Chương 214: Chapter 103: Azure Jade Artifact Spirit, Forced Subjugation

Inside Qinyuan Residence of the Mu Family, Reyn sat cross-legged atop a woven cattail futon. His breathing was slow and rhythmic as he constantly refined the White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice resting within his stomach, drawing out its gentle, potent medicinal energy to repair his damaged meridians and organs. Around the quiet cultivation chamber, he had laid down multiple layers of isolation restrictions designed to sever any incoming Divine Sense.

Although these array barriers were insufficient to block the probing spiritual senses of Golden Core or Nascent Soul grandmasters, they were more than enough to act as an early warning system against any unexpected intrusion. Suddenly, Reyn's closed eyelids opened slowly. He opened his mouth and exhaled a long breath of greyish, tainted Qi. The moment the foul air dissipated into the room, a brilliant luster swept across his face, leaving his skin glowing with vitality.

"The White Jade Dragon-Whiskers Rice is truly a rare supreme treasure of the world. I refined merely a single grain, yet it completely restored my internal injuries." During the desperate battle at the exit portal of the Trial Realm, Reyn had been struck by the violent shockwave unleashed when the Golden-Armored Commander self-detonated. That blast had battered his internal organs and torn through his spiritual channels.

It was precisely because of these severe injuries that he had announced an immediate seclusion upon his return, a decision that raised no suspicion among the elders of the Mu Family. Yet, not a single soul would ever believe that within a single day, Reyn had already erased every trace of those crippling wounds.

"By now, the news of my formal entrance into the Mu Family Ancestor's lineage has likely spread across the entire Zhao Kingdom's cultivation world. Countless sects will surely flock to offer their grand congratulations. I wonder if Master and my kinsmen back home are celebrating this moment?" Reyn gently closed his eyes for a brief breath. In his mind, he could already picture the magnificent scene of a thousand sects gathering to bow and pay homage. A faint, confident smile played at the corners of his lips.

Who could have imagined that a lowly registered disciple from the outer ranks of the Xuanxiao Sect could rise to such towering heights in just two short years? Though the path of immortal cultivation was fraught with bloody perils and endless tribulations, Reyn harbored not a single regret. His sole ambition was to bring eternal glory to his sect, ensure its enduring prosperity, and shield the Reyn Clan from any who dared bully them!

A moment later, he shook his head slightly and took several deep, measured breaths. He forced down the surging emotions within his chest, returning his mind to a tranquil state, calm as an ancient, unruffled pond.

"Now that my condition has returned to its absolute peak, it is time to test whether the legend holds true—whether collecting all nine Mu Jade Swords genuinely allows one to become the true Master of the Azure Jade Palace." Anticipation flared in Reyn's eyes. He slapped his storage bag with a palm. A beam of light shot out, consolidating into an egg-sized light orb hovering in mid-air. It shone with an ancient cyan luminescence, floating quietly before him.

This light orb had formed the very instant Reyn exited the Trial Realm and returned to the Mu Family territory. At that moment, the nine Mu Jade Swords in his possession had simultaneously shot out nine rays of cyan light, fusing into this enigmatic sphere. As to what this item truly was, Reyn remained entirely uncertain. Reyn's brows furrowed tightly. He tapped his storage bag repeatedly, pulling out a complete set of intricate array flags.

He flung them into the corners of the room, instantly sealing the chamber with an additional layer of defensive formations before sitting back down onto the futon.

"This light orb undoubtedly shares a profound connection with the Azure Jade Palace, but where do I even begin?" A look of difficulty surfaced on Reyn's face. After braving life-threatening dangers to gather all nine Mu Jade Swords, he had ended up with an unknown ball of light whose function eluded him. The situation gave him quite a headache. He could not help but sigh inwardly; if Yu Meiren were awake right now, her ancient knowledge would have certainly provided him with guidance.

"Sister Yu has been asleep for so long. I wonder when she will finally wake up. Fortunately, over the past few days, her Primordial Soul fluctuations have noticeably strengthened. It shouldn't be too long now." Reyn stroked his chin, feeling a touch of helpless frustration. If the reward for collecting the nine swords turned out to be utterly useless, it would be a bitter pill to swallow. Buzz! Right at that instant, the cyan light orb suddenly vibrated violently, letting out a sharp hum!

