Chapter 92 The Ten-Thousand-Year Contract

Di Shitian turned his head, his blood-colored demonic eyes fixed on Jiang Wanyin, his face twitching slightly. "Jiang Wanyin, are you trying to steal kills from this Emperor?"

Jiang Wanyin gave a soft harrumph. "Killing them is worthless. If Master goes to the Immortal Domain or the Demon Domain in the future, do you expect the two of us to scout the path and handle trivial matters? Keeping these local snakes will save trouble and allow them to gather resources from the myriad worlds for Master. This is the right way."

Hearing the word 'enslavement,' the seventeen Immortal Emperors and Devil Emperors kneeling in the Void Realm below were stunned for a moment.

Normally, if anyone dared to mention enslavement in front of them, they would have already whipped out their Emperor Weapons to turn the other person's Divine Soul into a sky lantern.

But now... they lifted their necks, looking at Di Shitian standing behind Gu Heng's left, then at Jiang Wanyin standing behind his right.

These two were taboo existences that made even the Three Thousand Great Worlds tremble.

They were now serving tea, pouring water, kneading shoulders, and pounding backs for this young man in white. If even a God Emperor had become this gentleman's servant... then could their submission as Immortal Emperors really be called enslavement?

The ghostly green soul fire in the White Bone Demon Emperor's eye sockets flickered. He was the first to realize the situation, scrambling forward two steps and kowtowing toward Gu Heng's back.

"Master! The Emperor Teacher is right! Although this humble servant's bones are not much to look at, I manage thirty thousand zones of the Dead Spirit Sea in the Demon Domain! With one word from you, I will bring all the skeleton soldiers below to serve as your porters! This old servant still has value, please accept me, Master!"

Once the White Bone Demon Emperor took the lead, the other Immortal Emperors woke up as well.

The Thunder Emperor panicked, straightened his back, and shouted, "Master! This subordinate is in charge of the Immortal Domain's Heavenly Punishment, and I have eighty thousand Immortals of the Thunder Department under my command! If you accept me, whenever you go out in the future, I will pave a hundred-thousand-mile Golden Light Path of Thunder Pools for you, ensuring you have enough grandeur!"

Li Tiantu hurriedly pushed aside the Red-Eyed Demon Emperor next to him, knelt down, and roared, "Master! This subordinate is the Lord of Devil Emperor City! My territory is vast, and my treasury is filled with top-grade magic crystals accumulated over generations! I have countless top-grade demonesses in my city; I will select them all to honor you! As long as you spare my life, I will be the sharpest blade in your hand!"

Li Tianqiong, who only had his Immortal Soul left, squeezed over from the corner. "Master! Don't forget me! Although I only have my Immortal Soul left, I can serve as the artifact spirit for your Magic Treasure! Even if it's just the artifact spirit for your chamber pot, I am willing!"

The seventeen old monsters who had lived for millions of years were bickering like peddlers in a vegetable market trying to sell rotten leaves.

Gu Heng stood in mid-air, listening to the chaotic pledges of loyalty in his ears, and frowned. He hated trouble. The mere thought of bringing along such a group of troublemakers gave him a headache.

But as he listened, Gu Heng's expression changed. He envisioned a scene in his mind: if one day he went to the Immortal Domain or the Demon Domain. On his left, the Demon God Emperor would be leading his mount, and on his right, Jiang Wanyin would be holding a canopy for him. Behind him, seventeen big shots from the Immortal and Demon Domains, wearing uniform attire, would be neatly lined up in two rows, holding ceremonial gear, shouting 'My Master has arrived' to everyone they met...

Gu Heng took a deep breath in his heart. This kind of display could scare the Heavenly Dao of the myriad worlds into a System crash. Plus, with these local snakes around, he wouldn't have to worry about food or clothing wherever he went, and he would even save on inn expenses.

"Fine." Gu Heng nodded reluctantly and sighed. "Since you are all so sincere, I will reluctantly give you a chance. However, if you fail to handle your duties well in the future, don't blame me for being heartless."

"Thank you for your immense grace, Master!" The seventeen Immortal Emperors bowed deeply in unison, their voices trembling.

