198: Chapter 198 Conclusion

Huang Jinglong continued, "Fellow Daoist Zhuiying, do not let your guard down just because he is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. His strength, especially regarding secret techniques, is unfathomable."

An intrigued reply came back, "Oh? You were being so mysterious just a moment ago, and now you're willing to talk?"

"Yes, to avoid any confusion, Fellow Daoist Zhuiying, let me explain it to you briefly..."

He briefly recounted the deeds of Xu Changsheng, who, despite being a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, had fought against a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator.

"In any case, this Foundation Establishment Cultivator is not simple. You must not lower your guard."

"It certainly sounds interesting. However, as this is the last transaction between us, I don't want to take advantage of you. Could the person you mentioned have already left the Immortal City?"

Huang Jinglong shook his head, "Fellow Daoist Zhuiying is as shrewd as ever; that is indeed a possibility."

"Hmph, no wonder you were stammering earlier. So that's how it is. It's a good thing I sensed something was off, otherwise, I would have been used like a beast of burden by you."

He gave a sheepish smile, "I had no such intentions; otherwise, I would not have told you any of this."

"If you hadn't mentioned it, I might have just searched half-heartedly. Now that you've brought it up, I'm actually quite interested."

"If Fellow Daoist Zhuiying is interested, then I could ask for nothing more."

"Fine, I'll go out and search now."

"Whoosh—"

A gust of black wind blew past, the dark curtain slowly dispersed, and sunlight streamed back through the window lattice.

The smile on Huang Jinglong's face gradually faded, his brows furrowed slightly, and he looked outside the main hall.

A trace of disdain welled up in his heart, "A mere Black Soul, yet so arrogant."

"If not for the fact that I haven't found that item yet... just wait. Three months from now, I will make you my complete slave."

...In the following three months.

Every quiet night, unnoticed by anyone, a stream of black energy darted rapidly across the ground.

The black stream passed over every inch of land within Yellow Ox Immortal City, again and again.

Finally, on the last day.

The black stream came to a halt.

It turned and flew toward the City Lord's Mansion.

It arrived once more at the side hall from several months ago.

Huang Jinglong was standing at the head of the hall. Atop the high platform stood a massive, lifelike sculpture of a Yellow Ox, its calm, water-like eyes overlooking the hall.

"Huang Jinglong, I have completed the task. Release the contract between us."

He turned around, looking into the Void Realm, his brows tightly locked, "Fellow Daoist Zhuiying, that is incorrect. You are still far from completing the task."

"What?"

First stunned, then anxiously retorted, "Huang Jinglong, what do you mean? Wasn't it agreed that I would search for three months? Now that the three-month period has passed, are you trying to renege on your word?"

"The one trying to renege is you, Fellow Daoist Zhuiying."

Huang Jinglong waved his hand, and a pitch-black sheet of paper appeared in mid-air.

"Fellow Daoist, have you forgotten the contents of the contract we signed?"

"How could I not know? Isn't it just that I work for you until I complete ten tasks, and then I gain my freedom?"

"Then has Fellow Daoist Zhuiying completed them?"

"Ah?"

Only then did Zhuiying realize he had fallen into the trap set by Immortal Master Yellow Ox; the contract specified that only completed tasks counted as tasks.

Previously, he had indeed completed nine tasks perfectly according to Huang Jinglong's requirements.

Now, only this final task of searching for someone remained.

However.

Realizing the logic behind it, his voice became angry and trembling, "Huang Jinglong, you deceived me?"

He shook his head slightly, "I did not force Fellow Daoist to agree."

Zhuiying's voice grew increasingly agitated, "Huang Jinglong, you old scoundrel! Xu Changsheng is clearly not in the Immortal City. You asked me to find him—if that's not deceiving me, then what is?"

"In any case, Fellow Daoist Zhuiying failed to complete the task I assigned within the agreed three-month period, which constitutes a breach of contract."

"Breaching the contract requires an additional one hundred years of servitude."

Huang Jinglong remained expressionless, looking at the contract unfurled in mid-air, and spoke indifferently.

"I don't accept this! Huang Jinglong, you are exploiting a loophole in the contract."

Zhuiying was completely enraged.

"Make me serve you for another hundred years? Absolutely impossible!"

Having said that.

The black shadow transformed into a black eagle and flew straight toward the top of the main hall.

To him, the hall's canopy was as if it didn't exist; he disappeared without a trace within a few breaths.

The contract remained silently suspended in the Void Realm, seemingly making no attempt to detain Zhuiying as he left.

Seeing this, the latter felt completely relieved. He hadn't actually left; instead, he was hiding in the corner of the canopy.

From above the hall came his arrogant laughter, "Today I shall regain my freedom. As for your ridiculous wish? Keep dreaming!"

Afterward, he flew away into the distance.

However, at that moment, a strange suction force suddenly appeared, pressing down on him with the weight of thunder and lightning.

The black eagle's dark pupils trembled, filled with both shock and fear.

"How is this possible?"

The contract had taken effect, and the suction force suddenly increased, slowly dragging him back.

"Stop! I was wrong!"

Knowing the difference between being forcibly pulled in by the contract and voluntarily begging for mercy, he cried out to admit his fault.

At this moment, the contract radiated a pitch-black luster, like a black hole, devouring everything around it and even whipping up a gale within the main hall.

The wind blew Huang Jinglong's robes, causing them to flap loudly. He showed no intention of stopping, letting the contract pull Zhuiying back inch by inch.

Seeing this, Zhuiying immediately panicked.

His pleas became more earnest, "Huang Jinglong—no, City Lord Huang, I know I was wrong. Please put away the contract, and let us talk this over properly."

He turned his back, ignoring him further.

Seeing Huang Jinglong's unyielding demeanor, he broke into a torrent of abuse, "Huang Jinglong, you shameless dog! Once I get out, I will never forgive you."

...One incense stick of time later.

The main hall returned to silence once more.

Before long.

A knocking sound came from outside the main hall, "Immortal Master, the investigation results from the Guard Department are in."

"Enter."

He said slowly, and the doors of the main hall creaked open.

The four department heads of the Guard Department walked in simultaneously.

Seeing the chaotic state of the main hall, they couldn't help but feel uneasy, looking at each other.

Could it be that Immortal Master Yellow Ox had just fought against another Golden Core Senior in the hall? Or had some other unexpected event occurred?

For a moment.

The main hall fell quiet again, with no one daring to speak first.

Huang Jinglong frowned and asked sternly, "What are you all standing there for? Speak, what have you found?"

Seeing Immortal Master Yellow Ox looking at him, the Head of the West City Guard Department had no choice but to brace himself and report, "We compared our findings with one another and ultimately found only one suspicious point."

"Hmm? Continue."

"Right. That was outside the West City. We detected the Qi left behind by Xu Changsheng, but..."

"But what?"

"It's just that the time that Qi was left behind was at least three months ago."

He understood the implication of his words, "What do you mean?"

"Yes, we are all in agreement that Xu Changsheng has already left Yellow Ox Immortal City!"