It is not shabby to endure hardships.

After all, he had been raised by others since he was young, passed from hand to hand like a commodity with a price tag. Owners came and went. Orders changed. The only constant was fear.

Now, he no longer wanted to live like that.

Following someone terrifyingly strong meant stability. It meant certainty. It meant survival.

That alone was enough.

Phew—!

A streak of white lightning tore through the air and landed before his eyes.

The violent aura dispersed like ripples in water.

Ethan's thoughts shifted. The Celestial Prism Dharma Body withdrew, its radiance folding inward and sinking back into his flesh as if it had never appeared. The crushing pressure vanished instantly, leaving only a deathly silence behind.

He looked at the Great Sky-Tail Scorpion.

Just as Ethan was about to speak, he saw the enormous eyes of the scorpion roll around rapidly. The demon lord raised its massive pincers, waved them awkwardly, and spoke in a voice that was far too flattering for its terrifying body.

"Sir, don't kill me. I'll hang out with you. I can be your contracted spiritual pet."

"If you don't like that, I can guard your sect. I'm very good at guarding things."

"…"

Ethan was speechless.

An intermediate-level demon lord.

A ferocious beast whose tail alone could pierce mountains and poison Supremes.

And yet it spoke like a street survivor begging for shelter.

"How can you be so… shameless?" Ethan thought coldly.

He narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Why do you want to follow me?" Ethan asked.

The Great Sky-Tail Scorpion paused. Its pincers stopped moving.

Then, in a rare moment of honesty, it replied, "I've been raised by others since I was a child. I've had many masters. Strong ones. Cruel ones. Dead ones."

"I don't want to live in fear anymore. I don't want to wonder when I'll be sacrificed, refined, or skinned."

"I just want stability."

As it spoke, the giant scorpion waved its pincers again, this time slower, more cautious—less flattery, more sincerity.

Ethan stared at it in silence.

A long moment passed.

"You are open-minded," Ethan said flatly.

The scorpion's eyes lit up.

"From today on, you are my contracted spiritual pet."

Boom!

Divine power descended instantly.

Invisible pressure crushed down from all directions, locking the Great Sky-Tail Scorpion in place. Its muscles stiffened, bloodline power froze, and even its thoughts slowed.

This was not cruelty.

This was caution.

Ethan never trusted beasts—nor humans—until absolute control was established.

But the Great Sky-Tail Scorpion did not resist.

Humans were always cautious. He understood that far too well.

Ethan stepped onto the massive head of the scorpion. His posture was calm, expression indifferent.

He had cultivated the Infinite Ten Thousand Beasts Technique. Controlling beasts was instinctive to him now.

More importantly, the soul contract he formed was far superior to the crude methods used by Kale and others. This was not a leash—it was a law.

Ethan raised his hand.

Complex patterns interwove in the air, divine power folding into one another, forming an ancient and terrifying contract formation. He pressed it down onto the top of the scorpion's head.

"Condense a drop of your blood essence and blend it in," Ethan said.

"Okay."

Without hesitation, the Great Sky-Tail Scorpion squeezed a drop of blood essence from between his brows and merged it into the contract.

The next second—

The pattern sank into his eyebrows.

A violent tremor ran through his entire body.

In Ethan's sea of consciousness, a small spirit scorpion condensed—cold, sharp, and obedient. It was the nexus of the contract, linking their souls directly.

"What…?"

The Great Sky-Tail Scorpion's pupils shrank.

"What a powerful contract!"

"What terrifying strength!"

This contract was far stronger than Kale's.

Far stronger than any he had experienced.

Excitement surged through him.

A stronger master meant stronger feedback. Faster cultivation. Greater protection.

Most importantly—

Through the contract, he could vaguely sense Ethan's true aura.

It was deep.

Boundless.

Like an abyss sealed beneath countless layers.

Powerful. Mysterious. Unfathomable.

"I chose the right person," he thought, heart pounding.

"It's comfortable… I won't have to wander anymore."

"My name is Ethan," Ethan said calmly.

"From today on, your name is Noctis."

"Yes, Master."

The Great Sky-Tail Scorpion lowered his head respectfully.

Ethan glanced at him.

"It was easy."

"Come with me."

They returned swiftly to the Royal Beast Sect.

At the sect gates, Alix had already gathered the senior officials. When Ethan appeared, everyone bowed deeply.

"Welcome, Mr. Ethan!"

Their voices echoed in unison.

Ethan landed before Alix.

"Where are the things?" he asked directly.

Alix raised his palm. A massive translucent purple sphere appeared.

This was a spiritual orb used to protect the cubs of beasts and allow them to sleep peacefully within it

Inside it slept a mantis, its body traced with eerie violet patterns.

Information surfaced before Ethan's eyes.

One of the Eight Strange and Ferocious Beasts.

Even as a larva, it rivaled Mahayana cultivators.

Ethan's eyes flashed.

He put it away calmly.

"To grow stronger, this evil mantis must devour the blood and essence of monsters."

"It works best if the prey is of the same species," Alix reminded him.

"The same species?"

Ehhan's thoughts drifted to the corpse he had acquired earlier—the Demon Lord with Azure Mantis bloodline.

Luck favored the ruthless.

"Noctis," Ethan said, turning.

"Yes, Master."

"From today on, you stay here. Guard the Royal Beast Sect. Maintain contact with the Azure Origin Dao Sect and the Blood Tavern."

Shock flashed across Alix's face.

A demon lord… guarding their sect?

Gratitude followed immediately.

"Thank you, Mr. Ethan!"

Light flared.

Noctis's body shrank and reshaped.

In the next breath, a towering man stood there—nearly two meters tall, muscles like forged iron, eyes still carrying traces of a scorpion's coldness.

He scratched his head and grinned foolishly.

"I'll take good care of this place."

Ethan tossed him a jade token.

"I sealed three of my attacks inside. Each can kill an Upper Supreme. Even an Ultimate Supreme's killing move can be resisted."

Noctis stiffened.

"I understand."

Arrangements complete, Ethan turned away.

"Solara, let's go."

"Good."

They vanished into the horizon.

.....

One month later.

The boundary of Skyreach Territory.

Ethan wore a green robe and a bamboo hat.

A/N:

Extra chapters

100 power stones - 1 Extra chapters

200 power stones - 2 Extra chapters

Massage Chair - 1 Extra chapters

Luxury Car - 2 Extra Chapters

Dragon - 5 Extra Chapters

Magic Castle - 15 Extra Chapters

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.