“Are you threatening me?”

Shao Xuanji’s voice spiked, the temperature in the hall plummeting to freezing.

As a Dao Integration powerhouse, she didn’t need to deliberately flair her Qi. Her sheer emotional agitation was enough to manifest a crushing pressure, descending upon Qi Yuan like the weight of a collapsing mountain.

Buzz.

The Nine Luminaries Liluo Pendant at Qi Yuan’s waist hummed violently, emitting ripples of radiant light that barely managed to hold back the terrifying suppression.

Qi Yuan acted as if he felt nothing. He nodded nonchalantly.

“You could interpret it that way.”

Something is wrong.

This vile creature dares to be so insolent before me? He must have something to rely on!

Shao Xuanji’s eyes narrowed. She reeled in her aura, her expression turning grave as she stared down at the young man.

“Junior, the Exquisite Sanctuary has stood for hundreds of thousands of years. Our foundation is deeper than you can possibly imagine.”

She leaned forward on her throne, her voice dripping with ice.

“Unless you hide inside the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary like a turtle for the rest of your life, I don’t even need to lift a finger. One command from me, and you will die without a grave. Even Ancestor Feihuang won’t be able to save you then. Are you not afraid?”

“Afraid? Of course I’m afraid!”

Qi Yuan shrugged, a relaxed, carefree smile playing on his lips. “I don’t have a death wish. That is precisely why I came here to pay my respects to you, Sect Leader Shao.”

He began to pace slowly before the dais.

“As the Holy Scion of Supreme Mystery, if I were to meet an ‘unfortunate accident’ here, my sect wouldn’t let it slide. And let’s be honest—your own Ancestor Feihuang wouldn’t sit idly by, either.”

Qi Yuan stopped and looked her in the eye. “No matter how you look at it, I am safe right now. Which makes this the perfect time to negotiate terms.”

Internally, however, Qi Yuan was sweating bullets.

He was walking a tightrope over a cliff. If he didn’t neutralize this woman right now, he would spend the rest of his life looking over his shoulder.

Cheng Feihuang obeyed him, yes, but her prime directive was Protect the Exquisite Sanctuary. If he tried to use her to kill the Sect Leader, that order would conflict, and he’d lose.

And Shao Xuanji held the power of a Sect Master. She could make a Nascent Soul cultivator vanish without a trace.

On the throne, Shao Xuanji’s phoenix eyes narrowed into slits, flashing with intense, concentrated killing intent.

“You think you can negotiate with me based on empty words? You overestimate yourself.”

“I will say this once. Out of respect for the Ancestor, if you swear a Heart Demon Oath to disappear, I will spare your life.”

The corner of Qi Yuan’s mouth lifted into a mocking arc. “Oh? Is that so? Then… why don’t you take a look at this?”

With a flick of his wrist, an ancient, weathered scroll appeared in his hand.

He slowly unrolled it.

The instant the scroll was revealed, Shao Xuanji shot up from her throne as if electrified. Her composure shattered.

“A Top-Grade Beast Taming Scroll?!”

Her gaze locked onto the lower-left corner of the parchment. There, pulsating with faint golden light, was a drop of blood.

Cheng Huang’s Essence Blood!

Her mind went blank, a buzzing noise filling her ears. Her eyes widened in absolute terror.

Qi Yuan smiled faintly, his tone casual.

“Sect Leader Shao is indeed knowledgeable. This is a genuine, authenticated Top-Grade Beast Taming Scroll.”

He tapped the scroll lightly.

“The moment I imprint my soul mark onto this scroll, the innate divine beast Cheng Huang—the protector of your sect for over a hundred thousand years—will belong to me.”

Qi Yuan’s eyes turned cold.

“And don’t try to snatch it. With the Nine Luminaries Liluo Pendant protecting me, I have more than enough time to activate the scroll before you can kill me.”

How is this possible?!

Shao Xuanji, who had weathered countless storms, felt her knees go weak. Her face drained of all color.

She never imagined Ancestor Feihuang would do something so insane. To give her own essence blood to an outsider? To willing risk becoming a slave?

Is she mad?

As the Sect Leader, Shao Xuanji knew exactly what Cheng Huang meant to the sect. If this scroll was activated, Ancestor Feihuang would be bound to Qi Yuan. She would leave the sect.

