When Gu Baiqing saw his disciple get flung away by the beast’s massive tail, he was momentarily stunned.
What on earth was Mo Xuanli doing? His attacks were in complete disorder—his form was a mess!
“What’s wrong with him?” Junhua frowned. “Don’t tell me he went all out from the start and is burning out already? I take back what I said about him just having a tough fight—at this rate, he should be worrying about staying alive, or at least avoiding being crippled by the Third Elder. Maybe he should just surrender. It’d be cowardly, sure, but at least he’d live.”
“This isn’t his true strength,” Gu Baiqing said with a frown, uneasy now. He stood up at once, wondering if Mo Xuanli’s strange behavior had something to do with the sudden discomfort he’d shown earlier.
Junhua thought Gu Baiqing was simply blinded by sibling confidence, and she stood as well. “Don’t worry. He saved me once—if things get critical, I’ll help keep him alive.”
“Boasting,” Three Bean said from Gu Baiqing’s shoulder. “Want me to go instead?”
Junhua glanced at the small creature—a rare tri-colored illusion cat, already speaking human tongue despite its youth. That was… unusual.
“Hmph, we’ll see about that,” Junhua said proudly, as if she weren’t just a Foundation Establishment cultivator. “I’ll show you what real power looks like, little kitten.”
Gu Baiqing ignored their bickering, his focus entirely on Mo Xuanli. He was already thinking of intervening to protect him.
But before she could act—the battle abruptly shifted.
The Third Elder had been wearing a cold, mocking smile, thinking to himself that this kid had bluffed well earlier—he’d thought he’d be in for a hard fight, but the boy had barely lasted a few moments before faltering. Now, he would teach the brat a lesson in humility.
His two contracted beasts, guided by his spells, lunged forward to strike. The crowd gasped in shock—at this rate, the Zixiao Sect’s young prodigy might not make it out alive.
Yu Qing, who had been furious at Mo Xuanli moments ago, now found herself growing anxious and even wanted to plead for mercy on his behalf.
But then—in the next instant—Mo Xuanli suddenly halted. Spiritual energy surged violently around him, and dark red flames rose, wrapped in wind, forming a fiery tornado that shot straight toward the flying beast. Even with its speed, it couldn’t evade in time; one of its wings caught fire instantly.
Meanwhile, the other beast, with all four limbs on the ground, caused countless vines to burst from the earth, trying to ensnare the falling Mo Xuanli.
But a glowing formation spread from beneath his feet, razor-sharp wind blades slicing through everything in their path. The vines were severed cleanly at the base, and the beast itself was struck by the blades and toppled to the ground.
The two mighty spirit beasts, who just moments ago had seemed ready to toy with their prey, now looked battered and terrified. Instinct told them this human was dangerous—if not for their contract bonds, they would have fled long ago.
The Third Elder’s mocking smile froze on his face. Before he could react, a white figure leapt from above one of the beasts. The elder reflexively tried to strike—but a silver whip shot toward him like a snake, coiling around his neck in an instant. He barely managed to raise his dragon-headed staff to block, but the whip still wrapped around both him and the staff, slamming the staff’s heavy head straight into his own forehead, flattening his face in humiliation.
The Third Elder flushed with rage, unable to break free. Finally, in fury, he unleashed a violent burst of spiritual energy to tear apart the troublesome young man’s weapon. Even if it was an immortal-grade artifact, it was still being wielded by someone in the Golden Core stage—surely he could overpower it.
Nascent Soul–stage spiritual power surged outward like crashing waves, vast and overwhelming.
Yet the result shocked everyone—after the burst of energy, the Divine Nine Transformations formation didn’t budge at all. He was completely unable to break free.
In an instant, the entire arena erupted in an uproar.
The people of Beast-Taming Manor were especially shaken—this was their Third Elder! A man with two powerful contracted beasts, already at mid Nascent Soul stage—how could he lose to a mere young cultivator at the mid Golden Core stage? They were so stunned they forgot to even move to rescue their elder.
The onlookers were also dumbfounded, unable to believe their own eyes. Mo Xuanli’s performance from start to finish felt like three different people with three entirely different levels of strength.
