195: Chapter 195 Forbidden Zone

Remnants of the Demonic Sect were lurking deep within the Taixuan Mountain Range. Because Lin Tian had disrupted their plans outside the black market in Yunzhou Prefecture last time, they hadn't obtained the Wanling Seal, and that old thing from the Han Family had escaped without a trace. The Woman in Black Dress had received a severe reprimand from the red-robed Elder.

But she did not give up there—the Taixuan Mountain Range was vast, and there was more than just one beast-taming Family hiding in the deep mountains. Her subordinates searched along the ancient riverbeds deep in the mountains and finally found the secluded residence of the Situ Family in an isolated valley.

The Situ Family did not have as long a history in the Dao of beast taming as the Han Family, but they possessed a unique method—the Blood Pact.

By using one's own essence blood to form a contract with a Vicious Beast, one could forcibly control high-level Vicious Beasts without requiring high Mental Energy, though the cost was the continuous consumption of the caster's qi and blood.

The Demonic Sect used dozens of High Grade Blood Evil Pills and a batch of Cultivation resources snatched from various Sects as bargaining chips to exchange for the Situ Family's allegiance.

With the Situ Family's secret Blood Pact technique, the Demonic Sect became even more formidable. The Woman in Black Dress took personal command and established several hidden beast-taming strongholds deep within the Taixuan Mountain Range.

The beast tamers of the Situ Family cast the Blood Pact day and night. Iron-Backed Gray Wolves, Red Flame Tigers, Black-Armored Lizards, and even several fifth-grade Shadow Leopards were locked in mind and spirit one by one by the Blood Pact, becoming puppets in the hands of the Demonic Sect.

These Blood-Bound Beasts controlled by the Blood Pact were completely different from ordinary Vicious Beasts. Ordinary Vicious Beasts attacked humans for food or self-defense; if they couldn't win, they would retreat.

However, the Blood-Bound Beasts had no way out—they had been given a death order to ambush all Martial Artists entering specific areas, fighting to the death.

Herb gatherers went missing, Disciples out for training went missing, and even some experienced old hunters failed to walk out of that forest area which the Demonic Sect had marked as a Forbidden Ground.

Search and rescue teams sent out by various Families also encountered sieges by swarms of Vicious Beasts deep in the dense forest, suffering heavy casualties.

The frequency and intensity of Yao Beast attacks far exceeded the normal cycle of beast tides, and panic began to spread around Yunzhou Prefecture.

The news eventually reached the Qixia Sect. Several Disciples out for training were ambushed at the western foothills of the Taixuan Mountain Range; of the five who traveled together, only one returned alive, and he had lost an arm. When the Disciple with the severed arm was carried back to the Sect, traces of extremely obvious Evil Qi remained on his wound.

The lights in the Discussion Hall remained bright all night. Early the next morning, over a dozen carrier pigeons flew out from the Qixia Sect simultaneously, delivering urgent messages to various Families in Yunzhou Prefecture and surrounding Sects.

The Yunhai Fishery also received the Sect's transmission. That evening, several captains were gathered in front of the bamboo building waiting for the routine meeting; once the message arrived, everyone was in an uproar.

Captain Jiang He gripped his sword hilt and cursed, "It's this bunch of Demonic Sect scum again." Captain Liu Yun, Captain Meng Ping, and the other captains who had gone into the mountains to search for the Demonic Sect back then were even more gnashing their teeth—they had personally experienced the beast-taming stronghold in that valley and knew best what the Demonic Sect could do with the Beast Taming Technique.

Guards gathered in twos and threes by the lakeshore. Some speculated on how many Vicious Beasts the Demonic Sect had controlled this time, some worried about whether the fishery would be attacked again, and some rubbed their hands together, itching to go into the mountains to kill the enemy immediately.

Lin Tian had just finished patrolling the fish ponds under his charge and signed the inspection log. Just as he was about to return to his courtyard, he was grabbed by Ma Gang.

"Elder Lin, why don't you have any reaction at all?"

Ma Gang handed the transmission to him to read, "It was issued by the Sect—the remnants of the Demonic Sect are causing trouble in the mountains again, and the commotion this time is much bigger than the last. Look, Old Jiang and the others are about to explode, why are you acting like nothing happened?"

Lin Tian took the transmission and read it from beginning to end. Herb gatherers missing, Disciples out for training attacked, multiple casualties, suspected Vicious Beasts being controlled—he put down the transmission, his expression slightly darkening: "Could it be that the Demonic Sect is using the Beast Taming Technique to control Yao Beasts again? It's the same method as the last attack on the fishery."

