He did not voice his plans, but simply flicked his finger, sending a secret message through the layers of restrictions in the main hall to two hidden residences within the clan.
A short while later, light footsteps sounded outside the hall. "My lord." "Come in."
The heavy palace doors slowly opened, and Hua An and Hua Yuan entered the hall one after the other, bowing respectfully in unison. Neither of them knew the reason for the urgent summons at midnight, but they felt that the atmosphere in the hall was even more somber and solemn tonight, adding a touch of oppression compared to usual, so their expressions became even more respectful and humble.
Hua Yin sat upright in the main seat, his eyebrows and eyes peaceful, his expression gentle, without a trace of hostility. All his ruthlessness, cunning, murderous intent, and scheming were buried deep within the origin of his Fate Soul, not revealed in the slightest.
He gazed silently at the two of them, then slowly spoke, his voice calm and even. "Hua Jingyun has been killed and completely erased by me." His words, light as a feather, shook the two men to their core.
Hua An and Hua Yuan froze simultaneously, abruptly raising their heads. From the moment they discovered and located Hua Jingyun's hiding place and reported it to Hua Yin, they had already foreseen this outcome. But when these words were truly uttered by Hua Yin, and the once extremely powerful elder of the Hua Lineage had completely perished, it still stirred up a tidal wave in their hearts.
After a moment of shock, the two forced themselves to suppress their emotions and bowed again. "Congratulations, sir, on eliminating your worries and clearing the obstacles in your path!" Hua Yin smiled faintly, his smile subtle and unreadable, "What happened tonight is known only to the three of us in this world."
The two men's expressions tightened abruptly, and they instantly became wary. Hua Yin's gaze remained calm as he slowly continued, "You two have followed me for many years, loyal and diligent, and I have witnessed it all."
The words paused slightly. "But..." The single word fell from the hall, sending a chill down their spines. Hua An and Hua Yuan felt a sudden chill in their hearts, and almost simultaneously knelt on both knees, their expressions filled with fear.
"My lord, you are wise!" Hua An's face was slightly pale, and he spoke earnestly, "We two swear to follow you to the death, and we will never betray you in this life!" "This night is a secret. Even if my Fate Soul Annihilation and my foundation is destroyed, I will never utter a single word to a fourth person!" Hua Yuan followed suit and swore an oath, his attitude resolute.
Hua Yin looked down at the two kneeling figures, a perfectly timed expression of emotion appearing on his face. He sighed softly, as if he were truly moved by their loyalty, but his heart remained as cold as ice.
Throughout his life, he was a master of political intrigue and scheming, never entrusting his safety to the oaths of others, not even those subordinates who swore to be loyal to him to the death. Moreover, these two knew far too many secrets.
Hua Yin remained calm and took out two crystal cores. As soon as the cores entered his palm, they emitted a rich and primordial luster, exuding a profound Daoist charm. They were priceless treasures that ordinary cultivators would dream of.
"Get up." Hua An and Hua Yuan hesitated as they rose, their minds still unsettled.
Hua Yin handed the two crystal cores to the two men, saying calmly, "You two have made invaluable contributions in finding Hua Jingyun's hiding place and helping me eliminate a major threat. This is a reward for you."
Their gazes fell upon the crystal core, a burning desire instinctively flashing in their eyes. Having followed Hua Yin for many years, they knew that his rewards were always exceptionally generous. But tonight's situation was special; the warning, "Only three people know," still echoed in their ears. The prospect of such a great reward did not bring them joy, but rather filled them with apprehension.
Hua Yuan was the first to suppress his greed, bowing his head and declining, "My lord has already rewarded me handsomely; I dare not accept another generous reward for this great achievement." Hua An quickly echoed, "It is my duty to share your burdens, my lord; I dare not take credit for this reward."
Hua Yin's brows furrowed slightly, his tone not harsh, yet carrying an undeniable air of authority: "Take it." "Don't say another word." The two trembled, daring not to disobey further, and could only shakily reach out to accept the crystal core, thanking him in hushed tones.
