Ye Zhilan returned to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan in a flurry of thought, clutching the token engraved with a beast pattern, and headed straight for the quiet room where Yu Yuanchen was in seclusion.
Inside the room, Yu Yuanchen had just finished a cycle of deducing the Yin Yang Lightning Law. The lightning aura around him had not yet fully settled, and seeing the unusual expression and hurried gait of Ye Zhilan, he knew something had happened.
"Brother Yuanchen!" Ye Zhilan dismissed the attendants and recounted everything that had occurred that morning at the village entrance: the encounter with the woman calling herself "Gu Yue," the mention of the "Myriad Beast Sect," and the intent to trade and cooperate on researching the "Way of Beast Taming." She was meticulous, describing Gu Yuena's demeanor, tone, and the details of the strange token with absolute clarity.
Yu Yuanchen's expression was calm at first as he listened to her narrative. However, when the name "Gu Yue" reached his ears, his hand holding the teacup paused almost imperceptibly, and a sharp, piercing glint flashed deep within his eyes!
Gu Yue!
How could he not know this name? It was the name used by the Silver Dragon King Gu Yuena when she took on a human form in the Douluo series! She had actually come looking for them! Was it because of the aura of the Ice Fire Dragon King? Alarm bells rang in Yu Yuanchen's mind; his muscles tensed instinctively, his soul power circulated in secret, and his divine sense spread out like a tide, vigilantly sensing the surroundings, especially the movements outside the sect.
But when he finished hearing Ye Zhilan's complete account—especially that Gu Yuena had focused on the "contract" between Ye Zhilan and the Star-Eating Vine and proposed a collaborative study of a "New Path of Beast Taming"—his tense nerves relaxed slightly, replaced by a sense of realization and deep thought.
So that's it... Her target has temporarily shifted to Zhilan. Yu Yuanchen mused. He instantly grasped the key. Gu Yuena must have sensed the aura of the Ice Fire Dragon King, but what interested her more was the brand-new model of symbiosis between humans and soul beasts that Ye Zhilan had stumbled upon! To the Silver Dragon King, who was single-mindedly trying to revitalize the soul beast race, this temptation was likely greater than the mere remains of a dragon king!
The so-called "Myriad Beast Sect" was, in all likelihood, that group of Fierce Beasts from the core of the Star Dou Great Forest! Fabricating a story about a hidden sect was quite reasonable.
"Brother Yuanchen, what do you think? Is this Myriad Beast Sect... trustworthy?" Seeing Yu Yuanchen lost in thought, Ye Zhilan couldn't help but ask. Although she was tempted by the prospect of cooperation, the other party's origins were too mysterious for her not to be cautious.
Yu Yuanchen set down his teacup, his fingertips tapping the table with a rhythmic thud-thud. He looked at Ye Zhilan, his eyes shining with wisdom: "Zhilan, tell me first, what do you think of that girl Gu Yue's strength?"
Ye Zhilan recalled carefully and affirmed: "The aura she displayed was at the Soul Sage level, but... it was very peculiar. It gave me a feeling of being unfathomable, definitely not an ordinary Soul Sage, and even... exerted more pressure on me than some elders who had just become Titled Douluo. Moreover, her eye for detail was too sharp. Just by watching, she could see through the essence of the relationship between me and the Star-Eating Vine. This level of insight, I fear..."
"I fear even an average Super Douluo might not possess it," Yu Yuanchen continued, a meaningful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "A hidden sect with a young disciple possessing such insight, and the confidence to bring out soul bones, secret manuals, and even information on top-tier Immortal Herbs as bargaining chips... the foundation of this Myriad Beast Sect likely exceeds our imagination."
He paused, continuing his analysis, partly for Ye Zhilan and partly to organize his own thoughts: "They proposed cooperation rather than force, and were even willing to share their so-called 'Soul Beast Classics,' which indicates a few things. First, they value your 'Way of Beast Taming' immensely and are determined to win. Second, they have some reservations and dare not—or perhaps do not wish to—use force."
"Reservations?" Ye Zhilan pondered.
"Yes." Yu Yuanchen nodded, his gaze sweeping toward the horizon outside the window, implying something: "Perhaps they are wary of certain... gazes from the heavens." He was referring to the inheritance of the Thunder God he carried. Gu Yuena must be afraid of throwing the rat to save the vase, fearing that a forceful move would attract the attention of the God Realm and expose her own existence. He knew this clearly, but it was not something he could easily explain to Ye Zhilan.
"As for the cooperation itself," Yu Yuanchen shifted the topic, "I actually don't think it's a bad thing."
"Oh?" Ye Zhilan's beautiful eyes brightened.
Yu Yuanchen analyzed: "The path you have pioneered has broad prospects, but since there are no predecessors, it is fraught with difficulties and time-consuming if we explore it alone. If the other party truly possesses the most comprehensive knowledge of soul beasts on the continent as they claim, it would undoubtedly be a huge help in perfecting this method. This could be a tremendous opportunity for you, for the Ye Family, and even for my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. If successful, the sect's strength will surely rise to a new level."
He looked at Ye Zhilan, his tone gentle yet firm: "Most importantly, Zhilan, I can tell that you are very interested in this. If this path can be walked through, it might be the best way for you to carry forward the Nine Heart Begonia... no, the Sacred Heart Immortal Begonia Martial Soul. Since there is profit to be made and the other party dares not act rashly for now, there is no harm in making contact. Whether they are human or ghost, we will only know once we have met them."
Hearing this, a warm current surged in Ye Zhilan's heart. Yu Yuanchen's support dispelled her last shred of hesitation, and she nodded heavily: "Mm! Brother Yuanchen, I'll listen to you!"