Di Shitian crossed his arms, a flash of displeasure crossing his blood-colored eyes, but constrained by the contract, he only harrumphed coldly. "You mongrels are lucky! If it weren't for Master's mercy, this Emperor would have ground your bones and scattered your ashes today!"

"Since Master has given his permission, let us begin." Jiang Wanyin stepped forward. She waved one hand, and with the operation of the Divine Court's secret technique, seventeen Law runes formed in the Void Realm.

This slave contract was not as absolute as the mandatory binding of the System, but the Divine Soul Restriction planted by a God Emperor personally was enough to ensure that these Immortal Emperors would never be able to harbor thoughts of rebellion for eternity.

"Master." Jiang Wanyin turned and asked, "How long do you want to set the term of this contract for?"

The term? Gu Heng rubbed his chin. He calculated that from Qi Refining until now, less than two months had passed. His perception of time was still stuck at that of a Mortal. But in the eyes of Cultivators, time seemed worthless.

Gu Heng pondered whether he should ask for more years. If he asked for too much, would it seem too greedy? He cleared his throat and tentatively said, "Um... how about a contract term of ten thousand years?"

The words fell. The Void Realm went quiet. Dead silence. The next second— "Ten thousand years?!?" Seventeen voices exploded in the heavens and earth simultaneously.

Gu Heng stood where he was, frowning slightly. "Why such a big reaction?" He calculated in his heart: for a Mortal, a lifetime is a hundred years. Ten thousand years is over a hundred lifetimes. Tying others to his side generation after generation to work like cattle and horses—that was indeed quite heartless.

"Is it... too long?" Gu Heng muttered to himself. He opened his mouth, preparing to say, "Let's make it shorter, five thousand years is fine." Before the words could leave his mouth—

The ghostly green soul fire in the White Bone Demon Emperor's eye sockets flashed with a hint of disappointment. "This old servant thought... it would be permanent." The White Bone Demon Emperor clicked his jawbone, his tone aggrieved. "Only ten thousand years..."

Gu Heng: ...? The Star Immortal Emperor nodded to himself. "Ten thousand years... is indeed a bit short. When I have some insights, a single closed-door cultivation session lasts longer than that. Ten thousand years, I'm afraid I wouldn't even have fully comprehended a single Dao technique."

The Thunder Emperor, kneeling to the side, held it in for a long time before saying in a muffled voice, "The last time I went into closed-door cultivation to break through to the Middle Stage, it took me a full eight thousand years. Ten thousand years... is only two thousand years more than a nap."

Li Tiantu was silent for a moment, then spoke in a rough voice, "Last time I was injured by an enemy from the God Domain, I fell into a deep sleep to heal, and I slept for thirty thousand years. This ten-thousand-year contract... I'm afraid it would expire after a single sleep."

Li Tianqiong also drifted out and muttered, "Um... last time I was cultivating in Devil Emperor City, a single meditation session lasted five hundred years. Ten thousand years... really doesn't seem long..."

Gu Heng's open mouth slowly closed. He looked at the White Bone Demon Emperor's expression of "I lost out big time" and then at the Star Immortal Emperor's look of "it's just whatever." Ten thousand years... to him, it was over a hundred lifetimes, but to these old monsters who had lived for millions of years, it was merely a snap of the fingers? A sense of absurdity welled up in Gu Heng's heart.

"Ahem..." Gu Heng coughed dryly, swallowing the "let's make it shorter" that was on the tip of his tongue. He nodded expressionlessly. "Then... ten thousand years it is. We'll start with a ten-thousand-year trial and see how you perform."

Di Shitian crossed his arms, his blood-colored eyes full of impatience. "Ten thousand years?" He harrumphed coldly, looking down at the Immortal Emperors. "It's merely the time for this Emperor to take a nap, yet you are still here haggling and dragging your feet? This is Master's immense grace!"

A dark glint appeared at Di Shitian's fingertips. "Are you signing or not? If not, this Emperor will send you on your way right now!"

As soon as the words fell, the Star Immortal Emperor tremblingly raised his hand, looked cautiously at Gu Heng, and asked weakly, "Um... great Master, this old one has an ungracious request. Could you increase the term to one hundred thousand years?"

Gu Heng: "???" He looked at the Star Immortal Emperor, his face full of disbelief.

