The Kunpeng phantom, though fleeting, was enough to scare the piss out of people.

Many Cultivators traveling through the sky from afar all trembled, nearly plummeting from the air.

Some weaker Cultivators, their mental fortitude shaken, plummeted straight out of the sky and nearly died from the fall.

Near and far, countless Cultivators wore expressions of shock and horror. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The Golden-winged Elder Roc King was so excited he was just short of prostrating himself in worship.

’These Alien Races really are slow on the uptake, and so damn stubborn. Heh... I think I’m going to do very well for myself here! When the time comes, I’ll lead a host of the Ten Thousand Spirit Races and carve a path of slaughter back home.’

Ye Tianling found the situation utterly bizarre.

And that display had cost him quite a bit.

He had successfully imitated the Kunpeng Battle Soul, but manifesting such a ’Divine Beast’ truly consumed a great deal of his energy.

Within this complete Rule Realm, a single imitation had consumed nearly a tenth of his Energy, a fact that startled him.

"Kunpeng Divine Son! The true Kunpeng Divine Son!"

The Golden-winged Elder Roc King was so excited he couldn’t control himself. If he weren’t holding back for fear of being presumptuous, he would have loved to grab Ye Tianling and plant a few fierce kisses on him.

Ye Tianling, however, was taken aback by that look. ’This Elder Roc King... he isn’t some old lecher with a preference for men, is he?’

’What kind of look *is* that?’

"I, Yao Lun, pay my respects... to the Divine Son."

Yao Lun froze, his face a maelstrom of shame, indignation, and strange excitement. Then, he dropped to his knees in mid-air and performed the full ritual of three kneelings and nine kowtows.

This display of etiquette left Xia Xinran and the others completely dumbfounded.

"Kunpeng... Divine Son?"

Xia Xinqin murmured.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

Xia Xinran found it even more peculiar—especially when she noticed the faint, mischievous smirk playing on Ye Tianling’s lips. It convinced her that he was definitely pulling some kind of scam.

But she couldn’t see through it.

’After all, if he could deceive even the Golden-winged Elder Roc King, how could she possibly see through the act?’

’This man... he’s a little terrifying!’

Xia Xinran grew wary, and the realization left a sour taste in her mouth.

’He once said that I’d be afraid of him one day? Looking at him now... maybe he really is a little frightening...’

Xia Xinqin couldn’t help but murmur to herself.

Seeing the once incredibly arrogant Yao Lun now transformed into a meek little lamb, she was overcome by a sense of absurdity, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"What are you kneeling and bowing for? We’re not done fighting! Didn’t you want to kill me? Come on, then. Kill me. I’ll stand right here and let you do it."

Ye Tianling taunted.

’This bunch from the Alien Race have the intelligence of seven or eight-year-old kids.’

’Even if they had the intellect of a nine-year-old Spiritual Child, Ye Tianling still wouldn’t be afraid.’

’The more arrogant he acted, the more convinced they’d be that he was the Divine Son. He wasn’t about to let such a golden opportunity slip by.’

"Divine Son, you jest! This Yao Lun is but a humble little roc. How could I dare cross blades with the Divine Son? A single glance tells me you are a True Profound Level—no, a True Spirit Level genius Spiritualist! As for me, I am merely a junior who has just stepped into the True Profound Level, a slow and untalented disciple."

Yao Lun immediately lost all his nerve.

At this point, his fawning even surpassed that of his father, the Golden-winged Elder Roc King.

"You have your eye on Princess Xinqin?"

Ye Tianling asked nonchalantly.

"Uh—this humble one was merely keeping an eye on her for you, Divine Son! I was simply protecting her, making sure no one else could bully her, all while waiting for the day of your Descent. Now, she is yours, Divine Son!"

Yao Lun replied at once.

Xia Xinqin’s face flushed crimson. She cursed inwardly, ’Neither of these two are any good! They’re treating me like a piece of personal property!’

Xia Xinran’s expression was absolutely priceless—this was the first time she had ever seen Yao Lun be so utterly, shamelessly vile.

