Chapter 256: The Emerald Valley
The next day, Kael entered Greymoor City’s central mansion with Yuki, Vyra, Kelvin, Gerard, and six Spirit Soul soldiers from Vyra’s squad trailing behind him. The mansion was well-fortified, a testament to Aldric’s decade of rule, but the guards parted before Kael’s party. Word of his victory had spread overnight. No one wanted to die for a defeated lord.
Aldric waited in his former study, still injured. Vex stood behind him like a loyal hound, his eyes tracking Kael’s every movement with barely contained hatred.
Kael sat down across from Aldric without invitation. He leaned back, crossed one leg over the other, and pulled a scroll from his storage ring.
"Sign it."
Aldric’s hand shook as he caught the scroll. He unrolled it, his eyes scanning the dense text. The color drained from his face with each line.
Article 1: Complete forfeiture of all claims to Greymoor City and its surrounding territories, including the hidden Emerald Valley and all resources therein.
Article 2: The signatory becomes the property and servant of Kael Cassian Vorn. This status is permanent and irrevocable. The signatory forfeits all personal autonomy, decision-making authority, and right to refuse direct orders.
Article 3: All assets belonging to the signatory, including personal wealth, weapons, techniques, and storage rings, become the property of Kael Cassian Vorn. Transfer to be completed within twenty-four hours.
Article 4: The Inferno Core technique becomes the exclusive property of Kael Cassian Vorn. The signatory forfeits all right to practice, teach, or share this technique with any third party.
Article 5: The signatory will accompany Kael Cassian Vorn and serve as his direct subordinate. Specific assignments to be determined by the contract holder. Refusal to obey constitutes a breach.
Article 6: The signatory shall not harm, plot against, or permit harm to come to Kael Cassian Vorn through action or inaction. Any violation triggers immediate execution without trial.
Article 7: The signatory’s Pillar Knight and personal retainers are released from service. They may choose to leave or be reassigned at the contract holder’s discretion.
Article 8: The contract is enforced through runic binding. Attempted breach causes immediate mana seal, followed by soul dissolution if the breach continues.
Article 9: The contract holder reserves the right to add amendments at any time without the signatory’s consent. Article 10: This contract supersedes all previous territorial claims, family rankings, and political arrangements related to Greymoor City and its territories.
Signed: ___________________ Date: ___________________
"This is slavery," Aldric said, his voice cracking. "You think I’m going to sign it? My father was one of the family’s elders. I still have my pride."
Kael looked at him with a cold expression. "Was. Now, he’s dead."
Aldric flinched like he’d been slapped.
In the Vorn family, it’s either you devour or you get devoured.
"If you serve me well, I might terminate the contract later on," Kael continued, his tone conversational, as if discussing the weather. "Also, if you follow me dutifully, I can also help with that green talent of yours. A proper cultivation method, better resources, access to techniques you’d never see otherwise. Your talent deserves better than stagnation."
Aldric looked up at Kael with desperate hatred mixed with fragile, pathetic hope.
"I’ll sign. But I won’t wear a slave mark. That’s too far—"
"Too late."
Kael’s finger touched Aldric’s forehead.
Soul power pressed against flesh and bone. Runic light flared as Rank 5 Runemaster inscription burned into Aldric’s skin. The process took three seconds. The pain was extreme—Aldric screamed, his body convulsing as the mark carved itself into his flesh. The pattern was intricate, wrapping around his skull like a crown of ownership. A brand of absolute submission that would announce his status to every cultivator who saw it. But only Spirit Soul cultivators or Soul cultivators could see it.
"No—!"
Vex exploded forward, his Rank 6 Spirit Soul aura erupting with killing intent. His hand reached for Kael’s throat.
Yuki moved.
Ice crystallized around Vex’s arm mid-strike, freezing the limb solid. The ice spread up toward his shoulder, crackling as it consumed flesh. Her Rank 9 Spirit Soul aura pressed down on Vex like a physical weight, forcing him to his knees. His body started freezing slowly, ice crawling up his chest, his eyes widening with terror as cold consumed him from the outside in.
"Touch him again," Yuki said, her voice cold enough to freeze the air itself, "and I’ll take more than your arm."
Vex stopped struggling. His frozen arm hung useless at his side, ice crawling toward his heart. The cold radiating from Yuki’s palm was absolute. One wrong move and his heart would crystallize in his chest.
Kael didn’t look at Vex. His attention remained fixed on Aldric, who was trembling on the floor, one hand clutching the slave mark on his forehead, tears of pain and humiliation streaming down his face.
