Chapter 2141: Enslaved
Yun Che, bathed in Light Profound Energy, looked almost ethereal, his entire being exuding a sacred, untouchable presence.
Yet, his focus remained entirely on Long Xi as he continued guiding his power to help her recover.
Only when the Abyssal Monarch spoke did he finally lift his gaze.
"I…"
"As much as I want to destroy the dragon race for what they have done to my daughter…"
"I also saw myself in their shoes."
"?????"
The dragons stared at him in confusion.
Not a single one of them had expected these words.
Yun Che sighed, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling dragons.
"Earlier, when the Dragon Lord thought his son had been killed, he lost all restraint and went berserk."
"So did my father, Meng Kongchan, when he believed I had been killed by the Dragon Lord's wrath."
"He, too, flew into a rage because of it."
"And I…"
Yun Che's fingers unconsciously tightened around Long Xi, his eyes darkening for a moment.
"I did the same when I saw Long Xi's blood."
His words were steady, but beneath them, there was a deep and complex emotion.
An understanding that only those who had lost someone precious would know.
Then, after a moment of silence, he spoke again.
"I will not pursue anything further for what you have done to my daughter."
"After all…" His gaze shifted toward Long Wangchu,
"We should be even."
His words echoed through the hall, carrying an undeniable finality.
The dragons, the Divine Kingdoms, the High Priests—everyone who had expected Yun Che's wrath—
Now found themselves staring in stunned silence.
No one had expected this outcome.
Beside Yun Che, Hua Caili's hand tightened, her fingers curling slightly as she looked at him.
Her eyes shimmered with a mix of emotions—
Surprise.
Joy.
Pride.
This was her man.
"This..."
Meng Kongchan's gaze lingered on his son, his thoughts complex and deep.
Ever since Yun Che had returned home three years ago, he had displayed an unyielding nature when it came to certain things.
They had many interactions over the years, yet he had never truly seen this side of his son before.
Not like this.
A man who, even when given absolute power, chose to show restraint.
A man who, even when consumed by fury, chose to show mercy.
As a father—he was proud.
So incredibly proud.
"We... WE THANK DIVINE SON YUAN FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS!!!!"
The moment the dragons processed Yun Che's words, their spirits leapt with overwhelming relief.
To them, this was not just mercy.
It was a second chance at life itself.
Words could never fully express the emotions flooding their hearts in that moment.
As expected of someone blessed with Light Profound Energy…
His heart was as pure as snow.
Even after everything that had happened, even after the betrayal, the suffering, and the loss…
He could still forgive.
If only they knew—
That the Yun Che standing before them now...
Was merely playing the role forced upon him by circumstance and necessity.
How could he ever truly forgive them?
The Ancestral Dragon Clan had crossed a line that should never be crossed.
If this were anywhere else…
If this were not the Pure Land, where he was surrounded by enemies…
If this were the Fog Sea—
He had already sworn in his heart…
That he would tear the dragons apart, limb by limb.
But for now—he had to endure.
He had to push aside those thoughts.
He had to wait.
And when the time finally came…
They would all pay the price.
"Such a spirit…"
The Abyssal Monarch's thoughts remained silent, yet his eyes carried a deep glimmer of interest.
"As expected of my big brother's inheritor."
Truthfully, even he was surprised by Yun Che's actions and words.
But at the same time—it made perfect sense.
For a man who had been accepted by fate itself…
For a man who had received the power of his big brother.
For a man who had somehow managed to make Shen Xi fall in love with him, and even have a daughter with her…
This much was to be expected.
In truth, during the Gods and Devils Era, Mo Su had not interacted much with Long Shen Xi.
But because of his father's status, he had always known of her.
She was the disciple of the Goddess of Life, Li Suo—one of the four Creation Gods, just like his own father.
And now, after millions of years…
To think that he had discovered her daughter…
Here, in the Abyss.
This could only mean one thing.
