Chapter 632: The Cruel Slave Mark
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“The sinner Jiufang Kui… pays respects to Xiao Yaohou.”
As soon as he entered the stone chamber, Jiufang Kui knelt to the ground. Though he tried desperately to remain calm, his voice still trembled with fear.
“Patriarch Jiufang,” Xiao Yaohou said with a cold gaze. “Helian Kuang was the patriarch of the Helian Clan, but I killed him. You are also a Guardian Clan patriarch. In your opinion, was I right to kill him, or was I wrong?”
Jiufang Kui sucked in a sharp breath of cold air and said in a panicked voice, “Helian Kuang was a Guardian Clan patriarch, yet he colluded with rebels, plotted treason, and turned his back on the great grace of the Demon Emperor Clan and the guardian mission of the clan… A traitor like him should have been cut into a thousand pieces long ago. Xiao Yaohou was right to kill him… killed him well.”
“Very good.” Xiao Yaohou slowly nodded, seemingly satisfied with Jiufang Kui’s answer. Then, her voice suddenly turned ice-cold. “In that case, will you prepare to end your own life, or do you want me to do it myself?”
The freezing voice and killing intent made every hair on Jiufang Kui’s body stand on end. He threw himself to the ground and wailed in supplication, “Xiao Yaohou, spare my life! Spare my life! Back then, I was only deceived by Helian Kuang, momentarily bewitched, and… and committed an act of great disloyalty. But I truly knew nothing about those heinous, outrageous deeds of Huai Wang Manor… I only submitted to Huai Wang Manor for self-preservation… to ensure the Jiufang Clan’s survival in the future… I… I swear here and now that from this day forward, I will be utterly loyal to Xiao Yaohou, regard your words as heaven’s command, and will never… never again harbor the slightest rebellious intent… Otherwise, may heaven strike me with lightning, and may my entire Jiufang clan die a miserable death…”
With the barrier blocking everything, no outsider could hear or see. To stay alive, Jiufang Kui cared nothing for the dignity of a patriarch. He cried out desperately, begged, and uttered venomous curses upon himself—no different from any common being afraid of death… even more servile.
“It seems Patriarch Jiufang has the guts to rebel but not the guts to die!” Xiao Yaohou sneered with contempt. “Since you’re so afraid of death, I can give you a chance to live! Tell me everything you know about Huai Wang Manor, and all the shameful deeds your Jiufang Clan has committed over the past hundred years—especially those I don’t yet know—completely and fully! Without a single fabrication or omission!”
“If your confession fails to satisfy me…” Xiao Yaohou glanced sideways at Yun Che. “The Young Master of the Yun Clan is right here. I could easily seal your profound power and have him apply the Arcane Firmament Soul-Seizing on you. Then, if it’s discovered that you lied or concealed anything, your fate will be ten times more miserable than Helian Kuang’s!”
Jiufang Kui’s entire body trembled, and amid his terror, a glimmer of hope appeared. Helian Kuang’s corpse had just been dragged out. Nothing was more terrifying than death itself. For the “chance to live” that Xiao Yaohou had mentioned, how could he dare hide anything? Immediately, he racked his brains to recall everything he knew about Huai Wang Manor and the shameful deeds his clan had done openly and secretly over the years, confessing them in full detail. To “atone for his crimes by meritorious service,” he even went into exhaustive detail about the shameful deeds of the other Guardian Clans and princely manors, especially the Helian Clan’s misdeeds over the years, including the agreement they had made in recent days to cover for each other’s crimes.
When he finished speaking, his entire body was nearly limp. Although each item he confessed was more shocking than the last—some making Yun Che click his tongue in astonishment—Xiao Yaohou’s aura and expression remained utterly unruffled. She stared at Jiufang Kui and said in a low voice, “The Guardian Clans, honored for ten thousand years, have now decayed to such a state… Jiufang Kui, as patriarch, even ten thousand deaths cannot atone for your crimes!”
Jiufang Kui lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to speak.
