Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book Chapter 1519 1096: Flower Welcoming Eye
Previously on Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book...
At Tianshu Mansion, atop Willow Mountain of the Liu Family, quite a few Cultivators were currently gathered in the massive Willow Palace.
However, while Liu Shiqing usually occupied the seat of honor in the palace, an elderly woman sat there today.
"Great-Aunt, Yuan Sheng has arrived," Liu Shiqing called out softly upon seeing a young man approach the palace entrance.
"Mm. Yuan Sheng, how is your Cultivation now?" The elderly woman was none other than the Liu Family's True Monarch, True Monarch Liu Yuan, whose birth name was Liu Yueling.
Previously, she usually cultivated in the Mountain Map Valley of the Profound Heart Mansion. She had only come to discuss matters regarding Tianshu Mansion because of the newly emerged Nascent Soul Power. To her surprise, Mansion Master Luo of Tianshu Mansion, who had never refused her before, had rejected her this time. He hinted both openly and covertly that the Blood Red Faction had applied considerable pressure.
"Answering Great-Aunt, I have reached the Peak of Golden Core Middle Stage. I am only a hair's breadth away from the Late Stage of Golden Core," Liu Yuansheng replied.
Hearing this, True Monarch Liu Yuan nodded. Since the Nascent Soul Grand Competition restricted participants to Cultivators under two hundred years old, the Liu Family's experts at the Late Stage of Golden Core and Golden Core Peak were unable to compete. The only ones who met the age requirement and possessed a Golden Core Cultivation were Liu Yuansheng and Liu Yuanming.
"That is good. You might face formidable opponents this time, so I am giving you this Tier Four Peak Three Spirits Celestial Wood Puppet." True Monarch Liu Yuan took out a Storage Bag and handed it to Liu Yuansheng.
"Great-Aunt, I have been in Seclusion all these years. Has the Profound Puppet Sect produced another genius?" Naturally, Liu Yuansheng assumed the threat came from the Profound Puppet Sect.
Among the four great Nascent Soul Powers, the only one the Mountain Map Liu Family truly feared was the Profound Puppet Sect. Although their Cultivators might only be at the Early Stage of Golden Core or Middle Stage of Golden Core, their Combat Power would become incomparable once they brought out their Spirit Puppets. Moreover, since these were sparring matches where lethal blows were discouraged, the side with Spirit Puppets held an even greater advantage.
"No. Why should we fear those stubborn fools of the Profound Puppet Sect who cling so desperately to their Spirit Puppets? Their puppets may be ingenious, but can they truly produce any new tricks? The one we must be wary of this time is the newly advanced Nascent Soul Power: the Ye Family of the Celestial Sand Sect," True Monarch Liu Yuan said, shaking her head.
Initially, she hadn't believed it either, but the information from Mansion Master Luo left her no choice but to accept it. She had also investigated True Monarch Qianchen. More than fifty years ago, he already had the assistance of a Tier Four Demon King. Although True Monarch Qianchen had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, it was highly likely that his Spirit Beast was still at Tier Four. As long as it remained at Tier Four, deploying it wouldn't break the competition rules.
"We must maintain our hold on Tianshu Mansion. In the future war between the two sides, the Teleportation Array will definitely see increasing use. The profits from it will be enough to elevate us from a mid-tier Nascent Soul Power to a top-tier one," True Monarch Liu Yuan finally instructed.
"Please rest assured, Great-Aunt," Liu Yuansheng nodded emphatically.
In his eyes, a cyan light swirled as a five-petaled flower began to bloom and rotate.
"Your Flower Welcoming Eye has reached Great Success?" This time, Liu Shiqing was the one who was surprised.
"Uncle Shiqing, it has indeed reached Great Success. Because of this, I am very confident this time—not to mention I now have Great-Aunt's Three Spirits Celestial Wood Puppet," Liu Yuansheng nodded.
The group then walked out of the palace and headed toward the Teleportation Array.
...
Over at Junhe Prefecture, a great river meandered down from the Spirit Mountain, looking like a Celestial River cascading directly from the heavens.
