Signing Contracts and Test Flights

Shen Jingchuan took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Ring and walked up to Little Black Hei.

He reached out and stroked the fur on Little Black's neck, looking intently into Little Black's big eyes.

"Little Black, I'll sign a contract with you, an equal one. Now that you've gained sentience, you should be able to understand me."

Little Black snorted and stared intently at him.

"If you sign it, I'll know what you're thinking, and you'll understand what I say. Our cooperation will be much easier from now on. Are you willing?"

Little Black nodded without hesitation.

Shen Jingchuan smiled and placed his palm on the forehead below the Little Black unicorn's horn.

"Bear with it, I'll take a drop of your blood."

He lightly clenched his fingertips, and a drop of dark red blood appeared on Little Black's forehead.

Shen Jingchuan flicked his other index finger, forcing out a drop of his own blood.

Two drops of blood fell into the Jade Slip one after the other, and slowly merged into one place within the jade.

He began to chant the incantation in a low voice.

With a soft hum, the Jade Slip transformed into two wisps of light, one disappearing into Shen Jingchuan's brow and the other into Little Black's forehead, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

As if by some unseen force, an invisible bond was formed. The Unseen they opened their eyes again, they found that the other's image was now in their hearts.

Just as Shen Jingchuan was about to turn around to look for Treading Snow, a gray-white shadow approached, its frost-white, jade-like horn right under his eyelids.

He laughed.

"I haven't even told you yet, and you're already doing this willingly."

In mid-air, Xian'er looked down at them.

"I really envy you; your relationship is so wonderful."

Shen Jingchuan placed his palm on the forehead below the Treading Snow unicorn, and two drops of blood fell into the Jade Slip. With the incantation activated, the second bond was also tied.

At that moment, two voices rang in his mind almost simultaneously, still somewhat awkward, but clear and distinct.

"Owner."

"Owner."

Shen Jingchuan was taken aback.

"Don't call me master, we have Equal Contract."

Little Black: "I'll call you Master."

Treading Snow followed up, "We've long since acknowledged you as our leader."

Little Black said again.

"We've been your masters since the day you bought us and fed us those red berries. This has nothing to do with a contract."

Shen Jingchuan felt a surge of warmth in his heart and reached out to pat each of the two large heads.

"Fine, call me whatever you want."

Xian'er floated in mid-air, watching, and suddenly spoke.

"Why don't you sign with Big Black too? It should work out."

Shen Jingchuan was taken aback.

Didn't you say it couldn't be signed yet?

Xian'er pointed to Little Black and Treading Snow.

"I misjudged them before. These two have already reached the second tier, and their bloodline Divine Abilities have awakened, which means that they were already first-tier Demon Beasts before advancing."

She paused.

"I used to think that the fleshy growths on their bodies and the hard horns on their heads meant they hadn't fully transformed into first-tier Demon Beasts yet. Now I see, they already were. Big Black is probably the same way; it just fortuitous opportunity the right opportunity. When that opportunity comes, it can also advance to the second tier."

Shen Jingchuan was overjoyed. "That's perfect! I already had an extra Jade Slip, so I won't have to buy another one later. I'll try it with Big Black; it won't matter if it doesn't work."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Big Black came striding over and nodding at him.

Shen Jingchuan looked up at Xian'er.

"You see, it'll definitely work. It understands everything we say."

He reached out and pressed his hand on his forehead, beneath the Big Black horn.

"Just bear with it."

Two drops of blood fell into the Jade Slip one after the other. As the incantation was performed, the Jade Slip hummed and transformed into a faint light, disappearing into the brows of a person and a horse in the blink of an eye.

A bond was firmly tied.

The next moment, Big Black's voice rang in his mind. "Master."

Shen Jingchuan replied to it using his Divine Sense.

"Great, Big Black, now we can talk to each other!"

The Big Black, dark head nodded.

"Yes. I understood what you were saying all along, but sometimes you just didn't get it, which drove me crazy. Now it's all right."

It turned its head to look at Little Black and Treading Snow.

