Martial Peak Chapter 6106, Blood Binding Seal
Previously on Martial Peak...
As Yang Ji detected an imminent threat approaching from overhead, he didn't bother to look back, immediately executing evasive maneuvers and darting to the side.
*Bang!*
Before long, a Spirit Ship, which could be described as relatively small, plummeted down. 'Relatively small' was the operative term, as it was undoubtedly not the standard size of Spirit Ships Yang Ji was accustomed to seeing. Even from a considerable distance, it was evident that the vessels ferrying passengers to and from the floating island were significantly larger than this one.
Still, it was apparent that this diminutive Spirit Ship was crafted with a clear emphasis on luxury. Every section was adorned with jewels or ornate decorations. If this display didn't loudly proclaim 'I am wealthy,' Yang Ji wouldn't know what did.
Naturally, such a lavish Spirit Ship would carry passengers. And, fitting its compact size, there were only three individuals aboard.
“Young Mistress!” a booming voice bellowed from within. The sheer power of the sound was so intense that Yang Ji couldn't help but cover his ears.
[That actually caused me injury!?] Yang Ji was slightly stunned by this. It was merely a vocal outburst born of emotion, possessing little to no intent to harm. Yet, he sustained an injury?
Wu Lun’s voice promptly reminded him, “Later, do not display any trace of hostility, no matter what they do. Do you understand?”
“Really, can’t you just tell me what they are planning to do?” Yang Ji conveyed his thoughts using his Divine Sense. However, as anticipated, no reply was forthcoming.
Soon, the passengers emerged one by one: a man, a woman, and a child. The man and woman were clearly not a couple, evident from the distance maintained between them. This was especially noticeable as the man carried the child while exiting the wreckage, and the woman, with an apologetic gesture, lowered her head towards him.
All three were impeccably dressed. Of course, anyone would appear 'well-dressed' in comparison to Yang Ji. However, there was an undeniable opulence in their attire. It wasn't that they wore large pieces of jewelry, but the materials themselves spoke volumes of wealth and prestige. Even so, the man and woman paled in comparison to the child being carried. That single child, from Yang Ji’s perception, was adorned with Artifacts from head to toe.
Yang Ji was unaware of the exact value of these Artifacts, but he could somehow see his younger Siblings in this child. His Mothers had certainly showered them with an excessive number of Artifacts, some being used as toys and others as clothing. This child appeared to be in a similar situation.
The man, holding an unconscious child in his arms, turned to face the woman who was bowing her head apologetically. “Xing Ting, lift your head. If you wish to atone for your mistake, then protect the Young Mistress until the very end. If she perishes, you understand the consequences for us and our Families. A thousand deaths would not be enough to appease Master’s fury.”
The woman, Xing Ting, looked up, her eyes filled with determination. “Understood.”
The man, with a seemingly slight nod, shifted his gaze elsewhere. His eyes sharpened, and his hand moved to grasp something in the air.
In the very next instant, Yang Ji experienced an overwhelming, irresistible pulling sensation. No matter how hard he struggled, this force was beyond his ability to overcome. Unable to resist, he was drawn directly to the man's hand, his neck caught in a vice-like grip.
*Ghh*
“A child?” The man’s gaze swept over Yang Ji with cold indifference. He appeared to be contemplating something, all while Yang Ji, struggling to breathe, tried to pry the hand from his neck, his nails proving incapable of even leaving a scratch.
Xing Ting gave a nod and turned back towards the crash site. “Sir, what if we leave a corpse behind as a decoy?”
The man’s eyes immediately snapped back to the woman, and a violent pressure forced her to her knees. “Do you take them for fools? For them to target us, they surely possess methods to track the Young Mistress. They would undoubtedly know if she were still alive. Such simple deceptions would prove ineffective against individuals of their caliber.”
The man then turned his attention back to Yang Ji, “However, we do indeed need to gain some time.”
“No clothes, no cultivation, just that potent stench of the Lower Realm. An abandoned child of the pathetic invaders here. Be grateful for the opportunity to serve a higher being by sacrificing your life,” the man stated coldly as he released his grip on Yang Ji. Yet, Yang Ji was not freed. In fact, the same force that had pulled him over now held him suspended in mid-air, immobilized.
After all, how could a mere child, lacking any cultivation, possibly traverse the barrier between the Lower Realm and the Upper Realm? It was far more probable that he was the offspring of a couple who had infiltrated the Upper Realm and established themselves here. Furthermore, observing that this child possessed no cultivation at his age, it was likely he was incapable of cultivating. For such an individual, it was obvious what his parents would do – abandon him in the wilderness to let fate decide his destiny.
