’Master has been captured?’

Rong Shisan’s pupils contracted. This was something he had never imagined.

In his eyes,

his Master was practically invincible. The only one who could defeat a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was another Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Senior, why are you running? I still have questions for you!"

Chen Che strolled over slowly, his hands behind his back.

The swirling dust and ash didn’t leave a single mark on him. In the dense forest, only his footsteps could be heard. Rong Shisan pressed his head to the ground, not daring to move. His own Master had been defeated; who would dare to face this man?

"Senior, spare me..."

The Fire Pattern Cultivator was bound like a rice dumpling by the Black Dragon Chain and pinned to the ground like a dead dog. He struggled to lift his head, his face filled with terror.

"Please, ask whatever you wish. I will tell you everything I know without reservation!"

Chen Che scoffed inwardly. ’Senior? Does he mistake me for someone else, or... No wonder he didn’t want to fight and just turned and fled.’

If the man had fought to the death, it would have taken Chen Che some effort to kill him. But who would have thought that after a single move, the man would be scared enough to flee for his life?

Still, this made things much more convenient.

"Your background!"

Chen Che relaxed slightly. He looked up just as the man’s voice came.

"This old one is named Rong Zhongxuan. I was originally a shepherd boy from Yu State. Seventy years ago, I was taken in as a disciple by the Sect Leader of the Red Flame Sect. Now, I am the twenty-ninth Sect Leader of the Red Flame Sect. The other three were my disciples, whom I’ve taken in over the past few decades."

"The Red Flame Sect?"

Chen Che frowned. "Never heard of it!"

"Reporting to Senior, the Red Flame Sect was destroyed by the Primordial Sect one hundred and fifty years ago. Only my Master escaped. He later met me on his travels and led me onto the path of cultivation..."

Rong Zhongxuan answered honestly.

Only then did Chen Che learn that the Red Flame Sect was a Sect similar to Jinyun Valley. At its peak, it had over twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

It could be considered a regional power in its own right.

One hundred and fifty years ago, when the Primordial Sect clashed with another Golden Core Major Sect, the Red Flame Sect passed on faulty intelligence, causing the Primordial Sect to suffer heavy losses. Although the two major sects later called a truce, the Red Flame Sect was wiped out as a result.

Its Sect Leader managed to escape. In the remaining half of his life, he took Rong Zhongxuan as his disciple and passed on all his knowledge.

Rong Zhongxuan proved worthy of the trust. He successfully reached Foundation Establishment at the age of forty-nine and had since made it his life’s mission to rebuild the Red Flame Sect. He had spent the last twenty-odd years rushing about, and only came to Jinyun Valley after learning that Ye Jingzhou’s lifespan was nearing its end.

However, with too many competitors, he had to find an alternative path.

Who knew that all his grand ambitions would be shattered with a single encounter?

Of course.

Chen Che didn’t believe him completely. He used "Attacking God and Inquiring Heart" to question him again, ensuring there wasn’t the slightest falsehood in his words.

"Which loose cultivators are currently eyeing Jinyun Valley?"

"Besides me, there are five other Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The strongest is named Lü Hong, a Third Layer Foundation Establishment Cultivator whose cultivation and strength are comparable to Ye Jingzhou’s! The other four are not as strong, but they possess a variety of Magical Treasures."

Rong Zhongxuan trembled inwardly.

"I have fought them before and was no match for any of them..."

Although he had his suspicions before, after sensing the other’s terrifying Divine Sense, he was convinced that this man was a reincarnated old monster. Overcome with despair, he adopted a posture of complete submission, ready to be disposed of.

Of course, this was also because he had spent all his resources over the past few decades nurturing his three disciples.

If he had a few more Magical Artifacts, he would have been able to escape even if he couldn’t win.

"The wolves are circling!"

Chen Che sneered, but he wasn’t surprised.

When any power collapses, it always attracts such a situation. It’s like a dying lion, or a whale fall that nourishes all life. And this was just the loose cultivators; other factions would surely try to step in and take a piece of the pie.

Forget Jinyun Valley.

If the Primordial Sect were to collapse one day, every Foundation Establishment Influence within the Sixteen States would likely pounce on it for a bite.

However, a question arose.

How should he deal with Rong Zhongxuan?

After all, he was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; it would be a shame to kill him. But Chen Che had no means to subjugate him. On Earth Element Star, restrictions like the ’Master-Servant Contract’ were considered controlled magic, and learning them was strictly forbidden.

Seeing the killing intent in Chen Che’s eyes, Rong Zhongxuan’s body trembled, and he begged for mercy, "Senior, spare me! I am willing to pledge my loyalty to you!"

"Really?"

Chen Che raised an eyebrow.

"I killed two of your disciples. You don’t mind?"

A flash of pain appeared in Rong Zhongxuan’s eyes, but he could only say in a low voice,

"They offended Senior. They deserved their fate!"

The Cultivation World had always respected the strong. Being less skilled left no room for complaint. What’s more, this was a reincarnated Great Power.

The price for offending his dignity naturally had to be paid in blood.

With that said,

He bowed his head, and a transparent figure emerged from his body. Then, a wisp of Divine Soul cautiously extended forward. The moment Chen Che touched it, he immediately recognized it as a ’Master-Servant Contract’ to be signed with their Divine Souls.

Once signed,

Rong Zhongxuan would become his slave. With a single thought, Chen Che could make him wish for death or even annihilate his Divine Soul.

If the master died, the servant’s soul would also dissipate.

"Good!"

Chen Che clapped his hands. He couldn’t do everything alone, after all; he truly needed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Once the contract was formed, Rong Zhongxuan immediately became respectful.

