How to Raise It?

The other Pavilion Elders also voiced their opinions one after another, each offering their own perspective.

"I also feel that raising it is for the best. However, keeping it outside the sect gates is a real hassle. After all, this is an auspicious beast; if it gets lost, all our efforts will be for naught."

"How much have you had to drink? Talking nonsense in broad daylight... A creature that massive, how could it possibly get lost?"

"If we keep it inside the sect, we have the sect-protecting formation. Others can't get in, so naturally, no one would dare scheme against us. But keeping it outside the sect gates... that's hard to say."

"Old Liu is right. These days, you don't fear the thief who steals, but the thief who keeps watch."

"Aren't you overthinking it? Who would dare steal something belonging to our Wendao Sword Sect? Are they tired of living?"

"Oh, give it a rest. That's an auspicious beast. Those people from the East Desolation, the Demon Abyss, and the Central Province might not dare act openly, but who knows what kind of underhanded tricks they'll pull in the shadows? They definitely won't leave us in peace."

"Those are the better scenarios; even if it's stolen, we can snatch it back. I'm afraid those old monsters from the North Sea might make a move. You all know that the North Sea has always been a place where people go but never return. If we're not careful and it gets snatched away to that place, we'll just have to swallow the bitter pill."

"Elder Li makes a valid point!"

"So, are we raising it or not?"

"Raise it!"

"It's not that we can't raise it, it's a matter of how..."

"The main issue is the hassle..."

"Sigh... if it weren't for this sword formation, we wouldn't have so many problems."

"What are you implying? Are you saying the Sword Ancestor was wrong?"

"Don't you dare slander me! That's not what I meant at all..."

"...."

The Pavilion Elders all spoke at once, and the great hall was filled with incessant clamor.

Xu Xian was a bit dazed.

How should he put it?

He had originally thought the debate would be about whether to kill the beast or let it stay, but he hadn't expected everyone to tacitly agree on raising it.

Right now, their bickering was solely focused on researching how to raise it so it wouldn't be lost.

Xu Xian had initially worried that the older generation in the sect would be resistant to raising an auspicious beast within the sect.

In the end...

He had overthought it.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to raise spirit beasts; it was just that the conditions didn't allow for it.

However...

Their concerns weren't without merit.

If kept outside the sect, there was indeed a risk of loss.

The allure of an auspicious beast was too great; it was hard to guarantee that powers beyond the Northern Borders wouldn't set their sights on it.

If it were inside the sect...

With the sect-protecting formation in place, even if they wanted to, they wouldn't have the chance.

But outside the sect, that was a different story.

Just as Elder Li said, you don't fear the thief who steals, but the thief who keeps watch.

Jiang Wanyin remained silent throughout, quietly watching and listening, her gaze occasionally drifting toward Xu Xian...

Seeing that the focus of the group's argument was entirely on how to raise it, Xu Xian felt he had a good grasp of the situation. He quickly gathered his thoughts and spoke up to stop them.

"Everyone, please quiet down!"

The voices gradually died away, and all eyes gathered on the youth.

Xu Xian spoke with startling confidence, "What if I told you all that I can ensure that auspicious beast crosses the Longevity Bridge unharmed?"

Silence!

A deathly silence!

They stared blankly at Xu Xian for a long while.

Finally, someone broke the silence with a loud laugh.

"Hahaha! Little Junior Martial Uncle, you really know how to joke. Crossing the Longevity Bridge? That's impossible."

"Exactly! Our Little Grand-Uncle is quite the humorist!"

"Hahaha... forget an auspicious beast; even a newborn spirit beast cub couldn't cross the Longevity Bridge."

"Little Junior Martial Uncle, you know as well as we do that there isn't a single spirit beast in the entire sect..."

"I heard that when the sect was first established, there were immortal cranes in the mountains. But once they flew out, they could never come back. They were fine when they left, but the moment they turned around, their home was gone..."

"....."

The crowd laughed and chattered as if they had heard an incredibly funny joke.

