The Sacred Family's Gambit
The genius class assignment had barely settled when Shen Xiu cornered me near the academy gates. Her approach wasn't subtle ~ emerald eyes fixed on mine with calculated intensity, purple silk robes rustling as she moved closer than propriety demanded.
"Little brother," she purred, "accompany me to the Star Restaurant. We need to discuss... opportunities."
The invitation carried weight. Sacred family members didn't casually invite commoners to dine. Still, curiosity won over caution, and I followed her through Glory City's winding streets.
The restaurant's private booth offered perfect acoustics ~ every whispered word would carry to listening ears stationed throughout the establishment. Shen Xiu had chosen her stage well.
"I've been watching you," she began, fingers tracing the rim of her wine cup. "The Sacred Family values exceptional talent, and you've certainly proven yourself. Silver rank at your age, with that aristocratic bearing..." Her smile sharpened. "I find myself quite interested in you, brother."
Had I been any other academy student, her words might have sent blood rushing to my cheeks and my third leg. Instead, I noted the subtle tremor in her voice, the way her eyes didn't quite meet mine when she spoke of interest. Psychic reading revealed the truth ~ half attraction, half disdain for my humble origins. Yet she is still adept at this.
"Is that so?" I leaned back, matching her smile. "I never imagined catching the attention of someone from noble family. Though I suppose love does ignore boundaries..."
The conversation flowed like honey mixed with poison. She laughed at my responses, touched my arm at precisely calculated moments, and gradually steered talk toward my recent cultivation breakthrough. The food arrived ~ delicate portions artfully arranged, each bite designed to lower a peak silver rank's defenses.
I ate slowly, letting the substances work their intended magic while maintaining the facade of growing drowsiness. When my eyelids began to droop convincingly, Shen Xiu's demeanor shifted like a blade drawn from silk.
"Tell me, Chi Tao," her voice dropped to urgent whisper, "how did Nie Li achieve such rapid advancement? His friends too ~ there must be some connection to the Alchemy Guild. How did you become so powerful?"
"Nie Li has a master," I slurred, letting my head sway slightly. "He gave us..."
I stopped mid-sentence, extending my senses throughout the restaurant. No one pressed close enough to eavesdrop, though several figures maintained watchful positions at distance. Perfect.
My psychic ability struck like lightning ~ full force against her peak silver rank defenses. Her eyes widened as invisible chains wrapped around her will.
"You will not shout or seek attention," I commanded silently. "You will remain seated."
Internal panic blazed behind her gaze, but her body remained motionless. The Sacred Family's investigation was her own initiative ~ no direct oversight from dark guild allies. This simplified matters considerably.
"You are calm," I continued the mental domination. "You will smile, pay for our meal, and help me leave while maintaining the illusion of a pleasant date. Dismiss any interference from your watchers."
Like a puppet on strings, she performed perfectly. We walked back to the academy together, her arm supporting my allegedly unsteady steps. Once safely within the academy grounds, I struck her unconscious and pulled her into my pocket dimension.
When she awakened in the unfamiliar space, I had already sealed her qi circulation. Without access to her soul force, she possessed roughly the strength of a two-star bronze fighter.
"Do you know what you've done?" she snarled, struggling against invisible restraints. "The Sacred Family won't leave you alone~"
"Won't they?" I chuckled, no longer bothering to hide my true cultivation. Black gold rank pressure filled the space, driving her to her knees. "They won't know anything happened. Shen Xiu, my dear teacher... of all the people you could have chosen to extract information from, you picked me." He was savoring a cherry while talking this.
Mental manipulation flowed through her mind like mercury, making deception impossible. "Answer truthfully ~ do you know about the dark guild's involvement with your family?"
"No, just recently." The words tore from her throat against her will. She tried to cover her mouth, but inscription-covered cuffs materialized around her wrists.
"How do you feel about that alliance?"
"Conflicted. But family loyalty comes first."
"Of course it does. Do you fancy me?"
"Yes." Her cheeks burned with shame. "You're handsome, talented, well-trained in alchemy. Green soul realm with excellent prospects. Everything perfect except... your background."
"... I did not expect that. What would you have me as? Your lover?"
"No." The truth spilled out like poison. "I want you as mine alone. Available at my beck and call, to pleasure me, to amuse me. As my... toy."
"And how would you achieve this?"
"When the patriarch breaks into legend rank, we'll seize control of the city with dark guild support. Then we'll manipulate you or your family into selling you to servitude."
Silence stretched between us like a blade. Each answer drained more color from her face, especially as my unconcealed cultivation base pressed against her awareness.
"Your toy," I mused. "How interesting. Well then, from today on-wards, you'll be mine instead."
The master-slave contract I crafted was flawless ~ far superior to even the Sage Emperor's bindings on the Sky Origin Divine Clan. It connected to her soul, her bloodline, ensuring even future children would serve my lineage. Her soul realm itself became subordinate to mine.
"What will you call me?" I asked.
"Master." The word escaped involuntarily, horror flooding her eyes.
"From this day forward, Shen Xiu, you are my slave. My orders are absolute. This binding transcends even peak legend rank ~ multiple realms higher couldn't break it. You and your bloodline will serve me eternally."
I released her restraints, allowing soul force to flow again. "Now stand before me, remove your clothes, kneel, and pleasure me."
An hour later, she collapsed in tears. I let her weep.
"Actions have consequences," I said quietly. " What does it feel like being on the other end of your imagination? Had I been anyone else, your poisoned food would have delivered me to dark guild headquarters as a new recruit. You planned to bring me to their hideout for a 'date,' didn't you? To make me your toy."
Her sobs intensified.
"Your destiny was death ~ I saved you. Being my property will benefit you long-term. You'll continue acting normally, never revealing our contract or my abilities. Whatever threatens those around me, you'll report through soul communication. Now, give me your cultivation technique."
I examined the mediocre formula she practiced, then crafted a flawless version incorporating concepts for easy legend rank advancement and superior concealment methods.
"Memorize this, then burn it. Share it with no one. Remember to maintain your arrogant public persona ~ you may act as my teacher when necessary."
After returning her to the staff apartments with a complicated gaze on me, I walked back through Glory City's quiet streets. Would a future god consider my actions wrong? Gods answer to no one ~ my future self would deal with such questions.
Summer vacation arrived like a blessing. Home meant family time, warmth, and preparation for the trials ahead. The demon pot remained essential, but first ~ the ring's imprisoned soul demanded attention. Yeah the Soul who is chained inside. I almost forgot about it ever since Ziyun interrupted me back then.
The artifact materialized on my finger, its runes responding to my enhanced binding. I could now sense the entire internal world, even establish boundaries within the realm. My physical body entered the ring space, though somehow the ring remained on my finger ~ a paradox I didn't question.
The tortured soul had lost all consciousness, its mind fractured beyond repair. I extracted what memories remained from the broken fragments. The prisoner hailed from a realm beyond even Draconic Ruins ~ a higher world where cultivation began at World Lord rank and ascended through Void King, Divine Lord, Divine King, Minor God, Major God, God King, God Emperor... So many self proclaimed God levels. Funny everyone has a God complex, while the real one wanted to die and reborn through me.
The Temporal Demon Spirit Book was apparently the only gateway to these higher realms. Fascinating. My current technique showed no flaws even at these elevated levels ~ perhaps because I hadn't been aware such heights existed.