Outside Thunder Mountain Residence, the sun had just risen. Golden rays spilled across the forest, driving away the morning mist. Qin Yu and Black Feather stood side by side, their auras tightly controlled. After half a month of diligent cultivation, both had stabilized their Golden Core Mid Stage realms, and anticipation of the journey home filled their faces. Yun Ce stood nearby with his hands behind his back, Stellar True Essence quietly flowing around him. His Void-Piercing Mid Stage aura was completely under control, and only his deep eyes betrayed his confidence.
"All right. Your realms are stable, and you've sorted out your magic treasures and pills. We'll set off today and return to the Qin Dynasty." Yun Ce spoke slowly, his tone warm yet unhurried, leaving no room for doubt.
"Wonderful! We can finally go home!" A flash of joy crossed Qin Yu's eyes. He had been away for three years, and his longing for his father, Qin De, Feng Yuzi, and the others had long been buried deep in his heart. Now that he could finally begin the journey home, he could hardly hide his delight.
Black Feather spread his wings and rose into the air, excitement in his eagle eyes. He sent a message with his spiritual sense: "We're finally going back, big brother!"
Yun Ce looked at the happy sight of the young man and the beast, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. He nodded gently. "Let's go."
Qin Yu didn't hesitate. He raised his hand and took out the Dream Ring Lei Wei had left behind. With a slight motion of his fingertip, he sent a trace of Nebula True Qi into it. A pale blue spiritual light surged from the ring and enveloped Thunder Mountain Residence behind them. The vast residence shrank like a toy, then became a streak of light and slipped into the Dream Ring, disappearing from sight.
Yun Ce's gaze fell on the Dream Ring, and understanding flashed in his eyes, but he said nothing. He knew the spatial ring Lei Wei had left behind contained an enormous space. In the original story, Qin Yu had used the Dream Ring to take away an entire Treasure Pavilion from Nine Sha Hall.
Once they were ready, the three rose into the air and flew toward Yanjing City, the capital of the Qin Dynasty. Yun Ce led the way, with Qin Yu and Black Feather following close behind. They swept above the forest at a modest speed.
After flying for about half an hour, Qin Yu finally couldn't help asking, a puzzled look on his face. "Master, why are you flying so slowly? With your Void-Piercing Realm strength, you should be able to go much faster. If we return to the Qin Family sooner, Father and the others won't have to worry."
Black Feather agreed, sending a message with his spiritual sense. "That's right, Master. We're flying so slowly. When will we get home?"
Hearing their questions, Yun Ce looked back and smiled mysteriously, but offered no explanation. "Don't rush. I have my reasons. If we fly more slowly, we might come across an unexpected surprise."
As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Ce's divine sense stirred, spreading out like a vast tide to cover several thousand li in every direction. The divine sense of a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator was already immense, and the Hongmeng Stellar Art enhanced it further, giving him a range far beyond that of cultivators at the same level. Every strand of his spiritual sense could clearly probe everything nearby. Not even a beast hidden deep in the mountains could escape his detection.
Qin Yu and Black Feather exchanged a glance. Though they were puzzled, they didn't ask anything more. They simply followed Yun Ce in silence as they continued flying. They knew their master always acted with good reason. If he said so, he surely had his reasons.
After flying for a little longer, Yun Ce's eyes suddenly lit up, and the corner of his mouth curved into a smile. "Found them!"
He silently considered the matter. Just as he'd expected! Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion, the two divine beasts that had appeared in the Great Wilderness in the original story, were still roaming its outskirts. Had they already become subordinates of Yan Mo, the Black Dragon who had left home?
Yan Mo was a member of the dragon clan. Dissatisfied with the clan's rules, he had left home, later subduing Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion and becoming a dominant force on the outskirts of the Great Wilderness. But judging by the state of these two divine beasts, they clearly hadn't yet submitted to Yan Mo. Otherwise, they wouldn't still be fighting over territory on the Great Wilderness's outskirts.
Who cares whether they're Yan Mo's subordinates or not? Yun Ce sneered inwardly. I've run into them today, so they're mine! By the time I meet Yan Mo in the future, who knows how much stronger I'll be than him? Even if he tries to get them back, he won't be qualified to.
With that thought, Yun Ce stopped and turned to Qin Yu and Black Feather, his tone tinged with mystery. "Come with me. I'll show you two divine beasts!"
