Chapter 327: The Spirit Soul Vow – Three Agreements

"Who dares to trespass upon my domain?!"

A thunderous voice boomed from within the Lihuo Ding, followed by a surge of scorching flames erupting from its depths, intent on incinerating Lu Qing’s spirit soul projection.

"The spirit soul of the Lihuo Ding has regained this level of strength?" Lu Qing felt a flicker of surprise in his heart.

Yet he remained calm. With a mere thought, he wove an intricate incantation, effortlessly dissolving the searing flames.

"Hmm? Yu Huo Decree? Youngster, who are you? How do you know the secret techniques of the Lihuo Sect?"

The voice, once filled with authority, now trembled with astonishment. It had recognized the method—Yu Huo Decree, a forbidden art exclusive to the Lihuo Sect.

"Descendant of the Lihuo Sect, Lu Qing, humbly greets you, Yan Elder," Lu Qing replied through spirit soul transmission, his tone respectful.

"Descendant of the Lihuo Sect? You claim to be one?" The voice vibrated with disbelief.

In an instant, a figure materialized before Lu Qing—a towering silhouette of pure flame, a middle-aged man with a pair of horns protruding from his brow, radiating solemn majesty.

"Prove it, boy. What proof do you have that you are truly a descendant of the Lihuo Sect?" The man’s gaze locked onto Lu Qing, and a wave of searing heat surged through his spirit, threatening to burn his soul.

But Lu Qing, with effortless composure, dispersed the tormenting heat with a subtle shift of will.

The sight confirmed the man’s suspicion. "It is the Yu Huo Decree... Where did you steal this technique from? Speak now, or face annihilation!"

With a roar, endless flames erupted from behind him, crashing toward Lu Qing like a tidal wave of destruction.

Yet Lu Qing remained expressionless.

"Respected Elder, there's no need for illusions. I speak the truth. My words are not lies."

"Ridiculous! The Lihuo Sect was wiped out millennia ago—how could there be any descendants? That Yu Huo Decree is stolen. Confess the truth, or I will reduce your spirit and body to ash!"

"Perhaps Yu Huo Decree can be stolen," Lu Qing replied calmly, "but what about this?"

With a flick of his spirit, a ripple of soul resonance spread through the inner space of the Lihuo Ding.

In an instant, the endless flames behind the man dissolved—not just weakened, but completely extinguished, leaving no trace of fire.

"Lihuo Ding Control Technique?!"

The man’s face twisted in shock. "This is impossible! How could you know the method of controlling the Lihuo Ding?!"

"If I said I learned it from you, Elder, would you believe me?" Lu Qing’s tone was serene, almost enigmatic.

"Are you mocking me?" The man’s eyes flared with anger. "Do not think you can bluff your way through with a fragment of this technique. Remember—this is my realm!"

He roared again, and the flames surged once more, fiercer than before.

But Lu Qing’s spirit resonance spread once more, and the flames vanished—again.

And this time, the man felt it—a crushing pressure, a binding force locking onto his very essence, weighing him down.

His expression darkened.

He finally understood: this boy wasn’t just using the technique—he possessed the complete method of commanding the Lihuo Ding.

Only someone who had mastered the full ritual could bind the spirit soul of the artifact itself.

But how?

The Lihuo Ding Control Technique was one of the highest secrets of the Lihuo Sect—known only to the Sect Master and a few Tai Shang Elders.

The sect had been destroyed tens of thousands of years ago. The elders and the Master had fallen in battle.

Only the Sect’s Young Master, carrying the Lihuo Ding, had escaped to a hidden sanctuary.

And even he had perished there.

So the technique should have been lost forever.

The man was baffled.

Then, slowly, his gaze fell back on Lu Qing.

"Enough," he said, his voice weary. "Cease your efforts. I believe you are truly a descendant of the Lihuo Sect. The power within this vessel is precious—accumulated over countless years. It should not be wasted."

Lu Qing relaxed his spirit, releasing the binding pressure.

"Forgive me, Elder. I acted out of necessity. I had no choice but to invoke the seal."

The man’s eyes flickered—flickers of resentment, of helplessness.

This was the burden of a spirit soul.

The Lihuo Ding had been sealed with countless layers of restrictions when it was forged, designed to ensure absolute control.

Even now, as the spirit soul of the artifact, he could not harm Lu Qing—because the boy held the true mastery.

This was the real strength behind Lu Qing’s decision to claim the Lihuo Ding.

Even if the cultivation failed, he could prevent the artifact from going berserk.

"Speak," the man said, regaining composure, standing firm in the void. "Why have you come?"

"Surely you know the answer, Elder," Lu Qing replied without hesitation. "I have come to reclaim the Lihuo Ding and forge it as my own."

"Me?" The man sneered. "A mere Zhu Ji cultivator? You think you can command a spirit artifact? Are you delusional?"

"One thing you’re mistaken about," Lu Qing said, calm and collected. "I am not a Zhu Ji cultivator. I am a Qi Cultivation cultivator. And only recently ascended to the early Qi Cultivation stage."

