Chapter 135 - 117: Master-Servant Contract

Chapter 135: Chapter 117: Master-Servant Contract

Of course, Zhao Zuo wouldn’t give him the chance to grovel. He instantly flashed back two meters. Zhao Zuo wasn’t stupid enough to let an enemy get close, which could result in mutual destruction.

In fact, from the moment he stepped into the Earth Fire Hall, Zhao Zuo had been ready to activate his Vajra Talisman for defense. The Sky-Breaking Saber at his waist was also primed for activation. Though he was alone, he was by no means in any real danger.

Liu Heng wasn’t a particularly ruthless cultivator, nor was his will especially firm.

In truth, Zhao Zuo had initially only intended to bluff Liu Heng. He hadn’t expected the man to be so easily flustered, his story riddled with holes after just a few exchanges, forcing him to confess.

"Brother Liu, you won’t die. According to the sect’s rules, you’ll only have your Cultivation crippled and be sent to the Spirit Stone mines to perform hard labor until the end of your life..." Zhao Zuo reminded him with a faint smile.

"I can hand over my Contribution Points for the next twenty years!" Liu Heng gritted his teeth, raising the price he was willing to pay.

"Since we are now enemies, I would rest easier if you were dead," Zhao Zuo said. Things between them had reached a point of no return.

"I... I... I..."

Liu Heng was in a full-blown panic. He was finally certain that Zhao Zuo had no intention of letting him go. He saw an unwavering resolve in Zhao Zuo’s eyes, realizing that no matter what price he offered, it wouldn’t be accepted.

"I have it! We can sign a Master-Servant Contract! I’m willing to be your slave and servant for the rest of my life, attending to your every need!"

As if clutching at his last hope, Liu Heng hurriedly pulled a blood-red jade stone from his Storage Bag. A mass of slowly swirling blood was faintly visible inside. Its surface was covered with complex patterns, giving off an extremely unsettling feeling.

The Master-Servant Contract was one of the more tyrannical contracts in the Cultivation Realm. The master held absolute power over the servant’s life. Moreover, the servant could hide nothing from the master, let alone ever betray them.

Naturally, such a tyrannical contract required a special item to be established.

Zhao Zuo took out a pair of Spirit Silk Gloves from his Storage Bag, put them on, and accepted the Blood Jade.

[Level: Lower Grade Magical Artifact · Contract Soul Slave Curse]

[Experience: Cannot be gained]

[Status: Not upgradeable]

A quick search of his memories revealed the item’s instructions. The master simply had to press it against the other person’s forehead and infuse it with Mana to activate it. If the other party offered no resistance, the most tyrannical form of the Master-Servant Contract would be established.

From that moment on, Zhao Zuo could decide Liu Heng’s life or death with a single thought. Moreover, should Zhao Zuo ever die unexpectedly, Liu Heng would also perish in the same instant.

Holding the Contract Soul Slave Curse, Zhao Zuo thought for a moment. If he had the Punishment Hall cripple Liu Heng’s Cultivation and send him to the Spirit Stone mines, he would gain nothing but a brief sense of satisfaction. However, if he used the Contract Soul Slave Curse, his gains would be far greater.

Liu Heng would make a very useful tool.

The only condition was that Liu Heng put up no resistance, allowing the Master-Servant Contract to take effect.

"If the Master-Servant Contract is successfully established, I can let you live. But from now on, you will work for me."

"Okay." Liu Heng agreed with almost no hesitation, breathing a sigh of relief. At least his Cultivation would be spared, and he wouldn’t have to go to the Spirit Stone mines.

Zhao Zuo leaned forward slightly, pressed the blood-red jade against the space between Liu Heng’s brows, and began infusing it with Mana.

"I’m guessing this is the only Master-Servant Contract item you own. If it fails... I don’t need to spell out the consequences."

"Don’t worry, I won’t resist," Liu Heng replied.

As the Mana permeated it, the blood inside the Blood Jade seemed to come to life, transforming into tiny droplets that seeped out of the jade and bored into Liu Heng’s brain.

Liu Heng’s face immediately twisted in agony, as if he were enduring excruciating pain. He could feel it... icy tentacles wrapping around his brain.

It felt as if an octopus had been stuffed between his brain and his skull. As long as it remained still, there would be no issue.

But the moment it was activated, it could shred his brain to pulp. In that instant, Liu Heng finally, viscerally understood the tyrannical nature of the Master-Servant Contract.

At the same time, Zhao Zuo felt his own connection to that Energy. He could see a blood-red octopus, its tentacles spreading into every corner of Liu Heng’s brain.

He could rob Liu Heng of his speech, his sense of touch, his sight, and his hearing—even his ability to feel pain. Though Liu Heng still breathed and had his own thoughts, he was now a Puppet that could be manipulated at will.

The color on the Blood Jade’s surface gradually faded, and along with it, all fluctuations of Spiritual Power. It had become a completely mundane object.

Zhao Zuo closed his eyes for a moment. He could feel a profound, mystical connection—he now held absolute dominion over Liu Heng.

"Brother Liu, get up."

"Okay." Liu Heng nodded. Before he could even react, his body got up on its own.

Liu Heng felt as if he had lost control of his own body, and a spike of fear shot through him.

"Just wanted to see how well it works," Zhao Zuo said.

"Master, you can rest assured." The wrinkles on Liu Heng’s face bunched together. He adapted to his new status quickly, leaning his upper body forward slightly, his expression turning sycophantic.

"How many Contribution Points do you earn each month?"

’Here it comes,’ Liu Heng thought. Still, he didn’t dare hide anything and told the truth.

"About two hundred a month."

"I’ll take half... That’s reasonable, isn’t it?" Zhao Zuo said.

"Perfectly reasonable, perfectly reasonable."

A look of joy spread across Liu Heng’s face. He had been prepared for Zhao Zuo to take everything, but he hadn’t expected this turn of events.

"You are truly merciful, Master."

Zhao Zuo took a Communication Jade from his Storage Bag and began to issue orders.

"From now on, go to the Earth Fire Chamber for Artifact Refining in the Outer Sect around noon every day and wait for me. I will use the Communication Jade to give you the exact time."

"As you command."

"From now on, there’s no need to call me Master. Just call me Younger Brother Zhao, like you used to."

"Yes."

Zhao Zuo was quite satisfied seeing how submissive Liu Heng was. He then asked another question.

"Can you handle making fine adjustments to a Magical Artifact’s flaws and sharpening its edge?"

"Younger Brother Zhao, I can... I have more than twenty years of experience forging Magical Artifacts. It’s just... I’ve never been able to learn how to inscribe Spirit Patterns, which is why I was never able to become an Inner Sect Disciple."

"Good." Zhao Zuo was even more pleased to hear this. With Liu Heng’s help, his speed at Refining Lower Grade Magical Artifacts would definitely increase again. And that meant more and more Spirit Stones.

"Younger Brother Zhao, do you have any other instructions?"

"You’re certain you don’t know the identity of the attacker?"

"I truly don’t know about that. My only contact was Zhao Qingmeng... and now she’s dead."

Fearing Zhao Zuo would be displeased with his answer, Liu Heng replied cautiously, displaying a sheepishness that was completely at odds with his appearance.

"If anyone else contacts you, be sure to inform me. And... aside from our meetings in the Earth Fire Chamber, do not seek me out at any other time."

Zhao Zuo didn’t believe the mastermind would give up on this pure-profit enterprise. After all, an extra several thousand Spirit Stones per year was considered a fortune in the Outer Sect.

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