Chapter 2039: Leaving the Wan Beast Sect

"I'm back again, and I still hope you'll submit to me..."

With a wry smile, Mu Xu flipped his wrist and produced a jade bottle. "This is serum, capable of nourishing your meridians, making them more pliable and thus easier to break through any constraints..."

The Stone Flame Beast, whose body was like stone, also possessed incredibly tough meridians, making breakthroughs in adulthood exceptionally difficult. The only way was to acquire this serum, which could nourish its internal meridians. Undeniably, this medicinal substance held immense appeal for such a sacred beast. However... it was prohibitively expensive! To acquire this single bottle, he had spent a full half-year, undertaking over fifteen missions. Each endeavor was fraught with peril, and if not for sheer luck, he might have long since turned to dust.

"'The serum can indeed make my meridians pliable, but if you expect that to make me submit, then abandon all hope. I would rather die than bow to any human...'"

The Stone Flame Beast snorted.

"'Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?'"

Observing the creature's sincere refusal to submit, Mu Xu glanced at it with a helpless expression.

"'What joy is there in life, what sorrow in death? I, Stone Flame, a magnificent sacred beast, will never grovel, even in death... If you wish to kill me, then do so!'"

Having spoken, the Stone Flame Beast raised its head, transforming back into its stone-like appearance, indifferent to all around it.

"'You...'"

Clutching his long sword, he yearned to cleave the beast into pieces right then and there. Yet, there was not the slightest flicker in its eyes; clearly, it held no regard for life or death...

"'Alright, I concede. From today onwards, I will depart from the Ten Thousand Beast Gate, and you will be free...'"

Seeing that the beast had absolutely no intention of submitting, Mu Xu shook his head, utterly helpless, with an unspeakable sense of loss in his eyes. Just as he was about to exit the room, a voice resounded from above.

"'Effective today, the position of Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Beast Gate shall be inherited by Elder Zheng Yang...'"

"'The Sect Master has changed? Well, no matter who it is, it no longer concerns me...'"

He took a deep, despondent breath. The voice in the air continued: "...I have refined the beast-taming methods you have previously learned. Now, all disciples are to report to their respective elders to receive the updated instructions...'"

"'Improved beast-taming methods?'"

Mu Xu paused. "'Tomorrow, I won't be a disciple of the Ten Thousand Beast Gate, which means I'm still eligible to learn for now. I might as well go and see...'"

Though he held no real hope, he still sought out an inner elder and began to learn.

The new Sect Master's beast-taming method was remarkably simple, summarized in four words: "Don't be a sycophant!" In essence, when all forms of appeasement failed, one could try beating the beast within an inch of its life! Afterward, one would provide it with the necessary treasures.

"'This kind of beating is useless...'"

Having quickly scanned the new instructions, Mu Xu wore a helpless expression. Such methods of beating beasts for taming purposes already existed within the sect, and he had attempted them. However, not only did they fail, but they also provoked the beast into a furious frenzy, nearly causing it to harm itself. In other words, it was utterly ineffective!

"'The Sect Master's new method must be combined with this specific pill...'"

Seeing his dejected expression, the elder handed him a jade bottle.

"'A pill?'"

Mu Xu uncorked the bottle, examined its contents for a moment, and grew even more bewildered. It was merely an ordinary healing pill, barely effective even for a Saint Realm Ninth-level cultivator. Administering this to a sacred beast after a beating... surely it would be seen as an insult!

"'Just try it!'" the elder advised.

Since he was to be expelled from the sect tomorrow anyway, he decided to treat a desperate situation with a desperate remedy. Mu Xu gritted his teeth. "'I'll stake it all!'"

Carrying the jade bottle, he returned to the room. Too weary for further deliberation, he fiercely charged forward, employing the beast-taming method he had just learned from the elder. With a tremendous rumble, the Stone Flame Beast was profusely bleeding from the long sword's thrusts, teetering on the brink of death.

"'The humiliation you've inflicted upon me—as long as you don't kill me, I swear I will repay it...'"

Its face contorted in fury, the Stone Flame Beast gnashed its teeth, its entire being seemingly on the verge of eruption. The human was simply humiliating it...

"'Silence!'"

Following the new Sect Master's instructions, Mu Xu gritted his teeth and forcefully crammed the pill from the jade bottle into the beast's mouth. At this point, he couldn't afford to care about such details.

"'What did you make me eat? I'll kill you...'"

Upon being forced to swallow the item, the Stone Flame Beast began to tremble uncontrollably, letting out an angry roar. Just as Mu Xu believed there was no longer any turning back for either of them, the rock-like sacred beast suddenly flinched, then looked at the young man before it with a strange expression.

"'Master, I am your beloved Little Flame, please don't go... please accept me...'"

"'Huh?'"

His face twitched, and Mu Xu stood rooted to the spot. This... this transformation was far too sudden!

Soon, the recognition process was complete. Mu Xu still hadn't fully processed the fact that with a single thought, he could now communicate with the creature before him, or even cause its demise. A year of attempted taming had yielded no success, yet with the new Sect Master's method, it was accomplished in just over ten minutes...

What was the underlying principle? Regardless of the principle, a beast that a year of arduous effort couldn't tame was now successfully subdued with a single method from the new Sect Master, proving its astonishing effectiveness.

"'Sect Master... I am utterly convinced!'"

Recalling the trials and tribulations of the past year, he 'plop!' knelt to the ground, tears streaming down his face. From that day forward, he held profound admiration and absolute conviction for the new Sect Master, devoid of any doubt.

Similar scenes unfolded on other peaks as well. Previously, some might have thought the new Sect Master's beast-taming prowess was merely a personal strength, offering no significant benefit to the sect. Now, that notion had been entirely dispelled. They now fully understood why Sect Master Qin had abdicated without a moment's hesitation... With such a Sect Master, how could the Ten Thousand Beast Gate fail to grow even more formidable!

