Chapter 244: Subdued

In the snap of a finger, An Ruming felt the palm above his head was like a divine mountain, impossible to cross.

He also could not understand it.

This stellar method is a core secret art not transmitted in the Great Qian army, containing within it the wondrous power to break laws using the dragon veins and dragon qi of Great Qian.

Even if suppression were needed, it should be done through physical methods, yet the opponent actually controlled his stellar divine aspect with sorcery.

An Ruming's eyes spewed forth intense, scorching stellar light.

He was unwilling to be easily held hostage, let alone when the opponent had touched his bottom line.

No matter what, he could not allow Consort Song to suffer any possible mishap.

His martial will was like beacon smoke, faintly merging with the countless stellar lights above his head; the stellar giant wolf above his head let out a terrifying angry howl, and it once again transformed into a substantial wolf-headed, human-bodied stellar sovereign dharma form.

Above his head, the greedy wolf stellar light shone with unprecedented brightness.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's eyes twitched slightly.

It seems that in the Great Qian army, after warriors reach the Land Immortal Demon realm, they have researched a new path forward.

The power of the Greedy Wolf Stellar Sovereign not only contains the power of the ancient main star Greedy Wolf Star, but also contains a mysterious Daoist power that can sever blessings and fortune, and suppress magic power.

If other Yin God venerables were here, they too would need to be cautious, lest they capsize.

But he is different!

He raised his palm, and still countless stellar lights flowed out from around his body; behind him faintly appeared the shape of the Big Dipper, and moreover, the chaotic stars technique possessed the wondrous ability to seal the void with the stars of the celestial sphere.

With a downward grasp, the howling stellar divine person was, in an instant, pierced through all his orifices by countless sword qi flowing between his five fingers, and easily seized in his palm.

Even the greedy wolf stellar light above his head was completely severed.

At this moment, An Ruming's face changed color; he stood in place, only feeling his life was as if held in a single palm, while the opponent's aura was vast as heaven and earth; a casual pinch could make him drink hatred in the northwest.

"... This!"

An Ruming's face changed violently; this situation was completely beyond his imagination.

Stellar martial arts have been verified by many strong warriors in the Great Qian army, and many cultivators were invited to participate; though not yet formed, it can indeed restrain cultivators, so why is he now being toyed with by the opponent in the palm of his hand?

With a change in his eyes, An Ruming clasped his fists and said in a deep voice: "May I ask which true person has descended, and why do you toy with this junior?"

Zhang Jian gazed at him.

True person?

An Ruming clearly thought he had encountered a primordial spirit true person!

Clearly, An Ruming still harbored resentment in his heart!

Those who bear the greedy wolf stellar aspect are indeed extraordinary!

Zhang Jian smiled slightly; his entire foundation of magic power is based on the three hidden dragon fate patterns.

Now, the three fate patterns: one relies on the dragon soul's transformation into the emperor's fate pattern of stabilizing heaven and earth; another is the king's true red virtue; and there is also the hidden dragon fate pattern of dragon markings and phoenix bearing.

His internal magic power fears no law-breaking power, and also possesses the ability to seize dragon veins; how could he fear this stellar martial arts based on tiger and dragon qi?

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon An Ruming.

"Have you submitted?"

That gaze came like a direct piercing of An Ruming's heart, making him feel utterly exposed in that gaze.

An Ruming's face changed slightly.

"Junior, my life is in your hands; whether to kill or cut, I obey your command; this general is certainly not one who fears death and clings to life!"

Zhang Jian, upon hearing this, had a faint cold smile in his eyes.

He slightly pinched his fingers.

"Ah!"

An Ruming's face changed; he felt his five viscera and six bowels as if crushed by a mighty force.

He could not help but cry out in pain.

This was not directly applied to his flesh, but through his stellar power directly into the depths of his soul.

"An Ruming, in my eyes, you are like an ant, to be crushed at any time!"

