Those Who Seek Rewards
There was nothing hidden, nor was there any exaggeration or downplaying. This secret technique is definitely the real deal.
The principle behind the Blood Covenant Restriction was simple. It was a transaction of sorts—purchasing another's life at the cost of a single drop of one's own blood. Naturally, a single drop of blood and a person's life could never hold equal value. Such an extremely unfair trade should have been impossible under normal circumstances, but the Blood Covenant Restriction possessed the power to forcibly seal this absurd transaction.
However, it required a specific condition: a disparity in cultivation realms. The one paying with blood had to possess a higher cultivation than the one paying with their life. A difference of a single minor realm was somewhat precarious, but a difference of a major realm ensured absolute stability.
This is truly absurd, Jekyeong marveled, reviewing the details of the Blood Covenant Restriction over and over again.
Was a difference of a single minor realm significant? Certainly. Yet, whether measured by the sheer volume of spiritual energy or actual combat prowess, it was never as insurmountable a gap as the technique claimed. One only had to look at the beast race to see this truth. Was it not common for a mid-stage Great Yao with an exceptional bloodline to surpass a late-stage Great Yao with a mediocre lineage in both presence and strength? Although the Blood Covenant Restriction was a human secret technique, humans likely operated under similar principles.
That must be why a single minor realm's difference is considered unstable. After all, monsters who defy the gap in realms through sheer talent and cultivation do exist in this world.
Despite these inherent constraints and limitations, the Blood Covenant Restriction was undeniably formidable. Yet, as Jekyeong studied it repeatedly, three distinct drawbacks caught his attention.
First, the technique could only control cultivators up to the Foundation Establishment stage. Even then, while early-stage cultivators were easy to manage, mid-stage ones were difficult, and late-stage ones were practically impossible to bind.
Second, while it allowed him to control his targets, it did not grant absolute puppetry. He could hold their life force in his palm and threaten them at any moment, but he could not manipulate them like mindless dolls.
Third, due to the nature of the blood covenant, the number of individuals he could control at one time was strictly limited. It was like trying to write on a single sheet of paper; there was only so much space. If he mastered the secret technique, he might be able to squeeze in more names by "writing smaller," but even that had its limits. Jekyeong estimated that no matter how proficient he became, he would never be able to control more than a hundred people at once.
Looking at these three flaws, the limitations of the Blood Covenant Restriction were clear. Even putting aside the cap on numbers, the technique ultimately relied on holding a knife to someone's throat. It was bound to breed resentment, whether minor or deep. Furthermore, if a bound subject managed to break through to a higher realm, the restriction would loosen or potentially shatter entirely.
However, Jekyeong was not particularly bothered by these issues. None of that concerns me.
Aside from Han Cheongyu, all the human cultivators under his command were only at the mid-stage of Qi Condensation. Even if they all broke through to the late-stage, they would never escape the grasp of the Blood Covenant Restriction. As for the possibility of Han Cheongyu breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Jekyeong didn't even consider it. Setting aside whether the man possessed the capability to reach such heights, even if he did somehow achieve it one day, Jekyeong would have long since surpassed the mid-stage of the Great Yao realm.
If anything, the only real disappointment was the limit on numbers. It meant he could never vastly expand his roster of completely reliable, worry-free workers.
It's fine. This is more than enough for now. At present, the manpower on Heukgyodo was sufficient for his needs. He didn't know what the future would hold, but he could cross that bridge when he came to it. Steeling his resolve, Jekyeong began to practice the Blood Covenant Restriction in earnest.
The Blood Covenant Restriction was a secret technique, and Jekyeong was no stranger to such arts. He had already mastered the Transformation Art, and the Presence-Concealing Technique could also be considered a type of secret technique. Drawing on this experience, Jekyeong felt a modicum of confidence. While he didn't expect to master it in a single glance, he believed that with enough time, it wouldn't be too difficult to learn.
It was a massive miscalculation. Only after he began practicing did Jekyeong realize that not all secret techniques were created equal. Aside from the sheer complexity of the art, there was the matter of compatibility and talent. When learning the Transformation Art and the Presence-Concealing Technique, he had felt like a fish in water. Now, however, he felt as though he were swimming through a swamp. He could move forward, but it required immense effort, and no matter how hard he pushed, his progress was agonizingly slow.
After wrestling with this frustration for some time, Jekyeong was forced to admit that he simply lacked the talent and compatibility for covenants and restrictions.
At least I'm making some progress. While complete mastery seemed a distant dream, learning it well enough to put it to practical use would not be an issue. He just needed to invest enough time.
Actually, this is for the best. It's better to focus on my core cultivation rather than wasting time on side paths. He knew it was a childish coping mechanism, but he had to soothe his bruised ego somehow.
It's not just blood. It's about imbuing it with my will and power. In a way, it shares some similarities with Essence Blood... Having acknowledged his shortcomings, Jekyeong redoubled his efforts. He immersed himself in the practice of the Blood Covenant Restriction, completely losing track of time.
"Lord Dragon!" He had been so deeply engrossed that he hadn't even sensed Hyeongu's arrival until the turtle demon called out from the entrance of the Black Cult Palace.
"Enter." Upon receiving permission, Hyeongu scurried into the grand hall with a nimbleness quite uncharacteristic of a turtle. His breathing was as hurried as his steps, his excitement plain to see.
"Fortunately, I have not disappointed your expectations, Lord Dragon!"
"Oh? It seems you've achieved some results." As Jekyeong showed interest, Hyeongu grew even more eager to share. However, the turtle demon was wise and understood his master well enough to avoid self-aggrandizing chatter.
"I have located the school of Rumble-Egg Fish you mentioned previously. However, the moment I drew near, they scattered in the blink of an eye, so I was unable to capture any. Nevertheless, I have committed their habitat to memory. If we return, capturing a few will be child's play."
