Chapter 617 - 424: Pardon Decree

White Mountain, the detached courtyard of the Great Zhou Academy.

Led by an attendant, Fang Qingyuan once again met with Ji Jiaqing, the Late-stage Golden Core Female Cultivator.

"This is the ’Pardon Decree’ you requested. Take this book back and use it on the Nascent Soul Bear Beast you registered. It will allow the beast to merge its aura into the ’Celestial Essence.’ But be warned, this is a slow process that requires a long period of aura adjustment."

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Ji Jiaqing, dressed in a Profound Robe, carefully placed a jade box into Fang Qingyuan’s hands and patiently explained.

Listening to Ji Jiaqing, Fang Qingyuan broke the seal on the jade box. What appeared before him was a Purple Seal Jade Book. On it were some written words, the gist of which was a decree pardoning Bear Wind.

Having spent fifty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones only to receive this single item, Fang Qingyuan naturally wanted a closer look. He carefully reached out, took out the Purple Seal Jade Book, and cautiously extended his Divine Sense into it.

Suddenly, Fang Qingyuan grunted. A powerful divine will surged from the Purple Seal Jade Book, blasting his Divine Sense out.

"Haha, you fell for it, didn’t you? This Purple Seal Jade Book is linked to the ’Celestial Essence.’ You tried to pry into it without being recognized, so of course you’d be repelled. It’s a good thing this was just the ’Celestial Essence’s’ instinctual operation and that it didn’t sense any malice from you. Otherwise, your Divine Sense would have definitely been injured."

Watching Fang Qingyuan, Ji Jiaqing couldn’t help but laugh. She had no intention of warning him beforehand. ’Seeing these Golden Core Cultivators get taken down a peg is one of the few joys in my otherwise boring life.’

Fang Qingyuan put the Purple Seal Jade Book away, rubbed the corners of his eyes, and then asked casually:

"’Celestial Essence’? Is that the Eighth-tier Array constructed under the supervision of your Great Zhou Academy, the one that covers the entire Cultivation Realm?"

Ji Jiaqing shook her head slightly. "To be precise, it was initiated by the Great Zhou Academy and jointly constructed by Divinity Transformation Sects like the Qi Yun Sect, the Beast Taming Sect, Black Wind Valley, and the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect. As an Array that covers the entire Cultivation Realm, not even our Great Zhou Academy could complete it alone. Therefore, the sections of the Array within each sect’s territory are managed by the sects themselves."

"Then what about the White Mountain area?"

"It’s roughly three parties: our Great Zhou Academy, the Qi Yun Sect, and the White Mountain lineage. So, by having us at the Great Zhou Academy issue this Pardon Decree, you came to the right people."

Fang Qingyuan’s confusion deepened. After all, this was his first time learning of such secrets, so he wanted to understand more clearly.

"Are the certifications from different sects not the same? If an Ancient Beast of the Wilderness that has absorbed this Pardon Decree travels into the territory of another sect, will it be targeted by their local ’Celestial Essence’ Array?"

"Hmph. Did you think accepting a Nascent Soul Ancient Beast would be so simple? The major territories in the Cultivation Realm are clearly defined. Forget an Ancient Beast of the Wilderness; even a Nascent Soul Cultivator from another sect must notify the local sect if they are just passing through.

Right now, your fifty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones have only bought you the right to operate in White Mountain. If you want to go to another sect’s territory, you’d best buy a permit from them as well. Also, as I said before, the process of integrating the Pardon Decree and adjusting one’s aura to be accepted by the Celestial Essence Array in the White Mountain Territory is lengthy. So, during this period, the beast should avoid fighting. Otherwise, it could disrupt the aura integration, and you’ll have to spend more money."

Listening to Ji Jiaqing’s explanation, Fang Qingyuan felt a headache coming on. No wonder that in this world, besides the Beast Taming Sect, few sects ventured into the Barbaric Wilderness to tame Nascent Soul Ancient Beasts.

The Celestial Essence Array, an Eighth-tier Array that was a culmination of all of humanity’s wisdom, had two primary functions.

One was to slowly change this world, making its cultivation environment more suitable for humans. The second was to block the High-level Demon Beasts that could emerge from the Barbaric Wilderness at any moment. The higher the rank and stronger the demon beast, the more it would be suppressed by this Array.

