Chapter 285: Master Hall, Here I Come!

Roar!

In a moment of distraction, the Lava Beast charged again, its scorching airflow threatening to tear him apart.

Taking a deep breath, Gu Mu shook his longsword, ready to defend once more, when the other's voice rang out again.

"Don't resist! Put your sword back into your storage ring!"

"Not resist?"

Hearing this, seeing the Lava Beast rushing straight at him, Gu Mu nearly fainted.

With such a ferocious attack, if he didn't resist, wouldn't he be killed instantly?

"Hurry!" While he hesitated, the voice sounded again.

"Yes!"

Though full of doubt, thinking that if the Grandmaster really wanted to kill him, he wouldn't need to go to such trouble, he gritted his teeth and put the longsword back into his storage ring, leaving himself completely defenseless.

"Stick your head out!"

No sooner had he put away the sword than the Grandmaster's next instruction came.

Gu Mu's body swayed, nearly falling off the stone slab into the magma.

You say put away the sword, don't resist—I can obey that. But stick my head out? What's that about?

Grandmaster, are you afraid I won't die fast enough?

If I really stick it out, given how ferocious it looks, won't it bite my head off in one go and kill me on the spot?

This isn't taming a beast—it's suicide!

"No time to hesitate, move quickly!"

The urging voice sounded in his ear again.

They communicated via telepathy, so although much was said, only two breaths had passed in reality. The fierce Lava Beast was now less than three meters away, ready to bite down at any moment. Time was running out.

"I'll risk it!"

Remembering that if the Grandmaster truly wanted him dead, he could have ended his life while he was unconscious, why use this beast to kill him now? Gritting his teeth, he stopped hesitating, twisted his body, and thrust his head forward, aiming straight for the beast's gaping maw.

"This..."

Liao Xun, standing to the side, didn't know the content of their telepathic exchange. Seeing the special envoy offer himself up to die, he trembled in fear, nearly fainting.

When taming beasts, others prepare delicacies and treasures to attract the beast's attention. This was the first time he'd seen someone offer their own head...

If the Lava Beast bit down, even a peak Sovereign would have their brains splattered and die instantly!

If the special envoy died here, he, the newly appointed hall master, would be finished. He'd probably be summoned by headquarters for interrogation lasting ten days to half a month, then poisoned to death.

He quickly turned to look at the "Grandmaster" beside him, only to see him standing calmly nearby, expressionless, showing no sign of urgency.

"Grandmaster..."

He couldn't help calling out, but before he could say more than three words, he saw the other point forward.

He hurriedly turned to look, and his eyes went wide.

Gu Mu had already thrust his head into the Lava Beast's mouth. All the beast had to do was close its jaws to kill him instantly. But unexpectedly... at the critical moment, instead of biting down, the Lava Beast turned and fled.

It had been so ferocious, eager to tear Gu Mu to pieces. Why, when he voluntarily offered his head, did it retreat?

What... was going on?

Not only was he bewildered, but Gu Mu, standing on the magma, was also utterly incredulous.

He had prepared himself for death, never expecting this outcome.

"Don't just stand there! Rush over and grab its tail!"

Just as he was filled with doubt, the Grandmaster's voice sounded in his ear again.

He had hesitated before, but now, hearing this, he didn't hesitate any longer. He stamped his foot on the stone slab, leaping into the air like a swallow skimming the water, and in the blink of an eye, he caught up.

He wrapped his arms around the Lava Beast's thick tail and held it tight.

Roar!

With its tail caught, the Lava Beast panicked and thrashed violently, sending magma splashing and sparks flying. They landed on Gu Mu, burning holes in his clothes.

"What now?"

Feeling that his internal energy could barely withstand the heat of the magma, Gu Mu hurriedly asked.

"Hold tight, ignore its movements!"

Zhang Xuan continued.

"Alright!"

With a surge of determination, Gu Mu wrapped his limbs around the beast's tail, refusing to let go no matter how it struggled. As for his body, he could only keep circulating his energy to fend off the intense heat.

Roar! Roar!

With its tail caught, the Lava Beast roared in fury, trying to shake Gu Mu off, but its movements grew slower and slower. Within less than a minute, it collapsed like a dead snake.

"This..."

