The Strongest Beast-Tamer (Transmigration)(GL) - Chapter 60

In the arena, battles were always one-on-one, yet now Yi Xian found herself suddenly surrounded by five Beast Tamers. The situation reminded her of the desperate fights she had once endured among the Beast Tribe.

At Wen Xun’s command, all five launched their attacks at once, their skills targeting Yi Xian from every direction. She calmly raised her energy shield, blocking the assault without panic. Then, with smooth precision, she summoned Little Pony, while Lord Yin Bao dashed across the battlefield like a flash of lightning. Earthen spikes burst from the ground, striking the group relentlessly. Lord Yin Bao’s movements were sharp and unpredictable; it dove into tunnels, leapt up trees, and vanished in an instant. With its small frame and quick agility, it became a perfect distraction. Yi Xian watched her companion’s flawless coordination with satisfaction. “Since you all insist on coming to me, I might as well test my new skill on you.”

Little Pony covered her from the side as Yi Xian pressed her palms together, one glowing with Light Spirit and the other with Lightning Spirit. When they merged, countless shimmering snowflakes scattered in the air. If it were night, the sight would have been breathtakingly beautiful.

Wen Xun hesitated, wary of Yi Xian’s Light Spirit Beast. He had heard of her new ability and instinctively stepped back, fearing another hidden trick. Yet nothing dramatic happened. Only the glowing flakes drifted down like delicate snow, their white brilliance tinged faintly with gold. “Is this your new technique? Are you joking with us?”

One of the men reached out curiously, catching a handful of the floating lights. Instantly, the lights seemed to come alive, swarming onto his hand. He scoffed, “So what? Looks like you’re only good for support—” He never finished the sentence. His body convulsed violently as if struck by lightning, his mouth frothing as his eyes rolled white. A thin stream of smoke rose from his lips before he collapsed limply to the ground, still trembling.

Yi Xian tilted her head, her tone calm and thoughtful. “Small range, insufficient power.”

The others froze in alarm. Before they could react, Yi Xian repeated the motion. The lights drifted again, but this time remained suspended in the air. She noted the delay quietly. “Would you like to help me test it again?”

They exchanged uneasy looks and all stepped back in unison. Wen Xun’s patience snapped. He summoned his firebird, and the creature’s beak flared open, spitting an inferno toward Yi Xian. She considered using a Lightning Spirit strike to disable the bird but hesitated. Before she could act, a blazing red dragon burst out of the flames and devoured them whole.

Wen Xun turned furiously toward Duanmu Ya. “You’re just an alchemist. You’d better not meddle in matters that don’t concern you.”

Duanmu Ya’s eyes widened with fury. “Do you think Yundan Peak disciples are so easily bullied? A moment ago, you claimed to be enforcing rules, and now your tone changes? Let’s see how you like this!”

Before Yi Xian could stop her, Duanmu Ya unleashed her fire. A massive dragon of flames shot forward, forcing Wen Xun’s firebird into a chaotic retreat as burning feathers scattered through the sky. Within moments, the nearby forest was ablaze.

The thick smoke finally woke Zi Han. Her voice rang out like thunder. “How dare you cause chaos on my mountain!”

Her words carried immense force. The ground froze instantly beneath their feet, and every burning tree was smothered under a thick crust of ice. Frost spread across the land like a wave, until the entire peak glittered in white.

Yi Xian had thought Zi Han’s Ice Domain only covered the dueling arena. Yet now, she realized the woman’s control reached far beyond, perhaps even to the entire mountain.

This Senior Sister’s strength was truly terrifying.

The fire vanished, replaced by biting cold. Duanmu Ya shrank behind Yi Xian like a frightened quail. The five attackers stared in horror at the woman who had dropped from the hammock, yawning as if she had merely been disturbed from a nap.

Zi Han’s gaze swept across the ruined clearing and the charred meat on the ground. Her expression darkened. “Mingwang Peak disciples?”

Wen Xun had been at Qingshan Sect for several years and knew her reputation well. In his early days, he had witnessed the legendary duel that had defined the inner court’s records, a clash between two young prodigies whose battle had shaken the entire sect. One of them had become Mingwang Peak’s Senior Sister, while the other remained an enigma, the ever-slumbering Zi Han, who had held first place on the inner court rankings for years.

