Chapter 248: Beast Scroll: Cangtian Bawang Ji

“Cangtian Bawang Ji? What a mighty name.” Chu Danqing stared at the name of the final evolved beast on the Beast Scroll.

[Beast Scroll · Cangtian Bawang Ji]

[Type: Knowledge Item]

[Quality: Exalted Rank]

[Durability: 100/100]

[Effect: By following the scroll’s instructions, a Purple Mansion beast can evolve into Cangtian Bawang Ji]

[Restriction: Requires a Purple Mansion-attuned spear-type weapon beast]

Must begin with a spear-type weapon beast, evolve step by step into Nine-Star Ring-Moon Spear, then Sun-Moon Starlight Spear, finally becoming Cangtian Bawang Ji.

Though it resembled nothing more than a schematic, it detailed every condition, material, and process required for its evolution with extreme precision.

Upon hearing the name, Yang Qianyuan, who had been about to speak, fell silent.

Chu Danqing did not know the origin of Cangtian Bawang Ji—but he did.

Among attack-oriented beasts, Cangtian Bawang Ji ranked at least among the top ten.

And yet it had simply fallen into Chu Danqing’s hands—for helping someone once.

No one could understand this.

“Thank you. If I ever meet someone worthy, I’ll give it to them—it won’t disgrace such a mighty name,” Chu Danqing added.

Beside him, Yang Qianyuan couldn’t help asking: “Brother Chu, you don’t know what Cangtian Bawang Ji is?”

“Why should I?” Chu Danqing gave him a strange look. Most of the beast knowledge he’d acquired involved cultivation and identification.

He had no detailed species records.

He could only recognize a beast’s lineage by its outward features—nothing beyond that.

More complete knowledge probably required higher status.

Seeing Chu Danqing’s expression, Yang Qianyuan could only say: “The origin of Cangtian Bawang Ji—”

At this, Chu Danqing grew even more certain it was precious.

“How about you take it back?” he suggested. Such a valuable item—was it right for him to keep it?

“Master, you jest,” Xu Congwen and his wife replied. They knew full well the power of a weapon-beast like Cangtian Bawang Ji.

But then what?

Did they truly believe possessing just one Beast Scroll was enough to cultivate it?

It was like starting with a single bowl and ending up performing the Fengshan sacrifice on Mount Tai.

Even with the guide, you might still fail.

They did possess a Beast Scroll, and spear-type weapon beasts weren’t hard to find.

But the resources and materials needed for each evolutionary step were far beyond their means.

Even with resources and materials, one needed the personal ability to complete the evolution.

The library held heavenly-grade combat techniques like *On Engineering Control* and *Lectures on Nuclear Theory*—anyone who mastered even one could become a state guest.

Yet most couldn’t even understand them, let alone master them.

This Cangtian Bawang Ji Beast Scroll was no different—having all the resources didn’t guarantee success.

If Xu Congwen and his wife had truly desired it, they would have chosen a spear-type weapon beast from the start, not a Qingyun Dog and a Snowdance Cat.

They knew they had no chance—and that attempting it would only doom themselves.

“Fine,” Chu Danqing accepted it outright. He’d see if Xiong Zhigang could use it.

Beside him, Yang Qianyuan remained in existential shock. Logically, Chu Danqing should have lost—how could he have gained?

Seeing this, Chu Danqing said: “The old man lost his horse—who knows if it’s not a blessing?”

“Wait—how did the Fang Mansion know you had the Cangtian Bawang Ji Beast Scroll?” Chu Danqing suddenly noticed a blind spot.

Logically, they’d hidden it so well—how could it have leaked?

“I don’t know,” Xu Congwen’s wife said. “The Fang Mansion likely doesn’t know our family heirloom is Cangtian Bawang Ji—they probably want Nine-Star Ring-Moon Spear.”

The Beast Scroll’s path isn’t unique: Nine-Star Ring-Moon Spear can evolve into Cangyue Hui Guang Spear instead of Sun-Moon Starlight Spear.

Sun-Moon Starlight Spear is the same—its evolution path isn’t the only one.

The Fang Mansion surely never imagined a scholarly family like theirs hid such a powerful Beast Scroll.

Chu Danqing estimated: Cangtian Bawang Ji was Exalted Rank, so Sun-Moon Starlight Spear must be Fine Rank.

Nine-Star Ring-Moon Spear was Excellent Rank—not a major issue.

“Good. Tell me about the Fang Mansion—and that Fucheng Captain.” Chu Danqing sat down and began preparing dinner.

Xu Congwen had no reason to refuse. As a local, he quickly explained the situation.

Yang Qianyuan sat in silent thought. The turn of events had caught him off guard—he still hadn’t recovered.

The Chenming Spider’s fate divination had clearly shown the outcome—yet it had gone awry.

