Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book Chapter 1077 - 757: Dust Demon? Poison Ascendant?

The Celestial Departure Grassland boasts an exceptionally azure sky and verdant, sprawling grasses.

Myriad Cyan Kirin Horses thunder across this expansive plain, their hooves creating a sound akin to rolling thunder.

While Cyan-Scaled Horses aren’t a rarity on the Celestial Departure Grassland, they are nonetheless a coveted demon beast among independent cultivators.

An adult Cyan-Scaled Horse typically resides at the Early Stage of the First Tier, with scarce few managing to ascend to the Mid-stage First Tier.

Their inherent combat prowess is not particularly formidable.

What truly elevates their fame is their astonishing speed.

Consequently, one might observe fewer Spiritual Ships traversing the Celestial Departure Grassland, yet an abundance of individuals mounted on Cyan-Scaled Horses.

Independent cultivators even frequent the Yuanling Oasis, actively engaging in the capture and trade of these swift creatures.

"Observe the sheer multitude of Cyan Kirin Horses in this herd! The most prominent one among them appears to be nearing the Late Stage of the First Tier—a veritable Horse King!" At this juncture, three cultivators, astride their own Cyan Kirin Horses, traversed the grassland.

However, these three opted not to give chase.

Instead, one of them vocalized:

"Did you notice the Fire Cloud Bird soaring above? That is the spirit beast belonging to the esteemed Daoist seniors of Yulan Pavilion, currently in the Foundation Establishment stage. It's evident these Cyan-Scaled Horses are under their care!"

"Indeed, it is whispered that those Daoists are notoriously ruthless. We would be wise to maintain a considerable distance!" another individual interjected, their voice tinged with apprehension.

A fleeting expression of regret crossed their faces before the trio gradually retreated into the distance.

Little did they realize, mere moments after their departure, an unexpected figure materialized at that very spot—a person clad in cyan robes, none other than Ye Jingcheng.

Following the incident where the Peach Wood Demon had breached a portion of the Array, Ye Jingcheng had undertaken an exploration within the perilous Illusory Sand Forbidden Land.

Yet, despite his efforts, Ye Jingcheng's acquisitions from this excursion proved minimal.

It became apparent that the true powerhouses were likely ensnared much deeper within the forbidden zone. Thus, aside from the initial serendipity of obtaining the Blood Nurturing Pill and the Celestial Sand Spirit Manual, the subsequent results failed to satiate Ye Jingcheng.

Nevertheless, Ye Jingcheng meticulously sketched a rudimentary Spirit Diagram of the Illusory Sand Forbidden Land, harboring intentions to venture there once more after the Peach Wood achieved its breakthrough to Tier Four.

He was confident that the rewards on that future expedition would be far more substantial.

Upon exiting the Illusory Sand Forbidden Land, Ye Jingcheng proceeded without pause to the Celestial Departure Grassland, driven by his duties at Hidden Peak.

This act was intended to set a precedent for his family, especially considering the loss of a crucial Teleportation Array due to his prior actions.

Beyond seeking atonement, Ye Jingcheng was also keen to ascertain the presence of any Demon Kings or even Demon Saints within the Celestial Departure Grassland and the vast Hundred Thousand Mountains, a matter of considerable importance.

This inquiry might even hold connections to the Earth Dragon Demon King’s ascension, as while beasts might remain absent during a Golden Core stage Thunder Tribulation, their appearance during a Nascent Soul stage Thunder Tribulation could not be ruled out.

The mention of Yulan Pavilion caused him to momentarily halt his thoughts.

Why Yulan Pavilion? It was, in fact, the Hidden Peak of the Ye family, comprising individuals such as Ye Qingwen, Ye Qingfeng, and Ye Jingting.

The only deviation was their choice of nomenclature; they referred to their branch not as Hidden Peak but as Yulan Pavilion, with each member adopting the title of Daoist.

He harbored no particular concern regarding their naming convention for Hidden Peak, recognizing the distinct divergence between the Hidden Peak on the Celestial Departure Grassland and its counterpart in the Eastern Domain.

The Eastern Domain’s Hidden Peak was dedicated primarily to concealment, whereas the Celestial Departure Grassland’s branch prioritized development and subsequent exploration, with maintaining a hidden identity being a secondary concern.

Following the trail of the Cyan Kirin Horses, Ye Jingcheng soon arrived at a modest hill.

Several caves had been ingeniously carved into the hillside, and a Tier Two Spiritual Vein pulsed with energy beneath the surface.

Within sight, Ye Jingting was observed engrossed in the study of Spirit Talismans.

During her Qi Cultivation phase, Ye Jingting had heavily relied upon Spirit Talismans for advancement.

Upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, she delved deeper into the intricacies of Spirit Talismans. Her innate talent was not particularly exceptional, and were her proficiencies in the Four Arts of Cultivation equally lacking, her future prospects would appear bleak, even with the innate advantage of the Beast Communication Pattern!

