Qin Yang chuckled and said, "How can you call this taking advantage of a demon's misfortune? In my homeland, there are many of your kind..."
He looked up at the Tian Swallowing Beast, his body not even as large as the creature's head...
"When I see you, it's like seeing family," Qin Yang said earnestly.
The Tian Swallowing Beast was utterly confused. Homeland? Isn't your homeland just outside this secret realm in Mount Qin...
The beast studied Qin Yang deeply. After a long silence, it spoke, "I agree."
Qin Yang's face lit up. "Wonderful!"
They immediately began forming the contract, the process proceeding smoothly.
"You can now store me in your Demon Space Ring," the Tian Swallowing Beast said.
"Demon Space Ring? What's a Demon Space Ring?" Qin Yang asked.
The beast stared at him in exasperation. After a long moment, it sighed, "So you don't have a Demon Space Ring."
Qin Yang had no time to dwell on what exactly a Demon Space Ring was. He pressed his palms against the ground, channeling his true energy to its limit. The earth began to freeze slowly.
In theory, this could save the Tian Swallowing Beast, but... the creature's massive size proved insurmountable. Qin Yang's cultivation remained at the peak of the Qi Sea Realm.
Qin Yang's true qi couldn't be projected outward, so he couldn't freeze more soil.
Qin Yang was drenched in sweat, and the atmosphere grew awkward.
"Boy, can you handle this or not?" The Tian Swallowing Beast looked at Qin Yang, finding him utterly unreliable.
"I can! Of course I can!" Qin Yang gritted his teeth and continued to mobilize his true qi. Given enough time, he might still be able to save the Tian Swallowing Beast.
The Tian Swallowing Beast sighed. "Actually, I can shrink my body..."
Qin Yang froze. The biggest problem he faced was the beast's massive size, which required too much soil to be frozen.
"Then what are you waiting for? Shrink immediately!" Qin Yang urged.
"But if you react too slowly, I'll be swallowed by the swamp in an instant," the beast warned.
"It's fine, I'll react in time," Qin Yang guaranteed.
The Tian Swallowing Beast didn't fully trust Qin Yang, but it desperately wanted to escape and couldn't afford to delay.
"I'll count three-two-one. Be ready," the beast said.
Qin Yang nodded.
"Three-two-one!"
The Tian Swallowing Beast finished counting in an instant, its body shrinking immediately.
Qin Yang didn't even have time to utter a single "Holy shit!" before urgently channeling his true energy.
A vast expanse of hollow ground appeared in the marsh, rapidly converging. If he couldn't freeze enough mud in time, the Tian Swallowing Beast would truly be devoured.
Fortunately, Qin Yang managed to freeze a circle of mud just in time. The Tian Swallowing Beast's foot slammed into the ice layer, propelling its body straight up thirty meters high.
"Holy crap, a Kung Fu Panda!" Qin Yang's eyes widened in disbelief. This contract with the beast was absolutely worth it!
"I'm finally free!" The Tian Swallowing Beast's heart swelled with emotion. Upon landing, it shrank to its normal size, each step pounding the ground with force.
The tremendous momentum caused the entire marsh to sink, but the Tian Swallowing Beast didn't need to touch the mire. Using the force of its leap, it shot forward through the air.
With a sharp claw, it hooked Qin Yang's clothes, flinging him onto its back before racing away.
Qin Yang clutched the beast's ears, his body leaning sideways as they flew.
The Tian Swallowing Beast moved with terrifying speed!
In the blink of an eye, they had escaped the Wandering Marsh's boundaries.
"If those damned slaves hadn't ambushed me, the Wandering Marsh could never have trapped me!"
The Tian Swallowing Beast, once again standing on solid ground, felt reborn.
Qin Yang jumped down as well, his legs wobbly and body unsteady.
As a mount, this Tian Swallowing Beast... is completely inadequate!
"Rest assured, those traitorous slaves will pay for their insolence," the beast growled, its voice thick with resentment. "I'll eradicate every last one of them!"
Had it not been for Qin Yang's intervention, it would have been utterly destroyed!