"Bullshit!"

Ye Tianling’s expression darkened as he barked.

"Uh—right, right. This humble one was talking out of his ass."

Yao Lun’s rather handsome face flushed beet red. He tried to force out a fart to match his words, but in his nervousness, he just couldn’t manage it.

Xia Xinqin couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Xia Xinran was utterly flabbergasted.

As for Jiang Xiangning, she was completely stupefied.

Only the adorably clueless Little Fox, Jiang Zhu’Er, found the situation becoming incredibly amusing.

"A Princess is still a Princess, not a piece of cargo. If you want to pursue a partner, you should at least show some sincerity. Forget it. You’re an imbecile, but I’ll spare you this time for your father’s sake. Now, scram!"

Ye Tianling spoke, but seeing the fawning look on Yao Lun’s face, he was truly left speechless.

He waved his hand dismissively, ready to send Yao Lun on his way.

But how could Yao Lun possibly leave after witnessing a true ’projection’ of his Golden-winged Roc ancestor—the Kunpeng?

"Divine Son... please take pity on this humble one and let me be your follower! You are the Divine Son... what a glorious status! You... you can’t possibly handle everything personally, right? You’ll always need someone to run errands, won’t you?

And, as the Divine Son, with your noble status, you’ll surely need a mount, right? All of these things—I, Yao Lun, this humble one can do them all!"

As Yao Lun spoke, he saw the Golden-winged Elder Roc King’s eyes fill with admiration and relief. He immediately transformed into a Golden-winged Roc, flapped his golden wings, and lowered his body. "Divine Son," he said, "please, grace me by mounting."

Ye Tianling’s mouth twitched.

’The Demon Race’s sense of hierarchy is this intense?’

’Are they this easy to fool?’

’Just like that, I get a mount?’

’And a Golden-winged Roc, at that?’

Ye Tianling felt a strange mix of emotions. Meanwhile, the Golden-winged Elder Roc King was staring at Ye Tianling with pleading eyes, desperately hoping he would agree.

"Hmm... well, back in the Luoyun Mountain Range, the Town Guardian of Luoyun Town, Tu Xiaotian, said he was going to kill me."

Ye Tianling said casually.

"Hmm? That undying old freak Tu Xiaotian, the three-eyed monster? This Golden Roc Saint Son—I mean, this humble one, will go tear him to shreds and slaughter his entire clan!"

Yao Lun snarled, his arrogance flaring as his killing intent surged to the heavens.

"Hmm, I also happened to notice a young lady earlier. She was quite pretty and cute."

Ye Tianling said casually.

Xia Xinqin and the others’ hearts skipped a beat, and they grew uneasy.

"Who is it? This humble one will go capture her at once and present her to you for your pleasure, Divine Son!"

Yao Lun declared, his domineering nature resurfacing.

"Good. Alright, you’ve passed the test! That’s it, that’s the arrogance I want to see. From now on, you’ll follow this Divine Son. Remember to act like a tyrant—domineering and imperious, you hear me? If anyone dares to defy us, you beat them until they fucking submit!"

Ye Tianling was quite satisfied.

"Yao Lun pays his respects to the Divine Son! If I may be so bold as to ask... what is your esteemed name, Divine Son?"

Overcome with excitement, Yao Lun immediately reverted to his human form, then knelt and kowtowed.

"Mm, my name is Ye Tianling. From now on, you’re my lackey and part-time mount. As for the mount, though... I’m not really used to riding a male. Next time, find a female Golden Roc for me. I’d like to ride her for a good long while."

Ye Tianling said haughtily.

"Yes, yes! I’ll have my clan sister come over at once to serve as your mount, Divine Son... You can ’ride’ her however you wish, Divine Son."

With this blatant double entendre, Yao Lun began his grand career of sycophancy.

At these words, the expressions on the faces of Xia Xinran and the others became even more priceless.

This was a case of vipers colluding, of two shameless scoundrels joining forces!