The memory made Wen Xun shiver. His limbs felt frozen, his scalp prickling. He cursed his misfortune. “S-Senior Sister Zi Han, I… It was their fault for breaking the rules. We only meant to discipline them, but since you’re here, perhaps you could handle the matter yourself?”

Duanmu Ya gripped Yi Xian’s arm tightly. Yi Xian gave her a subtle shake of the head, warning her to stay quiet.

Zi Han bent down and grabbed a chunk of meat from the ground. After a few bites, she spat it out with disdain. “You ruined perfectly good meat.”

Wen Xun seized the chance to shift blame. “Senior Sister, these two not only wasted fine beast meat but also violated sect rules by cooking privately. Such behavior deserves punishment. Since you are present, please deliver justice on behalf of the sect.”

Zi Han’s icy eyes gleamed with amusement. “Cooking privately, you say? And what punishment do you suggest?”

Wen Xun’s gaze darted slyly. “They should be sent to the first chamber of the Cold Pool Caves. It will help them remember their place.”

Yi Xian had never heard of such a place, though she could tell from Duanmu Ya’s pale face that it was no ordinary punishment. Still, she remained silent, choosing instead to observe.

The Cold Pool Caves of Qingshan Sect were infamous. Each of the nine chambers below was a frozen purgatory. Disciples who entered rarely returned alive.

Duanmu Ya could not stay silent any longer. “You’re vile! I thought you only came to settle a petty grudge after losing to Yi Xian, but you want us dead!”

The frost beneath their feet began to shift. Countless ice spikes emerged, slithering like serpents.

Wen Xun’s lips curled into a cruel smile, thinking Zi Han was helping him. But before he could speak, the ice erupted toward him and his companions. Only his quick reflexes saved him. His allies were less fortunate. Cries of pain filled the air as they fell, bl00d pooling around their wounded legs and arms.

He stared in disbelief. “Senior Sister, why?”

Zi Han tilted her head. “Can’t you tell?”

He stammered, “I—I don’t understand. Please enlighten me.”

Zi Han leapt lightly onto a tree branch and crossed one leg over the other. “I’m killing you, of course.”

The color drained from their faces. The remaining disciples dropped to their knees, crying for mercy. “Please, Senior Sister, it was all Wen Xun’s idea! We didn’t want to come!”

Yi Xian watched calmly as Wen Xun’s face turned ashen. You really are a fool, she thought. Even now you can’t grasp what’s happening.

Zi Han moved her fingers slightly, and the ice spikes slithered beneath the ground, following her command. “You ask for mercy? Who showed me mercy when I was hungry? These two cooked for me, and now you want to punish them. You think I’ll let that go?”

Wen Xun’s gaze darted from the broken food to the still-swaying hammock, finally understanding. His legs buckled.

He fell to his knees. “Senior Sister, I spoke foolishly. I swear by the Heavenly Dao, I will never mention this again. If I lie, may I be consumed by heavenly fire.”

The others quickly followed, vowing the same.

Zi Han yawned lazily. “Fine. Since I’m in a good mood, get out of my sight.”

The five scrambled away, slipping and stumbling over the ice as they fled.

Yi Xian turned to Zi Han. “Senior Sister, do you believe them?”

Zi Han yawned lazily. “A group of small-minded fools. What trust could they possibly offer? I only spared their pitiful lives because of their Heavenly Dao vows. Killing them would have dirtied my hands.”

Yi Xian felt a chill run through her. She realized that everyone had their own faith. Beastmen like Lan Tong placed their trust in the Beast God, while human cultivators placed their faith in the Heavenly Dao. Whether it was Duanmu Ya or despicable men like Wen Xun, all treated vows to the Heavenly Dao as sacred and unbreakable. Even the so-called life-bonded contracts required the approval of the Heavenly Dao.

Could the Heavenly Dao truly exist?

As she pondered, a sudden peal of lightning cracked across the sky, making her heart jolt. It felt like being caught red-handed while entertaining a forbidden thought.

