Beast-Taming Cultivator from Two Realms

Chapter 342 : Supreme Above All

The sun set in the west.Chen Beiwu and Xu Lingling strolled through the bustling dining hall.

Unlike the cuisine of Yuqing Immortal Sect, most of the signature dishes of Tianyan Immortal Sect were related to fire.

Wherever Chen Beiwu’s gaze fell, there was either golden-roasted Spirit Beast meat or old fire soup bubbling wildly with flames.

“Try this Earth Dragon Tendon. It’s said to be made by roasting the tendons of Brocade-Feathered Chicken feet—extremely chewy.”

Xu Lingling skillfully bought two portions of barbecue and handed one to Chen Beiwu.

“Delicious.”

Chen Beiwu accepted it and took a bite, discovering that Tianyan Immortal Sect’s barbecue truly had a unique flavor.

Hearing this, Xu Lingling revealed a radiant smile. “These are just appetizers. I’ll take you to taste the delicacies of Tianyan Immortal Sect in a moment.”

While the two chatted merrily, the atmosphere at the elegant waterside pavilion not far across from the dining hall was entirely different.

Inside the pavilion, tea fragrance curled through the air.

Yet the young prodigies seated together were distracted, with no mind to savor their tea.

“There are quite a few opponents this year. Shall we join forces?”

A sharp-featured young man with faint arcs of lightning flickering at his fingertips suddenly spoke.

Among the Ten Great Immortal Sects, Jiuxiao Immortal Sect ranked the highest, standing fourth.

As the chief of Jiuxiao Immortal Sect, Lei Hao’s goal this year was simple: strive for third, secure fourth—enter the top four in the Dao Discussion Battle, and perhaps even contend with the Upper Three Immortal Sects.

“Will joining forces even be useful? Every Immortal Sect Exchange Conference speaks of ‘mutual exchange’ and ‘a hundred schools contending,’ yet when it comes to the end, the result has never changed.”

The green-robed cultivator from Bixiao Immortal Sect spoke in a self-mocking tone.

At these words, a woman in a plain white flowing-cloud dress, her temperament cold and refined, lightly lifted her teacup lid and said in mild surprise:

“What, could it be that Fellow Daoist Li has already decided to give up? Joining forces may indeed be useless in the Dao Discussion Battle, but at the Heroes Gathering, we can still combine efforts to win quite a few victory points.”

There was no helping it—Yuxu Immortal Sect had ranked only fifth last year. If they wished to improve this year, they naturally had to cooperate within the bounds of the rules.

“Give up? Not to that extent.” The green-robed cultivator sighed faintly. “Just somewhat helpless.”

In every Immortal Sect Exchange Conference, the top three were always the Upper Three Immortal Sects. The remaining sects could only serve as green leaves in support.

But what could unwillingness change?

Though the title of Thirteen Immortal Sects sounded imposing, before the Upper Three Immortal Sects, they were ultimately a step lower, powerless to contend.

Especially this year, when the team leaders of the Upper Three Immortal Sects were all peerless prodigies of the highest order.

Taiqing Immortal Sect’s Wuji Golden Core!

Shangqing Immortal Sect’s Three Xiao Immortal Maiden!

Yuqing Immortal Sect’s Yuanshi Golden Core!

The first two were manageable—they were figures of the same era, separated by only a few decades in age. Only Chen Beiwu was a junior who had cultivated for barely over thirty years.

To contend at the same conference with such figures was both their fortune and their misfortune.

‘It’s all that brat Zhao Wuchen’s fault.’ The green-robed cultivator thought inwardly.

If Zhao Wuchen had not been unwilling to spend heavily to recruit him, how could Bixiao Immortal Sect have missed Chen Beiwu?

“Let’s get to the point. How exactly do we join forces?” The chief of Fulong Immortal Sect was already somewhat impatient.

Joining hands with a bunch of insects—he saw no hope in it.

If not for the fact that Fulong Immortal Sect had ranked far too poorly last session and had to restore its prestige this year, he would never have participated in such a weakling’s act of huddling together.

“The structure of the Upper Three Immortal Sects standing like tripods has lasted far too long—long enough to become dull.”

