The life-death contract was an ancient pact dating back to antiquity, with mysterious origins lost to time. It was a binding agreement where the fate of two parties became irrevocably linked. If one perished, the other would share the same fate, regardless of their cultivation. The variation Xiao Chen proposed was inherently unequal, ensuring that if his soul dissipated, the mysterious woman would also die, but her death would have no adverse effect on him.
Essentially, it was a master-servant arrangement without the explicit dynamics of control or authority.
The mysterious woman's brow furrowed deeply, her expression conflicted as she weighed the potential risks and benefits of such a binding arrangement.
"Think carefully," Xiao Chen said calmly. "This pact doesn't harm you unless you harbor malicious intent toward me. If your conscience is clear, there's nothing to fear."
The woman's face darkened. "You're nothing more than a Qi Refining cultivator, a nobody in the cultivation world. A single mishap, and your life could be snuffed out like a candle. If someone kills you, do I die alongside you for no reason?"
Xiao Chen's face remained expressionless. His tone, however, grew colder. "If you refuse, then I'll leave now. Surely someone else will come along to save you. Let's part ways here."
Without waiting for a response, Xiao Chen turned and strode toward the exit with resolute steps, showing not an ounce of hesitation.
"Wait!"
The woman's voice rang out, laced with both frost and venom. Her eyes bore into Xiao Chen's back with icy hatred, and her heart seethed with murderous thoughts. She silently vowed that once her strength returned, she would annihilate this insolent boy, no matter the cost.
"I agree," she said through gritted teeth.
Xiao Chen turned back, his face impassive. "Good. Let's begin." He ignored the venomous glare she cast at him, refusing to be drawn into her hostility.
"Fine!" she snapped, bitterness evident in her tone. Muttering an intricate incantation, she began forming the contract. Xiao Chen pricked his finger and let a drop of blood hover in midair. As the woman's chant continued, the blood split into two halves, one entering his brow and the other hers.
Xiao Chen felt a faint chill in his divine sense as the contract took effect. In his mind's eye, the blood drop transformed into a tiny, ethereal version of the woman, nestled within his spiritual sea. The contract was complete—should Xiao Chen die, the blood phantom would shatter, and the mysterious woman's soul would perish alongside him.
Relief washed over Xiao Chen. With the contract binding them, the woman was effectively shackled. Even if she discovered his secrets, she'd be unlikely to act recklessly, knowing her life was intertwined with his. Moreover, her profound cultivation and likely ancient origins made her an invaluable resource. With her help, his path to Foundation Establishment and beyond seemed more attainable.
With a smile, Xiao Chen said, "Now that the contract is sealed, you may take refuge within me."
The mysterious woman glared at him hatefully, then suddenly broke into a sweet smile. Her voice turned saccharine. "Oh, my dear master, please take good care of me from now on. After all, I'll be living with you for quite some time." With a coquettish wink, she transformed into a wisp of spiritual energy and entered Xiao Chen's body.
Xiao Chen, caught off guard by her sudden flirtation, stood dumbfounded for a moment before shaking his head with a wry smile.
In his spiritual sea, Xiao Chen addressed her, "Now that we've settled things, what about the 'goodwill' you promised earlier? You mentioned a reward, didn't you?"
Her laughter rang in his mind, playful yet laced with mockery. "Oh, dear. My soul is so damaged, my memory is fuzzy. But if you insist, I can give you a cultivation technique. If anything goes wrong, though, don't blame me!"
Xiao Chen's expression stiffened.
She continued, her tone teasing. "Don't worry, even if something happens, it won't kill you. At most, you might grow a tail or sprout horns. Just little quirks—nothing too bothersome."
Suppressing a bitter laugh, Xiao Chen decided not to take the risk. She was clearly trying to provoke him as payback for forcing her into the contract. There was no rush; he could deal with her games later.
"By the way," Xiao Chen said, his tone light, "I never caught your name. Since we'll be... companions for a while, it's only polite to know how to address each other."
Her voice, though weary, retained its teasing lilt. "You may call me Yu Ji. Don't forget it, my dear master."
Her words were followed by a fatigued sigh. "I need to rest now. Wake me when you need me."
With that, her presence faded, sinking into deep hibernation.
"Yu Ji?" Xiao Chen muttered. "Who knows if that's even her real name?" Shrugging, he turned his attention to the ruined hall around him.
Searching the rubble, Xiao Chen's divine sense quickly located several items of interest. Beneath a pile of debris, he uncovered a cracked gourd-shaped magical artifact. Though its spiritual energy was depleted, leaving it a mere husk, the materials used to craft it were still valuable. He stored it away without hesitation.
Over the next half-hour, he unearthed three more artifact fragments and several storage pouches.
Opening the pouches revealed his true jackpot: the accumulated wealth of three Golden Core cultivators. Among the spoils were nearly 100,000 low-grade spirit stones, causing Xiao Chen's heart to race with joy.
"This trip was worth it," he muttered, his eyes gleaming.
Before leaving, he carefully stored the shattered remains of the blood-veined jade plate in a jade box. As he swept the area one final time with his divine sense, a faint tingling sensation pricked his mind.
Curious, he moved to the source and unearthed a small, intricate skeleton no larger than his hand. Fine crimson threads ran through its bones, exuding an air of profound mystery.
"This...!" Xiao Chen's eyes lit up with excitement. It was the same skeletal artifact the elderly woman had used against the Spirit Corpse Sovereign. Remarkably, it had survived intact.
Carefully, he stored the skeleton, his mind racing with possibilities.
With no further discoveries to be made, Xiao Chen left the ruins, satisfied with his gains. A day and a half later, he arrived at a bustling mortal town several miles from the Ten Thousand Mountains.
After purchasing a modest green robe from his spoils, Xiao Chen wandered the streets. His refined demeanor and scholar-like air—enhanced by the fine silk robe—made him appear more like a young academic than a cultivator.
The lively town filled Xiao Chen with nostalgia. It had been over a year since he'd last immersed himself in such vibrant, mundane scenes. Following the aroma of food, he entered a tavern named Immortal's Rest.
Finding a seat on the second floor, Xiao Chen ordered a modest meal and a flask of good wine. Just as he began enjoying the peace, the stairway erupted with noise.
A group of ten young men and women entered, led by a fiery woman in red armor. Her sharp, fox-like eyes scanned the floor, disappointment flickering across her face as she saw the crowded tables.