Chapter 634: Cruel Slave Mark

"Sinner Jiufang Kui... greets the Little Demon Empress."

As he entered the stone chamber, Jiufang Kui knelt down. Though he tried his best to remain calm, his voice still trembled with fear.

"Patriarch Jiufang," the Little Demon Empress's gaze was cold. "Helian Kuang was the patriarch of the Helian family, and I killed him. You are also a Guardian Patriarch; in your opinion, was I right or wrong to kill him?"

Jiufang Kui gasped sharply, then quickly said, "Helian Kuang, as a Guardian Patriarch, colluded with traitors and intended to rebel, disregarding the Demon Emperor's great benevolence and the family's sacred guardian mission... Such a traitor deserved to be cut into a thousand pieces long ago. The Little Demon Empress was right to kill him... she did well."

"Very good." The Little Demon Empress nodded slowly, seemingly pleased with Jiufang Kui's answer. Then, her voice suddenly turned icy cold: "In that case, are you prepared to end your own life, or do you wish for me to do it myself?"

The chilling voice and killing intent made all the hairs on Jiufang Kui's body stand on end. He quickly prostrated himself on the ground, pleading in a hoarse voice, "Little Demon Empress, please spare my life! Please spare my life! Back then, I was merely deceived by Helian Kuang, and momentarily lost my way, which led me to... to commit such disloyal acts. But I truly knew nothing about those scandalous acts of the Duke Huai's Manor that infuriated both gods and men... My submission to the Duke Huai's Manor was truly just for self-preservation... to ensure the safety of the Jiufang family in the future... I... I swear here and now, from this day forward, I will be absolutely loyal to the Little Demon Empress, regarding your words as divine decree. I will never... never again harbor any rebellious thoughts... Otherwise, may I, Jiufang Kui, be struck down by thunder, and may my entire Jiufang clan suffer a terrible demise..."

With the barrier in place, no outsiders could hear or see him. To save his life, Jiufang Kui no longer cared about the dignity of a patriarch, desperately crying and begging, uttering venomous curses upon himself. He was no different from any ordinary creature terrified of death... in fact, even more abject.

"It seems Patriarch Jiufang had the courage to rebel, but not the courage to die!" the Little Demon Empress scoffed with disdain. "Since you are so afraid of death, I can indeed give you a chance to live! Tell me everything you know about the Duke Huai's Manor, and all the disgraceful deeds your Jiufang clan has committed over the past century, especially the things I don't yet know. Tell me everything, completely and truthfully! There must be no fabrication or omission!"

"If your confession does not satisfy me..." The Little Demon Empress's gaze shifted to Yun Che. "Young Master Yun is here. I can seal your profound energy and have Young Master Yun use Profound Core Soul Absorption on you! If it is then discovered that you have fabricated or concealed anything, your fate will be ten times more miserable than Helian Kuang's!"

Jiufang Kui trembled, a glimmer of hope appearing amidst his terror. Helian Kuang's body had just been dragged out; there was no consequence more terrifying than death. For the "chance to live" offered by the Little Demon Empress, how could he dare to conceal anything? Immediately, he racked his brain to recall everything he knew about the Duke Huai's Manor, and all the disgraceful deeds his own family had committed openly and secretly over the years, confessing everything in detail. Furthermore, in an attempt to "atone for his sins," he painstakingly revealed all the disgraceful acts committed by other Guardian Families and Royal Manors, especially the Helian clan, including the agreement they had recently made to conceal each other's crimes.

By the time he finished, he was nearly collapsed from exhaustion. Although his confessions were shocking, one after another, and left Yun Che gasping in astonishment, the Little Demon Empress's aura and eyes remained utterly unruffled. She stared at Jiufang Kui and said in a low voice, "A Guardian Family, honored for ten thousand years, has now become so utterly corrupt... Jiufang Kui, as patriarch, you are truly guilty of crimes worthy of ten thousand deaths!"

Jiufang Kui lay prostrate on the ground, no longer daring to speak.

