Long Yichen was silent for a moment before asking, "How do we cooperate?"
Du Ge replied, "You help me understand this world, and I'll help you survive and rise in rank."
A hint of disdain flickered in Long Yichen's eyes as he sneered, "You don't even understand this world and are in the body of a child. What makes you think you can help me rise in rank?"
Du Ge chuckled, "Master Long, I indeed don't understand this world. But even so, the vast Longliu Manor has already fallen by my hand, and you, Master Long, have been driven to a dead end by me. Isn't that enough to prove my capability?"
To know oneself and the enemy is the key to a hundred battles without defeat.
Mixing with the lower ranks will never reveal the true nature of this world. Du Ge's ranking was forcibly elevated, and he must quickly enhance his strength to seek self-preservation.
Long Yichen had connections with the royal family and the martial world and knew much about the cultivation sects, making him the best partner to help Du Ge understand the world.
Long Yichen remained silent for a while, contemplating the possibility of cooperating with Du Ge.
"Master Long, your skills surpass mine. If you don't want to cooperate with me, you can leave anytime. I can't force you to stay, can I?"
He paused, then smiled, "In a chaotic world, a demon's importance is not much less than that of the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle, is it?"
"..." Long Yichen's eyes widened in surprise, not expecting such words from Du Ge.
Is this what a demon is?
Indeed, it cannot be judged by common sense. He twitched his lips, "Free and Unfettered... just joking."
Long Yichen instinctively wanted to call Du Ge 'senior,' but looking at his youthful face, he couldn't bring himself to say it. With a dark expression, he asked, "How should I address you?"
Reluctant to discuss cooperation, yet readily agreeing when it came to selling me out.
Ruining others without end is indeed a divine skill!
But it does make one easily make enemies!
Du Ge raised an eyebrow slightly and said, "Free and Unfettered Master is my real name."
It's just a name, and Long Yichen didn't care much about it. He looked at Du Ge and asked, "Free and Unfettered Master, how should we cooperate?"
"First, tell me about the power distribution in the New Moon Kingdom," Du Ge smiled, "and all the secrets of Longliu Manor."
"The emperor of the New Moon Kingdom is nearly eighty, old and frail, with four princes eligible to inherit the throne: the Crown Prince, the second son Prince Duan, the Fourth Prince Prince Su, and the Eighth Prince Prince Han," Long Yichen said. "The Crown Prince has been operating in the court for many years and has the most influence. Prince Su commands the Western Army, Prince Han is supported by the imperial teacher, and behind Prince Duan is the prime minister's faction.
Prince Su has always been on good terms with the Crown Prince. If he fully supports the Crown Prince, Prince Duan and Prince Han will have no chance. Longliu Manor was built by Prince Duan, and the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle was crafted to target the Crown Prince and Prince Su."
Indeed, without understanding the situation, even bluffing can go wrong.
Long Yichen casually mentioned that the mandate of heaven was not with Prince Han, easily probing him out...
The identity and status of the character possessed at the beginning have a significant impact on future developments.
Du Ge sighed inwardly and asked, "Can the princes in the court openly collude with cultivators?"
With this question, Long Yichen was certain that Du Ge truly didn't understand this world. He nodded, "Throughout history, the royal family has always been a battleground for various sects.
It's common for cultivation sects to intervene in the selection of the heir apparent.
The emperor, bearing the dragon vein, is mandated by heaven and can directly appoint Earth Gods and other folk deities, directly influencing the fortunes of many cultivation sects. Historically, royal power struggles have always involved cultivators from various sects."
Du Ge was taken aback, recalling the myths and legends on Earth, where many deities were indeed directly appointed by mortal emperors.
In this world, it seems the power of mortal emperors is quite significant.
"Since it's mandated by heaven, isn't it predetermined who becomes the emperor?" Du Ge asked.
"When a prince is born, he has a destiny, but there's never a predetermined outcome," Long Yichen said disdainfully, looking at Du Ge. "Unless a great power from the heavens descends to cross tribulation, secretly protected by fortune, the emperor's position goes to whoever seizes it. Otherwise, wouldn't everyone just be actors on a stage, performing according to a script? What would be the point of living then?"
"Can the emperor cultivate?" Du Ge asked.