"Thank you, sir." Hua Yin watched quietly as the two accepted the gifts, a cold smile slowly curving his lips, the smile merely a facade, his eyes devoid of any warmth. "However, to ensure your long-term peace and stability, and to allow you to continue receiving my favors and rewards..."
Hua An's fingertips suddenly froze, the fear on Hua Yuan's face completely solidified, and Hua Yin slowly rose to his feet, his posture upright, his imposing aura growing stronger. "I have decided to take you two as Soul Thrall." The hall instantly Silent Void, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. "From this day forward, you two will be my only right and left arms."
Hua An and Hua Yuan stood silently, their eyes no longer able to conceal the deep-seated fear in their bones; they knew all too well what the "Soul Thrall" meant.
Becoming Soul Thrall means the path of cultivation will not be interrupted, one's realm and cultivation can continue to improve as usual, and there will be no obstacles to the comprehension of Fate Soul and the cultivation of the Great Dao. However, from the moment the Soul Seal is formed, the most core and fundamental source of one's Fate Soul will be completely handed over to the master's control.
In this life, fate is not in our own hands. The ancient lamps in the hall flickered, the light and shadows intertwined. Hua An swallowed hard, his palms were covered in cold sweat; Hua Yuan's body was tense, his mind sank to the bottom.
The thought of resistance had barely taken root when it was forcibly extinguished by the two men. Their cultivation levels were worlds apart from Hua Yin's, like heaven and earth. More importantly, they held irrefutable evidence of Hua Yin's murder and knew the most deadly secret.
Once they stepped into this grand hall tonight, they had no way out. Hua Yin took in all the struggles, fears, and resignations on their faces, his mind clear as a mirror, yet his expression remained gentle.
"Rest assured." "If I wanted to kill you two, I wouldn't need to waste my breath." "Furthermore, I wouldn't take you as my Directly Inherited Soul Thrall." A long silence enveloped the hall. Hua An and Hua Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing utter resignation and helplessness in each other's eyes.
Finally, the two knelt heavily once more, their bodies heavy with despair. "We... will obey your orders, sir." Hua Yin's smile finally became more genuine, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
"Very good." He slowly raised his hands, his palms facing the tops of the two people's heads respectively. Buzz—two dark and profound Fate Soul patterns rose from his palms, flowing with the cold Daoist charm of controlling the origin.
Hua An's body trembled first, followed closely by Hua Yuan. The dark patterns did not invade flesh or disturb the body, but went straight through the skin and meridians, sinking into the deepest core of their Fate Soul.
Hua An felt his Fate Soul core tighten suddenly, and a supreme binding force spread throughout the entire domain along the foundation of his existence. The Fate Soul origin that originally belonged entirely to him was forcibly engraved with a cold and dark foreign Dao pattern.
Hua Yuan's face was deathly pale, his breathing rapid, and his Daoist aura fluctuated wildly, yet he dared not offer the slightest resistance. Hua Yin's eyes narrowed slightly, his ten fingers slowly closing, his voice cold and solemn. "The soul returns to its master."
Buzz! Both Fate Soul trembled violently at the same time, their origins surging.
Hua An clenched his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead, and barely managed to steady himself by bracing himself with his hands on the ground to avoid losing his composure; Hua Yuan was drenched in cold sweat, which dripped down his cheeks and soaked his clothes, his chest heaving violently, enduring the entire ordeal in silence.
The dark lines on their palms continued to sink, take root, and lock in place, thoroughly probing the very core of their Fate Soul.
In the next instant, two Soul Seal, each the size of a grain of rice and dark and profound, slowly condensed into shape. One landed on the core of Hua An's Fate Soul Nucleus, and the other landed on the origin of Hua Yuan's Fate Soul.
The moment the Soul Seal completely closed and solidified, the two of them clearly sensed that an invisible, unsolvable, and eternally unbreakable bond of destiny had firmly bound them to Hua Yin.