"I will now give you two paths to choose from." The Little Demon Empress slowly rose and walked towards Jiufang Kui. With each step she took, Jiufang Kui's body flinched. "The first path: You, Jiufang Kui, die! Your corpse will be hung at the city gate for seven days as a public display! Your name will also be recorded in the Illusory Demon Chronicles, becoming the eternal disgrace of Jiufang, infamous for ten thousand years! Your wives, concubines, sons, and grandsons will all be executed along with you!"

Jiufang Kui suddenly looked up, pleading with a trembling voice, "Little Demon Empress, please spare my life..."

"The second path!" The Little Demon Empress was now standing directly in front of Jiufang Kui, her cold eyes looking down at him. She slowly extended her hand, pointing it towards the crown of his head, where a cluster of crimson-gold flames burned in her palm. "Honestly accept the 'Slave Seal' I will implant in you! If you do, you will remain the patriarch of the Jiufang family! Your wives, concubines, sons, grandsons, and the entire Jiufang clan will all remain safe and unharmed!"

Jiufang Kui's entire body trembled violently, his eyes wide and staring. His rapidly constricting pupils were filled with terror and despair.

The Slave Seal was the most cruel mental imprint in the world. If a Slave Seal was planted in a person's soul, that individual would become utterly obedient to the one who implanted it, never disobeying any command, even if ordered to die. They would die without hesitation... without even the slightest thought of resistance or rebellion. It was equivalent to becoming the other party's eternal slave and puppet.

Once implanted, a Slave Seal was almost impossible to remove. Even if the one who cast the Slave Seal died, the person upon whom it was implanted would forever remember their last command and remain loyal for life.

The Slave Seal was too cruel; once implanted, one's life and will would be controlled by another. For many, it was a fate more terrifying than death. In the Illusory Demon Law, the "Slave Seal" was strictly forbidden. Even the most powerful families were absolutely prohibited from implanting a Slave Seal even on their lowliest household servants. Furthermore, implanting a "Slave Seal" not only consumed an enormous amount of mental energy but was also extremely difficult to succeed. Even with the Little Demon Empress's current power, implanting a Slave Seal on Jiufang Kui would be impossible if he offered even the slightest mental resistance. It would be nearly impossible to succeed even against a Tyrannical Emperor.

For a Slave Seal to succeed, it typically relied on the recipient's willing acceptance and lack of any mental resistance.

However, the choice before Jiufang Kui was either to have the Slave Seal implanted, or to die... along with losing his reputation and having his wife and children executed with him.

"There are only these two paths; there is no third option!" the Little Demon Empress said coldly. "This is a consequence of your own making; you cannot blame me or anyone else! I give you five breaths to consider: to die or to live... If you still haven't made a choice after five breaths, I will personally grant you death!"

Jiufang Kui stood there in a daze, his gaze vacant, his eyes lifeless... After three breaths, he heavily bowed his head and said with a trembling voice, "Please... Little Demon Empress... bestow the Slave Seal..."

If it had been a choice between the Slave Seal and a simple death, he might have chosen death. But what accompanied death were consequences a thousand times more brutal than mere demise. The Slave Seal was his only choice. At least he would live; at least he wouldn't be infamous for ten thousand years; at least his soul would still be his own when facing others besides the Little Demon Empress.

"Very good." The Little Demon Empress's palm descended, and the profound soul energy infused with the Golden Crow's aura instantly surged into Jiufang Kui's soul... Jiufang Kui trembled all over, but dared not offer the slightest resistance or defiance. In just a few breaths, the Slave Seal from the Little Demon Empress was firmly implanted within his soul.

The Golden Crow flames extinguished, and the Little Demon Empress retracted her hand. At that moment, Jiufang Kui's previously dull eyes gained a flicker of life. Facing the Little Demon Empress, his body bowed even lower, and his gaze and expression were filled with awe, fear, fawning, and sycophancy. He looked exactly like a loyal dog wagging its tail before its master.

"Get out!" The Little Demon Empress turned away, speaking coldly. Jiufang Kui's pathetic, humble posture did not evoke the slightest pity from her. Clan hatred, family feuds, an ocean of blood enmity... If she were not the Little Demon Empress, and if it weren't for the stability and future of the Illusory Demon Realm, she would have slaughtered all these people in the most brutal ways... she certainly wouldn't have gone to such lengths to let them live.

