Chapter 2012: Elder Liao's Request

"Uh..."

Zhang Xuan stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do, never expecting the gourd to be so terrifying as to actually want to make a move.

Having tried several times to unleash his Sword Intent without success, he still hadn't tested his own strength before the opponent was nearly finished.

"Hehe!"

Striking down the Nine-headed Fire Phoenix Beast, the gourd made a gentle slash, and blood gushed from the massive celestial beast on the ground.

Twisting its body, the gourd gulped down the blood in large mouthfuls.

"What are you doing..."

Feeling his blood drain and his body grow weaker, the Nine-headed Fire Phoenix Beast grew frightened. He tried to rise but found the gourd sitting on him like a mountain, suppressing him so that he couldn't move no matter what.

"Be good, let me have a drink..."

Twisting a little, the gourd continued gulping down large mouthfuls.

Seeing his blood deplete more and more, on the verge of death from blood loss, the Nine-headed Fire Phoenix Beast could no longer hold back. He hurriedly raised his head to look at Zhang Xuan not far away: "I submit... I submit..."

He had no choice!

Though proud, he couldn't withstand this strange gourd!

Not only could it devour flames, but it could also swallow blood...

If he didn't submit, he would soon be devoured entirely, dying without knowing how.

In the past, he might have chosen death over submission for pride's sake, but now that their leader, the Flood Dragon, had submitted, one more wouldn't be shameful...

"Submit?"

Zhang Xuan scratched his head.

He had been thinking of using the beating taming method to make it submit within thirty breaths, but unexpectedly, with the gourd's intervention, it had caved in less than fifteen breaths.

"Stop for now!"

Approaching, he instructed the gourd.

"Uh!"

The gourd wobbled and let out a burp.

"Master, let me digest first. We'll talk later..."

With that, it flickered and disappeared, reappearing in his dantian to sleep soundly.

Seeing this fellow as unreliable as ever, Zhang Xuan shook his head, pointed a finger, and completed the submission ritual for the Nine-headed Fire Phoenix Beast.

"What about you?"

Having dealt with two sacred beasts without much effort, Zhang Xuan looked up at the sky again, somewhat amused.

The White-eared Fox had not yet returned, leaving only the Seven-tailed Saber-toothed Tiger.

At that moment, this creature's mind was in turmoil.

On Lingyun Mountain, he ranked only third, far weaker than the first two. The Flood Dragon and the Nine-headed Fire Phoenix Beast hadn't even lasted a minute before submitting. He didn't know what to do!

Submit or not?

If he didn't submit, he might end up like the two bosses, beaten to the ground, even cut and bled... But submitting with just a word was too shameful and undignified!

"You made the Flood Dragon boss submit using the Eight Dragon Notes, and the Phoenix boss submit using a magical artifact... I want to fight you with true strength. If you can defeat me... I will submit!"

Gritting his teeth, the Seven-tailed Saber-toothed Tiger said.

"A fight? Fine!"

Relieved, Zhang Xuan stamped his foot, soared into the air again, and with a flick of his longsword, the Divine Sword Intent he had suppressed burst forth.

Without seeing any sword shadow or sword move, the Tongshang Sword suddenly appeared before the Seven-tailed Saber-toothed Tiger.

Puchi!

With a single stroke, the fangs extending outside its mouth were severed at the root, and its nose was cut by the sharp sword aura, blood gushing.

"I give up, I submit..."

Trembling in fear, the Seven-tailed Saber-toothed Tiger quickly spoke, cold sweat streaming down.

He had thought the opponent relied only on underhanded tricks, but he didn't expect his true swordsmanship to be so terrifying!

If he hadn't shouted quickly enough, not only his teeth but his head might have been gone...

Not only was he shocked, but the Flood Dragon and the Nine-headed Fire Phoenix Beast also swallowed hard.

They had thought their newly submitted master, aside from the Eight Dragon Notes and powerful artifacts, wasn't that strong. Seeing this, they realized...

Even without those two, he could defeat them in combat!

That sword strike was too powerful, carrying an unfathomable mystery that was impossible to resist.

Whoosh!

The formation dissipated.

Thirty breaths had passed!

"All three celestial beasts tamed?"

"In just over two minutes?"

Seeing the Seven-tailed Saber-toothed Tiger also submit, Elder Liao and the others went completely mad.

They were top elders of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, the number one beast-taming sect in the world!

Accompanying Elder Yuan, who might become the next sect master, to tame beasts...

The entire group had been wiped out, Elder Yuan was foolishly toyed with by the White-eared Fox, and this middle-aged man had already tamed all three celestial beasts...

Which of you is from the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and which are we?

How could they be so inferior in beast taming?

For a moment, everyone felt stifled and speechless.

