Badly wounded, Ling Cair opened her eyes and saw Mo Yuan, his entire body radiating murderous intent.
A black killing light spread over her from Mo Yuan's palm. Terror instantly showed on her face!
"Benefactor!"
She knew Beichen had come to her rescue just in time. Otherwise, she would already have perished at the hands of Mo Yuan and Yan Lie.
Still, she found it a little strange. Since Beichen had saved her, why hadn't he seen it through? Why let Mo Yuan kill her right before his eyes?
Buzz!
Just as the killing light in Mo Yuan's hand transformed into a dragon-shaped sword slash and came down toward Ling Cair's neck, it seemed to trigger a divine thought. A wisp of law tore at the killing light, and with a buzz, it vanished into nothingness.
Ling Cair slowly closed her eyes and let out a long breath.
Only then did she understand. "This place is under the Benefactor's dominion. With just a single thought, he can activate the Great Dao Law and control everything."
"Let alone a Grand Unity Golden Immortal—even a mighty Quasi-Saint would have to prostrate himself before the Benefactor's divine might. Not the slightest transgression would be tolerated!"
Seeing that Beichen intended to protect her, Ling Cair knew she would be safe and finally relaxed.
Bang!
A sudden force of inversion erupted from the Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler and struck Mo Yuan. Dragon qi surged as his body was flung away amid raging winds and turbulent currents. Pain racked him so fiercely that it felt as if he had been laid upon the dragon-flaying platform. It was almost unbearable.
Mo Yuan let out a cry of agony and spat out several mouthfuls of pure black energy.
This energy was the accumulated cultivation within his dragon body.
"Black Dragon, I see you didn't understand what I said!" Beichen's presence was imposing even without anger. He turned and came to stand before Mo Yuan, tapping the Heaven Measuring Ruler lightly against his palm again and again. "Did I not say that today we were to prevent the three clans from suffering further losses?"
"I saved Ling Cair because I wanted her to live. Do you think I went to all that trouble for nothing?"
"Or do you think my words are worthless, not even worth listening to?"
The killing intent on the Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler grew ever heavier. On top of that, the oppressive aura of this dominion sent Mo Yuan's dragon might plummeting to its lowest point.
When Mo Yuan saw Beichen staring at him with a cold, ruthless gaze, he trembled with fear.
Bang!
Beichen suddenly raised a hand, and Mo Yuan went flying again. Several more streams of pure cultivation energy were beaten out of him.
Mo Yuan's face fell as he slowly got back to his feet, only to find Beichen already standing before him again.
Without a change in expression, Beichen took a few steps in front of Mo Yuan, then suddenly struck once more.
This time, he changed direction. One blow from the Heaven Measuring Ruler sent Mo Yuan flying toward Fire Qilin Yan Lie.
"Master, please calm your anger. Mo Yuan knows his mistake!"
One more blow and he might lose his life.
Mo Yuan had also realized that Beichen wasn't truly trying to kill him by taking up the Heaven Measuring Ruler and giving him a thorough beating. He just wanted Mo Yuan to yield!
Mo Yuan could tell the difference between taking another blow and dying, or yielding!
Beichen's Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler did not fall again. He merely watched with an indifferent expression as the Black Dragon Mo Yuan knelt, bowed, and knocked his head against the ground to admit his mistake.
After a moment, his divine gaze shifted to Fire Qilin Yan Lie.
Wasn't brutally beating the Black Dragon and leaving him badly wounded also a way of making an example of him?
"Oh, Fire Qilin Yan Lie pays his respects to Master."
"Whatever Master wants Yan Lie to do, just give the order!"
Mo Yuan was even stronger than him, Yan Lie, yet had been given a thorough beating and ultimately had no choice but to submit. Yan Lie immediately understood what that meant.
Beichen was the ruler of the Three Immortal Islands. In this place, any resistance was futile. He might as well submit outright and spare himself the pain.
