Chapter 429: Blood Covenant
Qinghe relaxed when he heard that Ning Xuan hadn’t rejected his proposal. The seventh sub-basement had been built to contain the delirious Qinghe. Although it was now damaged beyond recognition, its mission was complete now that Qinghe was leaving. The compensation Ning Xuan was worried about wasn’t an issue.
After all, Qinghe had fought for the Federation in the Realm of Chaos. He had accumulated enough distinguished military achievements to offset the damages.
About half an hour later, Qinghe was finally able to revert to his human form. However, his intact horn had shrunk to the length of a pinky finger, sitting atop his head like an ornament. As for his broken horn, only a scar-like mark remained flat against his scalp, hidden from view by his hair.
His chest, back, arms, and legs were all covered in dark red scales. The clothes he had worn before transforming had long since been torn to shreds. At this moment, Qinghe was completely unclothed.
Qinghe calmly took a set of clothes out of his Space Button, dressed himself deftly, and followed Ning Xuan out through the emergency exit.
When Chairman Wang heard Qinghe say he wanted to form a Blood Covenant with Ning Xuan, she looked at him with a complicated expression. She wanted to dissuade him, but Qinghe’s attitude was firm. In the end, she couldn’t say much more. She transferred Qinghe’s Contract to Ning Xuan’s name and witnessed the two form the Blood Covenant.
“Qinghe, once you give your Blood Core Essence to Ning Xuan, your life will be entirely in her hands. If she dies, you can only follow her in death. Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Honestly, your best option is to establish a Spiritual Link Channel with her. That way, you still couldn’t betray her, but if something were to happen to her in the future, you would only suffer a great loss of strength and a drop in Level. At least you wouldn’t die instantly,” Chairman Wang privately advised Qinghe before the Blood Covenant was formed.
Whether they were Spirit Controllers or Half-beastmen, only those whose Spiritual Power Level reached SSS-level could condense a Blood Core. Handing over the Blood Core Essence was equivalent to handing over one’s life. Moreover, influenced by the Blood Core Essence, he couldn’t be away from Ning Xuan for too long.
“After all, I’ve established connections with other Controllers before. How could Miss Ning possibly be willing to link with me again? If it weren’t for Ning Xuan, I might not have survived today’s ordeal. You could say she saved my life. Even if I have to give it back to her, I accept it,” Qinghe said with a determined gaze.
Ning Xuan left the Controller Protection Association with Qinghe. Yun Han had also just witnessed the formation of the Blood Covenant. Although he hadn’t yet condensed a Blood Core, he had, after all, reached the threshold of SSS-level. Therefore, he had long been familiar with this method of forming a Blood Covenant based on a Blood Core. As far as he knew, no one would willingly hand over their Blood Core Essence. And yet, here one was.
Ning Xuan looked inward and saw a fingernail-sized piece of Blood Jade in her Dantian. The Blood Jade floated quietly there. Ning Xuan directed her Ghost-faced Red Vine to wrap around the Blood Jade, coiling around it tightly.
“Ugh…” Walking beside her, Qinghe suddenly began to breathe rapidly. His face flushed beet red, and even his eyes filled with bloodshot veins, as if he were being choked.
Ning Xuan quickly withdrew the Ghost-faced Red Vine. Qinghe gasped for air, and after a moment, the color returned to his face.
“Sorry, I didn’t realize it would affect you so much,” Ning Xuan explained, a little embarrassed.
“I’m fine. Don’t worry, Master.” Qinghe had only known that by giving up his Blood Core Essence, he would die if Ning Xuan died. He never expected, however, that Ning Xuan could actually control the Blood Core Essence itself. ‘He had never heard of such a thing!’
Qinghe couldn’t figure it out, but he couldn’t let any dissatisfaction show on his face. He was afraid Ning Xuan would read too much into it.
Yun Han observed Qinghe’s reaction from beginning to end. ‘I’ll have to do more research on the records related to Blood Covenants when I get back,’ he thought.
The three of them returned to the Qingluan Mountain villa. Di Youlin, who had rushed out excitedly to welcome Ning Xuan, found his expression souring the moment he saw Qinghe.
Before Ning Xuan returned, Di Youlin had already spoken with Yu Mingche. Once this period was over and Yun Han had returned to the Heavenly Might Corps, it would be his turn.
But now, Ning Xuan had gone out and brought back another one. Di Youlin’s gaze toward Qinghe was filled with hostility.
In the Advanced Combat Power Domain, Di Youlin’s reputation was formidable. However, Qinghe was a cut above him.
This was mainly because Qinghe was a few years older, had become famous earlier, and had achieved an outstanding combat record in the Realm of Chaos.
“Greetings, Lord Contract Master,” Di Youlin said, bowing to Ning Xuan.
“There’s no need for such formalities.” Ning Xuan walked past Di Youlin without stopping and went through the main door.
Ning Xuan first went to find Yu Mingche and asked him to arrange accommodations for Qinghe. Then, she dove straight into the Cultivation Room. She’d had some insights regarding her Cultivation while treating Qinghe today, and she needed to review them.
While Ning Xuan was busy with her Cultivation, Yu Mingche met with Qinghe. He was shocked to learn that he had already formed a Blood Covenant with Ning Xuan.
Although Yu Mingche’s physical constitution and Comprehensive Combat Power Level weren’t high, his Spiritual Power Value was, and his Spiritual Sea’s potential was also immense. Therefore, even though he had yet to condense a Blood Core, he understood the importance of a Blood Core and the restrictions of a Blood Covenant. Those who could condense a Blood Core were all the top-tier combatants in this world, possessing great social status and influence. ‘How could they willingly submit to another’s control?’
Di Youlin had already reached SSS-level, but he had once been severely injured, damaging his Blood Core. Not much time had passed since he’d regained his senses, and his Blood Core was still in the process of re-condensing.
“Thank you very much for your trust in Ning Xuan. Rest assured, as long as you do your part and do nothing to harm Ning Xuan, she will not mistreat you,” Yu Mingche said to Qinghe with great solemnity.
With another SSS-level top-tier combatant by Ning Xuan’s side, her safety was further guaranteed. Yu Mingche was therefore very pleased with Qinghe’s arrival.
“Today, I am indebted to the Master for saving my life. In the future, I will also have to rely on the Master to clear the accumulated pollutants from my body. I have no way to repay this debt, but I happened to hear that someone wants to move against the Master. I thought perhaps I could be of some use. In the future, I ask for Lord Yu’s guidance,” Qinghe said politely, bowing to Yu Mingche.
He had been in constant contact with Lan Xin, so he naturally knew that as Ning Xuan’s husband, Yu Mingche held significant authority in this household.
“General Qinghe, you’re too kind. Come, let me introduce you to the others, though you know most of them. Di Youlin should be staying home for the next few months. First, I’ll take you to meet Yan Fuzhen. He’s the head butler of the estate. You can go to him with any requests, though of course, you can also come directly to me.” Yu Mingche then led Qinghe to find Yan Fuzhen, introducing him to the various areas of the villa one by one, such as the conference room, the reception hall, Ning Xuan’s courtyard, the various training rooms, and so on.