Elder Liao smiled bitterly: "The sect master said... whichever of Elder Yuan or Elder Liu first tames any of the four celestial beasts would be eligible to inherit the next sect master... Now one is dead, and another is being toyed with by the White-eared Fox... How do we report back?"

"The sect master's main purpose in setting this difficult task was to test the successors, hoping the heir would be convincing in both beast taming and strength... Elder Yuan and Elder Liu have failed, but this man has succeeded!"

One elder lowered his voice.

"What do you mean?"

Elder Liao and the remaining elders looked over.

"Simple... If this man has no sect, we could recruit him into the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect. If he becomes an elder of the sect, with such formidable beast-taming skills and the ability to defeat a peak Immortal Monarch at the True Immortal realm... who would dare say anything if he becomes sect master?"

The elder said.

"This..."

Everyone fell silent.

Indeed.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect's greatest strength is beast taming.

This middle-aged man had surpassed all of them; his beast-taming skills were far superior to even the sect master's!

If such a person wasn't part of their sect, how could the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect hold its head up?

"We must bring him into the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect..."

Elder Liao nodded.

"Yes!"

Everyone agreed.

Having made the decision, Elder Liao didn't hesitate. Just as he was about to speak, Zhang Xuan, who had tamed the celestial beasts, approached: "Everyone, they have been tamed and will no longer attack you. You may leave... But before you go, I'd like to ask a favor, if you would grant it."

"You saved our lives. If you have any instructions, we will not refuse..."

Elder Liao quickly bowed.

Without this man, they would surely have been tortured to death by the three celestial beasts.

It was no exaggeration to call it a life-saving grace.

"I am a low-key person and don't like to reveal my identity... So I hope you can keep this to yourselves after you leave..." Zhang Xuan said.

He had just unleashed the Divine Sword Intent, showing its incredible effect, making the Seven-tailed Saber-toothed Tiger submit in one move. Although he had used it discreetly so that others couldn't discern the Sword Intent, if news leaked, someone would surely notice.

Once the Divine Temple learned of it, he would face all kinds of danger again.

So it was best to ask them not to spread it.

"This..."

Thinking this was what he wanted, Elder Liao and the others showed admiration.

If they had tamed a king of Lingyun Mountain, they would want to boast about it to the world. But this man had tamed three in one go without any arrogance...

This low-key and steady character was admirable!

"May I ask your name?"

Elder Liao asked curiously.

"I am Zhang..."

Just about to say his name, Zhang Xuan thought that the Divine Temple might already know his identity, so he paused and said: "My name is Zheng Yang!"

Unable to come up with a name on the spot, he directly used his student's name!

After all, he was still in the Master Teacher Continent, and no one would know this name.

"So it's Brother Zheng Yang..."

After racking his brain but finding no memory of the name, Elder Liao couldn't contain his curiosity: "Brother Zheng... which sect do you cultivate in?"

First, find out his background.

"I am a rogue cultivator..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Although he was an elder of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, his identity was special and he couldn't reveal it. Moreover, he was in disguise and had taken the false name Zheng Yang...

If he said Lingyun Sword Pavilion, they would check and find no such person, which would be even more suspicious.

Better to just say he was a rogue cultivator.

After all, there were many sword users in the Upper Firmament; Divine Temple experts all used swords. Rogue cultivators who used swords and were not weak in swordsmanship were common, so it wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"A rogue cultivator?"

Elder Liao and the others' eyes lit up.

If he belonged to another sect, it would be hard to recruit him. But a rogue cultivator was simple!

Inviting him to join the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, one of the six great sects, with even a chance to become sect master—he surely wouldn't refuse!

"Yes!" Unaware of their thoughts, Zhang Xuan nodded and asked again: "About what just happened..."

"Brother Zheng, rest assured. As long as you don't want us to speak, we will never reveal it. However..."

Elder Liao paused.

"However what?"

"However, we can keep silent, but... the fact that the three kings of Lingyun Mountain have been tamed cannot be hidden. When news spreads that so many elders of our Ten Thousand Beasts Sect failed while an outsider succeeded, the sect members may become restless!"

Elder Liao said awkwardly.

"What should we do then?"

Zhang Xuan frowned.

What the other said was true.

The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, the number one beast-taming sect in the world, had sent over a dozen elders, only to return in defeat. Meanwhile, a passerby had tamed all the celestial beasts. How would they explain to their sect?

Not telling was wrong, but telling was also wrong...

"Simple... Brother Zheng, would you be willing to come with us to the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect and acknowledge that you are one of our elders? That way, morale within the sect will surely soar! Rest assured, you only need to show the three celestial beasts in front of everyone..."

Elder Liao said: "It will also give an account to the sect and the world."