At first, his outstanding composure and balance had amazed everyone, earning him the title of genius. In the middle, his faltering performance had disappointed them, making them think his reputation was undeserved—just another brief flash of promise.
But now—he had risen like blazing fire, radiating an unstoppable force that seemed capable of challenging the very heavens.
Such a clean, decisive end to the battle left the crowd completely unprepared.
It wasn’t satisfying—it was stifling. Everyone felt suffocated on behalf of the Third Elder.
On the city wall, Gu Baiqing finally let out a breath. That’s more like it—that’s the true strength Mo Xuanli should have.
“Holy cr*p, was he holding back earlier?” Junhua was equally shocked. She had already thought Mo Xuanli was strong when fighting the Sunset Lizard, but now realized his true strength was several tiers higher than expected.
Junhua frowned slightly. A personal disciple from such a powerful sect as Zixiao Sect—could it be they were here to stir up trouble?
Suddenly, the sharp cry of an eagle rang out across the sky.
Gu Baiqing frowned, immediately sensing both the little creature in his arms, Three Bean, and Junhua beside him tense up.
Not far away, a black eagle approached slowly. Its feathers glinted like sharpened blades.
Though not enormous in size, it was a formidable beast—a Black-Feathered Sky Eagle, a monster on par with the Three-Eyed Azure Ox of the Demon-Refining Tower. If Mo Xuanli had faced such a creature earlier, victory wouldn’t have come so easily.
Standing atop the eagle was a young woman in blue robes. She looked youthful, with refined, elegant features.
“The only daughter of the current Beast-Taming Manor master—Yu Yingwan. A ruthless one,” Junhua said coldly.
Gu Baiqing nodded in understanding.
Suddenly, a streaking ice-imbued arrow shot toward Mo Xuanli’s direction.
She wasn’t aiming to strike him—only to force the Divine Nine Transformations back and free her family’s Third Elder from capture.
Mo Xuanli, apparently unwilling to continue fighting, withdrew the formation and retreated a few steps. Without paying the newcomer much mind, he turned and swiftly flew back toward the city wall, landing beside Gu Baiqing.
“Brother…” Mo Xuanli looked at Gu Baiqing with a hint of emotion in his eyes.
Beside them, Junhua cheerfully called out, “Not bad at all—you fought well.”
Mo Xuanli cast her a cold glance. Junhua froze, bewildered by the frosty look. Seeing no warmth from the handsome man, she snorted lightly, leapt down from the wall, and thought to herself that since Yu Yingwan had arrived, she had better stay cautious.
“What happened in the middle? Were you unwell?” Gu Baiqing asked with a frown once Junhua had gone.
Mo Xuanli watched Junhua leave, quietly sighing in relief. When Gu Baiqing questioned him, he was momentarily at a loss for words.
He couldn’t very well admit that he’d been distracted, sneaking glances at the city wall the whole time—and that in the end, he’d simply lost patience and stopped bothering with the elder altogether.
“I just suddenly thought of another combat method I wanted to try,” he said awkwardly. “Didn’t expect it to fail—kind of embarrassing, so… please don’t ask, Master.”
Seeing his awkward expression, Gu Baiqing didn’t scold him. “That middle part was sloppy—I won’t even comment on it. But even earlier, there were some flaws. I’ll go over them with you later.”
“Yes, Master,” Mo Xuanli answered, visibly brightening. So Master hadn’t been chatting idly with Junhua earlier—he had been watching him all along.
“Still smiling? You’re injured,” Gu Baiqing said helplessly.
“It’s nothing—it’ll heal soon.” Mo Xuanli smiled. “Master, just now I—”
Before he could finish, a cool, clear female voice rose from below.
“Would the two Daoists from Zixiao Sect please come down for a word?”
Mo Xuanli looked at Gu Baiqing, who gave a small nod. Mo Xuanli immediately pulled him along, and the two rode their swords down to the ground, landing before Yu Yingwan.
“I am Yu Yingwan of Beast-Taming Manor,” she introduced herself crisply. Her face, however, was cold as frost—not unfriendly or hostile, just naturally aloof, as though she kept everyone at a distance. Even toward the Third Elder beside her, her expression didn’t waver.
