"Haha, so you're scared! No one has ever escaped under my Beast Taming Ring. From now on, you shall be my mount!" Dongfang Xiao said with a satisfied smile.
With a wave of his hand, Dongfang Xiao flung the Beast Taming Ring towards the fire-breathing Celestial Lion trapped in the spiritual energy cage. As the ring flew, it rapidly grew larger, and a flicker of fear appeared in the Celestial Lion's eyes.
Its body suddenly expanded, seemingly attempting to break free from the spiritual energy cage. Dongfang Xiao, however, paid it no mind. With the Beast Taming Ring unleashed, there was no way the fire-breathing Celestial Lion could escape his grasp.
*Crack!*
*Boom!*
As the fire-breathing Celestial Lion continued to swell, the spiritual energy cage, no longer sustained by Dongfang Xiao, began to fracture. With a final crack, it dissipated into nothingness.
Now free from the cage, the Beast Taming Ring swiftly shot towards the Celestial Lion. The creature, appearing terrified, flapped its wings and soared into the distance.
Seeing this, Dongfang Xiao chuckled again. With another wave of his hand, the Beast Taming Ring pursued, catching up in mere seconds and firmly clamping onto the fire-breathing Celestial Lion's neck, forcing it to stop.
*Roar!*
The fire-breathing Celestial Lion crashed to the ground and thrashed about. However, the more it struggled, the tighter the Beast Taming Ring around its neck became. Eventually, the Celestial Lion was forced to cease its struggle, its eyes filled with sheer terror.
"It seems you've given up? Haha, the Beast Taming Ring is indeed powerful!" Dongfang Xiao let out a satisfied laugh, observing the immobilized creature. He then strode towards the defeated Celestial Lion.
"Give up. Once you're caught by my Beast Taming Ring, you cannot escape. I advise you to stop struggling and follow me obediently. Otherwise, this ring will remain on you forever. And don't even think about shrinking down to escape; the ring can adjust to your size. Unless I remove it, you will be under my command for life!"
Dongfang Xiao chuckled as he watched the fire-breathing Celestial Lion continue to shake its neck.
*Puff!*
Suddenly, a blast of fire shot from the Celestial Lion's nostrils towards Dongfang Xiao. With a casual wave of his hand, Dongfang Xiao deflected the fire blast.
"It seems you won't learn my power unless I teach you a lesson!" Dongfang Xiao's expression darkened. With a shift of his hand seals, the Beast Taming Ring glowed with spiritual energy and rapidly constricted, immobilizing the fire-breathing Celestial Lion.
*Roar!*
The fire-breathing Celestial Lion let out a roar before collapsing weakly. As it fell, its gaze turned towards the house where Li Xuan resided, a look of deep regret in its eyes.
Meanwhile, Dongfang Xiao, seeing the fire-breathing Celestial Lion surrender, approached it with elation. He formed hand seals again, and a surge of spiritual energy flowed from his fingertips.
A small cut appeared on Dongfang Xiao's fingertip, and his bright red blood quickly sketched something in the air, resembling the carving of a rune.
The fire-breathing Celestial Lion, lying on the ground, watched the rune forming in the air with intense fear. However, suppressed by the Beast Taming Ring, it was unable to move.
"The contract is complete! You are mine now!" Dongfang Xiao exclaimed with laughter as he finished the last stroke. He then pointed a finger at the fire-breathing Celestial Lion, and the completed rune in the air shot towards its head.
Seeing this, the fire-breathing Celestial Lion let out a cry of despair, a single tear of blood welling in its eyes.
"Sigh."
Just as the rune was about to descend upon the Celestial Lion's head, a soft sigh echoed through the air. With the sound of the sigh, the contract rune carved by Dongfang Xiao was instantly shattered.
"Who's there!"
Dongfang Xiao's face contorted in shock. He scanned his surroundings but saw no one.
However, the Hua family standing in the distance paled upon hearing the sigh.
"Mother, that voice... it sounds like... him..." Hua Yaoyu stammered, his face etched with fear, as if he had committed a grave mistake.
"I heard it too. Didn't they say that senior had already left? Now I understand. No wonder this fire-breathing Celestial Lion hasn't left the senior's doorstep. It seems the senior never left. We might be in deep trouble now." Madam Hua sighed helplessly and looked towards the house.