Ma Gang was stunned: "Now that you mention it, it really does look like it. The Black-Armored Lizard and the White Bird teamed up to attack last time, wasn't that the Beast Taming Technique?"

As they were speaking, Field Master Zhou walked out of the bamboo building, also holding a copy of the same transmission. Hearing Lin Tian's words, he nodded: "I have the same thought. The transmission mentions the presence of Evil Qi on the wounds, which is of the same source as the Cultivation Technique of those Demonic Sect remnants in the valley last time; it is more than likely them. I have already written a reply and reported Elder Lin's analysis to the Sect—the Demonic Sect remnants are highly likely using the Beast Taming Technique to control Vicious Beasts to ambush the Disciples of various clans, with a larger scale than last time and even more brutal methods."

After the Qixia Sect received the reply from the fishery, the lights in the Discussion Hall were bright for another night.

Early the next morning, the Sect Master personally issued an order to summon various Families, martial arts halls, and Loose Cultivator forces around Yunzhou Prefecture, preparing to join forces to encircle and suppress the Demonic Sect.

Forces from all sides quickly mobilized. Demon-hunting squads gathered between Yunzhou Prefecture and the Qixia Sect, consisting of elite Disciples from the Sect, elite guards from the Families, and many expert Loose Cultivators attracted by the rewards.

The reward board in the Mission Hall was densely packed with demon-hunting missions. Killing peripheral Demonic Sect Disciples rewarded High Grade qi gathering pills; killing minor leaders rewarded top-tier Yellow Rank Cultivation Techniques; killing core members directly rewarded Treasure Fish—the rewards were so generous that countless Disciples were tempted.

For a time, the Sect was full of people signing up for demon-hunting squads, and several young guards at the fishery were also discussing whether to take leave to accept missions.

Lin Tian did not accept any. Every day, he routinely patrolled the fish ponds, asked Elder Wang for advice on breeding techniques, and practiced his sword and meditated in his own courtyard.

It wasn't that he was afraid of the Demonic Sect, nor was he unmoved by the rewards; he simply couldn't spare the time.

His private fish pond was at the most critical moment—those two breeding fish had grown fat and strong under the stimulation of a bag of special fish bait, and the female fish had already produced the first batch of baby fish, which were swimming back and forth in Schools among the branches of the water origin tree at the bottom of the lake, foraging for food.

The Black Crocodile faithfully carried out the instructions he had left behind, feeding them at fixed times and in fixed amounts every day, guarding that increasingly lively water area.

He had to go at least once a week to personally check the condition of the breeding fish and fry, replenish the fish bait, and reinforce the Restriction on the Black Crocodile and the fish School.

That day, he returned from the private fish pond, walking along the ridge line of the outer Taixuan Mountain Range towards the fishery.

The sky was still bright, and he walked at a leisurely pace.

Everything in the fish pond was going smoothly—the second batch of fish eggs had already been hung on the branches of the water origin tree, the first batch of fry had grown several times larger, and in another two or three months, they would reach the size of three-year-old fish.

When the half-year agreement expired, thirty Treasure Fish would be more than enough.

As he was walking, the bushes ahead suddenly burst open, and two Vicious Beasts rushed out from the left and right.

The Iron-Backed Gray Wolf on the left was at the Peak of the fourth grade, with bloodstains from its last meal still hanging on its fangs. The Red Flame Tiger on the right was also at the Peak of the fourth grade, wrapped in pale red firelight, emitting a low, threatening sound from its throat.

The moment the two beasts saw Lin Tian, their amber pupils simultaneously flashed with a layer of dark red blood light—that was the mark of the Blood Pact taking effect.

They let out a low growl in unison and lunged at Lin Tian from left and right. The Iron-Backed Gray Wolf pounced toward his throat, while the Red Flame Tiger's sharp claws, wrapped in firelight, went straight for his heart. Their coordination was seamless, not at all like wild Vicious Beasts encountered by chance.

Lin Tian's pupils contracted slightly.

He had walked this path dozens of times and had never encountered a Peak fourth-grade Vicious Beast here, let alone two appearing at the same time.

His hand subconsciously pressed onto the hilt of the autumn water sword, his thumb already pushing open the catch of the scabbard. At the same time, the tips of his feet tapped the ground lightly, and he slightly adjusted his center of gravity within a square inch using the Cloud Shadow Step.

The Iron-Backed Gray Wolf's fangs were still three feet from his throat, and the Red Flame Tiger's sharp claws were still in mid-air; he had to make a decision before they pounced on him.