"I hope that after you take Xiao Jin back, you will treat him well. Otherwise, even if you are from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan, I will make you pay a heavy price! Believe me!"
After a long while, Xiao Yan finally calmed down and looked down to meet the eyes of the golden-robed old man. His pair of dark eyes were as deep and unfathomable as a pool of water, and his face was expressionless. Although his aura was calm, it was invisibly chilling.
At this moment, even the old man in the golden robe couldn't help but narrow his eyes, and his heart was filled with shock. It was hard to imagine that a Half-Emperor, in such a weak state, could exert such an invisible aura of power that could move a super strong person of his level. The black-robed youth in front of him was definitely not an ordinary person!
"Very well! I can swear an oath to prove it!"
With a loud shout, the old man in the golden robe raised his palm without a word, swearing an oath to the heavens. His expression was solemn as he sternly proclaimed:
"I, Jin Lin, hereby swear to the heavens that I will dedicate all my efforts to bringing Xiao Jin back to my clan, and will do everything in my power to teach and guide him, ensuring he suffers no harm. If I break this oath, may I be punished by heavenly lightning!"
"Boom..."
The moment Jin Lin's shout fell, the once clear sky suddenly erupted with thunder and churning dark clouds. The entire heavens changed color in an instant, and terrifying bolts of lightning, carrying an extreme aura of destruction, descended from the sky. Under this terrifying pressure, even Jin Lin couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
Watching the terrifying lightning continuously falling between heaven and earth, Xiao Yan was filled with shock. This was the second time he had seen the Nine Heavens Divine Lightning, but even though he had seen it once before, seeing it again now still made Xiao Yan's heart tremble.
After a long time, the thunder rumbling between heaven and earth gradually subsided, and the thick thunderclouds that covered the entire sky gradually dissipated until finally, the entire world returned to its azure color. The dark clouds dispersed, and the sunlight shone down, as if the thunderclouds had never appeared. However, when Xiao Yan looked at him again, he was still immersed in the overwhelming power he had just experienced and had not withdrawn from it.
"Ahem... Kid, now you should believe what I'm saying, right?"
A soft cough startled Xiao Yan Xiao Yan his stunned state, and the expression on his face changed accordingly. He managed to look up at the azure sky, and it took him a while to recover.
Turning his gaze back to Jin Lin, Xiao Yan Xiao Yan realized that the old man in golden robes before him was named Jin Lin.
"Hoo... In that case, Xiao Jin 'm afraid I'll have to trouble Senior Jin Lin to take care of me in the future. I, Xiao Yan, thank Xiao Jin on my behalf!"
Since they were using the Lightning Punishment Oath to prove their sincerity, Xiao Yan, as the junior, naturally couldn't be lacking in courtesy. He immediately bowed and cupped his hands to Jin Lin, speaking with even greater respect.
Although it's inevitable that Xiao Jin will be sent away, if he can provide him with a good cultivation environment, a good teacher, and someone who can genuinely help him, then even if he can't witness the latter's growth firsthand, Xiao Yan will feel it's all worthwhile. After all, if Xiao Jin continues to follow him, Xiao Yan will only be harming him. Rather than that, it's better to let him cultivate properly in the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. At worst, he can always find him and bring him back when he has achieved a certain level of strength.
"Haha, Xiao Yan, good, I've got it. Very good. Don't worry, I'll personally guide this little guy from now on. Don't be scared when you see him next time! Hahahaha!"
Jin Lin laughed heartily, looking as delighted as an old grandfather about to hold his grandson. As he spoke, he strode towards Xiao Yan.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile, but then he looked at the Xiao Jin on his shoulder with a look of reluctance, his eyes revealing a fatherly expression.
Although Xiao Jin's true age is hundreds of times greater than Xiao Yan's, in terms of current intelligence, Xiao Jin is no more than that of a human child.
Xiao Jin had lived with Xiao Yan for over ten years, and Xiao Yan had long regarded him as his closest relative. Now, however, he was about to hand him over to Xiao Yan. Although it was all for Xiao Yan's own good, Xiao Yan still couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness in his heart.
"Hehe, you're reluctant to part with it, aren't you? Sigh... It's only human nature, utterly helpless."
Upon seeing this, Jin Lin immediately shook his head and sighed helplessly.
After a long while, Xiao Yan carefully cradled the Xiao Jin golden object, which was wrapped in golden light, in both hands, slowly stretching his arms forward, his heart filled with complex emotions.
Jin Lin looked at Xiao Yan with a mixture of sorrow and joy as he saw Xiao Jin being presented to him with both hands. Looking at Xiao Yan, he felt a pang of pity. He could imagine the feelings Xiao Yan had for Xiao Jin, but he also knew that Xiao Yan had no choice but to do this for Xiao Jin's sake.
" Xiao Yan, thank you!"
Suddenly, Jin Lin uttered a sentence that froze Xiao Yan's mind. Then, in Xiao Yan's stiff hands, he carefully took the curled-up Xiao Jin.
"Roar..."
Having left Xiao Yan's grasp, Xiao Jin seemed to sense something and immediately awoke from its slumber. Upon looking up, it was not Xiao Yan's face that caught its eye. Xiao Jin was stunned for a moment, then violently twisted its body, struggling to turn around. It then saw Xiao Yan and moved, trying to return to Xiao Yan's stiff hands.
