The Ten Rings erupted with brilliant golden light, and the Dragon Power surged into vigorous golden flames. The Great Protector Dragon, stretched out straight, did not wail in pain. Instead, it relaxed its limbs and tail. Facing the Ten Rings driven by the Dragon Power, it gave up resistance and seemed to enjoy being calcined by the Dragon Power.
Before long, the dragon scales connected to the Ten Rings quickly became white as snow and lustrous as jade. At the same time, Hong Fei felt the Great Protector Dragon absorbing and fusing with the Dragon Power. Against the Soul-Eater, Dragon Power was an extremely pure poison that could not be touched. But for the Great Protector Dragon, the Dragon Power had become a great tonic.
Thus, it was no wonder that the dragon scales shed by the Great Protector Dragon could be forged into various dragon scale weapons that directly damaged the Soul-Eater. However, this Great Protector Dragon was a bit too bold; these Dragon Powers had an owner! Hong Fei's mind shifted, and the Dragon Power that had already entered the body of the Great Protector Dragon suddenly surged.
They suddenly refused the dragon's absorption, completely severing their connection with the Great Protector Dragon, and in the blink of an eye, erupted with their original destructive power. Instantly, the dragon's tendons and bones trembled wildly. The dragon scales were suddenly scorched bright red, and thick white smoke rose from where the Ten Rings were located.
"Aooo!"
A miserable dragon roar erupted. Hong Fei reached out his claw, the Ten Rings contracted, and the dragon roar came to an abrupt halt. The slender dragon body immediately struggled and twisted. The sturdy dragon scales rubbed against the Ten Rings, making a teeth-grinding sound, and sparks splattered, but the Great Protector Dragon's efforts were ultimately futile.
In the gaps between every breath and movement of its body, the Ten Rings would seize the opportunity to tighten further. Looking at each other from a distance, clarity suddenly appeared in the Great Protector Dragon's pupils, and a look of pleading emerged from the depths of its eyes. Hong Fei flew forward, just a few meters away from the dragon's head.
At this moment, he could even clearly feel the thick water vapor exhaled from the dragon's nose and mouth between breaths.
"Follow me from now on."
Hong Fei spoke suddenly. Hearing this, astonishment flashed in the Great Protector Dragon's golden pupils.
Hong Fei moved his fingers gently, and the tightly constricted Ten Rings immediately expanded, giving the Great Protector Dragon a chance to breathe. However, Hong Fei soon said again: "You have three seconds to consider."
"Three!"
The Ten Rings began to rotate, and the Dragon Power rolling inside was like a rotating blade.
"Two!"
The Ten Rings contracted slightly inward.
After the innermost layer of Dragon Power touched the surface of the dragon scales, it quickly cut out shallow, fine marks. Hong Fei was about to count down again, but before the sound could come out, the Great Protector Dragon nodded immediately. Hong Fei's smile bloomed instantly. Spreading his palms, the Ten Rings flew back to his arms quickly.
After being freed from the restraints, the Great Protector Dragon suddenly swayed left and right and rushed towards Hong Fei's chest. During the rapid advance, the body of the Great Protector Dragon suddenly became illusory, as if it had suddenly turned into a stream of pure energy.
"Boom!"
With a dull sound, Hong Fei stretched his arms out in front of him, and the dragon body immediately returned to its solid form. His two large hands pressed onto the Great Protector Dragon's big head at the same time. The Great Protector Dragon blinked at Hong Fei, then looked at the dragon-shaped mark on Hong Fei's chest. Hong Fei realized, but then shook his head: "No."
The Great Protector Dragon was full of confusion. Hong Fei: "Don't do this. We just met; we aren't that close yet."
The Great Protector Dragon's action was to turn its solid body into energy and merge it into the dragon-shaped mark on Hong Fei's chest. In this way, its huge dragon body would have a convenient and fast hiding place, and it could fulfill the promise of following Hong Fei at any time.
But this could only be considered an additional effect; its real purpose was to absorb the Dragon Power in Hong Fei's body more conveniently. In other words, it coveted Hong Fei's body. The pressure of strength was one of the reasons it chose to submit, but Dragon Power was the decisive factor.
It wanted Dragon Power, but the situation just now proved that unless Hong Fei allowed it, it couldn't absorb it at all, and would instead be hurt by it. Since that was the case, only by joining Master Hong's command would it have a chance to get benefits in the future. Since the Great Protector Dragon neither wanted to die nor wanted to give up Dragon Power, it naturally had to agree.
But hearing Hong Fei say that they were not familiar with each other yet, the Great Protector Dragon felt extremely awkward. I don't know if we are familiar or not, but if you don't stop, I'll be 'cooked' soon. Hong Fei lifted his foot and tapped the tip of the dragon's nose, his body landing lightly on the dragon's head.
The Great Protector Dragon sensed it, and immediately turned its head to take Hong Fei to the Black Mountain. Seeing Hong Fei's gesture, the four people including Xu Wenwu flew onto the dragon's back one after another. The Great Protector Dragon turned its body and rushed straight to the lake shore.
A moment later, the Great Protector Dragon's four claws stepped on the surface of the lake, its body swaying gently in the wind. The dragon head hung low, and Hong Fei stepped onto the ground. At this moment, Frank and the others who had finished dealing with the Soul-Eater were waiting.