He said he was taking them to see the beasts, but he had already made his plans—he was really going to recruit a couple of underlings. Red Phoenix was a fire-attribute divine beast, endowed with spiritual wisdom and able to understand people. Dragon Rock Lion was an earth-attribute divine beast. Both were powerful. If he could subdue them, they would not only help Qin Yu, but also provide extra protection when they ventured into the Undersea Beast World and roamed the cultivation world in the future.
"Divine beasts?!" A look of delight crossed Qin Yu's eyes. "Master, are there really divine beasts?" Though he had cultivated for three years and seen plenty of demonic beasts, he had never seen a true divine beast. He was full of anticipation.
Black Feather excitedly flapped his wings and sent a message with his spiritual sense. "Divine beasts? Are they stronger than me? I want to see!"
"Just follow me." Yun Ce smiled and turned toward the mountains nearby. Qin Yu and Black Feather hurried after him.
Before long, the three arrived in a valley. Spiritual energy was abundant there, but a violent aura hung in the air. Two enormous figures stood facing each other, their auras surging. They were clearly about to fight.
On the left stood a Red Phoenix with a wingspan of more than three zhang. Its body was covered in vermilion and gilded feathers, and its long, fluffy tail feathers were tipped with delicate golden patterns. With every beat of its wings, a faint glow of flame surrounded it. Its bright, keen phoenix eyes radiated a blazing, regal aura. It was Red Phoenix, at the mid-stage Nascent Soul level. On the right stood a Dragon Rock Lion, two zhang tall, with a pitch-black body and hair like steel needles. Rich earth-attribute spiritual energy swirled around it, and its roar shook the air. It, too, was at the mid-stage Nascent Soul level.
Yun Ce's gaze swept over the two beasts, and he understood. Just as he had expected, the divine beasts were fighting over the valley's territory. They clearly hadn't been subdued by Yan Mo yet.
"Those are the two," Yun Ce said quietly to Qin Yu and Black Feather. Then, without hesitation, he released his aura. The pressure of his Void-Piercing Mid Stage realm crashed down like a mountain, instantly covering the entire valley.
Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion, who had been facing off, immediately sensed the terrifying pressure. Their bodies stiffened, and they both turned toward Yun Ce, wariness and caution flashing in their eyes. They were mid-stage Nascent Soul divine beasts. Though their cultivation was inferior to that of a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, their offensive and defensive power far surpassed that of ordinary cultivators at the same level. They could still put up a fight against a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator, so they weren't too afraid.
"Human cultivator, why have you trespassed on our territory?" Red Phoenix spread its wings and gave a clear, ringing cry. Its voice carried a hint of arrogance. As a descendant of an ancient divine bird, it refused to bow its head even before a Void-Piercing Realm cultivator.
Dragon Rock Lion let out a low growl, its eyes full of menace. "Get out! Or we won't be held responsible for what happens!"
Yun Ce smiled faintly, his expression calm. "Won't be held responsible? You're only mid-stage Nascent Soul divine beasts. You dare talk to me like that? I didn't come for your territory today. I came to subdue you and make you my subordinates."
"Subdue us?" Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion both froze, then burst into laughter, their eyes full of scorn.
"Arrogant human! You think being in the Void-Piercing Realm means you can subdue us divine beasts? Dream on!" Dragon Rock Lion roared and lunged at Yun Ce. Its powerful limbs carried such force that the ground trembled.
Red Phoenix also spread its wings and took flight, spitting out a mass of blazing vermilion fire. The flames surged toward Yun Ce with the power to burn everything to ashes, infused with the spiritual essence of a divine bird. When their own lives and dignity were at stake, the two beasts had decisively set aside their feud to face an outsider together.
Qin Yu and Black Feather stood to one side, tensely watching the fight. They wanted to summon the courage to go help, but Yun Ce raised a hand to stop them. "Don't worry. I have this under control."
As he spoke, Yun Ce remained still, circulating Stellar True Essence through his body. A faint power of space curled around his fingertips. Facing Dragon Rock Lion's charge and Red Phoenix's flames, he simply raised a hand. A pale golden light surged out, blocking the flames from reaching him. At the same time, he unleashed the power of space, and an invisible force instantly immobilized Dragon Rock Lion's massive body in midair.
Red Phoenix's eyes flashed with shock. It spat out an even more powerful burst of vermilion fire, laced with several golden streaks and surging with greater force, but Yun Ce blocked it with ease. He shifted slightly and appeared before Red Phoenix in an instant. With a raised hand, he struck out with a palm wind imbued with Stellar True Essence and the power of space. It sent Red Phoenix flying, and the beast crashed heavily to the ground, spitting up a mouthful of vermilion blood.
