Subduing the Divine Beast, Returning to Yanjing City

Outside the Thunder Mountain Residence, the morning sun rose, casting golden rays across the mountain forest and dispersing the early mist. Qin Yu and Black Feather stood side by side, their auras refined and concentrated. After half a month of dedicated consolidation, their Golden Core Mid Stage realms were now stable, and their expressions were filled with anticipation for the journey home. Yun Ce stood to the side with his hands behind his back, his Stellar True Essence flowing quietly. His Void-Piercing Realm aura was retracted with ease, and only his deep, profound eyes revealed a sense of absolute confidence.

"Very well, your realms are stable, and your treasures and pills are all packed. We shall set off today and return to the Qin Dynasty." Yun Ce spoke slowly, his tone gentle yet carrying an unquestionable composure.

"Great! We can finally go home!" A flash of joy crossed Qin Yu's eyes. Having been away from home for three years, his longing for his father, Qin De, and Feng Yuzi had long been buried deep in his heart. Now that he could finally embark on the journey back, that joy was impossible to hide.

Black Feather also flapped its wings and took flight, its eagle eyes filled with excitement. It transmitted via spiritual sense: "We're finally going back, Big Brother!"

Watching the joy of the man and the beast, a smile appeared at the corner of Yun Ce's mouth as he nodded gently: "Let's go."

Qin Yu no longer hesitated. He raised his hand to take out the Dream Ring left behind by Lei Wei. With a slight movement of his fingertips, he injected a trace of Nebula True Qi. A pale blue spiritual light surged from the ring, enveloping the Thunder Mountain Residence behind him. The massive residence seemed to shrink like a toy, slowly contracting until it finally turned into a streak of light, darting into the Dream Ring and vanishing from sight.

Yun Ce's gaze fell upon the Dream Ring, a flash of understanding in his eyes, though he said nothing more. He knew that the internal space of this spatial ring left by Lei Wei was immense; in the original story, Qin Yu had used the Dream Ring to store an entire treasure pavilion from the Nine Sha Hall.

With everything packed, the three of them took to the air and flew toward Yanjing City in the Qin Dynasty. Yun Ce led the way, with Qin Yu and Black Feather following closely behind. They wove through the sky above the mountain forest, their speed not particularly fast.

After flying for about half an hour, Qin Yu finally couldn't help but speak, a trace of confusion on his face: "Master, why are you flying so slowly? With your Void-Piercing Realm strength, you should be able to fly much faster. If we return to the Qin Family sooner, it would put Father and the others at ease."

Black Feather echoed this, transmitting via spiritual sense: "That's right, Master. We're flying too slowly. When will we ever get home?"

Hearing their questions, Yun Ce turned back and smiled mysteriously. He didn't explain, only saying calmly: "Don't be impatient. I have my own plans. By flying slower, we might encounter some unexpected surprises."

As he spoke, Yun Ce moved his divine sense, and his vast spiritual awareness spread out like a tide, covering a radius of several thousand miles. His Void-Piercing Realm divine sense was already vast, and with the added boost of the Hongmeng Stellar Art, his range far exceeded that of cultivators at the same level. Every thread of his spiritual sense could clearly probe everything around him; even spirit beasts hiding deep in the mountains could not escape his perception.

Qin Yu and Black Feather exchanged a glance. Although they were confused, they didn't ask further and simply followed silently behind Yun Ce. They knew their master always had his reasons, and if he said so, there must be a purpose.

After flying for a while longer, Yun Ce's eyes suddenly lit up. A smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he whispered: "Found them!"

He calculated inwardly: They really are here! The Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion—these two divine beasts that appeared in the Great Wilderness in the original story are indeed still active on the outskirts of the Great Wilderness. I wonder if they have already become subordinates of that runaway black dragon, Yan Mo?

Yan Mo, a member of the Dragon Clan, had run away from home due to his dissatisfaction with the clan's rules. He later subdued the Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion, becoming an overlord on the outskirts of the Great Wilderness. But looking at the state of these two divine beasts now, they clearly hadn't submitted to Yan Mo yet, or they wouldn't still be fighting over territory on the outskirts of the Great Wilderness.

"Regardless of whether they are Yan Mo's subordinates," Yun Ce sneered inwardly, "since I've encountered them today, they belong to me! By the time I meet Yan Mo in the future, my cultivation will be far beyond his. Even if he wants to reclaim them, he won't have the qualifications!"

Thinking of this, Yun Ce stopped and turned to look at Qin Yu and Black Feather, his tone carrying a hint of mystery: "Follow me. I'll take you to see two divine beasts!"