"The emperor practices martial arts but cannot cultivate the immortal path," Long Yichen said. "But the emperor is protected by the dragon vein, and cultivators cannot harm the emperor. Otherwise, it would trigger a backlash from the dragon's energy, at best destroying one's cultivation, at worst scattering one's soul."
He frowned slightly and said, "Free and Unfettered Master, these are useless matters. Manager Ma's people have already left. At most, in three days, at least in two, Prince Duan will know about the Longliu Manor incident. This matter cannot be exposed. To protect the secret of the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle, Prince Duan will not let anyone from Longliu Manor live. Our urgent task is to leave Longliu Manor first."
"So, what do you plan to do?" Du Ge asked.
"Take the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle and seek refuge with Prince Su," Long Yichen said. "Completely nail Prince Duan. Using dark arts to harm brothers is against the natural order. Once this matter is leaked, no one in the New Moon Kingdom can protect him."
"Why not go directly to the Crown Prince?" Du Ge asked with a smile.
"The journey to the capital is fraught with difficulties. As long as a cultivator intervenes along the way, we won't survive to reach the capital," Long Yichen said. "Prince Su is at the border. As long as we can meet him, with his protection, we won't worry about reaching the capital."
"Master Long, how many people know about the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle?" Du Ge asked.
"Apart from me and Manager Ma, no one else knows about it," Long Yichen said. "In the eyes of others, Longliu Manor is just a place of corruption and vice, enriching Prince Duan."
You know it's against the natural order?
Du Ge glanced at him sideways and asked, "How do your skills compare to those of a cultivator, Master Long?"
"..." Long Yichen hesitated and said, "Among warriors, I'm considered a top expert. Even if I can't defeat a grandmaster, I can escape. But against a Qi Refiner, even ten of me wouldn't be enough for them to kill."
Du Ge's expression shifted, and he asked, "Have you witnessed the abilities of a Qi Refiner?"
Long Yichen's pupils trembled slightly as if recalling the terror of a Qi Refiner. After a long silence, he said, "Their bodies are as hard as iron, they can release lightning from their palms, breathe mist, fly with swords, and their flying swords can take a person's head from a hundred meters away."
A single Qi Refiner can take a person's head from a hundred meters away. The level of this world is high; no wonder the Alien Star warriors died unjustly...
"What about above a Qi Refiner?" Du Ge asked.
"Above a Qi Refiner is a Golden Elixir master," Long Yichen said. "It's said that a Golden Elixir master doesn't eat grains, can travel a hundred miles in an instant with escape techniques, and has the ability to summon wind and rain, command ghosts, and communicate with gods. I've never seen a Golden Elixir master in action."
Damn!
Du Ge's mouth twitched, increasingly feeling that this world was difficult to navigate. The people in the first Alien Star Battlefield he entered also claimed to be cultivators, but compared to the cultivators of this world, they were low-level!
"What about above a Golden Elixir?" Du Ge asked again.
"Free and Unfettered Master," Long Yichen frowned, angry, "We can't even deal with a Qi Refiner, and you can't even defeat me. What's the use of asking these questions? Do you intend to kill a Golden Elixir master?"
"Master Long, don't be angry," Du Ge chuckled. "To know oneself and the enemy is the key to a hundred battles without defeat! I know nothing about this world, so I must have a clear understanding."
Long Yichen snorted coldly again, looking at Du Ge, unsure if cooperating with a demon was right or wrong.
This demon's abilities seem mediocre. Why does the court value him so much? seaʀᴄh thё NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"Master Long, the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle is polluted by mixed souls and has lost its function. I wonder what else it can be used for?" Du Ge's gaze shifted to the Soul Suppression Bottle floating in the air.
"You're asking me? Who should I ask?" Long Yichen was clearly impatient. "I'm not a cultivator and can't drive their magical treasures. You're a demon. Why don't you try using it yourself? Maybe you can drive it."
Drive it?
Du Ge looked at the Soul Suppression Bottle, still exhaling black gas, and fell into deep thought.
The screams from inside the Soul Suppression Bottle never ceased. In the swirling black gas, the faces of children, filled with hatred, flashed in and out of view, looking quite eerie.
