Zi Ji Submits!

Su Yu's gaze sharpened, and the Soul Power around him suddenly boiled. The aura of his Second Martial Soul—the Chaos Heavenly Dragon—erupted like a sleeping volcano.

An enormous Chaos Heavenly Dragon Phantom slowly condensed behind him.

Its dragon head was held high, its whiskers like clouds hanging from the heavens, while a murky gray radiance resembling the dawn of chaos flowed between its scales.

A pressure far surpassing that of ordinary Dragon Clan members spread outward from him, making the air in the valley seem to freeze solid.

Zi Ji's charging figure abruptly halted. Feeling the suppression that came from the depths of her bloodline, her pupils suddenly contracted.

For the first time, disbelief and horror appeared on her face. This bloodline... was even more ancient and noble than Master's aura!

"Zi Ji! Kneel!"

Su Yu let out a low shout, his voice seeming to carry an ancient will as it struck directly at Zi Ji's Sea of Consciousness.

In an instant, Zi Ji's consciousness was dragged into a vast expanse of chaos.

A colossal dragon as immense as Stars floated in the void. When its dragon eyes opened, it seemed as though hundreds of millions of years flowed within them.

The giant dragon slowly raised a claw. Chaos energy surged like a tidal wave, reaching for her with the might to annihilate everything!

"Ugh—ah!"

Zi Ji let out a pained groan. Her Sea of Consciousness throbbed with unbearable pain, and her body felt as if it were being crushed by an invisible force.

The two hundred thousand years of cultivation she had been so proud of proved as fragile as paper before this pressure.

The next second, her legs gave way. With a thud, she dropped to her knees before Su Yu, fine beads of Cold Sweat seeping from her smooth forehead.

Zi Ji gritted her teeth and looked up, her eyes filled with humiliation and horror, yet she could no longer summon even the slightest will to resist.

The terrifying sight within her Sea of Consciousness was branded into her mind, making her understand:

The Chaos Heavenly Dragon bloodline within this human young man was an existence capable of making all Dragon Clan members bow their heads.

"I am Su Yu. Go back and tell your Master not to try disturbing my life!"

Su Yu's voice was icy, carrying an unquestionable resolve.

Once he finished speaking, he did not linger. He turned and dashed toward where Ning Rongrong had been left.

Zi Ji staggered to her feet and watched his departing back with a complicated expression.

The pressure of the Chaos Heavenly Dragon still echoed through her Sea of Consciousness. She no longer dared show even a trace of disrespect, yet she also did not dare disobey Master's command.

After hesitating for a moment, she gritted her teeth and followed him, keeping a measured distance and not daring to approach recklessly again.

Su Yu was frantic, moving at great speed as the wind howled past his ears through the forest.

After traveling for roughly the time it took to burn half an incense stick, he estimated that he was nearly there. His pace unconsciously slowed as he wanted to first confirm whether Ning Rongrong was safe.

Who knew that Zi Ji, behind him, was lowering her head as she pondered how to report back to Master? She had not noticed him suddenly stop at all.

A dull thud rang out as she slammed solidly into Su Yu's back.

Zi Ji cried out in surprise and staggered back two steps, clutching her forehead with bewilderment in her eyes.

Su Yu was also knocked into a stumble. He turned around with a deep frown, obvious impatience in his voice.

"Why are you following me?"

Swept by his sharp gaze, Zi Ji instinctively shrank her neck. Remembering the crushing Dragon Might from before, her arrogance immediately wilted as she stammered.

"I... I just wanted... wanted to know where you were taking that Young Girl... I have to give Master some explanation..."

"An explanation? What explanation do you need?"

Seeing the Doubts on Su Yu's face, Zi Ji steeled herself and knelt directly before him.

"Master, please, do not send me away. Just let me stay by your side. I can even be a maid!"

Su Yu froze at her words. Looking at Zi Ji suddenly kneeling on the ground, his face was filled with disbelief.

He unconsciously stepped back, his frown tightening.

"What are you doing? Who told you to kneel?"

Zi Ji lay prostrate on the ground. Her voice carried a barely perceptible tremble, yet it was exceptionally firm.

"Master, only after witnessing your divine might did I understand that you are the one truly worth following."

"I cannot take you back, and if I return to Master... I will be punished as well. I would rather remain by your side. Even if I can only be a maid serving tea and water, Zi Ji would be willing."

She paused before adding, "I know you do not believe me, but your bloodline stands far above Zi Ji's. Zi Ji will never betray her Master in this life!"

"If you are willing to accept Zi Ji today, Zi Ji will protect you for the rest of her life, with no divided loyalties!"

Su Yu looked at her prostrate figure, his heart filled with complicated emotions.

Naturally, he did not believe that a two-hundred-thousand-year Fierce Beast would willingly become a maid.

But the Chaos Heavenly Dragon's pressure had indeed intimidated her just now, and the fear in her eyes did not seem feigned.

"I do not need any followers," Su Yu said deeply.

"Go back. As long as you do not come disturb us again, I can pretend that today never happened."

"No!"

Zi Ji suddenly raised her head, a trace of resolve flashing through her eyes.

"If Master refuses, then I will kneel here forever!"

After saying that, Zi Ji lowered her head.

Su Yu could tell as well that Zi Ji had sincerely submitted to him.

"Fine, get up! From now on, follow me. In public, call yourself my older sister!"

Before Su Yu could finish speaking, Zi Ji spoke up in panic.

"Master, you must not! Your bloodline is so noble. How could Zi Ji possibly be worthy of being your older sister, even if only in name!"

Su Yu raised a brow as he watched Zi Ji's frightened appearance.

He had merely intended for her to stay by his side under the identity of his "older sister."

That would both conceal her identity and keep her from standing out too much before outsiders, but he had not expected such a fierce reaction from her.

Zi Ji still kept her head lowered, obvious reverence in her voice.

"Master's bloodline is supreme among the Dragon Clan. This subordinate is merely a Fierce Beast. Being able to follow at your side is already an immense blessing. How could I dare falsely claim that we are siblings?"

"If word of this got out, this subordinate would be overwhelmed by the honor."

She paused, then continued, "How about... this subordinate calls herself your guard in public?

"That would be reasonable, and it would not disgrace your status either."

Su Yu considered it and felt that the identity of a guard was indeed more suitable, so he nodded.

"Very well. But before outsiders, there is no need for such formalities. Just act normally, so as not to attract attention."

"Yes, this subordinate understands!"

Only then did Zi Ji let out a breath of relief. She respectfully rose to her feet and stood at the side with her hands lowered, her posture exceedingly humble. She was utterly different from her previous overbearing demeanor.

Ning Rongrong hugged the icy Immortal Slaying Sword, her tiny body curled beneath the Old Locust Tree.

Her back pressed tightly against the rough trunk, as if only this could give her a trace of strength.

The warmth from the sword passed through her clothes into her body, yet it could not dispel the terror in her heart.

"Older brother... Brother Su Yu..." she choked out, her voice trembling beyond recognition.

Her tears fell like beads from a broken string, streaming down her pale cheeks and splashing onto the blade, spreading into a small patch of moisture.