75: Palace Master, it's time to rise.

A flash of surprise crossed Chu Ye's eyes, which then turned into a cold sneer. "It seems this Shadow Pavilion truly has some shameful trump cards to rely on."

He did not attempt a conventional deduction again, but instead communicated with the world of the hundred phoenix diagram with his mind.

A pure and thick Origin power, containing the mysteries of the birth and evolution of a world, slowly flowed from his palm into the Zhou Tian Mechanical Abacus.

World Origin is the most fundamental power that constitutes a world, standing above ordinary Laws. It possesses a 'dimensional strike' level of insight against methods that rely on the Laws of this world for concealment and confusion.

The abacus, bolstered by the World Origin, suddenly erupted with an unprecedented clear light.

Those cold and obscure interfering forces quickly melted like snow under sunlight when washed by the pure World Origin.

The blurred lines of Karma instantly became clear and solid, piercing through layers of mist and false tracks, pointing straight to an extremely hidden coordinate.

It was not in the deep mountains, evil waters, or underground abysses that ordinary people would imagine, but was cleverly attached to the edge of a famous Spatial Turbulence Zone in the Central Region.

Utilizing the violent spatial power, it naturally formed an excellent hidden barrier, and inside, there seemed to be several layers of ancient Breath-Concealing Illusion Arrays stacked upon it.

“Found it.”

Chu Ye withdrew his power, and the image on the abacus froze, as a specific spatial coordinate clearly emerged.

“They chose a good place, but unfortunately, they met me.”

Ni Chang had been watching intently. At this moment, a sharp light flashed in her eyes, and her previous gravity vanished, replaced by the sharpness and decisiveness of an iron-blooded Empress.

“Good! Since we've found the rat hole, there's nothing to fear. I will take charge of the subsequent intelligence verification, attack routes, troop deployment, and the strategies against their Cultivation Technique characteristics.”

She quickly spread out a new strategic map and began marking it. “The threat of the Shadow Pavilion lies in its mystery and suddenness. Once their nest is exposed, most of their deterrent power is gone.”

“This time, it's the perfect opportunity to use them as an example. On one hand, we'll eliminate this hidden danger, and on the other, we can use this battle to further intimidate others in the Central Region who harbor ill intentions!”

She looked at Chu Ye with a questioning tone, but her eyes were already certain: “The next target is this Shadow Pavilion that hides its head and shows its tail. What do you think?”

Chu Ye stood up, looking at the red-marked coordinate on the map, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

“Those who wound others with hidden arrows will eventually have their hearts pierced by sharp arrows. It shall be as you say. Next, we will level the Shadow Pavilion.”

He paused and added, “I will participate in this personally. Some accounts need to be settled face-to-face.”

Ni Chang nodded, having no objection.

She knew that Chu Ye was referring to that sinister sneak attack by the Shadow Pavilion against Old Ancestor Chu Shanhe on the battlefield.

Some deterrence must be personally applied by the supreme Dominator to make certain eyes hiding in the shadows truly feel a bone-chilling cold.

After Chu Ye and Ni Chang agreed on the strategy, he returned to the sleeping quarters. Under the soft light of the palace's bright pearls, that exquisite and graceful body had moved slightly.

Li Yue was awake.

She opened her eyes somewhat blankly, looking at the strange and magnificent canopy. Soreness flooded over her like a tide, also awakening those memories of three days and nights that made her Divine Soul tremble.

The lingering sensation on every inch of her skin and every mark, deep or shallow, silently declared ownership and conquest.

“Palace Mistress, it's time to get up.”

Chu Ye's voice, tinged with a bit of mockery, sounded from the palace door.

The words 'Palace Mistress' sounded incredibly harsh at this moment, like a cold rasping file harshly scraping across Li Yue's heart.

This title reminded her of the identity she had been stripped of, and even more so of the leaderless Guanghan Immortal Palace behind her, which was currently being tormented by the heavenly soul disturbance fragrance.

She tried to prop herself up, but with the slightest movement, a tearing pain came from every bone and limb, especially between her waist and legs, as if her bones had been disassembled and reassembled; she was weak and limp, shaking violently with the slightest effort.