“I will now give you two paths to choose.” Xiao Yaohou slowly rose and walked toward Jiufang Kui. With each step she took forward, his body shrank back further. “First: You, Jiufang Kui, die! Your corpse will be hung at the city gate for seven days as a public spectacle! Your name will be recorded in the annals of the Huan Yao Realm, becoming the shame of the Jiufang Clan, stinking for ten thousand years! Your wives, concubines, sons, and grandsons will all be executed along with you!”
Jiufang Kui jerked his head up and pleaded in a trembling voice, “Xiao Yaohou, spare my life…”
“Second!” Xiao Yaohou had already reached in front of Jiufang Kui. Her eyes were icy cold as she looked down at him, and her palm slowly extended toward his crown, a ball of crimson-gold flame burning in its center. “Accept the ‘Slave Mark’ I implant in you without resistance! Then you will remain the patriarch of the Jiufang Clan! Your wives, sons, and grandsons, as well as the entire Jiufang Clan, will all be safe and sound!”
Jiufang Kui’s whole body shook violently. His eyes bulged wide, and in his wildly contracting pupils were nothing but terror and despair.
The Slave Mark—the cruelest spiritual seal in the world. If a Slave Mark was planted in a person’s heart and soul, they would obey the one who implanted it without question, never defying a single command. Even if ordered to die, they would do so without hesitation… without even the slightest thought of resistance or rebellion. They would become the other’s eternal slave and puppet.
Once a Slave Mark was planted, it was almost impossible to remove. Even if the one who planted it died, the marked person would remember the commands left behind and serve them for life.
The Slave Mark was too cruel. Once planted, one’s life and will would be at another’s mercy. For many, that was more terrifying than death itself. In the Huan Yao legal code, the Slave Mark was strictly forbidden. No matter how great the clan, they could never plant a Slave Mark on even the lowliest servant. Moreover, planting a Slave Mark consumed immense mental energy and was extremely difficult to succeed. Even with Xiao Yaohou’s current strength, if Jiufang Kui’s spirit offered the slightest resistance, there would be no chance of success. Against a Overlord Emperor, it was almost impossible.
For a Slave Mark to succeed, it generally required the recipient’s willing acceptance, with no mental resistance.
But the choice before Jiufang Kui was either to accept the Slave Mark or die… and die with his reputation ruined and his family buried with him.
“These are the only two paths—no third option!” Xiao Yaohou said coldly. “This is the consequence of your own doing. Blame neither me nor anyone else! I will give you the time of five breaths to decide. Life or death… If you still haven’t chosen after five breaths, I will send you to your death directly!”
Jiufang Kui stood frozen, his gaze empty, his eyes lifeless… After three breaths, he heavily lowered his head and said in a trembling voice, “Please… Xiao Yaohou… bestow the Slave Mark…”
If it were a choice between the Slave Mark and simple death, he might have chosen death. But accompanying death was a consequence a thousand times more cruel than death alone. The Slave Mark was his only choice. At least he could live. At least he wouldn’t be reviled for ten thousand years. At least when facing others besides Xiao Yaohou, his soul would still belong to himself.
“Very good.” Xiao Yaohou’s palm pressed down, and her soul profound power, imbued with the Golden Crow’s aura, surged into Jiufang Kui’s heart and soul… His entire body trembled, but he dared not put up the slightest resistance or defense. In just a few breaths, the Slave Mark from Xiao Yaohou was firmly planted in his heart and soul.
The Golden Crow Flame went out. Xiao Yaohou withdrew her hand, and at that moment, a bit of color returned to Jiufang Kui’s previously dim eyes. Facing Xiao Yaohou, his body lowered even further. His gaze and expression were filled with fear, reverence, fawning, and flattery. His entire demeanor was like that of a loyal dog wagging its tail before its master.
“Get out!” Xiao Yaohou turned around and spoke coldly. Jiufang Kui’s pitiful and servile posture did not arouse the slightest pity in her. Clan enmity, family hatred, a blood-soaked vendetta… If she were not Xiao Yaohou, if it were not for the stability and future of the Huan Yao Realm, she would have killed all these people in the cruelest ways possible… Why would she go to such lengths to let them live?
“Yes, yes… I’ll get out right away, right away.” Jiufang Kui, as if receiving an unbreakable divine command, shuddered all over. He immediately pressed his entire body to the ground and rolled… truly “rolled” out.
