Beast Tamer Ascension

Vol 3 Chapter 31: Xu Qingyao

This vast palace, spanning hundreds of miles deep in the mountains, was the dwelling of the Third Holy Maiden of the Demon Court, Xu Qingyao.

At the massive entrance, two giant armored ape demons stood guard, each wielding heavy weapons. Their cultivation had reached the level of Demon King.

“Yang Qi brat!”

Upon seeing Ouyang Hao, one of the armored giant apes snorted, “Go on in.”

“Thank you, seniors.” Ouyang Hao bowed respectfully, still filled with awe.

No wonder she’s the eldest senior sister.

Even a Demon King—who held the status of an ancestral elder in the Beast Taming Sect—was merely a gatekeeper here!

As Ouyang Hao rode his heat-propelled Wild Boar Demon inside, the two giant apes exchanged glances, muttering to themselves.

It was nearly impossible for most people to even get an audience with the Holy Maiden of the Demon Court. Yet, she had granted these Beast Taming Sect cultivators the privilege of visiting her freely.

“By the way, wasn’t that Yang Qi brat always accompanied by a fox demon?”

“When did he start riding a pig?”

—

“Ouyang Hao?”

The fragrance of aromatic herbs drifted through the air long before Ouyang Hao even stepped into the palace.

The moment he entered, he wasn’t surprised to find his unruly eldest senior sister seated cross-legged in the center of the grand hall—hotpot in hand.

Inside the bubbling cauldron were precious blood-replenishing medicinal herbs, along with the blood and organs of various demon beasts.

“Want some?” Xu Qingyao asked casually.

“I’ll pass. I’m not short on blood.” Ouyang Hao replied awkwardly.

Due to his Half-Demon Blood being frequently used for alchemy, Senior Sister Guan was constantly low on blood.

“True, you lack Yang Qi, not blood. After all, you’ve got a fox demon back home.”

Xu Qingyao smirked, glancing at the Wild Boar Demon by the door.

“So, that pig’s not for me to eat? It’s your own food?”

“No, no, Senior Sister, let me explain…” Ouyang Hao forced a bitter smile.

—

Xu Qingyao, adopted daughter of the Beast Taming Sect Master, eldest senior sister, Third Holy Maiden of the Demon Court...

As Ouyang Hao had once told Lin Jing, although she had left the Beast Taming Sect before even reaching adulthood, she still cared deeply for it.

In fact, she had agreed to become the Demon Court’s Holy Maiden precisely because it gave her a better chance to find a way for demon beasts to take human form.

Her motivation?

Her adoptive father was human, her adoptive mother was a crane.

She wanted them to truly be together.

As for Ouyang Hao, who had a special relationship with a fox demon, Xu Qingyao took a particular interest in him.

At one point, she had even suggested that their father groom Ouyang Hao as the next Sect Master.

But then, word came from the Ancient Celestial Kingdom—some Demon King elders had taken advantage of the Sect Master’s absence to appoint a Holy Son of their own.

Of course, Ouyang Hao held no hostility toward this Holy Son. The two had even saved each other’s lives before, so who became Sect Master didn’t really matter.

“I found an incredibly skilled alchemist.”

“He’s willing to join the research on the Transformation Pill!”

“Which rank is he?” Xu Qingyao set down her chopsticks and asked.

“He can currently refine Fourth-Tier Pills.”

“That’s a bit low…”

Xu Qingyao frowned in thought.

Although Transformation Grass was only a Third-Rank Herb, the Transformation Pill was far beyond what a Third-Tier Alchemist could refine.

Even her own blood required at least a Fourth-Tier Alchemist to process.

The alchemist Ouyang Hao found had barely met the minimum standard.

“You came rushing back in such a hurry—he must have something exceptional about him, right?” Xu Qingyao asked.

“Yes! He gave me two pills to bring back—both of which he personally refined.”