“I am Mo Xuanli of Zixiao Sect,” Mo Xuanli replied politely. “This is my elder brother, Mo Bai—a rogue cultivator accompanying me on my training journey.”
The situation was complicated, and revealing his Master’s identity might be seen as relying on power to bully others—better to keep it secret.
Naturally, no one cared much about the so-called rogue cultivator. Everyone’s attention was fixed on the astonishingly skilled Mo Xuanli.
“Yingwan, this brat—”
“Third Grandfather,” Yu Yingwan interrupted evenly, “you said to stop when it’s enough. He did. Being outmatched isn’t something to complain about.”
“You—!” The Third Elder was so angry with his thick-headed grandniece that he nearly choked.
Beside them, Yu Qing stepped forward. “Cousin, how can you talk to Third Grandfather like that? That’s too disrespectful!”
Yu Yingwan didn’t even bother to respond.
The Third Elder, unable to vent his frustration on her, turned his anger toward Mo Xuanli instead. “You, as a junior, dared to toy with me? Is this how Zixiao Sect teaches its disciples? If your master were here, I would certainly have words with him!”
Mo Xuanli’s expression shifted. His dark eyes seemed to gather a storm.
Behind him, Yu Yingwan’s fingers tightened slightly around the bow on her back—ready at any moment for the clash that might follow.
“Strange. My younger brother has always performed exceptionally well in the Zixiao Sect—everyone says he’s the best taught of his generation. ‘Toying’ with someone? Where did that even come from?” Gu Baiqing immediately stepped in to defend his “cub.” After all, he had been mentioned by name; even if his identity had changed, he couldn’t just stand by in silence.
In that instant, the dangerous aura spreading from Mo Xuanli vanished, and Yu Yingwan looked at the two of them with mild surprise.
“Wasn’t that toyed with, then?” The Third Elder felt utterly humiliated, almost to the point of spitting blood. The sudden change in strength during the battle had caught him completely off guard. “He deliberately exposed a flaw to trick me into lowering my guard! If he had this level of power all along, why not fight openly and straightforwardly? This was supposed to be a spar, not a fight to the death—what’s with all the scheming?”
Oh? Now he remembers it wasn’t a death match. This old man must think the wrinkles on his face count as a second layer of skin—two-faced, thick-skinned old fox.
“The Third Elder misunderstands,” Gu Baiqing said with a smile. “This is just my brother’s normal strength. You wanted to test his abilities, didn’t you? Naturally, he wanted to show you the full range of his combat styles—comprehensive, without any blind spots. Who would have thought you’d already fall by the third one? That’s our oversight. If Third Elder still hasn’t had enough, my brother can always accompany you for another round.”
Mo Xuanli instantly cooperated. “Indeed, Third Elder, if I’ve left you unsatisfied, I’m more than willing to fight again.”
The words alone nearly made the elder’s face turn green with rage.
Yet the worst part was—he had lost, fair and square. He couldn’t even accuse them of boasting.
The people from Beast-Taming Manor could hardly bear to watch, but since they couldn’t beat him, they had no choice but to swallow their anger and wait to see how their young lady would handle the situation.
“Third Grandfather, I think these two are telling the truth,” Yu Yingwan interjected. “After all, the most famous of his techniques—the Void Spirit Space—Young Master Mo hasn’t even used yet.”
At that, everyone’s expression changed.
The Third Elder suddenly understood. If Mo Xuanli had wanted to end the battle quickly, he could have summoned the Void Spirit Space right before him. With his control over that celestial-grade weapon and the speed he’d just shown, the match would have ended instantly. There was no need for deception.
So… this brat could’ve won from the start—he was just using him as practice.
And he’d walked right into it himself.
The Third Elder’s face went pale as he realized it, and he nearly lost his footing, forced to use his dragon-headed staff for support.
“Good lad, very good. As expected of Elder Luofeng’s personal disciple—Zixiao Sect’s rising star. I’ve truly learned something today.” With that, he turned on his heel and left without a backward glance, utterly lacking in composure.
