Chapter 4 — The Beast King's Blood Seal

The elders exchanged glances, clearly unwilling to believe the explanation, yet unable to find any flaws to refute it. The master’s expression was the most complex of all—his eyes held shock, regret, but most of all, the burning fury of being deceived. Ling Ye, even if it is your spiritual beast, the fact that you practice demonic arts is an undeniable truth! You must give us an explanation!

An explanation? I let out a soft laugh. What could I possibly owe you? I raised my head, my gaze as cold as ice sweeping over every single person standing on the martial platform. When I was misunderstood, not a single one of you spoke up to defend me. When I was humiliated, you merely stood by with your arms crossed, or even joined in to trample upon me. When my cultivation was crippled, you treated me like garbage and discarded me casually. And now… you want me to explain? Do you people even deserve it?

My voice was not loud, but every single word felt like a blade piercing straight into the listeners' hearts. The entire plaza fell into a sudden silence; one by one, gazes dropped to the ground, and no one dared to meet my eyes. The master’s face flushed as red as a pig’s liver, his trembling finger pointing straight at me, shaking with rage from head to toe. You… you rebellious disciple!

A rebellious disciple? I echoed, the corners of my lips curling into a cold smirk, all warmth completely drained from my eyes. What a wonderful title of a rebellious disciple. I withdrew my gaze and turned to Ling Xi. Elder sister, didn't you always want to know why I managed to regain control over it? I deliberately paused for a heartbeat, forcing her to face my eyes until I saw the absolute panic brewing in the depths of hers. Because… I was the very first person to form a soul contract with it. As for you, you merely relied on the Soul-Guiding Technique's Heaven-Seizing and Sun-Swapping Art to steal the fortune that rightfully belonged to me.

The Soul-Guiding Technique?! The elders with the deepest knowledge gasped in unison. That was an ancient forbidden art—one that could forcibly transfer the ownership of a soul contract, yet simultaneously inflict unimaginably brutal karmic backlash upon both the victim and the caster. Ling Xi’s complexion instantly turned paler than a corpse. She understood… everything was over.

I have no idea what you are talking about! You are slandering me! She still struggled in her dying throes. But I did not bother to reply, for Mo Yuan itself provided the most irrefutable proof. It abruptly raised its massive head and roared toward the heavens, the sound shaking the earth itself, its blood-red beastly eyes locking fiercely onto Ling Xi. It had remembered. It remembered how, ten years ago amidst a torrential midnight rain, a little girl had pulled it back from the brink of death. It remembered the warm drop of vital blood that had melted into the center of its brow. And it remembered the malicious figure lurking in the shadows, using a chilling flash of light to sever the spiritual bond between it and that little girl.

The towering flames of hatred, mixed with ten years of swallowed humiliation, caused Mo Yuan to erupt completely. It opened its jaws, and a column of pitch-black demonic energy blasted straight toward Ling Xi, carrying with it a crushing intent to kill.

Ah…! Ling Xi’s scream mingled with the piercing cry of the Fire Phoenix. The divine bird tried desperately to lunge forward and shield her, but in the blink of an eye, it was battered away by the overwhelming force, its blazing feathers scattering everywhere. The demonic energy beam struck Ling Xi’s body directly, sending her flying like a withered leaf before she slammed heavily into a distant cliffside, vomiting a geyser of fresh blood. Every single spiritual meridian within her body was pulverized beyond recognition by Mo Yuan’s primal demonic essence. From this day onward, she was nothing more than a crippled mortal.

I looked down at the twitching figure on the ground, not a single ripple stirring within my heart. This was merely the retribution she deserved. I turned around, preparing to leave this repulsive place once and for all.

Stop right there! The master blocked my path, his expression extraordinarily complex. Ling Ye, you cannot leave.

And why is that?

You harbor the Heaven-Swallowing Beast and practice demonic arts. If you leave the sect, you will undoubtedly become a disaster to humanity. You must stay… and submit to the sect’s discipline.

His words sounded so righteous and grand.

I let out another soft laugh. To put it bluntly, they simply could not bear to let such a lucrative asset like the Heaven-Swallowing Beast slip through their fingers. What if… I insist on leaving?

