Chapter 493: The Beast Hall Master

"We must block them even if we can't!"

The gray-robed youth did not retreat but waved his hand and stepped forward. Immediately, several people drew their swords simultaneously. With a soft clang, six swords formed a net of blades, thrusting forward.

Their cultivation levels were far inferior to Jin Conghai's, yet their sword aura crisscrossed, giving a sense of impenetrability.

"A joint attack formation?"

Jin Conghai raised an eyebrow.

These men complemented each other's moves, executing a formation that, judging by its level, was not weak. Even though his strength far surpassed theirs, if it came to a real fight, he might not gain any advantage.

This kind of encirclement formation allowed those with lower cultivation to combine their strength and perform better, overcoming the strong with the weak.

It was like when Zhao Ya, Yuan Tao, and others were no match for Lu Xun individually but joined forces to injure him.

The strongest among these six, the gray-robed youth, was only at the third level of Mortal Transformation, while the rest were at the second level, but with the formation, their combat power was vastly different.

Breath surged, sword aura crisscrossed.

Even against a strong practitioner at the fourth level of Mortal Transformation, they were not at a disadvantage.

"Hmph!"

Raising his eyebrows, Jin Conghai showed no sign of tension. He stamped his foot on the ground and lunged forward.

True energy roared from his thick fingers, compressing the surrounding air and blocking all the incoming sword aura.

This was Zhang Xuan's first time seeing a strong practitioner at the fourth level of Mortal Transformation exert his full power. After just a few glances, he was filled with shock.

Although Jin Conghai did not use a weapon, every move and stance carried its own rhythm, his power alternating between light and heavy, mobilizing the surrounding air. The six-man joint attack formation, though clever, found it difficult to harm him.

However, he was also trapped by the six long swords, and breaking free in a short time was not easy.

Of course, this was because he hadn't used poison. Once he did, no matter what formation or how many people, they would be defeated immediately.

But there was no mortal enmity between them, and these people weren't worth him using his ultimate move.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The forces clashed fiercely, yet they only swirled within a few dozen meters without leaking out, demonstrating strong control.

"I'll help you!"

Seeing the two sides locked in a stalemate with no quick resolution, and fearing that a prolonged delay might disturb the Yaochen Beast, Pavilion Master Sai let out a low shout and entered the battle circle.

His strength was no less than Jin Conghai's. Once he joined, the joint attack formation immediately couldn't withstand it, and the six youths retreated one after another.

After a few moves, their long swords were knocked from their hands, and they seemed utterly exhausted.

Their strength was already inferior, and facing two strong practitioners at the fourth level of Mortal Transformation, they naturally couldn't hold out.

"Enough!"

Seeing them defeated, Pavilion Master Sai and Jin Conghai wanted to press forward, but Zhang Xuan waved his hand: "Stop fighting, they're on our side!"

Hearing this, everyone was stunned.

Could it be that Zhang Shi knew these people?

"On our side?" The gray-robed youth was even more puzzled and looked over in confusion.

"I am the beast tamer Zhang Xuan!"

Ignoring their attitude, Zhang Xuan stepped forward, turned his wrist, and took out his beast tamer badge representing his identity: "I assume you are all beast tamers too!"

Seeing the badge, the youths relaxed and each turned their wrist to produce their own identification.

As Zhang Xuan had said, they were all beast tamers.

"Are you from the Beast Hall?"

Frowning, Pavilion Master Sai asked.

Only the Beast Hall had the capability to produce six beast tamers at once.

"Yes!" The gray-robed youth nodded.

"I am Sai Xiaoyu of the Appraisal Pavilion. May I ask if your hall master is Han Chong or Luo Ming?" Pavilion Master Sai said.

"It's Hall Master Han Chong! Sai Xiaoyu... So you are Pavilion Master Sai! This junior has been disrespectful..."

Hearing the name, the gray-robed youth was startled at first, then recalled someone, and quickly clasped his fists.

The Beast Hall had two branches in the entire Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, with hall masters Han Chong and Luo Ming respectively, but the Appraisal Pavilion had only one, located in Honghai City. This pavilion master's cultivation might not match their guild leader's, but his status was no less, and he was respected by various professions with extensive connections.

Losing to someone of the same status as their Hall Master Han was not a big deal.

"Mm, so you're from Old Han's side. I'm an old friend of your Hall Master Han."

Knowing their origin, Pavilion Master Sai nodded, then looked over with curiosity: "Your Beast Hall branch is near the Ten Thousand Kingdoms City. What are you doing here?"

The Beast Hall branch under Han Chong was located in a mountain range close to the Ten Thousand Kingdoms City. This was the Nine Bends Mountain, hundreds of thousands of kilometers away. What were a group of beast tamers doing here?

"To report to Pavilion Master Sai, our hall master is taming the Yaochen Beast..." Knowing that the other was an old friend of his hall master, the gray-robed youth no longer concealed it.

"Taming the Yaochen Beast? Didn't your hall master try three years ago and fail?" Pavilion Master Sai asked curiously.

He had just told Sun Qiang that this Hall Master Han had brought twelve elders to capture the Yaochen Beast three years ago but failed. Could it be that he hadn't given up and came again?

