The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 956 - 377: 8th Rank_3

"Elderly as I consider myself, with my Ability as contained as possible and also lacking a Contracted Spirit at my side... how could you possibly recognize me?"

Ye Hanjun helped him to his feet and said indifferently:

"Your boots, armguards, and breastplate all conceal miniature arrows."

"Though they might also be magical tools of some kind, I noticed that they are bonded to your soul and controlled by your thoughts."

"Just from this, I could generally deduce your Ability, and it seems your Contracted Spirit is neither a Beast Soldier nor a Mechanism Beast, otherwise there wouldn’t be such good compatibility."

"Everything you have deduced is correct!"

Qiao Jian sighed deeply, then pointed to the two people beside him, introducing them one by one:

"This is Yuan Jun, the Crazy Bull Knight."

"This is Dai Hongfu, the Underground Palace Scholar."

"We all hold B rank Authority and are the surviving leaders of the bull hunters. Since our last assassination attempt failed, we have had to lie low and slowly gather strength..."

Yuan Jun, appearing older but with a vigorous spirit, grabbed his beard, his voice trembling:

"Who could have thought! After enduring for years, we would welcome the dawn overnight!"

"I am extremely grateful to Lord Shenyi. Without you, we practitioners of Hung Ox Cave would still suffer under the oppression of the Bull King, enslaved from one generation to the next, never able to rise!"

"You exaggerate."

Ye Hanjun shook his head:

"Honestly, I have personal motives too."

"Liberating a region, bearing immense goodwill, naturally more people will be willing to join us."

"We understand!"

Dai Hongfu, maintaining the appearance of a middle-aged woman, and carrying a book over one meter long, asserted:

"Attaching to the powerful and following the powerful is the same everywhere."

"But some powerful individuals see the weak as pawns to be sacrificed at any time."

"Your excellency makes no effort to hide your personal motives, regardless of what parts you may not reveal; with such a debt of gratitude, we cannot possibly repay you, how could we dare ask for more!"

"If you don’t mind, please accept us, assign us tasks suited to our abilities!"

"We are more familiar with Hung Ox Cave; with our call, we can surely mobilize more humans to devote themselves to the Grey Sun God, unite our hearts and create great deeds!"

"Please shelter us, Lord Shenyi!"

The devotees of the bull hunters knelt persistently, their resolute faces reflecting their determination.

"Very well, we will not stay in Hung Ox Cave for long, and the future order of this territory will be under your management."

Ye Hanjun pulled out a Grey Star Key and inserted it into Qiao Jian’s forehead.

This time, the duration was exceptionally long.

Advancing rank to grant follower status came with numerous additional restrictions.

Fortunately, their Authority ranks weren’t strong enough, barely B rank, which gave room for error.

"Click!"

After a full half-hour, Qiao Jian opened his eyes, his gaze clear, as if he had been rejuvenated by a hundred years.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and joy in his heart, stepped back, and bowed his head in wait.

"Hush..."

"Hush..."

Proceeding consecutively, Ye Hanjun imparted the status of ’Senior Follower’ to Yuan Jun and Dai Hongfu.

Because their Authorities were already at B rank, no further promotion was possible.

But merely the ’Life and Death Challenge,’ ’Life Extension,’ ’Pioneer’s Blessing,’ and the ’Guardian Beast’ enhancements were enough to cause heart palpitations.

Shortly after, the remaining followers of the bull hunters all became ’Junior Followers.’

After briefly adapting to the changes in their bodies, their demeanor grew even more respectful.

"Go and help deal with the chaos after the Bull King’s death."

"If any innocent Spirits or humans wish to leave Hung Ox Cave, you must not stop them."

"Yes!"

Qiao Jian, Yuan Jun, Dai Hongfu, Qiao Jia... all withdrew.

Ye Hanjun closed his eyes to rest for a moment, scanned the nest for any security threats, and then went to different areas to personally select followers.

...

The Second Epoch of the New Era, year 596.

Passing through the northern territory of Hung Ox Cave, at a graveyard called "Chaos Bull Mound," Ye Hanjun felt something, summoning Goose Immortal and Guardian Huazhu.

Soon, he sat cross-legged on the grave of an unknown bull creature, various types of bull spirits and evil ghosts, terrified, prostrated themselves on the ground.

"Click...Click!"

A strong current of air flowed through his organs and finally pierced through his celestial crown.

Ye Hanjun took a deep breath and stood up again, feeling the world become clearer and noticing subtle shifts in the essence of reality.

"Boom!!!"

A golden lightning strike, like a long rainbow, cleaved through the clouds and struck his Cross Thunder Sword from behind.

Instantly, the Thunder Sword transition from blue to purple and then from purple to gold, the brilliant colors shining brighter than the midday sun.

"Crackle! Crackle!!"

Golden arcs of electricity constantly zapped out, and Ye Hanjun, dressed in a white holy robe, seemed like a celestial descending to earth, bearing the Sword of Heavenly Punishment, exuding a sacred aura that carried with it the power to raze and ruin.

"Dual Authority...8th Rank."

"Previously, promotions were separate, but now the Authorities are synchronized..."

Ye Hanjun sensed the ascension of his Ability, felt the surging of his blood, his emotions like a torrent, deeply moved.

There was a time when every Elder of the Ye Clan was a power he looked up to.

Each one who reached the 8th Rank, proclaiming themselves as ’Elder,’ was a target beyond his reach.

Now—he too stood at that height!

Elder of the Ye Clan, Sovereign of the Ye—Ye Hanjun!

One more major rank advance, and he would be a Saint, the strongest under the Crown.

Ye Hanjun forcefully exhaled a turbid breath, calming the raging tempest within gradually.

Sword Thunder Child—had already restored to Supreme Sacred Great Achievement.

Its Skills were unchanged, still ’Thunder Law: Change at Will.’

Only, the original 300,000 patterns had been enhanced to 999,999, ascending from the limit of Shining World Fetus to the buffer of Supreme Saint.

"West Sea border...Jellyfish Island..."

"Lan Qixiong, I am coming to rescue you."