Even Jiang Wanyin narrowed her eyes slightly.

To be honest...

She didn't quite believe that Xu Xian could bring that auspicious beast across the Longevity Bridge alive either.

Xu Xian didn't argue with them, simply stating, "Let's set that aside for a moment. From what I've heard, everyone feels it's better to raise it ourselves. That auspicious beast is right outside the sect gates. I, Xu Xian, make so bold as to ask you all to bear witness. If I can bring it across the Longevity Bridge, then we raise it. If I cannot, then we shall discuss further. How about it?"

Seeing Xu Xian's solemn expression, devoid of any hint of joking, the Pavilion Elders began to feel a sense of doubt in their hearts.

Even Jiang Wanyin felt a momentary lapse in her own certainty.

Could it really be possible?

They whispered among themselves, exchanging glances.

"Little Junior Martial Uncle, are you serious?"

"Of course."

"You're not joking?"

"I do not speak in jest."

The Pavilion Elders fell silent once more...

For ten thousand years, there had only been one outcome for a demon or beast crossing the Longevity Bridge: death.

If things went according to Xu Xian's plan...

Then it wouldn't be a question of how to raise it.

And naturally, it wouldn't be a question of whether to raise it or not.

Rather, it would be a question of how to eat it.

Stewed? Grilled? Or stir-fried...

Li Qingshan spoke up for the first time, breaking the silence:

"Since Little Junior Martial Uncle is so confident, why not give it a try? If this beast truly can cross the Longevity Bridge and receive the permission of the Demon-Slaying Sword, our Wendao Sword Sect will gain another genius—a good thing indeed. If it cannot cross, then that is its fate. If it dies, it dies, saving us the trouble of raising it outside and attracting problems. It wouldn't be a bad outcome either."

The Pavilion Elders sighed incessantly.

What Li Qingshan said wasn't without logic.

However...

They still turned their gazes toward Jiang Wanyin.

Sensing their eyes on her, Jiang Wanyin looked directly at Xu Xian and reminded him:

"Little Junior Brother, you should be aware that once it steps onto the Longevity Bridge, there is no turning back. When the Demon-Slaying Sword is drawn, it can only die..."

Xu Xian smiled and said, "Don't worry, Senior Sister. I can make it live."

Seeing Xu Xian so confident, Jiang Wanyin said no more. Instead, she looked back at the others and offered a slight smile, "Shall we try? What do you all think?"

Since Jiang Wanyin had spoken and their Little Junior Martial Uncle was so insistent, what else could they say?

They voiced their agreement one by one.

"I have no objection."

"I'm fine with it..."

"Sounds good to me!"

"If it really dies, there's nothing wrong with having some soup..."

Jiang Wanyin nodded slightly and immediately finalized the decision, "Very well, then we shall do as Little Junior Brother says and give it a try."

She then turned her head toward Xu Xian and inquired, "Little Eleven, do you think we could wait for your other senior brothers to return? It's not like we're in a rush for these few days anyway."

The Pavilion Elders were perplexed.

Xu Xian was also a bit confused and asked, "Is there some specific reason for that?"

Jiang Wanyin teased, "I was just thinking that if this auspicious beast really dies, they'll be able to get a hot bowl of it too."

Xu Xian: "...." That actually makes a lot of sense!

Elders: "..." Sixth Senior Martial Aunt really does consider everything.

Xu Xian didn't decline and agreed, "Alright, I'll leave the arrangements to you, Senior Sister."

Jiang Wanyin gave a faint, breathtakingly beautiful smile. "Then it's settled for now. We'll choose a date later to hold a sect-wide ceremony. Spirit Inquiry, Heart Inquiry, Sword Inquiry—the proper procedures must still be followed."

No one opposed her.

Jiang Wanyin added, "While we have the chance, shall we discuss the matters of the East Desolation again?"

Everyone listened intently.

Jiang Wanyin stood up, paced across the high platform, and began to speak eloquently,

"A city is to be built in the east..."