This bond is usually hidden and invisible, neither disturbing cultivation, hindering realm, nor obstructing the Dao heart. But they are very clear in their hearts that from now on, as long as Hua Yin has a thought, this Soul Seal can affect their most fundamental Fate Soul source, control life and death, and grasp fortune and misfortune.
Hua Yin slowly withdrew his hands, the dark lines on his palms disappearing completely, restoring his peaceful appearance. Hua An and Hua Yuan remained kneeling on the ground, their faces pale, their breaths weak, their minds still reeling from the shock of the Fate Soul imprint.
Hua Yin lowered his gaze and looked down at the two of them, a cold, absolute sense of control flashing in his eyes. With this, Hua Jingyun's demise and the last two people who knew the truth were completely in his grasp, their lives and deaths in his hands, entirely under his control.
Inside the Grand Elder's Hall, the two Soul Seal had completely sunk into the Fate Soul essence of Hua An and Hua Yuan. Hua Yin withdrew his hands, and the lingering dark Daoist aura in the hall slowly dissipated. Hua An and Hua Yuan remained kneeling on the ground, the heavy shackles of having their Fate Soul controlled by others not yet completely lifted, and both of them had pale faces.
Hua Yin's gaze towards them had subtly changed. The previous scrutiny, defensiveness, and subtle intimidation had all melted away. He slowly stepped down from his high seat, a peaceful and gentle expression emanating from his eyes.
With the Soul Seal now in place, the Fate Soul was entirely under his control, eliminating any further potential for leaks. In Hua Yin's eyes, from this moment on, these two truly became his trusted confidants.
"Rise." Hua An and Hua Yuan immediately stood up, hands at their sides, their posture respectful. Hua Yin lightly flicked his sleeves, and two vast and ancient primordial auras slowly rippled out in front of him. Buzz—the two supreme treasures floated in the air, quietly swirling with spiritual light.
One is a black and gold ancient shuttle about half a foot long. The shuttle body is as thin as paper, with two sharp ends. There are no carvings or decorations on the whole body, only dozens of fine primordial Dao patterns that move back and forth along the center of the shuttle body.
As each line of Dao converges and flows, the surrounding space ripples with imperceptible folds, concealing the power to tear through the void. The other item is a palm-sized gray-silver ancient plate, with layers nested on its surface, inside and out, and a dark point of light that never falls in the center.
The profound essence of the primordial chaos was contained within, seemingly tranquil and still, but in reality, it concealed an ancient and profound Daoist charm. When Hua An and Hua Yuan raised their eyes at the same time and came into contact with the pure primordial Daoist charm flowing through the two treasures, the expressions in their eyes suddenly changed drastically.
"This is..." Hua Yin raised his hand and gently guided the two treasures, which landed precisely in their palms. "Primordial Supreme Treasure." These four short words shocked Hua An and Hua Yuan.
The two had thought that after becoming Soul Thrall, they would only be pawns at Hua Yin's mercy, their lives bound by constraints. They never expected that, just as the Soul Seal was applied and the bond was formed, the other party would directly bestow upon them two Primordial Supreme Treasure.
Hua Yin gazed at the two, his expression losing all its coldness, leaving only calm and solemnity. "Accept them." "These two Primordial Supreme Treasure belong to you two from this day forward. They must not be easily revealed to others except in a life-or-death situation."
His tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "This treasure can protect your Fate Soul and ensure your survival in dire circumstances."
Hua An held the black-gold ancient shuttle steadily in both hands, clearly feeling the subtle resonance between the treasure and her own Fate Soul. Her heart surged, and her breath hitched. Hua Yuan's fingertips lightly touched the surface of the gray-silver ancient plate.
The shock and ecstasy deep in their eyes could no longer be concealed. Having followed Hua Yin for many years, they had seen countless rare and precious treasures, but they had never dared to hope that one day they could truly wield such a primordial Primordial Supreme Treasure.