Close The Doors. Release The Hound.

Lu Yunhe, a member of Maple City's Friar Association.

In this world where possibilities of immortality had gone extinct, where the earth's spiritual energy was no longer suited for immortal cultivation, another option was now open to mankind.

Blood pacts with pet beasts.

For over a millennium, this had become an orthodox practice that man was aware of.

In this era, the difference between a friar from a regular person was that they practiced 'blood contracts'. In other words, they raise the pet beasts' levels and then absorb the creature's powers.

Pet beasts were only a 'medium' for friars to take in the earth's spiritual energy.

There were ten realms of the blood contract practice, where friars could obtain powers proportional to the realm level. For example, Lu Yunhe who was known as a prodigy in the Friar Association had cultivated the blood contract he had with his pet beast up to level four. Meaning to say, he could use forty percent of his pet beast's powers.

This process begun from inside the body, it was also considered a rebirth for the cultivator.

Some friars could easily split large rocks open, jump ten feet tall, possess unusual stamina, and could even control the five elements without pet beasts. Controlling flames and thunder, raising earthy walls, even breathing ice to name a few.

Some people would say, since they already have pet beasts, what was the use of becoming stronger themselves? But sometimes, when pet beasts were evenly matched with their opponents, it was up to the owner's combat abilities and cultivation to settle a score.

Some friar's don't even need to rely on pet beasts to oppress other people's pet beasts'. Such great strength was simply breathtaking.

Maple City's Friar Association was a place to cultivate a blood contract's level. As an astounding member of the younger generation, Lu Yunhe naturally had the resources to be arrogant.

So when this pompous man heard how his younger sister, Lu Xiaoyun had been tricked by a piece of trash in the Beast Appraiser Association to 'betray' Appraiser Gao Jiang and change her affiliation, Lu Yunhe was enraged.

Thus, he had come here with his pet beast to give Lin Jin trouble.

Lu Xiaoyun who was in the midst of research was startled by her brother's presence. She hurried over and asked, "Brother, what are you doing?"

"What am I doing? Xiaoyun, you've been tricked by this man. If Appraiser Gao hadn't personally written to me, telling me the truth, I'd still be in the dark." Having said that, Lu Yunhe looked up at Lin Jin who was just sitting there. Immediately knowing this was his target, Lu Yunhe bellowed, "You, don't you know your place? Who in the Beast Appraisal Association doesn't know that you're unskilled and even made a mistake in your evaluation? What rights does a person like you have to take in disciples and provide services?"

Before Lin Jin could speak, Lu Xiaoyun was the first to be upset.

Her eyes turned red and she tugged her brother. "Brother, you're talking nonsense. Learning from Appraiser Lin was my decision. Oh dear, you don't know anything but you've come to cause trouble."

Lu Yunhe loved his sister dearly. When he saw tears in her eyes, he managed to suppress his fury and asked, "Xiaoyun, don't lie to me. Did you really change the affiliation of your own accord?"

Lu Xiaoyun nodded.

Lin Jin spoke up, "I would never force anyone into doing something!"

However, Lu Yunhe smirked. "Then that makes you all the more despicable for bewitching someone into doing your deeds. Let me ask you, did you make my sister take my pellet furnace in secret?"

Pellet furnace?

Lin Jin pondered and sure enough, it was Lu Xiaoyun who brought him her brother's pellet furnace so he could refine the six sun beast soul pill. However, Lin Jin didn't know she had done it in secret so he didn't deny this claim.

Lu Yunhe asked again, "Besides the pellet furnace, what did you take from my sister?"

Lin Jin was quite honest. "And a beast soul. A level one prime fire beast soul."

"What?!" Lu Yunhe was just trying to irk him, but who knew that he really got answers. He was so mad that his hair was standing on ends. "You shameless fraudster! My sister was just naive to be deceived by you. I have to teach you a lesson today in the name of justice!"

