As the blood was absorbed by the golden paper, a burst of flame erupted from the puppet's hand, igniting the golden sheet. In an instant, the paper transformed into a surge of golden light that shot skyward and vanished.
"The Heavenly Dao contract is signed. There's no need to waste any more time—let's fight!" Selena Owens urged.
"As you wish!"
The puppet smiled at her, and the upper-grade divine sword in its hand suddenly turned into a streak of black sword-light, slashing toward her.
"This... What is this?!"
Feeling the immense power contained within the sword-light, Selena Owens dodged to the side, her expression changing dramatically. The force of this strike was no weaker than her own—which meant this Ian Song was also a Lower Heavenly God.
"You were hiding your true strength?"
She glared angrily at Ian Song, knowing now that he had tricked her.
The puppet grinned, "I never once claimed I only had Mid-Rank God strength!"
"You bastard! I'm going to kill you!"
Selena Owens was furious. She felt like a fool, played for a sucker, and her killing intent surged wildly. Her longsword turned into a streak of snow-white lightning, slashing straight at Ian Song.
"Good! Bring it on!"
Controlling the puppet, Ian Song showed no fear. The upper-grade divine sword in his hand traced a mysterious arc and collided with Selena Owens's blade in midair.
Clang!
The two swords collided with a deafening crash, shaking the void itself. Even the surrounding rock walls trembled from the impact.
At the same time, Selena Owens's body shuddered slightly and she was forced two steps back.
The puppet, however, possessed overwhelming defense and didn't retreat a single step.
Knocked back by a single move, Selena Owens grew even angrier.
With a thought, she activated her self-created Snow-Kite God Sword Art.
As her sword-force erupted, the power of Heaven and Earth was drawn in. Instantly, snowflakes filled the air, and, guided by her sword momentum, shot toward the puppet. At that moment, Selena Owens charged forward as well.
"Hmm!"
"Break for me!"
The puppet let out a low shout and swung the upper-grade divine sword. Sword intent spread out, shooting toward the snowflakes and freezing them all in place.
"Skyless!"
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
The two sides clashed repeatedly in midair, sword intent filling the void all around them.
After nearly a hundred fierce exchanges, the two suddenly separated.
The puppet was completely unharmed, but several sword marks appeared on Selena Owens's snow-white long skirt. However, the skirt was a Heaven-grade divine artifact, and with its protection, she wasn't injured yet.
"You're no match for me!"
The puppet smiled, "You'd better just obediently become my slave!"
"Courting death!"
The word 'slave' had completely provoked Selena Owens.
She charged forward, sword in hand, to attack once more.
At the same time, her left hand quietly gripped a silver bead.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
They clashed fiercely again. Suddenly, Selena Owens threw the silver bead from her left hand. Instantly, the bead radiated brilliant light, and the puppet was immobilized by the glow.
Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!
In that moment, Selena Owens slashed dozens of times in quick succession, every strike landing on the puppet.
Bang!
The powerful force crashed into the puppet, sending it plummeting from midair and slamming hard into the ground.
But soon, the puppet stood up again, completely unharmed, and said playfully, "That bead of yours is pretty good—definitely not an ordinary Heaven-grade artifact. Too bad, with your strength, you still can't break my defense!"
"How is this possible?"
Seeing this, Selena Owens was deeply shaken. She attacked again, and the silver bead shot forward, shining brightly and immobilizing the puppet once more.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Nearly a hundred sword-qi blasts, each enough to easily kill an Upper-Rank God, crashed into the puppet.
The puppet was blasted away again, but quickly stood up, unharmed.
"Well?"
The puppet stood up with a smile, "I suggest you just obediently become my female slave!"
"Go!"
Suddenly, a golden rope appeared in Selena Owens's hand. With a soft shout, the rope shot out like lightning, but the puppet vanished from its original spot and reappeared directly behind Selena Owens.
"Godpiercer!"
Boom!
A terrifying sword intent spread out, making Selena Owens feel as if her very soul were frozen. Instantly, the divine spark in her mind trembled wildly, unleashing power in an attempt to dispel the force freezing her soul.
But sword intent is formless and intangible—how could she dispel it?
In the next moment, a cold sword tip pressed against her brow.
Selena Owens sensed that even with a Heaven-grade artifact protecting her, this sword could easily pierce her brow.
The puppet regarded her playfully, "My little slave girl, are you still not ready to surrender?"
"Just kill me!"
A look of resolve flashed in Selena Owens's eyes. At that moment, the silver bead suddenly appeared above the puppet's head, radiating light that enveloped him. Next, the golden rope shot out like lightning and firmly bound him.
Heh heh!
Selena Owens let out a crisp laugh and looked proudly at the puppet. "Isn't it your turn to admit defeat now?"
"Do you really think that shabby rope can hold me?"
The puppet sneered in disdain.
Selena Owens retorted coldly, "Hmph! I advise you not to act rashly. This rope doesn't just bind your body—it can also bind your soul. With a single thought, I could destroy your soul!"
"Go ahead and try. See if you can destroy my soul!" the puppet scoffed.
"You think I wouldn't dare?"
Selena Owens sneered.
"You really don't dare!"
At that moment, another voice rang out, and a second Ian Song appeared.
Boom!
Selena Owens's mind was thrown into turmoil. Her divine spark trembled wildly, trying to rescue her bewitched soul.
"Remove the marks from the rope and the bead immediately!"
Ian Song spoke in a voice full of enchantment.
"Yes!"
Selena Owens replied and erased her marks from the two Heaven-grade artifacts.
Seeing this, Ian Song waved his hand, and the two Heaven-grade artifacts flew into his possession.
At that moment, her divine spark finally broke through the soul's enchantment, and she regained her senses.
But as she awakened, she found the sword once again pressed against her brow, and saw two Ian Songs before her. What terrified her even more was that she could no longer sense the two Heaven-grade artifacts.
Her expression turned extremely grim as she glared resentfully at Ian Song:
"Did you just use a soul technique to confuse me?"
"That's right."
Ian Song nodded. "You've learned so many of my secrets. So let me ask you one more time—will you honor the wager and become my slave girl? Let me remind you, don't act out of pride, because your answer this time concerns your very life!"
Ian wasn't trying to scare her. She knew too many of his secrets. If she really dared to refuse, he truly would kill her.