Outside the mountain range, three figures soared through the sky, their eyes scanning the terrain like hunters stalking prey. The trio consisted of an old man and two young men, each riding a fearsome beast of immense size and ferocity, radiating terrifying auras.
Leading them was the old man, astride a Black Giant Eagle with wings spanning over ten zhang, its Early Seventh-Grade aura equivalent to a human Early Body Unity cultivator. The two youths followed, their expressions brimming with arrogance, as if the world held no worth in their eyes.
One rode an Early Sixth-Grade Blazing Flame Bird, its feathers ablaze with fiery brilliance. The other commanded a Mid Sixth-Grade Mysterious Ice Crane, its icy presence chilling the air. Cradled in the arms of the youth named Yu Han was a peculiar beast, seemingly asleep, harmless in appearance yet exuding an unsettling chill.
Any witness would be shocked—since when did such ferocious beasts become mere mounts for humans, and in such numbers? The trio shared a distinctive feature: beast-taming pouches at their waists, emblazoned with the emblem of a renowned continental sect.
"Master, this time I want a Lightning-Attribute beast, at least Sixth-Grade!" the youth on the Mysterious Ice Crane called to the old man's back.
Their purpose in this mountain range was to hunt and tame powerful beasts.
The old man nodded, then turned to the other youth. "Yu Han, what beast do you seek?"
Yu Han, clutching his strange beast, his eyes blazing with ambition, declared, "Since encountering that Purple Thunder Lion, I've no interest in anything else!"
The old man's eyes glinted with greed. Even he coveted a beast with the Purple Thunder Lion's bloodline and talent, let alone his disciple.
However, the youth on the Mysterious Ice Crane scoffed, "Junior Brother Han, you jest. The Purple Thunder Lion belongs to Lan An, a figure of great status—beloved disciple of the Frenzy Queen. Even our sect master treads carefully around him. Stop dreaming!"
He sneered, "Besides, didn't Lan An thrash you so badly you fled? Wasn't that humiliating enough?"
"Yu Guo, don't push me! Let's fight if you dare!" Yu Han gritted his teeth, his sore spot struck.
"Enough! Focus on finding beasts!" the old man barked, unwilling to dwell on the topic.
The youths snorted, their rivalry simmering.
Indeed, the youth on the Blazing Flame Bird, cradling the odd beast, was Yu Han—once defeated by Lan An. The trio hailed from the Beast Taming War Sect, a mysterious and formidable continental power that fought through tamed beasts.
During Lan An's entrance exam for the Saint Spirit Academy, he'd clashed with Yu Han, sent by the sect to sabotage the trials. Despite Yu Han allying with Luo Yu of the Lan Clan, Wang Lan of the Heavenly Mountain Immortal Realm, Xue Zi of the Blood Spirit Sect, and Fan Shan of the Mortal Hidden Temple, Lan An's strength and cunning crushed them. Yu Han, forced to discard his token, fled in disgrace, hurling empty threats before countless witnesses.
That defeat became Yu Han's greatest shame, haunting him sleeplessly. He'd toiled to grow stronger, taming a Sixth-Grade beast and rising from an outer disciple to a core disciple in the Beast Taming War Sect, all to avenge Lan An and seize the Purple Thunder Lion.
Yet, Lan An's terrifying feats—rippling across the planet—shattered Yu Han's confidence. When the Frenzy Queen revealed Lan An as her disciple, forcing back the Dan Clan's Twin Ancestors, the news shook the continent. Hearing it, Yu Han spat blood, his hopes crumbling.
"Master, where's the towering mountain at the range's center?" Yu Guo suddenly pointed, puzzled.
Last time they'd visited, a majestic peak stood there.
The old man's eyes narrowed. "Descend and investigate!"
Guiding their beasts, the trio landed near the center, where a cave came into view.
"Extreme Ice Demon Monarch's Tomb?" The carved words on the cave's wall struck them, their breaths quickening.
"By the heavens, the legendary Extreme Ice Demon Monarch's tomb?" Yu Guo shouted, nearly fainting from excitement.
Yu Han's eyes burned with greed, no less thrilled.
Though beast taming was their sect's forte, they craved personal power. Ancient records spoke of the Monarch's vast wealth—coveted by all.
The ancient, domineering script of "Extreme Ice Demon Monarch's Tomb" bore an untamed aura. Even the old man, an elder, doubted he could carve such words.
"We've struck gold!" he muttered, astonished that a beast-hunting trip unveiled such a secret.
"Wait, Master! The mountain's destroyed, and the cave's exposed—someone beat us here!" Yu Guo sobered, his excitement fading.
Yu Han nodded, snarling, "I hope they're still inside!"
The old man agreed. "Indeed. If they're in there, we kill them. If they've left, we spread news of the tomb, making their lives hell with pursuers!"
"Master's wise! If we can't have it, no one will!" Yu Han and Yu Guo's eyes glinted coldly, envious of the Monarch's legacy falling to another.
"Don't worry. The cave's intact—likely, they're still inside," the old man analyzed. Had they claimed the legacy, they'd have destroyed the cave to cover their tracks, unless they were fools.