The Exquisite Sanctuary would lose its greatest guardian.

How could she face the ancestors? How could she face the elders and disciples?

No!

He must not activate that scroll!

Her resolve crumbled instantly. Her voice trembled, laced with genuine fear.

“Qi Yuan… what… what exactly do you want?”

Standing below the steps, Qi Yuan maintained his facade of breezy indifference.

“I’m a simple man with simple tastes. Don’t overthink it. Compared to Ancestor Feihuang, I actually prefer… you, the Empress.”

He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a second scroll.

“Sect Leader Shao, sign this Heavenly Dao Master-Servant Contract. If you do, I will destroy the Beast Taming Scroll immediately. I will swear never to use it on Ancestor Feihuang. How about it?”

What?!

Shao Xuanji froze, her mind reeling. She never dreamed a mere Nascent Soul junior would dare make such a demand.

This bastard! The sheer audacity!

A Master-Servant Contract was an unequal treaty, usually forced by a conqueror upon the conquered. It had been lost since ancient times, yet this kid possessed one?

And it was backed by the Heavenly Dao. Once signed, cultivation level didn’t matter. She would be bound to obey him unconditionally, or suffer a backlash from the heavens. Meanwhile, he owed her nothing.

Shao Xuanji’s face flushed crimson. Her thoughts were a chaotic mess. Agree to this absurdity? Become his servant?

Seeing her hesitate, Qi Yuan applied the pressure.

“Sect Leader Shao, it seems you value your own pride above the survival of the Exquisite Sanctuary. You’d rather sacrifice your sect’s guardian deity than suffer a little personal grievance.”

He made a show of lifting the Beast Taming Scroll, spiritual energy gathering at his fingertips.

“Fine. Have it your way. I’ll activate the scroll. With Ancestor Feihuang as my personal bodyguard, I doubt you or anyone else can touch a hair on my head ever again.”

“Wait!”

Faced with these heart-piercing words, Shao Xuanji’s psychological defenses collapsed.

She gritted her teeth, tears of humiliation welling in her eyes.

“Fine! I’ll sign!”

Success!

Qi Yuan mentally exhaled a heavy sigh of relief.

He was gambling with his life.

The truth was, he couldn’t use the Beast Taming Scroll. Cheng Huang already had a master—him. The beast was already bound. The scroll was a prop, a bluff to leverage her fear.

If Shao Xuanji had called his bluff, he would have been dead meat.

Fortunately, when forced to choose between her dignity and the sect’s safety, the troublesome woman chose the sect.

Sigh. No wonder that witch Ji Chan’er calls me a peerless demon. I really am starting to act like a villain…

Qi Yuan felt a twinge of complexity, but quickly suppressed it. Survival came first.

Moments later.

Qi Yuan stored away the freshly signed Master-Servant Contract, his entire demeanor relaxing. He beamed at her.

“Sect Leader Shao, from now on, we are family.”

“Also, the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary will be sending a special envoy soon to discuss an alliance. As I promised, I won’t let the Exquisite Sanctuary suffer too much in the deal.”

Hearing this, Shao Xuanji’s expression softened slightly, though her face remained grim.

“Qi Yuan. I have signed. I will work for you. But listen well: you are not permitted to force me to harm the Exquisite Sanctuary. And you are absolutely forbidden from using the contract to force me into… despicable acts.”

Her eyes burned with resolve. “If you try, I would rather self-destruct than let you succeed!”

Qi Yuan nodded solemnly.

“Rest assured, Sect Leader Shao. In time, you will discover that I am actually a rare gentleman of high moral character.”

“Hmph. I hope so.”

Shao Xuanji didn’t believe a word of it, but the deed was done. She could only wait and see.

Qi Yuan chuckled, rubbing his nose.

“Sect Leader Shao, since the contract is sealed, shouldn’t we change how we address each other?”

“What?” Shao Xuanji frowned, puzzled.

Qi Yuan blinked, looking at her with an expectant expression.

“When others are around, you can call me by my name. I won’t fault you for that.”

He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping.

“But when we are alone… you must address me as Master.”

“You wish!”

Shao Xuanji’s face turned rigid. She rejected the demand instantly and categorically.