Chapter 30: Fallen Creatures Will Never Be Slaves — Unless Room and Board Are Included!

Mighty fallen creatures — they had carved out their own forbidden territory, struck terror into the hearts of countless beings, unleashed dark chaos upon the lower realm, and reaped the lives of ten thousand races.

A single glance from them was enough to make countless cultivators tremble.

At the end of the immortal path, who stands at the peak? Among fallen creatures, I fight at the center.

What does it mean to be truly powerful?

Even when faced with the condemnation of the entire world, even as cultivators across the land threw themselves at them like waves crashing against the sky in a bid to pacify the Fallen Forbidden Zone once and for all — the three great fallen creatures, the Black Kylin, the Black Phoenix, and the Black Dragon, had still managed to deceive the heavens and cross the sea, surviving it all.

They were the embodiment of blood and chaos.

They were the incarnation of cold brutality.

They had gazed upon the ages with indifference.

Looking down upon the world like gods…

In short — they were awesome.

Creatures this awesome… Su Ning simply couldn't believe they would cave over a single meal.

They'd only been hungry for a little over a day.

Even if you went ten days or half a month without eating before giving in, I'd still think that was a bit fast.

Are your fallen creatures really this soft?

Su Ning didn't buy it…

But the three fallen creatures genuinely wanted to cry!

Going hungry for a day is no big deal?

Why don't you try going hungry for a day and see how it feels?

Besides, do you even understand what it means that the wise adapt to circumstances?

Do you understand what it means that the longer you live, the more you fear death?

If we weren't afraid of death, would we have survived this long by keeping our heads down?

"No, no, no… Immortal Senior, please stop mocking us — we're not lying to you!"

"We swear on the Heavenly Dao!"

"If we speak with any insincerity, may we be struck down by five thunderbolts and die a wretched death."

The Black Kylin and the other two fallen creatures truly couldn't hold on any longer.

They were even willing to utter such vicious oaths.

Swearing on the Heavenly Dao was an extremely serious matter for cultivators.

If they truly broke such a vow, they would be annihilated by heaven and earth.

Su Ning, of course, knew none of this.

He still didn't believe them.

"Crafty… I didn't expect you to lie so convincingly," Su Ning said. "You almost had me fooled."

"Your acting is pretty good, but someone like me isn't so easily deceived."

Su Ning still didn't believe them.

Fallen creatures… they were the very symbol of treachery and cunning.

If you took everything they said at face value, you'd be played for a fool.

These were scheming veterans with unfathomable depths.

Don't be taken in by their pitiful appearances!

What kind of fallen creature would ever make a face like that?

Ancient monsters who had lived for eons, and they were putting on a show of helplessness.

Doesn't that strike you as completely off?

Would you even dare believe it?

"Big shot… we're being completely sincere… please just believe us."

"We really are on the verge of starving to death."

"Just give us one bite to eat, and we will absolutely submit."

"I admit we offended you before — we know we were wrong. Please stop making things hard for us."

The three fallen creatures had said everything there was to say.

They felt they had never been so humbled in their entire existence.

Back in Qiankun Realm, who would have dared make them grovel like this? It was always others who groveled before them…

After so many countless years, they had forgotten what humility felt like, forgotten how to beg.

Naturally… their begging didn't quite come across as genuine.

"Playing games with me?" Su Ning gave them a kick, sending them sprawling, and walked toward the Nine Great Saints as if they didn't exist.

"We—"

The trio of beasts tried to press forward again.

"Halt. Come any closer and you die." Li Qingxuan and Kunlun Immortal Maiden flew to Su Ning's side, their supreme sacred swords blazing with light, pointed directly at the three fallen creatures.

Seeing this, the three great fallen creatures didn't dare say another word, nor did they dare press further.

As time passed.

They had come to understand that the Nine Great Saints were no longer the same people they once knew.

Pressing further could genuinely get them killed.

"Immortal Senior…" The Black Kylin's heart was utterly desolate.

It called out with tears in its eyes.

Su Ning paid no attention.

The three great fallen creatures were filled with regret.

