Chapter 361: Convincing Xu Yun
After solidifying his changed plan, Tang Yin extended his divine sense into Xu Yun’s soul.
Just as he had done with Xin Shaung, Tang Yin carefully constructed a complex symbol, crafting the intricate design of the Heaven Binding Seal within Xu Yun’s soul.
As Tang Yin meticulously sketched each stroke of the symbol, an intense soul aura seemed to emanate from his actions. Each stroke appeared to embed itself deeply within Xu Yun’s soul and essence, forming an unbreakable connection once etched.
Once the Heaven Binding Seal was successfully embedded within a soul, it held a remarkable property. No matter how powerful the individual became, they would remain bound by its influence, unable to free themselves from its grasp.
However, such a scenario was highly unlikely. After all, why would an individual of such high power even permit the Heaven Binding Seal to be implanted within their soul in the first place?
In a short period, a complex symbol, signifying ’slave’ in a foreign language, was etched into Xu Yun’s soul. The Heaven Binding Seal activated, cementing her status as Tang Yin’s slave.
Having established her as his slave, Tang Yin released Xu Yun from the Sun-Moon Great Illusion Art, allowing her to return to her normal consciousness.
As she opened her eyes, they filled with confusion.
"Brother Asura, what happened?" Xu Yun exclaimed after regaining her senses.
With a calm and composed demeanour, Tang Yin looked at Xu Yun and said, "Xu Yun, from now on, you will serve me without question. Your loyalty and obedience are now bound to me by the Heaven Binding Seal. You will follow my instructions and carry out my orders without hesitation."
"What?!" Xu Yun exclaimed in shock. She moved away from Tang Yin with a sudden leap and immediately began examining her own soul using her divine sense. This only intensified her anger, and her emotions were clearly visible as she looked visibly upset.
Why would the person she had feelings for betray her like this?!
Tang Yin’s grin widened as he locked his gaze onto Xu Yun, who suddenly experienced a surge of pressure within her body, as though she was on the verge of exploding. Overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness and intense pain, she struggled to cope with the situation.
No matter how much she exerted herself to remove the Heaven Binding Seal, she found herself utterly unable to even budge it, let alone remove it.
"That’s enough. If you attempt to struggle any further, I will end your life." Tang Yin’s cold voice, like a chilling wind, pierced into her ears.
Engulfed by despair, she collapsed to her knees, tears streaming down her beautiful face.
"Why..." she murmured, her voice tinged with disbelief. The surreal nature of the situation was difficult for her to comprehend. In the span of a moment, she had transitioned from a pleasant conversation with Tang Yin to becoming his slave. How could this have even happened!?
"You’re quite useful to me. I’ll give you everything you want. I’ll even kill the Demonic Beast that slaughtered your grandfather. I’ll give you everything you want and in return, all I ask is that you listen to everything I say." Tang Yin lied through his teeth as he displayed a gentle expression full of kindness.
Xu Yun was taken aback by the situation, yet her scepticism lingered. "Why did you need to enslave me then? You should understand that I’d follow you willingly without needing to be your slave." Her expression shifted back to one of frustration, she felt a deep sense of injustice.
"There is something that I must do that requires your absolute cooperation. I can’t risk the possibility of your refusal." Tang Yin explained, offering a half-truth without revealing everything.
"Don’t worry, once that matter is completed, I will release you from the enslavement seal and grant you your freedom. After that, what you choose to do with me is entirely up to you." Tang Yin continued with his fabricated tale, concealing his true intentions.
He had to carefully phrase his words to make them appealing and convincing to Xu Yun. If he could make her believe him, she would be more likely to carry out his instructions without raising any suspicion from her parents or Elder Liang.
After a brief moment of contemplation, Xu Yun began to see the potential benefits of cooperating with Tang Yin. He reassured her that he only required her assistance for a relatively minor task. In return, he promised to release her from the enslavement seal and fulfil her desires.
Moreover, with her now entirely under Tang Yin’s control, there seemed to be no reason for him to deceive her. Why would he have any reason to lie to her when he had complete control over her life and death?
Xu Yun’s innocence and lack of exposure to the harsh realities of the cultivation world left her vulnerable to manipulation. A more experienced cultivator would likely have been more cautious and sceptical in her situation, recognizing the potential risks involved.
