Chapter 92 - 91: Spiritual Shackles
Before Xia Wuyang even managed to get to Auntie De, his Spiritual Power had already reached one hundred and fifty points.
As for Xia Wulei, the Director of the Food Bureau, Consort De, and the others, Xia Wuyang had only given them a simple punishment for now. After all, a conflict had just erupted between them. If something were to happen to them right now, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.
Although Xia Wuyang was confident he wouldn’t leave any traces, it would still attract a lot of attention. It would be much harder to cultivate in peace then.
Therefore, he could only set this matter aside for the time being and focus on his cultivation.
The night was deep and quiet. Midnight had passed, and a new day had arrived.
As his Spiritual Power increased by another point, a great tremor shook his Sea of Consciousness. It was as if some barrier had been broken, leaving him feeling refreshed and invigorated.
points!
This number shone brilliantly in Xia Wuyang’s Sea of Consciousness, signifying that his Spiritual Power had reached a new level, bringing him ever closer to the Extraordinary.
What was even more pleasantly surprising was that with this breakthrough, a familiar sense of enlightenment washed over him. A new Companion Talent was awakening.
Xia Wuyang felt countless profound runes emerge in his Sea of Consciousness. These runes automatically combined, merged into his body, and finally formed the phantoms of three chains shimmering with a ghostly light within his Sea of Consciousness.
Once the three phantom chains took form, a new Companion Talent awakened, feeling as natural as one of his own instincts.
Spiritual Chains!
It allowed him to release three Spiritual Chains to control other living beings, turning them into his Spiritual Servants. The controlled individual would obey the caster’s commands, and the caster could perceive their thoughts.
The moment a thought of betrayal arose in the controlled individual, the chains would tighten, inflicting the pain of a torn spirit until their very soul scattered and dispersed.
The control effect was so astonishing that it far surpassed the likes of the Soul Capturing Technique or the Enchanting Heart Technique. The difference between them was like that of heaven and earth; they simply couldn’t be compared.
The most terrifying part was that even a being whose power exceeded Xia Wuyang’s could be bound by the chains when in a weakened state. Escaping was harder than ascending to heaven unless their power was hundreds or even thousands of times greater than Xia Wuyang’s.
The only limitation was that the number of Spiritual Chains was too small—only three. This meant Xia Wuyang could only control three people.
"Spiritual Chains..."
Xia Wuyang muttered to himself, a fervent glint flashing in his eyes.
’This Companion Talent is perfect for me. In the Deep Palace, where one can’t kill at will, control is often more effective than slaughter.’
’Although I controlled Wei Xianren and Liu Jun with the Soul Capturing Technique before, that kind of control was too weak and troublesome. I had to constantly reinforce it with the technique and use other threats. The slightest carelessness, and they could break free.’
’To put it bluntly, if Wei Xianren and Liu Jun had been even a little less afraid of death, they would have already broken free and betrayed me.’
Now, with the Spiritual Chains, Xia Wuyang finally had a suitable method of control.
Unlike before, where controlling just two Sixth Grade servants was riddled with flaws, leaving him too afraid to control anyone stronger.
Xia Wuyang tested this new Companion Talent. A Spiritual Chain silently extended, binding a nearby Palace Maid sent by another Prince or Princess.
Instantly, he clearly felt a special connection form with this Palace Maid, named Xiaoyu. He could not only perceive most of Xiaoyu’s thoughts but could even understand what was happening around her through this link.
"Go wander around a bit!"
Xia Wuyang gave her the order, and Xiaoyu immediately began to wander around the area. Through the thoughts in her mind, he learned about the surrounding situation.
Using this Spiritual Chain, he could also cast an Illusion Technique, immersing Xiaoyu in an Illusion so she wouldn’t be aware of her surroundings. He could even use it in conjunction with the Soul Capturing Technique to erase and alter some of her memories.
He could also inflict various punishments through the Spiritual Chain, even to the point of destroying her spirit and causing her soul to scatter and disperse.
The control was exquisitely subtle, capable of keeping the controlled individual conscious while ensuring their absolute obedience.
If they betrayed him, he could make their life a living hell, unable to even commit suicide.
After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Xia Wuyang released his control over Xiaoyu. Once the chain was retracted, Xiaoyu remained in the same spot, her face blank and pale, with no memory of what had just happened.
She only thought that she had wanted to wander around, unaware that she had been influenced by Xia Wuyang.
A powerful Spiritual Power encompassing seven aspects, the profound Companion Talent that was Spiritual Chains, and the assistance of the Soul Capturing Technique and Enchanting Heart Technique—only by combining all of these could he achieve something so undetectable.
Even after the control was released, the subject would not notice anything amiss.
Of course, this was also because Xiaoyu’s strength was low. It wouldn’t be so easy to fool an expert.
This Companion Talent was not only shockingly powerful but also extremely covert.
After experimenting, Xia Wuyang prepared to find three key targets to control. These targets had to hold important positions, be powerful, and be able to provide him with significant help.
His first target: he planned to enslave Zhao Wuji, the strongest expert at Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s side. Zhao Wuji was also one of the Clan Elders of the Northern Zhao Family and held immense power within it.
He was also the Commander of the Silver Scale Army under Third Prince Xia Wuchen, commanding thirty thousand Silver Scale Army soldiers, each one a hand-picked elite.
Controlling Zhao Wuji was equivalent to controlling the thirty thousand strong Silver Scale Army, most of the Northern Zhao Family’s influence in White Jade County, and the primary instrument of Third Prince Xia Wuchen’s power.
He himself was a First Grade Middle Stage Grandmaster. Among the guards of all the Princes and Princesses, he was likely second to none.
Even Fifth Prince Xia Wushang, whose maternal grandparents were from the world-renowned and immensely wealthy Celestial Treasure Pavilion, fell somewhat short in comparison.
Xia Wuyang wasn’t even sure if Fifth Prince Xia Wushang had a First Grade Grandmaster hidden on his side. However, as the wealthiest power in the world, the Celestial Treasure Pavilion definitely had at least one First Grade Grandmaster protecting it. In fact, they had more than one, and perhaps even a Super Grade Celestial Human.
Third Prince Xia Wuchen was the most powerful among the Princes and Princesses, and his wealth was also among the top. He had an extremely deep understanding of the other royals and the situation in the Imperial Palace.
’Taking down Zhao Wuji is equivalent to taking over the Imperial Palace’s intelligence network, the latest information on all the Princes and Princesses, the Silver Scale Army, and vast industries and resources... Using the enemy’s power for my own benefit... the very thought is exhilarating.’
For his second target, Xia Wuyang set his sights on Cao Zhenghe, the Director of the Imperial Treasury. He was one of the most powerful eunuchs in the Imperial Palace, with a cultivation that had already reached the First Grade Late Stage. He was in charge of the vast Inner Treasury, which contained an unknown amount of resources and wealth, and was the "purse" of the Imperial Palace.
Emperor Xia trusted him immensely. If Xia Wuyang could capture him, while he might not have the entire Inner Treasury at his beck and call, at least a good portion of it would be his.
The High Level Mortal Elixir and Medicine, various Ordinary Miracle Treasures, various Special Miracle Treasures, and various Divine Weapons inside... it was all good stuff, and all things Xia Wuyang needed.