"So, roughly how long does it take for the user’s aura to attune to the ’Celestial Essence’ Array within the White Mountain Territory? And what are the most severe consequences of going to another sect’s territory?"

Fang Qingyuan frowned. The establishment of the Celestial Essence Array was a great thing for humanity as a whole, but for his own future development, it was a shackle. He had originally thought that with Bear Wind, the Qingyuan Sect could become one of the ten great powers of White Mountain. But now it seemed his Nascent Soul Battle Power was likely inferior even to those Nascent Soul Divine Soul Incarnations whose true bodies couldn’t descend to White Mountain and could only appear via a Clear Oil Copper Lamp.

"Fine. Since I’ve taken your money, I’ll explain it clearly. The aura adjustment for a Nascent Soul Battle Power is a long process. After all, they are born in the Barbaric Wilderness, and the Nascent Soul path they are attuned to is the ’barbaric’ version. Therefore, not only must the aura be aligned, but their very path to the Nascent Soul must also be adjusted.

If we go by realm, an Early-stage Nascent Soul Ancient Beast will need about thirty years. A Mid-stage Nascent Soul will take fifty to sixty years, and a late-stage one will require a hundred years.

If it travels to another territory before its aura is attuned, the greatest negative effect will be its realm being suppressed by the omnipresent ’Celestial Essence’ grand array. Even though it is in the Nascent Soul Realm, it will only be able to display the strength of the Golden Core Perfection Realm.

And that’s *with* a Pardon Decree and recognition from the ’Celestial Essence’ Array. If a completely wild Ancient Beast of the Wilderness were to sneak into human territory, it would directly trigger a counterattack from the Array. To put it in terms you’d best understand, it’s like an artificial Celestial Tribulation descending directly upon it. The power of this tribulation would constantly adjust based on the victim’s strength. Even a Divinity Transformation Ancient Beast would have a hard time surviving it."

For the sake of the fifty thousand Top-grade Spirit Stones Fang Qingyuan had ’respectfully offered,’ Ji Jiaqing gave him a long and detailed explanation. This was knowledge that most people below the Nascent Soul Realm would not understand in such detail.

The world only knew that high-realm Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness dared not enter the human world, but they didn’t know the reason why. The existence of the ’Celestial Essence’ Array was something only the great sects could even begin to deal with.

"Thank you, Dean Ji, for clearing my doubts. This is a small token of my appreciation. I hope Dean Ji will accept it."

Fang Qingyuan took a key component from the remains of a Golden Core Demon Beast from the Abyss of Black Soil out of his storage bag and presented it to Ji Jiaqing.

As a member of the Returning Ancient Lineage, although Ji Jiaqing’s realm was only Golden Core, she knew many of this world’s secrets. ’She’s worth investing in.’

Seeing the Golden Core Demon Beast material that Fang Qingyuan produced, Ji Jiaqing also smiled and tucked it into her own storage bag. ’When in White Mountain, do as the locals do.’

"Sect Leader Fang, you’re too kind. In that case, we can consider our first collaboration a complete success. After this, we’ve built a bit more trust in each other, so if you face any difficulties in the future, just ask. Of course, the prerequisite is that you have enough Spirit Stones ready."

"Of course. Please, Dean Ji, no need to see me out. I will take my leave."

.....

After leaving Dean Ji, Fang Qingyuan let out a soft sigh. But no matter what, the matter with Bear Wind was finally settled.

Next, he had to go to the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect to discuss the specific details of the relocation.

This time, the one who received Fang Qingyuan was Di Qing.

In the Sect Leader’s reception chamber, Di Qing looked at Fang Qingyuan with a complicated expression. This former disciple of Lechuan, once an unremarkable Foundation Establishment Cultivator, was now his equal.

That wasn’t even what frustrated Di Qing the most. The key point was that he, the Sect Leader of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, backed by a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator like Di Yuanpu, still didn’t have his own Nascent Soul Companion Beast. Yet Fang Qingyuan already had one.

But even as conflicting emotions churned within him, Di Qing didn’t deliberately make things difficult for Fang Qingyuan regarding Bear Wind. Firstly, he didn’t dare. Secondly, he wanted to foster a good relationship.

The matter of Bear Wind had been decided directly by Yue’e Ancestor and Tu Wuzhao. Who was he, Di Qing, to dare to play petty tricks in this affair?

