Chaotic Sword God Chapter 3975: Identities

Following that, all seven souls took oaths of ways, pledging eternal loyalty to Jian Chen just as he required.

For the moment, Jian Chen lacked a superior method to keep the seven under his command. They weren't ordinary individuals, after all—each was a late Grand Prime with remarkable powers. Conventional approaches simply wouldn't work on them.

Despite their oaths of ways, Jian Chen couldn't fully place his faith in them. In their current frail state, the oaths might hold them fast. But if they regained their full might, he doubted whether they lacked ways to circumvent the oath's bindings.

Still, this remained his only option at present.

“Sigh, fate truly plays cruel tricks. I never imagined I'd be bound in servitude right upon awakening…”

“What could we do? We crossed paths with a monster. His soul carries a thread of genuine Chaotic Force woven in, nullifying my innate power completely. Else, none of this would've occurred…”

Once the oaths of ways were sealed, the seven experts resembled punctured balloons. Despondency and gloom hung over them heavily.

Being late Grand Primes, they carried an innate arrogance. Mere Chaotic Primes were beneath their notice.

Yet, regardless of their haughtiness, the shadow of death compelled them to bow their proud necks.

“Introduce yourselves. What names shall I use for you? And what was your cultivation level at your strongest?” Jian Chen asked them, his spirits lifted considerably.

Through brief introductions from the seven experts afterward, Jian Chen at last grasped the extent of their former prowess.

The winged woman who roused first went by Su Le. At her zenith, she had reached the Eighth Heavenly Layer as a Grand Prime.

The Origin Composition Daemon Exalt, who had unleashed the Shared Fate technique upon him, stood at Seventh Heavenly Layer Grand Prime during his prime.

The other five consisted of Bai Jinchi, a Seventh Heavenly Layer Grand Prime.

The Eternal Peace Daemon Exalt, an Eighth Heavenly Layer Grand Prime.

The Might Venerable, an Eighth Heavenly Layer Grand Prime.

The Red Phosphor Grand Prime, an Eighth Heavenly Layer Grand Prime.

The Unparalleled Emperor, an Eighth Heavenly Layer Grand Prime.

Out of the seven souls, only the Origin Composition Daemon Exalt and Bai Jinchi fell short of the Eighth Heavenly Layer; the rest all attained it!

From their accounts, Jian Chen discovered that each harbored an extraordinary bloodline. All hailed from prestigious lineages, granting them the prowess to challenge superiors. Seventh Heavenly Layer Grand Primes could stand against Eighth Heavenly Layer foes, while Eighth Heavenly Layer ones could confront Ninth Heavenly Layer adversaries.

It was precisely these unique bloodlines that drew the gaze of the Ancient Great Apes' supreme figures, leading them into snares and ultimately sacrificing them for Gusta’s corporeal form.

“And here I figured master would need considerable effort to bend them to his will. Never expected such swift surrender. Against that other powerhouse, you seven seem utterly lacking in backbone.” The twin swords' voice echoed forth. Amid a brilliant flash of violet and azure light, the pair materialized before the seven experts.

At the twin swords' mocking words, the seven experts' visages twisted unpleasantly. Just as fury boiled over for retorts, a sudden awareness struck them, turning their gazes toward the sword spirits in stunned awe. Waves of astonishment crashed through their minds.

“T-this is the artifact spirit from a sovereign god artifact?”

“Impossible! What sort of fortune does this youngster possess? To wield such a treasure…”

“Even at our strongest, we'd scarcely imagine such blessings. He's merely a Chaotic Prime—how did he come by this?”

The sword spirits' emergence instantly rattled the seven experts. Envy twisted their features into shades of green.

“Hehehehe, you've all finally stirred. You've kept master waiting long enough.” An aged voice resounded. The Primeval Divine Hall's artifact spirit manifested, shaping into a diminutive elderly figure that stood before the seven souls.

