Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion-Chapter 39: Mistflow and Lingering Shadow

Before the cave, Lao Bai’s towering body blocked the entrance, his snow-white fur rippling in the wind.

A torrent of Protective Spiritual Power surged around Lao Bai’s entire body, infusing every single strand of his fur. As long as he stood there, no one could even dream of setting foot in the cave.

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s order from behind to go, Lao Bai didn’t respond. He could clearly sense two dangerous auras in the forest ahead.

He sensed their cultivation was only at the Late-stage Qi Cultivation, but Lao Bai knew that relying solely on one’s realm in a fight was the height of folly.

Besides, the Liu Family Cultivators were adept with Talismans. Such Cultivators were typically wealthy, possessed a wide array of techniques, and were the most difficult to deal with.

’To run into a life-or-death battle on the very first day out...’ Lao Bai was truly at a loss for words. Still, he couldn’t bring himself to resent Fang Qingyuan.

Lao Bai could sense that Fang Qingyuan respected him, not treating him as a mere War Beast.

’And isn’t my job to protect him? This is simply my duty.’

Suddenly, in the dim night, a crescent-shaped arc of sword light flared from the forest Lao Bai was staring into. Dark red in color, it shot straight for his chest. Its edge was so keen that it caused a stinging pain before it even made contact.

Faced with the attack, Lao Bai neither dodged nor evaded, choosing to meet it head-on with his body. He wanted to test the mettle of this Talisman.

With a HISS, the sword light slammed into Lao Bai’s Protective Spiritual Power. In the next moment, a searing heat pierced his chest. At first, it felt like warm water, but in the blink of an eye, it became a torrent of molten iron pouring in.

Lao Bai let out a muffled grunt but didn’t cry out. He endured the blow, rapidly circulating his Spiritual Power to neutralize the fiery energy that had invaded his body, and then thought,

’What a domineering Sword Talisman. Could it be a Pure Yang Talisman Sword?’

Lao Bai was a worldly Foundation Establishment Spirit Beast. He had accompanied Beast Taming Sect disciples on many missions and had naturally seen a great deal.

The Pure Yang Talisman Sword was a high-grade Talisman. Its creation required a fire-attribute Cultivator to draw the domineering fire from the great sun at high noon and seal it within the Sword Talisman.

The power was drawn once every ten days, and each sealing was considered a single ’Yang.’ The fiery power was stacked with each infusion. Only after nine infusions, when it transformed from a Nine-Yang Talisman to a Pure Yang one, could it be considered complete.

Within the Sword Talisman, the fiery power was condensed and stable. It looked unassuming at first glance, but its lethality surpassed even that of a true Magic Sword, because the talisman was a single-use item.

In the air, the dark red, crescent-shaped arc of sword light weaved around Lao Bai’s body, darting about like a Spirit Fish swimming through the sky.

Facing the Sword Talisman’s assault, Lao Bai braced himself. His massive ape palms swiped and slapped, forming a tight defense around his body.

But no matter how well he defended, there were bound to be gaps. A few moments later, a flash of sword light streaked past, and his fur was spattered with blood.

The sight of his own blood didn’t faze Lao Bai. Instead, his expression grew excited. If he weren’t mindful of Fang Qingyuan behind him, he would have leaped out immediately to fight the person to his heart’s content.

Seeing Lao Bai being forced onto the defensive, Fang Qingyuan shouted from behind,

"Lao Bai, go find the Cultivator controlling this Talisman! If this continues, we’ll be at an even greater disadvantage."

Lao Bai hesitated. ’If I go, what if someone attacks Fang Qingyuan?’

Sensing Lao Bai’s hesitation, Fang Qingyuan added,

"Don’t worry about me. The Liu Family was generous enough to give me a valuable gift, and now is the perfect time to use it."

Fang Qingyuan took the Mist Flowing Shadow-dwelling Talisman that Liu Siwu had given him from his storage bag, holding it in his palm, ready to activate it at a moment’s notice.

Hearing this, Lao Bai could no longer suppress his fighting spirit. With a great roar, he charged straight into the distant forest.

Once Lao Bai was gone, Fang Qingyuan waited patiently. Lao Bai was a Foundation Establishment Stage Spirit Beast. Even if he couldn’t defeat the combined forces of the Liu Family’s Cultivators, no one could stop him if he decided to flee.