Zi Han glanced upward. “Strange, why would lightning strike on a clear day? Forget it. I’m too tired to care about such nonsense. If you can land a hit on me while I’m asleep, I’ll teach you a technique.”

Yi Xian’s heart leapt with excitement. She could not believe her luck. “Then Senior Sister must be careful.”

Zi Han lay back on her hammock, crossing one leg over the other as usual. With her hands behind her head, she muttered, “Tomorrow I expect double the lunch portion. Not a single pound less. Also, you are not allowed to use your Light Spirit. If you disturb my sleep, I’ll skin you alive.”

Then silence fell again.

Duanmu Ya waited until the terrifying woman was fast asleep before letting out a long sigh of relief. “Yi Xian, I thought I was going to suffocate. I really believed that Senior Sister was going to peel off my skin.”

Yi Xian laughed as she tidied up the cooking pot. “Why would you think that?”

Duanmu Ya pointed to the frozen trees around them. “Because I burned her territory. Did you not hear her shout earlier? It was like thunder itself. My ears are still ringing. I was afraid she’d turn me into one of these frozen trees. But she’s amazing, isn’t she? Just one glance and the entire mountain changed in an instant. Though honestly, it’s a little too cold.”

Yi Xian felt the chill as well. “Those people probably won’t stay at the foot of the peak any longer, but just in case, come back with me tonight. It might be late.”

Duanmu Ya rubbed her hands together, summoning a small flame for warmth. “No problem. I can find my own way to keep warm.”

Yi Xian paced beneath the trees, thinking deeply before freezing mid-step. “Could it be that she knows I awakened a second spiritual root, which is why she forbade me from using my Light Spirit?”

Light Spirit was indeed more useful for support than attack. Its main functions were defense and healing, while purification was reserved for dark energy. It had little use otherwise. When it came to offense, Lightning Spirit was undeniably the best choice.

Realizing this, Yi Xian no longer hesitated. She channeled a burst of Lightning Spirit and cast it toward Zi Han’s hammock. Yet as soon as the energy touched the air near it, it vanished completely. Refusing to accept defeat, she increased her strength and tried several more times. No matter how much power she poured in, it had no effect.

Yi Xian circled the hammock repeatedly, muttering to herself. “Strange. Could it be a protective barrier?”

Each attack ended in failure. No matter how much she tried, she could not even discern how Zi Han defended herself. Even though she possessed the highest-grade Lightning Marrow in existence, she could not unleash even a fraction of its full strength.

“Yi Xian, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I was just wondering how Senior Sister Zi Han manages to defend herself while sleeping. It’s not an array, and it’s not a shield. Then what could it be?”

Duanmu Ya shook her head. “Maybe it’s because the difference in power between you is too great. Forget yourself, I doubt anyone in Qingshan Sect could hurt Senior Sister Zi Han.”

Yi Xian’s eyes brightened. “What did you just say? No one can hurt her?”

Duanmu Ya nodded and threw a small flame toward Zi Han’s hammock. It hit something invisible and disappeared. “See? It’s probably some kind of barrier, like an invisible array.”

Yi Xian suddenly remembered their first meeting during her lightning training. If Zi Han was truly untouchable, then how had she been injured back then? She had even refused Yi Xian’s healing. Could it be that her Light Spirit was truly that ineffective?

Duanmu Ya broke her thoughts with a sigh. “Why doesn’t she melt this ice before sleeping? It’s freezing here. Don’t tell me it stays like this until she wakes up?”

Yi Xian tried to make sense of it but failed. Finally, she decided to stop overthinking and focused again on her training. Watching Zi Han sleep peacefully while she attacked only fueled her determination.

She would find a way to strike her at least once.

Yi Xian trained until her Lightning Spirit ran dry. Only then did she and Duanmu Ya descend the mountain. As they walked, Yi Xian noticed that the ice stretched all the way from the peak to the valley. The entire mountain had turned into a frozen fortress.

“This Ice Domain is enormous,” Duanmu Ya murmured in awe.

“Senior Sister truly is incredible. Even Xie Ying would not be her match,” Yi Xian replied softly.

