Chapter 317: Hospitable Diverse Beasts

The body grew very quickly, almost two or three times larger than when it was first born. The nest made from Xu Ke’s hair was gradually becoming too small for it. Fortunately, Li Fan’s bare body began to sprout a fine layer of fur. It would probably be able to fly on its own soon.

This journey to the Immortal Meteor Realm seemed particularly peaceful. Spending the whole day by Xu Ke’s side, there were no crises, nor any fortuitous encounters. Just when Li Fan had less than three days left to survive in the Immortal Meteor Realm, a sudden change occurred.

That day, a resounding dragon’s roar echoed throughout the entire territory of the Beast Taming Sect. Azure light illuminated the sky and earth, and immediately, winds and clouds shifted overhead. Li Fan looked up and saw a gigantic dragon’s claw, partly hidden by the clouds, appearing and disappearing, casting a shadow over the sky and earth. Although the dragon’s claw was high above in the sky, Li Fan was not its direct target. Yet, the inadvertent pressure it emitted made the young Li Fan tremble uncontrollably. It was a suppression of absolute power, making him unable to even conceive of resistance.

As if facing an enemy, the dragon’s claw violently swiped at the empty space in front. Li Fan’s heart stopped as he watched this strike that seemed capable of destroying heaven and earth. However… nothing happened. It seemed to have encountered an absolute obstruction; the dragon’s claw could neither advance nor retreat, trapped in place.

“Is this how the Beast Taming Sect treats its guests?”

A moment later, a very pleasant voice rang out. It spread throughout the world. It was gentle and infinitely soft. As the voice echoed across the world, Li Fan, as a companion spirit beast, keenly noticed Xu Ke’s body trembling slightly. It wasn’t from fear, but from excitement and doubt.

“Mr. Bai?” His eyes were a bit lost, as if in disbelief.

As if in response to his words, Mr. Bai’s gentle voice sounded again. “That dragon’s claw is good. I’ll take it back to nourish the children.”

Before his words had faded, a beam of light suppressed the vast azure glow. A mournful dragon’s howl echoed, and that enormous, seemingly invincible dragon’s claw was directly severed and vanished from the sky. Faintly, a figure could be seen standing where the dragon’s claw had been.

The severing of the dragon’s claw seemed to infuriate the Beast Taming Sect. In an instant, the sky turned gloomy. A Vermillion Bird engulfed in flames, a winged yellow dragon, a two-winged white tiger, a two-horned qilin, a long-tusked fierce dog… One terrifying exotic beast after another appeared in the sky. They completely surrounded the somewhat slender figure, their fierce aura soaring to the heavens. It seemed as though, in the next moment, they would swarm forward and attack, tearing the provocateur to shreds.

Just then, Mr. Bai spoke again: “Are you also here to bring gifts for the children?”

The world suddenly fell silent. The expressions on the faces of the once ferocious exotic beasts all froze. One person, many fierce beasts. They fell into an eerie stillness.

“No answer means yes, then?”

“It seems I was wrong before. The Beast Taming Sect is indeed hospitable.”

Mr. Bai looked at the two-winged white tiger. “Good wings. Eating them should make one run faster.” Because Mr. Bai said so, the white tiger’s wings broke.

Mr. Bai looked again at the two-horned qilin. “Good horns. Ground into powder, they can heal bruises and sprains.” Mr. Bai said so, and the qilin lost its horns.

The fierce beasts filling the sky had no power whatsoever to resist Mr. Bai. Without understanding what was happening, a certain organ on their bodies would be severed. They were treated as gifts for the children. Fear instantly filled the hearts of the beasts in the sky. They no longer had their previous arrogant appearance, instead fleeing in terror and despair. But they couldn't escape faster than Mr. Bai’s gaze. Wherever his gaze fell, as he spoke his unhurried words, one or two exotic beasts would always become disfigured.

And the disciples of the Beast Taming Sect below, witnessing this scene, were all plunged into inexpressible shock. Their sect elders had repeatedly taught them how powerful spirit beasts like the Vermillion Bird, Qilin, Black Tortoise, and Phoenix were. Yet, what were they seeing now? These majestic spirit beasts, which were the very foundation of the Beast Taming Sect, were all like mere chickens and dogs, completely at someone’s mercy.

Who exactly was that figure? What was his true strength? And why was he doing this? Countless questions swirled in the minds of all Beast Taming Sect disciples. Among everyone, Xu Ke was the most profoundly shaken. His eyes were blank with confusion, unsure of what to do.

“That… that shouldn’t be Mr. Bai.”

“When I left the small temple before, he was clearly just a mortal.”

“He told me himself…”

Li Fan’s reaction was no better. Watching exotic beasts, tens of millions of times stronger than himself, being so easily slaughtered at will. This body uncontrollably produced an instinctive fear that spread and enveloped his heart. Li Fan’s consciousness could only desperately try to regain control of his body, barely managing to look up at the sky. He gazed upon that figure, which appeared somewhat slender.

Just as Xu Ke was plunged into profound self-doubt, a voice rang out, shattering his last shred of hope.

“Stop, Mr. Bai.”

“I know you came looking for me.”

Lu Ya, dressed in blue, appeared before the slender figure. And indeed, that figure ceased his actions. He allowed the exotic beasts to flee in panic across the sky, no longer taking action.

“Lu Ya, long time no see,” Mr. Bai said with a smile.

Lu Ya remained silent.

“Is it really… Mr. Bai?” As if unable to accept the reality, Xu Ke’s legs weakened, and he fell to the ground. Then an even greater question involuntarily arose in his mind.

“Mr. Bai, why exactly are you doing this?”

In Xu Ke’s eyes, although Mr. Bai was the kindest person in the world, his masters, uncles, and fellow disciples in the Beast Taming Sect had also treated Xu Ke very well.

“Why?”

Xu Ke sank into deep bewilderment.

In the sky, Mr. Bai and Lu Ya seemed to be conversing. Afterward, the two of them vanished together.

Below, the Beast Taming Sect gradually began to descend into chaos. In that very moment, the authority painstakingly built by the sect’s elders was shattered. Some felt that the Beast Taming Sect was overrated and had no future. Evil thoughts suddenly arose in their minds, and they decided to plunder what they could and flee amidst the chaos. Others were utterly terrified, hiding in secret rooms and refusing to come out. Still others, loyal disciples of the Beast Taming Sect, felt that the path they had pursued their entire lives had been so easily trampled upon. Utterly disheartened, they committed suicide in despair.

Amidst this chaos, Li Fan suddenly sensed the arrival of danger. Unbeknownst to them, Song Yang and his two-headed snake spirit beast had quietly approached Xu Ke. Song Yang’s eyes were fixed on Li Fan, filled with greed.