"'Before, I still harbored some resentment, but now I understand just how vastly inferior I am compared to him. It truly is a blessing for the Ten Thousand Beast Gate to have him as Sect Master...'" Elder Yuan said, filled with excitement. Had this individual not emerged so suddenly, he would have been the next Sect Master, and he had indeed harbored some resentment. Now, however, that feeling had vanished without a trace, unable to be rekindled in the slightest. Such a person was precisely the right choice for the Ten Thousand Beast Gate. He was far inferior!

"'Haha, let's see how Han Jianqiu dares to boast in front of me from now on! My Ten Thousand Beast Gate also possesses its own true genius now...'" Elder Qin Yuan trembled uncontrollably with excitement. Previously, he had been greatly envious when Han Jianqiu mentioned that the Cloud Sword Pavilion had produced a genius who comprehended the Divine Sword Intent. But now, the Ten Thousand Beast Gate also had a genius who was almost his equal... Let's see what grounds Han Jianqiu has left to boast in his presence!

"'Wait... once the Sect Master finishes his affairs and returns from the Sea of Chasing Stars, I'll have him meet the new Sect Master of the Cloud Sword Pavilion. A True Immortal Realm cultivator killing a Peak Immortal Lord... that's impressive, but I don't believe he can withstand the siege of four Immortal Lord-level immortal beasts!'" With a cold chuckle, Elder Qin Yuan's face was wreathed in smiles. Han Jianqiu had praised that new Sect Master to no end. But no matter how powerful he was, he couldn't possibly withstand the combined attacks of numerous sacred beasts like flood dragons and Nine-Headed Fire Phoenix Beasts, could he! Furthermore, Sect Master Zheng Yang's own strength was formidable! Regarding Zheng Yang and Zhang Xuan, both at the peak of the True Immortal Realm but possessing Immortal Lord-level strength... he had indeed harbored suspicions. However, their differing ages, appearances, and names definitively indicated they were not the same person! The Forsaken Continent was vast and boundless, harboring countless geniuses. The emergence of one or two such individuals was hardly surprising. Isn't Han Jianqiu quite arrogant? Once the Sect Master returns from his mission, he would arrange for him to challenge Zhang Xuan. Unless they beat the living daylights out of that fellow, how else would they demonstrate the newfound power of their Ten Thousand Beast Gate?

On his second day at the Ten Thousand Beast Gate, Zhang Xuan rubbed his temples and approached Elder Qin Yuan. Within twenty-four hours, he had compiled his understanding of beast-taming methods into a manual and disseminated it. Concurrently, he had also finished reading all the books within the Elder Hall. As he had surmised, the cultivation techniques for the Immortal Lord Realm were indeed incomplete. Nevertheless, this allowed him to gain a deeper understanding of that cultivation level. While it didn't significantly boost his direct combat prowess, it ensured that he wouldn't be as passive as before if he encountered powerful cultivators of the same caliber again.

"'Is the Sect Master departing now?'" Elder Qin Yuan asked upon seeing him approach.

"'Yes, I do have urgent matters that cannot be delayed...'" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"'Very well then... I shall accompany the Sect Master!'" Elder Qin Yuan stated.

"'There's no need. With the Flood Dragons and the others accompanying me, no one should dare to harm me!'" Patting the beast-pet bag at his waist, Zhang Xuan offered a faint smile. As Sect Master, he naturally possessed his own beast-pet bag, which was remarkably spacious. Four immortal beasts could easily fit inside without feeling the slightest bit crowded.

Elder Qin Yuan pondered for a moment, then finally nodded. What he said was true; with four immortal beasts protecting him, no one would dare to harm him. Moreover, his identity and image had already been explicitly instructed to a few informed elders to keep confidential. If he departed now, others would simply perceive him as an ordinary peak True Immortal Realm cultivator, not the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Beast Gate.

"'If you prefer not to have me accompany you, that's acceptable. I will send a disciple and an immortal beast to escort you. Sect Master, please do not refuse this; we can't possibly have you personally piloting an immortal beast, can we!'" Elder Qin Yuan chuckled.

News of the Flood Dragon being tamed by the Sect Master of the Ten Thousand Beast Gate had already circulated. If he were to depart riding the Flood Dragon now, others would immediately recognize him as the Sect Master. Thus, he could only utilize a standard immortal beast from within the sect.

"'Very well!'" Seeing the elder's genuine sincerity, Zhang Xuan no longer demurred.

Having swiftly concluded his arrangements, he did not linger and flew directly north. Elder Qin Yuan had procured an ordinary hawk-type beast-pet at the early Immortal Lord stage, and the disciple piloting it had also reached the peak of the True Immortal Realm. The two individuals and the beast swiftly embarked on their journey after departing the Ten Thousand Beast Gate. They flew continuously for three days.

"'Sect Master, not far from here is Jade Far City, home to the Seven Stars Pavilion, which belongs to the six great sects. It is the largest city within a million-kilometer radius, truly considered top-tier! If you wish to purchase anything from the Divine Communication Hall, this is definitely the place to come!'" The disciple piloting the immortal beast smiled and pointed ahead. Within those three days, the two had grown familiar, and the disciple had also fully grasped the identity of the person before him.

"'Jade Far City? Seven Stars Pavilion?'"

Zhang Xuan gazed forward and, sure enough, saw a colossal city slowly materializing before his eyes, many times more expansive than the previous Black Sea City.

"'Let's go down and take a look!'" With a command, a light gleamed in Zhang Xuan's eyes. The two hundred high-grade Immortal Essence Pills the gourd required... perhaps they could be acquired here!