398: Shen Yunshu was arrested

Great Sun City.

Back courtyard of the Liu Family.

Liu Xuan had just returned when Xiao Ran hurried over to report that Xiao Changfeng had brought a batch of Yao Beasts back yesterday, dropped them off, and left.

"I know!" Liu Xuan explained. "Those are the Spirit Beasts I asked True Person Xiao to help purchase."

Peach Blossom was very reliable; she had promised to arrange a batch of suitable Yao Beasts to be delivered, and she had gotten it done so quickly.

Demon Lord Bai Leng brought the Yao Beasts to Pingding Mountain, and then Xiao Changfeng personally made the trip to deliver them to Great Sun City.

Xiao Changfeng had reported the entire process to Liu Xuan via Divine Soul, so Liu Xuan had known in advance.

There were eighteen Yao Beasts in total, all with Tier 3 Bloodline. Among them were ten at the Late Qi Refining Stage to Peak Qi Refining Stage, six at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, and two at the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

Liu Xuan instructed Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin), who were beside him: "Excluding the Eldest, the Fourth, Dao Long, and Spirit Phoenix, call over the top eighteen based on the overall ranking of the Family Disciples."

"Yes!"

"Understood!"

Da Shuang and Xiao Shuang (Younger Twin) first went to confirm the list of names, then sent people to invite the young masters and young misses.

Liu Xuan did not wait idly; instead, he headed to the courtyard in the outer residence where the Yao Beasts were being housed to inspect their quality in detail.

Outer residence.

This place was originally a courtyard for gatherings of the Merchant Alliance's high-level members, but now it housed eighteen Yao Beasts.

When Liu Xuan entered, the eighteen Yao Beasts were gathered together chatting: seven white pythons, five thick green vines clustered in a ball, and six ugly Devourer Flowers with feet.

Upon seeing Liu Xuan appear, the Yao Beasts exchanged glances, then all imitated human behavior by bowing and saluting in unison, saying: "We pay our respects to Young Master Liu!"

Liu Xuan nodded with satisfaction. "You all know why you've come here, don't you?"

"If anyone is unwilling, I can let you leave right now, but if you rebel in the future, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

"We are willing to follow Young Master Liu, obey your commands, and will not shrink from death!"

Before they could come here, they had first been instructed on what to do by Grand Elder Lv Luo, then personally instructed by Demon Lord Bai Leng, and even Demon Lord Peach Blossom had appeared to give a lecture before they departed. Who would dare to have thoughts of rebellion?

Their mission was to serve as Spirit Beasts for the Liu Family. Those with ulterior motives had long since been weeded out; the ones remaining were all volunteers.

Staying in the Peach Blossom Sect meant being cannon fodder. Serving the Liu Family as Spirit Beasts wasn't bad at all; in a blink of an eye, they had become part of the Beast Taming Sect.

An hour later.

Ling Hui, Dao Ming, Dao Shun, Ninth Son... eighteen people arrived one after another.

After Liu Xuan told them the purpose of these Yao Beasts, he let them choose in order of their ranking.

After hearing Liu Xuan's words, the children were overjoyed. They looked at the Yao Beasts with the same gaze a lecherous person would have upon seeing a stunning beauty.

Eldest Brother, the Eldest Son, possessed a Foundation Establishment Stage Big Black Ox, and the fourth brother had a Black Crystal Bee Queen that had already advanced to the Late Foundation Establishment Stage.

Some time ago, the rising stars Dao Long and Spirit Phoenix had also each obtained a Foundation Establishment Stage natal spirit beast, Big Green and Xiao Qing, respectively.

They had long been drooling over the idea of a natal spirit beast; it was just that they hadn't found a suitable one yet.

They simply looked down on ordinary Tier 2 Bloodline Spirit Beasts, and they had no channels to obtain higher-tier ones, so they had to drag it out.

Father Liu Xuan had brought out eighteen Tier 3 Bloodline Spirit Beasts at once, and the lowest cultivation level was Late Qi Refining Stage. Furthermore, they had already been trained and could be contracted immediately. To anyone else, this was a massive Opportunity.

According to their understanding, within the South Courtyard of the Beast Taming Sect, Yao Beast cubs with a Tier 3 Bloodline or higher were basically not for sale; there was a market but no supply.

To be able to directly obtain grown Tier 3 Bloodline Spirit Beasts like this, one had to be either a top-tier Genius or a Family Disciple with a profound background.

