Chapter 510: Beast Hall Leader

"Even if we can't stop it, we must try!" The grey-robed youth did not retreat. Instead, he gestured and took a step forward. Immediately, several people simultaneously drew their swords. With a soft hum, six swords formed a net, thrusting towards their opponent.

Their cultivation level was significantly lower than Jin Conghai's, yet their crisscrossing sword energy gave off an impression of being incredibly difficult to penetrate.

"A combined attack formation?" Jin Conghai raised an eyebrow.

The techniques of these individuals complemented each other, creating a formation that, judging by its level, was far from weak. Even with his superior strength, Jin Conghai knew he might not gain any advantage if he engaged them in a real fight. This type of encirclement formation allowed cultivators with lower levels to combine their strengths, maximizing their potential and enabling them to defeat stronger adversaries. It was similar to how Zhao Ya, Yuan Tao, and the others, despite being individually weaker than Lu Xun, managed to injure him when they combined their efforts.

Among the six, the strongest was the grey-robed youth, who was only at Transcendent Mortal 3-dan, while the others were at 2-dan. However, with the formation, their combat power was significantly enhanced. Their auras surged, and sword energy crisscrossed around them. They were formidable enough to face even a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan expert without being at a disadvantage.

"Hmph!" With a raised eyebrow, Jin Conghai showed no sign of tension. He stamped his foot on the ground and charged forward. His large, powerful fingers whistled with Zhenqi, compressing the surrounding air and deflecting all the incoming sword energy.

This was Zhang Xuan's first time witnessing a Transcendent Mortal 4-dan expert unleash their full power, and after just a few glances, he was filled with shock. Although Jin Conghai fought without a weapon, his every move possessed an inherent rhythm and method, manipulating the surrounding air with varying degrees of force. While the six-person combined attack formation was ingenious, it was not easy to harm him. However, he was also trapped by the six long swords, and breaking free quickly would not be simple.

Of course, this was because he hadn't used poison. If he had, no matter the formation or the number of opponents, they would have immediately retreated in defeat. However, there was no deep-seated enmity between the two sides, and these few individuals were not formidable enough to warrant him using his ultimate techniques.

*Boom, boom, boom!* The power unleashed by both sides was fierce, yet it remained contained within a radius of several tens of meters, not spilling outwards, demonstrating exceptionally strong control.

"I'll help you!" Seeing that both sides were locked in a stalemate, unable to determine a winner quickly, and fearing that prolonged fighting would disturb the Demonic Moonswallow Beast, Pavilion Master Sai let out a low cry and entered the fray.

His strength was in no way inferior to Jin Conghai's. As soon as he joined the fight, the combined sword formation immediately faltered, and the six youths were forced to retreat. After just a few moves, their long swords were knocked from their hands, and the youths appeared utterly exhausted. Their strength was already inferior, and facing two Transcendent Mortal 4-dan experts, they naturally could not resist.

"Enough!" Seeing them defeated, Pavilion Master Sai and Jin Conghai were about to press their advantage when Zhang Xuan waved his hand. "Stop fighting, they're our own people!"

Everyone present was stunned by his words. Could Master Zhang actually know these people?

"Our own people?" The grey-robed youth was even more puzzled, looking at them with a strange expression.

"I am Zhang Xuan, a beast tamer!" Ignoring their reactions, Zhang Xuan stepped forward, flipped his wrist, and revealed his beast tamer emblem. "I presume you all are also beast tamers!"

Upon seeing the emblem, the youths immediately relaxed. They each flipped their wrists and revealed their own identifying items. Indeed, just as Zhang Xuan had said, they were all beast tamers.

"Are you from the Beast Hall?" Pavilion Master Sai frowned and inquired. Only the Beast Hall had the capability to produce six beast tamers simultaneously.

"Yes!" The grey-robed youth nodded.

"I am Sai Xiaoyu from the Appraisal Hall. May I ask if your Hall Master is Han Chong or Luo Ming?" Pavilion Master Sai inquired.

"It's Hall Master Han Chong! Sai Xiaoyu... So it's Pavilion Master Sai! This junior has been disrespectful..." Upon hearing the name, the grey-robed youth was first stunned, then a realization dawned on him, and he quickly cupped his fist in respect.

There were two Beast Hall branches in the Myriad Kingdom Alliance, led by Hall Masters Han Chong and Luo Ming respectively. However, there was only one Appraisal Hall, located in Honghai City. Although Pavilion Master Sai's cultivation might not be as high as their Guild Leader's, his status was in no way inferior. He was respected by various professions and had extensive connections. Losing to someone of similar standing to their Hall Master Han was not a significant matter.

"Oh, so you're one of Old Han's people. Your Hall Master Han and I are old friends." Understanding their background, Pavilion Master Sai nodded, then looked at them with a puzzled expression. "Your Beast Hall branch is near Myriad Kingdom City. What are you doing here?"

Hall Master Han Chong's Beast Hall branch was located in the mountains very close to Myriad Kingdom City. This place, Nine Bends Mountain, was hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. Why would a group of beast tamers be here?

"Reporting to Pavilion Master Sai, our Hall Master is currently taming the Demonic Moonswallow Beast..." Knowing that the other party was an old friend of their Hall Master, the grey-robed youth no longer concealed the information.

"Taming the Demonic Moonswallow Beast? Didn't your Hall Master attempt that three years ago, without success?" Pavilion Master Sai asked, surprised.

He had just mentioned to Sun Qiang that Hall Master Han Chong had led twelve elders to capture the Demonic Moonswallow Beast three years ago, but failed. Could it be that he hadn't given up and had returned?

