Since arriving in the prefectural city, this was the first time Ji Yuan had walked on the streets. He had previously traveled by carriage, never seeing the true prosperity of the place. After all, carriages usually traveled on dedicated lanes, with few pedestrians or vendors visible on either side. Now, walking on the bustling streets, his senses immediately felt different.
However, Ji Yuan was in no mood to appreciate it. He and Qian Ni Chang hurried to a carriage rental shop, rented a carriage, and then rushed back to the Qian family. This time, he didn't return directly to the courtyard where he was staying but followed Qian Ni Chang into the depths of the mansion, arriving at a ancestral hall.
This was the ancestral hall where the Qian family honored their ancestors' tablets, and also the place that suppressed the family's fortune. Protected by the legacy of their ancestors and concealed by over a dozen layers of formation cores, it would be impossible for even a cultivator who had formed a Golden Core to eavesdrop on the movements within without making a sound.
After Qian Ni Chang activated several layers of formations, Ji Yuan immediately tossed out the small pagoda he was holding. With a hand seal, the pagoda's body expanded several times, and a vortex appeared at its base. With a muffled grunt, a man in black fell from the vortex at the pagoda's base, his aura weak, collapsing on the ground.
"Suppress!" Ji Yuan shouted, forming seals with his hands. The small pagoda in mid-air then returned to its original size, landing steadily directly above the black-clothed man. Wisps of light descended from the pagoda, completely sealing the black-clothed man's internal mana and his physique, which far surpassed that of a first-realm martial artist. After completing all this, the two looked at each other, secretly letting out a sigh of relief.
"What... do you want?" After a long pause, the black-clothed man struggled to sit up from the ground, tearing off the black cloth from his face. He calmly observed the two in front of him, his eyes showing no fear, as if he didn't care about his own life at all. There was even a hint of arrogance and dominance about him; though he was sitting and they were looking down, he seemed to be on equal footing with them.
"You have two choices now: one is to seek your own death, and the other is to tell us everything you know about the Shenxuan Sect." Ji Yuan raised an eyebrow and said coldly. As his words fell, the small pagoda, which had been floating in mid-air, pressed down half an inch. The light descending from the pagoda immediately carried a heavy pressure, causing the black-clothed man's body to emit a series of crackling sounds.
"I naturally don't want to die, but I cannot tell you what you want to know." The man gave a wry smile and sighed, "All sects in the world set up multiple restrictions in their disciples' sea of consciousness to prevent the leakage of secrets like core cultivation techniques. It's not just the Shenxuan Sect; even ordinary small sects do this. The only difference is the strength of the restrictions and their number."
As a second-realm disciple of the Shenxuan Sect, his status was not low. Therefore, his sea of consciousness was set up with over ten layers of restrictions. If he were to reveal any core secrets of the sect, these restrictions would erupt simultaneously. Even a cultivator who had formed a Golden Core could not withstand it; at best, they would become mentally impaired, and at worst, their souls would scatter on the spot.
"Your name, realm, and the cultivation technique you practice." Ji Yuan pondered for a moment, then spoke. Upon hearing this, the man visibly relaxed. He had clearly been afraid that they would forcefully extract information, which would have driven him to his death. Now, seeing that there was room for negotiation, he immediately replied, "Chen Rong, mid-second realm, skilled in offense and combat. The cultivation technique I practice is one of the Shenxuan Sect's inheritances, the 'Splitting Heaven Sword Scripture'."
"This scripture directly points to the Golden Core stage and beyond. If cultivated to a very high level, one can achieve the status of an immortal being above the clouds." Speaking to this point, excitement appeared in Chen Rong's eyes, but then he couldn't help but sigh slightly as he thought of his current predicament.
After listening to his description, Ji Yuan and Qian Ni Chang exchanged glances, both showing interest. A cultivation technique that pointed directly to the Golden Core stage and beyond, and was especially skilled in combat, was a sword scripture. Even if they didn't cultivate it themselves, it could be sold for a very high price. However, Chen Rong had only learned the chapters below the Golden Core stage, and due to the restrictions in his sea of consciousness, he could not impart this scripture to others.
Furthermore, the Splitting Heaven Sword Scripture was a foundational scripture of the Shenxuan Sect. If it were to leak out from their hands, it would undoubtedly attract the pursuit of Golden Core cultivators. Compared to their current situation, that would leave absolutely no room for maneuver, truly a situation of no return.
"You have three sentences to make us give up the idea of silencing you." Ji Yuan pointed his hand, and the small pagoda in mid-air immediately rose a bit higher. Besides confining the opponent's cultivation and physique, no further pressure was applied. Taking this person into the pagoda was a spur-of-the-moment idea; he originally wanted to inquire about the Shenxuan Sect, but he hadn't expected that the opponent's sea of consciousness had restrictions.
In this case, even if he obtained any information, it would be insignificant to the Shenxuan Sect. However, to simply kill him seemed a bit of a waste. He was, after all, a cultivator at the mid-second realm; could he not extract some residual value? Of course, if he couldn't extract anything, Ji Yuan would not hesitate to kill him on the spot, ensuring that not a trace would be left behind.
"I can make a Great Dao oath and become your shadow from now on. As long as you don't betray me, I will go through fire and water for you." Chen Rong said almost without hesitation. To convince Ji Yuan, he added, "To the Shenxuan Sect, I am already a dead man. If I were to reappear, they would surely suspect me of betraying the sect, and the consequences would be no easier than death."