Why did you have to act so tough back then?

Why did you have to go and say things like "we'd rather die than surrender"? What was the point of that?

What was wrong with you?

They deeply regretted being so unyielding at the start…

If they hadn't said such absolute things back then, things probably wouldn't have come to this.

Sigh…

No one else to blame.

They could only blame themselves for being so shortsighted and painting themselves into a corner.

Young and foolish…

Ahem… though only a little over a day had passed, the Black Kylin genuinely wished it could go back to yesterday and slap itself twice across the face.

Why did you have to run your mouth like that? Why?

And now look — the Immortal Senior really did take them at their word about being so tough, and even when they tried to back down, he wouldn't believe them.

All they could do was watch with longing eyes as Su Ning and the others ate heartily, commenting between bites about how delicious everything was… describing in vivid detail the wonders of each dish.

It was pure torment.

There was no way to tune it out.

The Black Kylin and the others could guarantee — this was the most agonizing stretch of time they had ever endured.

Every day felt like a year.

Finally… Su Ning finished eating.

He wiped his mouth: "Do you want some? If you do, stop being so stubborn… surrender now, and you'll get good things to eat!"

"If you don't surrender, you'll just keep starving…"

Su Ning coaxed them like a devil with honeyed words.

The three great fallen creatures: ……

You think we don't want to?

We already surrendered — you just don't believe us. What are we supposed to do about that?

Looking at the three fallen creatures' seemingly resolute expressions.

Not a word from them.

Su Ning figured today was another bust.

So he could only helplessly gather up the dishes… and leave.

He spent the evening hours as usual, clearing the inert substances from within his body.

* * *

The next day.

It was a fine day.

The sky was a boundless, clear blue.

The morning sky blazed with brilliance.

The sun slowly climbed up from the mountains to the east.

A warm golden radiance spread from the golden crow, scattering the darkness and cold from the mountain wilds.

It fell across the hills and fields, until at last it enveloped the entire world.

Su Ning carried breakfast to the Divine Beast Garden as usual.

Rustle, rustle…

This time, he had barely stepped within range of the small tree.

The three listless, dispirited fallen creatures came scrambling over and latched onto Su Ning's legs without any regard for anything else.

"Immortal… we submit, we truly submit, please stop tormenting us — we're scared!"

"If you don't feed us, we really will starve to death."

"Please grant us food… we are willing to pay any price."

"We sincerely pledge our loyalty — all we ask is room and board."

"As long as we get one bite to eat, we'll do whatever you ask."

They refused to let go no matter what.

Su Ning: ???

The Nine Great Saints: ……

It was the first time the Nine Great Saints had ever seen fallen creatures behave this way. Back in Qiankun Realm, these creatures had been impossibly arrogant and domineering.

Watching them cling on like affectionate pets refusing to let go, the Nine Great Saints thought they must be seeing things.

Were these… really fallen creatures???

How… was this so different from what they remembered?

They were actually hugging someone's leg and refusing to release it?

"What scheme are you cooking up now? Let go of me…" Su Ning said.

"No… we won't let go. Either the Immortal Senior accepts our surrender today, or you kill us right here. Either way it's death… we'd rather die at your hands." The Black Kylin said.

They truly couldn't last until noon.

They were too hungry…

The life force within their bodies was draining away!

If they didn't replenish their energy soon, they would truly be finished.

"We're not playing any tricks — if the Immortal Senior doesn't believe us, you can examine our bodies… we really are almost dead!" The Black Dragon, under the threat of death, had no more room to care about dignity or pride.

Why had they ascended here in the first place?

They had great ambitions in their hearts… they certainly didn't want to fall like this!

"If you still don't believe us, Immortal Senior can directly refine our blood essence and take control of our fate…"

"Oh?" Su Ning was surprised.

Wasn't this giving in a little too easily?

They'd barely gone two days without food?

He didn't know what refining blood essence entailed, but seeing the Nine Great Saints nod, Su Ning knew it was settled.

Su Ning: Where's all that defiance you had two days ago? Didn't you say fallen creatures would never be slaves?!

Unless room and board are included?