Eternal Beast Taming Family

A large hand formed from spiritual energy gently lifted the kneeling boy to his feet, while the elderly man sighed helplessly.

"Well, that's how it is now, there's nothing we can do but hope that this patent document will actually work."

Yue Chen, who had stood up, looked at the document in his grandfather's hand and reminded him:

"Grandpa, this document still needs one last step to be completely completed."

"The final step?"

"I signed this document on behalf of our family, but it will only be fully effective after the main members of our family have imprinted their bloodline aura or a wisp of the aura of the family's source artifact on this document."

Upon hearing Yue Chen's words, Yue Mingshu nodded slightly, understanding their meaning.

"Since the main members of our family are all here, let's imprint our aura on each of them. That should be enough."

The dozen or so people naturally obeyed the patriarch's order, forcing drops of blood from their fingertips and then gathering the document together.

During this process, a tiny crack suddenly appeared above the golden document, and some of the blood's essence seeped through the crack into other unknown places.

Upon seeing this, the Yue family members couldn't help but feel suspicious. "What's this?"

Yue Chen quickly replied, "The document is in duplicate. This part of the aura should be transferred to the other document, so that it will be easier to verify each other later."

The rest of the Yue family members then nodded.

However, at this moment, another figure rushed in in a panic. Seeing everyone standing at the door, he paused for a moment before urgently speaking to Yue Mingshu.

"This is terrible, Father! The Xu family's shops have started stocking Zengguang Lingdan in large quantities. They've announced that it's a significant improvement on our family's formula."

Now, the new Enhancement Elixir can be purchased for only 70% of the original price.

"What? How did they get the recipe?"

Everyone was shocked to hear this news, and their gazes turned to the third brother in unison, since he had just been supporting the sale of the pill formula.

Seeing the others looking over, the third brother's still handsome face immediately showed signs of anxiety.

"Why are you all looking at me like that? Without my father's and the rest of the family's consent, even if it means death, I will never hand over the pill formula!"

The person who had just come in to deliver the news spoke with a hint of sorrow.

"It's not Third Brother, it's Mingfang Pavilion... The managers of Mingfang Pavilion collectively betrayed our Yue family. They stole the pill formula when Xiao Qi wasn't paying attention, and then they all defected to the Xu family."

"boom."

The unstable aura of a Spirit Rank cultivator surged through the hall. Yue Mingshu's face was ashen, and he gritted his teeth as he asked:

"How is Xiaoqi now?"

"Xiao Qi lost a source beast and was seriously injured himself. I have arranged for a doctor to take care of him, but this time... I'm afraid it will be a big blow to him."

Upon hearing the news of Xiao Qi's injury, the rest of the Yue family members felt their blood boil and wished they could go out right now and tear those traitors to pieces.

"This is outrageous! We're going to avenge Xiao Qi right now!"

"Traitors deserve to die."

"The Xu family is already the head of this Falling Star City, yet they are still so greedy."

……

"Quiet!" Yue Mingshu snapped.

"Let's keep this grudge in mind for now. Third brother, you're quick-witted, go directly to the government office and report that the steward has betrayed us and stolen our family's secret recipe."

Even though the Xu family currently holds absolute power in Falling Star City, they wouldn't dare to challenge the Governing Council.

Upon hearing his name called, the third son immediately stepped forward and said, "Yes, Father." His figure quickly disappeared outside the courtyard.

Slightly to the side of the crowd, an elderly man who appeared to be the same age spoke up.

"Even if we report it to the governing body, we can only punish those traitors slightly. The Xu family insists that they bought them from outside, and there's nothing we can do."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood the reasoning, and the atmosphere in the hall became exceptionally somber.

"Knock knock knock".

A sound like the striking of a grand bell resounded throughout the entire Falling Star City. The sky cracked open, and a group of contract masters dressed in uniform descended from the crack, riding three "Golden Flame Dragon Sparrows".

During the Jingyuan Dynasty, the "Golden Flame Dragon Sparrow" was the standard source beast for patrols. Many commoners in the small town may not have known about the change of dynasty.

However, he had a deep impression of the fierce source beast that flew in the sky, resembling a dragon or a sparrow.

However, under the cultivation of the Chu family, the number of "Golden Flame Dragon Sparrows" and the scenarios in which they are used have gradually increased. Now they have almost become the official source beasts for half of the government departments.

The group of figures remained high in the sky, their powerful voices carrying down to earth.