"This lowly one, Rong Zhongxuan, greets Master! May Master enjoy eternal fortune and live forever!"

"Heal your wounds first."

Withdrawing the Black Dragon Lock Chain and the Pure Jun Sword, Chen Che looked at Rong Zhongxuan, who seemed to have been dredged from a pool of blood. He frowned slightly; he didn’t want his newly acquired servant to die from his injuries. He casually took out a bottle of Pills and tossed it to him.

"After your injuries have recovered, write down all the Cultivation Techniques you’ve learned for me."

With that, he turned and glanced at Rong Shisan.

Seeing this, Rong Zhongxuan’s heart trembled. He said with difficulty,

"Master, this was my fault. I beg you to spare him!"

"Spare him?"

Chen Che pondered for a moment before speaking.

"I can, but I don’t want a single detail of today’s events to leak out. If even a whisper gets out, I’ll make your Red Flame Sect completely disappear from this world!"

"Rest assured, Master. If anything leaks, I will personally clean up my own house!"

Rong Zhongxuan nodded respectfully.

Giving a slight nod, Chen Che summoned the Little Chick and rode away on the wind.

"Master!"

The moment Chen Che left, Rong Shisan scrambled over to support the collapsing Rong Zhongxuan. He said indignantly,

"That boy is truly despicable! Not only did he kill my two senior brothers, but he also forced you to become his slave! I cannot live under the same sky as him!"

"Do not be rude to the Master!"

Rong Zhongxuan swallowed a Pill, and his pale face gradually regained its color. To Rong Shisan’s confused gaze, he said, "The Master is a reincarnated Great Power, his methods are unfathomable. Following him is no disgrace to me. In fact, for both me and you, this is a great opportunity!"

He had heard the previous Sect Leader say it before.

"Never mind reaching Foundation Establishment in the future; you might even have a chance at the Golden Core. You should also be grateful that the Master is not a bloodthirsty person and spared you..."

At this point, Rong Zhongxuan stared intently at his disciple.

"From now on, you are not to be disrespectful to the Master. Otherwise, don’t blame me for being merciless."

"I understand!"

Rong Shisan fell silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

...

「The next day.」

Rong Zhongxuan respectfully delivered the Red Flame Sect’s Cultivation Techniques to the Pill Shop, along with a flame-shaped Token.

"You are my Master, so naturally, you are the current Sect Leader of the Red Flame Sect!"

Chen Che took the Token. It was scalding hot to the touch.

It was forged from a Tier Three High Grade Flame Crystal Stone. This stone forms in the depths of lava and is filled with Fire Element energy.

It had a wide range of uses.

It could be used in Alchemy, Artifact Casting, and even for practicing Cultivation Techniques.

There was only one such Token, and its symbolic significance was clearly immense.

’I can’t believe I’ve somehow become a Sect Leader!’

Chen Che couldn’t help but laugh, dumbfounded.

However,

he was most interested in the Red Flame Sect’s Cultivation Techniques. Although the techniques in this world were incomplete, one could learn many obscure or controlled types of magic from Earth Element Star.

For example, various Divine Soul Contracts:

Besides the Master-Servant Contract, there were also Mutual Contracts, Life Contracts...

These types of contracts were mostly signed with the Divine Soul. Once signed, defying them was nearly impossible.

After looking through the Divine Soul Type techniques, Chen Che glanced over the Red Flame Sect’s own Cultivation Techniques.

These techniques, recorded on over a dozen Jade Scrolls, were mostly Fire Element-based.

’As for the other Cultivation Techniques, they’re rather ordinary!’

A moment later, Chen Che withdrew his Divine Sense and shook his head inwardly.

’The Cultivation Techniques of my Red Flame Sect have been refined by over a thousand people for nearly two hundred years; they’re a considerable treasure. And cultivating these techniques continuously can increase the success rate of breaking through to Foundation Establishment by about ten percent. Yet the Master is so disdainful...’

’Who else but a reincarnated Great Power would have such high standards?!’

Thinking of this, Rong Zhongxuan became even more respectful.

At the same time,

the last trace of regret in his heart vanished into thin air.

"In addition, this is the only property my Red Flame Sect has left..."

As he thought this, Rong Zhongxuan handed over a Storage Pouch. When Chen Che scanned it with his Divine Sense, he couldn’t help but show a look of disdain. Inside were a mere two hundred or so Spirit Stones, four bottles of Pills, and a few Weapons, but no Magical Artifacts.

"The previous Sect Leader originally left behind some wealth, but most of it has been spent over the years on nurturing those three unfilial disciples of mine."

"You’re quite selfless!"

Chen Che nodded slightly.

Most cultivators in this world were ruthless and heartless. For this man to reduce his own Cultivation Resources to nurture his disciples was extremely rare.

"Master, there are still four other Major Cultivators in the Market. How should we deal with them?"

Rong Zhongxuan asked in a low voice.

In his eyes, Jinyun Valley was already Chen Che’s private property. Anyone who coveted it deserved to die!

Chen Che was just about to speak.

Suddenly, he frowned and looked towards the courtyard. Rong Zhongxuan also looked stunned. At that moment, Ding Fei ran in, flustered, and said quickly,

"Boss, this is bad... Another Foundation Establishment Cultivator has come to our door!"

"Someone else can’t sit still?"

Chen Che’s eyes narrowed slightly. He chuckled. "Invite him in!"

As he spoke, a cultivator in purple robes with white hair strode directly into the back courtyard. He was a handsome man with a faint, commanding aura.

Foundation Establishment Third Layer!

His True Essence was vast, several times stronger than Rong Zhongxuan’s.

Upon seeing this person, Rong Zhongxuan’s pupils contracted.

"Lü Hong!?"