"Sign the contract," Kael said calmly. "The slave mark I just used isn’t perfect yet. After all, I’m still refining my Rank 5 rune mastery. The edges are slightly jagged. It will be smoother next time."
Aldric’s shaking hand reached for the brush provided with the contract. His signature glowed briefly on the parchment, binding the contract into absolute law.
Kael picked up the scroll, examined it, and tucked it into his storage ring.
"Take him out of my sight."
He paused, looking at Aldric’s desperate, hate-filled expression. The man who had ruled this city for a decade was broken, kneeling on his floor, branded like cattle.
"If you serve me well for the next fifty years, I might free you."
Aldric’s eyes brightened slightly with hope.
"Take me to the Emerald Valley," Kael added, already walking toward the door.
The valley was hidden behind illusion barriers that had deceived satellite surveillance, merchant caravans, and even family scouts for a decade. Aldric had kept it secret because the herbs within were worth more than his entire city’s annual revenue.
Kael activated Spirit Eyes of the Dark Emperor.
The world shifted into layers of information. The valley was staggering.
Void Iron Root grew along the northern cliff face, its roots burrowing into stone, its leaves a deep black that seemed to drink the light around them. When refined into body tempering pills, it increased bone density by 15%. Three hundred mature plants, ready for harvest. The roots alone could produce enough material for fifty pills.
Soul Nourishing Lotus bloomed in the southern pond, their petals glowing with soft white light that resonated with soul force. Each flower could accelerate soul path cultivation by days when consumed raw, or weeks when refined. 47 blooming flowers, their combined soul force could accelerate a normal cultivator’s soul path progress by months. Extremely rare outside the Gra-Khazul territory. Kael collected a bundle of twelve, planning to give the rest time to mature.
Heartfire Blossom grew near thermal vents in the eastern section, their petals glowing with compressed fire mana. A single petal could increase a standard cultivator’s mana capacity by three percent when refined. Twenty-two plants, their combined fire mana could create pills that expanded mana cores significantly. The air around them shimmered with heat distortion.
Moonlight Moss covered every surface of the valley floor in silver-white carpets. Passive body refinement during sleep cycles—30% faster than conventional methods. Kael grabbed a handful, feeling the tingling sensation of body refinement energy even through his gloves. The moss was useless to anyone without body cultivation, but for someone with Body Refinement, it was a treasure. He collected enough for fifty pills.
Spirit Vein Crystals grew along the valley walls in crystalline clusters, each formation unique. Some enhanced mana core purity by 1-2% depending on the user’s comprehension. Others enhanced specific elements—lightning, fire, water. One formation contained crystals that enhanced darkness affinity when absorbed, their black facets swallowing light. Kael collected samples from each formation, interested in their potential for his darkness techniques and for selling to the right buyer.
Thunder Root grew near water sources where natural lightning strikes had occurred centuries ago, their purple roots crackling with residual electrical energy. Lightning affinity enhancement when consumed or refined. Rare because lightning-aligned herbs only grew where natural lightning had struck. Twenty-three mature roots. But they were all low qualities.
Dark Bloom flowers grew in the deepest shadows of the valley, absorbing ambient darkness. Their black petals seemed to swallow light itself. Darkness affinity enhancement when consumed or refined. Kael collected a bundle, recognizing their potential immediately. His darkness abilities would benefit enormously from this herb.
Ironwood Bark came from ancient trees with bark as hard as steel. Physical defense enhancement when refined into armor or pills. One tree could produce enough material for ten full sets of armor. Three trees grew near the valley entrance. Kael noted them for future exploitation.
Kelvin followed behind him, his fingers trembling as he identified plant after plant. His usual composed demeanor had shattered completely.
"Moonlight Moss... no, ancient Moonlight Moss. The standard variety has 50% less density. This... this could accelerate body refinement by 30% compared to conventional methods. This is..."
He couldn’t finish.
His eyes darted to the Spirit Vein Crystals. His hands shook harder, ink staining the notebook he was frantically scribbling in.
"S-Seven different crystal formations. Each with unique properties. I’ve only ever read about three of them in theoretical texts. And they’re all here. All growing. Young Master, do you understand what this valley is?"
He couldn’t even count them. He stopped trying after two hundred seventeen distinct plant species, his mind overwhelmed.
These herbs, combined with Kelvin’s alchemical expertise, would accelerate his cultivation by months. The body refinement pills alone could push him to Peak Tier 4 before he left for the Vorn Estate.
"Begin harvesting immediately," Kael told Kelvin. "I want the first batch of pills within two weeks."
"Yes, Young Master," Kelvin breathed.