Convinced, Yu Guo and Yu Han itched with anticipation.
A day passed.
Hidden hundreds of meters from the cave, the trio concealed their auras, eyes fixed on the entrance.
"Master, what if they died inside?" Yu Han frowned, impatient to claim the Monarch's treasures.
He believed with such wealth, he could rival Lan An's prowess, if not his status.
"Patience. If no one emerges by tomorrow, we enter," the old man replied.
"Look, two people!" Yu Guo exclaimed, his eyes flaring with killing intent.
A masked man and woman emerged from the cave, hand in hand, exuding noble charisma, their cultivation levels obscured.
"Who are they?" Yu Han wondered.
"Hmph, no matter their identity—can they surpass our Beast Taming War Sect?" the old man sneered.
"Right, kill them!" Yu Guo grinned.
In a flash, their beast pouches quivered.
ROAR! ROAR!
Three earth-shaking roars erupted.
The Black Giant Eagle, Blazing Flame Bird, and Mysterious Ice Crane spread their massive wings, dominating the sky.
The trio leaped onto their mounts, commanding the beasts to dive at Lan An and Hua Qing Zhu. The Blazing Flame Bird's claws blazed with fire, ready to incinerate. The Mysterious Ice Crane's talons gleamed with icy sharpness. The Black Giant Eagle radiated corrosive darkness.
Three sets of claws, three distinct forces.
"The Monarch's legacy isn't yours to keep. Hand it over or die!" the old man declared, hands clasped behind him, exuding supremacy.
Despite his words, the beasts' assault didn't waver, aiming to annihilate.
"Told you—caution first," Hua Qing Zhu smirked at Lan An, smug.
Lan An shrugged. The masks, her artifacts, hid their identities—he had no objections.
As the claws neared, Hua Qing Zhu snorted, "Ice Earth Falling Petal Palm!"
Her favored technique summoned countless wilting petals, a breathtaking yet deadly display. Her Mid Body Unity power erupted, shocking the trio.
Too late to retreat.
BOOM!
The Ice Earth Falling Petal Palm clashed with the beasts, unleashing a shockwave that cracked the sky.
The massive beasts were hurled back.
BOOM! BOOM!
The Blazing Flame Bird and Mysterious Ice Crane exploded into bloody mists. Only the Black Giant Eagle survived, albeit with a broken leg.
"No!" Yu Han and Yu Guo roared, their minds reeling. Taming Sixth-Grade beasts required immense effort—losing them was like flaying their flesh.
"Beast Taming War Sect?" Lan An's gaze swept over them, pausing on Yu Han's small beast, his killing intent surging.
"What's wrong?" Hua Qing Zhu sensed his malice.
"Old acquaintance," Lan An grinned. "You handle the old man. I'll take the youngsters."
Since they aimed to kill and rob, he'd show no mercy, especially to an old foe. Yu Han's beast bore a trace of the Mythical Taotie's bloodline—a future threat to eliminate.
"No problem!" Hua Qing Zhu nodded, her white dress billowing like an untouchable fairy, her battle intent locking onto the old man.
"Dare attack the Beast Taming War Sect? You'll pay!" the old man bellowed, his pouch trembling.
A beast clad in iron armor emerged, its massive pincers sky-rending, its venomous tail gleaming, eyes darting menacingly.
"Iron Scorpion? Mid Seventh-Grade?" Hua Qing Zhu's expression grew solemn. Even she couldn't underestimate this beast.
"Haha, scared? Despairing? Dying under my strongest beast's pincers is your honor!" the old man crowed. The Iron Scorpion was his trump card; other beasts were useless against a Mid Body Unity foe.
As a sect elder, possessing a Seventh-Grade beast was mandatory.
Hua Qing Zhu didn't dare relax. With a thought, a resplendent Spirit Magic Staff appeared—Mid Spirit-Grade, embedded with a gem pulsing with ice and earth elements, nearly three meters long.
Befitting the Empress of a Ninth-Grade power.
"Who are you? A Body Unity expert shouldn't hide!" the old man demanded warily.
"A road-robbing thief like you deserves my name?" Hua Qing Zhu reverted to her haughty demeanor. "Ice Seal Slaughter!"
Her staff glowed, amplifying her technique. The air froze, the sky crystallizing as icy streams surged from the staff toward the old man.
Sensing danger, he shouted, "Your foe is it!"
He leaped onto the Black Giant Eagle, soaring higher, while the Iron Scorpion charged, its invincible pincers meeting Hua Qing Zhu.
Crack!
The pincers froze instantly.
Unfazed, the Iron Scorpion's armor pulsed, shattering the ice.
On the other front, Yu Han and Yu Guo eyed their masked opponent.
Despite the mask, he seemed young, likely weak.
Exchanging glances, they decided to probe him. Their pouches quivered, releasing two beasts: a Peak Fifth-Grade Dark Cloud Leopard and a Peak Fifth-Grade Azure Mist Panther.
Lan An rolled his shoulders, unleashing his Late Spirit Transformation aura.
Sensing it, Yu Han and Yu Guo burst into laughter, their caution vanishing. "Kid, what gives a Spirit Transformation punk the guts to face us?"