While he claimed he was taking them to see the beasts, he had already made his plans—in reality, he was going to recruit some underlings. The Red Phoenix was a fire-attribute divine beast, possessing spiritual charm and an understanding of human intent, while the Dragon Rock Lion was an earth-attribute divine beast. Both were powerful. If he could subdue them, they would not only become assets for Qin Yu but also provide an extra layer of security when they eventually ventured into the underwater beast world and explored the cultivation world.

"Divine beasts?!" A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Qin Yu's eyes. "Master, are there really divine beasts?" Although he had been cultivating for three years and had seen many spirit beasts, he had never seen a true divine beast, and his heart was full of anticipation.

Black Feather also flapped its wings excitedly, transmitting via spiritual sense: "Divine beasts? Are they stronger than me? I want to see!"

"Just follow me." Yun Ce smiled, turned, and flew toward the deep mountains nearby. Qin Yu and Black Feather hurried to follow.

Before long, the three arrived at a valley. The valley was rich in spiritual energy, yet it was filled with a violent aura. Two massive figures stood in a standoff, their auras surging; they were clearly about to fight.

On the left was a Red Phoenix with a wingspan of over three zhang. Its body was covered in feathers of vermilion and gilded gold, and its long, fluffy tail feathers were tipped with delicate gold patterns. As its wings flapped, a faint, fiery spiritual light swirled around it. Its phoenix eyes were clear and sharp, radiating a scorching and noble aura—it was a Red Phoenix at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. On the right was a Dragon Rock Lion standing two zhang tall. Its body was pitch black, its fur like steel needles, and it was surrounded by dense earth-attribute spiritual energy. Its roar was deafening, and it was also at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

Yun Ce's gaze swept over the two beasts, and he understood—just as he had expected, these two divine beasts were fighting over the valley's territory and had clearly not been subdued by Yan Mo yet.

"That's them," Yun Ce said quietly to Qin Yu and Black Feather. Without further hesitation, his aura erupted, and his Void-Piercing Middle Stage pressure descended like Mount Tai, instantly enveloping the entire valley.

The Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion, currently in their standoff, instantly sensed this terrifying pressure. Their bodies stiffened, and they turned to look at Yun Ce, flashes of caution and gravity in their eyes. Both were Nascent Soul Middle Stage divine beasts; although their cultivation was not as high as a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, their attack and defense far exceeded those of cultivators at the same level. Even when facing a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, they were capable of a fight, so they were not overly afraid.

"Human cultivator, why do you intrude upon our territory?" The Red Phoenix spread its wings and let out a clear phoenix cry, its voice tinged with arrogance—it was a descendant of an ancient divine bird and refused to bow its head, even to a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator.

The Dragon Rock Lion also let out a low roar, its eyes filled with ferocity: "Get out! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"

Yun Ce smiled faintly, his expression composed: "Impolite? With just you two Nascent Soul Middle Stage divine beasts, you dare speak such words to me? I am not here for your territory today; I am here to subdue you and make you my subordinates."

"Subdue us?" The Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion were stunned, then burst into laughter, their eyes filled with mockery.

"Arrogant human! You think that just because you are in the Void-Piercing Realm, you can subdue us divine beasts? You are delusional!" The Dragon Rock Lion roared and lunged at Yun Ce. Its thick limbs carried violent power, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

The Red Phoenix also flapped its wings and spat out a ball of scorching vermilion fire. The fire carried the power to incinerate everything and contained the spiritual charm of a divine bird as it smashed toward Yun Ce. Concerned for their own safety and dignity, the two of them decisively set aside their grievances and united against the outsider.

Qin Yu and Black Feather stood to the side, watching the battle with nervous expressions. They wanted to summon the courage to step forward and help, but Yun Ce raised a hand to stop them: "Don't worry, I have my own methods."

As he spoke, Yun Ce remained motionless. He circulated the Stellar True Essence within his body, his fingertips swirling with a faint spatial force. Facing the Dragon Rock Lion's pounce and the Red Phoenix's fire, he simply raised his hand gently. A pale golden spiritual light surged out, instantly blocking the fire outside his body. At the same time, he activated his spatial force, and the Dragon Rock Lion's massive body was instantly frozen in mid-air by an invisible force, unable to move.

Seeing this, the Red Phoenix's eyes flashed with shock. It spat out another, even more intense ball of vermilion fire, laced with golden patterns and carrying greater power, yet it was still easily blocked by Yun Ce. Yun Ce moved slightly and appeared instantly before the Red Phoenix. He struck out with a palm, the wind of his palm containing both Stellar True Essence and spatial force, instantly sending the Red Phoenix flying. It crashed heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of vermilion blood.