"They've both advanced to the second tier. I can't go back on my promise to my master; I'm falling behind them now."

Little Black and Treading Snow came over and gently nuzzled Big Black with their heads, licking its neck with their tongues. They now understood that Big Black had given up those two blades of grass.

It snorted from its Big Black nose, but the sound entered Shen Jingchuan's mind.

"Those two idiots, only just realizing it now. I don't care to fight them for it."

It paused.

"Even without spiritual herbs spirit medicines, I might be able to activate my bloodline on my own. Master, you should trust me."

Shen Jingchuan raised his hand and patted its neck.

I believe you.

He lowered his voice.

"But if I happen to come across herbs or heavenly materials and earthly treasures that can activate your High Antiquity bloodline, I'll try my best to find them for you. Your bloodline, in my opinion, is no worse than theirs."

Big Black suddenly raised its neck and held its head high.

"Of course. Back in the North, I was the King of Horses."

The feathers on Little Black's wings were dry, standing stiff and shiny black.

It flapped its wings twice, and the sound entered Shen Jingchuan's mind.

"Master, I want to try flying."

Shen Jingchuan looked up and surveyed the space. The ground was about 500 meters in diameter, and the sphere of light above his head was at least 200 to 300 meters high.

"Okay, you can give it a try."

He gave a word of advice.

"Be very careful, this place is still small, don't bump into the top."

The Little Black dog rubbed its four hooves on the ground.

"I know, I think I can control myself."

With a sudden flap of its wings and a powerful push from its four hooves, it lifted its entire body off the ground.

It only rose a little over a meter high before its momentum dissipated, and it fell back to the ground with a thud, its four hooves touching the ground.

Little Black wouldn't stop, flapping its wings again, and using that momentum to surge forward, it took off completely.

It swayed twice in mid-air, then gradually stabilized and began to circle.

Below, the Big Black head kept turning with the sky, the two fleshy bumps on its shoulders moved back and forth, and its hooves dug several times in the soil.

Shen Jingchuan found it intriguing and turned to ask Xian'er.

"Sister Xian'er, I'm just wondering. It's so heavy, but its wings are only so big, how can it fly?"

He pointed to the sky.

"Some large birds have wings that are not much smaller than its own, but how much do birds weigh? This horse weighs several hundred pounds, yet it can fly."

Xian'er smiled.

"That's different. It's Demon Beast now, equivalent to a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

She gazed at the sky.

"Foundation Establishment cultivators don't have wings, yet they can fly through the air without even needing a sword. Qi Refining can also fly by controlling a sword; Foundation Establishment cultivators rely on the abundant Spiritual Power within their bodies."

"Its wings are just for show; what truly supports it is its Demon Power. You could even ride on it, let alone let it fly on its own."

Shen Jingchuan was overjoyed.

"You can ride it now? I'm afraid if I press down on it, it won't be able to fly."

As they were talking, the sound of Treading Snow rang out.

"Master, I want to try too."

Shen Jingchuan glanced at the air in mid-air.

"Don't rush, wait for Little Black to come down. The place is too small, you two shouldn't bump into each other."

The Treading Snow hooves gently scratched the ground.

"It's okay, I can handle it."

"Go ahead, but be careful."

With Treading Snow wings spread wide, it pushed off the ground and rose to its feet.

It wasn't as nimble as Little Black Blackie; it started off wobbling and flapping for a while before finally stabilizing and circling around.

As the two horses circled in the sky, a wind began to blow through the air.

It was very quiet before, but now the wind was blowing in, and even though Shen Jingchuan was far away, he felt it was level five or six, and the tips of the grass were all blown down.

Big Black raised its head, and the two small fleshy growths on its shoulder twitched even more violently.

Shen Jingchuan quickly used his Divine Sense to call out.

"Alright, alright, get down here. If you don't, all the spirit herbs I planted will be blown away and won't survive."

The two horses circled halfway in the sky before reluctantly landing.

As soon as its hooves touched the ground, it folded its wings.