Chapter 984: Subjugation

Linggu’s transformation was not like his true form;

he could receive cultivation rewards from the light cluster just by cultivating spiritual plants.

On regular days, he had to spend a great deal of time cultivating high-rank Cultivation Techniques and secret techniques, such as the “Netherworld True Water Prohibition Law” and “Blood God Scripture.” In addition, he was responsible for cultivating the myriad weird spiritual plants in the Underworld Spirit Field for Lu Xuan.

From time to time, he also needed to venture out to hunt demon beasts and evil cultivators to use them as fertilizer for those plants.

Therefore, if these two could supply him with demon beast materials, he wouldn’t have to take care of it personally and could focus his energy on cultivation.

Additionally, they could handle various daily trivialities for him, saving him a lot of trouble.

With the Parasitic Worm Demon at play, if either of them harbored any ill will, the insect demon merged with their divine souls would be aware of it—their lives hung by a thread, entirely at the mercy of Lu Xuan and the transformation.

...

He instantly made a decision. With a thought, Linggu swiftly headed to the entrance of the cave abode.

“Come over here, you two. What business brings you to Ling?” he said, looking at them with an indifferent gaze and speaking slowly.

The tall and thin elder and the short cultivator felt a chill run through their hearts under his gaze.

However, having thoroughly researched Linggu before their visit and knowing of his inaccessibility, they didn’t take it too much to heart.

They looked at each other and knelt on one knee simultaneously.

“Senior Ling, our strength is limited, making it hard to survive well in the Abyss Star Cave. We’ve come here with the desire to serve under you, to attend to your every need,” they said.

“Oh?”

“I don’t know anything about the two of you, so why should I take you in?” Linggu looked down at them, speaking from a position of superiority.

“Replying to Senior Ling, my name is Sun Kai, and this is Cultivator Wu Peng. We two share a life-and-death bond and can entrust each other with our lives.”

“We both come from the ranks of loose cultivators, having lived in a small place called Yin Mountain on the third layer of the Abyss Star Cave, both barely at the Foundation Establishment Mid-term Realm,” the tall and thin elder named Sun Kai said, sensing a glimmer of hope when Linggu didn’t outright reject them and hurriedly spoke.

“Hmm, never heard of it.”

“But there are many large forces like the White Bone Palace in the Abyss Star Cave. With your Foundation Establishment Mid-term cultivation level, you could go anywhere;

why seek me out?” Lu Xuan asked through Linggu’s mouth, his voice grave.

“To be frank, they chew people up without spitting out bones in places like the White Bone Palace. Once inside, one might become the material for the seniors’ use at any moment.”

“We have made many inquiries about Senior Ling and know of your great strength, and that you do not kill innocents without cause. Such benevolence and righteousness are commendable in the treacherous environment of the Abyss Star Cave, so we wish to serve under Senior Ling and await your commands,” Sun Kai said earnestly, with Wu Peng chiming in from time to time.

“Empty words prove nothing. How can I believe you’re not sent by my enemies?” Linggu sneered coldly.

“Senior worries too much! Even given a hundred bouts of courage, we wouldn’t dare to offend you!” The two said, their hearts filled with terror, and quickly lowered their heads to show submission.

“Alright, no need to be afraid;

it was just a guess on my part.” Linggu’s tone softened significantly.

The two breathed a sigh of relief, as if pardoned from a grave offense.

“However, to serve under me and become my servants is not so simple;

you must satisfy one condition of mine.”

“Please enlighten us, Senior Ling,” they said, their eyes brightening at his words.

“Swallow these two treasures into your bellies,” Linggu said, two strange treasures appearing in his hands out of nowhere.

The treasures had multiple eyes and limbs, and around them, numerous transparent tentacles spread out, seemingly reaching into the bodies of the two men.

“Senior Ling, we dare to ask, what are these treasures? Will there be any consequences after swallowing them?” The two rose slightly and asked in a low voice.

“I will not reveal the specific nature of the treasures to you.”

“I’ll just make it clear about the consequences of consuming this treasure item,”

“Once swallowed, I can control every single one of your actions and understand all of your innermost thoughts, it can be said that your lives are but a thought away from my control,”

Lu Xuan slowly said.

“Senior, this treasure item is somewhat… too overbearing,”

Sun Kai hesitated and then said helplessly.

Although both of them were eager to submit to Lu Xuan and receive his protection, that didn’t mean they could accept such preposterous terms.

For a moment, the resolute idea that had been in their hearts suddenly wavered.

“If you want my protection, you must be prepared to make sacrifices,”

“Two unfamiliar cultivators living in the Abyss Star Cave who wish to submit to me will find it very difficult to earn my trust in a short period of time,”

“Only by taking such special measures, allowing me to absolutely control the both of you, would I feel assured enough to entrust certain things to you,”

Lu Xuan said with an indifferent face.

“What Senior has said is true;

we juniors have been too idealistic,”

Sun Kai and his companion sighed softly.

The other party did have some point;

to gain something, one must lose something else, and it would not be possible for the two Foundation Establishment cultivators to occupy all the advantages.

Yet, if they were to give up now, they still felt reluctant in their hearts.

The only two choices in front of them were to swallow the strange treasure, losing their freedom and even the right to life, and take shelter under Lu Xuan’s wings.

Or to not consume the treasure, to continue their lives as loose cultivators in the Abyss Star Cave, an environment where it’s a dog-eat-dog world, living a life filled with constant terror and dread.

“Don’t worry, I will not decide your life or death on a whim,”

“After all, if you truly submit to me, I still have some uses for you,”

“This is merely a precaution against you taking any actions that could endanger my safety or interests,”

“As long as you are completely loyal to me, obedient and compliant, I can give you my word that I will never hurt you intentionally,”

“If you can even satisfy me, I might gift you with some treasure items for you to defend yourselves or to enhance your cultivation levels,”

Lu Xuan said with a smile, his voice full of temptation.

“Is Senior Ling’s statement true?”

Wu Peng blurted out.

“Belief or disbelief is up to you,”

Lu Xuan controlled by Lu Xuan said indifferently, not taking Wu Peng’s doubt to heart.

“Senior Ling, my companion was agitated for a moment and doubted what Senior said;

he deserves to die for his sin, please forgive us, Senior,”

Sun Kai pulled at his companion’s sleeve, explaining.

“We offended Senior and earnestly ask for Senior’s forgiveness,”

Wu Peng quickly realized his misstep and immediately kneeled down to beg for mercy.

“It’s fine,”

Lu Xuan waved his hand dismissively.

“I have limited time, give me your decision within ten breaths,”

His tone contained an unmistakable firmness.

“I am willing to consume this item,”

Sun Kai, showing a sincere expression, said word by word.

After understanding Lu Xuan’s attitude towards them, he had already leaned toward one side. Then Wu Peng expressed his suspicion, yet Lu Xuan showed no anger;

this immediately brought Sun Kai to feel goodwill and trust, and he agreed on the spot.

“I share the same thought as Friend Sun,”

Without any hesitation, Wu Peng said with a resolute expression.