Shen Xi, just like him, had fallen into the Abyss long, long ago.
But unlike him—
She had remained hidden all this time.
This amused him.
A woman like her…
One of the most peerless existences of her time…
Had managed to stay hidden for so long.
"But how…"
His eyes subtly shifted back to Yun Che.
"Just how on earth did he manage to find her?"
As everyone's thoughts raced, Yun Che's voice suddenly broke through the silence like a blade.
"But a punishment is still a must."
"What the fuck…"
Meng Kongchan almost fell from his seat, his eyebrow twitching uncontrollably as he cursed his son internally.
All the Divine Kingdoms' figures who had started developing a favorable impression of Yun Che immediately felt their expressions stiffen.
"The fuck?!"
"Why would you say all of those things earlier then?!"
"Were you just toying with our emotions?!?"
"You sat there looking all holy like a fucking god—and now this?!?"
For a moment, the entire hall was left in an awkward, stunned silence.
The dragons, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, felt their souls tighten in fear once more.
And Yun Che?
He simply stood there, his expression as calm as ever.
As if he hadn't just sent half the room into an emotional rollercoaster.
"...What is our punishment, Divine Son Yuan?"
In the end, what was coming would inevitably arrive.
The Dragon Lord finally lowered his head and asked the question.
Yun Che's gaze swept over the dragons, his expression calm but unyielding.
"I will not pursue the matter of you harming my daughter."
"But harming your own race—"
"That is an entirely different matter."
A realization dawned on the gathered figures.
Indeed!
The dragons harming Yun Che's daughter was one matter.
But knowingly harming someone with a purer bloodline…
A bloodline that belonged to their own True Ancestor…
That was a crime against their very existence.
"What do you propose, Divine Son Yuan?"
The High Priest finally spoke, his voice filled with curiosity.
Even the Abyssal Monarch, who had been quietly watching, showed a glimmer of intrigue.
Yun Che's eyes turned cold as he delivered his judgment.
"The dragons shall have their spots reduced in the Eternal Pure Land passage."
"That is your punishment."
BOOM!
His words struck like a divine decree, sending shockwaves through the hall.
The entire Ancestral Dragon Clan stiffened.
To lose spots in the Eternal Pure Land passage…
That was not just a simple punishment.
It was a crippling loss.
A direct blow to their future.
Though Yun Che had spared their lives,
He had taken away something even more valuable.
Their path forward.
"!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
The moment Yun Che's words fell, the entire hall erupted in shock.
This punishment was vicious.
Vicious beyond words.
The Eternal Pure Land passage was already incredibly limited—
Fifty spots was nothing compared to the population of an entire race.
But now—
Yun Che wanted to reduce that number even further?!
This was no different from slowly killing them.
A punishment harsher than death itself.
"Divine Son Yuan… we can't…"
The Dragon Lord's face turned pale, his body trembling uncontrollably.
He truly could not accept this.
It was true—
When he had believed his son was dead, he had been prepared to throw his life away.
But now that his son had survived…
His will to live burned stronger than ever.
He fully understood that his sins were beyond redemption.
He knew that he had no right to beg for mercy.
But this punishment…
This punishment was too cruel.
To take away their future was to take away everything.
If the next generation of dragons could not enter the Eternal Pure Land…
Then their entire race would slowly fade into nothing.
A flash of determination suddenly ignited in the Dragon Lord's eyes.
"Even if this takes away all our pride…"
"Even if we must bear humiliation for eternity…"
"It is still better than being left with nothing!"
At that moment—
He made a decision.
One that would forever change the fate of his race.
"Divine Son Yuan, we dragons are prideful—you should know that better than anyone."
"But for our sins… we are willing to serve you as our Lord!"
With his mind fully made up, the Dragon Lord lowered his head and declared his decision.
"Dragon Lord! What do you think you're saying?!!!!!"
The moment those words left his mouth,
The entire room erupted into chaos.