Go ahead...
Upon seeing Xiao Jin struggling, Xiao Yan's eyes immediately reddened, but in the end, he forced himself to hold back, squeezing out two words with a sharp crack, Xiao Yan lips trembling as he spoke.
"Roar!!!"
Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Xiao Jin's struggling body paused for a moment, then its eyes turned bloodshot as it suddenly raised its head and let out a deafening dragon roar. The roar was vast and its power shook the heavens. All the magical beasts within a thousand miles of it were terrified and prostrated themselves in the direction of Xiao Jin.
At the same time, the Xiao Jin between Jin Lin Lin's hands, with its snake-like body, expanded again and transformed into a giant dragon in the blink of an eye, breaking free from Jin Lin's hands.
Transforming into a giant dragon once more, Xiao Jin immediately twisted its body, its massive tail lashing out fiercely at Jin Lin.
In Xiao Jin's opinion, if it weren't for Jin Lin's coercion, Xiao Yan would never have handed him over so easily.
Faced with Xiao Jin's all-out attack, Jin Lin couldn't help but frown slightly. He hadn't expected that Xiao Jin would go to such lengths for Xiao Yan. It had to be said that the bond between them was truly profound!
However, just before Xiao Jin's dragon tail was about to smash into Jin Lin's body, Xiao Yan's shout suddenly came, forcibly stopping Xiao Jin's actions.
" Xiao Jin, stop right there!"
As Xiao Yan's shout fell, Xiao Jin's massive body instantly froze. The Jin Lin tail that was about to strike Jin Lin was also forcibly stopped in mid-air, leaving only a powerful gust of wind that dissipated on its own when it reached a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters) in front of Jin Lin.
Looking at Xiao Jin before him, a stern expression appeared on Xiao Yan's face. He slowly spread his palm in the air in front of him, staring at Xiao Jin Xiao Yan saying a word.
"Roar..."
With a low, unwilling roar, Xiao Jin drooped its head helplessly. As the golden light dissipated, Xiao Jin transformed back into a small snake and landed on Xiao Yan's palm, its pair of delicate eyes looking at Xiao Yan with a pitiful expression.
"Well..."
With a helpless sigh, Xiao Yan handed Xiao Jin to Jin Lin's hands again. This time, Xiao Yan did not hesitate at all. Xiao Jin stared straight at Xiao Yan's stern eyes, motionless, lying in Jin Lin's palms, also without making a sound.
"Well..."
With another soft sigh, Xiao Yan withdrew his hand, faced Xiao Jin, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly, and said:
" Xiao Jin, it's not that I'm forcing you, nor that I don't want to keep you by my side. It's just that keeping you here won't do either of us any good. I have my own path to walk, and you should have your own place in the world. Continuing to follow me will only limit your growth. Go, go with Senior Jin Lin to the Dragon Clan. Compared to here, only there is more suitable for you."
"Waaah..."
A low whimper escaped from Xiao Jin's nose, and tears streamed down its face. Xiao Jin Xiao Jin hovered in the air, trying to return to Xiao Yan's side, but ultimately, enveloped by Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames, it returned to Jin Lin's palms.
That was Heavenly Flames condensed by Xiao Yan using all the Dou Qi in his body at that moment. If Xiao Jin dared to shatter it, Xiao Yan would definitely be injured even more. Therefore, even though it knew that Xiao Yan did it on purpose, Xiao Jin could only helplessly return to Jin Lin's side.
"Go ahead, don't worry. We'll meet again when you're strong enough. Until then, focus on your training!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yan turned around abruptly and flew away into the distant sky without looking back.
After Xiao Yan's figure gradually disappeared from Jin Lin and Xiao Jin's sight, the Heavenly Flames surrounding Xiao Jin suddenly dissipated. At the moment the Heavenly Flames disappeared, Xiao Jin changed its form again, intending to chase after Xiao Yan.
"Save your breath. He's asking you to stay because it's really for your own good. It's too late for you to chase after him now."
"Roar!!!"
With a sudden turn, Xiao Jin unleashed a roar like a raging dragon, causing the void to distort.
"Just like Xiao Yan said, if you want to see him again, then show your strength. Until then, even if you shout until your throat is hoarse, you still won't be able to see him."
Jin Lin responded with a nonchalant remark, then turned around and flew slowly away in the opposite direction from Xiao Yan, no longer even bothering with Xiao Jin.
"If you want to see him again, follow me. If not, then go find him on your own."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Jin Lin suddenly accelerated their flight, covering a distance of a thousand feet in the blink of an eye.
Seeing this, Xiao Jin hesitated. He glanced in the direction Xiao Yan had left, and was about to chase after him when he stopped. Xiao Yan's words echoed in his mind. He turned his head and looked at Jin Lin, only to find that the latter had already reached the end of his line of sight. If he didn't chase after him, he was afraid he would never catch up.
"Roar!!!"
With a roar to the sky, Xiao Jin looked once more in the direction Xiao Yan had left. Then, it suddenly turned around and flew swiftly after Jin Lin.