Twilight descended.
The few disciples in white were no match for Alex Li's sharp tongue. Their faces turned blue with anger as they left in defeat.
Alex's mouth was almost swollen from all the cursing, but he finally caught his breath.
"Big Brother Chen, we have some history together. Look at how hard I worked today. Why don't you let me off this time? I promise I won't dare to offend you again."
Alex pleaded with a mournful expression.
If it were anyone else, he could still rely on the third elder, Edward Wu, to back him up and act tough.
But this guy not only had connections with the master of the cave but was also a demonic cultivator.
Alex had heard that demonic cultivators were often extremely ruthless and cruel, the kind who wouldn't bat an eye at killing.
For all these reasons, he had no choice but to bow down to Evan Chen.
Evan glanced at him indifferently. "Want to live? It's not impossible. It depends on whether you know your place."
Alex's eyes lit up, and he sighed in relief. "Big Brother Chen, as long as you spare me, I'll do anything for you."
Evan was slightly surprised and said, "You have some sense. I'll give you a chance. From now on, you'll be my servant. Do you agree?"
Alex froze.
Damn it, I was just saying that! Did he really take it seriously?
However, he didn't dare to defy Evan now. He just wanted to placate him for the moment, so he nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, from now on, I'm your dog, Big Brother Chen. I'll go east if you say so, and never west."
"Good boy." Evan clasped his hands behind his back and said, "Since you've agreed, let's sign a soul contract to make it official."
Alex: "???"
A soul contract!
Just hearing the name, Alex understood. If he signed a soul contract, he would truly become Evan's servant!
How could Alex willingly agree to that?
He quickly thought of a plan to pretend he had signed the contract. Once the third elder arrived, he could be saved. He decided to endure for now.
So, Alex respectfully said, "Please, master, grant me the contract."
Things were going too smoothly. Evan knew this kid was full of tricks. How could he agree so easily?
But he decided to test it first.
"Relax and enter a state of emptiness," Evan instructed.
Alex pretended to sit cross-legged on the ground, feigning a meditative state.
Evan activated the Master-Servant Contract, sending a wisp of Dao will into Alex's sea of consciousness.
It failed.
The establishment of a Master-Servant Contract required the other party's willing consent. Neither coercion nor temptation would work.
"Alex Li, you brought this on yourself. Don't blame me for being ruthless."
Since the Master-Servant Contract couldn't be established, Evan had to use the Puppet Mark.
With Evan's current mental strength, as long as Alex relaxed a bit, he could crush his mental defenses and turn him into a puppet.
"Greetings, master."
Alex, unaware that the Master-Servant Contract had failed, pretended to be in a daze and kowtowed to Evan.
Evan didn't expose him and ordered, "Very well, now I command you to fully enter a state of emptiness, or I'll make sure you die a horrible death."
Fearing he might give himself away, Alex truly followed the order this time, leaving only a sliver of consciousness to guard against Evan.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, it was as if a thunderclap exploded in Alex's mind. A powerful mental will surged into the depths of his soul.
"Ah!"
Alex's face turned pale, and he let out a scream.
At the same time, his eyes quickly lost their luster, becoming dull.
The Puppet Mark was easily planted.
"Stand up."
Evan commanded indifferently.
Alex immediately stood up, his body stiff as a board.
This was the downside of the Puppet Mark.
A person who became a puppet would lose self-awareness, becoming a walking corpse that only followed the master's commands.
However, Evan's technique, inherited from the powerful Immortal Sovereign Mason Zhu, was different from ordinary puppet techniques.
Evan could attach his consciousness to the puppet's body, controlling all its actions, including speech and behavior.
"Didn't expect you'd become my first puppet."
Evan looked at the wooden-like Alex and sighed softly.
This kid had a lot of bad ideas, but Evan didn't really hate him.
On the contrary, in many ways, this kid was like another version of himself.
"Well, it's just your bad luck. But as my first puppet, I'll give you a special privilege. If I ever become strong enough to remove the Puppet Mark, I'll set you free."
Evan murmured to himself and stopped thinking about it.
He then summoned Alex into the house and began practicing controlling him with his consciousness.
About half an hour later, he succeeded.
As long as it wasn't someone extremely close to Alex, no one would notice any flaws under Evan's control.
After all, Alex had just joined Sky Moon Cave. Even the third elder who knew him wasn't very familiar with him.
After finishing everything, Evan began to meditate and cultivate.
The next day.
Around noon, someone arrived.
"Chen, you brat, get out here!"
Hearing the old and angry voice, Evan guessed it was probably the third elder, Edward Wu, coming to demand his disciple.
Evan was just wondering how to send the puppet out, and the opportunity had come.
He strolled leisurely, bypassing the giant phoenix tree, and arrived at the fence.
"So it's Elder Wu himself. What brings you here in such a rage?" Evan asked calmly.
"Cut the crap," Elder Wu said, calming down a bit upon seeing Evan. "Hurry up and hand over my disciple."
Evan replied indifferently, "Are you referring to Alex Li, Brother Li?"
Edward Wu glared at Evan. "Who else could it be! Brat, don't think you're safe just because you're hiding in this courtyard. If I want to deal with you, the restrictions here won't protect you!"
Evan remained as calm as ever. "As far as I know, this place used to be the former master's residence. If you dare to destroy it, go ahead. I'll admire your bravery."
"You!" Edward Wu's cheeks puffed up. "You sly brat, fine, I won't argue with a wet-behind-the-ears kid. Just hand over my nephew, and I'll let this matter go. I won't trouble you in the future."
Evan's lips curled into a slight smile. "Elder, you speak so lightly. Yesterday, Alex Li gathered a bunch of people to insult me and even threatened to skin me. How can you expect me to let it go with just a word?"
"What do you want, then?"
Edward Wu struggled to suppress his urge to kill.
"Not much. Yesterday's incident caused me significant mental distress, possibly even clouding my Dao Heart and affecting my future cultivation. If you want to take him, you should at least compensate me for some medicinal expenses," Evan said.
"How much do you want?"
Edward Wu had no patience to haggle with Evan.
In his view, this brat was just courting death.
One day, he would fall into his hands, and then he would make him understand why flowers are so red!
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