Chapter 281 - 225: Soul Contract

Seeing Huo Bai’s red eyes, Fang Qingyuan had a bad feeling. ’Could something have happened to Huo Gan?’

After all, the Wilderness Forest was home to Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness at the Divinity Transformation level. If Huo Gan’s luck ran out and he was discovered, he might not make it out alive, even as a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Huo Gan had ventured deep into the Barbaric Wilderness in pursuit of the Human-faced Patterned Serpent. If something happened to him, it would be a devastating blow to the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect.

But looking at Huo Bai’s expression, Fang Qingyuan didn’t think it was about Huo Gan. Though Huo Bai’s eyes were red, they held little sadness.

"Junior Brother Huo, what’s wrong? Why are your eyes red?"

"My White Tiger has finally perfected its cultivation today. It will soon seek an opportunity to break through to the Golden Core Realm. I... I was just feeling emotional about it."

’It hadn’t been easy.’ After eating over thirty Purple Spirit Crystal Fish, Huo Bai’s White Tiger had finally reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. But to achieve the Golden Core Realm, who knew how many trials still awaited it.

After congratulating Huo Bai, Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan took the opportunity of his presence to explain Zhao E Lian’s scheme.

A moment later, Huo Bai’s brow was also furrowed in a deep frown. Lechuan then asked:

"I wonder, Junior Brother, if you could help contact Uncle Huo? A single word from him would be more effective than us talking ourselves hoarse."

Huo Bai’s expression was conflicted. He answered honestly:

"To be honest, the last time I saw him was several years ago. Lately, we haven’t received any news from him at all. Under these circumstances, how could we possibly get in touch?"

Huo Bai’s words were unexpected to both Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan. Lechuan muttered:

"Aren’t there any secret methods of communication? Otherwise, what would you do if something extremely urgent happened?"

Huo Bai sighed.

"There are, but they aren’t foolproof. A few years ago, we could still spend a great deal to remotely send him a few coded words. But as he’s ventured deeper into the Barbaric Wilderness, that method no longer works. If his Soul Lamp in the family shrine wasn’t still lit, we would have already reported it to the sect."

’Well, that’s that,’ Fang Qingyuan thought, shaking his head inwardly. ’It seems we can’t count on Huo Gan. For the sake of his Companion Beast, he’s ignoring everything else right now.’

Fang Qingyuan even felt that Huo Gan had become obsessed, as if possessed. Otherwise, with the opening war imminent—the very time he was needed to take charge—why would he just shirk his responsibilities?

He could have looked for that Human-faced Patterned Serpent at any other time, yet he chose this critical juncture. Since Huo Gan was rarely at Zongshan, his influence had naturally waned. No wonder Zhao E Lian dared to plot for the position of Southern Border Beast Taming Sect Master.

Right now, the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect relied on the Huo Family. But with Huo Gan absent, the family’s leader, Huo Wu, was only a Late-stage Golden Core Cultivator. In front of a Nascent Soul Uncle from the same sect, his words carried no weight.

’It seems only cultivators of the same realm can speak as equals. If your cultivation realm isn’t high enough, others won’t even give you the time of day.’

Faced with this predicament, the best solution was still to find a way to contact Huo Gan. But if even his own family couldn’t reach him, as Huo Bai had said, could anyone else possibly find him?

Suddenly, the image of a person surfaced in Fang Qingyuan’s mind: Yu He!

Three and a half years ago, Fang Qingyuan was ordered to deal with the matter of a Demon-possessed Cultivator in a newly opened Land Realm. He happened to run into Yu He, whose Companion Beast, a gluttonous Invisible Crane, had eaten two of his Shadow Demon Spiders. To express his apology, Yu He had given him a tail feather from the Invisible Crane.

Thinking of this, Fang Qingyuan realized that Yu He might know of Huo Gan’s whereabouts. After all, considering the timeline, Yu He was the last person to have seen him.

’Even if he doesn’t know, could I use his connections? I could ask his master, the Nascent Soul Cultivator Shi Wanqi, who is also Huo Gan’s friend, to put in a good word for us.’

Seeing Lechuan’s worried expression, Fang Qingyuan retrieved the tail feather from his Immortal Mansion and explained its origin to him.

"Well, I’ll be... I never thought you’d had such a fortunate encounter. Yu He is a... a true gentleman."

Lechuan seemed to search for the right word, finally settling on "gentleman" to describe Yu He. Clearly, Yu He held a unique place in Lechuan’s mind.

"There’s no time to lose. You stay here and hold down the fort. I’ll go to Zongshan to find a way. If anything comes up, be sure to discuss it with Junior Brother Huo Bai."

Lechuan took the feather from Fang Qingyuan’s hand, gave him a few instructions, and then departed in a hurry.

Clearly, the pressure from Zhao E Lian was considerable.

After Lechuan left, Huo Bai frowned and said:

"I’ll be busy for a while. Don’t come to me unless it’s something major. You can handle the rest on your own."

With that, Huo Bai also left quickly, and suddenly, Fang Qingyuan was the only one left in the Quiet Chamber.

Fang Qingyuan’s expression was calm at first, but after a few breaths, a smile crept onto his face. He sat down in the spot Lechuan usually occupied and quietly closed his eyes.

...

Three days later, in a secluded spot on the back mountain, Huo Hu was ravenously devouring roasted flesh.

Tied up beside him was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, whose injuries showed he had suffered a great deal.

A moment later, Fang Qingyuan revealed himself from a nearby hiding spot. He subconsciously frowned at the sight of Huo Hu’s feasting.

Because what Huo Hu was eating were parts from the Foundation Establishment Cultivator on the ground.

’So this is what happens after demon possession,’ he thought. ’They become like bloodthirsty, mindless Demon Fiends. I can’t let my guard down, even though Huo Hu and I are old acquaintances.’