Honestly, if not necessary, Du Ge really didn't want to touch this thing. But in this world, the sect hierarchy is strict, and the details of the Alien Star warriors have been leaked.
Now, he doesn't know how to learn immortal arts.
Leaving such an obvious treasure unused makes him feel a bit unwilling.
Long Yichen talked to him for a long time but didn't dare touch the bottle, even using a bluffing strategy on him, probably feeling apprehensive...
Should he take it or not?
Du Ge wrestled with himself internally.
In just a moment, he decided to try touching the bottle.
On the Alien Star Battlefield, people from Pan-Universal Entertainment could use powerful mental power to carry souls from nearly an entire world. His mental power was over eight million; there was no reason to fear mere residual souls in a bottle.
Moreover.
He possessed the Power of Poseidon, Sun God power, and Dark God power. Even if the vengeful souls in the bottle wanted to possess him, they would likely fail.
Sun God power is the nemesis of such sinister things...
Most importantly, with this bottle, he could openly use Dark God power.
After all.
People from Pan-Universal Entertainment didn't know what effects this mutated magical treasure had. The black gas and the shadows controlled by Dark God power were not much different.
As long as he could use a portion of divine power, it would be enough to prevent him from being completely helpless against a Qi Refiner.
On the Alien Star Battlefield, every Alien Star warrior was fighting for their life. There was no such thing as a 100% safe plan.
Du Ge made up his mind and stepped towards the Soul Suppression Bottle.
...
Watching Du Ge walk towards the Soul Suppression Bottle, Long Yichen's heartbeat quickened slightly. After learning Du Ge's true identity, he had been eyeing this opportunity.
At that time, the cultivator who came with Prince Duan had set up a formation and repeatedly warned him not to touch the Soul Suppression Bottle, or he would face backlash.
With Longliu Manor destroyed, the only chance of survival was to take the Soul Suppression Bottle and seek refuge with Prince Su. But he didn't dare touch the Soul Suppression Bottle, so how could he take it with him?
Without the Soul Suppression Bottle, there was no evidence. How could Prince Su believe him?
Leaving the Soul Suppression Bottle behind, even if he persuaded Prince Su, by the time he returned, Prince Duan would have likely cleaned up the Soul Suppression Bottle.
Without evidence, how could a group of children possibly challenge Prince Duan?
At that point, he would be doomed.
Therefore, letting the demon known as Free and Unfettered Master take the Soul Suppression Bottle was the best choice.
If Free and Unfettered Master was backfired by the Soul Suppression Bottle, he would dismiss Ding Chang and the others, run as far as he could, and no longer concern himself with the royal power struggle, surviving as long as possible...
If Free and Unfettered Master could take the Soul Suppression Bottle, then everything would be revitalized.
Long Yichen never considered whether Du Ge would use the Soul Suppression Bottle against him after obtaining it.
Free and Unfettered Master knew nothing about the levels of cultivators' supernatural powers, so how could he possibly drive a cultivator's magical treasure?
Moreover.
The Soul Suppression Bottle's function was to defy fate, not an offensive magical treasure.
...
The closer he got to the Soul Suppression Bottle, the more Du Ge could sense the cold, chilling aura emanating from it.
Outside the room, this aura merely made him feel a drop in temperature.
But as he approached the Soul Suppression Bottle, the cold, chilling aura seemed to seep into his skin, trying to penetrate his internal organs.
The closer he got, the stronger this feeling became.
Moreover, this cold, chilling aura seemed to carry emotions of despair, resentment, pain, and anger, which were unsettling.
As these auras invaded his body, Du Ge quietly activated the Sun God power within him.
As expected.
The cold, chilling aura melted like snow encountering the sun, unable to harm him in the slightest.
Du Ge's tense heart relaxed.
Then.
He replaced the Sun God power with Dark God power.
He intended to use the Soul Suppression Bottle, not purify it.
Beneath his skin, the cold aura touched the Dark God power. Unlike the Sun God power, the Dark God power became active, quickly devouring the cold aura, turning it into nourishment.
Du Ge's Dark God power came from the God of Darkness on the Alien Star Battlefield, transformed by Feng Zhong's skill of making falsehoods appear true. But the transformation had just begun when the Alien Star Battlefield was forcibly ended.
