I Can Only Cultivate In A Game-Chapter 398: Enemy Attack?!

A faint smirk appeared on Victor’s face as he recalled the whole reason he started playing Ascendant Realm in the first place.

"You’ll be grateful."

Qin Lau’s breath hitched as Victor went on.

"You’ll brag about it. You’ll say you were there before the world understood. That you saw what others were too blind to see."

The words struck deeper than any blade.

Qin Lau’s mind churned.

He had faced Peak Soul Transformation Realm cultivators.

He had faced Void Tribulation Realm monsters who could split mountains with a glance.

They had all failed.

Not one of them had forced him into submission.

And yet... this human had.

At a realm that should have been laughable by comparison.

Qin Lau’s pupils dilated as realization set in.

’If he is like this now...’

The thought finished itself without mercy.

’...then what will he become when he reaches their level?’

The idea sent a shiver down Qin Lau’s spine.

Better to kneel now.

Better to stand beside the storm than be crushed beneath it.

Qin Lau exhaled slowly.

His massive wings folded inward.

His head lowered.

The Corrupt Triangle trembled as a sovereign bowed.

"...Very well," Qin Lau said at last with a heavy but resolute tone. "I, Qin Lau, acknowledge you."

He lifted his gaze once more.

"I will become your mount."

The moment the words were spoken, the world reacted.

A deep vibration echoed through the Corrupt Triangle as laws intertwined, souls resonated, and destiny shifted.

Victor did not hesitate.

He extended his hand.

"Then we bind."

A translucent sigil bloomed between Victor and Qin Lau layered with runes that emitted spiritual essence.

Victor’s soul lock shot outward.

Qin Lau did not resist.

Instead, he opened himself fully.

Their consciousnesses touched.

The bond took hold.

> [System Notification]

Soul Binding in Progress...

Target: Qin Lau

Classification: Sovereign Winged Spirit Beast

Realm: Peak Soul Transformation Realm (Suppressed)

Status: Willing Acceptance Detected

The sigil expanded, wrapping around Qin Lau’s massive form like chains of light, linking them.

> [Soul Contract Established]

Master: Fang Chen

Mount: Qin Lau

Bond Type: Sovereign Pact (Mutual Growth Enabled)

The air exploded with pressure.

Qi surged violently as the contract finalized.

> [System Notification]

Mount Acquired!

Qin Lau – Sovereign of the Corrupt Triangle

Mount Slot: Activated

Mount Status: Loyal

Victor immediately felt a vast new presence settled into his soul.

At the same time, Qin Lau shuddered as a portion of Victor’s Void Emperor essence flowed into him.

> [Bond Effect Triggered]

Master Gain:

• +12% Qi Control Efficiency

• +1 Additional Aerial Mobility Modifier

• Resistance to Corruption Effects (Moderate)

Mount Gain:

• Void-Attribute Compatibility (Minor)

• Enhanced Growth Potential

• Time-Resistance (Low)

Qin Lau inhaled sharply.

"...So this is your soul," he murmured. "No wonder."

Victor flexed his fingers, feeling the seamless connection.

He now had two mounts.

One bound in his original world and Another bound by dominance and destiny here.

Victor looked up.

"My name is Fang Chen," he said calmly.

Qin Lau inclined his head.

"Understood," he replied. "Master Fang. What now?"

Victor didn’t hesitate.

"Now?" He stepped forward and placed a hand on Qin Lau’s scales.

"We go home."

Qin Lau spread his wings and a burst of wind swept across the place.

Victor mounted his back and the moment he flapped his wings, Qin Lau shot into the heavens.

As Qin Lau ascended, the system chimed again.

> [Objective Complete]

Consolidate Your Realm – Bloodshade Hunting Grounds

Status: Completed

Rewards Granted:

• 150,000 Wisps of Qi

• Bloodshade Sovereign Core (Refinement Material)

• Soul Stability +8%

• + 10% Mastery All Cultivation Techniques.

Victor barely spared the notifications a glance.

Below them, cultivators across the Bloodshade Hunting Grounds froze mid-action.

Eyes widened.

"That... that came from the Black Zone..."

"No—worse. That came from the Corrupt Triangle!"

"And someone is riding it—!"

As Qin Lau crossed region after region, his pressure rolled across the land like a tidal wave.

When they neared Violet Springs Sect, the reaction was instantaneous.

Alarms blared...

Arrays flared to life...

"What’s that presence?!"

"Enemy attack?!"

"Activate the grand defensive formations—NOW!"

Elders rushed out with pale faces as they looked skyward.

Above them, a sovereign winged beast parted the skies with it speed, spreading its aura of absolute dominance over the land.

And upon its back...

A single figure stood calmly.

