Chapter 63: The Condition is a Slave Seal

Buzz!

At the entrance of the palace, brilliant lights flickered. Runes materialized in the air, weaving together like a network of glowing veins that converged from all directions, radiating a powerful, suppressive aura.

“I will kill you!”

Ye Chen roared, his eyes bloodshot and wild, resembling a desperate beast cornered by a hunter.

The compass-key was his greatest trump card. Within this palace, it granted him control over the ancient formations and deadly traps embedded in the structure.

He had just watched Gu Changge converse intimately with Yan Ji—the woman who, mere moments ago, had been his Master.

Gu Changge stood high above, casually producing treasures Ye Chen had never even heard of, let alone seen. In contrast, Ye Chen felt like a dirt-stained peasant.

He was inferior in every way.

It felt as though a beggar was forced to watch a prince flaunt his wealth while stealing the beggar’s only companion.

How could Ye Chen endure this humiliation?

Yan Ji was not just a teacher; she was a peerless beauty who had guided him for years. She was both mentor and elder sister. Deep down, he was just a hot-blooded young man who had harbored unspoken feelings for her.

Even if she had betrayed him, even if they had severed ties, he could not stomach the sight of her throwing herself into his enemy’s arms so quickly.

“Die!”

Jealousy burned through his rationality. He didn’t care about the inheritance anymore. He didn’t care about the beast tide outside. He only wanted one thing: to kill Gu Changge.

To kill the enemy who had taken everything from him!

Boom!

The ground shook as a massive surge of energy erupted. Terrifying beams of light shot up from the floor, converging high in the air into a sphere of destructive power aimed directly at Gu Changge.

This was Ye Chen’s ultimate strike. Even a Holy Lord Realm cultivator would pale in the face of such concentrated force.

Within the Secret Realm, cultivation was suppressed to the Great Power Realm. Gu Changge was no exception. Therefore, this trap should be fatal!

“The key allows Ye Chen to control the palace’s offensive arrays. The power is immense. Young Master, please be careful,” Yan Ji warned Gu Changge, her tone laced with genuine concern.

She glanced at Ye Chen, her eyes now completely cold.

She had realized the truth: Ye Chen had never truly respected her as a teacher. He had viewed her as his property.

Now that the bond was broken, Ye Chen was Gu Changge’s enemy. And to her clan, once a decision was made, loyalty was absolute. She was now Gu Changge’s follower, and she would prioritize his safety above all else.

“These formations cannot stop me,” Gu Changge smiled, unconcerned. “Ye Chen cannot stir up any waves.”

As he spoke, the air behind him darkened. A pitch-black Dharma Body materialized, towering over him like an ancient demon god. Though its power was capped at the peak of the Great Power Realm, its pressure was suffocating.

Boom!

Gu Changge threw a casual punch. Behind him, the massive black Dharma Body mirrored the motion, striking out with a fist the size of a house.

Terrifying force erupted. The void groaned and twisted as if a great earthquake had shattered the air itself.

Pfft!

The pillar of light formed by the palace arrays slammed into the black fist—and disintegrated.

It didn’t just break; it vanished. The force of the punch wiped the formations out of existence, erasing the runes from the air.

Yan Ji’s eyes widened in shock. She had underestimated him. As the Young Master of the Immortal Gu Family, his foundation was monstrous.

“How is this possible…”

Ye Chen suffered a horrific backlash. He spat a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward as if struck by a hammer.

He couldn’t believe it. Even with the power of the palace’s arrays, he was crushed by a single punch?

And the control… Gu Changge had exerted just enough force to shatter the attack without breaking the realm’s suppression limits.

Crack…

A sickening sound echoed from Ye Chen’s hand. The compass-key, his ultimate trump card, fractured. Cracks spread across its surface like a spiderweb.

Ye Chen realized with horror that the key had absorbed most of the impact. If it hadn’t, Gu Changge’s “casual” punch would have reduced him to a fine mist of blood.

Terror finally pierced through his rage. Gu Changge’s strength was beyond comprehension. Even suppressed, he could likely slaughter Holy Lords with ease.

“You’ve been jumping around like a grasshopper for too long,” Gu Changge said, his voice bored. “Time to end this.”

“Little leek…”

Buzz!

Gu Changge struck out with his palm.

The terrifying black Dharma Body mirrored him, extending a colossal hand that blotted out the light of the hall. It descended slowly, inevitably, like the sky collapsing.

“Impossible… how can I die here?” Ye Chen stared up at the descending doom, despair filling his eyes. The pressure locked him in place; he couldn’t even twitch a finger.