"I see. Well done." The Rumble-Egg Fish was one of the aquatic beasts Jekyeong had kept his eye on during the auction on Seongam Island. Hearing that Hyeongu had found their school, Jekyeong felt a sudden urge to rush to their habitat immediately. But it was merely an urge. While he could move stealthily using his Presence-Concealing Technique, it would be highly troublesome if he unfortunately crossed paths with any Great Yao in the vicinity. He could do it if he really wanted to, but there was no need to go to such lengths for a mere handful of fish.
"Lord Dragon, finding the Rumble-Egg Fish is but a minor achievement. The true harvest is this. Please, take a look." Hyeongu pulled an object from the storage bag wrapped around his neck like a scarf. It was a reddish stone about the size of Hyeongu's own torso, and even a cursory glance revealed it was no ordinary rock.
Jekyeong, who had been looking down at the object from a relaxed posture, suddenly froze as his expression shifted. Sensing something unusual, he unconsciously straightened his massive body and craned his neck forward to inspect the stone-like object up close.
"..." As the Lord Dragon's eye—which was larger than Hyeongu's entire body—loomed directly overhead, the turtle demon's initial excitement vanished, replaced by sheer terror. He began to tremble violently. Unfortunately, Jekyeong was too captivated by the object to notice his subordinate's growing distress.
Jekyeong peered down at the reddish stone, examining it meticulously. A faint, subtle crimson light flowed across the rough surface of the rock. Without close inspection, one would easily mistake it for simple pigmentation. But to those who looked closer, it appeared as though blood were circulating through the stone itself.
What is this? Its appearance alone screamed that it was extraordinary. That was undoubtedly why Hyeongu had eagerly brought it back. However, extraordinary was one thing; what actually was this object? Even Jekyeong, who had memorized the catalog of the Yeongbu Merchant Alliance, could not identify this strange, stone-like item.
Hmm. Faced with an object he could not identify, Jekyeong felt more intrigued than perplexed. In his mind, items omitted from the Yeongbu Merchant Alliance's catalog fell into one of two categories: either they were completely worthless, or they were so exceedingly rare that transactions involving them were virtually nonexistent. Jekyeong was certain it was the latter. Aside from its unusual appearance, he could feel a distinct sensation emanating from it. He simply couldn't put his finger on what that sensation was.
"You have worked hard." Jekyeong first commended Hyeongu, then bestowed a single Spirit Fruit upon him on the spot. Upon receiving the fruit, Hyeongu's eyes blazed with a heat that looked as if they had been set on fire.
"Where did you find this?"
"Replying to the Lord Dragon, I obtained it from the territory of Lord Jang Yeong."
"Jang Yeong's territory? You ventured quite far."
"Hehe. Since the master of that domain is gone, I figured it was a prime opportunity to search a wider area."
Hearing this, Jekyeong clicked his tongue in silence, unsure whether to call the turtle bold or utterly reckless. Of course, since Hyeongu carried Jekyeong's blood, low-level pests wouldn't have posed a threat. But what if he had run into other Great Yao who had come to plunder the masterless territory? If that had happened, even with Jekyeong's blood, the turtle likely wouldn't have returned in one piece.
Still, the outcome was good, so he refrained from scolding him. As for the recklessness... while the turtle had overextended himself this time out of a desperate desire for a Spirit Fruit, he was usually a cautious creature by nature. There was no need to worry too much.
After dismissing Hyeongu, Jekyeong examined the strange, stone-like object from various angles. He nudged it gently, dabbed a couple of drops of his saliva onto it, and even briefly contemplated putting it in his mouth. Well, it was only a passing thought. He had no idea whether this thing was a poison or a medicine; no matter how sturdy his physical body was, he couldn't just recklessly swallow it.
I haven't the faintest clue. This was where his lack of experience showed. Previously, when trading with other Great Yao, he had internally mocked them as fools who sat on treasures without recognizing their worth. Now, it seemed he was no different from them.
No matter. I can take my time. The item wouldn't run away once sealed inside his storage bag, so he had plenty of time to investigate. Though his own knowledge was limited, Bul-mang-won was filled with experienced seniors. Surely, among all those reincarnators, someone would recognize this bizarre chunk of stone.
The stone was not an urgent matter. Jekyeong first completed his basic acquisition of the Blood Covenant Restriction. Then, he immediately summoned Han Cheongyu.
No thinking, breathing being ever wished to place their life in the hands of another. The Blood Covenant Restriction was essentially a slave brand forced upon someone; such a measure could shake the resolve of even the most loyal subordinates. Thus, Jekyeong decided to test it first on Han Cheongyu, whom he deemed the most loyal among his human followers.
He gave a brief explanation of the Blood Covenant Restriction and offered him a choice. Of course, this "choice" was merely a polite euphemism for coercion. Han Cheongyu was no fool; he would have easily grasped the underlying implication. Yet, Jekyeong remained indifferent. He spoke calmly and observed the man's reaction.
Han Cheongyu listened to the entire explanation without uttering a single word. After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded.
"I understand, Lord Dragon."
"What is it that you understand?"
"I accept your terms. Please, bestow the blood covenant upon me."
Jekyeong had expected Han Cheongyu to comply eventually, but such a calm, unruffled reaction was beyond his expectations. Was this man truly fine with his life being bought for a single drop of blood? He was slightly curious, but decided not to overthink it. At any rate, this submissive attitude was highly pleasing.
"Receive it." Just because Han Cheongyu had submitted did not mean there would be no resentment lingering in his heart. Jekyeong did not know if a few bottles of alchemical pills could completely dissolve that bitterness, but he knew that if you put a leash on a dog, you had to feed it meat. Ultimately, what mattered was showing sincerity.