*I finally understand why you left without hesitation with that unknown friend.*

*If it were me, I’d have done the same.* Yang Qianyuan glanced secretly at Chu Danqing, thinking of his father.

The most despairing thing about possessing a Fate-type beast was seeing your own end.

Especially when that end was dark and tragic.

His father had failed—but he’d left hope behind.

That was why Yang Qianyuan had clung to Chu Danqing, shamelessly.

“Squeak~” The Chenming Spider made a sound, drawing everyone’s attention.

“Feidi says someone’s approaching,” Yang Qianyuan said.

Chu Danqing raised an eyebrow.

He wasn’t surprised someone had come—he was surprised Yang Qianyuan had actually named the Chenming Spider.

He seemed to have gained some courage.

As for naming a spider “Feidi,” Chu Danqing found it odd but didn’t ask why.

“Dabao, get ready.” Chu Danqing said.

The Chenming Spider’s perception was far stronger than Dabao’s—it had sensed them first.

Perhaps the Fate ability had played a part too.

“Found you at last,” came a thick, gruff voice.

In walked a burly monk in robes.

Behind him trailed a fearsome beast, a Yecha Soldier—taller, wielding a steel trident, radiating ferocious malice.

“All here? Good.”

“As the saying goes: blood for blood, debt for debt. Tonight, none of you leave alive.” The monk scanned Chu Danqing, then Xu Congwen and his wife.

“Didn’t expect you so fast. What temple are you from? When you’re dead, I’ll erase your name too,” Chu Danqing said.

As for the authorities? Only if the Fang Mansion didn’t want the Beast Scroll.

The authorities, as a major power, didn’t lack Beast Scrolls—but the men doing the work did.

This was something to pass down through generations—the more, the better.

“Hmph. Foolish to the point of death.” The monk’s eyes flashed with malice. The Yecha Soldier moved instantly.

Dabao charged forward and slapped the Yecha Soldier flat to the ground.

The atmosphere froze.

They’d expected a hundred-round battle after all the threats.

Instead, victory was decided in one strike.

Chu Danqing stared, speechless—he’d been chatting with a minor enemy.

From the monk’s demeanor, he’d thought a boss had arrived.

The monk swallowed hard and turned to flee.

Before he’d taken two steps, Dabao grabbed him and dragged him back.

In moments, he was hung upside down from the ceiling beam.

“Tell me the real situation inside the Fang Mansion,” Chu Danqing said.

The monk snorted but remained silent.

Chu Danqing gave Dabao a look. Dabao immediately tore off one of the Yecha Soldier’s arms.

“You don’t want your beast to die here, do you?” Chu Danqing threatened.

Yang Qianyuan continued his fate divination—but frowned. The man’s threads stretched far, entangled with the fate of the realm.

Of course, this had nothing to do with the monk—he was still just a pawn.

“Kill me if you will, no need for—” The monk gritted his teeth—but never finished. Chu Danqing nodded to Dabao, who killed him.

“Stubborn fools are a pain.” Chu Danqing had no intention of interrogating—he didn’t know how.

Since he wouldn’t talk, Chu Danqing would skip the middle steps and strike at the root.

“Brother Chu, by killing him, you’ve summoned war. It’ll come tonight—or by dawn,” Yang Qianyuan said helplessly.

He hadn’t finished his divination—Chu Danqing had already acted.

“Do you have a solution?” Chu Danqing asked.

You raised the problem—you must have one.

Xu Congwen and his wife turned to Yang Qianyuan.

“Yes,” Yang Qianyuan said at once: “This war will come from the Prefectural Captain. So we only need to—”

Yang Qianyuan laid out the entire plan.

The method was to balance power with power, eliminating the threat through political maneuvering and intrigue.

Chu Danqing had once held high office, so he could understand this to some degree.

But there was one problem: Chu Danqing had no interest in playing political games—it wasted too much time and energy.

“Uh, is there a simpler way?” Chu Danqing said with a brazen grin.

Yang Qianyuan was speechless. It was indeed complicated, but success would resolve everything.

“Actually, I have a simpler solution: deal directly with the root of the problem.”

“Let’s go with that. Let’s move out,” Chu Danqing said, then turned to Xu Congwen: “You two are locals—lead us to the Fang residence. After we handle it, we’ll find the Captain of Fucheng.”

“No, no, absolutely not!” Xu Congwen hurried to stop him. “Master, you’re already entangled in a murder case—if you strike again, you’ll be wanted.”

“Xiucai Xu is right,” Yang Qianyuan volunteered. “Chu Brother, killing them might feel good, but it would be impossible to clean up afterward. Let me handle it instead.”

Chu Danqing realized his trial mission was still incomplete—he couldn’t afford to act recklessly.

Besides, he intended to forge an ally in this trial world; he couldn’t go too far.

“Can you be sure it’ll work?” Chu Danqing asked hesitantly.

(End of Chapter)