"Eleventh Brother!" Upon noticing Ye Jingcheng’s arrival, Ye Jingting immediately extended a greeting.

It was evident that even while immersed in her Spirit Talisman research, Ye Jingting maintained a keen awareness of her surroundings, her focus not so absolute as to render her entirely oblivious.

"Your group has certainly garnered quite the reputation!" Ye Jingcheng remarked, gesturing towards the distant herd of Cyan Kirin Horses.

The gathering of Cyan Kirin Horses was substantial, estimated to consist of five to six hundred individuals.

Each steed exuded an aura of extraordinary majesty, and among them were younger members that Ye Jingcheng sensed possessed the potential for multiple advancements.

"Eleventh Brother, we consulted with Brother Jing Feng, and he advised that cultivating a formidable reputation is best!" Ye Jingting voiced, unable to refrain from speaking.

Upon hearing this, Ye Jingcheng let out a soft chuckle, realizing Ye Jingting had misinterpreted the advice. Nevertheless, he didn't elaborate further.

After all, a notorious reputation wasn't necessarily a disadvantage.

"Inform me about your findings at Hidden Peak. Are Qingfeng and Qingwen currently in seclusion?" Ye Jingcheng shifted the topic, his Divine Sense not sweeping the remaining caves this time.

"They have both ventured out to pursue opportunities; we are currently maintaining shifts to guard this area!"

"Eleventh Brother, the Celestial Departure Grassland is extensive, and our reconnaissance efforts have yielded limited results..." Ye Jingting presented a Jade Talisman for Ye Jingcheng's examination.

The Jade Talisman showcased a recent Spirit Diagram of the Celestial Departure Grassland, considerably more detailed than those acquired from itinerant cultivators.

It meticulously marked the locations of Demon Kings and even veins of Tier Four spiritual energy, yet conspicuously lacked any mention of a Demon Emperor.

Ye Jingcheng comprehended that the probability of encountering a Demon Emperor within the Celestial Departure Grassland was minimal, with the Hundred Thousand Mountains being a more probable locale.

He acknowledged that Ye Jingting and his companions had performed commendably in uncovering this much information.

Furthermore, within the Spirit Diagram, Ye Jingcheng identified a Tier Four Rhino-Horned Deer Demon King.

"Did you deploy this herd of Cyan Kirin Horses for your detection efforts?" Ye Jingcheng inquired.

"Indeed, Eleventh Brother, your foresight is truly remarkable!" Ye Jingting offered effusive praise.

Ye Jingcheng simply shook his head in mild disbelief. His deduction wasn't based on extraordinary insight, but rather on the scarcity of recorded spirit medicines and unique environmental features.

This scarcity indicated that Ye Jingting and his team had relied on the Cyan Kirin Horses to traverse territories, agitating Demon Kings and Great Demons to reveal their presence, thereby neglecting a thorough survey of spirit medicines.

Admittedly, Ye Jingcheng conceded that their approach was effective.

Within the Celestial Departure Grassland, the Ye Clan was not compelled to exercise extreme caution.

"It is time to cultivate potent spirit medicines and establish specialized environments. In the future, the Ye Clan will not only focus on developing Spirit Beasts but also cultivate a Spirit Medicine Garden!" Ye Jingcheng declared his future plans.

Ye Jingcheng echoed his agreement with a series of nods.

As their conversation progressed, the distinct forms of a Fire Cloud Bird and a Blood Moon Python materialized in the distance. Shortly thereafter, Ye Qingfeng and Ye Qingwen returned, accompanied by several other clan members.

"Eleventh Uncle!" The assembled clan members offered their greetings.

"Commendable!" Ye Jingcheng praised each of them individually.

Their cultivation bases were robust, and Ye Qingwen notably surpassed many of her peers in the Jing generation, achieving the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Regarding their inherent talent, there was little need to elaborate.

Although Ye Qingfeng and Ye Jingcheng showed a slight lag, they were still progressing rapidly towards the Early Stage Peak of cultivation.

"Incidentally, in a few days' time, I will be stationed here at Cyan Ox Mountain!" Ye Jingcheng made a sudden announcement.

"Eleventh Brother, are our developmental strides proving too sluggish?" Ye Jingcheng’s expression shifted to concern.

"Not at all; I too have received a penalty and have been assigned to Hidden Peak!" Ye Jingcheng replied, shaking his head and not attempting to conceal the truth.

This revelation immediately captured their keen interest.

"Eleventh Uncle, even as a Golden Core True Master, you have faced disciplinary action!"

"What, do you doubt your Eleventh Uncle's adherence? The clan rules of the Ye Clan take precedence; even your Eleventh Uncle abides by them!" Ye Jingcheng stated, unable to suppress his words.

