"Vanished?" Wei Wuyin was taken aback.
"Vanished," Wu Yu gravely nodded. "I even placed my own mark on her. She disappeared without a trace. I couldn't find her after searching the entire Dark Yin Palace. It didn't make sense, but I did feel a very, very strong demonic presence dispel my mark."
Long Tingyu was Long Chen's adopted sister. She was a wild child of the Myriad Yore Continent without a clear origin. But she was terrifyingly talented, leading to Xiang Ling, almost known as Fairy Blessed Spirit, to take her as a disciple. She was the youngest female member of Long Chen's female-filled entourage.
At the Myriad Yore Continent, besides being embroiled in the enmity of Long Chen, Long Tingyu had been discovered to originate from the demon lineage, being a human-demon hybrid with a unique bloodline connected to a Heavenly Commander rank Elder in the sect.
She had followed Na Xinyi to the Dark Yin Palace, but eventually vanished about two years ago. Wu Yu had searched high and low for her, even thought the Dark Yin Palace might've been responsible somehow. But after interrogating the Palace Master thoroughly and investigating the strange events around her disappearance, he came to the conclusion that a powerful, terrifyingly mysterious demonic expert had acted somehow.
An Earthly Saint at minimum.
Wei Wuyin's eyes became increasingly dark after hearing this unsettling news. He didn't have much emotional feelings for Long Tingyu, finding her mostly irrelevant in his heart, but Xiang Ling had cared for her deeply, like a mother to her own child, and she still does. Thus, he couldn't just act indifferent to it all, especially if it might be because of him.
However, after considering everything from the beginning to now, his expression gradually eased. "I have my guesses. There's no need to worry. At least, for now." Was all Wei Wuyin said on the subject, moving on.
A single name had emerged in his heart. A figure whose existence has been clouded by mystery, no less grand than the Sacred Elven Queen, Divine King Han Xei, or the Grand Monarch himself, and had a definitive connection with the Everlore Starfield's demon lineage.
Wu Yu frowned. He too had his own theories. However, he didn't voice them out because he was uncertain. Could it truly be that existence? If so, then dwelling on it might be detrimental to them both. However, he felt a tinge of excitement in his chest at the prospect of meeting them again. There were some old grudges to settle, and even some things to determine between them.
After discussing a little bit more on the circumstances of the Grand Cyclic Stellar Region, particularly the recent events of the Aeternal Sky Starfield, Wei Wuyin finally redirected his attention to the three unconscious Mystic Ascendants floating while tethered to spiritual chains.
Earlier, he devised a strategy to steal an entire planet beneath their noses. A plan that succeeded, far greater than he expected too. In truth, he hadn't expected Wu Yu to be able to fight three Mystic Ascendants on his own, including their support of combat-type Voidships. He hoped he was decent bait, capable of luring them away and surviving while they attempted to silence him.
If Wu Yu was pushed into running away for his life, Wei Wuyin would've used the same means to bring him to safety: the Void Portal.
Not only was Wu Yu capable of fighting against their line-up, he dominated them and captured them. This was both a pleasant surprise and also a little frustrating. If he had known Wu Yu had this strength, he would have planned differently. Regardless, the end result was still satisfactory.
"Do you know about them?" Wei Wuyin asked Wu Yu. He had no information about these three.
Wu Yu had interrogated them briefly. While Kun Yiming was silent, and Venerable Slayingsword was incapacitated, Venerable Bluecloud was an open-mouth flowing with information.
"They belong to the United Source Starfield. Our current location is the space between it and the Treasured Light Starfield. They are founders of their own Mystic-Tier forces. Kun Yiming is the female Ascended, she's the Matriarch of the Kun Clan, a clan with over seven thousand years of history. They make most of their profits by exporting certain herbal products at the peak of the astral-grade from their unique World Realm. She founded the clan, and it has two Ascended. Her and her cousin, but their relationship isn't great.
"Venerable Slayingsword established a Void Hunter Association. They travel the void-blank space to seek out fortune, and in a way, they act as pirates of the Dark Void. They are called the Reaping Sword Association, and have only the Venerable Slayingsword as an Ascended." Wu Yu looked at the state that Venerable Slayingsword was in, adding a with a little chortle: "He's going to need an Ever-Rebirth Pill or he's as good as dead."
