Absolute Destiny Game
Chapter 321 - 111: Oath of Divine Punishment - Immortal Transformation Gourd

Chapter 321: Chapter 111: Oath of Divine Punishment - Immortal Transformation Gourd

Xiao Jie sensed that something was amiss. It seemed that the Red Dust Taoist was about to show his true colors.

Some things can be managed as long as everyone keeps up appearances, but once the mask is torn off, the situation turns truly dire.

He hurriedly said, "Senior speaks wisely. I’ll take on this task, please just hand over the Demon Refining Gourd to me."

But the Red Dust Taoist laughed heartily, "Hahaha, you naive boy, if I give you the gourd directly and you run off with it, what then? Such a rare treasure of this world cannot be bestowed upon someone so lightly."

Xiao Jie thought to himself, wasn’t it you who insisted on offering help? Now, you are saying this.

"Then what does Senior suggest?"

"Naturally, you must make a Heavenly Punishment Oath, a Blood Oath. Only then can I entrust you with this gourd."

The Heavenly Punishment Oath is a special mechanic in this game. Pledge an oath to the heavens, and if one violates the oath, a [Heavenly Tribulation] punishment will be triggered. The more reprehensible the perjury, the higher the level of [Heavenly Tribulation] that will be activated.

I had used it once before when learning the Beast Language Skill from that old goat.

Xiao Jie thought to himself, this old Taoist is not easy to fool, but fortunately, I have a plan prepared.

It’s just an oath. I’ll give you one.

"Senior is right, I’ll take the oath right now. I swear that once I become an immortal, I must—"

"Stop, stop, stop! Oaths are not to be made in such a manner. I am helping you to achieve immortality, and you are to work for me. Naturally, the oath must be made according to my demands."

The Red Dust Taoist said as he reached into his sleeve, pulled out a bundle of scrolls, rummaged through them, and finally took out an old, somewhat yellowed scroll.

"Found it, found it, this is precisely what I’ve been looking for."

Saying so, he shook the scroll lightly, and unfolded it in front of Xiao Jie. The characters on the scroll flashed golden light and seemed quite extraordinary.

"Among my friends who are Qi Refiners, there is one, Linglongzi, who is most adept at manipulating words and crafting laws, writing curses and drawing talismans. He has made many Oath Scrolls and once told me that if there ever comes a day when I need to make an oath with someone, it would come in handy. Just sign the Blood Oath, and it is sure to be effective. If one violates the oath, he must face divine punishment."

"Come now, young brother, I’ve already drafted the oath for you. Just follow me and read."

System Notification: Master Hongchen has gifted you an item [Blood Oath Ancient Scroll].

Xiao Jie opened his inventory to check the item description, and immediately his eyelids twitched.

[Blood Oath Ancient Scroll (Task Item)

Use: Make a Heavenly Punishment Oath, which, if violated, will trigger an [enhanced heavenly tribulation].

Item Introduction: An ancient scroll that is said to contain powerful strength in its words. Qi Refiners of ancient times realized that one must not easily break their promises, or else something unfavorable was bound to occur, hence they created this item.]

The Red Dust Taoist said, "Now follow me and recite—I ’Hidden Moon Following Wind,’ receiving aid from Master Hongchen today, obtain the Qi Refining Technique and the treasure of the Immortal Transformation Gourd, and shall, upon the success of my Qi Refinement and the formation of my Golden Core, before my Ascension, surely return to Konglao Mountain and meet with the Master, to cultivate the Immortal Business together, and help him to attain immortality.

If I violate this oath, I must render my Spiritual Energy entirely depleted, my Golden Core shattered, my path to immortality crumbled, with heaven and earth as my witnesses, the sun and the moon as my jury, I make this Blood Oath, and dare not disobey!"

Hearing the Red Dust Taoist’s spiel, Xiao Jie inwardly cursed, crap, you’ve got it all planned out, you’re determined to trap me!

’Upon the formation of my Golden Core, before Ascension’... He’s clearly aiming to seize my Golden Core. Too early, and the Golden Core won’t be ready; too late, and I’d have already ascended.

Naturally, helping him achieve immortality means he would be taking away my Spiritual Power. If I don’t assist in his immortality, I would face "my Mana depleted, my Golden Core shattered, my path to immortality crumbled," isn’t that exactly the fate of those other Qi Refiners?

So it seems I’m destined to surrender my Golden Core for him to ascend to immortality.

Xiao Jie inwardly lamented and started contemplating how to break out of this situation.

Suddenly, a dialogue option popped up in front of him.

Option 1: I swear... (Accept the task).

Option 2: What Senior suggests is reasonable, but please forgive me for I cannot accept it (Master Hongchen Favorability-30).

Option 3: Please allow me to consider it further (Master Hongchen Favorability-10).

Option 4: Hmph, you nosy Taoist, always stirring up trouble for me, I can’t be bothered with you, hand over the gourd right away, or you’ll regret it (trigger combat).

This... this... this...

Looking at each option, none seem reliable. And why isn’t the socializing option triggered at such a crucial moment?

Xiao Jie’s mind raced. Right now, refusing was clearly not an option. The Red Dust Taoist, as a neutral unit, already didn’t have high favorability, and at -30, it would most likely lead to a fight.

Option 3 wouldn’t be any good either. It would only serve to delay things slightly, leading either to a fight or the Red Dust Taoist not letting me leave, at most granting a few hours’ delay before I still had to choose.

If I were to abandon everything, I could indeed use the Escape Light Talisman to flee.

But having come all this way, to leave just like that, was completely unacceptable.

As for option 4... it was unthinkable.

Xiao Jie, his thoughts spinning rapidly, had an idea in an instant. The only viable option left was option 1, which only mentioned making an oath but didn’t specify the exact content of the oath. Perhaps there was room to maneuver, some wordplay to be played.

"I swear by the heavens, today I accept this gourd, with the assistance of Elder Hongchen, that when I achieve immortality in the future, I will certainly help Elder Hongchen and myself become immortals together..."

With every word he recited, a golden character emerged on the Blood Oath Ancient Scroll, yet the oath was only halfway done when Master Hongchen angrily shouted—"Stop!"