"The leaders of the Xu family, a seventh-rank aristocratic family, and the Yue family, an eighth-rank aristocratic family, in Falling Star City, shall come immediately to receive orders."

In the main hall, the Yue family members looked at each other blankly upon hearing the news.

It seems like the third brother just left not long ago, right? And since the ruling hall accepted the case, it's unlikely that someone from above would tear through space so quickly.

Only Yue Chen's eyes brightened. Could this be what the shopkeeper Meng Ling meant by "they'll be here soon"?

He quickly explained to his grandfather, "They might be from the dream world..."

Yue Mingshu listened to a few sentences briefly, getting a general idea, before hurriedly leading the Yue family members to fly into the sky.

On the other side of the city, figures in splendid attire also approached the sky.

After all, the "Golden Flame Dragon Sparrow" represents the royal family. Although the Xu family is currently enjoying great influence in Falling Star City, they dare not be slighted by the capital.

However, the Xu family leaders were now filled with doubt and apprehension. Why now? And why their Xu family and Yue family in particular?

Surely it couldn't be because of the "Zengguang Lingdan" incident, could it?

Whether it is true or not, if the Yue family were to say something in front of this envoy from the capital, it would cost the Xu family a considerable amount of time and effort.

I just hope that Yue's family will be more sensible now and won't cause any extra trouble for the Xu family.

The figures of the two major families, a city lord, and several envoys floated in the void, attracting the attention of all forces, large and small, within the city.

Upon reaching the air, Xu Zhong, the head of the Xu family, saw that the entire group consisted almost entirely of Domain-level Contract Masters. He felt a sense of awe, but outwardly smiled and greeted the envoys beside the "Golden Flame Dragon Sparrow."

"Xu Zhong of the Xu family in Falling Star City has met with several envoys. May I ask which department you gentlemen come from, and what kind of inspection work you are engaged in?"

At the very front of the "Golden Flame Dragon Sparrow," the young man who appeared to be the leader of this expedition glanced at Xu Zhong and spoke coldly.

"What? Who are you? How dare you question my identity and background on behalf of the City Lord of Falling Star City? Where is the City Lord of Falling Star City?"

Xu Zhong had enjoyed his time in Falling Star City for a long time, and he had never been questioned so harshly before. Instantly, a look of displeasure appeared on his face.

The middle-aged man who had seemed rather quiet quickly spoke up in response:

"Your humble servant is here."

A token appeared in the young man's hand, with a large character "巡" (xún) engraved on it.

"I, Yang Heguang, have been ordered by the Dream Realm to investigate a patent infringement case. Do you have any objections?"

The city lord of Falling Star City looked at the token and recognized it as the unique token of the inspector of the four directions.

Upon seeing this token, regardless of strength, status, or position, the city lord of any city, large or small, will automatically be demoted by one rank.

"No, no... I'll do as Inspector Yang instructs."

The word "patent" struck the Xu family like a thunderbolt. Although they lived in a small city like Falling Star City, the Xu family was well-informed about the latest news from various dynasties.

For example, this patent. If they hadn't known about it, the Xu family wouldn't have rushed to take action against the Yue family's pill formula. They were afraid that the Yue family would apply for this patent in advance.

Now, unexpectedly, it has ended up reaching the inspection team.

Yang Heguang looked at Yue Mingshu, the head of the Yue family, and asked, "Has your Yue family filed a lawsuit against the Xu family for illegally manufacturing and selling Zengguang Lingdan without your Yue family's patent authorization, thereby seeking profits through improper means?"

Under Xu Zhong's subtly threatening gaze, Yue Mingshu nodded with a sorrowful expression.

"Yes, the Xu family even bribed many stewards, killed my child's source beast, and injured my child's body before stealing the pill formula."

No sooner had Yue Mingshu finished speaking than Xu Zhongbian eagerly interjected.

"How did your poor management of your subordinates become a problem with the Xu family? Don't try to smear our family with all sorts of dirty water; this is completely unfounded."

"Besides, this pill formula isn't exclusive to your Yue family. Our Xu family also obtained a copy of the Zengguang Lingdan formula from the ruins some time ago. How does that make it seem like we stole it from your Xu family?"

Hearing Xu Zhong's distorted words, the young Yue Chen was furious. If looks could kill, Xu Zhong would have been annihilated countless times.

Yang Heguang did not offer any opinion on their conflicting accounts, but simply spoke softly.

"I can't say for sure what the truth is; let the dream tell us the final answer."