The Star Immortal Emperor hurriedly explained, "Master's kindness is higher than the heavens. What this old one means is... ten thousand years is truly too short. I am afraid that before I have served Master enough, and before I have served Master's daily needs properly, the contract will expire. If Master decides he doesn't want this old one anymore, where would I find such a supreme Opportunity..."

"Yes, yes! The old ghost Star is right!" The other Immortal Emperors nodded in succession. "Master, increase it to one hundred thousand years!" "This subordinate is willing to sign for a million years!"

Gu Heng: "..." He stood expressionlessly in the turbulence of the Void Realm, watching this group of big shots who could summon wind and rain in the Immortal and Demon Domains blushing and fighting to sign a "ten-thousand-year indenture," even actively asking to increase the duration. Gu Heng had only one thought in his heart: "Have these old monsters... stayed in the Mortal world too long and damaged their brains?"

Regardless of how absurd Gu Heng found it, this "indenture meeting" ended in a weirdly fanatical atmosphere. Seventeen Dharma seals from Jiang Wanyin's hand descended, and the runes merged into the brows of the Immortal Emperors. The contract was formed.

The True Souls of the seventeen Immortal Emperors and Devil Emperors established a master-servant connection with Gu Heng through the Divine Court's secret technique. Although this secret technique was not as overbearing as the dark gold chains in Jiang Wanyin's and Di Shitian's minds, it was enough to guarantee loyalty. If they dared to harbor thoughts of rebellion, Jiang Wanyin could obliterate their Divine Souls with a single thought.

With the death crisis resolved, the tense nerves of the Immortal Emperors relaxed. They looked at the servant marks on each other's foreheads; none of them felt humiliated, but rather felt a sense of relief at having survived.

The Star Immortal Emperor looked into the depths of the Void Realm, his old eyes shimmering. "Sigh, this signing is for ten thousand years. Although the time isn't long, this old one really does miss the little rascals in my clan."

The Star Immortal Emperor shook his head. "The last time I returned to the clan was when my granddaughter's granddaughter's granddaughter... I can't remember which generation it was. That girl had just broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm at the time and was pestering me for Star Stones."

He sighed. "Now that I have signed the contract, I must follow by Master's side. By the time I return after the ten-thousand-year term, the clan will have changed another generation, and that little girl will likely be an Old Ancestor herself."

Jiang Wanyin frowned. Since she had become Gu Heng's servant, even as a servant, she had to be the most disciplined steward. With that thought in mind, she said coldly, "Since you have entered under Master's gate, you must abide by the rules. I'll say the ugly things first..."

"During the contract period, if you have any changes regarding Dao Companions, children, or other relatives, you must report to me in advance. Master is a supreme taboo, and he cannot tolerate unclear Karma entanglements around him. If you cause trouble for Master because of your personal affairs, I will certainly not spare you."

The Thunder Emperor was expressionless. The Star Immortal Emperor whispered to the side, "This rule has nothing to do with the Thunder Emperor." "Why?" "He's single."

"Boom!" A Zixiao Divine Thunder exploded at the Star Immortal Emperor's feet. "Shut up."

Gu Heng stood to the side, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly. He had thought these Immortal Emperors were all heartless, emotionless killing machines; he hadn't expected the Thunder Emperor to be a million-year-old single dog? Gu Heng became interested. He crossed his arms and looked at the Thunder Emperor. "Thunder Emperor, in these million years of time, having traveled every corner of the Immortal Domain, have you never met anyone who made your heart flutter?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the Thunder Emperor's irritable aura froze, and then his purple eyes dimmed for a moment. He lowered his head, and after a long time, he said in a hoarse voice, "In the past... there was..." These four words seemed to drain all his strength.

Gu Heng was stunned. He had asked casually, not expecting to touch a sore spot. Seeing the Thunder Emperor's lonely appearance, Gu Heng didn't want to ask anymore.

But the Star Immortal Emperor looked at the Thunder Emperor's back and sighed. "Master, don't look at the Thunder Emperor's current appearance of striking anyone who provokes him; he wasn't... like this before."

The Star Immortal Emperor's gaze became profound. "That woman was the direct daughter of a top power in the God Domain, with a status as noble as the bright moon above the Nine Heavens."