The Dragon Rock Lion, frozen in mid-air, watched the Red Phoenix be defeated, its eyes filled with fear. It struggled desperately but could never break free from that invisible force. It finally realized that the human cultivator before it was no ordinary Void-Piercing Realm cultivator; his strength far exceeded their imagination.

Yun Ce walked slowly to the Dragon Rock Lion, looking at it with a calm gaze: "Now, are you willing to submit to me?"

The Dragon Rock Lion exchanged a glance with the Red Phoenix, which had just climbed back up. Their eyes were filled with unwillingness and pride—they were divine beasts, always free and unrestrained, and had never thought of submitting to a human cultivator. But they also knew that if they resisted further, they would only be killed by this human. Rather than die, it was better to submit; perhaps by following a strong individual, they could achieve better growth.

After a moment of silence, the Red Phoenix was the first to lower its head, letting out a low phoenix cry, which served as its tacit submission. The Dragon Rock Lion also stopped struggling, the ferocity in its eyes fading to reveal a hint of surrender.

Seeing this, Yun Ce nodded with satisfaction and withdrew the spatial force binding the Dragon Rock Lion, his tone softening slightly: "Very good. Since you have submitted to me, you will follow me from now on. I know you are both divine beasts with innate talents. Follow me, and I will not treat you poorly. I will certainly allow you to break through to higher realms in the future."

Afterward, Yun Ce spoke with the two beasts and confirmed that they had indeed not been recruited by Yan Mo yet, which was why they had been fighting over territory.

Yun Ce's face darkened, and he warned them solemnly: "Dragon Rock, Red Phoenix, since you have submitted to me, you must get along and stop attacking each other. If I see you fighting over territory again, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"Yes, Master!" The Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion replied in unison, their tones tinged with awe. They had been beaten into submission by Yun Ce and understood that by following such a powerful master and getting along, they could grow better.

Having subdued the two divine beasts, Yun Ce was overjoyed—with the help of the Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion, their future training would undoubtedly be much smoother.

"Alright, let's continue our journey and return to the Qin Dynasty," Yun Ce said, taking to the air first. Qin Yu and Black Feather followed closely behind, and the Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion also spread their forms, following the pair toward Yanjing City.

With the aid of Yun Ce's spatial force, their flight speed increased significantly, and before long, they arrived at the capital of the Qin Dynasty—Yanjing City.

Yanjing City was as prosperous as it had been when they left, bustling with noise and heavy traffic. Looking from afar, the city walls were tall and majestic, exuding an imposing aura.

Yun Ce stopped and swept his gaze over the Red Phoenix and the Dragon Rock Lion, then looked at Black Feather, saying: "Dragon Rock, Red Phoenix, your bodies are too large. If you enter Yanjing City directly, you will surely cause a sensation and even frighten the people in the city. I will teach you a technique. This art is extremely simple; once you cultivate it to initial success, you will be able to shrink your bodies, making it easier to move around. Oh, Black Feather, you should learn it too; it will be much more convenient when entering towns in the future."

"Thank you, Master!" the three beasts responded in unison, their eyes filled with joy. They knew their massive forms were highly inconvenient for moving through human towns, and with this technique, that problem would be solved.

Yun Ce nodded, his divine sense stirring as he transmitted a simple Body-Shrinking Art into the minds of the three beasts. The three beasts closed their eyes and began to comprehend it rapidly. Before long, they had all grasped the essentials of the Body-Shrinking Art. Their bodies slowly shrank until they were the size of a palm. Xiao Hei landed on Qin Yu's shoulder, while Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion landed on Yun Ce's shoulders—Red Phoenix on the left and Dragon Rock Lion on the right—looking incredibly well-behaved. Even after shrinking, Red Phoenix's vermilion and gold feathers remained striking, its tail feathers slightly upturned, appearing both lively and noble.

Yun Ce and Qin Yu looked at the three small beasts on their shoulders, smiles appearing on their faces as they gently stroked their heads.

Standing to the side, Yun Ce looked at the bustling Yanjing City with a faint smile on his lips, thinking to himself: It has been barely three years since leaving home, yet Qin Yu has grown from the Xiantian Great Perfection into a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator. Furthermore, Xiao Hei has survived the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation to become a Golden Core Mid Stage demonic beast, and now they have the added assistance of Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion. If Qin De, Feng Yuzi, and the others were to see Qin Yu's current achievements, they would surely be incredibly astonished.

"Let's go, we're entering the city to return to the Qin Family," Yun Ce said, taking the lead as he walked toward the gates of Yanjing City. Qin Yu followed closely behind, while the three small beasts on their shoulders curiously surveyed everything around them, their eyes filled with wonder.