"Monster Control Certificate? What's that?" Qin Yang asked, taken aback.
The silver-armored middle-aged man explained, "It's proof you can control your demonic beasts. If any of them cause trouble, you'll be held responsible."
Qin Yang's face darkened. So if any of his beasts misbehaved, he'd be stuck with the blame even without trying to shift it?
"Can I skip getting one?" Qin Yang asked quietly.
"Absolutely not!" the armored man declared firmly. "Unless you sever all contracts with your beasts."
"Uh..." Qin Yang said reluctantly, "Fine, I'll get one then."
The armored man nodded and pointed at the Treasure Rat in Qin Yang's arms. "Make it dance," he said playfully.
Qin Yang froze as laughter rippled through the crowd.
At the city gate, spectators filled the skies and ground, pointing and whispering about Qin Yang.
"This year's Celestial Academy freshmen are something else! He even has a Treasure Rat - and a Zongshi-level one at that!"
"Don't underestimate that black-and-white creature on his shoulder. It looks just like the Tian Swallowing Beast from ancient texts..."
"Huh? Did you notice? This kid's cultivation is bizarre! I can't sense his level at all!"
"The demonic beasts are all Zongshi-level. Could this brat be Zongshi Realm? My goodness, are all Celestial Academy's new students Zongshi Realm now?"
Qin Yang scratched his head, pulled out the Treasure Rat, and suggested, "Why don't... you dance?"
The Treasure Rat turned its head with a human-like expression, snorting in disdain.
Dance in public? What kind of joke is this? This would be too humiliating for a rat!
"Is there no other way?" The Treasure Rat glared at the silver-armored middle-aged man.
He's just a Zongshi Realm expert at the peak. How dare he make me dance?
The silver-armored man chuckled, looking at Qin Yang. "You can't control your demonic beast, so you can't get the Beast Control Certificate. You can enter the city, but not this Treasure Rat."
"How is this not controlling it?" Qin Yang frowned.
"Jump your grandma! Panda, beat him up!" The Treasure Rat climbed onto Qin Yang's head, one paw on its waist as it pointed at the silver-armored man. "Even if I compromise, would you dance in public too?"
"Panda..." Qin Yang's mouth twitched, both surprised and amused by the Treasure Rat's ability to stir up trouble. Even more astonishing was that the panda actually believed it...
The panda, enraged by these words, leaped down and transformed into its true form. With a powerful thrust of its hindquarters, it sent Qin Yang flying, forcing Martial Heaven and the others to retreat repeatedly before finally clearing the area.
"ROAR! You dare order this lord to dance for you?" The panda bared its fangs, its massive frame rivaling the city gates in size.
The silver-armored middle-aged man swallowed audibly. This... this is the Tian Swallowing Beast!
Cold sweat streamed down his back as he took a step backward, his voice hardening. "It seems you're challenging the Free City's laws? Here, I hold the authority!"
Soldiers surrounded them, tension thickening the air.
The armored man turned to Martial Heaven. "I'm not disrespecting Celestial Academy's dignity, but these city rules were established by your institution. Since you can't control your student's demonic beast, I must suspect this student is an infiltrator with ill intent!"
"What impressive bureaucratic might," Qin Yang chuckled, waving his hand. The Demon Realm Ring on his finger erupted in multicolored light.
"ROAR!" The Three-headed Flame Hound materialized, its three heads throwing their heads back in unison.
A deafening boom shook the earth as the Thornstone Turtle burst forth. The trio of Fire Dog, panda, and turtle now completely blocked the city gates.
The situation escalated. The air temperature plummeted as the Nine-feathered Ice Phoenix let out a piercing cry. It spread its magnificent wings and nine tail feathers, blocking the sky above the city gates.
Qin Yang emerged from the gap between the Panda and Fire Dog, smiling. "Go on, who else do you want to make dance?"
"Are all these Zongshi-level demonic beasts really this kid's alone?"
