Beast Taming: I Have an Immortal Mansion-Chapter 100: Running Business Again

Fang Qingyuan stayed at Qu Wei’s home for a moment, then went next door to the Liu Family’s for a while. Only after seeing both Cultivation Immortal Seedlings did he depart from Qingfeng Mountain under the moonlight.

Before leaving, Fang Qingyuan left some spiritual material-based food for the children, things similar to Golden Jade Flower Honey, as a New Year’s gift for them.

As for the other families, Fang Qingyuan didn’t visit. A family’s status rises with its children’s success. Only those with an Immortal Seedling were worthy of his time and effort; the rest were just ordinary people.

After returning to his residence, Fang Qingyuan calmed his mind, closed his eyes, and began to meditate. When he opened his eyes again after midnight, the sky was already bright.

And just like that, the fourth year since Fang Qingyuan had awakened his past life’s memories passed.

After the New Year, Fang Qingyuan enjoyed three months of peaceful, quiet, and fulfilling days.

Every day after completing his meditation studies, Fang Qingyuan would practice his techniques. He practiced the "Divine Golden Light Ground-Traversing Technique" once every three days, and the "Yindu’s Black Edict Soul-Binding Spell" once a month.

He practiced his proficient Wood Element Techniques more often, such as Tree Prison, Poison Vine Python, and Wood Spirit Rejuvenation. The ones he wasn’t good at, like Stone Skin Technique, Xuan Water Seal, and Molten Fire Shield, he practiced less.

Because of his Spirit Root, practicing Wood Element Techniques felt as natural as moving his own limbs. But practicing techniques of other elements felt clumsy, as if he were wearing a thick pair of gloves.

He focused on refining what he was already good at. For techniques of other elements, he simply aimed for a basic familiarity, ensuring he could use them smoothly if the need arose. That was enough.

At the same time, Fang Qingyuan slowly began to gather goods. ’This year, I have to make a good sum of Spirit Stones.’

「Three months later.」

With the Celestial Zhe Wood Silkworms in his Immortal Mansion laying their eggs, Fang Qingyuan began to methodically set up the silkworm rooms and prepare food, following the notes left by Senior Brother Yaozu.

Fang Qingyuan was quite busy at first, but after finishing the most critical initial tasks, only a few days had passed.

He completed the complex work and handed over the remaining chores entirely to the Bee Queen.

He had the Bee Queen lead the Worker Bees to carefully tend to the silkworm larvae. The Worker Bees already knew how to care for bee pupae, so looking after the silkworm larvae was a familiar task.

In nature, bees and silkworms are two unrelated species. But after they both absorbed Spiritual Power, the Bee Queen gained intelligence and could act as a manager.

By entrusting the chores to the Bee Queen, Fang Qingyuan freed himself up. Besides, he believed that when it came to a specialized task like caring for silkworm larvae, she could do a better job than he could.

In response to Fang Qingyuan’s trust and the important task she was given, the Bee Queen rolled around on the spot several times to express her joy.

In early April, as Fang Qingyuan gradually converted all his Spirit Stones into various spiritual materials, his desire to earn more Spirit Stones through trade began to burn brighter.

At the end of April, Zhang Yuan finally concluded his long season of competition. These past few months had probably been the happiest of his life.

There was endless fine wine to drink and endless excitement to watch. He didn’t have to worry about cultivation or fret over missions. All he had to do was be happy.

After a great war, a grand event was indeed necessary to vent emotions, and Cultivators were no exception. Having lived for over two hundred years, Lechuan was certainly experienced in such matters.

Yinbao, on the other hand, had slimmed down considerably. Seeing it, Fang Qingyuan almost didn’t recognize it. ’Is this still the chubby, gluttonous, and lazy fish I remember?’

’This slender, gracefully curved Flying Manta Ray in front of me... is this really Yinbao?’

When Yinbao saw Fang Qingyuan, it dove right at him, persistently nudging him with its huge head and pushing Jinbao aside.

Jinbao stood by feeling wronged, its little bear-like face filled with dejection.

Fang Qingyuan let Yinbao nuzzle him for a while. Seeing that it wasn’t going to stop, he gently pushed it away and asked Zhang Yuan, who was standing nearby:

"What have you been doing these past few months? How did Yinbao get so slim?"

Zhang Yuan let out a hearty laugh and explained:

"I originally just went to participate for fun, mainly to score some free wine. But there were a lot of Flying Manta Rays there, and many of them were female. You know, Yinbao is all grown up now. If I hadn’t held him back for dear life, that guy would have plastered himself right onto a female’s face.

Later, during the race, he was mocked by the other male Manta Rays, so he held it in and really pushed himself. And that’s how he ended up looking like this."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan found it hilarious. ’So Yinbao has grown up. He even knows how to show off in front of the females now.’

But Fang Qingyuan was curious about one thing: did Yinbao actually manage to get close with any of the female Manta Rays in the end?

In response to this question, Zhang Yuan gave a mischievous grin, moved away from Yinbao, and secretly told Fang Qingyuan:

"She said he was too small... uh, his size, I mean."

Fang Qingyuan’s expression was odd, but with Yinbao present, he held back his laughter. Yinbao was only about ten years old, which was indeed adolescent for a Flying Manta Ray. It was normal for the other females to reject him for his small size.

