Chapter Thirty-Six: The Miserable Fate of the Tianshan Sect

In the northwest of Linqing Prefecture, atop the Heavenly Mountain, stood the Grand Hall of the Heavenly Mountain Sect.

Lu Tiannan, the sect master, wore a servile smile as he bowed to Bai Tong of the Golden Flame Sect. “Senior Bai, our humble sect truly has not seen any golden little beast. Perhaps you might inquire elsewhere.”

Bai Tong’s brow furrowed; he spoke with some reluctance, “How could that be? Jiang Yan clearly said that the Moon Mink came in this direction. I questioned over a dozen sects along the way, all pointed this way. Lu Tiannan, are you sure you haven’t seen it?”

Lu Tiannan’s heart sank. Misfortune, he thought. He had just paid a hefty price to purchase a second-grade spirit beast from beyond Linqing Prefecture—how had he attracted the covetous eyes of a Foundation Establishment expert from the Golden Flame Sect?

Bai Lun, seeing the changes in Lu Tiannan’s expression, instantly sensed something was amiss. Emboldened by his grand-uncle’s presence, he brazenly declared, “Lu Tiannan, don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. My grand-uncle is a dignified Foundation Establishment expert—do you think you can deceive him?”

“Hmph!” Bai Tong snorted coldly, channeling external spiritual energy into his voice. In Lu Tiannan’s ears, it sounded like a great bell struck beside him, nearly dizzying him with the force.

A flicker of humiliation crossed Lu Tiannan’s face. He cursed Bai Lun inwardly for his duplicity—when taking his spirit stones, Bai Lun had not worn such a face, but now revealed his true, heartless and greedy nature. Feeling the faint pressure radiating from Bai Tong, Lu Tiannan couldn’t help a twinge of envy. Indeed, the aura of a Foundation Establishment master was formidable. He quickly schooled his features; the flash of humiliation vanished.

“Senior Bai, it is true that our sect recently acquired a second-grade spirit beast, but we paid dearly for it. It is certainly not the beast you seek,” Lu Tiannan said, forcing a flattering smile and glancing hopefully at Bai Tong and Bai Lun.

Bai Tong responded with another icy snort, the pressure of his spiritual might intensifying further.

“Lu Tiannan, you’re bold indeed. You claim to have bought a spirit beast—bring it out for my grand-uncle to see. If it’s not the beast our Golden Flame Sect seeks, naturally we will return it. Do you think we would covet the petty spirit beast of a minor sect?” Bai Lun threatened, his tone fierce but his confidence wavering.

Under the sudden pressure of Bai Tong’s spiritual might, Lu Tiannan’s knees nearly buckled. He cast a glance at Bai Lun, his disdain deepening. Yet, in Bai Tong’s presence, he dared not provoke the Golden Flame Sect further.

Muttering his assent, he reluctantly ordered his disciples to fetch the newly purchased second-grade spirit beast from the rear mountain.

Not long after, an elderly man with gray hair led a small, entirely golden beast into the hall. The elder entered respectfully and bowed to Lu Tiannan. “Senior Brother Sect Master, Meng Lu greets you. The spirit beast has been brought.”

The golden little beast was the size of a celestial dog, its fur smooth and lustrous without a single blemish—truly a beautiful creature.

“How dare you, Lu Tiannan, to hide our sect’s spirit beast!” Bai Lun did not recognize the Moon Mink, but from the moment the beast entered, his gaze was fixed on his grand-uncle’s expression. Seeing no objection, he immediately shouted at Lu Tiannan. Whether or not this was the Moon Mink, the Golden Flame Sect would claim it.

Lu Tiannan turned to speak to his junior brother, but Bai Lun’s angry shout interrupted him. Turning, he saw Bai Lun’s expression fierce and resolute; it was clear Bai Lun was convinced this was the spirit beast they sought.

Inwardly, Lu Tiannan sighed. Disaster. It seemed the two from the Golden Flame Sect had come precisely for his spirit beast. Otherwise, why had they not visited before, and why appear now, just after his purchase?