"I don't know why she left the God Domain to come to the Immortal Domain, nor do I know why, in the vast sea of people, she happened to meet the Thunder Emperor, who was only an Immortal King at the time."

"Those were people from two different worlds; there shouldn't have been any intersection. The high-and-mighty God Domain and the cruel struggles of the Immortal Domain were like water and fire. But fate is such a joker; they met, and they fell in love."

The Thunder Emperor did not stop him. He stood with his back to the others, his shoulders trembling slightly.

"And then?" Lin Qingyue, who had become engrossed in the story, asked softly.

"Later..." The Star Immortal Emperor smiled bitterly. "Later, she had to undergo the God Lord Tribulation. That was a tribulation punishment sent down by the Heavenly Dao of the God Domain, with power enough to wipe out half of the Immortal Domain."

The Star Immortal Emperor looked into the Void Realm. "At that time, the Thunder Emperor was right beside her. He watched the destructive divine thunder falling from the sky; he went mad, desperately trying to rush in to take the Heavenly Tribulation for her."

"But he couldn't get in. The Laws of the God Domain did not recognize him as a Cultivator of the Immortal Domain. He could only stand outside and watch helplessly."

"Watching the God Domain Heavenly Tribulation fall, one bolt after another. Watching the person he loved most struggle in the center of the Lightning Tribulation, and finally... in the lightning light, vanish into ashes..."

The wailing sound of the Void Realm storm grew louder. "The Thunder Emperor Cultivates the Thunder Dao; he has struck lightning his whole life, styling himself as the Emperor of Thunder. Yet in the end, he could only watch his woman get struck to death by lightning, and he couldn't save her."

"Ever since then..." The Star Immortal Emperor took a deep breath. "His lightning has only been used to kill people."

Gu Heng fell silent. No one spoke. "So... his temper isn't bad." The Star Immortal Emperor shook his head. "He just hasn't moved on. I'm afraid he will never move on in this lifetime. It's been a full million years..."

Gu Heng stood where he was, not knowing what to say. He turned his head and looked at the lonely figure standing on the edge of the Void Realm turbulence in the distance. The Thunder Emperor still stood as straight as a javelin, but within that upright spine, there seemed to be a suffocating exhaustion. Gu Heng suddenly felt that Immortal Emperors were not so amazing after all.

In the face of the Laws of the Heavenly Dao and fate, they were still as weak as ants, unable to protect even the person they loved most.

Emotions spread through the heavens and earth. Jiang Wanyin's cold voice rang out, interrupting the sadness. "Enough, put away your lamentations."

Jiang Wanyin turned around, her expression grave, and looked at Gu Heng. "Master, now is not the time for reminiscing. Too many changes have occurred in this lower Realm."

She pointed to herself and Di Shitian. "What I and the Demon God Emperor have descended with is only a trace of Divine Sense. The commotion here just now was so great, and it involved the taboo matter of Divine Sense being forcibly enslaved, which violates the common sense of the Heavenly Dao."

"The True Souls of the God Emperor Realm have keen perception. I am certain that the main bodies in the God Domain have already sensed the abnormality of this Divine Sense. Although they do not know exactly what happened, they will surely descend with thunderous rage, and might even spare no cost to tear through the boundary barriers with their true bodies and descend by force."

Hearing "true bodies descending," the seventeen Immortal Emperors below were so scared that cold sweat streamed down. A single trace of a God Emperor's Divine Sense was enough to make them unable to breathe. If the main bodies arrived in person, not even a speck of dust would remain in this world.

Gu Heng's eyes became serious. He knew his own limits. Although he had reached the Mid-stage Immortal Emperor Realm through the System and had enslaved the Divine Senses of two God Emperors by a stroke of luck, if he were to truly face two God Emperor main bodies in their prime, filled with endless rage... his current Realm could not stop them.

But Gu Heng did not panic. He looked at Jiang Wanyin. Since she had brought it up herself, it meant she must have a countermeasure in mind.

"You are right, this is a big problem." Gu Heng put his hands behind his back and looked calmly at Jiang Wanyin. "Since you have brought it up, you must already have a plan."

"Tell me, what method is there to deceive the heavens, or... block their main bodies?"