Outside the mountain range…
Three figures soared through the air, their eyes scanning the peaks below, hunting for prey. The group consisted of an old man and two youths.
Beneath them, terrifying beasts served as mounts, their massive forms and ferocious auras radiating menace.
The elder led atop a Black Giant Eagle, its wings spanning over ten zhang, exuding the aura of an Early Seventh-Grade beast—equivalent to a human Early Body Unity cultivator.
The youths followed, their expressions brimming with arrogance, eyes disdainful of the world.
One rode a Blazing Flame Bird, an Early Sixth-Grade beast, its feathers ablaze. The other sat astride a Mysterious Ice Crane, a Mid Sixth-Grade beast, its icy presence chilling the air.
In the arms of the youth on the crane, a peculiar, seemingly harmless creature slept, yet it emanated an unsettling aura.
Anyone witnessing this would be shocked. Since when did ferocious beasts become such obedient mounts, and in such numbers?
A common trait united the trio: beast bags at their waists, marked with the emblem of a renowned continental sect.
"Master, I want a thunder-type beast this time—at least Sixth-Grade!" the youth on the Mysterious Ice Crane called to the elder.
Their purpose in the mountains was to hunt and tame powerful beasts.
The elder nodded, then turned to the other youth. "Yu Han, what beast do you seek?"
Clutching the small creature, Yu Han's eyes burned with ambition. "Since seeing that Purple Thunder Lion, I've wanted no other!"
The elder's gaze flickered with greed. A beast with such talent and bloodline tempted even him, let alone his disciple.
But…
"Hmph, Yu Han, stop dreaming," the youth on the Blazing Flame Bird scoffed. "The Purple Thunder Lion belongs to Lan An, Wu San Niang's favored disciple. Even our sect leader treads carefully around her. Give it up!"
He sneered, "Besides, Lan An thrashed you last time. Wasn't that humiliating enough?"
"Yu Guo, watch your tongue!" Yu Han gritted his teeth, his sore spot struck. "Care for a fight?"
"Enough! Focus on finding beasts!" the elder barked, unwilling to dwell on the topic.
The youths huffed, resentment simmering.
Indeed, the youth on the Blazing Flame Bird, cradling the creature, was Yu Han—Lan An's defeated rival.
They hailed from the Beast Taming War Sect, a mysterious and formidable continental force that fought with tamed beasts.
During Lan An's trial for Saint Spirit Academy, he clashed with Yu Han, sent by the sect to sabotage. Despite Yu Han's alliance with Lan Vu of the Lan Clan, Wang Lan of Heavenly Mountain Immortal Realm, Xue Zi of the Blood Spirit Sect, and Fan Shan of Mortal Hidden Temple, Lan An's strength and cunning crushed them. Yu Han fled, abandoning his token, hurling futile threats before a crowd.
That defeat was Yu Han's greatest shame, haunting his sleepless nights.
He'd worked tirelessly, taming a Sixth-Grade beast and rising from an outer to a core disciple, dreaming of avenging himself and claiming the Purple Thunder Lion.
Yet, Lan An's terrifying feats—shaking the planet—shattered his confidence. When Wu San Niang's discipleship was revealed, forcing back the Dan Clan's Twin Ancestors, Yu Han spat blood, his hopes crushed.
"Master, where's the central peak?" Yu Guo suddenly pointed, puzzled.
Last time, a towering mountain stood there.
The elder's eyes narrowed. "Descend and investigate!" he ordered.
They guided their beasts downward, approaching the center.
A cave came into view.
"The Tomb of the Extreme Ice Demon Monarch?" The carved words on the cave wall hit them like a thunderbolt, their breaths quickening.
"Heavens, the legendary Monarch's tomb?" Yu Guo shouted, nearly fainting with excitement.
Yu Han's eyes blazed with greed.
Though they fought with beasts, they craved personal power. Ancient records spoke of the Monarch's vast wealth, coveted by all.
The ancient, domineering script—"Tomb of the Extreme Ice Demon Monarch"—bore an aura no one could fake.
Even the elder doubted he could carve such words.
"We've struck gold!" he muttered, stunned that a beast-hunting trip uncovered such a secret.
"Wait, Master! The mountain's destroyed, the cave exposed—someone beat us here!" Yu Guo snapped, his excitement fading.
Yu Han nodded, grinding his teeth. "Hope they're still inside!" he hissed venomously.
The elder agreed. "If they're still in there, we kill them. If they've left, we spread news of the tomb, letting the world hunt them down!"
"Master's wise! If we can't have it, no one will!" Yu Han and Yu Guo sneered, their eyes cold with envy.
The thought of someone claiming the Monarch's legacy fueled their spite.
"Don't worry. The cave's intact, so they're likely still inside—unless they're fools who don't cover their tracks," the elder reasoned.
If he'd claimed the legacy, he'd raze the cave to avoid trouble. Its pristine state suggested the intruders remained.
Yu Han and Yu Guo itched with anticipation.
"Should we enter?" Yu Guo licked his lips.