Even the God of Darkness was captured by Pan-Universal Entertainment, so his Dark God power was the weakest.
Now, after devouring the sinister aura from the Soul Suppression Bottle, the Dark God power began to grow steadily, an unexpected delight.
The Sun God power purified the vengeful souls, and the Dark God power devoured and merged with them. Both were nemeses of the Soul Suppression Bottle, and Du Ge was completely at ease. He took a few quick steps and reached out to grab the Soul Suppression Bottle floating in the air.
As he took the Soul Suppression Bottle, the vengeful souls inside seemed to find a target. A mass of black gas spewed from the bottle's mouth, enveloping Du Ge entirely.
The vengeful souls let out piercing screams, desperately trying to invade Du Ge's body, gnawing at his soul and body...
Seeing this, Long Yichen's face changed immediately, instinctively turning to run.
But just as he turned.
Du Ge's voice came from behind him, "Master Long, don't panic. The Soul Suppression Bottle is under my control."
Long Yichen froze, turning back in astonishment, only to see Du Ge shrouded in black gas.
But the black gas was much gentler than before, merely covering Du Ge's body without the screams and roars, looking as if it had been tamed by Du Ge.
Long Yichen's eyes widened in disbelief, "You... you tamed the Soul Suppression Bottle?"
"Naturally." The black gas covering Du Ge's face dispersed, revealing his youthful face. With a smile in his eyes, he glanced at the Soul Suppression Bottle still in his hand and explained, "As long as the soul is stronger than theirs and withstands their devouring, one can control this magical treasure..."
In the cultivation world, mastering a magical treasure isn't so easy.
The Dark God power would only devour the vengeful souls, making it impossible to unleash their power.
But devouring was enough. After devouring the sinister aura, Du Ge covered his body with Dark God power, simulating the previous black gas, making it look like the vengeful souls had been tamed.
In reality, the black gas surrounding Du Ge's body was now entirely different from the previous sinister aura.
Perhaps a cultivator could discern the difference, but Long Yichen definitely couldn't.
Du Ge didn't completely devour the vengeful souls in the Soul Suppression Bottle but left some, sealing them in the bottle with Dark God power.
With the help of Dark God power, Du Ge roughly understood the bottle's operating principle.
The vengeful souls in the Hundred Child Soul Suppression Bottle were those of children who died with hatred, filled with resentment towards the world. When noble souls were killed, their souls were drawn into the bottle by the formation.
When enemies meet, their eyes blaze with hatred.
The children's vengeful souls indiscriminately tore apart and devoured the souls of these nobles.
Du Ge didn't know how to handle souls and was afraid of revealing his identity, so he never dared to kill anyone. But with the Soul Suppression Bottle.
In the future, if he killed someone, he only needed to release the children's vengeful souls to devour the souls of those he killed.
From this perspective, saying he mastered the Soul Suppression Bottle's usage is not far-fetched.
...
From now on, he could openly use Dark God power and also solve the problem of handling souls. This trip to Longliu Manor was truly rewarding!
Du Ge weighed the Soul Suppression Bottle in his hand, smiling as he looked at Long Yichen, "Master Long, now that we have the Soul Suppression Bottle, we should discuss what to do next!"
Long Yichen looked at Du Ge, shrouded in black gas, his mouth dry. He swallowed hard, "Free and Unfettered Master, didn't we agree to seek refuge with Prince Su?"
"Indeed, but that was your idea," Du Ge said with a gentle smile. "But now, it's my turn to decide."
Long Yichen's face changed, instinctively gripping his dagger.
But in the next moment.
The black gas on Du Ge's body surged, blocking all the light in the secret chamber.
Before Long Yichen could react, he felt himself being restrained, the cold, chilling aura invading his skin.
Then his wrist ached, and the dagger in his hand was already taken by Du Ge.
Afterward.
The black gas receded.
Long Yichen looked at Du Ge, seemingly unmoved, then at the dagger in his hand, his face ashen. After struggling for a moment, he knelt on one knee, "I am willing to follow the arrangements of Free and Unfettered Master."
Looking down at the ground, Long Yichen was filled with regret. Had he known the Soul Suppression Bottle could be subdued so easily, he would never have let this treasure fall into Free and Unfettered Master's hands!
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