Chapter 130: The Situation Takes a Sudden Turn

A cultivator at the Bagua realm possesses essence of unparalleled purity; their body is so clean and transparent, free from the slightest impurity, that they should never sweat. Yet, the Heavenly Venerable was currently drenched in perspiration, a testament to the agonizing torment he was enduring.

"Huanji, give me a portion of the soul contract you hold over them," Ye Zihan commanded the Heavenly Demon. After subjugating her, Ye Zihan had learned the Heavenly Demon’s name: Huanji.

"Yes, Master," Huanji replied respectfully.

Immediately, Ye Zihan felt a tremor in his soul, followed by the sensation of an invisible tether connecting him to the souls of Huanji’s subordinates, allowing him to exert direct control or inflict punishment upon them.

"Ah! Spare me, Master! I will never dare to be disrespectful again! Please, have mercy!"

The Heavenly Venerable, Mo Wuhuan, writhed on the floor, howling in agony. The others prostrated themselves, trembling, not daring to lift their heads. In particular, the stubble-chinned leader who had wounded Ye Zihan—a peak Seven-Star powerhouse named Ji Qianjun—was shaking even more violently.

Mo Wuhuan had suffered such torment despite not having wounded Ye Zihan; since he had inflicted a grievous injury upon the boy, Ji Qianjun feared a far more severe punishment, or perhaps even death. To him, even being a slave was preferable to losing his life; after so many years, they had become accustomed to their existence and found the prospect of death far more terrifying than their current plight.

Standing nearby, Chen Yiyan and Yan Chen were completely stunned. They stood frozen, eyes wide and unblinking. The situation had shifted with impossible speed; the powerful figures who had intended to slaughter them moments ago were now kneeling as Ye Zihan’s slaves. The shock was so profound that their minds struggled to process it. They stood with mouths agape, oblivious to their own injuries, staring at the scene as if it were a dream.

"Ah!" Just as Mo Wuhuan’s cries ceased and silence returned to the hall, a sudden yelp of pain rang out.

Yan Chen, his blood-stained face twisted in anger, glared at Chen Yiyan. "Chen Yiyan, why are you pinching me?"

"I—I just wanted to confirm I wasn’t dreaming. I didn't mean to pinch so hard, sorry," Chen Yiyan said, scratching his head in embarrassment. He had given Yan Chen a fierce pinch on the arm; despite being injured, his strength was still significant, and the action had forced a cry of pain from his friend.

Ye Zihan had been startled at first, fearing something had happened to his brothers, but upon seeing the scene, a wry smile crossed his face. His heart settled; knowing they still had the spirit for such antics meant they were likely out of danger. Having traveled this path together, they were no strangers to life-and-death struggles, and injuries had become a matter of routine. Their resilience was extraordinary, allowing them to joke even when appearing severely wounded. For instance, Ye Zihan had been run through with a spear by Ji Qianjun earlier yet remained composed—a testament to the indomitable will forged through long adversity, the only kind of will that could cultivate a true powerhouse.

"Th-thank you, Master!" A sweating Mo Wuhuan stood up shakily, his eyes filled with terror as he looked at Ye Zihan.

"Mo Wuhuan, my three brothers are severely wounded; help them recover. Huanji, you are well-versed in soul matters; look after Moyou. He is in this state because of you." Ye Zihan commanded Mo Wuhuan, then turned to Huanji and produced a miniature version of Moyou from his sleeve. Huanji trembled as she took him.

"Rest assured, Master, I will certainly help him recover." Knowing she had previously injured Ye Zihan and Moyou, she feared his lingering resentment and sought to prove her loyalty.

"Mm." Ye Zihan nodded. Though he was indeed angry about the past, it was over, and further punishment would serve no purpose.

Ye Zihan walked over to Ji Qianjun, who remained kneeling. Sensing the footsteps, Ji Qianjun knew it was Ye Zihan and began kowtowing incessantly. "Master, I did not know you were the master of the Heavenly Venerable. Please, spare this dog's life."

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

Ji Qianjun slammed his forehead against the floor until blood began to trickle out.

"Ji Qianjun, stand up," Ye Zihan ordered. Ji Qianjun dared not disobey.