Subsequently, the two went to the Council Hall together to report the matter to Sect Master Yu Boxuan, Ye Kuan, and other core high-level members.
Upon hearing about the "Myriad Beast Sect," Yu Boxuan and the others were also shocked. A hidden sect that had been on good terms with soul beasts for generations? This completely subverted their understanding. But when they heard Yu Yuanchen's logical analysis, especially the possibility that the other party was "wary," they all calmed down.
Yu Boxuan stroked his beard and pondered: "Yuanchen's analysis is reasonable. If the other party truly had malicious intent, given their strength, they could have acted in the shadows; why go to such lengths to propose cooperation? Having reservations actually suggests that this matter is open for discussion. Moreover, if the girl's Way of Beast Taming can truly be perfected with their help, it would indeed be of great benefit to our sect."
Although Yu Boxuan had doubts about the suddenly appearing "Myriad Beast Sect," he had absolute trust in his grandson's judgment. Especially since Yu Yuanchen was now a Titled Douluo, his strength and vision far exceeded ordinary people, and his analysis was reasonable and well-founded.
Ye Kuan also nodded: "I have practiced medicine all my life and know that all things have spirits; not all soul beasts are bloodthirsty. If there is truly a way to coexist peacefully and benefit mutually with high-level soul beasts that have gained intelligence, exploring it is not out of the question."
As a healing-type Soul Master, Ye Kuan was more inclined to explore a path of symbiosis rather than slaughter, and since this concerned his granddaughter's future, he naturally supported it.
Seeing the two elders express their stance, Yu Qingtian and the others naturally had no objections. In the end, the sect unanimously decided to agree to contact the "Myriad Beast Sect" to discuss the details of the cooperation.
Ye Zhilan immediately sent someone with the beast-patterned token to the "Listen to the Wind Pavilion" in Dragon City to convey the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's intention to initiate contact, and they agreed to meet formally within the sect in half a month to discuss the details of the cooperation.
Once the message was sent, Yu Yuanchen and the others began intense preparations. On one hand, they strengthened the sect's defenses just in case; on the other, they began collecting all ancient books and rumors related to "soul beasts" and "beast taming" in hopes of gaining more initiative in the negotiations.
Meanwhile, in a quiet courtyard of the Listen to the Wind Pavilion in Dragon City.
Gu Yuena received the reply sent by Ye Zhilan's messenger. After reading the content, her beautiful, cold, and emotionless face relaxed almost imperceptibly. She stood alone by the window, looking at a swaying orchid in the courtyard, her purple eyes filled with complex emotions.
"They... agreed," she whispered to herself, her clear voice carrying a hint of relief.
She had originally prepared two plans. If Ye Zhilan's side refused to cooperate or was merely being perfunctory, then in half a month, the "elder of the Myriad Beast Sect" appearing before the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan would be her strongest combatant—the Beast God Di Tian! With Di Tian's terrifying strength, which was nearly that of a Demigod, he would be enough to exert absolute military deterrence over the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and force them to submit. Although this move carried higher risks and could easily escalate the conflict or even attract the attention of the God Realm, she had to consider such extreme measures for the future of the soul beast race.
Fortunately, the worst-case scenario did not happen. The other party agreed to cooperate, so things could proceed within a relatively peaceful framework. As such, the choice of who would appear needed to be changed.
Di Tian's strength was too great, his killing intent too heavy, and he was a pure dragon, which slightly conflicted with the fabricated background story of "the ancestor being saved by kind soul beasts." More importantly, Di Tian's presence would be too intimidating, which would not be conducive to the subsequent "research."
"Bi Ji, Red King." Gu Yuena's thoughts stirred, and she sent a message through their soul connection to the two Fierce Beasts far away in the Star Dou Great Forest.
The Jade Swan Bi Ji, with a cultivation level as high as 580,000 years, was the pinnacle of healing-type existences among soul beasts, second only to Di Tian. Her personality was gentle and kind, and she was full of love for life. Having her appear would not only reflect the origin of the "Myriad Beast Sect" and its connection to "kind soul beasts," but her powerful healing abilities would also indirectly demonstrate the sect's strength and goodwill, making it easier to gain the favor of kind-hearted people like Ye Zhilan.
The Three-Headed Scarlet Demon Mastiff Red King, with a cultivation level of 290,000 years, had formidable combat power and a loyal and brave personality, though he was not a bloodthirsty creature. Having him accompany her would not only protect Bi Ji but also show that the "Myriad Beast Sect" was not just benevolent, but also possessed an inviolable military foundation, enough to deter any bad thoughts the other party might have.
After these two Fierce Beasts took human form, one would be as gentle as water and the other as fierce as a mountain, perfectly complementing each other. Since both were relatively "reasonable," they were the perfect candidates for the initial cooperation negotiations.
"In half a month, you two shall take human form, carry my token, and head to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan..." Gu Yuena conveyed the detailed instructions and precautions one by one.
After doing all this, Gu Yuena turned her gaze back to the window, her purple eyes shining with a mix of anticipation and calmness.
"The Way of Beast Taming... the path of symbiosis between humans and soul beasts... I hope this cooperation can truly find a new glimmer of life for my race."
Within Dragon City, undercurrents were surging. On one side was a top-tier human sect with a deep foundation and rising momentum; on the other was a mysterious, unfathomable hidden force representing the supreme will of soul beasts. The meeting in half a month would determine whether this unprecedented path would lead to a bright, smooth road or an endless abyss.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: GodKun-Chan