“A-another sovereign god artifact…”

The seven experts' expressions shifted dramatically. Disbelief etched across their faces.

If the sword spirits had ignited jealousy, the Primeval artifact spirit's arrival left them utterly dumbfounded.

But soon, an even greater astonishment unfolded. The Source of Life emerged quietly, drawn by curiosity.

They persisted in restraining the Ancestor of the Clear and Cloudy with their might, though no longer at full exertion.

The revelation of three sovereign god artifacts rendered the seven experts speechless. They struggled to regain composure.

“They're far too feeble. Reviving them will demand vast resources, Jian Chen. Your load grows heavier once more.” The Source of Life floated with hands akimbo, chiding Jian Chen sternly.

“Master, what are your intentions for these souls?” The Primeval artifact spirit inquired, eyes gleaming brightly.

“Primeval, suppose I let them inhabit the generals—won't betrayal risk everything? Could they simply depart with the generals' forms?” After pondering, Jian Chen voiced his lingering concern. Years prior, he'd resolved on handling the seven souls this way. Yet this worry persisted, haunting him with the fear of catastrophic loss.

The Primeval Divine Hall housed numerous formidable generals. Souls were their sole missing piece. With fitting souls implanted, they could become potent allies in an instant.

The seven souls proved ideal candidates without question.

Thus, he'd bypass the arduous task of rebuilding their forms and restoring cultivations. He could harness their full capabilities in minimal time.

“Rest assured, master—there's no cause for concern. Once their souls merge with the generals' bodies, betrayal becomes impossible. Only by ascending to Saints could they break free from your grasp,” the Primeval artifact spirit assured confidently.

Jian Chen's anxieties faded thereafter. He now comprehended the safeguard the Saint of Grand Clarity had embedded in the generals. Without Saint status, escape from this binding was unattainable.

Relief washed over him, bringing a sense of tranquil assurance.

Not that he distrusted the oaths of ways entirely. The seven souls' past might overshadowed them greatly. He remained uncertain about the oaths' hold over such entities, or if secret means existed to evade their retribution. Should they rebel upon regaining strength, the fallout would be devastating beyond measure.

The seven souls remained oblivious to Jian Chen's exchange with the Primeval artifact spirit. Within his sea of consciousness, no spoken words were required.

Besides Su Le, the first to awaken, the remaining six souls swiftly lapsed into dormancy. Their recovery was incomplete. Su Le had roused them forcibly, limiting their wakefulness. Now, they returned to prior repose.

Should Jian Chen desire, he could hasten the awakening of the other six souls with some resource expenditure, but urgency escaped him. The generals stayed sealed within the Primeval Divine Hall. His need for these souls hadn't arisen yet.

“H-how did you ever subdue three sovereign god artifacts?” Amazement flickered in Su Le’s eyes. She gazed at Jian Chen, incredulity plain.

“That's not your affair. You imprinted the Laws of Strength in one of the seven golden cores of laws, correct?” Jian Chen questioned.

Su Le gave a nod.

Jian Chen offered a subtle smile. “I've already advanced to Infinite Prime in the Laws of Strength. With personal instruction from an Eighth Heavenly Layer Grand Prime, my advancement will surge. Su Le, starting now, you'll mentor my practice of the Laws of Strength. Any issues with that?”

Bound by her oath of ways, Su Le lacked the boldness to protest. “My current weakness limits me to sharing insights and lore through words alone. Should you enable my restoration, I could directly unveil the ways' profundities for you and impart them firsthand. I'd even reveal potent secret techniques from my arsenal, unreservedly.”

“Potent secret techniques? Like those originally sealed in your golden cores of laws?” Jian Chen remarked enigmatically.

“We can't be faulted. You were so feeble then, after all. The golden cores of laws we provided were geared toward Infinite Prime at best. Consequently, the secret techniques matched your level. In that state, even deeper techniques would elude your comprehension due to your power,” Su Le explained.