"Release it, and I will let you leave."
As Dongfang Xiao searched his surroundings, the voice spoke again. Upon hearing this, the fire-breathing Celestial Lion, which had closed its eyes, suddenly opened them, a flicker of excitement in its gaze.
"Who are you? Hiding like a coward, show yourself if you dare!"
Dongfang Xiao's spiritual energy surged, and his divine sense rapidly spread out, attempting to locate the speaker. However, after a thorough scan, a hint of confusion crossed his eyes; he couldn't sense any spiritual energy fluctuations.
"Mother, should we inform Dongfang Xiao about that senior?" Hua Yaorong asked Madam Hua.
Madam Hua pondered for a moment before slowly shaking her head. "This unexpected variable might be the hope for our Po Sa City's rise. Remember, that senior is from the Azure Hall."
Madam Hua then walked forward and addressed Dongfang Xiao, "City Lord Dongfang, this senior is unfathomably powerful. In my opinion, perhaps you should heed their words."
A hint of anger flashed in Dongfang Xiao's eyes. However, considering that he couldn't even sense the speaker's location, a trace of apprehension began to creep in. But upon seeing the fire-breathing Celestial Lion on the ground, a strong desire surged within him.
"If I obtain this fire-breathing Celestial Lion, my power will increase significantly. Surrender to someone who won't even show themselves? Absurd!"
Although Dongfang Xiao felt a sliver of fear towards the unseen speaker, his greed had now taken over.
"I am Dongfang Xiao, the City Lord of Dongbi City. Since you dare not reveal yourself, you must be relying on your exceptional skills in concealing your presence. Do you think such a trick can deceive me?"
Sigh.
As Dongfang Xiao finished speaking, the soft sigh sounded once more.
Besides Dongfang Xiao, the dozen or so spiritual masters who had accompanied him also began to probe their surroundings, clearly intent on finding the speaker.
"No need to search. Since you wish to see me, so be it. However, I have been right before your eyes all along."
As the voice faded, a figure emerged from the house before Dongfang Xiao.
It was Li Xuan.
At that moment, Li Xuan exuded no discernible spiritual energy fluctuations. However, he had regained his original appearance, and his face bore a weariness unbefitting his age.
"Who are you!"
Dongfang Xiao grew instantly vigilant upon seeing Li Xuan. He had been present for so long and had not noticed a person inside the house.
Li Xuan ignored Dongfang Xiao and cast a meaningful glance at the Hua family. He then slowly shifted his gaze to the fire-breathing Celestial Lion, bound by the Beast Taming Ring, and spoke with a hint of amusement, "You call yourself a fire-breathing Celestial Lion, yet you're suppressed by such a tiny ring. Hmm, judging by your demeanor, are you here to join me?"
Hearing this, the fire-breathing Celestial Lion nodded towards Li Xuan.
Dongfang Xiao and the Hua family were both stunned. Dongfang Xiao was naturally excited, clearly recognizing the fire-breathing Celestial Lion. The Hua family, however, looked bewildered, seemingly not understanding Li Xuan's mention of the Celestial Lion.
"Fire-breathing Celestial Lion? Hahaha, I, the City Lord, have subdued a fire-breathing Celestial Lion!" Dongfang Xiao burst into laughter upon hearing Li Xuan's words, but it quickly ceased.
He saw that the fire-breathing Celestial Lion, previously bound by his Beast Taming Ring, was now nestled in the man's arms, no larger than a puppy. And the Beast Taming Ring on its neck had vanished.
"Since you have chosen to follow me, do not stray without my command." As Li Xuan spoke, Dongfang Xiao frantically looked down at the ground.
His face contorted in horror at what he saw. His Beast Taming Ring had been broken in two.
Silence.
The entire area fell silent.
"You dare to destroy my Beast Taming Ring! Boy, I will take your life as payment!" Dongfang Xiao's eyes turned bloodshot as he reacted. He moved instantly and struck at Li Xuan with a palm.
*Bang!*
Before Dongfang Xiao's hand could even touch Li Xuan, his body was sent flying backward by an invisible force.
*Hiss!*
Witnessing this, everyone present gasped in shock.