Trapped in midair, Dragon Rock Lion saw Red Phoenix defeated, and its eyes filled with terror. It struggled with all its might, but couldn't break free of the invisible force. At last, it realized that this human cultivator was no ordinary Void-Piercing Realm cultivator. His strength far exceeded anything they had imagined.
Yun Ce slowly walked up to Dragon Rock Lion and looked at it calmly. "Now, are you willing to submit to me?"
Dragon Rock Lion exchanged a glance with Red Phoenix, who had just climbed back to its feet. Their eyes were full of reluctance and pride. They were divine beasts, accustomed to freedom, and had never considered submitting to a human cultivator. But they also knew that if they kept resisting, the human cultivator before them would kill them. Better to submit than die. Perhaps by following a powerful master, they could grow stronger.
After a moment of silence, Red Phoenix was the first to lower its head and give a low cry, signaling its submission. Dragon Rock Lion stopped struggling as well, the menace fading from its eyes as it showed a hint of deference.
Seeing this, Yun Ce nodded in satisfaction and withdrew the spatial force binding Dragon Rock Lion. His tone grew a little warmer. "Good. Since you've submitted to me, you'll follow me from now on. I know you're both divine beasts with extraordinary talents. I won't mistreat you. In the future, I'll help you break through to even higher realms."
Yun Ce talked with the two beasts for a while, then confirmed that they hadn't yet become Yan Mo's subordinates. That was why they had been fighting so fiercely over territory.
Yun Ce's expression turned grave. He spoke in a serious tone, issuing a warning. "Dragon Rock, Red Phoenix, now that you've submitted to me, you must get along. You're not to attack each other again. If I catch you fighting over territory, don't blame me for being merciless!"
"Yes, Master!" Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion answered together, their voices tinged with respect. Yun Ce had beaten them into submission, and they understood that only by getting along could they grow better under such a powerful master.
Having subdued the two divine beasts, Yun Ce was overjoyed. With Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion to help them, their future adventures would undoubtedly go much more smoothly.
"All right, let's continue on our way and return to the Qin Dynasty," Yun Ce said, then immediately rose into the air. Qin Yu and Black Feather followed close behind, while Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion also took flight and trailed after them toward Yanjing City.
With Yun Ce's spatial power bolstering them, their flying speed increased tremendously. Before long, they arrived at Yanjing City, the capital of the Qin Dynasty.
Yanjing City was just as bustling as it had been before they left, alive with crowds and traffic. From a distance, the city walls looked tall and imposing, their grandeur unmistakable.
Yun Ce stopped and looked at Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion, then at Black Feather. "Dragon Rock, Red Phoenix, you're too large to enter Yanjing City as you are. You'd cause a commotion and might even frighten the people. I'll teach you a cultivation art. It's very simple. Once you've mastered the basics, you'll be able to shrink your bodies and move around more easily. Oh, Black Feather, you should learn it too. It'll be much more convenient when you enter towns in the future."
"Thank you, Master!" the three beasts answered together, their eyes full of delight. They knew their enormous size made it very inconvenient to move around in human cities. This art would solve that problem.
Yun Ce nodded and sent a simple Body-Shrinking Art into the minds of the three beasts with his divine sense. They closed their eyes and quickly grasped the basics. Before long, their bodies shrank to the size of a palm. Xiao Hei landed on Qin Yu's shoulder, while Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion perched on Yun Ce's shoulders, Red Phoenix on the left and Dragon Rock Lion on the right. They looked exceptionally well-behaved. Even after shrinking, Red Phoenix's vermilion and gilded feathers remained bright, and its tail feathers curled upward slightly, giving it a lively yet regal look.
Yun Ce and Qin Yu looked at the three small beasts perched on their shoulders, smiled, and gently stroked their heads.
Standing nearby and gazing at bustling Yanjing City, Yun Ce wore a faint smile and thought to himself: Qin Yu has been away from home for only three years, yet he's grown from a Xiantian Great Perfection cultivator into a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator. Xiao Hei has also survived the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation and become a Golden Core Mid Stage demonic beast, and now they have Red Phoenix and Dragon Rock Lion to help them as well. Qin De, Feng Yuzi, and the others will surely be astonished when they see how much Qin Yu has accomplished.
"Let's go. We'll enter the city and return to the Qin Family." Yun Ce set off toward the gates of Yanjing City, with Qin Yu close behind. The three small beasts perched on their shoulders curiously took in their surroundings, their eyes full of wonder.
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