Zhao Xin did not consider Bai Yan's hope; instead, he continued to approach Fiery Sun City, brandishing the Demon Longsword to unleash a sword light, sweeping away the surrounding Sain Beasts at the city's gate.
"Lord Bai Yan... you... why have you returned..."
Zhao Xin, covered in blood, was a true general, someone who called out, "Follow me," rather than, "Go for me."
Bai Yan drifted down onto the city wall, sheathing the Demon Longsword abruptly, and looked at Zhao Xin coldly.
"Do you want to survive? Want to resolve this so-called Beast Tide once and for all?"
"What?! Lord Bai Yan, do you have a way to end the Beast Tide once and for all?"
Zhao Xin seemed to have heard something unbelievable and, disregarding the gap between himself and Bai Yan, stepped forward to grab Bai Yan's shoulders urgently and asked.
"Of course, I do, but you must agree to one condition."
Bai Yan pried Zhao Xin's hands away and then smiled as he looked at the excited Zhao Xin.
"As long as Lord Bai Yan can resolve the Beast Tide, no matter what the condition, I will agree, even if it means Zhao Xin risking his life, there will not be a moment's hesitation!"
Bai Yan had understood well enough what the Sain Beasts represented for the soldiers of Fiery Sun City, and he believed that the condition he proposed should not be met with Zhao Xin's opposition.
However, merely Zhao Xin agreeing would not suffice; what he needed was for the entire Fiery Sun Star to come under his command.
"General Zhao, don't be so hasty to agree. The condition I'm proposing involves more than just you. The whole populace of Fiery Sun City must agree to it."
Bai Yan appreciated Zhao Xin's audacity and courage in leading the charge, but when it came to serious matters, Bai Yan was more solemn than anyone else.
"What? The entire populace of Fiery Sun City? Lord Bai Yan, you mean?"
Zhao Xin wasn't stupid. With Bai Yan speaking in this manner, he naturally understood what Bai Yan was implying.
"That's right. I want the entire Fiery Sun City to submit to me so that I can present a solution to the Beast Tide. Otherwise, why would I bother doing something so thankless?"
Although Bai Yan had gained from slaying Sain Beasts, if he could use Fiery Sun City as a breakthrough point to gradually expand his influence in the Endless Star Sea, it was a scenario Bai Yan hoped to see.
What Bai Yan said left Zhao Xin speechless.
Lord Bai Yan was completely correct. Fiery Sun City hadn't offered anything to Lord Bai Yan. The fact that he was willing to intervene was already quite merciful. To truly present a solution for the Sain Beasts would certainly consume a great deal of Lord Bai Yan's mental and financial resources.
In this light, Lord Bai Yan's demands weren't excessive.
Zhao Xin bowed his head in thought but did not immediately respond to Bai Yan.
After all, he was just a general, not the owner of Fiery Sun City, nor did he have the authority to dictate the future of all its citizens.
After contemplating for a while, Zhao Xin still had to express his dilemma with a face filled with helplessness.
"Lord Bai Yan, if it were just me, I'd be very willing to become your subordinate... But in the end, I am merely the city's defender and don't have the authority to demand the submission of all Fiery Sun City's populace, and moreover..."
"Moreover, there are many powerful figures above you; they're the true owners of Fiery Sun City, am I right?"
Bai Yan waved, interrupting Zhao Xin's speech. He couldn't not have anticipated Zhao Xin's helplessness, yet he presented this condition because he possessed the capability to handle any series of repercussions following Fiery Sun City's submission to him.
"Yes, I indeed lack the ability to control the ownership of all Fiery Sun City, so..."
Zhao Xin's words were cut off by Bai Yan again.
He directly took out a Demon contract and placed it in front of Zhao Xin, speaking coldly.
"Either you sign this contract, becoming my subordinate, or I will leave Fiery Sun Star now, allowing the Sain Beasts to raze Fiery Sun City. When the Sain Beasts retreat tomorrow, I'll come back to clean up the aftermath."
"The entire Fiery Sun Star Domain doesn't only host Fiery Sun Star residents. In the vast Endless Star Sea, there are plenty of people willing to relocate to Fiery Sun Star."
Bai Yan quietly looked at Zhao Xin, although inside, a storm of emotions was brewing, and he was just short of forcing Zhao Xin to sign the Demon contract.
For him, this current Beast Tide was an opportunity not to be missed, sincerely believing finding such a vast demon energy movement otherwise wouldn't be until the same time next year.
He did not want a whole year to pass without advancing his dominion's level. Although demon energy production elsewhere was enough to shorten that year significantly, the allure of leveling up by tomorrow was something Bai Yan found impossible to resist.
"Think for yourself, what's the use of leaders who avoid issues? Do you still expect them to return to Fiery Sun Star to rule and enslave you but abandon you at the most critical moments?!"
Bai Yan's interrogation struck deep in Zhao Xin's heart; now, he was the highest commander of Fiery Sun City, while before that, he was merely an overlooked junior defender of the city walls.
He became the leader partly because reality forced him into a situation he couldn't avoid; while on the other hand, he sure wished those stronger would stay and help Fiery Sun City weather this crisis together.
His hatred for those high-ranking deserters buoyed him on the city wall, fighting in a bloodbath!
"The choice you have now is leaving a group of traitorous deserters and submitting to my command, nothing more."
"In return, I will exert immense effort to resolve the menace of the Sain Beasts for you, eliminate their existence once and for all, ensuring the safety of the entire Fiery Sun City and Fiery Sun Star from the threat of Sain Beasts!"
"Is such a choice difficult for you to make?"
Bai Yan's final words caused Zhao Xin's resolve to crumble.
His hatred for his superiors and his awe of Bai Yan made him, in that moment, make a decision that would impact his life and the lives of all Fiery Sun Star citizens forever.
"Lord Bai Yan, if I choose to join your ranks, can I still stay on Fiery Sun Star in the future?"
Bai Yan initially believed Zhao Xin's hesitant expression was due to indecision about joining him; he hadn't expected Zhao Xin's concern at this moment was this.
"Of course. As long as there are no extraordinarily important battles, you may reside on Fiery Sun Star. Even if those bastards who abandoned you return, I'll kick every one of them out from Fiery Sun Star!"
"In that case, I will sign."
Zhao Xin gritted his teeth and signed his name on the Demon contract.
"Subordinate Zhao Xin, greets the master."