Seeing the beast in this state, Gu Mu breathed a sigh of relief, hardly believing it. He wondered if he was dreaming.

He had seen how fierce this Lava Beast was when they fought earlier—it wanted to tear him apart. Why... when he stuck his head out, it didn't bite but retreated, and when he grabbed its tail, it ended up like this?

"Alright, bring it ashore!"

While he was still puzzled, he heard the instruction in his ear.

"Yes!"

This time, with no more doubts, he grabbed the now-limp Lava Beast with a surge of energy and flew swiftly to the shore.

Soon, man and beast reached the bank.

As soon as the Lava Beast arrived, Zhang Xuan stepped forward, flicked his wrist, and several silver needles shot out, piercing the beast.

"Make it submit. If it agrees, help it break through its current cultivation. If not, it dies."

Having done this, Zhang Xuan said no more and stood quietly.

"Yes!"

Gu Mu went to the Lava Beast and relayed the words. After a moment, the beast rubbed its huge head against him, signaling submission.

Soon, the contract was signed, and the Lava Beast was fully tamed.

Liao Xun stood dumbfounded.

He had seen beast taming before, but never this fast!

This was a peak Sovereign beast, and it submitted so easily... Wasn't that too simple?

If taming beasts were this easy, could he also become a beast tamer?

Gu Mu felt the same, as if in a dream.

If not for the massive Lava Beast constantly rubbing against him, he would have doubted it was real.

"Grandmaster..."

Knowing that the miracle was the work of the Grandmaster nearby, the two couldn't help looking at him.

"This Lava Beast lives in magma, with no companions or peers. It has never interacted with other life forms. Therefore, it is naturally suspicious and afraid of new things."

Knowing what they wanted to ask, Zhang Xuan explained.

If a person lives alone for a long time, they become withdrawn, let alone a beast.

A peak Sovereign beast already has intelligence no less than a human's. Living alone deep underground, having never seen any life form, it is naturally curious and fearful of anything new.

"If you fight it head-on, trying to kill it, it will naturally resist without thinking. The Lava Beast in the magma, though lacking combat experience, has the home-field advantage. You couldn't have won." Zhang Xuan continued.

Gu Mu nodded.

In a real fight, he could only take a beating; he was no match.

If he continued, he would only end up dead.

"I told you to put away your sword and offer your head. Though it seemed like suicide, it made this already suspicious Lava Beast doubt and feel afraid. Because... it completely defied common sense!"

Zhang Xuan smiled. "And most importantly, the Lava Beast has a major weakness in its mouth. Seeing your unusual behavior, it suspected you had seen through it. Afraid of being subdued, it turned and fled."

"I see!"

Hearing the explanation, Gu Mu and Liao Xun suddenly understood.

Gu Mu, in particular, felt secretly grateful that he had followed the Grandmaster's instructions. Otherwise, if he had kept fighting, he would probably be done for by now.

"But... why did it collapse and lose its combat ability when I grabbed its tail?"

"Does a beast need to breathe?" Zhang Xuan looked at him.

"Of course..." Gu Mu paused, then nodded quickly.

Like humans, beasts naturally need to breathe.

"The Lava Beast lives in magma. When we first arrived, we didn't see it. Don't you find that strange?"

Gu Mu was taken aback.

Fish can breathe in water because they have gills that filter oxygen. Magma is essentially molten rock, scorching hot, with no gas inside. When the three arrived earlier, they hadn't seen the Lava Beast's head above the surface; it only jumped out when Liao Xun threw a stone.

Could it be... that this creature didn't need to breathe?

That was impossible!

He had never heard of a beast that could live without breathing!

"The Lava Beast's breathing organ—what we call its nose—is not on its head, but on... its tail!" Zhang Xuan explained.

"On its tail?"

The two quickly looked at the Lava Beast and indeed saw two rows of small holes on its tail.

"Normally, this creature hides in the magma, only needing to expose its tail to breathe easily. The color of its tail is almost identical to the magma, so even we didn't notice it when we first arrived."

Zhang Xuan laughed. "Earlier, I told you to grab its tail to block its breathing passage with your body. Unable to breathe, a martial artist can hold on for a while with internal energy, but a beast is different, especially in such hot magma. It soon exhausts its strength and naturally loses the ability to resist. I didn't notice these traits at first either; I deduced them from watching you fight."