He was certain now—their aim was his little beast. Outmatched, he could only swallow his frustration. Yet as a sect master, he could not bear the accusation of hiding a third-grade sect’s lost spirit beast.

Composing himself with effort, he spoke with a trace of anger, “Young Master Bai, please mind your words. Though our sect is but second-grade, we would never dare to conceal a third-grade sect’s lost spirit beast.”

A flush of anger colored Bai Lun’s handsome face. He sneered arrogantly, “Lu Tiannan, you’re caught red-handed and yet you still deny it. Do you take me for a fool?”

Lu Tiannan’s rage flared; his face reddened and he spat out coldly, “Young Master Bai, have some respect. This spirit beast was purchased by our sect.”

Bai Lun was incensed. That a mere second-grade sect master dared speak so to him! His spiritual energy, fifth level of Qi Refinement, surged outwards, filling the hall with oppressive force. Though Qi Refinement cultivators could not wield spiritual pressure like Foundation Establishment experts, the release of force could still dominate a space.

“Lu Tiannan, present the spirit beast at once and all will be well. Otherwise, I’ll see the Heavenly Mountain reduced to ashes!” Bai Lun’s arrogance grew. As a disciple of the third-grade Golden Flame Sect, he was unaccustomed to being addressed in such a manner. That Lu Tiannan dared defy him was, to Bai Lun’s mind, sheer ignorance of his own mortality.

Lu Tiannan’s face grew even more flushed. Sensing Bai Lun’s surging energy, his anger overcame him. In a flash, he unleashed the full force of his perfected Qi Refinement, directing it at Bai Lun.

With a thunderous bang, Lu Tiannan sensed his energy collide violently with another force from the side. Startled, he turned to see his junior brother Meng Lu, face flushed, gritting his teeth as he absorbed the blow meant for Bai Lun.

Blood spurted from Meng Lu’s mouth—his seventh level of Qi Refinement was far inferior to Lu Tiannan’s. In a single exchange, he was grievously wounded.

“Senior Brother Sect Master, the Heavenly Mountain…” Meng Lu forced out, his voice strained.

A look of despair flashed across Lu Tiannan’s face. Glancing at Bai Tong behind Bai Lun, he suddenly shuddered. Every move he made was under the gaze of this Foundation Establishment master. He had just struck out at Bai Tong’s grandnephew, and yet Bai Tong had not moved at all…

A single Foundation Establishment cultivator could annihilate an entire sect of Qi Refinement cultivators. If not for Meng Lu’s intervention just now, perhaps Bai Tong would already have begun a massacre.

His expression shifted through several shades before settling into one of bitter resignation. He spoke desolately to Bai Lun, “Young Master Bai, please see reason. This spirit beast was indeed purchased at great cost by our sect. But since you desire it, take it.”

Bai Lun was about to reply when Bai Tong suddenly spoke, addressing the wounded Meng Lu, “You—very good, not bad.” Yet his tone was full of disdain. As a Foundation Establishment expert, Bai Tong could have killed Meng Lu with mere spiritual pressure—how could he possibly regard Meng Lu or Lu Tiannan with any respect?

Having spoken, Bai Tong turned to the cowed, humiliated Lu Tiannan. “Lu Tiannan, ever since you reached the peak of Qi Refinement, rumors have abounded within our Golden Flame Sect. They say you have grown increasingly arrogant, and that you even managed to obtain two Foundation Establishment Pills, with the wild ambition to create another Foundation Establishment expert.”

Thank you, Yipiao Qingcheng, for your generous reward. Many thanks. Thanks as well to Sui Bian Wan Wan, our current top fan—much appreciated. To posstyxm, thank you for your silent support in voting; you are now the top voter. And to Death’s Holy Water, for your ongoing commentary—you are now the book’s top commentator. Thank you all for your support of this book. Today, I remain without internet and cannot add highlights; I beg your pardon.