A Shift in Power

The atmosphere within the VIP lounge was thick with tension. Shen Ya let out a soft chuckle before standing up and walking toward Gu Tian. Her demeanor exuded superiority as she spoke in a cold tone.

"You don't have the right to refuse, Gu Tian. Your only choice is to accept."

Gu Tian gazed at her with icy, emotionless eyes before shifting his focus to the middle-aged man casually sipping tea on the sofa. His voice remained calm and steady.

"No other options, then?"

Shen Ya's lips curled into a faint smile as she stepped closer, grabbing Gu Tian's arm. She intended to use his blood to complete the contract, ensuring that he would sign it—one way or another.

However, in that split second

CRACK!

A sickening sound of bones snapping echoed through the room.

Shen Ya's eyes widened in utter disbelief as she realized what had just happened.

Gu Tian had crushed her wrist with overwhelming force, shattering the bones within as he twisted her arm mercilessly.

"AAAH—!"

Before she could let out a full scream, BAM!

Gu Tian yanked her head down and slammed it against the marble table with devastating force, shattering the table clean in half. Blood splattered across the room.

Shen Ya didn't even feel the pain at first her shock far outweighed it. She was supposed to be the one in control here! How!?

Her dazed eyes flickered toward the professor from Warstorm University, the man who had accompanied her here. But the moment she laid eyes on him

She froze.

The professor was in an even worse state than her.

Blood poured from every part of his body, his eyes were wide with confusion and terror, and he coughed up mouthfuls of blood, unable to even muster the strength to scream.

Then, suddenly 

The pools of blood on the floor from the dying professor began to rise, twisting and forming into a dagger of pure crimson. Before Shen Ya could react

SLASH!

The blood dagger sliced her throat open, severing her vocal cords instantly.

"…!!!"

Her mouth opened in a silent scream, but no sound came out.

And yet, Gu Tian wasn't finished.

CRACK! CRACK!

The horrifying sound of shattering bones filled the air again. Her other arm snapped grotesquely, followed by both of her legs being crushed beyond recognition.

Her face contorted in pure agony and terror, her body convulsing involuntarily.

This… this isn't how it was supposed to happen!

Gu Tian showed no mercy. Without hesitation, he retrieved a small glass vial from his storage ring. Before Shen Ya could resist, he shoved it into her mouth, forcing her to swallow both the liquid and shards of glass inside.

Her eyes widened in horror.

She knew instinctively this wasn't medicine meant to heal her.

As soon as the mysterious liquid entered her body, her body began to convulse violently. A searing, invasive sensation spread through her, as if something foreign was permanently fusing into her being.

"Ugh…! Ugh…!!"

She instinctively tried to channel her power but nothing happened.

Her abilities were gone.

She had been completely restrained, rendered powerless.

Gu Tian then turned his attention to the professor, who was now writhing on the floor like a dying animal. His lifeblood was draining fast.

Gu Tian's voice was calm yet chilling as he spoke.

"No one ever taught you not to accept gifts from strangers?"

A faint smile appeared on Gu Tian's face as he calmly retrieved a snack from his spatial ring and took a bite. The atmosphere in the lounge remained heavy with tension. Shen Ya was overwhelmed by confusion and sheer terror. She couldn't comprehend what had just happened. Moments ago, she had been in complete control, yet now, she was nothing more than a helpless prey with no way to escape.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside the door. Her bodyguards had arrived. A flicker of hope ignited in her heart as she instinctively tried to move only to realize that her body refused to respond.

"Help… me…"

She struggled to speak, but only a faint whisper escaped her throat—her vocal cords had been severed. Relief barely had time to settle in before Gu Tian's voice rang out, calm yet mocking.

"Take off the disguises. You're not fooling anyone."

The two "bodyguards" froze in place before sighing lightly. Without hesitation, they removed their cloaks revealing themselves to be Gu Long and Guang Yue.

Shen Ya's entire body trembled. She instantly understood that she was now in a completely hopeless situation. Her father had given her life-saving treasures, but in her current condition, she couldn't even open her spatial ring to retrieve them.

Gu Long shook his head. "Was it really that obvious?"

Guang Yue, standing beside him, gave a soft smile, though her eyes were filled with chilling coldness. She walked over to the professor from Warstorm University, who lay in a pool of his own blood, and lifted his body effortlessly, sealing him in place with her power.

Gu Tian let out a short chuckle before speaking again.

"Mother, could you set up a barrier around me? And while you're at it, you and Father should start binding these three with a Celestial Oath and Chains of Truth."

Guang Yue nodded, raising her hand to form a pure white barrier around Gu Tian. Meanwhile, Gu Long summoned his beast.

A Divine Light Phoenix manifested beside Guang Yue, while Gu Long's Five-Clawed Celestial Dragon emerged with an earth-shattering presence. The overwhelming sacred energy spread throughout the room, causing Shen Ya's remaining two bodyguards and the professor from Warstorm University to freeze in place. They were completely restrained by Chains of Truth and bound to a Celestial Oath a contract that could never be broken. If any of them dared violate its conditions, death would be instantaneous.

Clause 1: You are forbidden from revealing anything that transpired here today.

Clause 2: You are forbidden from mentioning Gu Tian.

Clause 3: You are forbidden from disclosing any information regarding Gu Long and Guang Yue.

...

Clause 15: You are forbidden from attempting to destroy the Chains of Truth or the Celestial Oath by any means.

...

Clause 23: You are forbidden from allowing anyone to inspect your soul or memories under any circumstances.

...

Gu Long let out a sigh. "How many clauses do we have now?"

Guang Yue glanced at him and shook her head. "Around 127, I believe."

With that, they engraved the contract into Shen Ya's and the professor's very souls.

Inside the white energy barrier, Gu Tian was installing a strange device onto Shen Ya's head.

Her breath came in ragged gasps, her entire body drenched in sweat. Fear consumed her.

She finally understood. She should never have chosen Gu Tian.

She should have approached Wu Shuang instead perhaps things would have turned out better. She should have never toyed with the unpredictable.

But now, it was too late.

There was no turning back.

Gu Tian gazed down at her, his expression utterly devoid of sympathy.

He pressed the activation button.

"Beep."