Though the beast had initially spared the old Qin Family servant out of respect for his former status, this incident had pushed it past its limits.
"No, I'll deal with them myself," Qin Yang interjected. "This is my responsibility!"
The Tian Swallowing Beast gazed at Qin Yang, its eyes locking onto his unwavering resolve. The beast's heart stirred at this display of conviction.
A fanged grin spread across the beast's face. This true descendant of the Qin Family might actually be worth something after all. Recognizing him as master might not be such a bad deal.
However, the beast's gaze became fixed on Qin Yang's chest, unable to look away.
"Hey! What's with the drool?" Qin Yang demanded, his face flushing with embarrassment. This thing is called the Tian Swallowing Beast—could it be trying to swallow the Dragon Jade?
"Your damn saliva's pooling on the ground! It's practically a waterfall now!"
"Is there any?" The Tian Swallowing Beast wiped its mouth, the entire front paw's fur soaked through.
"I can swallow it!" The Dragon Jade sensed the threat and spoke within Qin Yang's mind.
The Dragon Jade and the Tian Swallowing Beast, both wanting to devour each other - this left Qin Yang utterly frustrated.
"Both of you, calm down!" Qin Yang said aloud, simultaneously warning the Dragon Jade in his mind.
"Right, I need your help with something," Qin Yang said to the Tian Swallowing Beast, explaining the situation with the Fire Dog.
Having experienced the confinement of the Wandering Marsh, the Tian Swallowing Beast understood the pain of restricted freedom and immediately agreed.
Riding on the Tian Swallowing Beast, they raced to the Fire Dog's territory. The Three-headed Flame Hound sensed a powerful enemy approaching and slowly lifted all three heads.
In an instant, six eyes bulged wide open. This brat actually brought the Tian Swallowing Beast? Not only did he achieve this in such a short time, but he's even riding on the beast's head!
"Hey! Fire Dog, we meet again!" The Tian Swallowing Beast chuckled.
The Three-headed Flame Hound roared furiously, "I'm not a Fire Dog! I'm a Three-headed Flame Hound!"
"Who I call you is who you are! Don't like it? Bite me! Bite me! Bite me!"
The Tian Swallowing Beast stood upright and even turned to wiggle its butt! Its adorable short tail shook, drawing the Three-headed Flame Hound's hatred to its peak.
Qin Yang watched, dumbfounded. Now he understood why the Three-headed Flame Hound would fly into such a rage at the words "Fire Dog".
At the same time, Qin Yang secretly laughed. This Tian Swallowing Beast is so shameless...
Flames erupted from the Three-headed Flame Hound's body like a volcanic eruption. Seeing the situation turn dangerous, Qin Yang quickly jumped off the Tian Swallowing Beast's head and retreated to a safe distance.
"Come at me if you dare! I'll roast you until you're crispy on the outside and tender on the inside!" the Three-headed Flame Hound snarled.
"I'm already here!" The Tian Swallowing Beast walked right up, completely forgetting that it was supposed to help Qin Yang restore the Fire Dog's freedom.
The two immediately clashed in a fierce battle.
The Tian Swallowing Beast rose to its hind legs, towering over the Fire Dog like a giant. Its massive frame stood half again taller than the flame-wreathed creature. Had it wished, it could have grown even larger!
Boom! A single punch sent one of the Fire Dog's heads reeling sideways.
Nearby, Qin Yang clutched his face, wincing even at the sight of such force.
Roar! Another of the Fire Dog's heads clamped down viciously on the panda's arm.
Simultaneously, the third head unleashed a pillar of fire. The Tian Swallowing Beast yelped as its hindquarters were scorched black.
One couldn't help but marvel at the panda's defenses. Flames that could instantly kill Zongshi Realm experts had merely singed its fur.
"Watch me smash all three of your heads!" Enraged, the panda's fists whirled like a windmill, each strike aimed at the Fire Dog's multiple heads.
Undaunted, the Fire Dog countered with relentless biting and fiery assaults.
Their battle became a cataclysmic clash, shaking the very earth beneath them.
Qin Yang stared in awe. He'd struck gold - this was truly a kung-fu panda!