Yun Che had heard of the “Slave Mark” before but had never actually seen it. But seeing Jiufang Kui like that, he couldn’t help but shudder involuntarily.
A pardon and a death—the former gave hope, the latter gave deterrence. And the Slave Mark beneath that hope and deterrence was Xiao Yaohou’s true goal.
Jiufang Kui left alive, which undoubtedly gave the others greater hope. The subsequent process was much simpler—basically the same as dealing with Jiufang Kui: letting each choose between “death” and the “Slave Mark.” But this “death” came with disaster for the entire family and clan, and shame that would last ten thousand years. Thus, the “Slave Mark” became their only choice.
But not everyone had only these two paths. Helian Kuang died, while Jiufang Kui, Bai Yi, Nangong Zhi, Lin Guiyan, Chiyang Bailie, and Xiao Xifeng all received the Slave Mark. Among the princes, about thirty percent—those like Commandery Prince and Xuan Wang who had merely acted for self-preservation—were pardoned.
The patriarchs and commandery princes who received the Slave Mark would never betray again. Their clans and manors would be completely brought under Xiao Yaohou’s control. And the pardoned princes, moved by gratitude and shame, would remain loyal from now on.
It was not until dusk fell that Xiao Yaohou completed her judgment of all the Guardian Clans and princely manors. As the last princely manor hurried away, the Yaohuang Palace became empty and silent, filled with a suffocating, oppressive stillness.
Planting Slave Marks consumed a great deal of profound energy and even more mental energy. Even as strong as Xiao Yaohou was, planting nearly fifty Slave Marks in one afternoon left her exhausted. But with her extremely stubborn nature, she would never let that exhaustion show… especially not in front of Yun Che.
“I have done as you wished. Now you may leave.” Xiao Yaohou left the imperial throne, turning her back to Yun Che, and spoke coldly.
Her back was slender and small, like a little girl who had not yet grown up, yet she bore the heaviest burden of the entire Huan Yao Realm on her own… She had no family left, and only three years of life remaining.
Everyone held her in deep awe, but only Yun Che felt deep pity when facing her… and a trace of unshakable pain.
Yun Che had stayed behind alone, hoping he could help her with something, at least so she wouldn’t always have to face all the pressure alone. But Xiao Yaohou was, after all, different from ordinary women. She possessed unparalleled profound strength, unmatched deterrent power, and enough wisdom, cunning, and boldness. She didn’t need him to do anything.
Throughout the entire afternoon, he felt that sitting there was completely unnecessary… and even a bit of a nuisance.
“Um…” Yun Che took a few steps closer to Xiao Yaohou and said slowly, “Before you became Xiao Yaohou, you were the ‘Caiyi Princess.’ You’ve been wearing gray clothes all these years, probably to mourn the late Former Demon Emperor and Little Demon Emperor. Now a hundred years have passed. Huai Wang Manor has been wiped out, leaving only Ming Wang, whose essence blood has been greatly depleted. Unless he can escape the Huan Yao Realm, falling into your hands is only a matter of time. You’ve avenged them… so there’s no need to keep wearing this gray clothing, right?”
Xiao Yaohou stood with her back to him, motionless, giving no response.
“Besides being Xiao Yaohou, you’re also recognized as the number one beauty of the Huan Yao Realm. Even though this ugly outfit can’t hide your radiance, if you wore something a little… ordinary, you would be so beautiful that even heaven would be jealous.” Yun Che said very seriously. He really did dislike Xiao Yaohou always wearing that loose gray robe. That gray robe was like a dark cage, preventing her from escaping the shadows and oppression.
Xiao Yaohou turned slightly sideways and said indifferently, “So tell me, what kind of attire should I wear?”
“Well…” Yun Che thought hard and said, “Even though I’ve known you for so long, I’ve never seen you in any other clothes. Oh, if I really think about it… you look quite nice without any clothes on.”
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[Assumption: Xiao Yaohou’s profound power value is 60,000, killing intent value 99,999; Yun Che’s profound power value is 260, defense value 500. Question: Which window should Yun Che report to in the Yama Hall?]