"Each of these beasts is extraordinary—the Nine-feathered Ice Phoenix, Three-headed Flame Hound, Thornstone Turtle... Each one is a dominant force in their domain!"
"Pity they're clashing with the city guards. Those guards wave chicken feathers like imperial decrees, flaunting their authority. I'm afraid this student won't be able to enter the city!"
A flicker of fear crossed the silver-armored middle-aged man's face before he snorted coldly. "Zongshi-level demonic beasts? How dare they cause trouble in the Free City?"
Seeing the crowd's smug expressions, the silver-armored man felt his authority challenged. He roared, "Even dragons would coil at my command! Disobey me, and I'll not only revoke your Beast Control Permit, but also issue arrest warrants for you and all your demonic beasts under public security charges!"
Qin Yang's brow furrowed. Making the Treasure Rat dance was clearly a deliberate provocation, a cruel joke aimed at humiliating both him and his companion.
A Zongshi-level demonic beast possesses intelligence rivaling that of humans. For such a creature, being forced to dance in public is nothing short of humiliating.
Qin Yang had treated them as companions, originally intending only to tease the Treasure Rat. Their pact was one of equals; he would never compel them against their will.
Yet this silver-armored man dared to push so far!
"It's just a dance! Now that we've got five of you, including that little rat, let's make it a proper performance!"
The crowd began to chant, their voices swelling in unison.
"Don't forget your martial restriction decree," Martial Heaven interjected. "I'll only overlook violations in extraordinary circumstances."
Qin Yang rolled up his sleeves, surveying the scene. "Looks like I won't get that Demon Control Certificate. No certificate means no entry into the city. No city entry means no Celestial Academy enrollment."
His gaze locked onto Martial Heaven. "So what use is this martial restriction decree now?"
Martial Heaven's silence stretched.
"Free City's rules apply here?" Qin Yang pressed. "This is the city gate, not the city proper. Can we kill people here?"
The middle-aged man in silver armor roared like oil poured on fire. "Oh-ho, you've got some nerve, brat! Killing? You've seen blood? Ever killed anyone? I'll tell you now - if your demonic beasts don't dance together today, you'll be dancing in the prison! Not even Celestial Academy could save you then!"
Jin Wanshan's anger flared. "Killing's out, but beating's fine."
"Not everything can be solved with violence," Martial Heaven interjected. "Think carefully. If you refuse to join Celestial Academy..."
Martial Heaven suddenly realized, Why am I trying to talk sense into this kid? He's not the type to listen. His gaze shifted to Lou Mengyu's worried face. "You don't understand Celestial Academy yet. It's not a place for delicate flowers."
"What do you mean?" Qin Yang demanded.
Martial Heaven's voice turned grim. "Every year, more than a few students die from various causes."
Qin Yang frowned. Could there be danger within Celestial Academy? He glanced at Lou Mengyu and suddenly changed his demeanor, smiling. "If violence isn't for slaughter, it becomes meaningless. Since we can't kill, beating someone up holds no purpose."
He shrugged. Though he had no intention of pummeling the man, neither did he plan to let the silver-armored middle-aged fellow off so easily.
His eyes narrowed, and dragon's might manifested!
The silver-armored man sneered repeatedly. "In the end, you'll still have to yield! Here, my word is law..." He didn't finish before his eyes rolled back, collapsing unconscious.
"You... what did you do?" a soldier shouted.
"Can't help it. His mind's too fragile. Scared him senseless," Qin Yang shrugged. "Who else can issue Demon Beast Permits?"
The soldier glared furiously. "I could issue one, but the condition remains - your demonic beasts must..."
His words cut off as his eyes also rolled back, collapsing to the ground.
"Next." Qin Yang picked at his ear.
Treasure Rat, Panda, and other demonic beasts chuckled. They knew Qin Yang well - how could they not recognize his use of dragon's might? Especially Fire Dog and Old Turtle, who'd suffered this fate before.