Eternal Beast Taming Family

This was the first forbidden zone Chu Shengfan had ever experienced. It wasn't really a forbidden zone, since the danger level wasn't that terrifying; it was just not suitable for human beings to live in.

After Chu Shengfan finished comprehending the domain, none of the servants around him, or even Wu Yuan and Xu Yinyue, inquired about the specifics of the domain, which deprived Chu Shengfan of some of the joy of sharing.

However, he also understood that the effectiveness of this field was ultimately a secret of the contract master, and it would be an offense for someone who was not close to him to ask about it rashly.

Chu Shengfan gently waved his hand, and "Lingyuan Yunmu," who was playing happily in the sky, was summoned back to the Source Beast Space. Now he is a contract master with three Domain-level Source Beasts.

This situation is probably rare even within the academy.

After a brief night's rest, Chu Shengfan's team hurriedly set off again the next morning. After all, the journey to the academy was long, and they still had many dangerous places to experience.

……

After leaving home, Chu Shengyuan arrived at the academy in just a few days.

The simultaneous appearance of the magnificent palace and the warship carrying an ancient aura outside the academy still alarmed some important figures within the academy.

Even the dean of Qianling Academy, who rarely makes an appearance, came out to greet them personally.

Chu Shengyuan shrugged helplessly. Of course he knew that these "big shots" who appeared were not here for him, even though he often saw them in the academy.

"Princess Nanli's presence is an honor to our Thousand Spirits Academy."

Sure enough, the dean addressed the dean as Princess Nanli right away.

Nan Li and Chu Shengyuan walked out of the palace that was floating in the air together.

Nan Li looked at the dean floating in the air in front of the academy gate and gave him a friendly smile.

"Grandpa Dean, you're too kind. My grandfather was also a student at Qianling Academy. Coming to the academy to study here is almost like returning home for me."

Upon hearing Nan Li mention her grandfather, the dean's smile became even more warm and friendly.

"Haha, what you say is true, Princess. Your grandfather was the most outstanding student since the establishment of our academy. His honors are still hanging on the wall of honor."

"Then I must take a good look at it on behalf of my grandfather. I'm sure he'll be very happy to see it."

Chu Shengyuan stood silently to the side, not saying a word. At this moment, he admired Nan Li somewhat. After all, she usually had a rather bad personality, but when she was serious, she was flawless.

He was curious about how Nan Li had done it; it seemed he would have to learn more from her in the future.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the barrier at the academy gate slowly unfolded. "Please, Princess, enter the academy to speak."

Nan Li nodded gently. He floated ahead, while the palaces and warships behind him slowly followed the group into the academy.

After traveling for a while through the palace and on the warship, they were led to another place, where they arrived at a beautifully decorated square.

Here, Chu Shengyuan saw his long-lost teacher, Luo Xuan.

He was basically the same as before he left last time; it seemed that his second senior brother's exile to the frontier had no particular impact on him.

As Chu Shengyuan took his seat, he exchanged a glance with his teacher, Luo Xuan, who smiled at him as if welcoming his return.

He pursed his lips helplessly, wanting to question the teacher about why he had been arranged to have a fiancée without consulting him.

There are too many people around now, so it's not the time to talk. Although he has a somewhat devilish personality, he can still distinguish between basic situations.

Upon arriving at the academy, Chu Shengyuan naturally sat next to the teacher. Luo Xuan also held a very high position in the academy, second only to the dean, so he was among the chairpersons.

Arriving here felt like stepping into a familiar place for Granny Han. She sat beside Nan Li with a dignified and solemn expression, her aura no less imposing than that of the Dean.

"Is the princess here at the academy for a short stay, or does she wish to find a teacher and pursue her studies diligently?"

The dean, with a smile on his face, casually brought up the topic.

Nan Li glanced at Chu Shengyuan and said generously, "I came to the academy to keep an eye on my little husband. After all, he's still young, and if he gets kidnapped, I'll have nowhere to cry."

Her bold remark caused a noticeable silence throughout the banquet, and even the dean's hand seemed to tremble slightly.

Granny Han remained expressionless, seemingly unresponsive to what her princess had said.

The rest of the people at the banquet stared in disbelief. After all, this princess didn't look very old, so how could she keep calling him "little husband"? It was far too indecent.