My fingers twitched slightly, wisps of thick, black demonic aura weaving around my fingertips like agile serpents. Mo Yuan immediately stepped forward, shielding me, letting out a low, rumbling growl at the master and the elders, its imposing aura suffocating the air. The atmosphere was primed, ready to explode with a single spark.

The master’s face darkened as if ink were about to drip from it. He had never expected that I would openly defy the entire sect. Ling Ye, do not ruin your own future! Even with the assistance of the Heaven-Swallowing Beast, you are by no means a match for all of us combined!

Behind him, the elders simultaneously released their presence, their overwhelming spiritual pressures intertwining in mid-air to form an invisible net descending upon Mo Yuan and me. The space around us seemed to freeze solid. Mo Yuan let out an uneasy grunt, its scales bristling. Even as an ancient divine beast, it was still in its infancy, and facing the combined pressure of multiple elite masters made it difficult to hold its ground.

I reached out and gently patted its head to soothe it. Then, raising my eyes to meet the master’s, I spoke slowly. Is that so?

I raised my hand, and threads of ink-black demonic energy gushed from my palm, converging in mid-air to form a ferociously sinister black grand saber. Countless mysterious ancient runes were etched onto the blade, flashing with a bloody light. From this blade, a pure and tyrannical Demonic King’s might—far surpassing even Mo Yuan’s aura—burst forth, sweeping across the entire firmament.

The dozen streams of spiritual pressure that had been pressing down on me now felt as fragile as scrap paper under that breath, instantly torn to shreds. The master and the elders stumbled backward in unison as if struck by a heavy blow, their faces filled with utter panic.

This… this is…

A silver-haired supreme elder called out the fatal name with a trembling voice. That was the natal divine artifact possessed only by the rulers of the Demonic Clan! How could I possibly possess such a thing?

Naturally, I wouldn't tell them that this was forged using the Demonic Transformation Art and my own heart’s blood, painstakingly refined over three whole months inside the Cold Pool Cave. Seeing their terrified expressions, the corners of my lips curved higher, like a cold blade slicing into flesh.

Do you still think you can keep me here now?

Cold sweat began to bead on the master’s forehead. His gaze was locked firmly onto the demonic saber in my hand, filled with deep apprehension. A Heaven-Swallowing Beast in its infancy was already enough to give them a massive headache. Coupled with me—wielding an unfathomable Demonic King’s weapon—even if they won this battle, the Beast Taming Sect would suffer devastating losses. He… did not dare to gamble.

Amidst the tense standoff, Ling Xi—the one I had just crippled—managed to drag herself up from the ground. Her hair was disheveled, her face smeared with blood, and her eyes glazed over like a madwoman.

Master! Kill her! You must kill her! She pointed directly at me, her hoarse screams filled with venomous hatred. She ruined me! She is a demon! You cannot let her live! If you let her leave, the entire cultivation world will face a great catastrophe!

She wanted to use this tactic to force the master’s hand. Unfortunately… she had miscalculated. The master’s gaze toward her now held only utter disgust. A disciple who stole a peer's fortune and had now become a useless cripple possessed no value whatsoever. Moreover, she was the root cause that had dragged the sect into a blood feud with a future divine beast. If not for her, why would the Beast Taming Sect have found itself in such a confrontation with me today?

The master ignored her shrieked pleas, took a deep breath, and looked at me. Ling Ye, we can let you leave. But you must swear a Heavenly Oath that for all eternity, you will never take up arms against the Beast Taming Sect.

This was the greatest concession he could possibly offer—preserving the sect’s dignity while avoiding an all-out war.

I looked at him… as if I had just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world. You want me to swear an oath? On what grounds?

I raised the demonic saber in my hand, the chilling tip pointing straight at him. If anyone needs to swear an oath… it is you people. From this day forward, anyone from the Beast Taming Sect who dares to appear before me—killed without mercy!

My words were arrogant, tyrannical, leaving no room for negotiation. The master’s face turned as black as ink. You… you are relying on your power to bully others too egregiously!

That is correct, I am indeed relying on my power to bully others. What can you possibly do to me?

I let out a cold laugh, wasting no more breath. With a light spring of my body, I seated myself firmly upon Mo Yuan’s back. It tossed its head and roared, its four hooves leaping into the void as it transformed into a streak of black lightning, hurtling straight toward the mountain gate.

Stop it!