"What is it that you need me to do?" Xu Yun inquired. She couldn’t help but wonder about the significance of the task at hand, considering that Tang Yin had gone to the extent of enslaving her and requesting her cooperation in a seemingly pleading manner.
"I want you to approach your parents, Wan Mei and Xu Cheng, and express your desire to venture outside the Thousand Blossom Pavilion for cultivation experience. Suggest that they accompany you for safety, and also make a point to involve Elder Liang in this matter."
"You know that your parents have encouraged you to explore the cultivation world, and this can be your pretext to leave the Thousand Blossom Pavilion. Rest assured, I don’t possess the strength to match your parents or Elder Liang. I couldn’t even plan to harm them."
"I’ve come across specific information related to Senior Brother Qian’s death. However, my trust is limited, and I can only confide in individuals who were close to him, such as your parents and Elder Liang."
"As for why I bound you under my control, it’s to ensure your discretion. My presence must remain concealed until I have a chance to meet your parents and Elder Liang outside the Thousand Blossom Pavilion."
"Moreover, I need you to maintain a facade of normalcy. Any hint of suspicion could expose that you’re not seeking experience outside the Pavilion, but rather leading them to meet me."
Tang Yin explained his intentions to Xu Yun in detail, outlining the tasks he required her to perform. He also offered a comprehensive explanation for why he had resorted to enslaving her as part of his plan.
Xu Yun’s initial distress began to subside as she grasped that Tang Yin’s actions were not driven by ill intentions, and the tasks he asked of her weren’t characteristically hostile.
His only goal was to meet with her grandfather’s closest family members and engage in a conversation with them.
However, she wasn’t a 7-year-old child either. "How can I be sure that you won’t kill me or discard me once your goals are achieved?" Xu Yun inquired with a serious expression.
Even though her imagination often ran wild, she understood that Tang Yin didn’t share the same feelings for her as she did for him. Thus, she realized he might not hesitate to cast her aside once his objective was fulfilled.
"How can I possibly harm you when your parents and Elder Liang will be there with you? Furthermore, I’m genuinely trying to help with the justice for Senior Brother Qian’s death."
"However, I understand if you still doubt my intentions. So, tell me, what can I do to earn your trust?" Tang Yin inquired with a sigh, aware of his slyness and the various strategies at his disposal.
He was prepared to agree to whatever she suggested in order to gain her trust. Once he achieved his goal, he could easily find a way to nullify any restrictions or conditions Xu Yun might impose on him to ensure his compliance.
"I want you to swear a Divine Oath." Xu Yun demanded, her voice holding a determined confidence that came from her heart. She knew that breaking a Divine Oath would result in severe Divine Retribution, a fate even her seemingly invincible late grandfather, Qian Zhong, would not be able to escape.
Given that even her respected grandfather couldn’t evade the consequences of a Divine Oath, Xu Yun doubted that Tang Yin, who was even less powerful, could avoid the severe repercussions of breaking such an oath.
Tang Yin appeared deep in thought for a moment before consenting. "Alright, I agree." Without delay, he proceeded to swear the Divine Oath:
"I, Demonic Asura, in the presence of Heaven, Earth, and the world, swear to release Xu Yun after she has completed her task and to undo the Heaven Binding Seal within her soul."
"I also swear that my intentions are solely to meet with Wan Mei, Xu Cheng, and Elder Liang for a discussion. Should my intentions waver, may Divine Retribution strike me down!" As he finished swearing the Divine Oath, his gaze shifted to the satisfied Xu Yun.
"Alright, Brother Asura, I believe you. I’ll do whatever you say." She said with a friendly smile, her earlier frightened expression fading away after Tang Yin had sworn the Divine Oath.
In the next moment, a crimson string materialized before Tang Yin, representing the manifestation of his Divine Oath.
It swiftly cut through space and appeared before him, attempting to enter his soul. However, Tang Yin snorted with a touch of disdain.
He extended his hand and seized the crimson string that was fervently attempting to enter his soul.
Instead of allowing it to enter, he let it hover within his Soul Sea, keeping it contained and under constant observation from his soul.