Duanmu Ya sighed. “Yi Xian, are you still going to cook for Senior Sister tomorrow?”

“Of course.”

Yi Xian was not one to give up easily. She stretched out her hand, and snowflake-like sparks formed as Light and Lightning Spirit intertwined in her palm. “Everyone has their own domain. I want to create one of my own.”

Duanmu Ya could not comprehend what she meant, nor did she dare touch the glowing particles floating near Yi Xian. They looked like gentle light, yet something powerful flowed within. By day it seemed harmless, but at night it shone like countless lanterns in the dark. “What makes people suddenly convulse and fall? Was it lightning?”

Yi Xian smiled. “You could say that. I tried merging Light and Lightning to increase the impact of my attacks, but Light Spirit is too gentle. It cannot reach the intensity I want. If one day I can make these lights fall like rain, then perhaps it will work.”

Duanmu Ya scratched her head and smiled awkwardly. “I believe you will succeed.”

Just as Yi Xian had hoped, heavy rain began to pour in the following days, accompanied by roaring thunder. It was the perfect weather for cultivating Lightning Spirit. Her mood brightened. Other than cooking and helping the little one with her rehabilitation, she devoted all her remaining time to training and figuring out how to counter Zi Han’s Ice Domain. Only by breaking through that could she make her attacks effective.

Yes, that mysterious barrier surrounding Zi Han was her Ice Domain.

For days, the mountain remained completely frozen. Even sunlight could not melt it. The ice was as solid as iron, indestructible and vast. Yi Xian realized this while fetching ice one day. The reason Zi Han slept so soundly was that the entire mountain was under her control. She was the ruler of this place, aware of every movement that occurred within her territory.

Yi Xian tried many different methods, but none succeeded in harming her Senior Sister. Half a month passed, and she had become little more than the camp’s cook. When she realized there was no progress to be made, she decided to visit the Beast Tribe’s encampment.

Thanks to her daily rehabilitation sessions, the little cub’s leg had healed well. She no longer limped and could now run with ease, though her left hind leg still trembled slightly when she moved too fast.

Seeing the empty tent, Yi Xian frowned. “I come here every day, but why have I never once seen your beastwoman mother?”

Xiao Nan tilted her head and bit Yi Xian’s trouser leg, tugging insistently.

“What is it? Do you want me to find Lan Tong?”

The cub howled softly in response.

Yi Xian had nothing urgent to do. If it weren’t for the daily delivery of freshly hunted prey left in the tent, she would have suspected that Lan Tong had been killed by humans. The beastwoman usually appeared uninvited, yet she had been gone for weeks during the cub’s critical recovery period.

That kind of neglect was unacceptable for a mother.

Yi Xian wanted to scold her, but then thought better of it. Even if she did, would that beastwoman understand her words? It would probably be a waste of breath.

Xiao Nan led her toward the hunting grounds, stopping at each tree to sniff the air. Yi Xian followed quietly until the sound of fighting reached her ears.

“Awuu.”

“Shh.”

Yi Xian immediately went on guard. She scooped up the cub, holding her close to keep her silent, and moved cautiously toward the sound. Soon, she saw that the fighters were not humans but Beast Tribe warriors, specifically members of the Lion Beast Tribe, which was Lan Tong’s clan.

In the clearing, two beastmen clashed with heavy blows. What was most striking was that they were fighting in human form, not beast form. Yi Xian counted more than twenty lions watching in a circle. No wonder she had noticed fewer beastmen around the camp lately. It seemed they had all come here for ‘training.’

Lan Tong stood to the side, correcting their movements. She demonstrated by slamming her elbow into one beastman’s chest with precision and speed. The man clutched his ribs, coughing in pain.

Yi Xian was stunned. That move was her own favorite counter when the beastwoman got too close. She could not believe Lan Tong had learned it and was now teaching it to others.

This beastwoman really hides her abilities well.

The cub noticed her mother’s fierce display and began to cheer with enthusiastic howls. The noise drew every beastman’s attention at once.

Yi Xian froze, still holding the cub tightly. In an instant, she had turned from a hidden observer into a very obvious intruder watching the beastmen’s training.