"Early Qi Cultivation? Impossible!" The man gasped. "Your spirit power is immense—how can you be so low in cultivation?"

"Because my combat technique is unique," Lu Qing explained. "And recently, I survived a heavenly tribulation. My spirit soul was cleansed by Jie Lei, transforming it from yin to yang. That’s why I surpass others of my level."

"A heavenly tribulation? Cleansed by Jie Lei?!" The man’s voice rose in shock. "You’re joking! How could someone at your level trigger a thunderstorm and survive?"

Lu Qing said nothing. He simply smiled—confident, serene.

The man fell silent.

His gaze narrowed as he examined Lu Qing more closely.

And slowly, his expression turned grave.

For he sensed it—Lu Qing’s spirit soul was not ordinary.

It was extraordinarily powerful, resilient, pulsing with yang energy—unlike the typical yin-type spirit souls.

Most importantly, he detected a faint trace of Jie Qi—a signature he knew well.

He had endured the same trials when the Lihuo Ding was born—passing through the heavenly tribulation to become a true spirit soul.

So Lu Qing’s claim… wasn’t a lie.

He had truly passed through a tribulation.

The man was stunned.

"Then… you did survive a heavenly tribulation?" he whispered. "You're not just a cultivator… You're the one spoken of in legend—the destined one, fated to suppress the anomalies of an entire era?"

Lu Qing shook his head.

"I don’t know what you mean by 'chosen one.' But I ask you, Elder—would you be willing to cooperate? Hand over control of the Lihuo Ding. You know as well as I that a spirit artifact cannot evolve on its own. Even if it waits until the end of this cultivation age, it may never advance. But with my help, it could become a top-tier spirit artifact. And beyond that… perhaps even free you from your imprisonment, granting you true freedom."

"And if I refuse?" The man stared at him.

"Then I will have no choice but to forcibly subdue you," Lu Qing said without hesitation.

"Are you serious? You think a mere Qi Cultivation cultivator can subdue me?"

"Try me."

The man fell silent.

Had this been earlier, he would have dismissed the words as madness—burned the boy alive for the insult.

But now?

Lu Qing held the complete control technique.

The man could no longer destroy his spirit soul.

Nor could he expel him from the Lihuo Ding.

Worse still—Lu Qing’s spirit soul had been cleansed by Jie Lei, making it incredibly resilient, immune to fire.

If Lu Qing began melting the seals within the Lihuo Ding, the man would be at a fatal disadvantage.

So, in truth, Lu Qing wasn’t bluffing.

He could take control—slowly, surely.

Yet the idea of being ruled by a mere Qi Cultivation boy…

The spirit soul of a relic, once revered by the entire Lihuo Sect—now reduced to a servant?

It was unbearable.

In the old days, even the golden core disciples and true heirs of the sect had bowed before him.

Now, he was expected to serve a boy?

"Then I suppose you’re not willing," Lu Qing said, shaking his head. "I’ve said all I could. If you refuse, I’ll have no choice but to take what I need by force."

He had tried kindness. He had offered reason.

But the man remained unmoved.

So Lu Qing focused his spirit, letting his soul energy seep into the space around him—seeking the first seal, ready to forcibly break it.

The man felt it instantly.

His face paled.

Finally, he exhaled.

"Stop. I agree."

Lu Qing paused.

He studied the man’s face—no deception, no trickery.

Slowly, he withdrew his spirit energy.

"Before I hand over control," the man said, his voice grave, "I require three agreements. If you refuse, I would rather die than surrender. And in my resistance, you’d need decades—perhaps centuries—to succeed."

"Speak," Lu Qing said, unmoved.

"First—you may break the seals, but you must swear a Spirit Soul Vow: you will not enslave me, nor turn me into a puppet. This is non-negotiable. If you refuse, I will die before I give up control."

The final words were delivered with absolute resolve—like a death sentence.

"Understood," Lu Qing said without hesitation. "I have no intention of enslaving you. The Lihuo Ding’s full potential depends on your cooperation."

The man’s face softened slightly.

He knew Lu Qing was right.

In the ancient cultivation world, spirit artifacts were controlled in two ways:

One—enslave the spirit soul, making it a mindless tool.

Two—treat it as an equal partner, sharing control.

The first method ensured absolute obedience, but crippled the spirit soul’s soul essence.

The artifact could never evolve beyond its current rank.

The second preserved the spirit soul’s soulfulness—allowing it to fight independently, boosting combat power.

But it carried risk. If the spirit soul betrayed its master in battle, it could mean death.

Thus, most sects and masters chose to enslave their spirit artifacts.

Even those who didn’t, added countless seals to prevent betrayal.

Only in rare cases—where trust ran deep—was complete freedom granted.

The Lihuo Sect had chosen the second path: no enslavement, but strict sealing.

Lu Qing understood this.

He nodded in agreement.

And the truth was—had the man fought to the death, Lu Qing would have failed.

The spirit soul’s resistance would have consumed him.

So the agreement was not just fair—it was necessary.

Seeing Lu Qing accept the first condition, the man smiled faintly.

"Second condition…"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end