"No need. The Monarch's tomb is riddled with dangers. Let them be our test subjects. We'll wait and ambush," the elder schemed.
The trio settled, biding their time.
A day passed…
Hidden hundreds of meters from the cave, the three concealed their auras, eyes fixed on the entrance.
"Master, what if they died inside?" Yu Han frowned, impatient to seize the Monarch's treasures.
With those riches, he might not match Lan An's status but could rival his personal strength.
"Patience. One more day, then we enter," the elder replied.
"Look! Two people!" Yu Guo suddenly exclaimed, his eyes flashing with killing intent.
A masked man and woman emerged, hand in hand, their noble aura unmistakable, their cultivation levels hidden.
"Who are they?" Yu Han wondered.
"Hmph, who cares? Can their status surpass our Beast Taming War Sect?" the elder sneered.
"Exactly. Kill them!" Yu Guo grinned.
In a split second, their beast bags trembled.
ROAR! SCREECH!
Three earth-shaking roars erupted.
The Black Giant Eagle, Blazing Flame Bird, and Mysterious Ice Crane spread their wings, dominating the sky.
The trio leaped onto their mounts, commanding the beasts to attack. Three pairs of razor-sharp claws descended on Lan An and Hua Qing Zhu.
The Blazing Flame Bird's claws blazed with fire, ready to incinerate.
The Mysterious Ice Crane's claws gleamed with frost, freezing the air.
The Black Giant Eagle's claws oozed dark, corrosive energy.
Three claws, three elements.
"The Monarch's legacy isn't yours to keep. Hand it over or die!" the elder declared, hands behind his back, exuding superiority.
Yet, their beasts' assault didn't waver, aiming to kill.
"Told you—caution first," Hua Qing Zhu smirked at Lan An, smugly.
Lan An shrugged, wearing her treasure mask, unperturbed.
As the claws neared, Hua Qing Zhu's voice turned icy. "Ice Earth Falling Petal Palm!"
Her favored technique bloomed, countless fading petals swirling in the air, a breathtaking yet deadly display.
Her Mid Body Unity power erupted, shocking the trio.
Too late.
BOOM!
The Ice Earth Falling Petal Palm clashed with the beasts, the shockwave shattering space.
The massive beasts recoiled.
CRASH! CRASH!
The Blazing Flame Bird and Mysterious Ice Crane exploded into blood mist.
Only the Black Giant Eagle survived, losing a leg.
"No!" Yu Han and Yu Guo screamed, their minds reeling. Taming Sixth-Grade beasts took immense effort; losing them was like flaying their skin.
"Beast Taming War Sect?" Lan An's gaze swept over them, locking onto Yu Han's creature, his killing intent surging.
"What's wrong?" Hua Qing Zhu sensed his intent.
"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 creature bore a trace of the Divine Beast Taotie's bloodline. It couldn't be allowed to mature.
"No problem!" Hua Qing Zhu nodded, her white dress billowing like a pristine fairy, her battle intent fixed on the elder.
"You'll pay for crossing the Beast Taming War Sect!" the elder roared, his beast bag trembling.
A beast emerged, clad in iron armor, its massive pincers sky-rending, its venomous tail gleaming, eyes darting menacingly.
"Iron Scorpion? Mid Seventh-Grade?" Hua Qing Zhu's expression grew serious. Even she couldn't underestimate this beast.
"Haha, scared? Despairing? Dying under my strongest beast is your honor!" the elder laughed, confident.
As a sect elder, a Seventh-Grade beast was mandatory. His other beasts were useless against a Mid Body Unity expert like her.
Hua Qing Zhu didn't dare slack. With a thought, a resplendent staff appeared—unlike Yan Yue Qi's close-combat scepter, hers was a Western-style magic staff, tipped with a gem pulsing with ice and earth elements, nearly three meters long.
Spirit Magic Staff—Mid Spirit-Grade treasure.
As the Empress of a Ninth-Grade force, such a weapon was fitting.
"Who are you? A Body Unity expert shouldn't hide!" the elder demanded warily.
"A road-blocking thief like you deserves my identity?" Hua Qing Zhu reverted to her haughty demeanor, shouting, "Ice Seal Slaughter!"
Her staff glowed, amplifying her technique's power.
The air froze, the sky crystallizing. Icy streams surged from the Spirit Magic Staff toward the elder.
Sensing danger, he yelled, "Your opponent is it!"
He leaped onto the Black Giant Eagle, soaring higher, while the Iron Scorpion charged, its invincible pincers raised.
"Hmph!"
Hua Qing Zhu redirected her Ice Seal Slaughter to the scorpion.
Crack!
Its pincers froze instantly.
Unfazed, the Iron Scorpion's armor unleashed power, 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 beast bags trembled, releasing two beasts.
Dark Cloud Leopard—Peak Fifth-Grade.
Azure Mist Panther—Peak Fifth-Grade.
Lan An shook his shoulders, unleashing his Late Spirit Transformation aura.
Feeling it, Yu Han and Yu Guo burst into laughter, their caution vanishing. "Kid, what gives a Spirit Transformation punk the guts to face us?" they mocked.