“One is the Gluttonous Pill, and the other is the Solar False Core Pill, which helps cultivators and demon beasts condense False Cores!”

Ouyang Hao quickly retrieved the pills.

As a Half-Demon Holy Maiden, Xu Qingyao was deeply invested in using alchemy to achieve demon transformation.

Naturally, she was an accomplished alchemist herself.

Her eyes gleamed as she studied the Gluttonous Pill and Solar False Core Pill floating before her.

“You and that pig both took the Solar False Core Pill, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then use your False Core Technique to attack me.”

“Attack with full force—no need to hold back.”

“Understood!”

Ouyang Hao had no hesitation.

His eldest senior sister had long reached the Nascent Soul Stage.

No matter how powerful the Solar False Core Technique was, there was no way a Golden Core cultivator could harm a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core were all part of the same realm.

Nascent Soul, however, was a complete transformation.

Not only could Nascent Soul cultivators freely unleash Golden Core Divine Abilities, but they also possessed Nascent Soul Manifestations and Soul Possession techniques—true immortal techniques.

—

Moments later, Ouyang Hao—engulfed in searing Yangflame—was pinned to the ground by a massive beastly palm.

Above him, the demonic woman attached to that palm gazed at him with an intriguing glint in her eyes.

Lifting her hand, she observed the smoking ground beneath him and spoke softly.

“Alright. I acknowledge this alchemist’s abilities.”

“This False Core Technique is enough for you to fight Golden Core cultivators—even late-stage Golden Core cultivators—without relying on Beast Taming abilities.”

“The only downside is that using the technique gradually wears down the False Core. But for temporary use, it’s a top-tier battle art.”

“Not just the Solar False Core Pill, but this Gluttonous Pill as well—both are groundbreaking. Anyone capable of creating such pills is more than qualified to join the research on the Transformation Pill.”

Xu Qingyao nodded.

“So, why didn’t you bring this alchemist with you? Did he have some conditions?”

Ouyang Hao crawled out from under the beastly palm, looking miserable.

“He… doesn’t want to join the Demon Court.”

“He doesn’t want to be exposed to too many of the Demon Court’s powerful figures.”

“He’s willing to assist from his own territory—but only if we deliver your demon blood and the Transformation Grass to him and leave him alone.”

Xu Qingyao: ???

“…Does he think I’m a damn fool?”

“Senior Sister, don’t get mad!” Ouyang Hao quickly tried to smooth things over.

He recalled Lin Jing’s specific request: Don’t reveal his identity to any Demon Court powerhouses.

However, if Ouyang Hao personally trusted Xu Qingyao, then telling her was fine.

After all, Lin Jing knew asking for someone’s blood outright was extremely rude.

Many Gu Masters, sorcerers, and dark cultivators could cast curses from thousands of miles away using nothing but a drop of blood.

Thus, cultivators were extremely cautious about their own body materials.

For this reason, all alchemists studying the Transformation Pill were closely monitored by Xu Qingyao and the Demon Court.

The Demon Court couldn’t afford for their Half-Demon Holy Maiden to be assassinated.

“He’s a Longevity Body cultivator.”

“He’s worried that if he enters the Demon Court, you won’t be able to protect him.”

Ouyang Hao sent a private transmission.

“Longevity Body...?”

Xu Qingyao’s expression shifted instantly.

She looked at Ouyang Hao, realization dawning upon her.

This alchemist…

He was the Holy Son of the Beast Taming Sect from the Ancient Celestial Kingdom—the Longevity Body Lin Jing—the man who had saved Ouyang Hao’s life!

“So you finally found him…”

A smile slowly formed on Xu Qingyao’s lips.

“Fine. No problem.”

“If he’s one of us, then I’ll let him hold onto my blood for now.”

“But… I’ll deliver it myself.”

—

At that moment, Ouyang Hao had no idea that shortly after he left Tianqing City, Lin Jing had encountered an unexpected crisis…