The moment Qin Lau descended past the outer cloud ring, the sect’s Grand Sentinel Arrays reacted violently. Ancient formations carved into the mountainside ignited one after another like a chain of stars being lit in panic.

The sky tore open with streaks of light as blades of condensed qi, searing elemental beams, lightning spears inscribed with suppression scripts, chains forged from formation energy meant to bind ancient beasts... all shot upward at once.

Victor’s eyes widened.

"They think you’re an enemy—!"

Before he could finish the sentence, Qin Lau snorted.

It wasn’t loud.

It didn’t need to be.

A single exhalation left his nostrils and a violet-tinged breath infused with sovereign qi vaporized every incoming technique.

The air folded in on itself where the attacks had been, collapsing into harmless motes of dissipating energy.

And the rest?

Qin Lau didn’t even bother.

The second wave of attacks struck his scales directly, detonating across his wings, his chest and his spine.

The attacks shattered without causing a dent and then he shot downwards, beginning his descent.

The pressure alone triggered every remaining array in the sect.

Defensive layers meant to withstand Void Tribulation Realm strikes activated one after another in frantic succession.

And then—

BOOM.

They were obliterated.

They each shattered like glass struck by a falling star.

Formation nodes exploded.

Qi circuits snapped.

Protective barriers collapsed inward and disintegrated.

Disciples were thrown off their feet by the shockwave alone.

Elders staggered back with blood trickling from their lips as backlash from destroyed arrays rippled through their bodies.

And then—

BAM.

Qin Lau landed.

The impact shook the entire sect.

Stone cracked outward from the point of contact in spiderweb patterns that spread across the plaza. Towers swayed violently. Decorative ponds burst upward into mist. The air itself rippled like a struck drumhead.

Several elders instantly stepped forward, killing intent flaring.

"Form up—!"

"Suppress it—!"

"Don’t let it breathe again—!"

Before anyone could unleash another technique—

Victor moved.

He stepped forward onto Qin Lau’s massive head, standing tall where every eye could see him.

His green robes fluttered violently in the residual pressure.

His voice rang out in a loud but calm tone.

"Elders..."

"...It’s me."

The words hit harder than any attack.

For a split second, no one reacted.

Then—

"W–Wait..."

"That’s—"

"No way..."

Elder after elder stared upward with widening eyes as recognition finally slammed into them.

"That’s Fang Chen!"

"Core Disciple Fang Chen!"

"The one who broke through to Soul Transformation Realm!"

The killing intent evaporated like mist under sunlight.

Victor jumped down from Qin Lau’s head, landing lightly on the cracked stone plaza. He turned and patted the massive beast’s scales.

"Relax. They’re allies."

Qin Lau snorted again, folding his wings slightly, though his presence alone still weighed on everyone present like a mountain.

Victor turned back to the elders.

"Apologies for the... dramatic entrance," he said mildly. "This is Qin Lau."

There was a brief pause...

"...My mount."

The words landed.

Then the impossible happened.

Qin Lau lowered his massive head and spoke in a voice that echoed across the plaza.

"Greetings. I am Qin Lau. Sovereign of the Corrupt Triangle."

He inclined his head just slightly.

"Master Fang’s mount."

The world stopped.

Someone dropped their weapon.

Another elder forgot to breathe.

A third simply stared, mouth opening and closing soundlessly.

"A... a sovereign spirit beast..."

"...as a mount..."

"Did he just call him master?"

This wasn’t disbelief anymore.

This was reality breaking.

They had just witnessed Fang Chen do something even Void Tribulation Realm elders would hesitate to dream of.

Victor who was still maintaining a calm outlook, clasped his hands.

"I’ll take him back to my courtyard. We’ll discuss compensation for the damaged arrays later."

No one objected.

...

Victor’s core disciple courtyard was large by sect standards.

By Qin Lau standards?

Barely sufficient.

The sovereign beast had to coil his wings inward and partially curl his tail to avoid flattening half the structures. Decorative spirit trees bent under the pressure of his presence alone.

Still, he fit... barely.

Victor exhaled softly, finally relaxing.

Qin Lau lowered his massive head closer.

"So this is your sect," he said thoughtfully. "Primitive... but stable."

Victor smirked faintly. "High praise."

Qin Lau’s eyes gleamed. "You mentioned an upcoming event."

Victor nodded. "A Hidden Legacy Realm Exploration."

At those words, Qin Lau’s interest visibly sharpened.

"A hidden realm?" he asked. "One tied to ancient inheritances?"

"Yes."

Qin Lau chuckled deeply. "Then it will be interesting indeed. As your mount, I should be able to enter as well."

Victor didn’t deny it.

Qin Lau straightened slightly. "I shall guard this place while you cultivate."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "I don’t really—"

"It is not about necessity," Qin Lau interrupted. "It is about posture. Let the sect understand what stands behind you."

Victor laughed softly. "Fair enough."