He had thought he was strong. But before Gu Changge, he was an ant.

He was going to die.

“Gu Changge! Stop!”

A cold, sharp cry cut through the air.

Ye Liuli burst into the hall. She was disheveled, having fought her way through the beast tide, but her eyes were fierce. She arrived just in time to see Gu Changge about to crush Ye Chen into paste.

Swoosh!

She didn’t hesitate. A dazzling streak of sword light slashed through the air, carrying the intent to sever everything in its path.

She had to save him!

Though her cultivation was suppressed, she possessed the combat power of a peak Great Power Realm expert. She believed she could at least block this strike.

Pfft!

To her horror, her sword light struck the giant black hand and vanished. It was like throwing a pebble into the ocean. The attack was swallowed whole without leaving a scratch.

“How…” Ye Liuli gasped, disbelief coloring her features. “My realm is the same as his… why can’t I even cut his Dharma Body?”

Her sword was a divine artifact made of rare metal, and her technique was a supreme art of the Upper Realm’s Ye Clan. An ordinary Holy Lord would have been bisected.

Yet Gu Changge remained unharmed.

“You arrived just in time,” Gu Changge glanced at her, a strange glint in his eyes.

The giant hand continued its descent, ignoring her interference. It closed around Ye Chen.

“Liuli…” Ye Chen screamed as he was lifted into the air, struggling uselessly against the crushing grip.

It was futile. This was the Myriad Transformations Heavenly Demon art. Even if Ye Chen broke through another realm right now, he wouldn’t be able to escape.

“Pfft…”

Gu Changge clenched his fist slightly. Ye Chen coughed up more blood, his face turning paper-white.

Yan Ji watched impassively. She felt no sympathy. Ye Chen had dug his own grave.

“What’s the matter? Want to save him?” Gu Changge looked at Ye Liuli with a faint smile. He wasn’t surprised she had made it past the beasts; she was the Ye Clan’s princess, after all. She had plenty of treasures.

More importantly, he had expected her to come.

With Ye Chen in his hand, he could squeeze the last bit of value out of this protagonist.

“Gu Changge, stop. Release Brother Ye Chen,” Ye Liuli said coldly, though her heart pounded. “Name your price.”

She knew him. He wouldn’t kill Ye Chen immediately if he could get something out of it.

“Any condition?” Gu Changge asked, his tone playful.

“As long as you spare him, anything can be discussed,” Ye Liuli said, trying to maintain a strong front. “But don’t be unreasonable…”

“Pause,” Gu Changge interrupted, raising an eyebrow. “You seem confused. I am not negotiating with you. I am dictating terms to you.”

He smiled, looking every bit the elegant young master, even as his giant black hand squeezed tighter.

Ye Chen howled in pain, blood leaking from his mouth. His eyes were filled with hatred and humiliation.

To Ye Liuli, Gu Changge’s handsome face looked like that of a demon.

“Liuli! Don’t beg him!” Ye Chen shouted, trying to sound defiant. “Even if I die, I won’t let you lower yourself for me!”

“Did I let you speak?” Gu Changge glanced at him.

Crunch.

The hand tightened. Ye Chen gagged, his ribs groaning under the pressure. He couldn’t breathe, let alone speak.

“What do you want?” Ye Liuli stared at Gu Changge, her eyes burning with fury. “Just say it.”

“Very simple,” Gu Changge said lightly. “Open your Sea of Consciousness and let me plant a Slave Seal.”

Ye Chen’s eyes bulged.

A Slave Seal? That meant total enslavement. It meant her life and will would belong to Gu Changge forever.

“Liuli, no! Don’t do it!” Ye Chen screamed mentally. “I would rather die!”

He shouted it aloud, desperate to stop her. He knew he had to act brave, or she would actually do it. And he didn’t want to owe her that much. It was too heavy.

“A Slave Seal?” Ye Liuli’s face went pale. She hesitated, struggling with the decision.

“Gu Changge… you are truly ambitious,” she said finally, her voice trembling. “But for Brother Ye Chen… I accept.”

Internally, however, she let out a breath of relief.

A Slave Seal? Is that all?

She maintained her angry facade, but she was secretly confident. The Ancient Ye Clan possessed a secret soul technique specifically designed to sever external controls on the Sea of Consciousness. A Slave Seal was exactly the kind of thing she could neutralize later.

Gu Changge had calculated everything, but he hadn’t calculated this.

I can save him, she thought. And then I can free myself.