Before, his and Huo Xiaolan’s presence had been a hindrance, preventing Lao Bai from fighting freely. Letting him go on a rampage now would hopefully put an end to the Liu Family’s relentless pursuit.

A moment later, Lao Bai still hadn’t returned, but Fang Qingyuan’s closed eyes suddenly snapped open. He stared at a nearby cave wall and spoke in a cold voice.

"Liu Tongshu, it’s not too late to stop."

As Fang Qingyuan finished speaking, that section of the wall rippled like water, and Liu Tongshu’s pale figure materialized.

Liu Tongshu had just fought Lao Bai and was seriously injured. He had left Liu Tongwen to keep the Violent Ape occupied while he used a Puppet Talisman to trick the White Ape, then an Earth Escape Talisman to sneak to Fang Qingyuan’s side.

From the very beginning, Liu Tongshu’s target had been clear: Fang Qingyuan. As long as Fang Qingyuan was dead, they could pretend this whole affair never happened, and the Liu Family would remain the Liu Family.

As for the consequences of killing a Beast Mountain disciple—no matter how severe, they paled in comparison to the crime of stealing infants.

His cover blown by Fang Qingyuan, Liu Tongshu wore an apologetic expression. He spoke to Fang Qingyuan with sincerity. 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"Fang Sea Patrol Envoy, I’m sorry. You must die here today. I know you’re a good person, but I have no other choice."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan sneered.

"Liu Tongshu, and to think I was considering recruiting you for my Inspection Team. I read your file. It said you were astute and righteous. Looking at you now, it seems you’re no different from Liu Siwu."

A flicker of shame crossed Liu Tongshu’s face. He took out a Pure Yang Sword Talisman, clutching it in his palm, and spoke again.

"I’m sorry. The clan is what matters most. For the sake of the Liu Family, I can no longer afford to be righteous."

The next moment, the dark red, crescent-shaped arc of sword light reappeared, speeding straight for Fang Qingyuan’s head. In Liu Tongshu’s mind, a mere Qi Refining Fourth Level Cultivator like Fang Qingyuan had no chance of surviving the Pure Yang Talisman Sword.

But just then, a fog rolled in.

The fog appeared with shocking speed, spreading suddenly without any warning.

The fog was thick yet confined to a small area, instantly filling the entire cave. It lingered, hazy and dense. The Pure Yang Talisman Sword slashed through it, only to hit empty air.

"The Mist Flowing Shadow-dwelling Talisman!"

Liu Tongshu’s expression turned ugly. He never would have thought that Liu Siwu had given this particular Talisman to Fang Qingyuan.

The Clan Leader didn’t usually consult with the younger generation about the gifts he gave, so Liu Tongshu had no idea Fang Qingyuan possessed such a Talisman.

Confronted by the sudden fog, Liu Tongshu immediately unleashed his Divine Sense at full strength. The cave was small; Fang Qingyuan could have only changed his position, he couldn’t have escaped so easily.

When fully unleashed, the Divine Sense of a Late-stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator could span a thirty-zhang radius. Within this range, his perception was so clear that not even the slightest movement could escape his notice. His range for vague impressions could even extend beyond a li—it was an impressive ability.

However, the drain on one’s Divine Soul Power was immense, and it left the user exceptionally vulnerable to spells that directly attacked the soul. Cultivators were therefore extremely cautious in battle and would not normally unleash it at full power. At this moment, however, he couldn’t hold back.

As his net of Divine Sense spread out, the spiritual fluctuations of every living thing within its range became clearly visible to him.

Suddenly, a hint of joy touched Liu Tongshu’s face as he stood with his eyes closed.

’There you are! Found you!’

He once again activated the Pure Yang Talisman Sword in his hand, sending it hurtling toward an isolated corner of the cave.

The next moment, however, the dark red sword light sputtered in mid-air and fell to the ground like a dead fish, utterly still.

As Liu Tongshu watched, the joyous expression from having found Fang Qingyuan’s position was still frozen on his face. But in the next instant, his head silently slid from his shoulders as a geyser of blood erupted from his neck.

Only then did Fang Qingyuan’s figure emerge from the mist. He looked down at Liu Tongshu’s corpse and muttered,

"Using up two high-grade talismans at once, the Nine Luminaries Dragon Abyss Sword Talisman and the Mist Flowing Shadow-dwelling Talisman... that was a huge loss for me. But Liu Tongshu, you certainly didn’t die cheap."