Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion

Chapter 290 - 232: Iron Wind Islands

Four months later, before Celestial Gate Mountain, a crowd of Southern Border Beast Taming Sect disciples, led by a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Elders, waited silently.

At this point, less than a third of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect were still willing to follow Lechuan. They stood behind him, a clear line separating them from the other Cultivators.

Lechuan had been designated to lead the welcoming party. The handover of the Sect Leader position for the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect had to appear amicable.

Lechuan had no desire to see Zhao E Lian’s smug face, but when he thought about the struggles that awaited him deep within White Mountain, he forced himself to endure the humiliation.

After careful consideration, Lechuan had decided against returning to the main sect. Zongshan was great, but the competition was too fierce.

Furthermore, the position the Nascent Soul Cultivator had promised to arrange for him was most likely just a sinecure, with no opportunities for profit. If Lechuan took it, he would probably struggle to even support his own family.

Though he had only been the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect Master for thirty years, the wealth his family had accumulated during that time surpassed everything Lechuan had gathered in the first half of his life.

For his family’s sake, Lechuan was willing to venture into the heart of White Mountain and strive once more, hoping to ride the favorable winds of the coming war of expansion.

Behind Lechuan stood Fang Qingyuan, Ling Ziqing, and Long Shuhong. As far as the eye could see, none of them looked pleased.

After a long while, a mountain-sized Flying Manta Ray appeared on the horizon. By the time it reached Celestial Gate Mountain, its shadow was vast enough to completely envelop the mountain.

This was none other than Zhao E Lian’s Golden Silk Silver-backed Manta Ray, which had advanced to the Nascent Soul realm. Atop its back stood a massive palace, covering several acres.

Figures moved about on the structure above, and soon, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators flew down.

"Our Patriarch invites Uncle Le to come up and speak with him."

The Foundation Establishment Cultivator who had flown down extended the invitation to Lechuan with great courtesy.

Standing behind Lechuan, Fang Qingyuan could clearly sense the man’s pent-up rage, which he was unable to vent.

"Lead the way."

Lechuan said coldly, then shot into the air, flying toward the colossal manta ray in the sky.

Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan summoned his own Magical Artifact and silently followed Lechuan.

When they reached the palace above, Fang Qingyuan saw that every brick and stone shimmered with Spiritual Light. It was then he realized that Zhao E Lian had truly made a fortune.

The materials used to construct the palace on the manta ray’s back were mostly first-tier spirit materials, but a few key components—like the eighteen massive pillars, each over ten feet thick—were actually made from second-tier materials.

Looking at the palace complex that spanned several acres, Fang Qingyuan silently calculated, ’Just how many Spirit Stones would I need to build a palace of this scale?’

By the time he stepped into the palace, Fang Qingyuan had an answer: it would likely cost around thirty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones.

’How did Zhao E Lian get so wealthy? Even for a Late-stage Golden Core cultivator, amassing this kind of fortune in a mere thirty years is just too fast.’

Mulling over this question, Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan walked into the main hall.

"Brother Lechuan, it’s been thirty years. You look exactly the same. You haven’t changed one bit."

At the head of the hall, Zhao E Lian sat high upon the main throne. Snuggled against him were two beautiful concubines, who, to Fang Qingyuan’s surprise, were Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Within the great hall, a troupe of young women performed the Nishang Dance, while on one side, some twenty Cultivators played music.

’What an ostentatious display. What an extravagant lifestyle.’

A quick scan of the hall revealed three other Golden Core Cultivators besides Zhao E Lian.

Their auras were chaotic; they weren’t from the Beast Taming Sect. They seemed more like Guest Ministers hired by Zhao E Lian.

"I appreciate your concern, Brother Zhao. I am truly grateful."

After Lechuan finished his courteous reply, Zhao E Lian pushed aside the Female Cultivator beside him and ordered the music and dancing to stop. He descended to the center of the hall and spoke to Lechuan in a low voice:

"The tables have turned after thirty years. I told you back then... I would be back."

Zhao E Lian was in the middle of his victor’s speech, but Lechuan refused to play along. He raised a hand, cutting him off.

"Brother Zhao, there’s no need for all this. Here are the Sect Leader Token and the sect’s sigil. Take them. I won’t impose any longer."

Lechuan produced the sect’s sigil and the Sect Leader Token, shoved them into Zhao E Lian’s hands, and turned to leave.

Fang Qingyuan watched Zhao E Lian’s expression darken. Clearly, he hadn’t yet had his fill of the taste of victory.

Remembering how wretched Zhao E Lian had looked when he fled in defeat all those years ago, Fang Qingyuan shook his head and quickly followed Lechuan out.

Only after Lechuan and Fang Qingyuan had left the hall did Zhao E Lian flash a wide, toothy grin and announce to the crowd:

"Let the music play! Let the dancing continue! From now on, this entire territory is ours to command."

"A toast to Sect Leader Zhao! Bottoms up!"

At once, the great hall was filled with cheer once more.

.....

In stark contrast to the revelry in the palace above, the mood among the people below in the Land Realm was far more somber.

Lechuan led the hundred-odd Cultivators who had chosen to follow him, and mounting their Spirit Beasts, they departed directly from Celestial Gate Mountain, flying toward the White Mountain Territory.

In the preceding four months, Lechuan had already arranged for all of their families and clansmen to be relocated. Only this group of Cultivators had remained behind to complete the final handover.

The accounts had also been settled long ago. Fang Qingyuan had made sure that not a single extra Spirit Stone was left for Zhao E Lian.

Taking advantage of the situation, Fang Qingyuan had traded some of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect’s resources to Qi Wushuang of the Artifact Talisman Alliance to cover the cost of the ten Flying Boat Hovering Ships.

The contract he had originally signed with Qi Wushuang was now officially void.

The world is ever-changing, and not even Cultivators can escape the influence of major shifts in power. Understanding this, Qi Wushuang did not make things difficult for Fang Qingyuan.