Wei Wuyin glanced at the near-deceased physical body of Venerable Slayingsword. Wei Wuyin sighed lightly.
Wu Yu continued: "The last one here is Venerable Bluecloud, and he founded the Vast Cloud Pavilion. They were a merchant business, much like the Golden Life Pavilion, but much, much smaller. They operate only in the United Source Starfield and specialize in selling products of a spiritual-nature, such as spells, tools, cultivation methods, etcetera.
"The Vast Cloud Pavilion is divided into three factions, each led by an Ascended, and Venerable Bluecloud is its oldest member and founder. Shockingly, this Venerable Slayingsword is Venerable Bluecloud's grandson who defected at a young age. Quite an interesting dynamic."
Wei Wuyin absorbed all this information. Their factions had a total of six Ascended between them. They were diverse. He thought about this for a long while, contemplating wiping them all out and absconding away with his loot without worry.
Wu Yu could see the thought flow through Wei Wuyin's mind. He wasn't that concerned, however. He was aware that Wei Wuyin knew the value of having Ascended level subordinates.
After a long while, Wei Wuyin said: "Convincing them might be a little difficult."
Wu Yu suggested instantly, "We can force them to swear a Mythical Oath. We can turn them into slaves."
"Mythical Oaths?" Wei Wuyin had never heard of this type of Oath before. It was only after Wu Yu explained it to him in detail that his eyes brightened, but then he frowned heavily. This Mythical Oath thing might be extremely dangerous to him. If he was forced to swear one without a way to break it, how terrifying would that be?
In the end, he shook his head. "While I can use a Mythical Oath, I'm not foolish enough to use it to enslave others. I want subordinates with life, preferably those who choose to serve me. Like yourself, not lifeless drones that see no future. If in the future, they find ways to break it, then where would I be?"
Wu Yu thought for a moment and he was enlightened. There was no Spirit Oath or Heavenly Oath imposed on any Ascendant. This was quite intriguing. In fact, he would've made sure that even himself was given one. He realized he was free to betray Wei Wuyin without consequence.
But when the thought hit him, it also made him realize that he never thought about it once. There were no shackles on his legs and arms, free to act as he wished. This included acting to kill that young master. Yet if he was restricted, he would think of any way to free himself and seek insidiously swift revenge on his captor.
His words that were about to dissuade Wei Wuyin against such self-imposed restrictions were abolished at his throat. To cultivate loyal subjects, oaths weren't needed. A belief of freedom helped pave the way forward for one's thoughts and will, making one toil for you of their own decision.
Wei Wuyin nodded slightly, settling on his decision. After making sure their spiritual senses were thoroughly restrained, Wei Wuyin asked Wu Yu to change the immediate environmental conditions to sustain life, and then withdrew his draconic transformation.
Returning to his silver-eyed, human-like appearance of unearthly handsomeness, he said: "Wake them up."
Wu Yu sent a spiritual jolt through the chains, and the eyes of the three Ascended opened fiercely. They let out heavy heaving noises, clearly startled by the bout of unconsciousness and sudden awakening. As Ascended, it's been a while since they've slept instinctively let alone being rendered unconscious.
The sensation was extremely foreign to them at this point.
They opened their eyes to a pseudo-atmospheric layer that allowed them to breathe and speak out using their vocal cords. With their spiritual senses and cultivation bases restrained, if this wasn't established, they would only be able to look and listen.
Venerable Bluecloud inspected the surroundings, realizing they were on a lifeless rock and held by Wu Yu, but most notably, a silver-eyed young man of astonishing visage and form was standing before him. He was quite acute in his thoughts, experienced, and wise, so he hurriedly settled himself.
Kun Yiming's first instinct was to locate Venerable Slayingsword's body. After seeing him still tittering on the edge of life, her heart was pained yet calmed down. She too inspected the surroundings and found Wei Wuyin. Her heart shook.
Who was this young man?
