Golden Cudgel Spell

Deep within Blazing Flame Valley, the flames still burned, and the air was thick with the scent of blood.

Chu Ning flipped himself onto the Crimson Flame Tiger's back, tightly gripping its fiery red mane, his face filled with excitement.

"Whoosh!"

The Crimson Flame Tiger bolted, streaking through the cavern like a burning meteor, leaping and tumbling. Its powerful limbs pounded against molten rock and gravel, kicking up sparks.

Chu Ning laughed heartily, letting the wind whip past his cheeks as he savored the Crimson Flame Tiger's terrifying speed.

"Awesome!"

He couldn't help but exclaim, "With a mount like you, who would dare stop me!"

As soon as he spoke, the Crimson Flame Tiger abruptly halted, its body shuddering and flinging Chu Ning off its back.

"Hey—!"

Chu Ning tumbled through the air several times before landing ungracefully on a rock. He stood up, wincing, and brushed the dust off his clothes, casting a resentful glance at the Crimson Flame Tiger.

The Crimson Flame Tiger raised its head, two plumes of white mist snorting from its nostrils. Its golden, vertical pupils held a deep disdain, as if to say, "I am a majestic king of beasts, how can I deign to be your mount?"

Chu Ning rubbed his aching waist and shrugged, smiling. "Alright, if you don't want to, then forget it."

He paused, then patted the Crimson Flame Tiger's head and said earnestly, "But you need to cultivate well. If you encounter any difficulties, come find me at the foot of the mountain."

The Crimson Flame Tiger tilted its head, seemingly pondering.

Chu Ning continued, "If one day you can transform into human form, we'll be brothers, how about it?"

The Crimson Flame Tiger's golden eyes narrowed slightly, appearing moved. It finally let out a low growl, which was taken as agreement.

The lingering fires of Blazing Flame Valley had not yet died down, the crimson light reflecting off the rocks. The air was filled with the smell of sulfur and scorched earth.

Chu Ning stood beside the Crimson Flame Tiger, looking down at the dying Azure-Eyed Snow Fox.

Its body trembled slightly, its blue fur had lost its luster, and patches of blood clung to it. Its eyes were dim and lifeless, its former pride completely gone.

Chu Ning frowned. "It's almost gone. Can you give it a Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit to save its life?"

The Crimson Flame Tiger's gaze instantly turned cold. It bared its teeth and growled, clearly displeased.

This was a heavenly treasure, a sacred fruit that demonic beasts dreamed of. How could it be willing to hand it over so easily?

Chu Ning sighed helplessly.

The Crimson Flame Tiger already had three more Profound Sun Fruits than him. Last time, he had tricked it out of an unripe one. Taking two ripe ones this time was already pushing it.

No matter how generous it was, it wouldn't give up its resources.

He could have just left, or even delivered a final blow to eliminate the threat completely.

But in the end, he still sighed.

"Forget it, I'll save your life."

He reached out to take out a Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit, but as his hand stopped in mid-air, he suddenly froze.

This snow fox was no easy adversary.

If he saved it? What if it recovered and bit him?

He glanced at the Crimson Flame Tiger beside him. Although it was a demonic beast, it possessed intelligence and knew how to repay kindness. The Azure-Eyed Snow Fox, however, was cunning, intelligent, and arrogant. "It seems that if I want to save it, I must first make it obedient."

With that thought, he closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his sea of consciousness, and summoned the Chaos Divine Order.

[Chaos Divine Order, advance beast-taming method!]

Instantly, golden runes appeared, and the Divine Order's light flickered.

[Emergency advance detected, matching basic beast-taming technique…]

[Match complete, advancing with "Golden Cudgel Spell".]

[Repayment cost: One year of lifespan and one hundred taels of gold.**

"What?"

Chu Ning's pupils contracted. He immediately felt like he'd been tricked, that he'd been careless.

A beast-taming technique actually required a repayment of one hundred taels of gold? And it consumed a year of his lifespan?

This wasn't taming beasts; it was clearly a scam.

He couldn't help but let out a wry smile, thinking to himself, Being kind is this expensive?

But it was too late to back out now. He could only grit his teeth and accept it.

"Sigh, I've already started saving it, I can't just give up halfway."

"Golden Cudgel Spell?"

He quickly scanned the contents of the technique and a meaningful smile spread across his face.

This spell wasn't a true beast-taming method, but rather a form of mental restraint.

Once cast, the power of chains could be activated through the incantation, causing the cursed target unbearable pain.

"What a treasure!"

Chu Ning raised his hand, his fingers slightly spread, and his internal true qi circulated slowly.

With a thought, he reached out and pointed at the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's forehead.

"Buzz—"

A wisp of pale golden rune emerged from his fingertips, then transformed into a circle of spiritual light that slowly seeped into the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's left foreleg.

"Ding!"

A golden cudgel suddenly materialized, inscribed with the rune. It was like a natural shackle, tightly binding the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's paw.

Chu Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Chu Ning could clearly feel a subtle spiritual connection being established between him and the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox.

The Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's eyes snapped open. Realizing it was restrained, its expression instantly turned furious. It tried to struggle, but the moment it moved, the golden cudgel tightened slightly.

"Wuuu—!"

The Azure-Eyed Snow Fox let out a pained growl, its eyes filled with terror and humiliation.

Chu Ning narrowed his eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Alright, you should be obedient now, right?"

The Azure-Eyed Snow Fox stared at him intently, its eyes full of malice, but it no longer dared to act rashly.

Chu Ning nodded in satisfaction. He took out a Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit from his embrace and slowly offered it to the fox.

"Okay, time for your medicine."

He slowly brought the Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit to the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox's mouth.

"Eat up, this is for you."

The Azure-Eyed Snow Fox trembled slightly and opened its eyes, which were filled with wariness.

However, the aura of the Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit was too enticing.

It hesitated for a moment before finally slowly extending its tongue, coiling the fruit into its mouth, and chewing slowly.

"Buzz—"

A surge of potent life essence exploded within its body.

The medicinal power of the Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit instantly erupted within it, and a powerful life essence flowed into its limbs and bones.

Its fur regained its luster, its wounds healed at a visible rate, its broken bones quickly mended, and its demonic energy began to recondense.

In just a few breaths, its aura had recovered by seventy percent!

Seeing this, Chu Ning nodded in satisfaction.

"Not bad, the Nine Revolutions Profound Sun Fruit is indeed miraculous."

Its injuries healed at a visible rate, its fur regained its lustrous sheen, and its eyes rekindled with vitality.

"Alright, now you owe me a life."

However, the moment he let his guard down.

"Whoosh—!"

The Azure-Eyed Snow Fox suddenly lunged!

A gust of azure demonic wind swirled up, its fangs flashing with cold light as it lunged straight for Chu Ning's throat!

"Damn it!"

Chu Ning's heart tightened. Thunderous energy erupted from his feet, and his body instantly retreated.

But the Azure-Eyed Snow Fox was too fast!

Its eyes were deep and dark, like two vortices, filled with intense resentment and killing intent.

It had recovered its demonic power and had no intention of thanking Chu Ning for saving it. Instead, it chose to attack him the first chance it got!

"Truly ungrateful!"

Chu Ning's gaze turned cold. He formed a hand seal and shouted, "Golden Cudgel, Bind Spirit! Haste, as the law commands!"