The Cause of Ten Thousand Beasts

Tianlan City, home of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

Ever since Xiao Yan and the others arrived, the area around Qing Lin's room had been assigned to them. Since none of them were the type to indulge in comfort, they rarely needed servants, and this naturally became the quietest place in the entire Heavenly Snake Mansion.

In the central courtyard, a bare-chested youth wielded a massive black ruler, its swings howling through the air. Every strike carried terrifying force, yet the youth controlled it perfectly, confining its destructive power to the Black Ruler without causing any unnecessary damage.

The muscles across the youth's body were sharply defined, though his skin was rather fair and smooth. Sweat covered his entire upper body. After swinging the ruler for nearly half an hour, he finally stopped, stored the Black Ruler in his Storage Ring, and lay on the ground, panting heavily.

Clap, clap. A figure entered while applauding. He was thin, with an eerily soft air about him. It was Yang Yue, the master of the Heavenly Snake Mansion.

"I have to say, little brother Xiao Yan, your perseverance truly makes one look at you in a new light."

Xiao Yan sat up from the ground and chuckled. "It can't be helped. After all, I promised the Mansion Master that I would take first place in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly."

Yang Yue's usually stern expression softened somewhat. "I heard you exchanged blows with Lu Zhi. He spoke very highly of you."

"We only exchanged one move. It doesn't count for much."

"Hehe, that boy from the Xu Clan was so provoked by you that he went into seclusion. I heard he swore not to emerge until the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly." Yang Yue grew increasingly confident in Xiao Yan. Since Xiao Yan would represent the Heavenly Snake Mansion, the stronger he was, the greater the benefits the mansion would reap. Of course, Yang Yue absolutely did not believe Xiao Yan could defeat Lu Zhi, so the Saintess would certainly be preserved as well. It was simply killing two birds with one stone.

Xiao Yan rubbed his nose. After Xu Yingwu saw him fight Lu Zhi, he insisted that Xiao Yan was someone acknowledged by He Kui. Refusing to accept it, Xu Yingwu had gone home to enter seclusion. With Xu Yingwu absent, Xiao Yan indeed found things much quieter.

"He was mainly overthinking it himself. Did Mansion Master Yang come looking for me for something?"

Yang Yue turned serious. "Although you know that you will participate in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly, you probably are not very clear on its details. Today, I came to explain them to you."

"I'm all ears." Xiao Yan was indeed extremely curious about the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly.

"The continent is divided into nine great regions, each named according to its location, such as the Northwest Region, Western Region, Northern Region, and the strongest of all, the Central Plains. Do you know why our Northwest Region has remained steadily among the top three of the nine regions?"

Xiao Yan considered it. "Could it be related to the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly?"

"Correct. In most parts of the Douqi Continent, nations clash with nations and regions fight regions. Yet only in the Northwest Region have wars always been kept within a certain limit. That is because of the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly!"

Xiao Yan unconsciously nodded. He had been born and raised in the Northwest Region. Although the Jianan Empire, where he lived, often had minor frictions with neighboring nations, it was true that it had almost never encountered a large-scale war.

"Who knew how long ago, an astonishing senior emerged from the Northwest Region and eventually became a Dou Di. That senior rose from the flames of war from childhood onward. Though he became a Dou Di, his parents, wife, and children all died in war. He resolved to change all of that. He opened up a space where all magical beasts of the fourth tier and above that died in the Northwest Region would enter. After a Dou Zun died, their inheritance could also be placed within it. This was the venue of the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly: the Ten Thousand Beasts Space."

When Yang Yue spoke of that Dou Di, his eyes were filled with reverence. After all, that realm was the common goal pursued by everyone on the Douqi Continent.

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly is held once every ten years. Every faction may send members under the age of thirty to participate. Opportunities and dangers coexist within the assembly. By killing the magical beast phantoms inside, one can obtain corresponding points. In the end, the top ten in points may divide up most of the Northwest Region's territory. That Dou Di senior left behind restrictions: anyone who dares refuse to abide by the results of the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly will be directly slain by the restrictions he left behind."

Hearing such secret history, Xiao Yan was utterly shocked. He murmured, "So that's how it is... Then why are those over thirty not allowed to participate in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly?"

"For balance, perhaps. Killing is not prohibited within the Ten Thousand Beasts Space. If every sect sent powerful experts inside, the final result would still be a chaotic battle with blood flowing like rivers. But the younger generation, firstly, possesses life-saving methods bestowed by their elders, so their chances of survival are relatively high. Secondly, young people are the future mainstream. There are many powerful ruins and inheritances within the Ten Thousand Beasts Space. Many previously unknown people became famous in a single stroke after joining the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly. The quality of geniuses in the Northwest Region is second only to the Central Plains at the heart of the continent."

Xiao Yan nodded. Even though he had obtained such a monstrous treasure as the Crimson Lotus Karma Flame, there were still many young people in the Northwest Region who were no inferior to him. That Dou Di senior truly had intended to benefit an entire region.

"Then how did the Heavenly Snake Mansion rank in the previous assemblies?"

"In the previous four assemblies, we ranked sixth, seventh, fourth, and ninth respectively. Since many sects can send more than two powerful participants, the top ten positions over the past century have generally come from the six great factions. Of course, some factions behind them have been watching eagerly as well. As long as they achieve good results in the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly, they can immediately rise to prominence."

"It seems the previous results really weren't very good." Xiao Yan sighed. Although the Heavenly Snake Mansion would not decline immediately due to its accumulated foundation, a lack of geniuses would indeed cause this colossal force to slowly wither.

"So now you understand why I insist on keeping the Saintess. A person can only enter the Ten Thousand Beasts Assembly once in their lifetime. The Saintess can still participate in the one ten years from now. That will be the Heavenly Snake Mansion's opportunity."

"Master Yang, I want to bring Qing Lin in this time as well. This is also her opportunity, and ten years from now, we do not know where we will be. There is no way to guarantee that she can come and help you then."

Yang Yue stared at Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan naturally knew that Yang Yue would never agree to the possibility of putting all the eggs in one basket, but Xiao Yan had his own principles.

At last, Yang Yue let out a long sigh. "Originally, I would certainly have refused you. But at this auction, we obtained that flying Dou Technique for Qing Lin. She truly now has the ability to enter."

Yang Yue's tone suddenly shifted. "But I need you to take first place. Only by taking first place can the Heavenly Snake Mansion's status remain secure."

"Alright, I accept!"

Xiao Yan had his pride. Although Wan Qing and Shi Meng were both outstanding talents, and Lu Zhi was an even greater enemy, his side had himself, Xun Er, Zi Yan, who was in seclusion with five drops of essence blood and whose aura was steadily rising, and Qing Lin with her Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. They feared no opponent.

"Then let us wait and see."