To swear their entire race into servitude—to place the Ancestral Dragon Clan beneath another…
This was unheard of!
This was unthinkable!
For an ancient and powerful race to bend their heads and offer themselves as servants—
This was a disgrace beyond disgrace!
"Father… you…"
Long Wangchu stared at his father, his expression filled with disbelief.
He wanted to speak out, to protest, but…
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Long Xi—
Still lying injured in Yun Che's arms.
At that moment, all the words he wanted to say… disappeared.
"Are you sure about that?"
Yun Che's voice was cold, his expression unreadable.
The entire hall fell into silence, every gaze locked onto the Dragon Lord.
"Yes!!!"
The Dragon Lord answered without hesitation.
Why wouldn't he?
Not only would this resolve today's disaster,
It would also forge a true connection between the Ancestral Dragon Clan and the Dreamweaver Divine Kingdom.
Not to mention—
Long Xi's mother, Yun Che's woman, the True God of the Dragon Race, was still out there.
If she were to return one day…
Then this one decision could change everything.
This was not just submission.
This was a calculated gamble.
It was using one stone to kill multiple birds at once.
It was a win-win-win situation.
"But I don't trust you."
Yun Che's voice was plain, direct, and without hesitation.
The moment those words fell, the Dragon Lord's expression stiffened.
"This…"
This put him in a difficult position immediately.
How could he prove his loyalty?
How could he make Yun Che trust him?
His mind raced for a solution—
But before he could respond, Yun Che continued.
"Although, in the entire Abyss, I can confidently claim that my talent is unmatched…"
As he spoke, Yun Che's eyes swept over the Divine Sons and young geniuses present.
One by one—
They all lowered their heads.
Even Dian Jiuzhi, after a brief moment of reluctance, contracted his gaze before finally choosing to avert his eyes.
"But my cultivation is still too low compared to yours."
"How can I trust that if I accept you at my side today…"
"You won't simply slap me to death one day when I no longer serve your interests?"
Yun Che's words were sharp, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
His cold gaze locked directly onto the Dragon Lord's eyes.
The hall fell into deep silence.
Because he was right.
This wasn't just his concern—
It was the concern of many present.
The gods, in particular, immediately saw through the Dragon Lord's intent.
They could tell that he was trying to forge ties, attempting to secure a new future for his race through servitude.
But the gap in power between them was far too wide.
If, one day, the Dragon Lord chose to betray Yun Che…
Who would stop him?
It wasn't as if a True God could stand beside Yun Che at all times, watching the Dragon Lord's every move.
The silence grew heavier.
"This… I…"
The Dragon Lord was at a complete loss for words.
Yun Che's statement had trapped him completely.
He could not refute it—because it was true.
And yet, he had no answer.
Just as the silence threatened to drag on…
A voice broke through.
"Since you have said so much, I believe you must have already thought of a solution, right, Divine Son Yuan?"
Surprisingly—
The one who spoke was the Abyssal Monarch himself!
Yun Che's eyes flickered subtly.
Inside, his thoughts ran coldly and precisely.
"As expected of the son of a Creation God…"
"You saw through my plan already…"
But—
Since the Monarch had already given him the stage, Yun Che had no reason to hesitate.
"Your Majesty, I have indeed thought of a solution."
"But the real question is—"
"Will you allow it?"
The hall fell silent once more.
Every figure present held their breath.
Even the Dragon Lord, still struggling to find his footing, finally turned his full attention to Yun Che.
"What is it, Divine Son Yuan?"
He forced himself to ask, waiting for Yun Che's judgment.
Then—
Yun Che spoke.
Two words.
"Slave Contract."
His voice was not loud—
Yet, it struck like a thunderclap across the entire hall.
"!!!!!!!!"
A collective gasp erupted among the gathered figures.
SLAVE CONTRACT?!
This wasn't just a pledge of loyalty.
This wasn't just an oath.
