Three Years ago
"I must hurry!" ng Hao spoke to himself as he left the mines area. He made sure to morize everything that Dao Shen had shared when he soul-searched the dead guard Xiao Lai.
With access to Xiao Lai's mories, he's able to completely impersonate him to the extent he won't be revealed in the short term. On that end, ng Hao arrived at the mansion of the Minor Spears.
"You ca rather fast," one of the Minor Spears spoke.
"I guess he really wants his promotion, get inside, a Fire Spear is waiting for you to promote you, make sure you don't scream," the second guard laughed.
ng Hao nodded at the two and walked inside the Mansion. Looking around it looked like a gigantic overly luxurious abode from the inside.
Starting from the dragon leather carpet that furnished the ground, all the way to the golden chandelier, to the marble pillars coated in gold symbols of the fire dragon, the symbol of the Fire Lord himself.
The whole mansion felt full of Qi, yet admits this pure Qi which was far more purer than the baleful Qi outside, there was a stench of death.
One man was sitting with a hand under his chin, leaning comfortably on a throne at the end of the hall.
It was a Fire Spear. The sa person that intercepted them when they first arrived to the planet on the ship.
The fire spear's eyes looked bored, "Hmm, you have a lot of Baleful Qi," the Fire Spear spoke.
This caught ng Hao by surprise. Stunned at how he was discovered he almost went on the defensive.
"But that's to be expected, it's still not to the extent it'll harm you, anyway, do you know why the general himself accepted your promotion, even though many had been against it?" the Fire Spear spoke.
ng Hao still kneeling spoke, "No good lord, I have no idea why I was bestowed such honor," he said.
"Because he was petty," said the Fire Spear.
"If it wasn't for the lobbyists and the elders who are supporting the Fire Lord's second heir, he wouldn't have even given a shit about you, but since you did good work, he made sure to promote you against their refusal, after all, if they refused it that much, they must have had a gain in promoting another one instead, and thus with you being promoted it dealt a blow to them, still, do you understand what this ans?" the Spear spoke.
"No sir, please enlighten this ignorant," ng Hao replied.
"It ans you officially entered the battle of succession, we the Fire Spears are all neutrals when it cos to succession, we're spears to the Fire Lord and the fire lord alone, while you, the minor spears are all sowhat usable tools that the two Infernal Princes can use, so make sure to know which prince you serve, if you wish to keep your life," the Fire Spear spoke.
"I'll keep it in mind, sir," ng Hao replied.
"Now, for the Slave Brand," The Fire Spear spoke as he pulled a stamp from his holding bag.
ng Hao began panicking inside, this was not sothing he knew of, a Slave Brand, this ans he'll imdiately beco a slave to the Fire Throne, rendering any attempts at disobeying them futile, he might even co forward and start confessing.
"Hmm," The fire Spear frowned, "Not even a reaction," he added.
"Why would I react, sir, if the lord wants to be a slave, then it is my honor to die for him as one," ng Hao spoke while preparing ntally to release Dao Shen's soul seals and fight for his life.
"Hmm, foolish, but loyal, you didn't even understand what I an from all my speech earlier," the Fire Spear sighed. "Don't ever allow anyone to make you their slaves but the Fire Lord, what if I'm under one of the Elders's orders and brand you to serve them, won't you just betray the general who promoted you? Think more, foolish spear. This was a test you failed, but you still must have learned sothing," The Fire Spear spoke.
ng Hao's head touched the ground once again, "Yes greatest lord, I've understood your intentions, I'll keep your teaching in my heart."
"Good, now take this, and pledge the oath of the spear, Swear the Infernal Oath, and then you'll beco one of the minor spears," said the Fire Spear.
In front of ng Hao, a dagger that looked like it had its blade made from burning lava was in front of him.
The Infernal Oath is swearing fealty to the Fire Lord, it was similar to the Slave Brand only this one was more specific to serve the Fire Lord alone, and not anyone else.
All those who follow the Fire Lord have already sworn it, but now it's a confirmation to beco a spear of the fire lord.