Lei Hao’s gaze swept across the three chiefs present as he said meaningfully, “Don’t you all want to change it a little?”

At these words, the atmosphere in the pavilion room stilled.

Everyone present knew that Jiuxiao Immortal Sect had expanded rapidly in recent years and had even produced a Void-Refining Dao Venerable-level powerhouse. They had long harbored ambitions to challenge the authority of the Upper Three Immortal Sects.

But Lei Hao, a Golden Core True Person who had forged a First-Grade Golden Core—how could he possibly shake the prodigies of the Upper Three Immortal Sects?

The chief of Yuxu Immortal Sect, Mu Nanyan, parted her lips slightly, her voice ethereal. “What insight does Fellow Daoist Lei have?”

“Insight would be too strong a word.”

Lei Hao’s lips curved faintly. “I simply think that if our four sects join forces, we may not be unable to clash with the Upper Three Immortal Sects at the Heroes Gathering!”

“And your target?” Mu Nanyan’s eyes shifted subtly.

“At the Heroes Gathering, we first eliminate Yuqing Immortal Sect ahead of time. What do you think?”

At these words, the expressions of the other three chiefs varied—surprise, amusement, contemplation.

One always picked the softest persimmon to squeeze.

Compared to Taiqing and Shangqing Immortal Sects, Yuqing Immortal Sect’s lineup this year clearly showed a generational gap.

Last session’s Yuqing chief, Shen Lingxing, was unable to participate due to exceeding the age limit.

The new generation prodigies—Chen Beiwu, Yu Zhaohua, and Mo Qingshuang—were all juniors with relatively short cultivation histories.

No matter how peerless their talent, and no matter how certain their future ascent to the peak, they currently lacked depth of cultivation and had yet to reach the peak of Golden Core completion.

Of the remaining two, one was a prodigy of a previous era, Xue Tianyi, who relied on pills and elixirs to barely reach Golden Core completion.

The other was Ye Xinya, who had gained the recognition of a Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast through sheer luck.

Considering it this way, Yuqing Immortal Sect was strong this year—but no longer possessed the overwhelming dominance of past sessions.

“Are you confident you can suppress the Yuanshi Golden Core?” Mu Nanyan asked bluntly.

“What if he bears an honored-title Golden Core? With the four of us joining forces, can we not suppress a mere late-stage Golden Core cultivator like Chen Beiwu!” Lei Hao declared decisively.

The sect chiefs exchanged glances, confidence flashing briefly in their eyes.

In single combat at the same realm, none dared lightly challenge the Yuanshi Golden Core.

But with realm suppression and coordinated strikes—if they, as sect chiefs, did not even dare to attempt it, then they might as well stop cultivating.

“In that case, there is no harm in trying.”

Mu Nanyan remained calm.

It was not the first time sects had joined forces against the Upper Three Immortal Sects—though all had failed in the end.

Now that the opportunity had come, she too wished to follow in her predecessors’ footsteps and witness the might of the Upper Three Immortal Sects.

……

Tianyan Immortal Sect, Qixia Courtyard.

Han Liangcai sat alone on a meditation cushion. Though the tea before him had long gone cold, he had not touched it.

At this moment, a lean figure slowly approached.

“Junior Brother Han.”

“Senior Brother Meng.”

Han Liangcai raised his head and looked at the gentle-faced Meng Chengxian, a trace of desolation still lingering in his eyes.

“Junior Brother Han, you are fixated.”

Meng Chengxian toyed with a tortoise shell in his hand, his tone calm. “Heaven’s secrets are chaotic, fate is ever-changing, and karma is hard to measure.

A dormant dragon is called dormant precisely because its spiritual light has yet to shine and its fate has yet to be fixed—like uncut jade buried deep beneath the earth.”

“Not to mention you—even when Master personally visited Fallen Dragon Manor in the past, he might not have been able to discern Chen Beiwu’s potential.”

Hearing this, Han Liangcai shook his head, his voice dry. “But Chen Beiwu had already shown promise during the Immortal Alliance Entrance Exam. It was my lack of attention that caused the sect to miss a peerless dormant dragon!”