This was absolute submission.
A contract that bound one's very soul—
Forcing them into eternal servitude.
At that moment—
Every dragon felt their blood turn cold.
If they accepted this punishment…
Then their entire race would be forever bound to Yun Che's will.
This was far worse than anything they had imagined.
This was true, irreversible enslavement.
"YOU!!!!"
A thunderous roar of fury erupted from the dragons.
Their rage exploded as they pointed their fingers at Yun Che, their expressions twisting in indignation.
If this weren't the Pure Land, they would have already torn him apart on the spot.
The Dragon Lord's face darkened.
Yet, he did not lash out.
He remained silent, his gaze sinking into deep thought.
Meanwhile, Yun Che smiled coldly.
"See?"
"If one day, I have the dragons as my servants…"
"And I accidentally anger them…"
"Won't I just be killed?"
"I'm just a weak little Divine Master, after all."
His tone was light, almost playful, yet…
His words carried undeniable logic.
To everyone present, his reasoning was sound.
Even the gods had to acknowledge the truth in it.
Without a Slave Contract, what guarantee was there that the dragons wouldn't one day betray him?
If Yun Che were just another True God, perhaps power alone would be enough to keep them in check.
But he wasn't.
He was a mere Divine Master—far too weak to suppress an entire race of dragons.
A contract of absolute control was the only way to ensure their loyalty.
Then—
A voice broke through the tense silence.
"I'll do it."
Everyone turned sharply toward the speaker.
It was…
The Dragon Lord himself.
"My Lord, you can't!"
One of the dragon elders cried out, his voice filled with desperation.
"I've already made up my mind."
The Dragon Lord's voice was firm, his expression unwavering.
At that moment—
The entire hall fell into a deathly silence.
No one could believe what they had just heard.
Even the dragons themselves stared in disbelief.
Because with these simple words…
The Dragon Lord had just sealed the fate of his entire race.
In the end, the Dragon Lord took a slow, careful step forward, dragging his bloodied, injured body as he approached Yun Che, who stood bathed in a sacred white light.
His expression was still filled with reluctance, but ultimately, he could not refuse.
With a deep, weary breath, he lowered himself to one knee, the act alone shattering the last remnants of his dignity.
He let go of all of his soul defenses.
This moment—
This submission—
Was absolute.
"Your Majesty, Elder High Priests, and Divine Regents…"
"Please bear witness to my submission."
"I, the Dragon Lord of the Ancestral Dragon Clan…"
"Hereby fully submit to Divine Son Yuan."
"May Divine Son Yuan let go of our past grudges… and lead the dragons to a brighter future."
His voice trembled with emotion.
Because at this moment, his fate was no longer his own.
Under the Slave Contract, Yun Che would hold absolute control over his life.
If Yun Che wished for him to die, then he would die.
If Yun Che commanded him to destroy his own race, then he would be unable to refuse.
This was not just an oath.
This was true, irreversible servitude.
The price of placing one's life in another's hands was unbearable.
But…
If it meant resolving this disaster, preserving what remained of his people…
Then so be it.
The hall was dead silent.
Everyone watched, frozen, as the once proud Dragon Lord knelt in submission.
This was a scene none of them would ever forget.
With the Dragon Lord submitting to Yun Che, it wasn't just one individual falling into servitude—
It was the entire Dragon Clan.
The Dragon Lord was the peak of their strength, the pillar that held their race together.
Even though the Slave Contract would make it impossible for him to defy his master, he would still retain his will and authority outside of Yun Che's commands.
He would still remain the Dragon Lord.
Long Wangchu's eyes welled with unshed tears as he took in the sight of his father kneeling.
He could see everything clearly now.
The sacrifice his father was making—
Not just for him, but for their entire race.
"All because of my poor talent."
The thought gnawed at his heart like poison.
If only he had been stronger—
If only he had been more worthy—
Then perhaps his father would never have had to go this far.