
A force of some two hundred people and over a dozen massive Camel Beasts, arranged in a column that stretched for more than a mile, was truly a grand and imposing sight.
Leading this contingent, Fang Qingyuan did not head directly for the Wen Brothers’ hiding place. Instead, he detoured to Yuanling Square Marketplace, pausing before it for a short while.
Afterward, Fang Qingyuan gathered more forces—Loose Cultivators who held grudges against the Wen Brothers, and some experts he had hired. Only then did he change direction and head toward Jiuye Square.
After Fang Qingyuan’s martial procession had left, the Cultivators inside Yuanling Square Marketplace erupted in discussion. They speculated wildly about his expedition, and at the same time, developed a healthy dose of fear and respect for him.
Although Fang Qingyuan was the Mountain Master of Yuanling Mountain and the Workshop Master of Yuanling Square, many people had never seen him before. Now, by making such a show of force—even just by pausing at the marketplace gates for a moment—he had given everyone plenty to talk about.
Jiuye Square was over a thousand li from Yuanling Square. It took Fang Qingyuan and his followers two full days of flight to reach it. Along the way, any Loose Cultivators who saw his imposing formation immediately changed course, not daring to approach and gawk at the spectacle.
According to his intelligence, the three Wen Brothers were hiding on the edge of the Wilderness Forest near Jiuye Square. Fang Qingyuan planned to capture the brothers first and then, with them as proof, attack the two Foundation Establishment Clans they were allied with. This way, he would have a just cause for his campaign.
However, the arrival of such a large force could not be hidden from the people of Jiuye Square. Before Fang Qingyuan even reached his destination, a group of several dozen people flew out to intercept his formation, calling out to speak.
The person leading them was the official defender of Jiuye Square, a role similar to She Xi Yu’s. However, the defender of Jiuye Square rotated every three years, with the position passed between the major clans. And this year’s defender, as it happened, was a reasonable man.
"Are you fellow Daoists from Yuanling Mountain of the Beast Taming Sect? Why have you come here mobilizing such a large force? Whatever the issue, can we not sit down and discuss it?"
The defender of Jiuye Square was unaware of the full story—the wicked deeds committed by the three Wen Brothers in collusion with two other Foundation Establishment Clans. While the other clans had a vague idea that something had occurred, they didn’t know the specifics. Besides, there was plenty of bad blood among the nine Foundation Establishment Clans. They could never truly unite unless facing a common, life-or-death enemy.
The defender of Jiuye Square shouted from the front of his group, using the potent Spiritual Power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to ensure his voice reached every person in Fang Qingyuan’s contingent. Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan released his Wood Spirit Dragon Form and called back in response:
"This is Fang Qingyuan of Yuanling Mountain from the Beast Taming Sect! I am merely passing through your esteemed territory on business. If Fellow Daoist wishes to know the details, please enter my formation for a discussion."
The defender of Jiuye Square was a bold man. Perhaps thinking that he and Fang Qingyuan had no prior grudges and thus no reason to harm him, he muttered a few words to the people behind him and flew forward alone, stopping before Fang Qingyuan.
The man landed on Yinbao’s back and stood firm. His eyes fell upon a young man with a steady, composed face that held a hint of authority. The youth was watching him with a piercing gaze.
Beside the young man stood a Tai Chi Bear Beast and seven or eight other Cultivators, all arrayed to protect him. This entourage only served to accentuate the youth’s extraordinary presence.
The defender of Jiuye Square was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, yet when facing Fang Qingyuan, a Late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator, he showed no arrogance. Instead, he stepped forward, offered a respectful salute, and spoke:
"Liu Yi, of the Zhenyang Liu Family. I greet you, Fellow Daoist Fang. Might I ask why you have brought so many Cultivators here and made such a display of force? Are you planning to attack our Jiuye Square?"
In response to Liu Yi’s formal query, Fang Qingyuan didn’t beat around the bush. He answered directly:
"A month ago, the three Wen Brothers led a group to attack my trade caravan, killing Cultivators under my jurisdiction. You must have heard about this. I am here with my men to seek justice from the Wen Brothers. Elder Liu, could you perhaps grant me the convenience of searching for these bandits in the areas surrounding Jiuye Square?"
"This...!"
After Fang Qingyuan finished, Liu Yi found himself in a bind. As the defender of Jiuye Square, if he allowed Fang Qingyuan to conduct a massive search in the surrounding area, the Zhenyang Liu Family would lose face if word got out.
But as Liu Yi looked at Fang Qingyuan’s expression, the words of refusal died on his lips. The situation was pressing. If he refused, these people from Beast Taming Mountain would surely ignore him anyway. The ensuing conflict would be even more humiliating.
Fortunately, Fang Qingyuan saw Liu Yi’s dilemma and reassured him:
"Elder Liu, please rest assured. My intelligence has already revealed the Wen Brothers’ hiding place. It will only take a moment to capture those scoundrels. If you don’t believe me, Elder Liu, you are welcome to accompany my forces and witness it for yourself."