“Our Dongxuan Immortal Sect stands upon divination and deduction, but you should understand the principle that ‘human strength has limits, and the Heavenly Dao is profound and unfathomable.’”

Meng Chengxian sighed lightly. “Some opportunities cannot be forced; some karma, once set, cannot be altered. A missed chance is a missed chance. This is not your fault alone—perhaps it was Heaven’s will.”

“Hu.”

After a long while, Han Liangcai exhaled a turbid breath and drank the slightly cool tea in one gulp.

He then changed the subject. “Senior Brother Meng, what did the sect’s divination reveal this year? Did Chen Beiwu appear in the hexagram?”

“This divination was rather peculiar. The rankings of the top three are all shrouded in mist.” Meng Chengxian’s gaze was deep.

Han Liangcai’s pupils contracted as rumors regarding the Yuanshi Golden Core surfaced in his mind. “Senior Brother Meng, do you mean that Chen Beiwu will lead his team to claim the championship this year?”

“Hard to say. Wuji True Person and the Three Xiao Immortal Maiden are also peerless prodigies beyond the logic of divination.” Meng Chengxian shook his head.

Dongxuan Immortal Sect’s secret divination arts could calculate the lives of all within the Immortal Alliance—yet could not divine the peerless prodigies of the Upper Three Immortal Sects and the Five Great Grotto-Heavens.

“Then whom shall we support?” Han Liangcai’s expression turned solemn.

To secure their ranking, Dongxuan Immortal Sect would divine a champion each session and invest accordingly at the Heroes Gathering.

“Who do you think can defeat all others and stand at the end?” Meng Chengxian asked.

“Chen Beiwu.”

After hesitating repeatedly, Han Liangcai spoke Chen Beiwu’s name.

Once, twice—never thrice!

His two previous misjudgments left him unwilling to stubbornly persist further.

“Why?” Meng Chengxian raised a brow.

“Even if Yuqing Immortal Sect does not win this session, the future still lies in Chen Beiwu’s hands,” Han Liangcai said in a low voice.

The Yuanshi Golden Core was already formidable.

Give Chen Beiwu another hundred years of cultivation—apart from the chiefs of the Five Great Grotto-Heavens, who could contend with him?

“Indeed.” Meng Chengxian nodded slightly.

……

Meanwhile, Luoxia Courtyard.

While the various sect chiefs treated him like a formidable enemy, Chen Beiwu had already toured Tianyan Immortal Sect and returned to his cave residence.

“Woof.”

Iron Egg came forward, acting coquettishly.

It had long coveted the Dissolving Azure Flame and could barely suppress its desire.

“I want some too.”

Golden Egg leaned over with its three heads, joining the commotion.

With its Three-Phase Furnace Divine Ability, it was not picky—even Heaven-and-Earth Exotic Flames could be devoured at will.

“Me too.”

Five Qi Vine blinked and raised its hand as well.

It did not like Exotic Flames, preferring only to farm—but that did not mean they were useless.

It had secretly looked up information beforehand. The Immortal Alliance world possessed countless Heaven-and-Earth Exotic Flames such as Thousand-Star Hundred-Flower Flame, Longevity Golden Breath Flame, and Dawn Thick-Earth Flame—each greatly beneficial to precious mystic herbs.

If it could obtain one of those flames, its grand farming enterprise might soar directly.

“Iron Egg’s diet is already limited. The two of you should stop fighting over it.”

Chen Beiwu pressed his forehead speechlessly.

Borrowing beasts to cultivate required massive resources.

It was no exaggeration to say that aside from sustaining their own cultivation, Immortal Alliance cultivators spent the vast majority of their resources on their Companion Beasts.

The higher the bloodline grade of a Companion Beast, the more terrifying the resources required for its growth.

If cultivation resources fell short, even a Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast could be raised into nothing more than an ordinary Fourth-Tier Mystic Beast.

For this reason, most cultivators of humble origins chose to focus on cultivating a single Companion Beast.

Someone like Chen Beiwu—who had contracted three at the Golden Core stage, with the number possibly increasing to four—was exceedingly rare.