The ancient cyan light exploded outwards, illuminating every corner of the chamber. Simultaneously, an immense, terrifying pressure swept out from the center of the orb! The momentum was suffocating; while it did not quite reach the terrifying height of a Nascent Soul This Seat like Manifest Saint, it was not far off either. Slammed by this sudden wave of spiritual pressure, Reyn's face instantly paled. His eyes flashed with dark light, and his expression turned cold.

"Lowly mortal, was it you who awakened this deity from my long slumber?" A deep, majestic voice boomed from within the glowing cyan sphere. The tone carried an overbearing authority that could make any ordinary cultivator tremble in instinctual terror.

"I merely did not expect your cultivation to be so pitifully weak." The voice resonated again. Reyn felt a strange wave of invisible energy lock onto his body, scanning every inch of his dantian and flesh as if attempting to strip away all his secrets. Reyn stared at the floating orb, flickers of calculating light flashing across his gaze. Then, as if seized by panic, his expression transformed into one of pale terror and fear.

"You... what on earth are you? How could a mere ball of light possess its own consciousness?!" This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.

"Why shouldn't I have my own consciousness?" the cyan light orb replied, pausing for a brief moment as if taken aback by the question. Realizing its own naive slip, the voice quickly changed its tone, letting out a low, thunderous roar: "Lowly mortal! Do not dare provoke my divine majesty! With a mere flick of my finger, this deity can obliterate you into fine dust!" Yet, that momentary lapse in its composure sparked a sharp suspicion in Reyn's mind.

"Yes! Yes, Senior!" Reyn stammered, his face pale and eyes wide with terror, though his mind remained icy cold and analytical.

"Hmph!" A cold snort echoed from the orb, followed by a heavy voice: "This deity has slept for uncounted ages. Since you were the one to awaken me, you shall naturally receive the fortune you deserve."

"So long as you transport me into my true body, this deity guarantees to bestow upon you a reward that will grant you endless benefits for the rest of your life! Lowly mortal, do you accept this deity's offer?" Hearing these words, Reyn's heart stirred. The terror on his face melted away like receding tides. He straightened his back, locking his calm, piercing gaze directly onto the glowing cyan orb. A cold, mocking sneer appeared on his lips.

"They say that gathering the nine Mu Jade Swords automatically makes one the Master of the Azure Jade Palace. It seems that claim is mostly false. Otherwise, why would an Artifact Spirit like you refuse to acknowledge me as your master, resorting instead to empty threats to force me to return you to your main body?"

"You... You knew this deity's true identity all along?! Damn you, brat! You dared to trick me! Aren't you afraid that I can crush you with a single finger?!" The Artifact Spirit of the Azure Jade Palace went silent for a breath before bursting into a furious roar. Its tone was hysterical, yet beneath the outrage lay a hidden trace of panic.

"If you were truly capable of killing me at will, you would have shattered my restraints and flown back to the Azure Jade Palace the moment you woke up. Why would you lie low until now just to intimidate me with words?" Reyn's voice was cool, unhurried, and laced with absolute certainty.

"Your behavior leads to only one logical conclusion: you are nothing more than a paper tiger bluffing your way through. You need my help to return to the Azure Jade Palace to restore your true power. Am I correct?" Reyn fixed his pitch-black eyes on the luminous orb floating before him. Radiant light glittered in the depths of his gaze, sharp and piercing. When he spoke, his voice rang out with absolute, unshakable confidence.

"You... you cunning human cultivator!" The entity within the cyan orb let out a frustrated growl. Its tone had noticeably plummeted, stripping away every shred of its former lofty arrogance. Reyn had struck its sore spot squarely.

"Fine! This deity does indeed require a small favor from you. State your conditions! So long as they are not overly exorbitant, this deity shall grant them!"

"My terms are simple enough, and I am certain they lie well within your capabilities," Reyn replied with a faint, cold smile. His gaze suddenly hardened, turning as sharp as an iron blade as his voice dropped into an uncompromising rumble.

"Swear fealty to me as your master. Do that, and I will help you merge with the Azure Jade Palace to restore your true power!"

"What?!" The voice inside the cyan sphere shrieked, instantly turning shrill and hysterical.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! This deity will never bow to a human cultivator again! It was precisely because my previous master was a useless coward that I ended up forcefully sealed away in the first place! This matter is completely off the table! Stop indulging in your delusional pipe dreams!"

"In that case, I will not lift a single finger to aid you," Reyn said, his expression darkening into a frigid sneer. Silence descended upon the room for several agonizing moments. Driven to absolute fury by embarrassment and resentment, the glowing sphere vibrated violently.

