God of Contracts: I Buy, I Rule

2. Sacrifice

Jin Yuchen did not know what was happening outside. His attention was on the task his grandfather had assigned him.

Since all his clan members were fighting at the entrance of the clan, there was no one inside, making it easy for him to go to the celestial pond.

Jin Yuchen's eyes blazed with anger when he recalled the betrayal.

'Why am I born a cripple? Why did I not have any spirit root?' Again, he cursed his fate, scolding everyone responsible for his predicament.

Although he was irate, he kept going and eventually reached the celestial pond in the center of the clan house.

Water kept gushing out from the middle, and right above it, shrouded by a golden light, was the Celestial Gem. Giving off an enchanting vibe, it floated atop the pond.

Jin Yuchen sucked in a deep breath as he entered the pond and walked towards the Celestial Gem. Nothing happened at first. But as he went deeper into the pond, a burning sensation enveloped him, and blood started to trickle down his lips, leaving a thin trail behind.

At one point, his legs gave way, and he collapsed inside the pond. The celestial water entered his nose, suffocating him until his chest constricted in pain.

Jin Yuchen felt like death gnawing at his heart. Everything ached. His body was in immense pain. 

Yet, he did not give up. His grandfather was waiting for him. His clan members were waiting for him.

Mustering all the energy in him, he pushed himself up and moved towards the Celestial Gem. Every part of his body was aching. Blood was oozing from everywhere, and he was close to losing consciousness. Yet, he didn't give up.

By the time he reached the Celestial Gem, he was almost dead. Jin Yuchen did not know how to retrieve the gem. All he knew was that he had to get it before it was too late.

With that thought, he stretched his hand towards the golden light and plucked the Celestial Gem out of it. The moment the gem landed in his hand, he coughed out a mouthful of blood, coating it with the crimson liquid.

The transparent Celestial Gem started shining brightly, emitting a dazzling red light from it, and the moment it did so, Jin Yuchen felt the entire world spin, and he lost consciousness.

Jin Yuchen drifted between reality and consciousness, and he didn't know what was happening to him. His entire body was twitching in pain, and at the same time, he heard cries and screams of agony.

His chest felt constricted, and he was having difficulty breathing. It was as if he was stuck in a nightmare, one from which he was unable to escape how much he tried.

'Jin Yuchen.' He heard her grandfather's gentle and doting voice in his mind.

'Grandfather,' Jin Yuchen cried when another wave of pain burst through his body, making him wish for death.

'Jin Yuchen, listen to me, child,' his grandfather spoke to him, his voice filled with anxiety and agitation.

'Grandfather, help me. Please.'

'Jin Yuchen, it is time for me to leave.'

'Grandfather?' Jin Yuchen's mind went blank at his words.

'The usage of the Celestial Gem comes with a price which I must bear, son,' he explained.

Jin Yuchen struggled to wake up. However, his eyes refused to open while his body continued twisting in pain. It was as if he were being burned alive.

'You can still save our clanmates, Jin Yuchen. Listen to me and escape from here. Go somewhere far. You may still be able to save our clanmates,' Jin Tianlong continued while he concealed his agony.

'Grandfather, what about you?'

'I will have to go, child. It is time for me to leave.'

Jin Yuchen heard his grandfather's heavy tone and his heart dropped all the more.

'Grandfather, please do not leave me. Please, Grandfather,' Jin Yuchen shouted.

'I must go, Yuchen. This is the price I have to pay for using the Celestial Gem. Take care. I will watch over you from above.'

'Grandfather!' Jin Yuchen shouted and thrashed in the pond water as he tried to stop his grandfather from leaving. There was no response from his grandfather, and his heartbeat quickened when an ominous feeling hit him.

Jin Yuchen was tired. He was devoid of any energy. He could not open his eyes even after trying for a long time, and eventually, he succumbed to darkness.

Meanwhile, outside the Tianze clan house, King Xuandi lay sprawled on the ground, his heart twisting in pain. He swallowed the blood that had risen to his throat and got to his feet, his eyes burning in anger.

However, he was stunned speechless when he saw Jin Tianlong lying peacefully on the ground as if it were not he who had injured him.

"Tianlong," he gritted his teeth, "Execute Tianze clan members immediately. Do not spare anyone. Hang Jin Tianlong's body at the kingdom wall. Let everyone know what happens to a traitor," he ordered, and Li Xianming, who had been suppressing his anger for quite some time, took charge immediately.

However, before he could reach Jin Tianlong, a brilliant white light emerged from the sleeping man, blinding everyone's eyes.

King Xuandi narrowed his gaze and watched the unconscious man, his heart rattling like a drum.

"It cannot be. This cannot happen. How is this possible?"

While King Xuandi tried to deny the truth, Jin Tianlong's body was consumed by the white light before it vanished completely, leaving everyone gawking at an empty space.

"What happened just now?" 

Whispers erupted in the crowd. Even the Tianze clan members who had been dominated by anger felt their minds go blank at the strange phenomenon.

Nobody knew what had happened. But King Xuandi did.

Jian Tianlong had broken through and had ascended to immortality. If that were the situation, why did he not fight him? How did he die? What was going on?

King Xuandi could not fathom what had happened. However, it only made him all the more apprehensive, as if this was not the end. His blood ran cold when he thought of what might lie ahead for him.

But he soon composed himself when he saw the imperial army executing the other clan members. Nothing would happen. With all the members of the Tianze clan dead, who would seek revenge?

With that thought, he watched his men execute the Tianze clan members one by one.

Soon, there was not one person from the Tianze clan alive.

With a few moments, the entire Tianze clan had been exterminated.

The Tianze clan had fallen.

The strongest clan in the kingdom had been reduced to nothingness.