24: Gilded Wings

Just as Xiao Xu was about to take action, Guo Linshan stopped him and said, "Wait a moment!"

"What is it, Captain Guo? Are you, the Great Xia Spirit Guards Detachment Commander who isn't even afraid of death, going to violate the regulations for a mere youth?!" Xiao Xu questioned sharply.

But Guo Linshan shook his head. "That's not what I mean. Principal Xiao, why don't you wait a bit longer? I see that Su Ze doesn't seem to have lost control over his beast yet!"

Xiao Xu gave a light chuckle. "Heh, what nonsense are you talking about, Captain Guo? There's such a huge gap between their levels, how could he possibly..."

But Xiao Xu stopped mid-sentence, the expression on his face instantly freezing.

Because before his eyes, the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird's figure had already vanished, replaced by a pair of crimson wings with golden edges on Su Ze's back, flowing with light and shimmering brilliantly.

"Beast Spirit Weaponization... He can actually completely control the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird?!"

Being able to manipulate a beast for weaponization and Armorization showed a considerably high degree of control over the beast.

At least in the absence of external forces, it wouldn't go out of control in the short term.

Su Ze now spread the wings on his back, with golden-red flames constantly churning beneath the feathers.

This pair of gilded wings was a flight-type weapon formed after the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird's weaponization, allowing Su Ze the ability to fly while using the Phoenix Bird's skills.

Even after Su Ze became a Level 60 Beast Tamer and could fly on his own, the gilded wings could still significantly increase his flight speed.

Su Ze couldn't wait to try the sensation of flying and immediately activated the wings behind him.

Brilliant golden flames appeared continuously as the gilded wings flapped; these flames could not only accelerate flight but also be used for attacks. Then, amidst the golden radiance and an excited cheer, he was sent into the air.

At first, Su Ze was very unnatural, flying awkwardly in the sky in a zig-zag fashion, and occasionally dropping suddenly, which made him cry out in fright.

But it didn't take long for Su Ze to become familiar with flying. After all, his flight ability wasn't a biological instinct but a skill attached to the gilded wings behind him; he only needed to activate the skill to fly.

"Yo-ho~"

Su Ze soared freely in the sky; this feeling of flying at will was incomparable to taking a plane or riding a Griffin.

This was the feeling of truly conquering the sky, making Su Ze unable to resist shouting out loud.

As he looked down in joy, he happened to spot Guo Linshan and another middle-aged man standing on the mountaintop, looking up at him.

Su Ze didn't recognize the other person, but since he could stand with Guo Linshan, his status likely wasn't lower than his.

Just as he wanted to land and say hello, he found that the gilded wings had stopped listening. They accelerated just as he reached the two of them, and then, amidst bursts of startled cries, they carried him toward an even higher place instead.

The accelerated airflow made Su Ze's expression as unpredictable as a plastic bag blown by the wind. He stammered, "What are you... doing? Quick... get me down?!"

And in his mental world, a reply came: "Why should this young lady listen to a weak human like you?"

The voice was crisp and pleasant, yet extremely arrogant.

This was because the level gap between him and the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird was too large, and the Phoenix Bird possessed the innate pride brought by its Divine Beast Bloodline, making her unwilling to be at the beck and call of a weak human.

Fortunately, Xiao Xu below didn't see Su Ze's current state and only thought he was showing off after just mastering the ability to fly; otherwise, he would have definitely judged that there was a risk of losing control.

But in reality, because the System Contract had a strong binding force far exceeding that of an ordinary contract, the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird could at most cause some trouble and ignore orders; it was still quite far from losing control.

Watching Su Ze fly higher and higher, Guo Linshan was also full of smiles, looking as if he was the one who had contracted a Diamond-rank Demonic Beast. "Principal Xiao, since Su Ze has already achieved Beast Spirit Weaponization with the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird, I don't think there's any need to forcibly break the contract anymore."

Xiao Xu also looked up. Although his face was grim, he eventually took a deep breath and said, "That goes without saying. However, close observation is still necessary. After all, if the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird loses control, no one else besides the three of us will have a way to stop it."

"Fortunately, as a student of the Beast Taming University, I can keep a constant eye on his every move at school."

Hearing this, Guo Linshan's expression changed slightly as he looked at Xiao Xu. "Didn't Principal Xiao just say that Su Ze doesn't count as a student of the Beast Taming University? Why have you changed your tune now?"

Xiao Xu replied, "As for this candidate named Su Ze, I have just witnessed his talent with my own eyes. There will certainly be no problem for him to enter the Beast Taming University. As the principal, I can still make the call on this bit of privilege."

"Has Principal Xiao really only taken an interest in Su Ze's talent?" Guo Linshan said meaningfully.

Xiao Xu didn't hide it either. "Of course, it's not just that. The level difference between him and his beast is so vast; this will always be a hidden danger. And once the Golden Feather Phoenix Bird loses control, no one else in Beishan City except for you, me, and Yu Shenghuo can suppress it."

"Both Captain Guo and President Yu have important duties and certainly can't keep watch every day. So, this task can only be left to someone like me who holds a leisurely post, right?"

Guo Linshan also knew that every word he said was true and reasonable, but he just couldn't put his mind at ease. So he said, "There's certainly no problem with Principal Xiao representing Azure Dragon Beast Taming University for recruitment."

"However, I just saw that Su Ze's aura seems to have broken through to Level 20 as well. I want to recruit him into the Great Xia Spirit Guards too; that shouldn't be a problem, right?"

"Of course not. It's just that students in the past would only go to the Spirit Guards for internships near graduation. The curriculum for freshmen and Sophomores is very tight; Su Ze probably won't have that much time to follow Captain Guo on missions."

"It doesn't matter. Su Ze only needs to come and report once a week. President Yu and I will also visit the school to see him from time to time."

The two on the mountaintop were pitted against each other. Guo Linshan even brought up Yu Shenghuo, who also greatly admired Su Ze. It was only because of these two people representing two major factions that Xiao Xu relented.

At this moment, Su Ze finally regained control of the gilded wings high in the air.

It's just that he didn't want to fly back to say hello anymore. After all, having just soared into the sky in front of others, it would be very awkward to go back and greet them now.

"That direction... seems to be the original exit of the formation? Are they fighting with the Fusang Dark Guards?" Su Ze said, looking down at the chaotic battle below.

"I wonder how Xu Yao and the others are doing. They should have escaped, right?" Then, feeling a bit uneasy, Su Ze accelerated and flew toward that direction.

His judgment was correct; below was indeed the original Formation Exit.

With the formation broken, there was no longer a Formation Barrier hindering the steps of these Fusang Dark Guards; they could leave from any position.

And as long as they escaped into the jungle, with the Dark Guards' superb Concealment Skills, there was a high probability they could get away.

But before the Fusang Dark Guards could feel happy about this sudden turn of events, they felt a scorching aura coming from above their heads. It was Su Ze, bearing the gilded wings.

However, Su Ze wasn't paying attention to them at this moment. Instead, he was looking at a familiar figure at the back of the crowd, drenched in blood.

His body was so obvious that Su Ze could see it clearly even from the air, but now Su Ze was in no mood for joking.

Because his best and only friend had actually been heavily injured while he was away!