Wei Wuyin gave each of them a look. Afterwards, he calmly and slowly said, "I'll give you all a choice: Live or die."
Two choices.
One answer!
Kun Yiming and Venerable Bluecloud were elite experts with thousands of years of experience, and having their lives decided in such a manner felt humiliating, but also frustrating. Because no one would choose death!
Venerable Bluecloud frowned after hearing this, realizing something was out of place. "What if we choose to live?" He hesitatingly asked. In his view, this meant likely being enslaved by the other party via a Mythical Oath. This was what Wu Yu wanted to do.
Kun Yiming frowned. Wasn't this old man's question redundant? It's not as if they haven't suppressed enemy cultivators and forced them to choose life or death, making them disposal tools that can act as cannon fodder? They were in the same situation!
However, Wei Wuyin's next words were shocking to her, to Venerable Bluecloud, Wu Yu, and even the barely alive Venerable Slayingsword as he spurted out a gurgle of saliva from his lips.
"Then you'll live. I'll let you go right now." Wei Wuyin's eyes betrayed no falsehood, revealing that he would truly let them go if they chose to live.
What nonsense was this?!
Skeptical, Venerable Bluecloud asked: "Why?"
"Because I can." Wei Wuyin answered with a faint smile, unconcerned that his answer came off as being incredibly arrogant and nonsensical!
"You'll have us swear an oath of silence? If we refuse, you'll definitely kill us!" Kun Yiming shook her messy hair, calling Wei Wuyin out. She didn't believe this one bit, but she was willing to swear an oath of silence. If it meant surviving, she would do anything. Cultivation was difficult, and she came all this way while facing extreme adversity. Who would choose to have all that sank into the abyssal drain of death?
But Wei Wuyin was undisturbed by her accusations. "Nope. I'll let you go, no Spirit Oath, no Heavenly Oath, and no Mythical Oath."
The three were in disbelief. They turned to Wu Yu who held the faintest of smiles. He had an expression that said, "He makes the decisions, not me. I'm just here to listen."
Who was this man? They couldn't sense his cultivation but seeing how Wu Yu acted, he must be absolutely terrifying. However, just from his natural aura, he was certainly not a Mystic Ascendant. He reeked of the Mortal Dao. They sensed not a bit of mysticism on him.
Venerable Bluecloud eyed Wei Wuyin for a long moment, giving Wu Yu a few glances, and this lasted for a few minutes. In the end, he decided to test it out: "I want to live."
Then, as if on cue, Wu Yu exerted some force. A swelling sense erupted in Venerable Bluecloud's heart. Was this a trap? They were going to kill him for wanting to live?! Wait...that wasn't quite right...
Still confused, thrown off-kilter by the extremely strange sequence of events, he found that his innate energies started to flow properly. There was no sharp pain followed by his death howls. Instead, he was released, unbound by any spiritual chain.
Venerable Bluecloud was taken aback so heavily that his brain froze. Even Kun Yiming was shocked, but she remained observing the situation quietly. If the old man dies, then she could adapt and beg for life. She was ready to throw away her dignity. They all were.
"...I...it..." Venerable Bluecloud regained his spiritual sense, and he swept his senses towards Wei Wuyin instinctively. If this was an Earthly Saint in disguise, then running would be useless. However, what he discovered baffled him. He couldn't determine Wei Wuyin's cultivation base!
He could sense that he wasn't a Mystic Ascendant, and that he was still in the Mortal Realms, but he couldn't determine what stage. This caused him to further hesitate. He turned to Wu Yu, eyeing him with vigilance. But the middle-aged quasi Demi-Mortal Lord was silent, just amusingly watching.
He turned to see that his subordinates were all fighting for wind energies behind him. The voidship that belonged to his pavilion was released too, the people onboard were still unconscious, however. The celestial rogue was gone. It was truly gone.
He brought his one-armed, one-legged form upwards with his remnant powers, and started to fly away. He left Wu Yu's sphere of influence, landing on his voidship. Shocking him greatly. When he activated their formations and arrays, he was sent into an even greater stupor.
Kun Yuming saw this and couldn't help but tremble fiercely, both her heart and body. What was this development?

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