This sound made the speakers buzz along with it.
Looking at Master Hongchen, his face was as dark as iron, his expression fierce and ferocious.
The killing intent in his eyes could not be hidden.
"Boy, you didn’t recite that quite right!"
Xiao Jie’s scalp tingled. Damn, why is this NPC so hard to talk to?
The ones I’ve encountered before never had such a fierce aura.
"Oh, is that so? I thought it was pretty close. What’s wrong with it?" Xiao Jie feigned confusion, but internally he sensed trouble. This old man was taking things too seriously.
"What I said was clearly at the moment of Golden Core formation, before Ascension to Immortality."
"Daoist, this oath seems flawed. Didn’t you say that after I become an immortal and gain strong immortal power, I would then help Daoist slay demons and seize their cores?"
"Hmph, don’t think I don’t know what you’re scheming. If you truly became an immortal, this oath wouldn’t be able to bind you, nor could even a heavenly tribulation trouble a True Immortal. Since we are to swear, it must naturally be that you help me with this matter before you become immortal. You needn’t worry, whether you ascend a bit earlier or later, what difference would it make? If I ascend before you, you’ll certainly benefit from it. Come now, swear quickly so I can bestow the treasure upon you, and let’s not make this more painful than it needs to be."
Xiao Jie was still trying to talk his way out.
"Ah, Elder, this oath is too long, I can’t remember it all at once. Shame that the Blood Oath Ancient Scroll has already been used, can’t we just leave it at this?"
"An oath is not something to be taken lightly, you haven’t finished reciting it, so naturally it doesn’t count. Just swear again—as for the Blood Oath Ancient Scroll, I still have plenty more here."
System prompt: Red Dust Daoist has given you a [Blood Oath Ancient Scroll].
Xiao Jie didn’t see this coming. He had thought the other party would have to let the slips slide...
Seeing that Xiao Jie still wasn’t cooperating, Red Dust Daoist shouted coldly, "What, are you trying to fool me? Or do you indeed not wish to work for me?"
His tone grew increasingly fierce, and his expression increasingly ferocious.
The aura around Red Dust Daoist spread, and even the stones on the ground began to float, the name above his head flickering between red and yellow.
Xiao Jie hurriedly pleaded, "Of course not, I’m sincerely dedicated!"
"Then recite the oath again, and I advise you to think it over carefully. Don’t try any tricks, for I never spare those who deceive me."
This was a moment of utter desperation.
Xiao Jie inwardly lamented, but given the circumstances, where he was meat on the chopping block, he had to comply.
"I ’Hidden Moon Following Wind’, today, assisted by Master Hongchen, received the Qi Refining Technique, obtained the Immortal Transformation Gourd, on the day I achieve success in Qi Refinement, at the moment of Golden Core formation, before Ascending to Immortal status, must come to Konglao Mountain to meet with the Master, jointly cultivate the Immortal Business, aid him in becoming an immortal..."
As Xiao Jie finished reciting, the Blood Oath Ancient Scroll also displayed the complete content of the oath.
Xiao Jie clicked to use—swear by blood.
A negative red figure immediately appeared above his head.
Then, the scroll absorbed a trace of blood, and soon turned into a wisp of blue smoke, rising to the sky, and disappearing from sight.
Additionally, a BUFF appeared above Xiao Jie’s head.
He glanced at the top of his character.
[Heavenly Punishment Oath: You have sworn a Heavenly Punishment Oath. If this oath is triggered, you will face one [enhanced heavenly tribulation].
"Very good, very good, hahaha, boy, I truly didn’t misjudge you. Take this, the treasure is now yours."
System prompt: Red Dust Daoist has given you an Item [Immortal Transformation Gourd].
(Damn it, even the name was a lie; it was supposed to be the Demon Refining Gourd before.)
He checked his inventory.
[Immortal Transformation Gourd (Magic Treasure)
Gourd effect: Refining. (Refine the inner cores within the gourd, transforming them into Original Spiritual Power.)
Gourd effect: Spirit Absorption. (Absorb the Original Spiritual Energy within the gourd, enhancing your Spiritual Energy Value—Usage condition: Qi Refining Skill).
Current Spiritual Energy Value: 0/3000.
Current number of inner cores: 0.
Item Introduction: A treasure gifted by the Mysterious Taoist to ancient Qi Refiners. In ancient times, Qi Refiners who were unable to cultivate immortality due to the scarcity of spiritual energy fell into despair. Yet, they were reinvigorated and captured a sliver of Immortal Fate thanks to the magical gift from the Mysterious Taoist, an item against the natural order of fate.]
The item was genuinely impressive, but this task-bound oath was quite troublesome.
The Mysterious Taoist’s gift? The Mysterious Taoist?
Xiao Jie’s mind stirred suddenly. Damn, could it be the backer behind the Mad Taoist?
The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed, the Foolish Taoist, the Mad Taoist, the Evil Man—The Mysterious Taoist, it all seemed to fit the pattern.
What was this person’s purpose in giving the Immortal Transformation Gourd to these band of Qi Refiners?
Xiao Jie faintly felt that this Mysterious Taoist must be a very important character in the whole game, his various schemes surely hinting at a major antagonist later on, perhaps even becoming a version boss or something of the sort.
"How do you like it?"
"Very much so, by the way, Elder—"
"Just call me Daoist, as you are now a part of the Qi Refiners, it is only fitting we address each other as Daoist."
"Red Dust Daoist, do we Qi Refiners have any inherited spells? Teach me a few, otherwise suppressing demons might prove difficult."
Since the oath was already sworn, there was no denying it. It might be better to use this opportunity to gain some advantages.
Red Dust Daoist, however, shook his head, "Our sole pursuit as Qi Refiners is to cultivate our Qi, attain eternal life, ascend to immortality, hence we generally dislike conflict and have not developed any spells. After all, once you’ve become an immortal, you naturally can use Immortal Law, so there’s no need to waste effort."