Although his sea of consciousness had been set with restrictions by the experts of the Shenxuan Sect, there were always ways to overcome difficulties. It was not as if there were no methods to break these restrictions in the world. Once he reappeared within the Shenxuan Sect's sight, he would be suspected of betraying the sect. Even if the truth were clarified later, his status within the sect would plummet. He might even be imprisoned on a peak of contemplation, never to step out again for the rest of his life, enduring endless loneliness until his lifespan ran out. Therefore, death and following became his only two choices.
"I thought that with the Shenxuan Sect's domineering nature, they wouldn't do such a thing, and you would at least die with dignity. You're quite straightforward." Ji Yuan mocked. However, Chen Rong showed no anger, his expression quite calm. "If one can avoid death, no one will seek it wholeheartedly, and I am no exception."
"But when faced with life and death, you can betray your sect without hesitation. How can I believe that you won't betray me again?" He snorted, a killing intent appearing in his eyes. Even the small pagoda in mid-air sank an inch lower. It was no wonder he was wary. Someone who could betray the sect that nurtured and bestowed countless favors upon him without hesitation, even with the restraint of a Great Dao oath, how could he guarantee that they wouldn't betray him as well? After all, there were many methods in the world, and Great Dao oaths were not unbreakable. Otherwise, history would not have seen so many betrayals, leading to countless bloody tragedies.
Hearing this, Chen Rong was also direct. "I can open my sea of consciousness and let you plant restrictions. This is the only thing I can do. If you still don't trust me, just kill me." As soon as he said this, Ji Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and a chilling killing intent faintly emerged from his body. However, the other party was not afraid of the killing intent emanating from him, adopting an attitude of compliance and willingness to accept whatever fate befell him.
It wasn't that he didn't value his life, but having said all that, if he were to offer any more guarantees, it would be absolutely impossible. A Great Dao oath and restrictions on his sea of consciousness were already the limits of conventional means. If even this couldn't gain trust, then he truly couldn't think of any other way.
"Open your sea of consciousness." After a long while, Ji Yuan suddenly withdrew his killing intent and then said coldly. Chen Rong immediately relaxed. Although his expression was calm, giving the impression that death was an acceptable outcome if necessary, his heart was undoubtedly tense. At this moment, he resolutely relaxed his mind and opened his sea of consciousness, presenting it to the others without reservation. In this state, anyone could easily injure or even kill him, and controlling his mind was not impossible. Opening his sea of consciousness was equivalent to presenting his consciousness, soul, and other aspects to others without any defenses.
Seeing this, Ji Yuan immediately formed seals with his hands. A faint light then flashed from the small pagoda in mid-air, directly entering the opponent's sea of consciousness and transforming into a seal. Under this seal, as long as he willed it, he could control the opponent's life and death through this pagoda, or inflict endless torment on their soul, making them wish for death but unable to find it! After completing all this, he put away the small pagoda and released the seals on the other person.
"Surely you're not going to take away my entire fortune, are you?" Chen Rong took out pills from his Qiankun bag and, seeing the two looking at him, said jokingly. Now that his sea of consciousness had been implanted with restrictions, he didn't show any unusual behavior, as if nothing had happened from beginning to end, as if his life had not been controlled.
"What about your Great Dao oath?" Ji Yuan put the small pagoda into his sleeve and then asked with a serious expression. Hearing this, Chen Rong gave him an annoyed look. His sea of consciousness had already been implanted with restrictions, yet he was still worried and wanted him to make a Great Dao oath? However, when under someone else's roof, one had to bow. He had no choice but to straighten his posture and, using his mana as a medium, solemnly made a Great Dao oath of several hundred words. The content was roughly that from now on, he was willing to become Ji Yuan's shadow, to charge into battle for him, and even to carry out killings. He swore never to betray him in this life, and if he violated the oath, he would suffer the punishment of eighteen layers of hell, his soul scattering and being unable to reincarnate.
Once the oath was made, a subtle fluctuation flashed and disappeared in the distant void. Only then did Ji Yuan nod, then took out the floral mask he had bought on the street earlier and threw it into the opponent's arms.
"From now on, you will wear this mask." He said directly, without any room for negotiation. In fact, even if he hadn't done so, Chen Rong intended to find something to cover his appearance. Otherwise, if the Shenxuan Sect discovered he was still alive, the consequences would be dire. Being suspected by his sect of betrayal was one thing, but now that he had made a Great Dao oath and opened his sea of consciousness to have restrictions planted, if the Shenxuan Sect discovered he was alive, the consequences would be truly terrifying. He would suffer torment from both the oath and his sect; a fate worse than death would be considered fortunate.
"Tell us everything you can about the Shenxuan Sect." Seeing the other person put on the mask, Ji Yuan directly began to inquire. Chen Rong heard this, first pondered for a moment, and then said thoughtfully, "I won't mention things that can be easily discovered externally. I will only tell you things that cannot be easily known to the outside world." This person was no ordinary individual, and he quickly adapted to his new identity. At least on the surface, he was completely unreserved, revealing all the secrets he knew one by one. Although there were restrictions set by his sect elders in his sea of consciousness, their purpose was to prevent disciples from leaking the sect's inherited cultivation techniques, secret arts, and information about some secret places within the sect. They did not restrict other matters.