Although being forced into a contract was somewhat embarrassing, it was better than being destroyed.
Bai Ran smirked and walked forward, slowly picking up the Soul Controlling Flute, patting it as if in praise.
In the spatial realm, Shi Tian watched his master's bandit-like behavior and shook his head, "Alas, truly pitiful."
Perhaps the artifact spirit didn't know yet that even if it chose to contract with someone else, it couldn't escape destruction.
Bai Ran, with the Soul Controlling Flute, returned to the tomb of the clan elder.
The tomb guardians were still Fang An and Meng Xuan. However, their attitude towards Bai Ran had undergone a complete 180-degree change.
As soon as they saw Bai Ran from afar, they respectfully knelt on one knee to greet her, their expressions solemn and reverent.
Bai Ran smiled and looked at the demure Fang An, "Why the sudden change of heart?"
She recalled that previously, Fang An would glare at her whenever she passed by.
Fang An lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the ground, "We were rude before, and we are willing to accept any punishment the King bestows upon us."
Their change in attitude was, of course, due to everything they had heard from the clan elder.
They heard that Bai Ran had long known she would die on her twentieth birthday, and that she had long known the reason why the three of them had deliberately targeted her.
They also heard that Bai Ran had endured the replacement of ghost bones, a trial beyond human endurance, to break the curse.
Tolerance, understanding the bigger picture, being merciless to oneself, and desperately altering fate.
If they did not submit to such a King, Fang An and the other two would be considered ungrateful.
Bai Ran watched them with a smile in her eyes. Without the King's permission, they would not rise nor meet her gaze, a standard posture of submission.
"Rise. Punishment is waived."
"But in the next competition, you and Yi Wenhao must enter the top five."
Upon hearing this, Fang An and Meng Xuan were stunned. After exchanging glances, they lowered their heads even further, "Yes!"
Although Bai Ran had permitted them to rise, they waited until she had entered the tomb before slowly standing up.
The trials and mechanisms within the tomb had all disappeared, leaving only a deep path that led directly to the clan elder.
"Little girl? Why are you here?" The clan elder approached, looking somewhat surprised.
Bai Ran surveyed the surroundings and spotted Mo Chengze, who was unconscious and bound with ropes, in a corner. "Yes, I have found a method to separate souls."
The clan elder was startled and looked down to see the emerald green flute in her hand. His eyes widened, and his jaw dropped in astonishment. "Could this be!"
Bai Ran nodded, unfolding the Soul Controlling Flute in her palm. "The supreme treasure that can control the souls of all living beings in the world, the Soul Controlling Flute."
"This is a legendary treasure! Little girl, where did you obtain it? And have you contracted with it?"
Bai Ran gazed at the Soul Controlling Flute in her hand, a smile curving her lips. "This is... a gift from a friend. I haven't contracted with it yet..."
In a daze, she seemed to see the silver-haired youth smiling at her again.
But the clan elder was taken aback. A gift?! This item had been missing for thousands of years, and it wasn't an ordinary divine artifact. Was it something that could be easily obtained!?
Bai Ran turned to Mo Chengze. "An artifact spirit has emerged from the Soul Controlling Flute. I have already discussed it with him, and he is willing to contract with Mo Chengze."
Discussed? Willing? The artifact spirit's face turned black. He almost blurted out curses.
The clan elder stared at the Soul Controlling Flute, his mouth twitching. Even ordinary divine artifacts that developed artifact spirits did not easily contract with others, nor could they be begged.
But the little girl said the artifact spirit within the Soul Controlling Flute was willing? It was likely... forced to be willing.
However, seeing but not speaking, the clan elder quickly understood Bai Ran's plan after a moment of thought.
Bai Ran lowered her gaze and patted the Soul Controlling Flute. "Do you need help?"
After a long silence, the artifact spirit's muffled voice finally came through, "Use your mental power to control the person being contracted, and do not allow any resistance..."
Bai Ran smirked, a dazzling smile gracing her lips. "Alright."
The clan elder stepped forward and pressed a few acupoints on Mo Chengze's body. He slowly opened his eyes.
"Demon bloodline!" The moment he saw Bai Ran, Mo Chengze glared at her with venomous eyes, as if trying to bore a hole through her.
"Demon bloodline? Perhaps you don't know, but the Divine Realm has been broken, and the Holy Lord and the elders have all died on the battlefield." Bai Ran smirked, deliberately provoking him.
Nonsense! How could this be possible!
Mo Chengze stared intently at Bai Ran, his lips turning pale. "Utter nonsense! This Emperor will never believe it!"
Bai Ran let out a cold scoff and slowly squatted down. Her crimson eyes met Mo Chengze's, and she subtly released some of her mental power.
"Utter nonsense? Why would I lie to you? Perhaps you'd like to hear what we discovered in the forbidden area to the west of the Divine Realm..."
Mo Chengze gritted his teeth, the veins on his neck bulging. "Lies! All lies!"
The clan elder stood quietly to the side, observing the increasingly agitated Mo Chengze with narrowed eyes.
Mental power restraint... The little girl was stimulating his consciousness, gradually eroding his mind...
"Inside, there are tens of thousands of Wu tribe people—"
"Mo Chengze, you have lost—"
The gentle yet piercing voice entered the man's ears, like a giant net slowly tightening.
Lost? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!!!
Mo Chengze's eyes were bloodshot, terrifyingly crimson. "This Emperor has not lost! This Emperor cannot possibly lose!!!"
"And Mo Ze! Mo Ze is the chess piece I personally cultivated and am most satisfied with!!!"
"He would never let this Emperor fail..."
Suddenly, Mo Chengze's chin was roughly grasped, the force so great that his bones let out cracking sounds.
Bai Ran looked at him, her red eyes seething with boundless killing intent. Her mental power surged instantly, radiating an oppressive aura that even made the clan elder step back a few paces.
"Your mouth is too filthy—"
"I do not want to hear anything about him from your mouth—"
Meeting those vibrant red eyes, Mo Chengze trembled. An immense fear enveloped him, causing him to unconsciously start shaking.
Cannot break free...? He actually cannot break free...?
And this immense spiritual energy... the demon bloodline now... is even stronger than his own...?
Impossible... Absolutely impossible...
Everything he had worked so hard for, risked everything for, was now gone...?
Now, Bai Ran's eyes narrowed, and her mental power surged into Mo Chengze's mind.
His eyes widened, and his body trembled violently. After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Mo Chengze became still, his expression vacant and numb.
Bai Ran lowered her gaze and looked at the Soul Controlling Flute. "It's your turn."
The artifact spirit swallowed hard in the Soul Controlling Flute. The terrifying pressure he had just felt had not allowed him to recover yet.