She took a deep breath, enduring the discomfort, and sat up while covering herself with the brocade quilt, looking at the man who walked in slowly, as if he were the Dominator of everything.

“...Your Highness.”

The power of the blood pact made her squeeze out this title with difficulty, her voice dry and low. “I beg of you... the entire Guanghan Immortal Palace... is still suffering from that fragrance's poison... I beg for your mercy, please grant us the antidote...”

Chu Ye walked to the bedside and looked down at her.

The brocade quilt slipped slightly, revealing her rounded shoulders and the mottled marks on her collarbone.

He reached out, not touching those marks, but directly reaching into the quilt.

Li Yue's body jerked violently. She subconsciously wanted to hide, but was firmly pinned in place by the contract and her body's weakness, forced to let that hand, filled with playful intent, act as it pleased.

“On what grounds?”

Chu Ye raised an eyebrow, his tone as relaxed as if he were discussing the weather. “I don't believe I ever promised you this. And...”

He leaned down, close to her ear, his breath hot: “Everything you have now, from your body to your Soul, is mine. You are a... plaything that belongs entirely to me.”

“What do you have to negotiate with me? Resources? I don't lack them. Yourself? You are already mine. If I don't feel like acting, do I need a reason?”

Li Yue was choked by the logic in his words, and a cold despair began to spread.

It was true; now, even her free will was locked away by the contract. She truly had no 'bargaining chips.'

The suppression of the blood pact even made her subconsciously feel that he had no obligation to help her Sect, a thought that made her feel a bone-deep sorrow.

Seeing her eyes redden as she struggled to hold back tears, Chu Ye's tone suddenly shifted, his fingertips sliding ambiguously along her sensitive waist.

“However,”

He drawled, “I am someone who can't stand to see a beauty sad, especially a beauty I have personally sculpted.”

“If you can... make me feel better, for instance, by serving me comfortably and pleasurably, perhaps if I'm happy, I might change my mind.”

Li Yue was not a dull person and immediately understood his meaning.

Crimson spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, and even down to her neck, collarbone, and shoulders. Shame, anger, and a powerless sense of resignation intertwined.

She had no choice; from the moment she signed the blood pact, she had none.

For the sake of the Guanghan Immortal Palace and the disciples who followed her and were now suffering, she had to surrender even her last shred of reserve and pride.

“...I... understand.”

She lowered her eyes, her voice barely audible, yet carrying a sort of reckless obedience.

Chu Ye curled his lips in satisfaction, withdrew his hand, and said casually: “Then go bathe and change. These marks look rather unique.”

Li Yue took a deep breath, enduring the soreness throughout her body, and pulled back the brocade quilt to try and get out of bed.

As soon as her long, snow-white, jade-like legs touched the ground, a wave of intense weakness and trembling hit her. Her knees buckled, and she nearly knelt directly on the floor.

She hurriedly grabbed the edge of the bed to barely steady herself, but her legs still shook violently, almost unable to support her body weight.

The aftereffects of the previous excessive indulgence were fully revealed at this moment. When had this cold Fairy ever been so pathetic and weak, unable to even stand steadily?

Chu Ye did not help her, but instead crossed his arms, leisurely enjoying the scene.

Looking at this formerly high-and-mighty Guanghan Fairy, who could make countless Cultivators yearn for her with just a glance, now finding even basic walking so difficult after three days, a sense of conquest mixed with satisfaction arose within him.

Li Yue felt his undisguised gaze and was so ashamed she wished she could sink into the ground.

She gritted her teeth, trying to use her will to control her trembling legs, moving her feet bit by bit, extremely slowly.

Every step tugged at her sore muscles and hidden injuries, making her groan in pain.

Just as she tremblingly took two steps, an impatient click of the tongue came from Chu Ye behind her.

In the next instant, the world spun.

Chu Ye stepped forward and, without a word, picked her up in a princess carry.

Li Yue gave a low cry of surprise, her hands subconsciously wrapping around his neck.

“Save your strength!”