Chapter 471: Human Puppet

This sudden reversal caught Hua Tianxiong completely off guard.

"Th-this…"

His entire demeanor collapsed, and he immediately wore an expression of utter disbelief.

Though he was at the early stage of Golden Core, his cultivation base was built entirely on pills, and his battle experience was severely lacking.

He couldn't even be sure of victory against a peer, let alone someone a full step ahead—Golden Core Mid-stage.

"Oh? Heh heh!" Qin Ming regarded Hua Tianxiong with a sly smile. "You chased me across a thousand li—did you come just to haggle?"

Hua Tianxiong's face twitched, his eyelids jumping uncontrollably.

With his sharp mind, he quickly pieced together the full story.

How many lucky breaks could there be in this world? Clearly, the other party had planned this all along—targeted him specifically.

Hua Tianxiong couldn't help but inwardly curse himself—he shouldn't have let greed cloud his judgment.

But one's nature isn't easily changed in a moment.

A third-stage late-stage soul pearl—how could it be so easily obtained? Now, no matter what he said, it was too late.

"Oh? Heh heh!"

"So you're a fellow cultivator!"

"I thought as much. In that case, I agree to exchange with you a Core-formation spiritual item."

"What do you say?"

Beads of sweat broke out on Hua Tianxiong's forehead; his spine turned cold, and he prayed desperately for reinforcements to arrive soon.

He was now stalling Qin Ming, buying as much time as possible.

Qin Ming saw through Hua Tianxiong's ploy, smiled faintly, and said calmly: "I've suddenly changed my mind—I don't want to sell the soul pill anymore."

He paused.

Then added: "I have a treasure—destined to be yours. I'd like you to see it."

"Uh… what treasure?"

Hua Tianxiong's fat face twitched; a sense of dread rose in his chest.

"This place isn't suitable for viewing. Let me take you somewhere better to appreciate it!" Qin Ming said, his gaze suddenly sharpening.

He unleashed a powerful spiritual pressure to lock Hua Tianxiong in place, then vanished into thin air in the next instant.

Hua Tianxiong's eyes widened in panic—he felt a vast spiritual sense pinning him down, rendering him utterly immobile.

The next moment, his vision blurred—he felt a massive hand appear behind him, lifting his entire body off the ground.

After a moment of dizziness.

When Hua Tianxiong opened his eyes again, he was stunned to find himself in a strange space—a true paradise.

"This…"

But worse was yet to come: three powerful third-stage beast kings surrounded him, glaring with predatory intent.

One of them, a rat beast, spoke in human voice, sneering: "Master, what do you intend to do with this fat, flabby cultivator?"

"You don't plan to make him farm, do you?"

Qin Ming smiled faintly, raised one hand, and a black rune appeared in his palm.

Then, before Hua Tianxiong's terrified eyes, he drove the black rune into his body.

With his strength, Hua Tianxiong could offer no resistance.

"Aaaah!"

A piercing scream echoed throughout the Small Spirit Realm as Hua Tianxiong clutched his head, face twisted in agony, writhing on the ground.

Simultaneously, a torrent of information flooded into Qin Ming's mind.

…

From Hua Tianxiong's childhood, fleeing disaster and famine into the cultivation world, struggling to survive, starving.

Then after years of grinding, he became a shop assistant to make ends meet.

By chance, he saved a senior elder of the Li Huo Palace, who lay unconscious in the back courtyard's woodshed—and from then on, his fortunes soared. He awakened his spiritual body.

With the elder's patronage, he reached Golden Core after a century, founded the massive Qianji Trading House, rose into the top ten of the Ten Thousand Dao Trading Society, enjoying endless wealth and glory—all his memories flashed through Qin Ming's mind.

Half a stick of incense later.

Hua Tianxiong stopped screaming, lying on the ground trembling.

"W-what did you do to me?" he asked, voice trembling.

"Heh heh. I merely planted a seal inside you. No need to panic," Qin Ming grinned strangely.

Hearing this, Hua Tianxiong turned pale, immediately sinking his awareness inward to check.

True enough—a black rune floated quietly within his spiritual sea.

He felt it controlled his life and death—if he dared even a single rebellious thought, he would die horribly.

That soul-searing pain—he would rather die than endure it again.

Hua Tianxiong was a man of iron will—he wasn't afraid of death, but he hated pain. "No need to check. This black rune is my own creation—even a Nascent Soul True Person cannot remove it," Qin Ming said coolly.

Hua Tianxiong's face darkened. "Fellow cultivator, I've done nothing to you—why this?"

"What do you want from me?"

"Heh heh. Nothing between us?" Qin Ming chuckled, then conjured the image of Lu the Shopkeeper.

Hua Tianxiong recognized it—his eyes widened as if seeing a ghost. He pointed at Qin Ming, stammering: "You—you're the one!"

He recalled the cultivator he'd briefly met on Qilin Island not long ago.

"From now on, you will obey every order I give."

"Any negative thought will be transmitted to me instantly."

"And then—you will die horribly."

Qin Ming spoke calmly, as if describing something trivial.

Hua Tianxiong struggled internally—he knew his life now rested entirely in the other's hands.

After long hesitation, he slumped like a deflated balloon, accepting this unjust fate.

"May I ask your name? What do you want me to do?"

Qin Ming smiled faintly. "Call me Master. Just obey my orders. Perhaps one day, if I'm in a good mood, I'll spare your life."

He had already gleaned much from Hua Tianxiong's memories, so he had little left to ask.

He simply said: "Return to your duties as usual. I'll contact you through the black rune when I need you."

Hua Tianxiong's fat cheeks trembled as he bowed deeply to Qin Ming. "Yes, Master."

"Hmm. Go back now."

"Your men outside are searching for you in a frenzy."

"Oh—and attend the Five Elements Mountain Jiaoyi Society in three months. Personally." Qin Ming said, then without waiting for Hua Tianxiong's reply, expelled him from the Small Spirit Realm.

Outside the world.

Wei the Shopkeeper and the Qianji Pavilion's people were scouring the nearby mountains for the two men.

An old man in white robes radiated Golden Core Mid-stage energy, frowning. "Strange. I clearly sensed the Chairman's aura here—how did it vanish completely? Not even a trace remains?"

Wei the Shopkeeper was frantic—this deal was under his responsibility. If Chairman Hua met with misfortune, he'd be finished.

"Master Xiao, I… I don't know."

At that moment,

A purple light streaked from afar, vanishing instantly to reveal Hua Tianxiong's figure.

But his face was pale, his expression dark as if dripping with ink.

"Chairman Hua! You're safe!"

Seeing Hua Tianxiong unharmed, Wei the Shopkeeper rushed forward, beaming and bowing.

Hua Tianxiong saw this and flew into a rage.

He had been enjoying courtesans on the seventh floor—everything was perfect.

If this fool hadn't barged in and lured him into this trap, none of this would've happened.

The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.

SLAP! Hua Tianxiong struck Wei the Shopkeeper across the face, sending him flying dozens of zhang away.

Blood sprayed—Wei's front teeth were knocked out, his right cheek swollen grotesquely.

…

(End of Chapter)