Chapter 342: Xu Jingming's Ambition! Sakuragi Rin's Astonishment!

Holy Maiden!

The most sacred and purest goddess of the Sakura Nation, the object of fervent devotion for countless youths!

Yet now, she kneels before Xu Jingming in an utterly shameful posture.

If the people of Sakura Nation were to witness such a scene, they would surely feel their worldview overturned, unable to believe it at all.

And yet, that is exactly the case.

"This..." Xu Jingming was equally somewhat shaken.

He had already steeled himself, prepared for this to be a trap.

He never expected that this truly was a reverse contract capable of controlling Sakuragi Rin's life!

And the effect was far better than imagined!

A single thought, and he could control Sakuragi Rin's life and death.

Moreover, through this reverse contract, he could even faintly sense Sakuragi Rin's emotional responses.

Nervousness and shame nearly occupied her entire reaction, and even... a hint of suppressed longing?

Hmm?

Xu Jingming could understand the first few emotions, but what did that subsequent longing mean?

Shaking his head, Xu Jingming didn't dwell on it and said to Sakuragi Rin:

"Having one's life controlled is actually even more agonizing than being killed on the spot.

I can tell you have some goal you haven't completed yet, otherwise you wouldn't have done this.

But I don't care about that—I only want your loyalty."

Xu Jingming considered his own charm far from great enough to make a rare S-rank ability awakener set aside her dignity and willingly serve as a servant.

Especially given that he was wearing this particular face of his.

With things having reached this point, he could also see that Sakuragi Rin seemed to be utterly obsessed with some matter.

The importance she placed on this matter even outweighed her life.

"No need to kneel. Get up." Xu Jingming waved his hand.

To be honest, he truly wasn't used to Sakuragi Rin's behavior.

Especially given that the other party was, by every measure, an extremely fine beauty.

"Thank you, Master."

Sakuragi Rin knew her life was temporarily out of danger and couldn't help but relax somewhat.

Rising from the ground, she said with utmost respect: "What does Master need me to accomplish? Simply give your orders, and I will do my utmost to fulfill them."

The reverse contract was already complete—even if she wanted to back out, she couldn't.

Sakuragi Rin quickly settled into her role and asked softly.

After the great battle, sweat had nearly soaked through her battle suit.

It clung tightly to her body, outlining all sorts of taut, lovely curves.

Combined with those words about fulfilling any request, it was hard not to let one's imagination wander.

But after a moment of deliberation, Xu Jingming merely said in a low voice:

"What you need to do is very simple—train diligently, and then take control of the Heavenly Imperial Dojo as much as possible, and even the entirety of Sakura Nation."

In truth, since transmigrating, his ambitions had always been only two.

One was to reach the pinnacle of Blue Star, ensuring the safety of himself, his family, and his friends to the greatest extent possible.

The other was to exterminate all the fierce beasts on Blue Star.

These two goals were undoubtedly difficult—even with Deep Blue in hand, he might not necessarily achieve them.

And Sakuragi Rin was a chance attempt on his part, an effort to add a sufficiently powerful and trustworthy teammate to his future.

He might even, through Sakuragi Rin, control Sakura Nation and turn the entire country's resources to his own use.

Of course,

if he grew powerful enough to exterminate all fierce beasts with his own strength, this contingency would no longer be needed.

Correspondingly, if he were to die halfway, then everything would be over.

"This..." Sakuragi Rin was somewhat taken aback.

She had even prepared herself for Xu Jingming to make many excessive demands, but she never expected his request to be so simple.

In fact, taking control of the Heavenly Imperial Dojo and controlling Sakura Nation had always been her ultimate goal.

Beyond her surprise, Sakuragi Rin quickly came back to her senses and nodded respectfully:

"Understood."

After a pause, noticing Xu Jingming's aura, she asked again with some curiosity:

"Master, you should be a fourth-rank lower-tier ability user, right? Is the fourth-rank upper-tier aura a disguise?"

A month and a half ago, Xu Jingming had only just advanced to fourth-rank.

Apart from an aura-disguising combat technique, she truly couldn't think of any other way to give someone that impression.

However, Xu Jingming's next answer made her gasp in shock:

"No, my rank is exactly fourth-rank upper-tier."

"What?!"

Sakuragi Rin's eyes instantly went wide, her rosy little mouth slightly parted, and a stormy sea surged in her heart.

Fourth-rank upper-tier?

In other words, Xu Jingming had leapfrogged two whole ranks in just over fifty days??!

What an astonishing rate of advancement?!

You should know that back then, advancing from Fourth-Rank Lower to Fourth-Rank Upper took her a full year and a half.

"Truly worthy of being Master — such extraordinary talent!"

Beyond her shock, she actually felt a trace of delight in her heart.

Having such a powerful contract master whose restraints on her were not overly heavy seemed not unacceptable.

At the same time, Sakuragi Rin finally understood why the United States was so eager to kill Xu Jingming.

This talent was truly terrifying.

Once he grew in the future, he could lead Great Xia to become the most powerful nation on Blue Star!

After drawing a deep breath, Sakuragi Rin continued:

"Master, may I return to the Heavenly Imperial Dojo's team next?"

The Heavenly Imperial Dojo was her foundation; only by returning could she have enough resources to grow stronger.

"No. You must stay in this cave until this relic expedition ends, then rejoin the Heavenly Imperial Dojo's people."

Xu Jingming shook his head, and the pitch-black Flowing Cloud Golden Edge Spear was raised once more:

"Also, to prevent you from escaping or calling for help, I will break both your legs and both your arms, and gag your mouth."

Although Sakuragi Rin's life was controlled by him, and she called him Master at every turn, showing every sign of submission—

No one knew what Sakuragi Rin was thinking in her heart.

If she disregarded her own life to transmit information to the Heavenly Imperial Dojo's people, that would be troublesome.

He had no desire to spend large amounts of time dealing with the Heavenly Imperial Dojo's people at the critical moment of harvesting ability points.

And Sakuragi Rin had just swallowed a Fifth-Grade Blood Burst Pill; once the drug's effect wore off—

She would be unable to use her abilities for a long time to come.

Since that was the case, imprisoning her in this hidden cave was the best solution.

Given her Fifth-Rank ability-user constitution, feeding her a little fresh water and food every three or four days would suffice.

"Huh??!!"

Sakuragi Rin's eyes went wide, and she immediately understood Xu Jingming's purpose in doing this.

Such meticulous thinking and ruthless methods, even she as a captive could not help secretly marvel.

But thinking of the miserable state of having her legs and arms broken, her mouth gagged, and being imprisoned here—

She couldn't help but shiver, and quickly said:

"My S-Rank ability, Divine Familiar Awakening, after contracting a familiar, grants a Familiar Space.

Although it was a reverse contract just now, a Familiar Space was also generated on my end.

Master, you only need to place me inside, and you can isolate me..."