Seeing his children getting a bit carried away, Liu Xuan cautioned: "Unless there is a special reason, you are not permitted to use the power of your Spirit Beasts to cause trouble. Otherwise, you will be severely punished without exception!"

The appearance of this batch of Spirit Beasts would inevitably attract the attention of interested parties, but Liu Xuan still did it.

Demon Lord Peach Blossom had been very right about something before: there were many suspicious points about Liu Xuan that could not withstand scrutiny or deep investigation.

Since he couldn't hide them, it was better to change his approach and give those who were suspicious a believable reason.

Liu Xuan, and by extension the Liu Family, were pawns arranged by Demon Lord Peach Blossom; all issues could be attributed to Demon Lord Peach Blossom.

Anyway, the Beast Taming Sect and the Peach Blossom Sect were not mortal enemies. Liu Xuan planned to have Demon Lord Peach Blossom defect to the Beast Taming Sect when the time came, and then everything would be clear.

In the past, Demon Lord Peach Blossom would not have defected to the Beast Taming Sect because she had her own pursuits. She couldn't just give up the Peach Blossom Sect's territory and some core interests for nothing, nor was she willing to become a Spirit Beast for the Beast Taming Sect Disciples.

But after following Liu Xuan, her essential needs had changed; she could completely give up some benefits in exchange for the Beast Taming Sect's trust.

Previously, when Liu Xuan was at the Peach Blossom Sect, he had discussed his thoughts with Demon Lord Peach Blossom.

But Demon Lord Peach Blossom said she had a better way to gain the Beast Taming Sect's trust, it just needed to wait until the Peach Blossom Sect war ended in a few years.

She didn't say exactly how she would do it, but the goal was certain: to defect to the Beast Taming Sect.

The purpose of the Pioneering War was not the Peach Blossom Sect, but the Endless Great Mountain Demon Court behind it.

The Peach Blossom Sect was just a bridgehead. As long as Demon Lord Peach Blossom showed sincerity in defecting, the Beast Taming Sect would certainly be very willing to accept her.

Exposing some connections with the Peach Blossom Sect didn't matter. Even if True Lord Haoran found out, he would focus his attention more on Demon Lord Peach Blossom rather than on him.

Liu Xuan had even considered directly showing his cards to True Lord Haoran, indicating that he wanted to abandon the darkness for the light and act as a double agent for the time being!

However, after some thought, Liu Xuan felt it was better to just continue as normal. Since True Lord Haoran hadn't interfered, he would just pretend not to know, develop low-key, and wait for the Peach Blossom Sect war to end in a few years.

A month later.

Back courtyard of the Liu Family.

Liu Xuan reclined on a soft couch, served by several beautiful Concubines at his side. In front of him, songstresses swayed their slender waists, accompanied by the sounds of strings and flutes, with decadent music filling the entire courtyard.

With fine wine and delicacies, the garden was full of spring, and he felt light and carried away, oblivious to the world.

After bringing Demon Lord Peach Blossom, a woman at the Late Nascent Soul Stage, into his fold, Liu Xuan's pressure had vanished, and he had become a little bit more indulgent in his enjoyment.

However, he wasn't truly oblivious. While enjoying himself, he was also working hard; there were even more pregnant wives and Concubines in the manor!

Family affairs were handled by his wives, Concubines, and children. Aside from occasionally visiting the Artifact Refining Workshop and the Pill Refining Tower, Liu Xuan's only worry for the rest of his time was how to change up the ways he enjoyed himself.

He had thought he could continue enjoying himself like this until the Peach Blossom Sect war ended in a few years, but he suddenly received a message sent back by Xiao Changfeng.

Shen Yunshu had been captured by the Yao Race!

How could Shen Yunshu possibly be captured?!! She was a Late Golden Core Stage Sword Cultivator; unless a Nascent Soul existence made a move, who could capture her?

Black Leopard Fortress was the node for communication between him and Demon Lord Peach Blossom, could it be...

Liu Xuan sent a wisp of his Divine Thought to possess Xiao Changfeng and questioned the Peach Blossom Sect Yao Beast responsible for the liaison.

Sure enough, Shen Yunshu hadn't been captured by anyone else; it was Demon Lord Peach Blossom who gave the order, and Demon Lord Bai Leng who carried it out.