62: Chapter 63 Spiritual Contract

Before the gate of the Yao Family, the lingering smoke from the ruined Formation had not yet dissipated.

The Jiang Family members first pinned down the remaining Early Stage Cultivators of the Yao Family one by one, binding their hands and feet with thick ropes.

Ordinary hemp ropes naturally could not restrain truly prepared Cultivators, but these people had mostly just entered the Dao, and their morale had been shattered by the Head of the Yao Family abandoning the clan and fleeing; for a moment, they could not even summon the Qi in their chests.

The ropes tightened around their wrists; even if they could not truly seal their magic power, they were enough to slow their movements. If anyone struggled in secret, the ropes would tighten and creak, and others would immediately notice.

Those Yao Family Mortals were driven to an open space, where the women and children huddled together, weeping softly.

Behind them, the originally orderly outer perimeter of the Yao Family had already been blasted into ruins by the self-destruction of the mountain-protecting Formation; roof beams were snapped, broken tiles covered the ground, and several spiritual fields had been scorched into blackened gullies by the Formation's light.

Lin Suwen forced the toxins out of Luo Qitang's body, sweat appearing on her forehead.

Luo Qitang's face was deathly pale, his entire right arm still felt numb, and the blood flowing from his wound had turned from black to red.

Yet he disregarded all this, struggling to stand up.

"I must go back."

Lin Suwen pressed down on his shoulder.

"What is the use of going back in your state? If the incoming enemy is not strong, the Luo Family Head is enough to handle it; if the enemy is extremely strong, your Meridians are currently paralyzed by toxins, and you might not even be able to summon the Qi in your chest; I fear you could not even hold out against a Cultivator who has just entered the Dao."

Luo Qitang gritted his teeth and said: "But in the clan..."

"If you go back and die halfway, can the clan be safe?"

Lin Suwen rarely spoke in such a cold voice, her hands not stopping as she continued to use the Spring Commencement Energy to force the remaining toxins out of him bit by bit.

"Stay put and save your life first. If you truly want to help the Luo Family, do not throw yourself away at this time."

Luo Qitang was pressed back down by her; his chest heaved for a long time, and finally, he stopped forcing himself, though his eyes kept looking toward the direction of the Luo Family.

Lin Suwen ordered a few Yao Family Mortals to fetch medicinal herbs.

Those Mortals went as ordered, but quickly returned empty-handed, trembling as they said the Yao Family treasury was sealed tightly; they could not open the door, nor did they know which medicinal herbs were usable.

At this moment, a young Yao Family Cultivator who was tied to the ground suddenly gave a low laugh.

He was about twenty years old, at the first level of Qi Refining, his face stained with ash, but his eyes lacked the panic others had, leaving only a numbness as if he had been hollowed out.

"Don't bother."

Jiang Chengning looked at him.

The young Cultivator raised his head and said hoarsely: "The Head of the Yao Family has long since taken all the valuable items in the clan; what could be left in the treasury? He has always been skilled at calculations. Today, he merely misjudged the strength of the Jiang Family and did not expect the Luo Family to dare to counterattack, which is why he failed."

He glanced at the shattered gate of the Yao Family and twitched the corner of his mouth.

"But when defeat truly came, he was already prepared. Even if you blast open the treasury, there will likely only be an empty shell inside, perhaps even hiding some self-destruct Formation waiting to hurt people."

After he finished speaking, he lowered his head and said nothing more.

Jiang Chengning did not speak immediately.

This remark confirmed his judgment.

A person like the Head of the Yao Family, who could borrow the power of the Gu Clan to swallow two small families and push the Luo Family to near extinction, would absolutely not be a fool.

Jiang Chengning slowly walked in front of the Yao Family group.

His cultivation was not high, but with Jiang Yuhe standing behind him, none of the Yao Family members dared to treat this Level 3 Qi Refining Jiang Family Head as an ordinary Cultivator.

Jiang Chengning used his Qi to speak, his voice carrying across the open ground.

"Yao Family Mortals, return to your places and attend to your duties. After today, the Jiang Family will not slaughter Mortals without cause, nor will we allow anyone to plunder the women and children of the Yao Family."

The weeping gradually subsided.

Those Mortals looked up, some unable to believe it, yet not daring to respond.

Jiang Chengning continued: "As for the Yao Family Cultivators, if you still wish to live, the Jiang Family can offer you a path."

His gaze fell upon those few bound Early Stage Cultivators.

When the Head of the Yao Family fled, he took away several Middle Stage Cultivators, leaving behind six Early Stage Cultivators.