He then added:

"Your notoriety serves a beneficial purpose. Conceive a similar reputation for me, and disseminate it widely, so that unwanted visitors do not frequent Cyan Ox Mountain!" Ye Jingcheng reiterated.

The Ye Clan had indeed maintained their influence over the Loose Cultivators of the Celestial Departure Grassland and the Yuanling Oasis.

The Ye Clan had no intention of silencing these individuals; allowing a negative reputation to fester proved to be an effective strategy.

"Understood, rest assured, Eleventh Brother!" Ye Jingcheng readily agreed, also seeing Ye Jingcheng off.

She then turned her attention to the others.

"Eleventh Brother is a True Master; we certainly cannot bestow upon him the title of Daoist. What appellation do you believe would be fitting?"

"Naturally, let us designate him as a Demon; given Eleventh Uncle’s current standing, referring to him as the Dust Demon would ensure no one dares to disturb us!" Ye Qingwen was the first to propose, a suggestion swiftly rejected by the other two.

They deemed the name excessively inappropriate and likely to incite misunderstanding among the more righteous factions!

"Let us name him Poison Ascendant; it strikes a balance, neither too mild nor likely to tarnish Eleventh Brother’s established reputation!!" Ultimately, Ye Jingcheng finalized the decision and initiated the dissemination of Ye Jingcheng’s fabricated notoriety!

Miles away, on a slightly elevated mountain, Ye Jingcheng had commenced his consolidation efforts.

Unbeknownst to him, his current notoriety had already spawned aliases such as the 'Dust Demon' and 'Poison Ascendant'.

This mountain, identified as Cyan Ox Mountain, derived its name from the Tier Three Profound Cyan Ox Great Demon that resided atop it.

Upon discovering that this so-called great demon was merely an aged ox, Ye Jingcheng swiftly dispatched it, thus claiming Cyan Ox Mountain as his own territory.

The mountain possessed a Tier Three Lower Grade Spirit Vein. While not on par with a Tier Five Spirit Vein, it still offered considerable advantages for Hidden Peak.

Critically, this new location would allow the Golden Falcon and the Five-Colored Cloud Deer to scout the vast expanse of the Hundred Thousand Mountains.

...

Within the Cyan Cloud Sea Domain, on an island nestled in the Celestial Flood Dragon Sea.

An elder, distinguished by his Flood Dragon head, made his arrival on the island.

"Tian De, after all these years, why do you hesitate?"

"Brother Jiao, your strength has grown immensely, causing Tian De to feel a measure of apprehension!" responded another elder, emerging from the shadows, his voice laced with a trace of fear, though his gaze frequently sharpened with resolve.

"Are you implying you intend to obstruct our Celestial Flood Dragon Sea?"

The very atmosphere seemed to shift with these words.

Unlike cultivators of the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stages, a Divinity Transformation Cultivator possessed the power to command the world's Spiritual Qi, exerting pressure through the might of Heaven and Earth.

This extraordinary capability led to the widespread belief in the Cultivation Realm that not even a thousand Nascent Souls could contend with a single Divinity Transformation cultivator.

Such a notion underscored the terrifying prowess associated with a Divine Monarch's Divinity Transformation.

"Perhaps I will!" Tian De Divine Monarch retorted, his own formidable aura rising to meet the challenge.

Observing a slight waver in the Flood Dragon Saint's aura, Tian De Divine Monarch pressed further.

"Two Dragon Soul Grass plants!"

It became evident that the Flood Dragon Saint harbored no desire for a direct confrontation with Tian De Divine Monarch.

Such a battle would inevitably expose the breakthrough of the Celestial Flood Dragon Sea, an outcome the Flood Dragon Saint sought to avoid.

Although the Demon Race could unite against a Beast Tide, their allegiances were not truly unified.

"Impossible! Our Flood Dragon Race requires Dragon Soul Grass as well; not a single blade shall be surrendered!" the Flood Dragon Saint declared, preparing to depart.

Witnessing this, Tian De Divine Monarch spoke once more. "What if a few Nascent Souls were offered to the Flood Dragon Race?"

"This could be construed as theft!"

"In the Celestial Horse Sea Domain, you may conduct another purge!"

"One Dragon Soul Grass at most!" The Flood Dragon Saint conceded, nodding this time.

With that, the Flood Dragon Saint regarded Tian De Divine Monarch.

"Your Human Race is truly formidable. Are you not concerned that your Penglai might become exposed to all the sects in the Eastern Domain?"

"The Flood Dragon Saint need not trouble himself with such concerns; merely ensure the treasure is delivered as agreed!" Tian De Divine Monarch replied curtly, unwilling to elaborate.

In his view, apart from forging a Dao Foundation or acquiring Ten-Thousand-Year-Old Elixirs and Tier Six Treasures, Nascent Soul cultivators held little significance.

Why then should he harbor any pity for them!

Furthermore, he perceived the Four Sects of Qilu as a somewhat excessive entity, bordering on an informal alliance.