As the Ye Family group stepped out of the Teleportation Array, they coincidentally ran into the group from the Profound Puppet Sect. The Profound Puppet Sect was still led by Xuan Kui True Monarch, followed by Shan Kui True Master and a few other familiar Golden Core True Masters.
However, the focus was entirely on the two young men among them. One was at the Early Stage of Golden Core and the other at the Middle Stage of Golden Core. They were currently sizing up Ye Jing Hu and Ye Yunxi.
"Your noble clan is truly blessed with good fortune. A Thunder Spirit Root and a Celestial Spirit Root," Xuan Kui True Monarch praised with a smile.
He had initially assumed that the Ye Family's Golden Core Cultivators would have just barely entered the Early Stage of Golden Core. However, seeing their long and profound auras now, he realized they were not inferior to the two from his Profound Puppet Sect in the slightest. Moreover, the aura in their eyes carried a blend of confidence and humility.
Of course, what astonished him even more was the young woman from the Ye Family. He possessed a Magic technique for observing innate talent, and he could clearly see that she was only slightly over a hundred and thirty years old. With such youth, it was entirely possible for her to break through to the Nascent Soul stage before the age of two hundred. In contrast, although the two Golden Core Cultivators from his Profound Puppet Sect had slightly higher Cultivation levels, both were already over a hundred and eighty years old.
"The two juniors from your noble sect are the truly formidable ones. If I am not mistaken, their True Essence is far beyond what a typical Middle Stage of Golden Core Cultivator can compare to," Ye Jingcheng spoke up as well.
While he couldn't discern their Spirit Roots, his Star Illusion Eye and Divine Sense allowed him to sense that their Combat Power was likely on par with an ordinary Late Stage of Golden Core Cultivator. Coupled with the Profound Puppet Sect's Spirit Puppets, their strength was absolutely top-tier among Golden Core Cultivators.
"Seniors, the temporary palaces have been prepared. My ancestor has also readied tea and wine, and is respectfully awaiting your arrival," a Golden Core Cultivator from the Jiang Family stepped forward and bowed to the two.
The Righteous Sects did not intervene in the Nascent Soul Grand Gathering, so the event was entirely hosted by these regional powers. As the host, the Jiang Family was naturally responsible for the reception. With the entire Junhe Market bustling with activity, the Jiang Family stood to make a massive profit.
"Excellent. It has indeed been a long time since I last saw that old Daoist Jiang Daorong. This time, I must make him bring out a bit more of his Cyan Dragon Brew," Xuan Kui True Monarch nodded with a laugh.
The two groups then headed directly toward the temporary palaces.
Quite a few others were also stepping out of the Teleportation Array, many of whom belonged to various Golden Core Influences and Purple Mansion Influences. These Golden Core and Purple Mansion Influences naturally didn't have the qualifications to participate in the Nascent Soul Grand Gathering, but they could still bear witness to it. At the same time, the Golden Core geniuses who performed well during the Golden Core Conference were exactly the targets these factions wanted to curry favor with, rope in, or even secure through marriage alliances at any cost.
After all, under normal circumstances, the geniuses of the various clans were kept strictly hidden away within their families, giving outsiders no chance to interact with them at all.
"Uncle Jing Hu, there is no need to keep looking. The fellow Daoists from the Hegu Sect should have arrived several days ago. They still need to set up street stalls to sell some Spirit Pills and Spirit Talismans." Ye Yunxi looked at Ye Jing Hu teasingly. His current appearance of looking left and right struck her as rather comical.
"I am not looking for the Hegu Sect. I am simply observing the other fellow Daoists around us to make some preparations in advance," Ye Jing Hu couldn't help but reply. After that, he stopped looking around and earnestly followed behind the group.
Seeing that Ye Yunxi was still looking at him with a smile, Ye Jing Hu said earnestly, "Yun Xi, it seems I have gained some new insights. Let us spar a bit later."
Hearing this, Ye Yunxi didn't answer. She merely let out a string of laughter, going, "HEE HEE HEE."
The two groups soon arrived at the palace complex on Junhe Mountain. These palaces all faced the Celestial Monarch River. One could see the surging river waters rushing by, a truly magnificent sight. Within the waters, Evergreen Mustache Carps that resembled Flood Dragons would occasionally leap into the air, while at other times they darted fluidly through the currents.