"Our Hall Master did come, and because that attempt was unsuccessful, for the past three years, whenever he had free time, he would come and stay here, communicating and interacting with the beast. After such a long period of interaction, the relationship between the Hall Master and the beast has become very good. Therefore, the Hall Master plans to use his final methods today to tame it. To prevent any disturbance, he instructed us to guard this place and keep out any ferocious beasts or strangers!" the grey-robed youth explained.

Pavilion Master Sai nodded.

Zhang Xuan also understood the situation. Ordinary beast tamers did not possess Heaven's Path Zhenqi, so they couldn't use it as bait to force beasts into submission. They could only rely on gradually approaching and appeasing them over time to win their trust. Just like how Mo Yu had relied on various treasures to attract and gain the favor of the Azure Eagle Beast back then. After three years, given Hall Master Han Chong's methods, it was likely that the Demonic Moonswallow Beast had been almost won over, which was why he intended to tame it in one swift effort.

"May we go and take a look?" Hearing that his old friend was taming this beast, notorious throughout the alliance, Pavilion Master Sai hesitated for a moment. "If he encounters trouble, we might be able to offer some help."

Beast taming was far from easy. While a smooth taming process was ideal, failure could very likely enrage the beast. It was said that three years ago, Hall Master Han had been injured by this beast and had to recuperate for over a month.

"Hmm... alright!" After a moment's hesitation, the grey-robed youth nodded. "However, you must be careful. The Demonic Moonswallow Beast has an arrogant and violent temperament; you absolutely must not provoke it!"

Pavilion Master Sai's status was revered; even if the youth wanted to stop them, he wasn't qualified. Besides, preparations were underway, and the taming hadn't begun. The Hall Master probably wouldn't blame him for bringing them in.

"Don't worry, your Hall Master and I are old friends of many years. I won't delay his important work!" Pavilion Master Sai chuckled.

Knowing that such a powerful individual, with his esteemed status, would not stoop to lying, the grey-robed youth nodded and instructed the remaining youths, "The rest of you, continue guarding here. Do not let any ferocious beasts or strangers pass!"

With that, he gestured and led the way into the valley. "Pavilion Master Sai, please follow me."

Everyone followed him.

After walking for a while, the narrow, vegetation-filled valley suddenly opened up. The roar of water filled the air as a waterfall cascaded down from the mountain gorge, forming a pool several hundred meters in diameter. On the rock wall not far from the pool was a massive cave. Outside, several elders stood, seemingly waiting for something.

Hearing footsteps, the elders turned their heads. The elder in the very center was about to speak when he saw Pavilion Master Sai among the group, and his eyes lit up. "Pavilion Master Sai, what brings you here?"

"I was just passing by, looking for something, when your students stopped me. That's how I learned you plan to tame the Demonic Moonswallow Beast again, so I came to take a look!" Pavilion Master Sai replied.

It was none other than Hall Master Han Chong of the Myriad Kingdom City Beast Hall!

"You know my situation. The two great Beast Halls of the Myriad Kingdom Alliance are fiercely competitive. Only one Hall Master gets the chance to go to the Illusionary Feather Empire for further study. If I don't tame a formidable beast that can awe others, there's truly no other way..." Hall Master Han Chong offered a bitter smile.

In the Myriad Kingdom Alliance, the two great Beast Halls had been locked in a fierce, long-standing competition. For years, their respective Hall Masters had been openly and secretly vying for the qualification to study in a higher-tier Beast Hall. Unfortunately, for beast tamers, other forms of competition were secondary; the true measure of skill was the ability to tame a presentable spirit beast. Therefore, for three years, he had persistently strived to tame this Demonic Moonswallow Beast, hoping to gain an advantage over his rival.

"That's true... I heard you've been communicating with it for these three years. How is it going?" Pavilion Master Sai asked, looking at him.

"It's still much like before. The Demonic Moonswallow Beast possesses a dragon bloodline, and its temperament is arrogant and reclusive. If it were that easy to tame, I wouldn't have spent so much effort! If it weren't for the special envoy from the Illusionary Feather Empire arriving in a few days, I wouldn't be so reckless, but I had no choice but to make my move today!" Hall Master Han shook his head.

For a spirit beast of this caliber, three years of interaction was still a bit short, but there was truly no other way. The special envoy was arriving soon, and if he couldn't tame this massive creature before then, he would not only have no advantage over Hall Master Luo Ming but would even be at a disadvantage. If he wasn't chosen, his path to advancing to a 5-star beast tamer would be almost completely blocked, leaving him with no hope for the rest of his life.

"Then why are you waiting here...?" Since they intended to tame it, where was the Demonic Moonswallow Beast? And why were so many people standing around here?

"It's in that cave. This fellow usually comes out to forage around noon. The time isn't right yet, so it's still resting!" Hall Master Han pointed forward.

"Oh!" Pavilion Master Sai nodded.

After explaining, Hall Master Han looked at Zhang Xuan and the others, asking with a puzzled expression, "Are these your juniors?"

"Cough, cough!" Hearing Master Zhang referred to as his junior, Pavilion Master Sai was startled and was about to explain when Zhang Xuan's voice spoke up. "I am Zhang Xuan, a friend of Pavilion Master Sai!"

"A friend?" Hall Master Han was stunned. Pavilion Master Sai was a 4-star appraiser, whose status was in no way inferior to his own. How could he be friends with a young fellow not even twenty years old?

Filled with doubt, he couldn't help but ask, "I wonder... Little Brother Zhang, what is your profession?"

Before Zhang Xuan could answer, the grey-robed youth at his side spoke up. "Reporting to Hall Master, he is a 2-star beast tamer. I just saw his emblem!"

"A 2-star beast tamer?" Hall Master Han's expression grew even stranger. They had plenty of beast tamers of this level in their Beast Hall. When had Pavilion Master Sai stooped so low as to become friends with such a person?