“Master, aren’t you Wu Yuan? Aren’t you Senior Wan Liu’s disciple?” Qiong Sea King was dumbfounded by this revelation. He was first stunned by Wu Yuan’s soul, then left in a daze by what Wu Yuan said.
“Daoist Qiong Sea,” an amused voice echoed through the fog. Then, a figure flew out, gracefully touching down beside Wu Yuan.
“Fang Xia?” Qiong Sea King stared intently at the newcomer, a hint of trepidation flickering in his eyes. Powerhouses were instinctively wary of those who matched their strength.
“Daoist Qiong Sea, please rest assured,” Fang Xia chuckled. “I serve the young master, and you are the young master’s spirit beast. From this day forward, we are equals.”
“Young master?” Qiong Sea King’s confusion deepened. He couldn’t understand this complicated relationship.
“Old Fang, please explain everything to Qiong Sea,” Wu Yuan smiled.
With both parties having forged a Blood Gu contract, he could now trust Qiong Sea King. Even though the contract only lasted 50 years and maintained some semblance of an equal partnership, Wu Yuan still held the advantage in their relationship.
After all, the contract was written by Fang Xia. Naturally, as long as Wu Yuan did not exert undue pressure and kept to his promises, Qiong Sea King would willingly obey him. Such was the power of a Blood Gu contract!
Furthermore, there were restraints imposed by the Eldritch Progenitor oath. The Eldritch Progenitor commanded the authority of the natural order, akin to that of Heaven itself.
Anyone who violated the oath sworn on the Eldritch Progenitor’s name would be met with the inexorable retribution of karma and destiny, meted by the Eldritch Progenitor who stood witness!
A mischievous grin played on Fang Xia’s lips. “Qiong Sea, Wu Yuan is the young master’s true identity. Whether it be Wan Liu at the immortal hall or the renowned Grandmaster Shadow Blade of the Central Plains, they are mere disguises worn by the young master…The young master is blessed with unparalleled talent…”
“I myself was once sealed in the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm, but a few short months ago, I was rescued and brought back into the realm of the living by none other than the young master. Within the depths of the Chu-Jiang Secret Realm lives a powerful eldritch deity. He spends his time in slumber, patiently awaiting the recovery of the spiritual qi.” Fang Xia carefully concealed fragments of the truth while interweaving fabrications into the narrative. Eight parts truth, and two parts deception.
“The young master is the chosen heir of the eldritch deity, destined to become the master of the eldritch realm! In time, the young master shall reign over the Middle Land, and one day, rule over Summerpeak World!” Fang Xia declared with blazing passion.
“As the first spirit beast under the young master’s command, so long as we dutifully aid the young master in the coming centuries, your advancement to the Spiritual Body phase is hardly a concern. Even reaching the Shambhala phase will be but a trifling feat!” Fang Xia painted a vivid picture of the young master’s future in Qiong Sea King’s mind.
Qiong Sea King was left stupefied. He relied on his strength to reign over his vast demon kingdom in the South Ocean. Though the South Ocean stretched far and wide, how many Archdemons possessed intelligence? Even greater demons, whose strength was comparable to that of Grandmasters, possessed much lower intelligence compared to the average human. Within the demon kingdom, the prevailing law was the survival of the fittest.
While Qiong Sea King’s thought process was indisputably swift, his wisdom and ability to spot deception were sorely lacking when compared to the human race. In simpler terms, he was somewhat naive. At this moment, Qiong Sea King found himself wholeheartedly believing Fang Xia’s words, convinced that Wu Yuan was an extraordinarily gifted prodigy, supported by a formidable eldritch deity.
Of course, it was not solely due to Fang Xia’s powers of persuasion. The most influential factors lay in Wu Yuan’s young age, his powerful soul, and his extraordinary understanding of the world, all of which were sufficient to convince Qiong Sea King in both heart and mind.
For Qiong Sea King, as long as Wu Yuan could fulfill his promises, that was all that mattered. The pact between them was now sealed. The stronger Wu Yuan grew, the greater the benefits that both he and his spirit beast would reap.