"Since you refuse to help this deity willingly, then do not blame me for being ruthless!" It hissed with venom. The very second the words left its tongue, the light orb transformed into a streak of brilliant cyan light, shooting straight through Reyn's skin and darting directly into his body, plunging headlong toward his Primordial Soul! Buzz! The cyan orb materialized right above Reyn's Primordial Soul, bursting into a cackling laugh of malicious triumph.

"You scheming human brat! Once this deity takes control of your Primordial Soul, you will obey my every command like a mindless puppet and complete my bidding! Though now, you can forget about receiving any rewards!" With that arrogant declaration, it surged forward, attempting to force its way into the soul core. Yet at that exact split second, the mysterious Golden Seal resting motionless inside Reyn's Primordial Soul suddenly shuddered violently.

A surge of majestic, golden divine illumination erupted from the seal like an unleashed sunburst, flooding every inch of Reyn's Primordial Soul in an instant.

"AAAGH! Curse you! What in the world is inside your Primordial Soul?!" The invading cyan orb screeched in agony. It scrambled to retreat, attempting to flee back the way it came, but the golden divine light enveloped it like an inescapable cage. In an instant, an overwhelming force slammed down, utterly suppressing the spirit and cutting off its screams mid-shriek! Reyn's expression remained as dark as stagnant water, a chill lingering in his chest as lingering dread washed over him.

He had calculated that the Artifact Spirit needed his help, but he had underestimated its desperation and deceitful malice. If the Golden Seal had not intervened at that critical juncture, his fate would have been grim beyond measure. Sinking his consciousness deep into his soul realm, he observed the cyan light orb pinned beneath the immoveable weight of the Golden Seal. Waves of sheer panic radiated from the trapped spirit. Sensing Reyn's presence, it immediately began wailing for mercy: "Make it release me!

Let me out! I was wrong, okay? Please, hurry and let me out!" Reyn offered only a cold, scornful snort.

"Had my Primordial Soul not been protected by a supreme artifact, I would already be your puppet," he rasped, his voice dripping with icy contempt.

"Now that you are thoroughly suppressed, do you truly believe you can just walk away unscathed?"

"Then what do you want?! Hurry! I have a terrible feeling about this—this thing feels like it's going to eat me!" Before the Artifact Spirit could even finish its frantic, panicked plea, a beam of brilliant gold lashed out from the Golden Seal. Shaped like a razor-sharp blade, it sliced straight through a corner of the cyan light orb, severing a fragment of its body before devouring the piece instantly!

"AAAHHH!" The cyan light orb shrieked in agony as the violent force ejected it entirely from Reyn's Primordial Soul, casting it back out into the physical world. Reyn's heart skipped a beat, and his eyelids snapped open. He looked up just in time to see the cyan light orb trembling violently in the far corner of the room, completely submerged in terror. It shrieked hysterically, its voice broken with fear: "What was that?! What kind of monster is that?! How could it forcefully sever a piece of my spirit body?!"

"Aaargh! No! I don't want to serve a human cultivator! NO!" The light orb shrieked in agony once again as a vibrant burst of cyan light erupted from Reyn's body. A soul-bound connection suddenly materialized within his Primordial Soul. Simultaneously, deep within his soul realm, the severed fragment of the cyan spirit that had been devoured by the Golden Seal was refined into an intricate, mystical mark, burning itself permanently onto the forehead of his Primordial Soul!

A sharp tremor ran through Reyn's heart, his eyes widening in sheer disbelief. What level of treasure was this Golden Seal? Not only could it forcefully slice off a piece of a Dao Artifact's spirit, but it could also forcibly subjugate the entity, binding its absolute loyalty to him! After a long pause, Reyn slowly raised his head, looking toward the trembling Artifact Spirit of the Azure Jade Palace with a faint, helpless smile.

"Don't look at me with such resentment," he said softly.

"To be honest, I have no idea where this thing came from either. All I know is that it is overwhelmingly powerful."

"Powerful?! Damn it, calling that thing powerful is an understatement! It's a freakish monster!" Forced into soul servitude, the spirit completely lost its mind and launched into a furious tirade, stripped of every bit of its former grandeur.

"In all the tens of thousands of years since this deity came into existence, I have never seen anything capable of ripping apart a Dao Artifact's soul! That freakish monster stole my freedom!" A strange, amused expression flashed across Reyn's eyes. He let out a low hum and warned coldly, "Careful. If it hears you badmouthed it, your death will be agonizingly painful." The cursing stopped instantly.