Behind them, many Ta Lo people looked at the Guardian they had revered and worshipped for generations being defeated, and even seemingly becoming someone else's mount. For a time, their expressions were complex and hard to hide; everyone's eyebrows were lowered, and they looked dispirited. Hong Fei walked past Frank and the others, facing the Ta Lo people directly.
"Don't look like it's the end of the world. Isn't what happened today a good thing?"
Hong Fei pointed to the collapsed Black Mountain in the distance.
"The Soul-Eater that has kept you worried for a thousand years has been completely wiped out. From now on, any Ta Lo person can cast aside that burden of darkness in their hearts and enjoy their own lives to the fullest. Tell me, what else are you dissatisfied with?"
Uncle Guang and other elders in Ta Lo were speechless. As elders of Ta Lo, they understood better than the young people how heavy the name Soul-Eater was for them. Moreover, the dragon scale gate on the Black Mountain in the past was always like a sword hanging over their heads.
Now that the dragon scale seal was broken and the Soul-Eater had been cleared away, the big stone in their hearts finally fell to the ground. The only fly in the ointment was, why did the Guardian fail? As if seeing what they were thinking, Hong Fei grinned and said: "From now on, whether it's the Great Protector Dragon or Ta Lo, everything here is mine."
There was no rebuttal, no passion or impulse; the atmosphere was so quiet and flat that it made people panic. Hong Fei: "It seems you have figured it out. Still the same thing: Ta Lo people can stay or leave. Of course, it's best if you all leave. Those who want to leave, find Big Head later to register. I will have him arrange an identity for you on Earth that best meets your needs, and provide you with extraordinary material assistance. But there is one thing you must keep in mind: from now on, don't even think about coming back here. Believe me, from a certain point of view, life on Earth is indeed much better than here, and what you get will be enough for you to choose a piece of land on Earth to open up a 'Ta Lo Village' of your own. You can yearn for and try pastoral life, but in fact, it is not as convenient and comfortable as you have always thought."
"Secondly, those who stay will continue to live your previous lives. But from now on, don't let me hear any remarks about exclusion, because there will definitely be people coming here to keep you company one after another. At that time, if anyone still forms cliques or excludes others, I will press him into the lake to drown him, and then throw the corpse out of Ta Lo. Everything here, except for people, whether alive or dead, is mine. Living here will inevitably be controlled by me, so I suggest you leave."
"I've said the ugly words, consider it carefully. Disperse!"
Hong Fei waved his hand, and the Ta Lo people instinctively turned and dispersed, each thoughtful. Ying Nan accompanied Yingli, watching the dispersing clansmen, biting her lip gently, and then said to Yingli with regret: "Many people will leave."
Yingli also nodded.
"I know, but this is normal. Even if they don't want to leave themselves, they won't want their children to stay in this world forever. Compared to the outside world, Ta Lo is indeed very small. And now that the Soul-Eater that threatened Ta Lo has disappeared, they only have the memories and ties to this homeland left."
"Is the outside world really that good?"
Ying Nan couldn't help asking. Yingli thought for a while and turned her eyes to Xu Wenwu: "I don't know, but as long as he is there, it is the best place in the world."
Ying Nan was caught off guard and ate a mouthful of dog food.
Hong Fei held back his laughter and turned his head, seeing Xu Wenwu looking like he wanted to say something, and couldn't help saying: "You seem to have something to say?"
Xu Wenwu nodded, no longer hesitating or covering up, and asked suspiciously: "Where did your Ten Rings come from?"
Before Hong Fei could speak, Frank spoke up: "Don't ask about this kind of thing. If you ask, it's because he is gifted and has constant adventures."
Hong Fei couldn't help but glare at Frank.
"Don't listen to his nonsense. My Ten Rings have a significant origin."
Xu Wenwu's face was immediately filled with curiosity, his eyes expectantly waiting for him to continue.
Hong Fei rolled his eyes and said solemnly: "I was walking on the street that day, and suddenly I tripped over something. Fortunately, my movement technique was agile, and I adjusted in time. I looked back, and guess what?"
Xu Wenwu's heart jumped, and he was immediately covered in black lines.
Hong Fei continued on his own: "I just looked down, hey, Ten Rings were stuck in the ground in a row, and then I picked them up."
Seeing that Xu Wenwu still didn't make a sound, Hong Fei added: "Speaking of which, I think your ten are female, and my ten are male. Your female ones probably won't work when they meet my male ones. Do you want to try?"
"Do you think I haven't watched 'Journey to the West'?" Xu Wenwu said and turned directly to walk into the distance. Frank shrugged, looking like he had known it all along. Others also looked at Hong Fei with strange eyes, and then turned and dispersed one after another. They didn't seem to be tired by the battle just now at all, but instead looked relaxed.
Only Matt, wearing sunglasses, looked a bit conflicted. His "mentor" Antonia pressed his shoulder and pushed him to walk into the distance, while whispering: "I think you should behave smarter."
Matt: "What do you mean? Can't I even have doubts?"
Antonia nodded: "Of course you can, but I think you should consult Mr. Big Head first."
"Mr. Samuel? I'll go ask him later."
Matt paused and added: "But why do you all call him by his nickname? That doesn't seem very respectful."
"You are so cute."
"Huh?"
"Hehe."
"Huh??"