The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 45

The arrival of the Beast Tribe at Qingshan Sect had stirred up an uproar. Gossip spread like wildfire, leaving people anxious and uneasy. Some claimed that the most fearsome among the beastmen, the Behemoth Clan, had led the group. The leader was said to be over four meters tall, a towering figure like a living giant, followed by a squad of roughly a hundred Behemoth warriors. Alongside them were beastmen from various other tribes as well.

Rumors had it that a disciple returning from outside the sect had mistaken the beastmen for high-grade phantom beasts. Attempting to hunt them and make them into personal helpers had nearly sparked a battle that was already on the verge of erupting.

Yi Xian heard Duanmu Ya’s so-called “fun facts” about them every day. She wanted to ignore it all and focus solely on her cultivation. However, some people always failed to read her signals.

Duanmu Ya said, “Yi Xian, how come we didn’t see any Behemoths in Yars City? I heard they’re as tall as two of me stacked together.”

Watching her tiptoeing in an attempt to imitate such height, Yi Xian felt a wave of frustration tighten in her chest. She had personally experienced the beastmen’s resilience and physical strength. Even someone like Lan Tong, who stood nearly two meters tall, had been difficult enough to handle. A four-meter-tall beastman standing in front of you was like a small mountain.

Yi Xian cut her off. “Xiao Ya, before anything else, I need you to find me a secluded spot to advance. I can feel it coming. Very soon.”

Duanmu Ya jumped in shock. “I thought you were joking. Didn’t you just advance not long ago? Why so soon again? Yi Xian, advancing too quickly won’t help you much in the long run, especially in the early stages. You need to solidify your foundation if you want to reach the divine level one day.”

This had already been warned to her by Nian Yunyin.

Yi Xian nodded. “I know. Even before I underwent marrow cleansing, I already had the sense I was about to advance. I’ve been suppressing it these past few days, but I can’t hold it back much longer.”

Only after Duanmu Ya made sure she wasn’t being reckless did she dash off to find a suitable place. She even alerted Nian Yunyin, since the place needed to be well-lit by sunlight, quiet, and free from any disturbances.

Eventually, Duanmu Ya and Nian Yunyin collaborated to find the ideal location. There was an isolated peak in the Qingshan Sect, used mostly for outer court disciples to train. At the summit was a flat space closest to the sun. Given that everyone was too busy preparing for the finals and handling the beastmen outside the sect, no one ventured there. It was silent and ideal.

Nian Yunyin said, “I’ve set up a formation there. Xiao Ya and I will take turns protecting you. You can rest easy.”

Yi Xian gave it some thought and brought Lord Yin Bao along from her room, handing it over to Duanmu Ya to look after. Once she stepped into Nian Yunyin’s formation, even the mountaintop winds seemed gentler. She sat cross-legged and summoned Little Pony. Together, they cultivated as they always did.

Seeing Duanmu Ya pass the time by weaving a wooden vine into a basket-bed for Lord Yin Bao, Nian Yunyin teased, “Xiao Ya, your handiwork isn’t bad. How about making a hanging bed for me, too, so I can nap in a tree?”

Duanmu Ya pouted. “You have hands and feet. Why don’t you make it yourself?”

In response, Nian Yunyin purposely took out that earth-colored bug pet and waved it in front of Duanmu Ya, feeding it a high-quality pill in the process. The worm squirmed as it swallowed the whole pill in one gulp, instantly turning into a round, chubby creature.

Duanmu Ya couldn’t help but scold, “Hey! You can’t just feed it a whole pill. Only a tiny bit at a time! Don’t waste good things. If you don’t know how to care for it, don’t mess around. Better yet, why don’t you sell it to me? I can raise it to be round and healthy.”

Nian Yunyin looked up at the blinding sunlight. “Even that pet is better off than I am. It gets a comfy little bed. Me? Poor me, I have to make do with a tree trunk.”

Duanmu Ya clenched her teeth, turned away, and silently cursed her out. “Fine, I’ll make you one if you sell me that bug. Name your price.”

Nian Yunyin grinned. “You really want it?”

Duanmu Ya nodded repeatedly. “Just say what you want.”

Nian Yunyin crooked her finger. “Let me kiss you, and I’ll consider it.”

Duanmu Ya’s face went from pale to flushed, then turned an alarming shade of liver purple. She flung a fire dragon spell toward Nian Yunyin. But Nian Yunyin had expected that and leapt off the tree in advance. She was unharmed, but a sudden scream rang out from deeper in the forest.

“Who’s there!”

The two of them saw a man-shaped figure rolling down the slope, igniting dry grass and leaves along the way. Duanmu Ya stared wide-eyed. It reminded her of the endlessly burning flames back in Elfa Forest.

“That guy runs fast. Nian Yunyin, we can’t catch him. Quick, find a way to put out the fire before someone notices.”

