Chương 50: A Great Harvest

The Life-Death Contract was an arcane relic of the primordial era. Its underlying principles remained a mystery even to the most venerable scholars, yet through countless eons, its absolute authority had never faltered. Under a standard pact, if one party perished, the other would inevitably follow, regardless of the vastness of their cultivation. However, the 'asymmetrical' version Reyn proposed was a far more predatory iteration of this ancient law.

In this unequal bond, should Reyn's soul dissipate, the mysterious woman would instantly follow him into the void. Conversely, if she were to fall, Reyn would remain entirely unscathed. It functioned much like a master-servant brand, yet lacked the direct command structure; neither could force the other's hand, but their fates were tethered by a one-way thread of mortality.

The woman's brow furrowed, her ethereal features clouded by hesitation as she mentally weighed the cost of her survival against this loss of autonomy.

"You should consider this carefully," Reyn remarked, his voice flat and devoid of pressure.

"This pact offers you no harm, provided you harbor no malice toward me. If your intentions are pure, you have nothing to fear."

"Hmph. You are but a mere Qi Condensation whelp—a speck of dust in the vast world of cultivation," she spat, her eyes flashing with indignation.

"The slightest storm could snuff out your life. If you are cut down by some passing foe, I would be dragged into the yellow springs for no reason other than your incompetence." Reyn's expression remained a mask of indifference.

"If that is your concern, then we have nothing more to discuss. I shall depart immediately. Perhaps your destiny is grand enough that another savior will wander into this ruin. Until then, I bid you farewell." Without a hint of hesitation, Reyn turned on his heel and strode toward the exit. He was a man who valued his life above all; no matter how tempting the rewards, he would not gamble his safety on the whims of a powerful, unknown entity.

"Wait... I accept!" the woman called out, her voice cold enough to frost the air. She glared at Reyn's back, her mind already churning with dark designs. Once her cultivation was restored, she would find a way to shatter this contract, even at the cost of her own foundation. When that day came, she would flay the skin from his bones and scatter his ashes to the four winds. Reyn turned back, his gaze meeting hers with unsettling calm.

"Since we are in agreement, let us begin."

"Fine!" she hissed through gritted teeth. She began to chant a complex, tongue-twisting incantation that vibrated with ancient power. Simultaneously, Reyn bit his fingertip, allowing a single drop of essence blood to hover in the air. As the spell reached its crescendo, the blood split in two, transforming into two crimson streaks that vanished into their respective foreheads. Reyn felt a sudden, icy ripple wash through his Divine Sense.

Deep within his sea of consciousness, a miniature, translucent version of the woman sat cross-legged, her eyes closed in a meditative trance. The pact was sealed. If Reyn's soul were to be extinguished, this spectral anchor would shatter, taking the woman's life with it. A wave of relief finally washed over Reyn. With this tether in place, his secrets were safe; she could not afford to betray him. Furthermore, this woman was likely a powerhouse from a bygone age.

Her knowledge alone was a treasure trove that could solve his impending Foundation Establishment crisis.

"Now that the formalities are concluded, please, make yourself at home," Reyn said, a faint, genuine smile touching his lips. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. The woman glared at him, but then her expression shifted. She let out a soft, sultry laugh that sent a shiver down Reyn's spine.

"In that case, I hope you will take good care of me, little Daoist. I plan on staying for quite a long time." With a playful wink, she transformed into a streak of light and dove into Reyn's chest. Despite her weakened state, the sheer charm of her sudden shift left Reyn momentarily dazed before he shook his head with a wry smile.

"Since we are now allies, perhaps you could show that 'sincerity' you mentioned earlier?" Reyn asked through a mental transmission.

"Oh dear, my soul is so terribly wounded... my memory seems to be failing me," her voice echoed in his mind, dripping with mock exhaustion.

"But if you insist, I could give you a cultivation manual. Just don't blame me if something goes wrong during the process." Reyn's smile stiffened.

"What do you mean by 'goes wrong'?"

"Nothing fatal, naturally," she giggled.

"At most, your body might undergo a few... aesthetic changes. Perhaps you'll grow a few scales or sprout an extra limb. Small things, really. You shouldn't worry your little head about it." Reyn sighed. He knew she was doing this out of spite, but he wasn't desperate enough to test a flawed technique. There would be time for negotiations later.

"My name is Reyn. How should I address you? We will be spending much time together, after all."

"You may call me Yu Meiren," she replied, her voice growing faint and weary.

"Now, leave me. I must rest. Do not wake me unless your life is truly forfeit." With that, her presence receded into the deepest recesses of his soul. Reyn pondered the name—likely an alias—but he didn't dwell on it. His eyes turned toward the ruins of the great hall, burning with a different kind of fire. The battle between the Golden Core masters and the Ghost-Corpse Sovereign had been devastating, but where there was destruction, there was loot.

Reyn's Divine Sense swept across the debris like a fine-toothed comb. He quickly unearthed a cracked, gourd-shaped magic treasure. Though its spiritual essence had leaked away and its surface was pitted with corrosion, the materials alone were worth a fortune to any craftsman. Over the next hour, his efforts bore fruit. He recovered three more shattered magic treasures and several storage bags belonging to the fallen Golden Core cultivators.

Upon opening them, he found nearly a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, a sum that made his heart leap with joy.

"It seems I've picked the bones clean," Reyn muttered. He carefully placed the shattered Blood-Jade Platter—the one Yu Meiren had been resting upon—into a jade box and stowed it away. Just as he was about to leave, his Divine Sense pricked with a sharp, stinging sensation. He paused, his eyes narrowing. He cleared away a pile of heavy rubble to reveal a miniature skeleton, barely a few inches tall. It was exquisitely carved and interlaced with faint, pulsing veins of crimson blood.

"This is... the old woman's treasure!" Reyn gasped. This was the very artifact that had held its own against the Ghost-Corpse Sovereign. To find it intact was a stroke of incredible luck. He handled it with extreme caution before tucking it into his most secure storage pouch. Satisfied, Reyn finally left the ruins. Half a day later, a streak of light rose from the Hundred Thousand Desolate Mountains, heading toward the horizon.

Two days later, Reyn descended near a bustling mortal town several miles from the mountain range. He chose not to return to the Xuanxiao Sect immediately, needing a quiet place to consolidate his gains. He donned a fresh robe of azure silk—a refined garment he'd found in one of the looted bags. The silk was woven from celestial silkworms, keeping him cool in the heat and warm in the chill. With his scholarly features and the refined air of a student, Reyn blended easily into the crowd.

It had been a year since he had tasted the mundane chaos of mortal life, and the sights and smells of the market felt strangely nostalgic. He followed the scent of roasting meat to a grand tavern named the 'Immortal Greeting Pavilion.' The name was bold, but the establishment lived up to it. The first floor was packed, so Reyn made his way to the second level. He took a seat by the window and ordered a simple meal and a jar of local wine.

The waiter, seeing his scholarly attire, was exceptionally polite, promising a quiet room in the attached inn. As Reyn began to eat, a commotion erupted at the stairs. A group of about a dozen young people ascended, led by a woman in a striking red martial outfit. Her fiery presence and sharp, phoenix-like eyes swept across the room, her lips thinning in disappointment as she saw that every table was occupied.