Even Chu Shengyuan couldn't stand it for a moment, his face turning red all the way to the roots of his neck.

After a long pause, the dean opened his mouth, looked at Chu Shengyuan, and said with some difficulty, "Uh, who is the princess's husband? Could you introduce him to us old folks so we can share in the joy?"

Nan Li seemed to be waiting for the dean to ask her a question, and pointed in the direction of Chu Shengyuan.

"Yes, Chu Shengyuan, the nominal disciple of Grand Master Luo Xuan, is my fiancé. Everyone should stay away from him in the future."

Besides some Grand Masters of the Derivation Rank and top-tier Masters of the Domain Rank, there were also some of their disciples present, so there were quite a few young faces.

Chu Shengyuan noticed that everyone's gaze was fixed on him. He pretended not to see these curious, doubtful, or disgusted looks and kept staring at the spiritual fruit on the table, lost in thought.

Luo Xuan glanced lightly at the emotionally charged crowd and spoke calmly.

"Xiao Yuan and Princess Nanli are a match made in heaven, a perfect union, there is nothing to doubt."

As soon as he spoke, the atmosphere at the banquet immediately quieted down. After all, Luo Xuan was known as a great master of fortune-telling, and he had been in the academy for an unknown period of time.

Some say he has lived longer than the royal family of the current dynasty and has witnessed the rise and fall of too many families. Others say he once taught true royal students.

Some people say that he was one of the founders of Qianling Academy. All sorts of rumors have shrouded Luo Xuan in mystery.

Furthermore, he has always been highly respected in the academy. In fact, all the teachers present, whether they are wise or great, have been taught by him, and are naturally a level below him in status.

So when he spoke, no one dared to question him.

Chu Shengyuan felt that the gazes on him had lessened considerably, and his tense emotions finally eased.

"You little tyrant, you can get nervous like this?"

Chu Shengyuan's third senior brother, He Mingshu, rang in Chu Shengyuan's ears with a teasing voice.

Chu Shengyuan looked towards the other side of his seat and glared fiercely at his third senior brother.

"Third Senior Brother, I've realized I haven't visited your library in a long time. How about I take Princess Nanli with me tomorrow? You won't object, will you?"

Hearing Chu Shengyuan's words, which sounded like he was gritting his teeth, He Mingshu's expression stiffened for a moment. "Ahem, my library hasn't been cleaned in a long time. Let me clean it up and I'll go back in a few days."

Without letting Chu Shengyuan reply, he quickly turned to the person next to him, raised his glass, and forcefully interrupted their conversation, as if Chu Shengyuan had just been treated like a monster.

Chu Shengyuan slightly curled the corners of his mouth. Little brat, you think I can't handle you?

This banquet was ultimately just a welcome feast and did not last long before everyone dispersed, giving the princess ample time to rest.

However, the news that the princess's fiancé was at the academy spread, and with the help of certain people, it became known to almost the entire academy.

Once he arrived at his teacher's academy, with no other outsiders around, Chu Shengyuan was finally able to voice the questions that had been nagging at him.

"Teacher, why did you arrange this engagement between me and Princess Nanli? Don't you think we're still too young? What if we're not suitable in the future?"

Looking at Chu Shengyuan's extremely dissatisfied expression, Luo Xuan's usually calm face showed a hint of worry, and he sighed.

"Xiao Yuan, I know you're complaining. I tied you to the ship of the Imperial Sea True King's Mansion without your consent."

But this is indeed the best choice for you. Some time ago, someone from the Jingyuan royal family asked me about you. They wanted you to go to Kyoto for an exchange and study.

But I know that they don't want you to learn as simply as they think. Jingyuan Capital, which appears to others as a glamorous and prosperous city, is to me a series of tombs.

Every year, half of the students who go to the capital to study tragically die.

Upon hearing this, Chu Shengyuan's heart skipped a beat. "Does Teacher mean that the royal family is suppressing geniuses from all over the country?"

"No." Luo Xuan shook his head slightly.

"On the contrary, the royal family hopes that geniuses will emerge. They are more like screening, selecting a group of geniuses with great fortune and more abundant talent."

Then, we will provide support and resources to help them grow rapidly.