Zhang Jian's body was surrounded by vast moonlight, yet his gaze was cold, like the ancient, unchanging moon above his head.

"I will give you one more chance: kneel down, beg me! Beg me to spare your dog's life!"

"You also need not pretend to be lofty before me; you seduced the consort of Emperor Jingwu, that Emperor Jingwu was your benefactor, it was he who appreciated you, allowing you to return from the border Shura field to Haojing City, yet you betrayed him; you are itself a wolf-hearted, dog-lunged person—kneel!"

The ice-cold, piercing voice was like a curse, word by word falling deep into An Ruming's ears, making him feel all his inner darkness fully exposed before the opponent.

His whole body had not a single secret.

An Ruming's face turned pale.

He instinctively dropped to one knee.

But An Ruming's five fingers were almost digging into the ground, and a previously unknown anger flame rose in his heart; such humiliation he had never experienced.

Zhang Jian's five fingers were like hooks, merely lightly gripping An Ruming's stellar divine soul; instantly An Ruming felt his head about to split, unable to help but clutch his head and madly kowtow to the ground.

"Senior, spare my life!"

He madly wailed.

Zhang Jian's face remained ancient and unchanging.

Those who cultivate the greedy wolf stellar aspect are by nature lacking in loyalty; they are born only to serve themselves.

Bestowing favors is of little use.

Rather, it is better to plant in their hearts a powerful, fearful seed, so that they develop heartfelt awe and fear, thus allowing complete control.

As for how deep his affection appears, Zhang Jian likewise does not greatly believe it.

It is likely merely a momentary impulse; once this passes and nature returns, he may very well abandon it.

At this moment, in Zhang Jian's mind arose the classic saying: "How can a true man endure long-term being beneath others?" As he spoke, he held his spear and consecutively severed a wave of adoptive fathers' heads.

After a moment, seeing An Ruoming lying on the ground with faint breath, Zhang Jian slowly relaxed his grip on the celestial soul of constellations.

"How?!"

An Ruoming lay motionless on the ground for a long time, then a faint, hoarse breath came out.

"I am willing to follow the True One's instructions!"

Zhang Jian stood tall and straight, his gaze icy. "I know you harbor hatred toward me, but it does not matter—just obey orders well, or even if you hide among ten thousand troops, I will still take your head!"

After speaking, Zhang Jian waved his hand and released the wolf-shaped celestial soul in his grasp, letting it return to An Ruoming's body.

The celestial general's vitality is extremely strong and tenacious; after a moment, An Ruoming slowly rose to his feet, staggering.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian did not take it to heart, merely saying lightly:

"Do you know you have already been watched?"

An Ruoming's eyes were dull; hearing this, he faintly reacted at this moment, his expression still somewhat dazed.

That pain of the soul, a hundred times greater than the pain of the flesh, left him with an unforgettable memory.

Zhang Jian's cold voice came again: "The people of the Golden Mother Sect have long noticed your and Consort Song's abnormality; if not for me, your fate you can imagine yourself!"

Upon mentioning Consort Song, An Ruoming slightly regained clarity, he fell silent for a moment, then knelt again. "I beg the True One to grant instruction!"

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's eyes flickered with a hint of satisfaction, his gaze falling on An Ruoming, and after a moment he said lightly:

"Your affair with Consort Song will eventually be exposed; I will find a way to heal Consort Song, and even help you smoothly bring her out of the Western Mountain Observatory..."

A ripple appeared in An Ruoming's eyes as he bowed with clasped hands.

"If the True One can help me bring the Empress out of the Western Mountain Observatory, I, Ruoming, am willing to serve the True One with the labor of a dog or horse, and from now on entrust my life to the True One!"

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's expression remained cold.

Getting Consort Song out of the Western Mountain Observatory is not difficult; the difficulty lies in finding a way to avoid imperial investigation and leave no hidden dangers.

And to make her a secure rope to bind this hungry wolf, An Ruoming!