"Everyone, rise," Ye Zihan said, turning to the others. He then addressed Ji Qianjun: "Logically, you wounded me—critically so—and I should punish you severely or even kill you. But I will not. You were following orders, and I have a certain respect for my opponents. Do you know why I punished Mo Wuhuan so harshly?"

Ye Zihan leaned in close to the still-cowering Ji Qianjun.

"I—I do not know."

"Because, you wounding me is one thing—I do not blame you for that. But you must not bully my brothers, and you certainly shall not attempt to turn them into mounts! Anyone who dares to insult my brothers, no matter how strong, must die!"

Ye Zihan’s gaze swept across the crowd, his calm eyes causing their hearts to tighten.

"Yiyan, why do I suddenly feel like crying..." Yan Chen asked, draping his arm over Chen Yiyan's shoulder.

"Sob, me too." Chen Yiyan, usually a fiery and combative soul who would never cry or complain even when gravely injured, was moved to tears by Ye Zihan’s words.

A warmth flooded Yan Chen’s heart, rising to his eyes as a tear—imbued with the depth of their brotherhood—trickled down and vanished into the air, leaving an indelible mark upon his soul.

"Ah!"

Another chorus of wails erupted in the hall, this time from the guards who had wounded Chen Yiyan and Yan Chen. Ye Zihan showed no mercy to them. Their cries, however, dampened the mood of Chen Yiyan and Yan Chen, and at their urging, Ye Zihan finally ceased the punishment.

In that short time, these people had developed a deep sense of fear toward their new master. Yet, beneath the fear, there was also profound admiration. If Ye Zihan had been exacting revenge for his own sake, they might have simply accepted their bad luck, but he had acted for the sake of his brothers. Such loyalty and righteousness earned them a grudging respect, and they could not help but wonder if, should they ever be bullied, this master would also stand up to protect them with such ferocity.

"Phew! That feels good. Having a Bagua-realm expert heal you is absolute bliss," Yan Chen said, wearing fresh clothes and sitting on the jade throne in the center of the hall, squeezed next to Ye Zihan. On the other side, Chen Yiyan sat quietly, still as a statue.

Under Mo Wuhuan’s treatment, their wounds had healed quickly. While he was not a Water-element shikigami user specialized in healing, his status as a peak Bagua-realm powerhouse meant his internal energy was more than sufficient. Moyou had also recovered under Huanji’s care, though he remained somewhat weak.

Moyou sat on Ye Zihan’s head, clutching a massive magic core and gnawing on it happily. It was a seventh-order core from Mo Wuhuan’s collection. Ye Zihan had also provided Moyou with a spatial scroll filled with other cores scavenged from Mo Wuhuan. As a centuries-old peak expert, Mo Wuhuan possessed many treasures, most of which had now been seized. The others, eager to curry favor with their new master, had also emptied their own stashes, terrified of being outdone.

With Ye Zihan’s group seated on the throne, Huanji standing respectfully to the side, and Mo Wuhuan’s group below, Ye Zihan looked every bit the earthly monarch surrounded by his subjects.

"Heavenly Venerable."

Three men rushed in, but upon seeing the scene, they froze, unsure whether to speak.

"What is it?" Mo Wuhuan asked, glancing at Ye Zihan and seeing no sign of anger. These were the men who had been chasing Lin Dong.

"Heavenly Venerable, we pursued Lin Dong to the viewing platform, but the City Lord of Xuanwu City, Lin Lei, blocked us, so..."

"If Lin Dong has escaped, let him be," Ye Zihan waved his hand. A subtle shift of his will caused the three men to howl in sudden pain. He released them after a moment; they had, after all, laid hands on Yan Chen and his brothers earlier.

"Master, shall we announce your status as City Lord to the outside world now?" Mo Wuhuan asked.

"No need to rush. The final battle begins tomorrow. All those who pass the trials are talented individuals of considerable strength. I must defeat them fair and square to earn their recognition of my status. Only then will it be time for you to declare your support. At that moment, we will reveal our identity as the Peerless Pavilion, and we shall make our name known to the world in a single stroke!"