The man extended his hand and reached for the Spirit Ship. Without delay, various boxes were brought forth and opened. Inside them, were changes of clothing. Soon, the man clenched his fist, and Yang Ji felt moisture beginning to gather on his skin. Beyond his Divine Sense, a peculiar power was drawing water from the air, compressing it onto his body. Initially, it appeared as mere droplets, but as countless more converged, they coalesced into a sphere large enough to fully envelop him. Once a sufficient amount of water had accumulated, Yang Ji was mercilessly spun within this aqueous sphere. Not only was all the dirt and grime scoured from his body, but his very consciousness felt cleansed. Even the tattered outer garments he’d worn for the preceding three days were torn to shreds by the relentless rotation. Yet, the process wasn't finished. When he was deemed sufficiently purified, the man snapped his fingers, causing all the water to instantly evaporate from Yang Ji's body, leaving a stripped-down youth exposed to the open air. “Assist him with his attire. I must prepare the seal,” the man commanded, stepping aside to gently place the unconscious girl on the ground. Still disoriented from the intense spinning, Yang Ji attempted to break free as the woman busied herself selecting clothes for him. Wu Lun's voice echoed, reminding him, “Refrain from resisting. Simply allow events to unfold naturally.” Yang Ji, harboring doubts, tried to take a step back. However, the man's warning came even with his eyes closed, his attention fixed on his Young Mistress as he made a small incision to draw her blood. “Whelp, your attempts to flee are futile. Fulfill your purpose, and perhaps you might earn a chance at freedom. Otherwise, crippling your legs would be a trivial matter.” Yang Ji scoffed inwardly, [Even if you shatter my legs, a mere couple of weeks will suffice for recovery. It would be far better to escape.] Nevertheless, Yang Ji understood that the stark difference in their power levels meant any resistance would inevitably lead to capture. He intended to speak, but Wu Lun quickly intervened. “Should you attempt to negotiate terms, he will undoubtedly seal your voice. Worse still, he might immobilize you completely. At this stage, you'd be incapable of breaking such seals, even if you could regenerate your limbs. Therefore, feign obedience, even if defiance simmers within. I can offer no more than this advice for now.” Yang Ji rolled his eyes internally. “Very well. I shall comply. It appears you anticipated this scenario.” To avoid suspicion, he framed his mouth movement as an attempt to vomit. Even his slight retreat could be perceived as him shifting to the side to be sick. Witnessing this, the man let out a snort and redirected his full concentration back to the Young Mistress. Meanwhile, the woman, showing no apparent prejudice against those from the Lower Realm, promptly wiped Yang Ji's mouth and helped him into a dress, even equipping him with several Artifacts to enhance the believability of the disguise. She even considered removing the ring necklace, as it was an item their Young Mistress would never adorn. However, upon observing Yang Ji’s visible reluctance to part with it, she reasoned that it might be his sole memento from his parents. She couldn't bring herself to take it, especially since its small size allowed for easy concealment, thus posing no significant issue. Nonetheless, distinct features made Yang Ji palpably different from the Young Mistress. After all, one was a male, the other a female. Despite their similar ages, their physiques and hair lengths varied considerably. An observant individual would easily notice these discrepancies. Moreover, even their auras were distinct. Disregarding their individual energies, Yang Ji carried the potent aura of the Lower Realm, causing him to stand out even among his peers from the same domain. To address the most significant disparity, their auras, the initial step was to conceal the Lower Realm aura clinging to Yang Ji. For this purpose, a ring Artifact was employed. As if suited to its function, the ring's design was rather plain compared to the other Artifacts the Young Mistress possessed. It was a simple golden band etched with runes on the inside. When worn, it appeared as nothing more than a basic ring. Naturally, its primary function was not to mask auras like Yang Ji’s; rather, it was designed for a different purpose. Still, it was deemed sufficiently potent to at least mislead their pursuers. Regarding their builds and hair, the man offered an apology before cutting his Young Mistress’s hair to match Yang Ji's length. He then took the severed hair, mixing it with the blood he had collected. After murmuring an incantation, he used his finger to draw in the air, utilizing the blood as medium and the hair as his brush. With practiced ease, the man fashioned a seal and implanted it within Yang Ji's body.With the Blood Binding Seal ceremony concluded, the man's voice turned frigid as he addressed Yang Ji. "The seal is now active. Should the Young Mistress perish, you shall meet the same end. However, if you successfully navigate this trial, the Blood Binding Seal will be undone. Therefore, you are left with no alternative but to work with us."