Lin Hongkang’s cheek twitched as he watched Lin Hao pocket the transfer jade. Fifty million taels—gone in a breath. Beside him, Zhao Tianlie hid a smirk behind his beard.

  "Since my son-in-law journeys to Tianyan Academy," Zhao declared magnanimously, "the Zhao clan gifts him a mount befitting his station."

  Lin Hao’s milky eyes sharpened. A mount? Or a test?

  ———

  The estate’s rear courtyard reeked of charred meat and caged fury. Behind iron bars, a Flame-Scaled Tiger paced—muscles rippling beneath crimson scales, tail lashing like a whip of living fire.

  "Magnificent," Lin Hongkang breathed, recognizing the beast from border wars. "But untamable. Even my men lost three battalions to its kind."

  Zhao Tianlie tossed Lin Hao a control talisman. "Try not to die."

  Lin Hao crushed the talisman to dust. "I’ll ride it raw."

  The tiger’s roar shook the courtyard as Lin Hao approached. Ant-Man transmitted thermal scans—the beast’s core temperature spiking, claws extending to blackened blades.

  Perfect. Lin Hao’s lips curved. Worth every tael.

  ———

  "Upgrade Kung Fu Fly to B-rank."

  The command burned another million from his account. On his shoulder, the insectoid’s wings shimmered with fractal patterns, absorbing moonlight into lethal edges.

  Thwip!

  Kung Fu Fly’s wings blurred. Darkness-forged blades sheared through the cage lock.

  The tiger exploded from its prison in a storm of fire and claws. Lin Hongkang and Zhao Tianlie stumbled back, weapons drawn—too slow.

  Lin Hao stood motionless as the beast lunged. At the final heartbeat, Wolf Spider’s paralytic fangs sank into the tiger’s hind leg.

  "Now."

  Kung Fu Fly dive-bombed the momentarily stunned predator, shadow-blades carving glowing scars across its flanks. The tiger retaliated with firebreath, but the fly’s fractal wings deflected the flames into harmless spirals.

  "Enough." Lin Hao’s clawed fist hammered the tiger’s skull—a draconic resonance pulsing through the blow. The beast collapsed, eyes rolling white.

  Ding.

  [Flame-Scaled Tiger registered as Companion 004.]

  [Evolution options unlocked: Fire Manipulation (A-rank), Lava Armor (S-rank).]

  Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

  ———

  Zhao Tianlie’s control talisman crumbled to ash in his fist. "He… subdued it barehanded?"

  Lin Hongkang’s laughter held grudging awe. "Your ‘mount’ just became his warhound."

  Lin Hao straddled the groggy tiger, claws buried in its mane. "Rise."

  The beast obeyed—not from fear, but primal recognition of the draconic aura thrumming in its conqueror’s veins.

  "To Tianyan," Lin Hao murmured, "we ride through fire."

  The tiger’s answering roar shook stars from the sky. In the shadows, Kung Fu Fly’s fractal wings hummed a killing song. The game had new rules—and Lin Hao dealt them.

  Second Windfall

  Lin Hongkang’s cheek twitched as he watched the Flame-Scaled Tiger nuzzle Lin Hao’s boot. The beast’s crimson scales shimmered with unnatural vitality—a far cry from the feral creature that had shredded three Zhao guards last month.

  "Your generosity humbles me, Father-in-Law." Lin Hao stroked the tiger’s mane, its purr vibrating the courtyard tiles.

  Zhao Tianlie forced a smile. The beast he’d planned to parade through noble districts now knelt like a lapdog. One thousand spirit stones down a blind man’s throat.

  ———

  Moonlight silvered the deserted training yard. Lin Hao sat cross-legged beside his newest companion, fingers tracing the tiger’s reforged claws.

  "System—show status."

  [Companion 004: Flame-Scaled Tiger]

  Rank: B (Monarch Tier)

  Combat Rating: 35,000

  Skills: Inferno Breath, Lava Armor

  The numbers glowed brighter than the tiger’s eyes. Worth every stolen tael.

  A chime interrupted his appraisal.

  [Fourth Companion Bonded!]

  [Reward: Celestial-Class Skill Scroll—Nine Sigil Sword Art]

  Knowledge flooded Lin Hao’s mind—nine elemental runes swirling around a crystalline blade. His hand moved of its own accord, tracing fire and lightning sigils in the air.

  "Test drive."

  The Broken Dragon Sword materialized in his grip, its rusted edge humming with latent power. Nine phantom blades materialized—earth, wind, water—each singing a different element’s hymn.

  Crash!

  The training dummy exploded in a kaleidoscope of elements. Stone melted. Air crackled. What remained of the dummy’s base glowed white-hot.

  "Overkill," Lin Hao chuckled, sheathing the blade. Ant-Man scuttled from his sleeve to inspect the carnage.

  ———

  Dawn found Lin Hao sprawled across Zhao Ling’er’s jasmine-scented bed. His fingers brushed the hidden compartment beneath her pillow—a familiar leather tome slid into his palm.

  "Basic Arcana for Dummies"

  He snorted. The book fell open to a dog-eared page about fireball incantations. A slip of rice paper fluttered out—needle-prick characters formed a threat:

  "Touch my things again, thief, and I’ll feed your eyes to crows."

  Lin Hao’s laugh startled the tiger napping by the door. He tucked the note into his sash—a trophy.

  "Master."

  Zhao Rong’s voice carried through the paper screen. "The gravity armor you commissioned is ready."

  "Finally." Lin Hao rolled off the bed, the tiger rising with a stretch that cracked its lava-plated joints. "Time to collect my toys."

  ———

  The smithy reeked of dragon-scale alloys and sweat. A dwarf with arms like knotted oak presented the armor—a sleek obsidian carapace humming with gravitational runes.

  "Triple density setting for cultivation," the smith grunted. "Quadruple for combat. Don’t blame me if it crushes your bones."

  Lin Hao slipped the chestplate on. The world compressed—air became syrup, light bent under invisible weight.

  Perfect.

  His draconic veins flared, countering the pressure. The tiger growled in approval.

  "Payment."

  The dwarf’s eyes bulged as Lin Hao tossed him a jade token stamped with the imperial treasury seal. "This… this is a million taels!"

  "Keep the change." Lin Hao adjusted his pauldron. "I’ll need poison-resistant greaves next month."

  ———

  The city gates loomed at noon. Lin Hao rode through on his tiger, peasants scattering like leaves. Behind him, Kung Fu Fly’s shadow-blades carved a message into the road:

  The Blind Dragon rides.

  Somewhere ahead, Zhao Ling’er’s carriage rolled toward Tianyan Academy. Somewhere behind, two patriarchs plotted over spiced wine—unaware their golden goose carried enough firepower to burn kingdoms.

  Lin Hao smiled. The road to godhood smelled of sulfur and jasmine.