Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Chapter 251 - 195: Silver General Divine Talisman

After a three-day march, the army arrived before Yuanling Mountain. This was the closest staging point to the vast expanse of dense forest they were to clear. Plus, it was Fang Qingyuan’s own power base, so he naturally planned to stop here.

Situ Jingyu did not join them on this trip. She was on a mission, leading a dozen or so Cultivators skilled in combat to covertly test their strength against the Spirit Wood Alliance in the Black River region. It was a flurry of back-and-forth skirmishes, and they were fighting with gusto.

This kind of life was far more suited to Situ Jingyu. Fang Qingyuan worried that after spending so much time with him and being exposed to all sorts of secrets and intrigue, she would grow uncomfortable. So, he had taken the initiative to reassign her, keeping her away from such affairs.

Situ Jingyu was greatly relieved by this. Compared to all the backroom scheming, she much preferred brutal, flesh-and-bone combat. She would gladly suffer injuries for it.

Now that Fang Qingyuan was about to plunge into the forest, he likewise had no intention of bringing Situ Jingyu along. ’It’s best to let her remain in the Black River region.’

Upon arriving at Yuanling Mountain, the army received a warm welcome. Fang Qingyuan gave the more than three hundred Cultivators a three-day leave, allowing them to enjoy themselves and shop to their hearts’ content in the Yuanling Square Marketplace. After all, once they plunged into the forest, there was no telling how many would perish.

Besides, having over three hundred people pour into the Yuanling Square Marketplace would generate significant Spirit Stone revenue. If he weren’t being rushed, Fang Qingyuan would have liked to stay at Yuanling Mountain for half a month before departing.

During these three days, Fang Qingyuan met with a succession of people. Since his promotion to Head of the Ministry a year ago, he had been much less involved in the affairs of Yuanling Mountain.

Awkwardly, Fang Qingyuan discovered that even without him, Yuanling Mountain ran perfectly fine. Zhang Yuan had transformed from a lazy, despondent youth into a competent administrator after more than a decade of experience.

Hearing of Fang Qingyuan’s arrival, the members of the She Family rushed to pay their respects. She Xi Yu looked the same as ever, but by his side stood a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator: She Xuanyan.

He, too, had successfully reached Foundation Establishment. However, compared to Fang Qingyuan, his accomplishments since his breakthrough were quite limited.

She Xuanyan had neither awakened a natal ability nor obtained any Divine Techniques; he had simply become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Even the Magical Artifacts he now owned had been paid for by She Xi Yu.

Even so, She Xi Yu was overjoyed. For a Cultivator from a clan with no powerful backing, who was only marginally better off than a Loose Cultivator, he was already immensely satisfied to have personally nurtured a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

With two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, a ten percent share in the Yuanling Square Marketplace, and having hitched their wagon to Fang Qingyuan—the second most powerful figure in the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect—the She Family was clearly on the rise.

Seeing She Xi Yu’s even more deferential attitude, Fang Qingyuan laughed heartily. When you’re successful and famous, you’re never short on smiling faces.

The main reason the She Family had come was to discuss their share of the Yuanling Square Marketplace with Fang Qingyuan. Make no mistake, it wasn’t because the She Family had gotten arrogant and thought their ten percent share was too small. Quite the opposite—they felt this ten percent share was too hot to handle.

With Fang Qingyuan’s status having skyrocketed, the She Family no longer had the nerve they once did. In the past, Fang Qingyuan had been an overlooked Qi Cultivation Beast Taming Disciple; now, he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and the Head of the Ministry of Affairs. How could the She Family dare to hold onto that ten percent share and enjoy its benefits with a clear conscience?

In the main hall, Fang Qingyuan looked at She Xi Yu, who was prostrated on the floor, pleading for him to take back the share. He felt a pang of melancholy. In just three or four years, the man who had once been his pillar of support was now willingly kneeling before him, begging him to rescind the favor he had granted.

’But do I really need that small share now?’

’The Yuanling Square Marketplace now generates nearly fifty Top-grade Spirit Stones in annual revenue. The She Family’s ten percent share is only five Top-grade Spirit Stones. That sum is no longer a significant amount to me.’

’Five Top-grade Spirit Stones can support an entire Foundation Establishment Clan and sustain hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators, but in my hands, they don’t have nearly as much impact.’

’Besides, and most importantly, I’m a man who values old ties. No matter what I might truly think, I have to maintain that persona. My public image is more important than these Spirit Stones.’

With this in mind, Fang Qingyuan stepped forward, helped She Xi Yu to his feet, and said with a smile,

"Patriarch She, you’re being too formal. We share a life-and-death bond from the old days. If you hadn’t unleashed your incredible power back then, I would have long since died by Swentai’s sword. Moreover, you’ve been managing Yuanling Square all this time. How could I possibly take back your share? Do not mention this matter again."

Having received Fang Qingyuan’s promise, She Xi Yu put on an expression of profound gratitude. He understood that Fang Qingyuan’s words were sincere, not mere empty pleasantries.

Once the two had finished their performance of repaying gratitude and mutual trust, the other Cultivators in the hall who were in attendance broke into a chorus of congratulations and praise. Fang Qingyuan, beaming, resumed his role as host for the feast.

Halfway through the banquet, while the guests were enjoying a performance of song and dance, She Xi Yu approached Fang Qingyuan’s side.

"Mountain Master," he said, "do you know how my She Family was able to withstand the attack from the late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Swentai, all those years ago?"

Fang Qingyuan glanced at the conspiratorial look on She Xi Yu’s face, knowing the man wasn’t just making idle chatter. He decided to play along.

"Wasn’t it because of your Six Ding and Six Jia Divine General Spell?" he ventured.

"Yes and no!"

Seeing She Xi Yu’s smug expression, Fang Qingyuan said with a chuckle,

"I’m listening."

She Xi Yu raised his wine cup and began to explain slowly.

"Our She Family isn’t actually native to the Southern Border," he said. "We are a Cultivator Clan that migrated from the Qi Yun Territory. In Qi Yun, we were originally artisans who crafted Talismans. After offending someone powerful, we were forced out and ended up here. That was over a century ago."

Fang Qingyuan listened patiently, knowing there was more to the story. And just as he expected, after finishing his family’s history, She Xi Yu began to reveal their secret.

"Our She Family’s Cultivation Method specializes in the art of Talismans. But ever since we came to the Southern Border, resources have been scarce. The various materials needed to craft Talismans are rare, so much so that we can no longer create our foundational talisman, the Six Ding and Six Jia Silver General Talisman. But now that you, Mountain Master, are the Head of the Ministry, the resources of the entire Southern Border are yours to command. So, I am making bold to ask for your support. Allow the She Family to resume our craft and produce the Six Ding and Six Jia Silver General Talisman for you."

After She Xi Yu’s lengthy speech, Fang Qingyuan sank into thought. ’This old fox is only revealing his family’s true roots now because he sees I’ve become the second-in-command of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect. He wants me to use the sect’s resources to support him.’

’If I had reduced the She Family’s share earlier, he never would have said any of this.’

’And the Six Ding and Six Jia Silver General Talisman is a powerful weapon of war for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, a sensitive technology strictly controlled by all major powers. Only a great sect from Qi Yun, grown complacent from long years of peace, would be foolish enough to drive away such important artisans.’

’But it’s been a century. Does the She Family even have the ability to create the Six Ding and Six Jia Silver General Talisman anymore?’

’Surely this old fox doesn’t expect me to fund his family to research it from scratch, does he?’

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan’s eyes narrowed. He looked at She Xi Yu and asked,

"Then why didn’t you approach the Wei Family before this?"