As Chu Tian found himself in a predicament, a voice echoed in his mind.
Initially startled by the unfamiliar sound, Chu Tian then heard the voice declare, "I have a way to make them willingly follow you!"
"What way? Speak quickly!"
Chu Tian realized the voice belonged to the dragon egg that had transformed from the little dragon girl. The last time she entered his soul space, she had altered his divine sense, granting him the skill "Azure Dragon's Might," after which she had fallen into a deep slumber and remained silent.
"Do you remember that task I asked you to complete?" the little dragon girl asked.
Chu Tian certainly remembered and nodded in agreement.
"Is this task related to the Purple Lightning Cloud-Spitting Beast?"
"Not exactly, but it's a perfect way to utilize a surplus..."
While Chu Tian was communicating with the little dragon girl, he remained perched atop Hao, silent. Wei Jin, Old Yang, and Ding Ding watched his back, wondering what he was thinking.
"Little one, hurry along. It's impolite to hover above us like this! Please..."
The ancient, ethereal voice spoke again. Before it could finish, Chu Tian smiled and interrupted.
"I never imagined that the legendary Illusionary True Qilin, with its fearsome reputation from ancient times, would be reduced to such a state. What? You still hope to repair your bloodline using the residual soul of that little broken dragon underground? That's utterly preposterous!"
Boom…
The aged Purple Lightning Cloud-Spitting Beast abruptly stood up. The aura it suddenly exuded far surpassed that of Old Yang behind it. The cave it occupied crumbled under the sudden surge of energy. In the next instant, it quickly retracted its power, reverting to its peak Heavenly Soul realm strength.
"Little one, I don't know what you're talking about. Please leave our territory immediately." This time, the voice carried a chilling coldness.
Chu Tian chuckled inwardly. Had it finally been angered? However, the powerful aura it had just displayed was truly terrifying. It was fortunate he hadn't charged forward with his staff earlier. He suspected even Old Yang would have had little chance against it.
"In that case, forget it. That thing in Myriad Beasts City... I'll just refine it directly! ... Let's go!"
Hao paused, then banked in mid-air and flew back in the direction they had come.
Swoosh…
Suddenly, a purple figure, significantly larger than Hao, materialized directly in their path.
"Wait…"
"Old Yang, deal with him…"
Before the figure could utter another word, Chu Tian let out a sharp cry. Old Yang, obedient as ever, took a step forward, traversing the void to appear directly in front of the figure's nose. With a punch that seemed to crack mountains and split the earth, he struck the figure's nose.
There was no violent roar. Only a soft…
Pop…
The colossal figure shattered into nothingness like a bubble. Old Yang stood in the air, maintaining his punching stance, clearly taken aback.
"If you want to talk, show your true form. What's the point of a mere illusion?" Chu Tian continued to watch the scene below.
"First, tell me how you plan to refine that creature. For millions of years, its power has been diminished by the sealing formations of Myriad Beasts City, but it's still not something a mere human like you can handle. How can you make me believe you?" The ancient voice clearly held a hint of wavering. If Chu Tian could indeed refine that creature, they could all gain a share, and they wouldn't have to live under the guise of the Purple Lightning Cloud-Spitting Beast anymore. If the Illusionary True Qilin clan could rise again in his generation, he could die with honor, facing his ancestors.
In the past, their clan had been so magnificent. However, due to siding with the wrong faction a million years ago, they were defeated and sealed within a dimensional rift. Furthermore, their bloodline had been partially drained through supreme laws. In that rift, they struggled mightily; countless clan members lived and died without ever escaping that lightless place. It was only ten thousand years ago that a tear appeared in the dimensional rift. As the clan leader of that generation, he led tens of thousands of his people out. By chance, they discovered this hill, beneath which lay the remains of an immature dragon. Within its body, a trace of its soul still lingered. Having their bloodline power extracted, the Illusionary True Qilin clan could only use the residual soul of their stronger, nobler dragon kin to slowly mend the flaws in their bloodline.
