In the Great Qin Dynasty, I, the Unruly Commander, begin by dual-cultivating with Yan Ling Ji.

A mysterious black shadow flashed past in the bushes.

Ying Ziqing's face showed a keen interest.

"They're pretty fast, but I don't know how strong they are."

Having lived in this world for so long, this was the first time he had encountered such a powerful unknown creature.

Ying Ziqing glanced at Jing Ni,

Sensing Ying Ziqing's gaze, Jing Ni understood immediately, gathered the little internal energy she had recovered, and prepared to unleash it at any moment.

At that moment, a huge black shadow, moving so fast it almost left a afterimage, swept past the meat skewers on the fire, its gaping maw instantly swallowing the iron sword along with the meat skewers.

Ying Ziqing chuckled, and the Longquan Sword instantly appeared in her right hand, which she then threw.

It landed right on the path the shadowy figure was bound to take.

With a clang, the fast-moving black shadow crashed into the Longquan sword, instantly causing it to feel dizzy.

At this moment, Ying Ziqing also saw the full appearance of the dark figure.

Its body is about the size of two horses, and its entire body is covered with thick, blue scales. Its limbs are strong and agile, its claws are powerful and sharp, its head is like a dragon or tiger, and it has a single horn on its head. It also has red mane on the back of its head, making it look majestic.

Ying Ziqing's face showed a hint of surprise. It was shaped like a Qilin, as big as an ox, with a single horn on its head and bright, spirited eyes.

Isn't this the Xie Zhi, the mythical beast from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, a legendary divine beast that brings justice and fairness?

I never imagined that what is recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas is actually true.

At this moment, the Xie Zhi shook its head, glanced at Ying Ziqing somewhat guiltily, and then turned and ran away.

However, how could Ying Ziqing give it a chance to escape?

He reached out and clenched his fist, causing all the surrounding power of heaven and earth to press down on the Xie Zhi.

However, to Ying Ziqing's surprise, the Heaven and Earth Cage, which was supposed to imprison the Xie Zhi, had no effect whatsoever.

Instead of running away, the Xie Zhi stopped to absorb the gathered power of heaven and earth, its eyes revealing a longing for it.

Watching the Xie Zhi continuously absorb the power of heaven and earth, Ying Ziqing's sword energy at her fingertips dissipated into nothingness.

They simply watched quietly as the Xie Zhi absorbed the power of heaven and earth.

Jing Ni quietly approached Ying Ziqing and asked softly:

"Young master, what is this beast? It seems very powerful."

"Its name is Xie Zhi, a mythical beast."

Jingni understood, and then secretly glanced at Ying Ziqing. The young master was indeed no ordinary person, able to attract even such a legendary beast.

After a short while, the Xie Zhi had absorbed enough of the power of heaven and earth to reach its limit, but instead of turning around and running away, it slowly walked towards Ying Ziqing.

Jing Ni looked nervous, while Ying Ziqing remained calm.

When it was two or three steps away from Ying Ziqing, the tall Xie Zhi lowered its head and let out a series of low growls.

Hearing the Xie Zhi's low growl, Jing Ni gripped the short sword in her hand tightly.

Ying Ziqing, however, seemed to be deep in thought.

"You said you could become my mount, but I need to feed you meat skewers and gather the power of heaven and earth?"

Ying Ziqing spoke with some uncertainty.

"Roar." The Xie Zhi nodded, a fawning look in its eyes.

For some reason, Ying Ziqing was able to understand the meaning behind the roar of the Xie Zhi.

Seeing the Xie Zhi's fawning expression, Ying Ziqing understood. It seemed that the power of heaven and earth had a great effect on it, otherwise it would not have been willing to become my mount and stay by my side to let me help it condense the power of heaven and earth.

The Xie Zhi waited nervously for Ying Ziqing's answer. It probably couldn't absorb this much power of heaven and earth even in a year on its own, and with him, it would even get delicious roasted meat.

Moreover, becoming a mount for such a powerful being that can readily mobilize the power of heaven and earth is not an insult to its name as a divine beast.

Ying Ziqing said, "Okay."

After all, only a legendary beast-level mount is worthy of him, and there's no cost to it.

Upon hearing Ying Ziqing's reply, the Xie Zhi affectionately nuzzled Ying Ziqing with its head.

"Ho ho ho ho"

Ying Ziqing was stunned when she heard this. Could it be that contracts really exist?

Well, since divine beasts have already appeared, it's not surprising that a contract has also appeared.

Following the instructions of the Xie Zhi, Ying Ziqing squeezed a drop of blood from her fingertip and dripped it onto the single horn on the Xie Zhi's head.

Then a blood-red pattern appeared on the Xie Zhi's single horn.

At this moment, Ying Ziqing felt that he and the Xie Zhi had become closer, their hearts were connected, and he felt that he held its life in his hands.

Ying Ziqing was a little surprised, but she quickly calmed down.

It seems that the Xie Zhi has realized its own strength and is ready to follow me completely.

Looking at the Xie Zhi vying to become her young master's mount, Jing Ni felt a sense of relief, realizing how correct her previous choice had been.

Ying Ziqing casually sat on a wooden stake to the side, and the Xie Zhi followed suit and sat down next to Ying Ziqing, its hind legs crossed on the ground and its front paws supporting it on the ground.

Its enormous size and its clumsy imitation make it look somewhat comical.

But the Xie Zhi didn't care at all, since it didn't even know what "funny" meant.

"Have you always lived in these mountains and forests?" Ying Ziqing asked.

"Roar, roar roar roar roar roar."

At the end, the Xie Zhi even slapped the ground with its front paws.

Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible hint of embarrassment flashed across Ying Ziqing's face.

"Ahem, so you live underground. Don't worry, if I ever encounter anyone who disturbs your slumber, I will definitely avenge you."

Ying Ziqing said in a very serious tone.

"Roar!" The Xie Zhi roared excitedly twice.

Jing Ni, standing to the side, wore a strange expression. It seemed, perhaps, maybe, that Ying Ziqing's earlier act of blasting the mountain had blasted the Xie Zhi out of the ground, leaving the Xie Zhi homeless and forced to forage at the edge of the forest...

hiss~

Jing Ni felt as if she had figured out the whole story, but after glancing at Ying Ziqing, who was petting a beast, she wisely chose to shut up.

Silence speaks louder than words...

Afterwards, perhaps to comfort the Xie Zhi whose home had been destroyed in the bombing, Ying Ziqing grilled a few skewers of meat for it.

The Xie Zhi opened its blood-red maw and swallowed the iron sword piercing through its flesh in one gulp.

Still crunching away in his mouth, Ying Ziqing couldn't help but sigh:

"Not a single bit is wasted."

Ying Ziqing originally did not plan to take the Xie Zhi back, since he did not intend to use his identity as the Third Prince as a mount, and it would also easily attract attention.

Just as he was telling the Xie Zhi to stay there for now, planning to take it with him when he went to Korea in a few days,

The Xie Zhi shook its head.

"Hoo Hoo Hoo"

Ying Ziqing raised an eyebrow.

"You can shrink your size?"

The Xie Zhi nodded, and then crackling sounds rang out from its body. Its body then shrank to the size of an ordinary small dog, with red fur covering its blue scales. Even the once majestic single horn on its head became tiny.

Just like a red-haired poodle.

Here's the second update! During the verification period, I hope everyone can use their lucky fingers to click and give me some free gifts to encourage me to update! 😐