A slightly unrefined but awe-filled thought entered Wu Liang's mind.
"Very good."
Wu Liang nodded in satisfaction and withdrew his hand.
Through this contract, he could control the life and death of this Storm Tiger at any time.
From now on, this Magical Beast Lord of the Wailing Swamp was Wu Liang's mount.
With the Storm Tiger's submission, the surrounding magical beasts stopped their attacks.
They growled uneasily, their eyes filled with fear.
Wu Liang turned around, his gaze sweeping over the magical beasts.
"Tell them to get lost."
Those two cold words were conveyed to all the magical beasts present through the Storm Tiger's thoughts.
"Roar—!"
The Storm Tiger stood up and let out a world-shaking roar at the beast pack.
This roar was completely different from before, filled with kingly majesty and unquestionable command.
As if granted a grand reprieve, the magical beasts instantly broke into a chaotic mess, scrambling to turn around and flee toward the depths of the rainforest.
The scene was even more chaotic than when they arrived, with quite a few being trampled to death.
In just a brief moment, the crisis was resolved.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, looking admiringly at the man standing beside the Magical Beast Lord.
By his own power alone, he had suppressed the entire beast tide.
"Long live the Chief!"
"Black Rock is invincible!"
Akomann and Ignis quickly walked to Wu Liang's side, their beautiful eyes gleaming with wonder.
"Wu Liang, are you alright?"
Akomann looked him up and down, her tone carrying a hint of worry.
The golden aura Wu Liang had just erupted with was too terrifying; she was worried it might have caused some damage to his body.
"What could happen to me?"
Wu Liang smiled; the golden aura on his body had already dissipated, and he had returned to his usual appearance.
"I'm just a little hungry."
Ignis excitedly circled the prostrate Storm Tiger twice, reaching out to touch its sleek, glossy black fur, clicking her tongue in wonder.
"This guy is so majestic! Is he your mount from now on?"
Sensing Ignis's touch, the Storm Tiger let out a dissatisfied low growl from its throat, but with Wu Liang present, it didn't dare to make any excessive moves.
"From today on, his name is Fenglei."
Wu Liang patted the Storm Tiger's head and gave it a new name.
"He will be the guardian beast of our Black Rock Tribe from now on."
"Fenglei? Good name!"
Ignis's eyes lit up.
"Riding him to attack the Roland Empire will surely scare those noble lords out of their wits!"
At this time, Clan Leader Buck of the Cat-ear Tribe approached cautiously with a group of his clansmen.
The way they looked at Wu Liang had changed from previous scrutiny and gratitude to complete awe and reverence.
"Great Black Rock Chief!"
Buck fell to his knees with a thud and performed a full prostration before Wu Liang.
This time, he didn't dare to act as if he were Wu Liang's brother.
"Please accept the Cat-ear Tribe's highest respect! You have saved us all once again!"
The Cat-eared People behind him, including the warriors who had just taken up arms to fight, all knelt down in unison, their expressions incredibly devout.
Everything they had witnessed today had completely overturned their understanding of power.
Especially the scene of Wu Liang finally subduing the Storm Tiger; in their eyes, it was nothing short of a miracle.
"Clan Leader Buck, we are all friends. Please, stand up."
Wu Liang said calmly.
"You are our allies; it is only right to protect you."
As he spoke, he turned his gaze toward Mia in the crowd.
The little cat-girl was hiding behind a clansman, poking half her head out.
Those watery amber eyes were peeking at him, her face flushed red, her gaze filled with a young girl's admiration and affection for a hero.
Noticing Wu Liang's gaze, Mia shyly shrank back, her heart beating even faster.
The corners of Wu Liang's mouth curled up slightly.
In the following time, everyone began to clean up the battlefield and treat the wounded.
This beast tide came suddenly; although it was eventually suppressed by Wu Liang, the rubber plantation had still suffered significant losses.
Over a dozen Artisans and Cat-eared People had unfortunately perished, and many more were injured.
The rubber plantation's equipment and the newly built fortifications were now mostly destroyed.
With the Storm Tiger's submission, the entire rainforest area in the southern part of the Wailing Swamp had actually fallen under Wu Liang's control.
As the strongest being in this area, the Storm Tiger's submission meant that all magical beasts would obey Wu Liang's orders.
This vast rainforest had completely settled into peace.
This news quickly spread to the various beastman Tribes in the rainforest.
Besides the Cat-ear Tribe, there were also the Fox Clan and the Dog Clan in this rainforest.
Whether male or female, the Fox Clan were born with a charming and enchanting temperament; the women, in particular, were all soul-stealing beauties.
The Dog Clan mostly had gentle temperaments and generally had plump and athletic builds; the women, especially, were full of mature charm.
These three Tribes had lived in this rainforest for generations, occasionally clashing, but mostly sticking together for survival.
When they learned that the Magical Beast Lord, the Storm Tiger, had been taken as a mount by an outsider human chief, all the beastmen were shocked.
Clan Leader Ya Duo of the Fox Clan, a mature and beautiful woman, immediately sent her clansmen to gather information.
After obtaining confirmed intelligence, she made a decision almost without hesitation.
She would personally go to meet that powerful human chief.
A man who could subdue a Storm Tiger was definitely a powerhouse worth seeking refuge with.
Relying on such a powerhouse would not only allow the Fox Clan to escape their precarious situation but might even lead the entire clan toward unprecedented prosperity.
With such thoughts, Yaduo dressed up meticulously and put on her most magnificent robe.
She brought a chest of magic crystals from the depths of the rainforest and several of the most beautiful fox girls in the clan, heading toward the Black Rock camp near the Cat-ear Tribe.
Wu Liang greeted Yaduo outside the command tent.
Yaduo was tall with an enchanting figure.
Her fiery red hair fluttered in the wind, her fox ears stood up alertly, and the nine fluffy tails behind her were even more eye-catching.
A charming smile played on her face, yet her eyes were filled with scrutiny and shrewdness.
"Great Black Rock Tribe Chief, Lord Wu Liang."
Yaduo's voice was enchantingly sweet, enough to make one's bones feel a bit numb.
"I am Yaduo, the Clan Leader of the Fox Clan. On behalf of the Fox Clan, I offer you our highest respect and gratitude. Thank you for quelling the beast tide and saving our Fox Clan."
Wu Liang's gaze lingered on Yaduo for a few seconds.
He could feel the powerful charm emanating from Yaduo, as well as the hidden probing in her eyes.
This Fox Clan leader was no simple character.
"Clan Leader Ya Duo is too polite."
Wu Liang's tone was flat.
Yaduo's eyes narrowed slightly; she hadn't expected Wu Liang to be so calm.
"Lord Wu Liang, your feat of subduing the Storm Tiger has already spread throughout the entire Wailing Swamp."
Yaduo continued, her voice filled with admiration.
"Your strength has shocked all the beastmen."
"The Fox Clan is willing to become eternal allies with the Black Rock Tribe to jointly resist external enemies."