"Yes, yes... I'll get out immediately, get out immediately." Jiufang Kui shuddered as if he had heard an unchallengeable divine command, and quickly prostrated himself, literally "rolling" out of the chamber.

Yun Che had heard of the "Slave Seal," but he had never actually witnessed one. Watching Jiufang Kui's behavior, he couldn't help but shiver.

One pardon, one death. The former offered hope, the latter instilled terror. And the Slave Seal, imposed under this combination of hope and terror, was the Little Demon Empress's true objective.

Jiufang Kui's departure alive undoubtedly gave greater hope to those who followed. The subsequent process was much simpler. It was essentially the same as with Jiufang Kui: presenting a choice between "death" and the "Slave Seal." However, this "death" meant disaster for the entire family and clan, and infamy for ten thousand years. Therefore, the "Slave Seal" became their only viable option.

However, not everyone faced only these two options. Helian Kuang died, while Jiufang Kui, Bai Yi, Nangong Zhi, Lin Guiyan, Chiyang Bailie, and Xiao Xifeng all had Slave Seals implanted. Among the various princes, thirty percent, like the Duke of Jun and Prince Xuan, who had simply acted for self-preservation, were granted pardons.

The patriarchs and dukes who received the Slave Seals would never betray her again, and their respective families and manors would be brought completely under the Little Demon Empress's control. As for the pardoned princes, filled with gratitude and shame, they would also remain loyal in the future.

Not until dusk did the Little Demon Empress complete all her sanctions against the Guardian Families and Royal Manors. As the last prince hurried away, the Demon Imperial Hall became eerily empty, an oppressive stillness pervading the cold silence.

Implanting Slave Seals consumed a great deal of profound energy and an even greater amount of mental energy. Even someone as powerful as the Little Demon Empress was exhausted after implanting nearly fifty Slave Seals in a single afternoon. However, with her extremely stubborn personality, she naturally wouldn't let this fatigue show... especially not in front of Yun Che.

"I have done as you wished. You may leave now," the Little Demon Empress said coldly, turning her back to Yun Che as she rose from the throne.

Her back appeared slender and small, like that of an undeveloped girl, yet she was alone, shouldering the heaviest burden of the entire Illusory Demon Realm... She had no remaining relatives, and even her life was limited to her final three years.

Everyone regarded her with deep reverence, but Yun Che alone, when facing her, felt only deep pity... and a persistent pang of heartache he couldn't let go of.

Yun Che had stayed behind precisely because he hoped to help her in some way, at least so she wouldn't always have to face all the pressure alone. However, the Little Demon Empress was, after all, no ordinary woman. She possessed unparalleled profound energy, incomparable deterrent power, and ample wisdom, cunning, and courage. She simply didn't need him to do anything.

Throughout the afternoon, he felt entirely superfluous sitting there... even a bit of an eyesore.

"Um..." Yun Che took a few steps closer to the Little Demon Empress and slowly said, "Before you became the Little Demon Empress, you were 'Princess Caiyi.' You've worn these grey robes for years, presumably in mourning for the late Demon Emperor and Little Demon Emperor. It's been a century now. Duke Huai's Manor has been completely annihilated, with only the Duke of Ming remaining, whose vital blood has been greatly depleted. Unless he can escape the Illusory Demon Realm, it's only a matter of time before he falls into your hands. You've essentially avenged them... So, you shouldn't need to keep wearing these grey robes, right?"

"..." The Little Demon Empress stood with her back to him, motionless and unresponsive.

"Besides being the Little Demon Empress, you're also widely recognized as the most beautiful woman in the Illusory Demon Realm. Although these ugly clothes can't hide your radiance, if you wore something a little... more ordinary, you'd be so beautiful that even the heavens would be jealous," Yun Che said very earnestly. He truly disliked how the Little Demon Empress always wore shapeless grey robes. Those grey robes seemed like a dim cage, preventing her from escaping oppression and shadow.

The Little Demon Empress slightly turned her body, saying coolly, "Then tell me, what kind of attire should I wear?"

"Well..." Yun Che thought hard for a moment, then said, "Even though we've known each other for so long, I've never seen you in any other clothes. Oh, if I were to be honest... you look quite beautiful without any clothes on."