The remaining ones who were unyielding had either committed suicide just now or died in the chaotic battle when the Formation broke.

Those who could kneel here mostly had their morale broken, seeking only to save their lives.

"The Yao Family can be rebuilt, but it will no longer be an independent Qi Refining Family."

Jiang Chengning's voice was calm.

"If you are willing to sign a Spirit Pact, from today on, the Yao Family will be under the jurisdiction of the Baili Mountain Jiang Clan, recorded as a Vassal Family of the Jiang Clan, though not yet listed as an Affiliated Family. If you are unwilling, you may stand up now."

The six Yao Family Cultivators looked at each other.

No one stood up.

They were almost all heartbroken by the Head of the Yao Family's act of abandoning the clan in the face of battle.

In the past, no matter how high-sounding the Head of the Yao Family's words were in the clan—about the clan's destiny being one, about pioneering and establishing the clan—when it truly came to the moment of life and death, the only things he took away were the Middle Stage Cultivators and his own retreat path.

The remaining people were like firewood he casually threw into the fire.

Jiang Chengning waited for a moment, and seeing no one object, said to Jiang Yuhe: "Take them inside."

Jiang Yuhe nodded.

Everyone found a relatively intact building.

The room should have been where the Yao Family managers discussed matters; a tattered topographical map still hung on the wall, and the table had been cracked in half by the shock.

Jiang Chengning had people bring the six Yao Family Cultivators into the room and ordered Sun Changshui and Old Crow Chen to guard outside the door.

Jiang Chengning took out a blank Spirit Pact paper.

This was the Mountain and River Pact. Its grade was not high, but it was sufficient to constrain low-level Qi Refining Cultivators.

Jiang Chengning drafted the pact himself, while Jiang Yuhe stood by and used her magic power to hold down the pact paper; the six Yao Family Cultivators each dripped blood to leave their imprints one by one.

First, the remnant of the Yao Family acknowledges defeat and surrender, and from today, comes under the jurisdiction of the Baili Mountain Jiang Clan, to be recorded as a Vassal Family of the Jiang Clan, not yet listed as an Affiliated Family; they may no longer call themselves an independent Qi Refining Family and may not make any external decisions without authorization.

Second, Yao Family Cultivators may not harm the Jiang Clan main Family or any of the families under the Jiang Clan's jurisdiction in any form, not even by a fraction.

Third, the Yao Family must contribute fifty percent of their annual revenue to the Jiang Family.

After three years, if there is no rebellion, deception, or collusion with external enemies, it will be reduced to forty percent; after ten years, depending on their merits and faults, it will be reduced to thirty percent.

Fourth, the Jiang Family will send people to reorganize the Yao Family's clan register.

Whenever the Yao Family has newborns, those who begin absorbing Qi, or those who achieve a Breakthrough, they must report to the Jiang Family for registration; they may not keep private rosters.

Fifth, the Yao Family's spiritual fields, spiritual material sites, irrigation channels, ledgers, and catalogs of Cultivation Techniques and Spells must all be submitted to the main Family.

If Yao Family Cultivators are summoned by the Jiang Clan, they may not shirk or delay.

Sixth, the Yao Family may no longer privately appoint a Head of the Family; they may only set up managers, and these managers must be approved by the Jiang Family.

If the lineage of the Head of the Yao Family returns to seize power, the Yao Family may not assist them and must immediately report to the Baili Mountain Jiang Clan.

When the six Yao Family Cultivators heard the last clause, their expressions all changed slightly.

The ancestral hall might still remain, and the surname could be kept, but the four words "Head of the Yao Family," at least until approved by the Jiang Family, would no longer exist.

Jiang Chengning pushed the pact paper in front of the young Cultivator at the very front.

"Sign."

The room fell silent for a moment.

The young Cultivator gave a low laugh, sounding extremely unpleasant, then bit his fingertip and pressed his blood onto the pact paper.

"Yao Chang, willing to sign."

With the first one done, the remaining few no longer hesitated.

Blood imprints were placed one after another.

Spiritual light gradually rose on the pact paper, turning into several thin lines that disappeared into the space between each of the six people's eyebrows.

The expressions of those few Yao Family Cultivators turned pale for a moment; clearly, the pact mark had been branded into their spiritual consciousness.

Jiang Chengning put away the pact paper and said: "From today on, you six will temporarily serve as the managers of the Yao Family. Within three days, organize the clan register, spiritual fields, spiritual material sites, and treasury ledgers. If there is any concealment, you will be dealt with according to the law."

Yao Chang lowered his head and said: "Yes."