The process involves making a star upon one's forehead as they swear the oath, and using this dagger the pain will be multiplied several tis, then those who complete it will receive a Spear Edge that will forever be embedded within their skull. To be used as a revenge chanism upon death, or kill the owner upon betrayal.
ng Hao was sure of his ability to escape the Oath's Restraints since he'll swear it by using Xiao Lai's na, and it won't affect him.
However, just as he placed the dagger upon his forehead, feeling the incredible heat of the blade, a divine sense ssage echoed through the entirety of the Fire Planet.
"HIS GRACE AND GREATNESS, THE INFERNAL FLA, LORD OF ALL! FLA OF ORIGIN AND RULER OF RULERS! THE FIRE LORD HAS ERGED FROM SECLUDED CULTIVATION! BOW TO YOUR LORD!"
Without a second to spare, the Fire Spear imdiately went on all fours kowtowing in the direction of the Fire Lord's palace.
ng Hao did the sa, lest he would be exposed.
But inside his mind, a lot of terrible scenarios were crossing his mind.
The infernal aura of the Fire Lord spread through the entirety of the Fire Planet, revealing to all that the Fire Lord had erged from secluded cultivation, far stronger than before, the monster beca even more of a monster.
"Hmmm…I left for but a few years, and I sll rats in my land…how had this co to be?" the Fire Lord's words were low in tone and volu, but they still resounded through the entire planet.
ng Hao's heart began beating hard, but he suppressed it instantly, lest he'd be exposed by the Fire Spear kneeling next to him.
Suddenly the skies shook and shuddered as several cultivators began screaming as if their souls were being wrenched out of their bodies.
"Hmm, they're still useless anyway, Spears, report to …also bring so food, I'm hungry," the Fire Lord spoke.
The Fire Spear next to ng Hao stood up, he looked at ng Hao and said, "Well, since you're technically a Minor Spear, follow , the oath will take a day to finish, and we can't let the lord wait that long," he said.
And thus ng Hao followed the Fire Spear.
They entered through a door and arrived at a massive-sized chamber that had hundreds of thousands of incense pots in it. this was the origin of the sll.
"Pick a few for the lord, make sure you pick the ones with the most souls in them," the fire spear said.
Looking at this opportunity, ng Hao made sure to scan the entire area for the soul of his beloved, and once he happened to notice which one she was in, the Fire Spear grabbed it.
"Hmm, you've been focusing a lot on this one. Let see, oh it has so decent souls in it," the Fire Spear said.
"Wait," ng Hao blurted.
This caused the Fire Spear's expression to turn sour imdiately.
"You dare, order, ?!"
"No sir, I would never," ng Hao imdiately bowed.
"Then explain yourself, how dare you utter those words, if your explanation isn't convincing, your head will roll!"
"Our Lord had just exited Seclusion, and I have to admit I have a diocre sense when it cos to soul quality, but I believe the quality of the souls in that pot is very low, they're probably from the barren lands, giving sothing that distasteful to our Lord as soon as he cos out will only incur his wrath, but that one," ng Hao pointed with his finger without raising his eyes to et the Fire Spear, "That one feels more pure and nutritious, though I believe it has nothing but the souls of beasts, they're of an incredibly high quality that even this lowly one can sense, the fire lord will probably enjoy a hearty al better than a poor quality one," ng Hao spoke.
The Fire Spear's lips rose.
"Clever… indeed, you're actually right, I was too focused on following the Lord's Order that I forgot that he had a peculiar taste… here, take this," The Fire Spear said as he threw the incense pot to ng Hao.
To which he was completely dazed and confused at receiving the pot rather…too easily.
"Eat that one up, since it probably tastes bad, we don't want to have our lord be angry, for you thought it's a good treasure," the Fire Spear said.
"Yes, thank you for your generosity," said ng Hao.
"Now let's head to the Fire Lord's palace, he must be waiting for us, and since I like you, you'll co with . I've yet to have a personal servant, you seem smart enough to fit the role, co," he said.
ng Hao couldn't do anything but accept.
eting with the Fire Lord right now, he could only hope, that Dao Shen's Soul Changing art is enough to deceive one of the strongest in the current world of cultivation.
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