They had stayed here for ten thousand years, maintaining a facade of harmlessness and submission to conceal the secret below. Ten thousand years had passed, and he had almost forgotten he was an Illusionary True Qilin. As for the creature Chu Tian mentioned beneath Myriad Beasts City, even among the demon beast races, very few knew of it. The heritage of the Illusionary True Qilin clan was different from other races; they inherited memories. Upon reaching adulthood, their awakened memories would be passed down. In terms of bloodline, they were truly the supreme sovereigns among the demon beasts in this Sea of Death. However, too much time had passed, and no one remembered their original identity.
Seeing the shift in the other party's attitude, Chu Tian knew there was hope. He waved his hand, and an egg radiating a faint blue light appeared.
"I may not be able to deal with that creature, but she can…"
Swish…
The moment Chu Tian summoned the dragon egg, a flash of purple light appeared before him, and the old Qilin materialized. Its form was less than twenty feet long, which was considered a very small size for a demon beast. However, Chu Tian knew this was its true form.
"Azure… Hmm… You've actually recognized a master…"
It stopped speaking mid-sentence, its words caught in its throat. With astonished eyes, it looked back and forth between Chu Tian and the dragon egg. Chu Tian knew the little dragon girl had interrupted it. Following this, the old Qilin's gaze flickered continuously. Chu Tian had no idea what the little dragon girl was saying to it. Finally, it glanced at Chu Tian again, then shifted its gaze back to the egg. After a long moment, Chu Tian saw it seemingly make a momentous decision. It nodded its massive head and, turning around, flew downwards.
"I need to stay here for a while. The dragon corpse below still contains a significant amount of life essence, which I need to absorb. Once things here are settled, I will address that matter…"
The little dragon girl's voice echoed in Chu Tian's mind. At the same time, the old Qilin moved and vanished. Chu Tian understood that it had returned to its illusory form.
Rumble, rumble, rumble… The earth trembled. From a distance, Dong Dong, leading the Zhongdu Imperial Guards, had arrived. They gradually slowed down, stopping beneath Chu Tian and his companions. Just as the little dragon girl finished speaking, and the twenty thousand people halted, the desert before them suddenly rippled. The entire landscape dissolved into a hazy white mist. As the mist gradually dispersed, the scenery shifted, revealing a colossal hill. Countless caves riddled its surface, resembling a honeycomb. Next, figures emerged from the caves, stepping through the air. They followed a figure whose fur had begun to turn white, ascending into the sky and arriving before Chu Tian.
"I entrust these twenty thousand children to you. I hope you will treat them kindly!" The old Qilin fixed its deep gaze on Chu Tian. "As for… your so-called promise, forget it. We don't trust humans! However, we trust her…"
Chu Tian was about to suggest signing some kind of contract, fearing these creatures might suddenly attack, but the old Qilin preempted him with disdain. Chu Tian was taken aback, thinking, Damn it… I don't trust you either. However, the little dragon girl's voice spoke again.
"He's right… humans are indeed treacherous. But you are somewhat acceptable! Rest assured, the Illusionary True Qilin are a clan that absolutely keeps its word. Once they've decided, they won't betray! As for you… show some integrity! After all, they aren't very familiar with you."
Hearing her words, Chu Tian felt helpless. Were humans really so unreliable? Gazing into the old Qilin's clear eyes, Chu Tian had no choice but to believe. After all, this dragon egg was arranged by Dao Tian for him and had been recognized as its master through the system's contract. She wouldn't betray him…
With that thought, Chu Tian waved his hand, and a contract materialized out of thin air.
Hum…
An inexplicable aura emanated from it. Seeing this, the old Qilin's eyes narrowed. Clearly, like Hao, it recognized what this contract was.
"I, Chu Tian… as long as I remain on this Xuan Tian Star, will aid and protect the Illusionary True Qilin clan, and never betray them!"
As he spoke, he forced out a drop of blood from his forehead, which slowly drifted into the divine contract.
Hum…
The contract vibrated violently. Half of its intricate markings instantly turned red. Seeing this, the old Qilin's gaze fluctuated. Signing this contract meant binding himself irrevocably to Chu Tian. What he had discussed with the little dragon girl was merely a mutually beneficial transaction. However, if he refused, their previous agreement might be voided. Moreover… this was a Divine Contract. He understood its implications far better than Hao did.