Finally, Fang Qingyuan comforted Yinbao for a moment, fed it a few of its favorite Pig Fish, and then sent the two Spirit Beasts to play by the door.

Then, Zhang Yuan took out a one-cubic-meter storage pouch, handed it to Fang Qingyuan, and said:

"Yinbao really tried hard this time. Although he didn’t place in the end, our Dean Lechuan is generous. There were hefty rewards just for participating. I exchanged all the rewards I got for Spirit Stones. Like we agreed, we’re splitting it fifty-fifty. This is your share."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyuan didn’t stand on ceremony. He took the storage pouch, opened it, and found over a thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones inside.

Seeing this amount, Fang Qingyuan was delighted. ’I’ve been raising Yinbao for so long, and I never expected such a windfall.’

Yinbao had originally been valued at only three thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, and now almost half of that had been earned back. Moreover, he hadn’t spent a single Spirit Stone to get Yinbao in the first place; it had been a reward for his merits.

Holding the Spirit Stones, Fang Qingyuan asked expectantly:

"Did Lechuan say when the next racing competition will be held?"

Zhang Yuan shot Fang Qingyuan a look and said with resignation:

"Four years from now. The rewards are so generous, how could they hold it every year? The sect isn’t a charity. No matter how wealthy Lechuan is, even he couldn’t afford it."

Hearing the timeframe, Fang Qingyuan was slightly disappointed. ’It would be great if it were held every year. Poor Yinbao. He won’t be able to cozy up to the other female Manta Rays next year.’

Just as Fang Qingyuan was feeling sorry for Yinbao, he suddenly remembered that Zhang Yuan didn’t have his own Companion Beast yet. So he prodded him: 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"Junior Brother, why don’t you think about raising a Companion Beast? Look, I already have two. Why don’t you go to the sect and buy a Flying Manta Ray too? Get a female one, and she can be a pair with Yinbao. If your Manta Ray gets pregnant, you’ll be rich."

Hearing Fang Qingyuan’s suggestion, Zhang Yuan scoffed and said self-deprecatingly:

"I have a hard enough time just supporting myself, let alone a Flying Manta Ray. Besides, their price has gone up. The year before last, they were three thousand. Last year, after the battle at Celestial Attraction Mountain, the price rose to four thousand.

This year, right after the racing competition, it immediately jumped to five thousand, and it looks like it’s about to break the six-thousand mark. Where would I get the spare money to even think about that?

It’s a good thing you got yours early, Senior Brother. You got a real bargain. If it were this year, do you think Lechuan would have been willing to reward you with Yinbao?"

’The price of Flying Manta Rays went up?’

Hearing this news, the way Fang Qingyuan looked at Yinbao instantly changed. The once three-thousand-Spirit-Stone Yinbao had now doubled in value. If he were to sell him now, Yinbao would definitely be a hot commodity.

’Hmm, I’m not thinking about selling Yinbao, but about the business of breeding.’

’Should I go check the market demand?’

The racing competition was a great success, and the Flying Manta Ray was the most eye-catching Spirit Beast of the event. Everyone has seen birds and beasts, but a sea creature like the Flying Manta Ray was exclusive to the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect.

Rarity drives up value. With Flying Manta Rays in short supply, a Little Manta Ray would surely be highly sought after. If you raised a Little Manta Ray now, it could participate in the next race in four years. And if not in four years, then definitely in eight.

At this thought, Fang Qingyuan felt an urge stirring within him. But Zhang Yuan’s words from just a moment ago suddenly brought him back to his senses:

"She said he was too small!"

’Forget it. I’d better not push Yinbao. If the female Manta Ray isn’t willing, Yinbao’s heart will be broken. I should wait a few more years, until Yinbao is a bit older and has reached adulthood.’

"Well, thank you for this, Junior Brother. Next time the competition is held, if you want to borrow Yinbao, you just have to say the word."

Fang Qingyuan said with a smile, and Zhang Yuan nodded in agreement. But then he just stared expectantly at Fang Qingyuan, leaving him completely confused.

"Is there something else, Junior Brother?"

"Senior Brother, you haven’t given me back the storage pouch yet. A one-cubic-meter storage pouch is worth at least fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones. That’s enough wine to last me more than a month."

"Huh...!?"

...

「One month later.」

During the charming spring days, after disembarking from a Floating Cloud Giant Ship, Fang Qingyuan reappeared in Black Sand City, riding a slightly chubbier Yinbao and accompanied by Jinbao and a pile of goods.

This time, Fang Qingyuan chose a different trading team. He had already traveled with the Qianyang Trading Team once and didn’t plan on dealing with them again for the next few years.

The current team was called Red Dog, named after the leader’s Fire-attribute canine beast, which was at the Early-stage Golden Core. Fang Qingyuan had to present his status as an Inner Sect Disciple of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect to be allowed to join them.

Carrying a large pile of goods, Fang Qingyuan blended in with the trading team. Aside from Yinbao’s conspicuous size, he was as unremarkable as any other member.

Gazing at the endless Black Sand, Fang Qingyuan spit out the grit in his mouth. He looked at Jinbao, who was constantly shaking sand from its fur, and smiled faintly. He scooped Jinbao into his arms to shield it from the sandstorm and then silently followed the team forward.

「Half a month later.」

This time, Fang Qingyuan’s journey through the twelve Oasis Tribes was smooth sailing. He finally arrived with the main group at their destination: Loulan Cliff City.