Lu Yunhe was in over his head in anger. No one could stop him.

Lu Xiaoyun wanted to hold him back but she heard Lin Jin say, "Xiaoyun, your brother has the same temper as you and wouldn't back down until he hits a wall. There's no need to persuade him. Go and close the doors."

Lu Xiaoyun was stunned upon hearing this, frightened.

Lu Yunhe was sneering instead. "Afraid of losing face when I beat you up? Xiaoyun, close the door. I'll show you the true colors of this wretched trickster today."

Lu Yunhe's pet beast was a lion, rarely found in Maple City. It roared at once, unleashing a mighty aura. Just like his owner, he was dominant and arrogant.

Only, Lu Xiaoyun's reaction almost made Lu Yunhe fall down.

She rushed to Lin Jin and said, "Appraiser Lin, my brother is just being impulsive. Please don't be angry. Give me some time and I can persuade him."

What?

With widened eyes, Lu Yunhe suspected that he was hearing things. Why did it sound like she was begging Lin Jin to forgive him instead? Shouldn't it be the other way around?

Lin Jin's answer was even more irritating. "Xiaoyun, he won't listen to anything right now. Don't worry. He's your brother. And as your mentor, I'm considered an elder to him as well so I won't give him too much trouble."

"But the door has been damaged, it won't close properly," Lu Xiaoyun replied.

"Hang a curtain. We mustn't let outsiders enjoy watching us settle an internal conflict," Lin Jin said casually.

"Shut up!" Lu Yunhe was completely enraged.

He was going mad.

'What is this? I'm a leading friar of my generation in the city's Friar Association. My blood contract cultivation level is at the fourth realm and my pet beast is level two. Even Gao Jiang would dare to challenge me so how dare this Lin brat underestimate me? If I don't beat you to a pulp today, I'm writing my name upside down!'

Crackling his knuckles, a resolute Lu Yunhu immediately cast a spell and his lion roared, pouncing at Lin Jin.

His pet beast was of a wind attribute, raking up a tempest with its lightning speed, commanding a mighty aura.

However, before it could reach Lin Jin, a silhouette blocked its way.

It was Lin Jin's pet beast, Xiao Huo. A fire wolf beast.

"A lion is violent in nature. As the king of beasts, regular pet beasts would instantly fall into defeat…" Lu Yunhe looked confident. But what happened next made him swallow the rest of his words.

A fire wolf beast one size smaller than his pet beast merely scratched him and the lion fell to the ground.

What's going on?

Lu Yunhe thought his eyes were deceiving him. How could a mere fire wolf beast, such an average breed, defeat his level two lion? How is this anything but a joke?

"That's just an accident!" Lu Yunhe immediately decided. He knew that the fire wolf beast belonged to Lin Jin, and while he had absolute confidence in victory, Lu Yunhe didn't relax but cast another spell instead.

"Thirst for Blood!"

This was a blessing spell to sharply increase a pet beast's strength. Its usage was quite general in buffing up pet beasts.

The lion was immediately enveloped in a crimson glow as if it was being painted by a layer of blood, making it visibly fiercer. The blessed lion let out a roar and then charged at the fire wolf beast.

However, what countered it was still just one scratch.

This single scratch from an evidently smaller foe seemed to carry immense power as the attack threw the lion back onto the ground.

"Impossible!" Lu Yunhe's heart was thumping madly. Reluctant to believe his eyes, he continued to unleash spells, twice in a row.

"Tempest Claw! Berserk!"

Both spells were his trump cards. Upon receiving these buffs, the lion's body grew larger and its eyes turned crimson, threatening to devour humans alive in its frenzied state.

However, it was still defeated by the fire wolf beast with one scratch.

"I don't believe this. I won't believe this!" As if his soul was drained, Lu Yunhe wanted to unleash another spell but Lu Xiaoyun stopped him.

"Brother, that's enough. Can't you see that Lu Ba is crying?"