Chapter 1949: Chapter 718: The Disappearance of the Netherworld, the Cangwu Remains
"Given our relationship as master and servant, it’s not a matter of mistrust, but rather a precaution."
"I have removed the Source Blood Restriction, which will affect your normal cultivation. However, I must implant the Slave Mark to prevent you from being controlled by others at crucial moments and turning against me."
"Hand over the Soul Blood!"
On a carriage concealed by Spirit Light, Luo Chen spoke slowly to the Black King curled up at his feet.
His words were not without foundation.
The lesson of Han Zhan was right before him.
The Black King’s innate Demon Technique, aside from its devouring and digesting abilities, was similar to his Natal Magic Item, the Primordial Chaos Tripod’s power to capture Nascent Souls. An unexpected backstab could cause Luo Chen significant trouble.
Yet, creatures like Savage Beasts, who wield immense power, have low Spirit Intelligence and weak Divine Souls, making them extremely susceptible to control by experts of the Path of Soul.
The Black King was particularly disadvantaged in this aspect.
Though his intellect was not lacking, his cultivation time was too short. Even with a rapid rise in Realm, he could not refine his Divine Soul Endowment with the passage of time.
Unlike Luo Chen, who despite having a brief cultivation period, had always possessed a deep Divine Soul Endowment, having long addressed this shortcoming.
Previously, Luo Chen had not brought up this matter because he was engrossed in arduous cultivation, and the Black King had just broken through, making the extraction of Soul Blood detrimental to his cultivation.
Now leaving Longyuan Island and facing the storms of the Immortal Cultivation World, Luo Chen had to be prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
The betrayal of those close to him must not happen again!
He looked at the hesitant Black King without urging him.
The loyalty of the other was without question, and the hesitation was clearly due to the fact that handing over the Soul Blood meant his life or death would hang on Luo Chen’s whim, something challenging for any being to willingly accept.
Ahead, Sang Jinghe was driving the Liuyu Feiyun Chariot, his eyes watching his nose and his nose watching his mouth, as if entirely unaware of this side’s events, yet upon closer inspection, his body beneath the Magic Robe was taut.
Tian Xuan stood nearby, looking at the Black King with anxious concern.
She wished to speak, but could not find the words in the face of Luo Chen’s calm demeanor.
Beside the carriage, strong winds blew, dispersing white clouds.
After a while, the Black King spoke in a muffled voice, "Willing to serve as the Master’s spiritual pet again!"
A drop of crimson Blood Essence slowly emerged from his Heavenly Spirit Cover, faintly showing a lively and vivid Black Scaled Flood Dragon within, its long whiskers and four legs flailing and leaping.
This was the Black King’s Soul Blood.
Luo Chen contentedly received it into his Sea of Consciousness, subsequently imprinting his unique Slave Spirit Mark upon the Black King.
From that moment on, with a mere thought, the Black King’s life or death was at Luo Chen’s command.
Seeing the Black King lowering his head dispiritedly, Luo Chen smiled and rubbed his cold head.
"Don’t worry, should I ascend one day, I will grant you freedom."
"Moreover, I grant you a promise. When you are ready to break through to the Fifth Order, I will return your Soul Blood and bestow upon you a complete soul body!"
With these two promises, the Black King’s defeated demeanor somewhat recovered.
Because of Luo Chen’s smile, the atmosphere inside the carriage also relaxed a bit, allowing Tian Xuan to finally speak.
She first glanced at the Black King, then said to Luo Chen, "Master, what about me? My Slave Mark was also lifted in the Ming Zhao Heaven Pill Hall, could it be..."
"It’s unnecessary for you, given your current strength. Even if controlled by others, you pose no threat to me. Focus on your cultivation and diligently work for me!"
Luo Chen responded with a cheerful smile.
Tian Xuan replied with an "oh," feeling somewhat regretful.
Her strength wasn’t sufficient, lacking even the qualification to be the Master’s spiritual pet!
However, Sang Jinghe, upon hearing that Luo Chen did not want Tian Xuan’s Soul Blood, breathed a complete sigh of relief.
Still internally mocking himself, "What am I thinking, with a True Master’s magnanimity, I, a mere Golden Core Cultivator, can still be accommodated."
Just then, a command came to his ear.
"Change direction!"
He asked in confusion, "True Master, are we not heading north?"
"First, go southeast, I have something to do." Luo Chen said lightly.
Sang Jinghe nodded, steering the carriage to deviate from its original course.
In his hand, Luo Chen held a Jade Slip recording the geography of the North Sea, his Divine Consciousness focused on an island cluster resembling a Flying Swallow.
The place was small and remote, but it was his first foothold upon arriving in the North Sea.
In his eyes, there lay a contradictory emotion of anticipation and apprehension.
...
The carriage headed directly southeast, not passing through Human Territory.
Along the way, not many formidable Demon Beasts were seen blocking the path.
This was partly due to Luo Chen’s Technique concealing the carriage’s aura, but also because the number of Demon Beasts in the Demon Sea had indeed decreased.
Faced with this unusual phenomenon, a sense of foreboding permeated everyone’s hearts.
On that day, the Liuyu Feiyun Chariot stopped above a sea area.
Suddenly, a black shadow flew out from it, diving straight downward.
A vast body and an elusive Breath, at that moment, evoked a sense of fear within many from the Demon Clan.
Panic-stricken voices echoed from the beaches of various islands, but under the earth-shattering dragon roar, all clamor ceased into silence.
Soon, the shadow returned.
Thud!
A Third-Order Demon King, forced to shrink its form, quivered while kneeling on the deck of the carriage.
The salty seawater streamed steadily from its shell, its expression utterly terrified.
"My Master will ask, and you will answer; do you understand!"
The Red Rock Crab trembled all over, subconsciously glancing up at the man seated on the soft couch.
A single glance plunged it into an illusory dream.
"I recall that the Mysterious Rock Sea Area once had the Five Great King Crab Clans, so why, under my Divine Consciousness probe, does only your Red Rock Crab Tribe remain, with other Demon Crab numbers scarce?"