"I see!"

Gu Mu finally understood why the Grandmaster hadn't spoken at first. It wasn't to set him up, but to observe the Lava Beast's characteristics and devise a taming strategy.

How ridiculous that he had misunderstood... How embarrassing!

Knowing this, he was once again filled with admiration for the Grandmaster.

To determine the Lava Beast's traits and temperament in such a short time through combat alone, and to devise a taming method—this level of insight was probably beyond even a four-star beast tamer!

Especially the needles he used on the beast after it came ashore—they were likely the means to immobilize it, allowing it to submit so quickly.

"The Lava Beast is tamed. Go and pick the lotus seeds." Having explained, Zhang Xuan waved his hand.

"Yes!"

Gu Mu nodded, said no more, and jumped back into the magma, striding swiftly toward the Crimson Flame Lotus.

Seeing him successfully tame the Lava Beast, Zhang Xuan also breathed a sigh of relief.

Beast combat is like human combat; the library can form books from it. Having Gu Mu fight was to generate a book and reveal the beast's weaknesses.

Once the weaknesses were known, the rest was simple.

Without the Lava Beast's interference, it didn't take long for a lotus head to be picked. It bore nine golden seeds, fragrant even before being extracted, invigorating anyone who smelled them.

"Grandmaster, these are the Crimson Flame Lotus seeds..."

He placed the seeds in a jade box and handed it over.

"Mm." Taking the seeds, Zhang Xuan took out two and handed them over. "One is for you, the other for this Lava Beast."

It had been agreed earlier that he would keep one seed, and the rest would belong to Zhang Xuan.

Now that there was this Lava Beast, which was about to break through, he added one more.

After all, without this special envoy, he wouldn't have known about this treasure, let alone obtained it.

"Thank you, Grandmaster!"

Gu Mu was overjoyed.

"This one is for your branch. It can only be taken when someone reaches peak Sovereign."

He took out another seed and handed it to Liao Xun.

The latter also expressed his gratitude profusely.

Though the Crimson Flame Lotus seeds were extremely precious, they were of little use to Zhang Xuan now.

To break through to peak Sovereign, he only needed enough secret manuals and techniques; so-called cultivation barriers did not exist for him.

Since they were of little use and obtained from the Red Lotus Poison Hall, it wouldn't be right not to give one to them.

Out of nine seeds, he gave away three, leaving six. Zhang Xuan put them into his storage ring with a clear conscience.

"Since matters here are concluded, I should be going."

With the Crimson Flame Lotus seeds in hand and having finished reading the Poison Hall's books, his purpose here was accomplished. After helping Gu Mu resolve his final隐患, Zhang Xuan bid farewell.

"Grandmaster... If I want to visit you in the future, where should I look?"

Knowing he would leave, Gu Mu felt reluctant and couldn't help asking.

Though their time together was short, the man before him had completely cured his hidden ailment and helped him tame a beast—a debt of gratitude beyond words.

Even though he suspected the other might not be a real Grandmaster, he was still deeply impressed and dared not harbor any rebellious thoughts; instead, he felt a trace of admiration.

"I wander the world. If fate allows, we will meet again." Zhang Xuan shook his head.

He was an impostor; it was best not to meet again.

"Grandmaster, this token represents my identity. I know it's of little use to you, but if you ever have a descendant or student in trouble, they can bring this to the Poison Hall in the Xuan Yuan Kingdom to find me. I will do my utmost to help."

He flicked his wrist and produced a jade token, handing it over.

"Alright, thank you."

Knowing the other meant well and wanted to repay his kindness, Zhang Xuan didn't refuse. He took the token and put it into his storage ring.

"Farewell."

Having said all that needed to be said, Zhang Xuan didn't linger. He strode out of the Poison Hall.

He had walked this path once before and remembered it all, so even without the Great Medicine King, he could leave easily.

He traveled for five days before leaving the Red Lotus Mountain range.

With a low call, after a moment's wait, the massive figure of the Iron-Fanged Sky-Howling Beast appeared in the sky.

He leaped onto the beast's back, and with a flap of its wings, it flew straight toward Heavenly King Wu City.

Master Hall, I, Zhang Xuan, am coming!