"Master Alchemist Yang!" Jiang Lin shot to his feet, his gaze cold and predatory as he fixed it on Yang Kai. His tone was utterly hostile. "I didn't expect you to have such capability — actually managing to find your way here. I underestimated you."
Yang Kai let out a cold snort. "If you don't want people to know, then don't do it in the first place!"
A frigid light flashed in Jiang Lin's eyes, his expression dark with fury. He turned to glance at Jiang Taisheng, and seeing that the old man remained completely impassive, he drew a deep breath and declared loudly: "Master Alchemist Yang, I recognize that you are a talent, and I have no wish to push you to your death. If you are willing to sign this Soul Contract before the eyes of my Jiang Family, we may yet spare your life!"
As he spoke, he produced an aged sheet of beast-hide parchment.
Yang Kai focused his gaze upon it and realized with a start that it looked remarkably similar to the one Kang Siran had once produced — not only in shape and size, but even the aura it radiated was nearly identical.
He immediately understood: this was a genuine Soul Contract, a product of the Nether Soul Palace.
The Soul Contract had been developed by the Nether Soul Emperor, one of the Ten Great Emperors, and only those within the Nether Soul Palace knew how to craft one. Once a cultivator inscribed their soul imprint or life mark upon a Soul Contract, the artifact would exert its miraculous power, binding the cultivator to fulfill the terms of the agreement. Should they violate it, they would suffer the agony of soul-devouring — their very soul annihilated.
Back then, Kang Siran had been forced to use a Soul Contract to ensure Yang Kai wouldn't leak the Origin Condensing Pill formula, and the expenditure had pained him for days. After all, these things were extraordinarily precious, and each one was worth a small fortune.
He had no idea where the Jiang Family had obtained one, yet here they were, producing it without hesitation.
"A Soul Contract?" Yang Kai's expression settled into something between a smile and a sneer. "Head of the Jiang, you're quite generous — this is a remarkably valuable item. Don't you think it's a waste to use it on someone like me?"
Jiang Lin replied flatly, "For the sake of Master Alchemist Yang, what is one Soul Contract?"
Yang Kai regarded him with unhurried amusement. "All the same, I'd rather like to know exactly what's written on it."
"What's written on it — isn't that obvious to Master Alchemist Yang?" Jiang Lin offered a thin smile. "Simply that we hope Master Alchemist Yang will become a member of the Jiang Family henceforth and refine spirit pills on our behalf."
"I'm afraid I can't agree to that," Yang Kai said, shaking his head slowly.
Jiang Lin's face darkened. He barked harshly: "Yang Kai, don't mistake courtesy for weakness! Today you will sign this Soul Contract whether you wish to or not. The choice is not yours!"
A Void King Realm alchemist was an invaluable asset for a clan like the Jiang Family. If they hadn't wanted to capture Yang Kai alive, the Jiang Family never would have disturbed Jiang Taisheng, a Dao Source Realm powerhouse. Moreover, nearly every expert in the clan had been mobilized for this operation — all to force Yang Kai to inscribe his soul imprint upon the Soul Contract.
Once Yang Kai submitted, the Jiang Family would gain a Void King Realm alchemist and need never worry about him revealing the secrets of the mine pit.
Hearing Jiang Lin's brazen declaration, Yang Kai burst into laughter. "What a joke! My limbs are my own — I'll do as I please. What can your Jiang Family possibly do about it?"
Jiang Lin was livid!
He was about to retort when Jiang Taisheng, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly opened his eyes. He gave Yang Kai an indifferent glance and raised one hand, cutting off Jiang Lin's attempt to speak.
He said calmly: "Young man — you think yourself so capable that you've forgotten how vast the heavens and how deep the earth! Today I have come here personally, which is already giving you enormous face. They tell me you are a Void King Realm alchemist, and that the Origin Condensing Pills you refine are of exceptional quality. I value talent, and I would prefer not to resort to violence against you. If you obediently inscribe your soul imprint upon this Soul Contract, I will consider today's events as though they never happened. As for the girl in your arms and the companion at your side, I can spare their lives as well — provided, of course, that they agree to marry into my Jiang Family as concubines!"
"What?! You want me to marry into your family as a concubine?!"
Before Yang Kai could even speak, Mo Xiaoqi — who had been standing off to the side looking utterly nonchalant, as though enjoying a show — sprang to her feet, her face flushed with mortified fury. She pointed at Jiang Taisheng and shrilled: "You old fossil, you've got no shame! To say something so disgraceful with a straight face!"
"Insolent!"
"How dare you!"
A crowd of Jiang Family cultivators began shouting at Mo Xiaoqi, their expressions furious, as though she had said something utterly unacceptable.
Yang Kai chuckled, one hand cradling Zhang Ruoxi in his arms as the other hand made a show of casually picking at his ear. He tilted his head toward Mo Xiaoqi and asked: "Xiao Qi, am I hearing things, or are there mad dogs barking somewhere?"
"Mm…" Mo Xiaoqi glanced at him, then nodded with a perfectly straight face. "Yes, and they're barking terribly, too."
At this, Jiang Taisheng narrowed his eyes, a chilling light flickering within them. His voice dropped low: "Very well. The young ones these days certainly have nerve. It's been many years since anyone spoke to me like this. There is a road to Heaven, yet you refuse to walk it…"
"Will you stop putting on airs?" Yang Kai cut him off before he could finish, his expression one of open impatience. "You think just because you're at the Dao Source Realm, you're something special?"
The moment the words left his mouth, Yang Kai's figure suddenly blurred.