Hearing this, Chu Shengyuan's doubts deepened. The royal family couldn't be so indiscriminately kind, supporting geniuses everywhere. Even if the Chu family was training people in the town, it was so that they would work for the Chu family.

"If the royal family truly valued talent, how could nearly half of them have perished in the capital? Those sent from all over the country must have possessed extraordinary talent, right?"

"The royal artifact possesses a unique ability: it can enable two contract masters of similar age and strength to engage in a life-or-death battle."

The victor will absorb all the victor's luck, talent, spirit, spiritual power, and other essential elements—a rare opportunity for self-improvement.

Therefore, even knowing the enormous risks, geniuses from all over the country, confident in their abilities, still eagerly went there.

Chu Shengyuan noticed a puzzling point: "If a genius from another region were to encounter a member of the royal family, how could they possibly win?"

Luo Xuan shook his head slightly, "Royal family members never participate; they are merely the hosts of this ceremony."

"But what good does this do for the royal family?"

"Yes, what good does this do for the royal family? For tens of thousands of years, the royal family has always claimed that it is simply to provide a platform for the rapid advancement of geniuses from all over the dynasty."

But who can know what that ritual actually absorbed? Over the years, besides the royal family, the Jingyuan Dynasty has only produced one king-level figure, the True King of the Sea.

"This sounds too bizarre. Those powerful families aren't anything special, so why would anyone be willing to send their family's genius?"

Luo Xuan sighed softly, "I have no choice but to go. Every family above the seventh rank has a certain number of slots, and sometimes the royal family will even personally designate who must go."

Who wouldn't dare obey the royal decree? Once this order was issued, for the sake of their family's rise and fall, they had no choice but to go.

"You're on this list, but if you have the connection of being the future husband of the Imperial Sea True King's Mansion, the Jingyuan Royal Family won't make things too difficult for you openly if you don't want to go."

Chu Shengyuan's expression stiffened. "Teacher, do you mean that if I didn't have this connection, I would definitely die as soon as I stepped onto that battle stage?"

Luo Xuan nodded slightly. "Only members of the Jingyuan royal family don't participate in the battle, but their relatives by marriage will also participate. Your luck is too strong and attracts too much envy. Even if they use certain means, they will make you die on the battle stage."

"Damn." Chu Shengyuan felt uneasy thinking about how he had been murdered. "That's so shady!"

"This world is full of dangers. Although I can protect you in most cases, there are two forces I am powerless to help: the Jingyuan Royal Family and the Yuhai True King's Mansion."

Sometimes, all you can do is try your best to prepare for the future. There's no need for you to suppress your true feelings; I can almost see the storm approaching.

Chu Shengyuan curled his lips. He hadn't deliberately suppressed his cultivation level at all; his current situation was simply that he couldn't comprehend the domain.

It seemed as if there was always a barrier separating him.

"Take this book and read it carefully. It records many strange tales, so you'll be better equipped to deal with them if you encounter similar situations in the future."

"Oh." Chu Shengyuan was usually quite well-behaved in front of his teacher. He took the slightly yellowed book from his teacher's hand and left the academy.

Back in his private palace, after dismissing the group of servants around him, Chu Shengyuan finally turned his attention to the book his teacher had handed him.

The book had no title, only a simple cover. In Chu Shengyuan's view, it was more like someone's personal essays than a book.

Opening the book to the first page leads directly into the main text.

"There is a strange clan in the wilderness. They do not contract with source beasts, but instead rely on controlling corpses as a means of survival for their clan. I spent a hundred years observing them before I finally understood the secrets of this clan."

When a family member advances to a higher realm, a suitable candidate must be selected. The candidate's realm cannot be too different from that of the family member. The selected candidate must have a full contract with a source beast. Then, the family member will personally kill the selected candidate, but the contracted source beast must be preserved and survived.

Then, after being refined using special secret methods for several to several hundred days, a contract can be signed with the contract master. Furthermore, the deceased can be resurrected by the spiritual power infused by family members, just like when they were alive.

However, this chosen one completely obeys the orders of the family members, and its source beast can be used as if it were an arm. I suspect that the family member was not actually resurrected, but was just a puppet controlled by the family member.

"I have wandered in this desolate place, and this is the most bizarre and strange method I have ever seen. It is far too insidious, and I do not like it."