Besides, Di Qing could tell that Fang Qingyuan was a petty and vengeful man, fickle and unpredictable. To secure the Nascent Soul Ancient Beast, Bear Wind, he had even abandoned his own master without a second thought. ’With such ruthlessness and cunning, it’s no wonder Fang Qingyuan is so successful.’

If Fang Qingyuan were a gentleman, Di Qing might have tried something. But against a petty man like him, Di Qing just wanted him to get his business done and leave as quickly as possible.

"Sect Leader Fang, please give me the relocation list as soon as possible. The supplies being brought must also be specified. Two Nascent Soul Uncles have now arrived from Zongshan and are camped on the border of Bear Wind’s territory. If I handle this matter sloppily, I won’t be able to answer to them."

Di Qing’s attitude was gentle, his face wreathed in smiles. Seeing this, Fang Qingyuan had nothing more to say. He immediately took out the list Bear Wind had given him and handed it to Di Qing.

Di Qing merely gave it a cursory glance before nodding in approval. ’Tu Wuzhao’s reputation is still worth a lot.’

"Then we shouldn’t delay. How about we set a deadline of three months? In three months, Senior Bear Wind will withdraw, and our Beast Taming Sect will send people to take over. After that, there can be no more entanglements."

To this, Fang Qingyuan could only nod. The Beast Taming Sect was currently showing him the greatest possible goodwill. This was to avoid getting bogged down in minor details, fearing that word would reach the Divinity Transformation Cultivators above and they would be reprimanded for incompetence.

And so, with a tacit understanding between both parties, a major affair involving one Nascent Soul Ancient Beast, four Golden Core Demon Beasts, dozens of Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, over a thousand Qi Cultivating Demon Beasts, and the handover of seventy to eighty thousand square kilometers of territory was decided in just a few words.

After settling the matter, Di Qing’s expression relaxed even more. Then, as if remembering something, he said:

"Sect Leader Fang, if you have time, you can go to the back mountain to take a look. Huo Bai has returned. He’s injured and is still recuperating."

Di Qing mentioned this proactively, recalling the relationship between Huo Bai and Fang Qingyuan back then.

Fang Qingyuan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected to get news of Huo Bai now. He recalled that Huo Bai had essentially saved his life once, and a wave of emotion washed over him.

"Thank you for the reminder, Sect Leader Di. I should go see him. Sect Leader Di, I will take my leave now."

After Fang Qingyuan left, Di Qing stroked his beard and spoke to Lechuan, who was waiting in a hidden chamber to the side:

"Old Le, are you really not going to see him? If you ask me, it’s not like there’s some deep-seated hatred between you two. Is it necessary to completely sever ties like this?"

Lechuan walked out of the hidden chamber, glanced at Di Qing, and then said:

"You don’t understand. Right now, he still doesn’t know how to compromise. He still holds onto his beliefs in his heart. That’s a good thing. People like us who roll around in the mud shouldn’t force ourselves on him."

"Hey, who are you talking about? I don’t roll around in the mud! At most, I stand on the edge of the ditch. You’re the one who’s been wallowing in this big mud pit of White Mountain. It really makes me wonder, how could a thick-skinned person like you raise a disciple with such strong moral principles?"

Di Qing immediately retorted. Hearing this, Lechuan was speechless. ’He’s right. How did someone as unscrupulous as me end up teaching such a disciple?’

Sometimes, Lechuan felt that Fang Qingyuan was just like him—when dealing with enemies, he had no moral qualms and would use any dirty trick available. But when it came to his friends, he adhered to his own set of principles. It was truly a contradiction.

But no matter what, things had already come to this. Lechuan could only sigh silently in his heart. He thought in anguish, ’In this lifetime, will we, master and disciple, ever have a day where we can cast aside our past grievances and reconcile?’

.....

At the back mountain of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect, inside a High-Tier Cave Mansion, Fang Qingyuan, led by a Guest Officer, arrived at the place where Huo Bai was recuperating.

When the Guest Officer stepped forward to announce their arrival, the Array covering the cave mansion silently opened. Then, the stunningly beautiful Huo Yao’Er gracefully walked out. Faint tear tracks were visible on her face; she had clearly just been crying.

Seeing the look on Huo Yao’Er’s face, Fang Qingyuan’s heart sank, and he asked directly:

"What’s wrong with Brother Huo?"

"My cousin... he’s not going to make it."