“Qiong Sea pays his respects to Master,” Qiong Sea King greeted with genuine sincerity, bowing his massive head toward Wu Yuan. This act symbolized true submission.
“No need to be overly formal, Qiong Sea,” Wu Yuan gently replied with a smile. “The contract we have forged is one of equals. For the next 50 years, you shall protect me, and I shall generously reward you. I will spare no effort to help you advance to the Spiritual Body phase.”
“After 50 years, should you desire freedom, the world will be yours to explore. But if you still wish to follow me, that can also be arranged,” added Wu Yuan.
When dealing with spirit beasts, there was no need for oppression or exploitation. Sometimes, forming friendships or even familial bonds increased the spirit beast’s protective nature over its master.
“Thank you, Master,” Qiong Sea King replied softly, finally releasing a sigh of relief. He could already sense the binding force of the pact and the weight of the oath.
“Return that immortal slip to me,” commanded Wu Yuan as he held up a different immortal slip in his hand. “Within this slip, you will find three complete sets of techniques that are suitable for you. Memorize them and then return the slip to me.”
The teachings contained in Wu Yuan’s inherited memories were bound by the power of the Eldritch Progenitor and could not be shared. Even if someone searched his soul, they would come up empty-handed.
However, the information and teachings within the eight immortal slips could be shared with his subordinates, disciples, and pupils as needed. After all, the realm master’s goal was to continue the eldritch lineage in the Summerpeak World. If he couldn’t share any teachings, it defeated the purpose.
“Understood,” Qiong Sea King’s eyes brimmed with an intense yearning. He quickly received the immortal slips from Wu Yuan. In an instant, he assimilated the knowledge contained within the slips.
“Such incredible techniques actually exist in this world?” Qiong Sea King exclaimed, his excitement palpable. “The body tempering technique! To think that the soul chamber can be used to combine treasures with one’s flesh, yielding miraculous results. This Century Flameheart Liquid mentioned in these teachings, isn’t it a type of treasure nurtured within the depths of underwater volcanoes? Haha, even I know how to acquire it!”
For centuries, Qiong Sea King had waited, his hope dwindling with each passing year. However, the teachings he obtained from Wu Yuan rekindled a spark of optimism.
“Qiong Sea, what say you?” Wu Yuan asked with a warm smile as he tucked away the immortal slips. These immortal slips were able to store copious amounts of information, their contents erasable and rewritable. Wu Yuan only had eight immortal slips with him, hence he could not afford to waste them.
“The debt of receiving Master’s teachings shall forever be engraved in Qiong Sea’s heart,” Qiong Sea King expressed his gratitude with utmost respect, completely won over by Wu Yuan. Though Wu Yuan’s strength paled in comparison to his own, his knowledge surpassed Qiong Sea King by far.
…
Surrounded by dense white fog, Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, and Qiong Sea King took some time to chat. Qiong Sea King had shortened his massive form to a mere ten meters, no longer drawing undue attention.
“Only eight Heavenly Rankers reside in the South Ocean?” Wu Yuan and Fang Xia exchanged incredulous glances, their surprise evident. In terms of size, the South Ocean rivaled that of the entire Middle Land and teemed with countless lives. And yet, only eight Heavenly Rankers emerged from among them?
“Indeed, barely a handful,” Qiong Sea King shook his head. “I only know of four Archdemons, and the remaining four Heavenly Rankers are from the human race. Master, this is actually not too surprising. In the South Ocean, there are numerous beasts with the strength of greater demons. They number in the millions, or possibly even more. Despite my status, I cannot give an accurate figure.”
“Some clans, such as the Tiger Whales, Devil Sharks, Deep Sea Chapters, and others, are individually stronger than human Grandmasters in the water. However, they lack intelligence. Can they truly be categorized as demons?” Qiong Sea King questioned.
Wu Yuan and Fang Xia nodded in agreement. Some massive beasts possessed power surpassing that of human Grandmasters, but it was a power borne of sheer size, not the refinement of their musculoskeletal systems.