Yu Qing looked around nervously, then hurried after him.
Yu Yingwan, however, stayed behind. “Young Master Mo, my Third Grandfather just has too much of a playful streak, and he’s never been adept at combat. Our two sects have always been on good terms; a little spar like this won’t affect that harmony. I see that you’re slightly injured—why not come to Beast-Taming Manor as our guest to rest and recover? Let us show our hospitality.”
With that, she gestured invitingly.
Mo Xuanli looked toward Gu Baiqing, who gave a small nod. The two followed Yu Yingwan toward the manor, traveling conveniently by riding on the Black-Feathered Sky Eagle.
Truly worthy of being a contracted beast trained by Beast-Taming Manor—if it had been their own Three Bean, that fiery creature would’ve blown up at the idea of carrying strangers.
Before long, they arrived. The manor was built on the only mountain in Longan Port, a vast estate covering the entire mid and upper slopes, filled with courtyards for rearing and training spirit beasts. Its grandeur was clear—it dominated nearly a quarter of the harbor’s land.
“Life in Longan Port is lively and prosperous,” Yu Yingwan said coolly. “The two of you can enjoy yourselves here for a while. If you’re not interested in sightseeing, cultivating in your rooms is also quite ideal.” Her voice was calm, polite but frosty.
But that last line caught Mo Xuanli’s attention. Cultivating in the rooms is ideal?
The moment they stepped inside, he understood why. The entire manor was steeped in spiritual energy, like one of the great immortal sects.
“There’s a spirit vein here?” Mo Xuanli frowned.
Yu Yingwan nodded.
That made him even more curious. He had studied the spirit vein maps—aside from rare exceptions like Star-Stepping City, this region wasn’t marked as having any. The distribution of spirit veins followed natural patterns; they didn’t just appear at random.
By all logic, a place so close to the sea shouldn’t have one at all.
Yet the spiritual energy emanating from the mountain was unmistakable—and the deeper they went, the richer it became. Some areas were comparable to the Star Spirit Cavern of the Zixiao Sect. It was unbelievable.
“Miss,” the guard at the gate greeted respectfully when he saw Yu Yingwan.
After introducing Mo Xuanli’s identity, Yu Yingwan said, “Please escort our two honored guests to rest in the Azure Flame Courtyard. The manor lord is in seclusion; I’ll report to him first before inviting the guests to meet him.”
Mo Xuanli was about to nod when the guard hesitated. “Miss, I’m afraid… the Azure Flame Courtyard…”
Yu Yingwan’s expression darkened slightly.
Just then, a voice sounded from behind.
“Wan girl, you’re being rather presumptuous. The Azure Flame Courtyard is reserved for our most distinguished guests. The last to stay there was a sect master himself. The spiritual energy there is dense—too much for ordinary people to handle.”
Gu Baiqing turned and saw that, surprisingly, the Third Elder had arrived before them despite their earlier departure by Sky Eagle.
Judging by his expression, he clearly hadn’t cooled off yet.
The guards, seeing him, showed even greater respect than they had for Yu Yingwan, clearly indicating that even the young lady’s authority had its limits.
“Does Third Grandfather think Young Master Mo is unworthy of staying there?” Yu Yingwan asked coldly, without losing composure.
The elder raised his chin arrogantly.
Yu Qing stepped forward, glancing between them with embarrassment. “Why not consult the manor lord first?” he suggested, then turned to Mo Xuanli and bowed slightly. “Young Master Mo, it’s like this—the Azure Flame Courtyard’s spiritual energy is incredibly concentrated. Cultivating inside is like entering a blessed paradise. That’s why it’s rarely opened to guests.”
Mo Xuanli was already growing impatient. He said bluntly, “Then we won’t stay. Farewell. Brother, let’s go.”
They had only come because Yu Yingwan had invited them. Since Mo Xuanli had already revealed his Zixiao Sect identity, refusing a local sect’s invitation would have been disrespectful. But now, pulling this kind of stunt at the gate—it was meaningless.
If Beast-Taming Manor didn’t want to give them face, then Zixiao Sect certainly didn’t need to give any back.