"The hall master did come. Because he failed that time, he has been coming here whenever he had time over the past three years, staying and communicating with it... After such a long time, the relationship between man and beast has become very good, so... the hall master plans to use his final method today to tame it. To prevent disturbance, he ordered us to guard here and keep wild beasts and strangers out!"

The gray-robed youth said.

Pavilion Master Sai nodded.

Zhang Xuan also understood.

Ordinary beast tamers did not have Heavenly Dao true energy and could not use it as bait to force wild beasts to submit. They could only rely on long-term approach and coaxing to win them over.

Just like when Mo Yu tamed the Green Eagle Beast, she attracted it with various treasures to gain its favor.

With three years of effort, Hall Master Han's methods had likely softened the Yaochen Beast considerably, so he planned to tame it in one go.

"Can we go over and take a look?"

Hearing that his old friend was taming this notorious beast of the entire alliance, Pavilion Master Sai hesitated for a moment and said: "If there's trouble, we might be able to help."

Taming was not easy. If it went smoothly, fine; if not, it could easily anger the beast.

It was said that three years ago, Hall Master Han had been injured by this creature and spent over a month recovering.

"Mm... alright!" After a moment's hesitation, the gray-robed youth nodded: "But you must be careful. The Yaochen Beast is proud and violent; don't provoke it!"

Pavilion Master Sai was highly respected, so even if he wanted to stop him, he wasn't qualified. Since the preparations were underway and the taming hadn't started, bringing people in probably wouldn't incur the hall master's wrath.

"Don't worry, I'm an old friend of your hall master. I won't delay his business!" Pavilion Master Sai laughed.

Knowing that such a strong person would not stoop to lying, the gray-robed youth nodded and instructed the remaining youths: "You all continue guarding here. Don't let any wild beasts or strangers pass!"

With that, he beckoned and led the way into the valley: "Pavilion Master Sai, this way, please."

The group followed.

After walking for a while, the narrow, vegetation-filled valley suddenly opened up. The sound of rushing water filled the air as a waterfall cascaded down a mountain stream, forming a pond several hundred meters in diameter on the ground.

Not far from the pond, on a cliff face, was a huge cave. Outside the cave, several old men stood, seemingly waiting for something.

Hearing footsteps, they turned around. The old man in the center was about to speak when he spotted Pavilion Master Sai in the crowd, his eyes lighting up: "Pavilion Master Sai, what brings you here?"

"I happened to be passing by looking for something when your students stopped me. That's how I learned you were planning to tame the Yaochen Beast again, so I came to see!" Pavilion Master Sai said.

This was Han Chong, the hall master of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms City Beast Hall.

"You know my situation. The two Beast Halls of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance are in fierce competition, and only one hall master has the chance to enter the Feather Empire for further study. If I don't tame a beast that can intimidate others, I really have no way..."

Hall Master Han smiled bitterly.

The two Beast Halls of the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance had been competing for years, locked in a stalemate. To vie for the qualification to study at a higher Beast Hall, the two hall masters had been in open and covert conflict for many years.

Unfortunately, for beast tamers, other conflicts were meaningless. Taming a presentable spirit beast was the true path.

Thus, for three years, he had persisted tirelessly, hoping to tame this Yaochen Beast and get ahead of his rival.

"That's true... I heard you've been communicating with it for three years. How is it?" Pavilion Master Sai looked over.

"It's still about the same. The Yaochen Beast has dragon bloodline, proud and aloof. If it were that easy to tame, I wouldn't have invested so much effort! If not for the special envoy from the Feather Empire arriving in a few days, I wouldn't be so rash. I've decided to settle things today!"

Hall Master Han shook his head.

For a spirit beast of this level, three years of companionship was still short, but he had no choice. The special envoy was coming soon. If he couldn't tame this big fellow before then, compared to Hall Master Luo Ming, he would have no advantage and even be at a disadvantage.

If he wasn't selected, the path to becoming a five-star beast tamer would be almost completely blocked, with no hope for life.

"So what are you waiting here for..."

If he was going to tame it, where was the Yaochen Beast, the main subject? And what were all these people doing standing here?

"It's in that cave. This creature usually comes out to forage at noon. It's not time yet, so it's still resting!" Hall Master Han pointed ahead.

"Oh!"

Pavilion Master Sai nodded.

"Are these your juniors?"

After explaining, Hall Master Han looked at Zhang Xuan and the others, asking curiously.

"Ahem!"

Hearing Zhang Shi referred to as his junior, Pavilion Master Sai was startled and was about to explain when Zhang Xuan's voice rang out: "I am Zhang Xuan, a friend of Pavilion Master Sai."

"Friend?"

Hall Master Han was taken aback.

Pavilion Master Sai was a four-star appraisal master, with status no less than his own. How could he be friends with a young man under twenty?

"May I ask... what profession does Young Master Zhang practice?"

Full of doubt, he couldn't help asking.

"Reporting to Hall Master, he is a two-star beast tamer. I saw his badge just now!"

Before Zhang Xuan could answer, the gray-robed youth beside him spoke.

"Two-star beast tamer?"

Hall Master Han's expression grew even more peculiar.

Their Beast Hall had plenty of beast tamers of that level. When had Pavilion Master Sai stooped to being friends with such a person?