Chapter Thirty-Seven: Subduing Jiaxingtian

When he first noticed Yunshan accompanied by a young man, he found it strange. But when Yunshan actually stood behind this youngster, he understood immediately—Yunshan was acknowledging him as his master.

“You’ve broken through to the Douzong rank?” Jia Xingtian asked, astonished, unable to sense Yunshan’s current level.

“Indeed, I have reached the Douzong realm,” Yunshan replied.

“So... you want me to represent the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire and bow to the Yunlan Sect?”

Beneath the distant shadowy pool, the Nether Sea Flood Beast sensed what was happening and emerged from the depths, its massive form looming. If a fight broke out, it would not hesitate to risk its life.

“It’s not to bow to me, but to bow to the young master,” Yunshan continued.

“The young master? Him?”

“I want to know—since you’ve already broken through to Douzong, and the Yunlan Sect need no longer fear the royal family, why would you acknowledge a youngster as your master?” Jia Xingtian asked, puzzled.

“Because I can give him what he desires. And... I can give you what you want, too,” Lin An answered.

“What do you mean?” Jia Xingtian demanded.

“You have two choices: submit, or let the royal family of the Jia Ma Empire disappear and let someone else manage the empire,” Lin An said carelessly.

With Yunshan present, Jia Xingtian could stir no trouble.

“What arrogance! Do you think the Jia Ma Empire has survived all these years by mere luck?” Jia Xingtian’s tone grew icy.

“In the past, you might have been able to protect the empire. But now... you cannot.” As he spoke, a powerful aura suddenly surged from Yunshan, bearing down on Jia Xingtian.

Elderly and plagued by hidden ailments, Jia Xingtian’s body trembled under Yunshan’s pressure.

“With absolute strength, the royal family is nothing but a joke!”

“I am not negotiating with you; I am offering you a choice: submit, or disappear,” Lin An declared.

“I am willing to submit!” Jia Xingtian said, as if all his strength had drained away. Even after Yunshan’s pressure was withdrawn, he collapsed to the ground, utterly spent.

“That is the correct choice,” Lin An said, and led Jia Xingtian and the Nether Sea Flood Beast into the Hall of Yama.

Upon entering, the Nether Sea Flood Beast’s immense body shrank rapidly, soon becoming the size of a human.

“What is this place?” Jia Xingtian asked, having relinquished all resistance after accepting Lin An’s authority. He did not expect to be transported to such an unfamiliar place in the next instant.

Here, he was like a lamb awaiting slaughter, powerless to resist. Even the Nether Sea Flood Beast had reverted to its juvenile form.

“This is the Hall of Yama. From now on, you are part of the hall; in life you belong to it, and in death, you belong to it as well,” Lin An said. With those words, he manipulated the hall’s shadowy aura, granting Jia Xingtian a new lease on life.

As for the Nether Sea Flood Beast, Lin An exchanged a trace of Thunder Dragon bloodline from the system and merged it into the beast’s body.

Now, the Nether Sea Flood Beast radiated a faint but formidable dragon might.

It could clearly sense the changes within itself; the shackles in its body had been broken. In a magical beast clan, bloodline was of utmost importance.

Not only did it retain the rank of a sixth-grade beast, but its hidden ailments vanished entirely. Coupled with the mysterious new bloodline, the Nether Sea Flood Beast knew its opportunity to advance had arrived.

“Master, this act is a grace akin to remaking me. From now on, I shall follow you and risk my life by your side!” The beast had been nearing the end of its life, unsure when death would claim it. The royal family’s kindness had long been repaid. Now, with a new beginning, it knew what choice to make.

“Greetings, Master!” Ultimately, Jia Xingtian lowered his proud head and recognized Lin An as his lord.

“Rest assured, the Jia Ma Empire will not undergo drastic changes. You need only carry out the tasks I assign you,” Lin An said.

“Please instruct me, Master!” Jia Xingtian replied respectfully.

“These are ten envoys of the Hall of Yama. I now grant them new identities. Assign them to the empire’s Sky Prison to collect the souls of those who perish there,” Lin An said. Ten envoys shrouded in shadowy mist appeared behind him; aside from two clusters of ghostly flames, their forms were invisible.

This was part of Lin An’s carefully prepared plan. Where do most people die of natural causes? Undoubtedly, it is within the empire’s major prisons. Whether enemy spies or heinous criminals, those sentenced to death are executed swiftly.

Currently, the Hall of Yama does not possess eighteen levels of hell and cannot accommodate those with deep resentment or powerful souls. Only those who die naturally, or not at the hands of the hall’s forces, can be directly converted into soul points.

Lin An guessed that only when the hall’s rank increased further could it accommodate so many powerful souls.

“Yes, Master, I will arrange everything for them,” Jia Xingtian promised. The ten envoys, before their eyes, transformed into ordinary humans and departed the hall.

Jia Xingtian led the ten envoys away from the place he had long used for seclusion.

“Indeed, only great power commands true awe!” Having subdued Jia Xingtian so easily, Lin An once again marveled at the advantages of strength.

Had Yunshan only been at the Douhuang realm today, it would have been impossible to force Jia Xingtian to submit so effortlessly.

Lin An’s urgency to strengthen himself had another reason: the threat of the Soul Hall.

According to Yunshan, the Soul Hall member he had previously killed by luck was not the most formidable. The true expert was known as Vulture Protector, whose strength was also at the Douzong level, and far surpassed Yunshan’s current power.

Thus, Lin An needed a vast number of soul points. If the Vulture Protector dared to appear, only by forcibly raising Yunshan’s realm could he hope to resist.

Or perhaps, confront the Soul Hall itself.

Ultimately, Lin An’s own realm was still too low. To reach the Four-Star Dou Shi rank at his age was already considered genius, but for Lin An, it was far from enough.

Only when one’s strength is great, and no longer relies on external aid, is one truly powerful.

With the matter resolved, his attention turned to Yao Chen’s side.