Chapter 0196

Chapter 196: What do you mean by your Inheritance Pool?

A thunderous boom split the air as unmatched spiritual power burst out, forming dazzling arcs of lightning that tore open the barrier of space and led to somewhere unknown.

Fire Xin’er frowned, feeling a chill of unease as she asked: “What are you doing?”

Zhou Tong lifted his gaze and spoke in a calm voice: “Have you ever heard of a Heavenly Dao arbitration appeal?”

At once, Fire Xin’er’s whole body trembled. She gritted her teeth and snapped: “Empty threats!”

She did not believe Zhou Tong could do such a thing, not when even she could not.

Zhou Tong let out a cold hum and said with a trace of mockery: “So you do know quite a lot. Too bad you cannot fool me. Your farce ends here.”

Fire Xin’er drew on her essence, energy, and spirit, ready to strike again. Yet in that instant, endless laws gathered, and the pressure of heaven and earth grew heavy, as if a god had arrived. A giant eye opened in the void and looked down on everything.

Fire Xin’er’s face went stiff as she whispered to herself: [How can this be?]

She had clung to one last hope. Even if Zhou Tong really filed a Heavenly Dao arbitration appeal, there should be no instant reply. Appeals were not rare. Zhou Tong should still have to wait in line. He was not the Heavenly Dao’s most favored child.

But she never thought Zhou Tong would use an Emperor Grade Spirit to alarm the Heavenly Dao at once and skip the line entirely.

A solemn, mighty voice rolled over the world as it declared: “The Heavenly Dao is intervening to investigate.”

That voice continued, steady and cold: “Begin reviewing the time records.”

After only a few blinks, the giant Eye of the Heavenly Dao spoke again: “Review complete. The Heavenly Dao now delivers judgment.”

In an instant, the Eye saw through everything. It pronounced in a tone that brooked no argument: “The Authority of Fire, Fire Xin’er, abused her position to maliciously deceive the Heavenly Dao. Her crime is doubled.”

Even Zhou Tong was a little surprised. He understood that the Heavenly Dao could be humane. If someone made a contract in good faith but failed due to outside forces, the Heavenly Dao often showed mercy and left room to make things right. But for those who planned to break the contract from the start, it never showed leniency.

Fire Xin’er had truly caused a disaster for herself. Even with a Saint realm cultivation, she would be stripped to the bone if not killed.

Fire Xin’er cried out in fear, her voice cracking as she pleaded: “Wait, I admit my mistake. I am willing to carry out the contract!”

The Eye answered without warmth: “Too late. Those who deceive the Heavenly Dao must accept punishment. You will now receive Fivefold Thunder on the crown. Your spirit will be ground down.”

Fire Xin’er trembled from head to toe. This punishment did not harm the flesh. It struck only the soul, which was the bane of spirit-born beings like her. A single misstep, and the thunder would shatter her wisdom and throw her back into dull ignorance.

Five bolts boomed as one. Blinding thunderlight lit up the heavens, painting her despair and fear in sharp detail. She tried to flee, but how could she outrun the speed of Heavenly Tribulation? The five bolts turned into five swords that chased her like lightning.

Zhou Tong narrowed his eyes and watched clearly as the five thunders pierced her at the crown of the head, the spot between the brows, the heart, and both soles. Her defense collapsed in an instant.

She let out a terrible scream and fell to the ground, powerless.

Gasping for breath with a face twisted by shock, Fire Xin’er looked like someone who had just escaped death. In the end, the Heavenly Dao showed mercy. It pitied a spirit that had gained awareness and did not erase her mind.

The mighty voice finished its judgment: “Punishment complete. The contract must continue, and compensation must be added.”

A ring of light dropped from the Eye and settled around Fire Xin’er’s neck like a collar. The saintess’s voice shook as she asked: “What is this?”

The Eye gave the answer in a calm tone: “These are the Shackles of Betrayal. Within this secret realm, aside from the contract itself, you must unconditionally agree to one request from the other party.”

Fire Xin’er’s face went pale as she protested in a whisper: “How could it be like this?”

Zhou Tong’s lips curved as he stepped forward, looking down at her with playful eyes, and he said with a light laugh: “Perfect.”

Fire Xin’er crossed her arms over her chest, looking soft and helpless like a girl without the strength to lift a chicken. She tried to resist a bully’s threat as she stammered: “What… what do you want?”

Zhou Tong asked with a teasing smile: “From today on, how about you recognize me as your master?”

Fire Xin’er spat rapid-fire words, her voice fierce even as her feet pushed to inch away from him: “Give up that dream already, you despicable, shameless, nasty, dumb, wicked, gross bully. I will never let you succeed. If you dare make an excessive demand, I will self-destruct and take you with me!”

Zhou Tong was speechless for a moment, then sighed inwardly. The Eye of the Heavenly Dao was still watching. He could not bring himself to ask for anything over the line. [Is it my imagination, or is that Eye actually sizing me up?]

He waved a hand and said in an even voice: “Go. You are not needed here for now. If I have a request, I will find you.”

Hearing this, Fire Xin’er acted like she had been granted a royal pardon. She vanished at an unbelievable speed. Yet before long, she returned and stood before him again.

Zhou Tong twitched and muttered: “Are you trying to scare me to death?”

Fire Xin’er’s cheeks were red as she lowered her eyes and asked in a small, embarrassed voice: “Could you… could you give me some of your blood? I need it to open the Inheritance Pool.”

“You have got to be—” Zhou Tong began to curse, then stopped. She was pushing her luck, but after a thought, a warm smile spread over his face as he said: “Fine. I will give it to you.”

He flicked his finger, and a thread of bright red blood flew out.

“See you… never!” Fire Xin’er jumped like a rabbit, snatched the blood essence, and fled at once, afraid he would change his mind and ask something improper.

Zhou Tong watched her back and let a wicked smile tug at his mouth as he thought: [So naive. Did you really think you could take advantage of me so easily? To take, you first give.]

His eyes gleamed as a plan formed: [Explain this to me: what do you mean your Inheritance Pool? If I set my eyes on it, it is mine. The Dragon Transformation Pool has faded badly. If I swallow the Vermilion Bird Pool, that should make up for it.]

Helping Fire Xin’er was helping himself.

He let out a long breath and said to himself: “At last, that troublesome woman is gone. Time to find Senior Sister and the others.”

He turned to leave, but his heart jumped. The Eye of the Heavenly Dao had not vanished. It still stared straight at him. In a moment, his heartbeat sped up. [So it was watching me after all.]

A dignified voice sounded from the Eye and made Zhou Tong hold his breath: “An anomalous person has been detected.”

Zhou Tong did not panic. He met that gaze without fear. After a few tense beats, the Eye spoke words that finally let him relax: “Permission to exist is granted. Alert lifted.”

The huge pupil no longer looked so strict. It even seemed a little gentle.

Then the voice pressed down like thunder, cutting straight through Zhou Tong’s chest as it asked: “Why have you returned? Why do you seek strength? What are you fighting for?”

“I…” Zhou Tong opened his mouth, but a trace of confusion flashed across his eyes. [Why did I come back? Why do I need to become strong?]