"A dream?" Everyone present was stunned, wondering how they suddenly became involved with "dreams".

But they found out what was going on in the next second.

The once clear blue sky suddenly darkened after Yang Heguang finished speaking.

Colorful, dreamlike bubbles escaped from the void, their magnificent and profound aura spreading with boundless radiance, enveloping the entire Falling Star City.

At this moment, the entire Falling Star City seemed to have fallen into another world, with all sorts of strange scenes that could never happen in reality being depicted and rendered in the picture in the sky.

Such a grand and incredible scene immediately plunged all life in Falling Star City into a kind of unknown panic.

However, the next second a sense of reassurance flowed through the city, causing everyone to unconsciously quiet down and calm down.

However, the Xu family patriarch, who was still in the air, couldn't help but twitch, and a look of panic flashed between his brows. They didn't quite understand why something as simple as a pill formula could cause such a big scene.

This level of commotion clearly indicates that a very high-level being has intervened, and it might even involve the king who rules the dream realm...

The thought of possibly attracting the attention of some being made the Xu family members, who were well aware of the pill formula, tremble with fear even under the calming aura. They wished they could immediately bow their heads and admit their mistakes.

However, their bodies were pinned to the spot by some kind of force, unable to make any movement.

A long scroll slowly unfurled in the air, and then, like a movie playing, the myriad scenes of life in Falling Star City over the past few days appeared on the scroll.

The images flipped rapidly and were simplified until Xu Zhong's face appeared on the scroll.

He and several other elders of the Xu family were in a large hall, seemingly discussing something.

"A patent has appeared in the Dream Realm? Patriarch, do you think the Yue family, with our restrictions on raw materials, might just apply for the pill formula themselves?"

Xu Zhong frowned slightly. "The matter of the pill formula has been planned for a long time and must not be allowed to fail. This is an important part of our Xu family's resource accumulation. In order to avoid any unforeseen problems, Yingke, you can start making your move ahead of time."

A figure emerged from the shadows, received the order, and then withdrew.

The scene flashed, and the figure that had emerged from the Xu family's residence appeared a street away.

The pavilion bearing the plaque of Mingfang Pavilion slowly collapsed in the flames, and a figure emerged from it, vaguely holding something in his hand.

The scene flickered again, and we were back in the Xu family's main hall.

It was the same familiar figures again, only this time they placed the pill formula on the table in front of them.

Xu Zhong stared at the prescription for a long time, then laughed and said, "So these are the medicinal herbs, and so are the proportions. Now that I see it, the prescription is not difficult at all."

The Yue family truly lives up to its reputation as an ancient and prestigious family. I wonder if they have any valuable items left in their warehouse?

"Patriarch, there's no need to be anxious. The Yue family is already in decline, and the pill formula has become the property of my Xu family. Before long, there will be no need for such a family to exist in Falling Star City."

The implication was clear: the Yue family would soon be easily eliminated by the Xu family.

The scene ends here with Xu Zhong's somewhat smug laugh.

After seeing these images, who in the entire Falling Star City didn't know what had happened?

"Impossible... You fabricated a baseless story to frame our Xu family."

Xu Zhong, like a hyena whose tail had been stepped on, began to bite wildly.

He was met with a cold snort from Yang Heguang, followed by a resounding slap.

"Are you questioning this inspector, questioning His Majesty King Yanmeng's Origin Beast? Do you speak on your own behalf, or on behalf of the entire Xu family? Think carefully before you speak."

Hearing Yang Heguang's words was like a bucket of cold water being poured over Xu Zhong. He realized what he had just said, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back.

If the Void King minded, then his family would probably never have a chance to rise again. He quickly knelt in the void.

"It was my own slip of the tongue. Everything was my own doing, and it represents only my personal opinion. It has nothing to do with the Xu family. I beg Your Excellency to punish me."

Yang Heguang then nodded coldly.

"The matter is clear: Xu Zhong, the head of the Xu family, coveted the Yue family's patented formula for the Zengguang Lingdan pill and obtained it through improper means. The consequences were extremely negative and seriously violated the patent rights."

He was stripped of his status as head of the Xu family and was required to serve in the mortal dynasty for 300 years.

The court ordered the Xu family to compensate the Yue family for economic losses of three million spirit stones and to transfer 50% of the farmland belonging to the spirit flowers in the wilderness.

The remaining accomplices were sentenced to labor service ranging from 100 to 300 years, depending on the severity of their offenses.