Fortunately, Golden Egg was not picky. From Third-Realm Beast General flesh and inner cores to grasses and Spirit Stones, it devoured everything, growing at astonishing speed.

Five Qi Vine was even more remarkable—occasionally watered with some Fourth-Tier Mystic Liquid, absorbing the essence of the Great Sun, and planting precious mystic herbs within the Five Qi Grove, it could develop contentedly.

Only Iron Egg’s growth was somewhat slow. Even after Chen Beiwu fed it numerous Third-Tier precious herbs, its cultivation years and realm advanced only marginally.

Simply put, Immortal Alliance cultivators valued cost-effectiveness in raising Companion Beasts.

Compared to other resources, Exotic Flames were undoubtedly supreme supplements that could greatly elevate Iron Egg’s cultivation years and bloodline ceiling.

“Alright.”

Golden Egg lowered its three heads.

Seeing that Iron Egg’s cultivation was two minor realms lower than its own, it could temporarily forgo the flame.

“Buzz.”

At that moment, the cave’s formation restriction trembled.

With a thought, Chen Beiwu lifted the formation barrier, and four figures entered one after another.

Leading was Yu Zhaohua in fitted attire, followed by the calm Mo Qingshuang.

Xue Tianyi and Ye Xinya trailed behind, their expressions slightly restrained.

“Senior Brother Chen.”

After greeting him, Mo Qingshuang spoke first. “The Dao Discussion Battle begins the day after tomorrow. We came tonight to discuss the order of appearance.”

The Immortal Sect Exchange Conference had two stages: the Dao Discussion Battle and the Heroes Gathering.

The rules of the Dao Discussion Battle were simple—five disciples represented each sect, and two sects faced off.

Each match allowed up to five bouts; each cultivator could appear only once (hidden rules excepted).

The format adopted a victory-point system. The first to win three bouts secured the overall sect victory.

Before the battle began, however, the two leading sects had to fix the five disciples’ order of appearance and submit the Jade Slip of Discussion Order to the organizers.

Once submitted, it could not be altered—otherwise, it was considered a forfeiture.

Thus, the order of appearance was of utmost importance.

“What do you all think?” Chen Beiwu asked in return.

Yu Zhaohua’s eyes brightened. “I will be the vanguard and secure the opening victory. Senior Brother Mo can follow as second, stabilizing and expanding our momentum.

Senior Brother Chen can anchor the middle and secure the decisive win. Senior Sister Ye and Senior Brother Xue may choose between pillar or finisher.”

Mo Qingshuang nodded slightly. “Senior Brother Chen in the middle will certainly secure a victory point.”

He did not wish to waste time.

If the first three were all strong fighters, they could likely win three to zero.

Xue Tianyi and Ye Xinya’s eyes dimmed slightly.

With such an arrangement, their chances to appear were slim—unless they faced Taiqing Immortal Sect or Shangqing Immortal Sect.

Yet since this lineup secured the fastest victory and displayed the sect’s might, neither voiced objection.

“I have a different idea.”

Chen Beiwu shook his head calmly. “Ye Xinya as vanguard, Yu Zhaohua second, Xue Tianyi in the middle, Mo Qingshuang as pillar.”

He paused slightly, sweeping his gaze across the four.

“I will be the finisher. What do you think?”

Their pupils contracted.

Ye Xinya was the weakest; if she went first, she might fail to secure a point.

With such an arrangement, against top-ranked sects, they might be forced into all five bouts—or even suffer an upset.

Yet as team leader, Chen Beiwu would not make such a decision without confidence.

At once, a hidden rule of the Dao Discussion Battle surfaced in their minds—its name: “Supreme Above All!”

What was Supreme Above All?

An absolute powerhouse changing the situation single-handedly, leading the sect to victory!

Simply put, when a sect’s first three or four representatives were all defeated—by rule already deemed lost—the final finisher could invoke Supreme Above All, facing all five opponents in succession.

Victory would reverse the outcome in one stroke.

Defeat would leave no room for recovery.

‘Senior Brother Chen is truly domineering!’

Yu Zhaohua pressed her lips together, feeling Chen Beiwu’s absolute confidence.