"Heh, Yan Lie, you're certainly obedient and sensible!" Beichen tapped the qilin and dragon. "If Mo Yuan had been as sensible as you, he wouldn't have taken this beating!"
"Yes, yes. Master is absolutely right!" Yan Lie replied humbly.
Beside him, Mo Yuan only kept his head lowered, not daring to say a word.
After Beichen had struck him three times with the Heaven Measuring Ruler, Mo Yuan had also figured things out.
Beichen had an extraordinary origin. He had once brought down twelve rounds of the Purple Firmament World-Ending Thunder Tribulation, and his future was boundless. On top of that, he was favored by the Great Dao. This blessed cave-heaven and Dao Field of the Three Immortal Islands contained endless Great Dao Laws, making Mo Yuan feel as tiny as an ant.
There was no loss in submitting to a powerhouse like Beichen!
He was certain that by following a powerful figure blessed with such great destiny and fortune, he would reap countless benefits in the future!
But he couldn't help regretting what he had done. If he had known things would turn out this way, he wouldn't have attacked Ling Cair. Wouldn't it have been better to submit right away?
Look at the qilin. He hadn't even been beaten, yet his outcome was the same as Mo Yuan's. The thought left Mo Yuan feeling deeply unbalanced.
Yan Lie, on the other hand, was simply relieved.
While Mo Yuan was being thrashed, Yan Lie had thought things over too. In the end, he decided that Beichen was someone worth following.
Otherwise, Yan Lie wouldn't have given in so easily!
After all, those who had lived through the Dragon-Phoenix Initial Tribulation had witnessed countless deaths. They sometimes took life and death lightly. Besides, the three clans of the Primordial World were all proud beings. How could they submit to someone so easily?
They hadn't submitted solely because they feared death. To a large extent, it was because they recognized Beichen's origins and strength, and believed in his future!
After displaying both kindness and might, Beichen shifted from his fury to words of reassurance. "Mo Yuan, Yan Lie, both of you can rest assured. Follow me, and good things await you in the future!"
"You must understand my good intentions. I am kind-hearted and compassionate. I simply don't want to see the three clans continue fighting after the Dragon-Phoenix Initial Tribulation."
"The three clans have suffered enough through this great tribulation. Now it's time to turn swords into plowshares and work together to build a brighter future!"
Beichen now looked like the very picture of a good-hearted man, completely unlike the way he had just struck at them, as though he meant to kill them. The contrast sent a chill through their hearts.
Yan Lie took his words to heart and nodded again and again. He felt that Beichen was truly a good and kind person.
Mo Yuan, who had just been beaten, could only think that Beichen was a demon—a madman!
Even when he spoke calmly, Mo Yuan felt an indescribable terror from him!
"Benefactor, you saved Ling Cair. Why not let me be your mount?" Ling Cair's body had yet to recover, and her delicate, pale face made her look rather pitiful. "From now on, I'll carry the Benefactor across the four seas and eight wastelands, so you can see every sight under heaven. How does that sound?"
"Master, let Mo Yuan be your mount! The phoenix may be beautiful, but how could it match the imposing might of my dragon clan?" Mo Yuan hurried to argue. "I was foolish just now. Letting me be your mount would be a chance to make amends!"
"A powerhouse like you, who bears the great destiny of cutting down evil and slaughter, would be better suited to ride a dragon across the Primordial World. Only then could your true divine might be displayed!"
"Mm." Beichen nodded faintly, feeling that Mo Yuan had a point.
But he looked at Ling Cair, then at Mo Yuan, and found himself unable to choose!
"Master, why not let Yan Lie be your mount?" Seeing this, Yan Lie hurriedly spoke up. "My qilin clan is a clan of auspicious beasts. Wherever we go, auspicious signs appear. I wouldn't just make Master look impressive—I could also bring you endless good fortune. Yan Lie is the most suitable mount for you!"
"Mm..." Beichen smiled wryly. "You're all good choices. All good choices!"
"All three of you would do. Let me think it over!"
Before you continue