Lin Chuan slowly lowered his hands and watched as the blue crossed seal and the two hooks curving in opposite directions on Zhongchuan Jin's forehead gradually faded away. He sighed inwardly.
He had only just broken free from one set of shackles, only to enter another. Zhongchuan Jin's fate was truly tragic, but there was no other way. Between Lin Chuan and Zhongchuan Jin, there was no right or wrong—only mutual fulfillment and exploitation.
Lin Chuan needed the Imperial Family's secrets, as well as this nail driven deep into the heart of the Imperial Family. What Zhongchuan Jin wanted was freedom from the fate of enslavement—not for himself to escape it, but for his descendants to do so.
Compared to everything the Supreme One Clan had done to the Central River Imperial Family, Lin Chuan was already being exceedingly merciful.
"This technique is called Caged Bird. With a single thought, I can easily destroy the brain of anyone afflicted by it and kill them. And there is no way to undo it—not until you die," Lin Chuan said slowly.
"Caged Bird..." Zhongchuan Jin smiled faintly and raised his head to gaze at the sky. He was destined never to soar through this world, so he would let his descendants accomplish it in his stead. "A fitting name..."
Lin Chuan then pointed a finger at Zhongchuan Jin's throat. A rune instantly descended, sank into his body, and vanished.
"This is the Flying Thunder God Formula. I am the only one in the entire cultivation world who can use it. No matter where you are, I can find you through this formula and instantly arrive at your side," Lin Chuan continued.
Then Lin Chuan extended his right hand. Several black chakra rods stretched out from his palm, and he handed them to