Though they couldn’t catch the eavesdropper, Nian Yunyin hurled two thunder orbs in that direction. Shrill cries echoed back. Then she turned and pulled out all her water orbs from her storage pouch.

“You’re always setting fires but never think about putting them out.”

Duanmu Ya had been so startled by the man’s sudden appearance that she forgot why she’d been angry in the first place.

“How was I supposed to know someone was hiding nearby and eavesdropping?”

The two of them worked to smother the flames. They failed to notice that a plump purple orb had rolled all the way up the mountain. It thudded its round head against the outer edge of Yi Xian’s formation, attempting to break in several times without success. After circling the barrier twice, it rolled smartly into a nearby patch of grass.

Covered in soot and soaking wet from dousing the flames, Duanmu Ya and Nian Yunyin used their damp clothes to smother the last sparks.

“How odd,” Duanmu Ya said. “What was that guy doing on this peak?”

Nian Yunyin glanced toward Yi Xian and Little Pony, who were still bathed in sunlight.

Duanmu Ya suddenly shouted, “Lord Yin Bao’s lying on the ground! I swear it was in the bed just now.”

Nian Yunyin picked up Lord Yin Bao and gave it a shake. It still showed no signs of awareness. Even after flipping it roughly, it remained unconscious.

“It just fell out for no reason?”

Duanmu Ya returned it to the bed and frowned in thought. “Something feels off. Could someone be trying to sabotage Yi Xian’s advancement out of jealousy?”

Her mind instantly concocted a grand conspiracy theory. Higher-ranked beast tamers, worried Yi Xian would make it to the finals, had decided to sabotage her during her breakthrough. That way, she’d be unable to compete and they’d get what they wanted. The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became.

“How despicable. If they can’t make it to the finals themselves, they don’t want anyone else to either. I’ll stay here and guard Yi Xian around the clock. No one is going to ruin this for her.”

Nian Yunyin circled the formation twice. “Don’t be so tense, little cutie. If you guard her too closely, those with ill intent might take another shot when you let your guard down.”

Duanmu Ya’s face twisted in conflict. “True. That way I’ll never know who’s behind it.”

Nian Yunyin grinned and beckoned her closer. “So here’s what we’ll do.”

The forest where the Beast Tribe had settled was on the main path leading to Qingshan Sect, so a string of misunderstandings had occurred. Qingshan Sect was busy mediating the resulting conflicts. But years of tension between the two sides could not be resolved with a few words. Resentment kept building and could erupt at any moment.

“Hey Lan, this purple ball can move on its own?”

“Mm-hmm.”

A small, fluffy lion cub burst out of the bushes, its fur covered in dry leaves. Even its head had a few stuck on top. It pounced on the Purple Yuanxiao and pinned it down, trying to roll with it using all four paws.

The beastman who had been looking for Lan Tong laughed heartily. “Bringing Xiao Nan to see the human world already? Isn’t it too soon? You worried they’ll exploit her bloodline the moment you’re gone?”

Lan Tong didn’t respond. She simply strode forward, grabbed the cub by the scruff of her neck, and picked up the Purple Yuanxiao, which had somehow picked up a silver hair. One in each hand, the pair made quite the picture.

The cub kicked and howled in protest, but the Purple Yuanxiao went limp and pretended to be dead. Lan Tong leaned in and sniffed it, her nose only a fingertip away. She noticed a strand of silver hair stuck to it and carefully plucked it to examine.

Suddenly, she smiled.

The beastman next to her jumped at the unexpected expression. From the Beast Tribe’s journey to the Human Territory, Lan Tong had been nothing but grim.

“Lan, what is it? Something good happened?”

Lan Tong looked quite pleased. “Yes, something worth celebrating.”

She had finally found that runaway woman. She’d thought she’d only have time to look for her after the tournament. Yet here she was, delivered into her lap.

Lan Tong dropped the Purple Yuanxiao and scooped up the loudly protesting cub.

“Go. Find that woman. She’s close.”

The cub immediately fell silent. Its big blue eyes blinked at Lan Tong before it squirmed down to the ground and began scratching at the earth, chasing after the Purple Yuanxiao.

The beastman nearby turned pale. “You’re looking for that human woman? Lan, don’t be reckless. This is Qingshan Sect’s territory.”

It wasn’t exactly a secret among the Beast Tribe that Lan Tong had once fought the Wolf Clan in Yars City for a female slave. That was why, even though everyone knew she hadn’t come for the Secret Realm, they still allowed her to participate in the tournament.

Lan Tong raised her long brows. “Qingshan Sect’s territory?”

The beastman nodded. “The humans of Qingshan Sect are already looking for reasons to provoke us. If you cause a scene here, you’ll be playing right into their hands. Please, don’t act on impulse.”

But to Lan Tong, all of that was meaningless noise. What truly mattered to her was whether that woman had also become a disciple of the Qingshan Sect.