The golden light on the training ground slowly faded, the scorching heat still lingering in the cracks of the black stone, and dust gently rose before settling back to the ground.
The room fell silent, save for Su Zui's heavy breathing and the faint rustling sound of his fingers unconsciously rubbing against the Wine Gourd's shell.
Su Zui lowered his eyes, feeling a tightness in his chest.
In that exchange just now, he and Qian Renxue practically revealed all their trump cards.
But he could see clearly that Qian Daoliu had been holding back his strength from beginning to end. The gap between them and the old man was a real gap that could not be bridged by sheer ruthlessness or by coordinating their Soul Spirit.
Qian Daoliu shifted his gaze from Qian Renxue to Su Zui.
The old man walked slowly forward, his feet firmly planted on the cracked black stones, his steps steady as if rooted to the ground.
He had no intention of interrogating; his gaze was simply calmly observing, as if examining a tender sprout that had just broken through the soil, seemingly inconspicuous, yet harboring a growth potential that no one could estimate.
"Xiao Zui,"
Qian Daoliu spoke, his voice losing the tension of their earlier fight and carrying a hint of inquiry.
"The two Soul Beasts that fought for you just now are strange. They didn't seem like they were captured by you to steal your Soul Rings. When you fought them, their power was linked to yours, and they moved forward and backward together. What kind of technique is that?"
Upon hearing this, the elders who had been whispering on the stone platform fell silent one after another.
Golden Crocodile Douluo stood there with his arms crossed, still recalling the battle scene just now.
Yue Guan his head and exchanged a glance with Gui Mei, his casual smile fading.
Bibi Dong gripped the scepter tightly, the purple gem at the top of the scepter swaying slightly.
She watched the entire sparring match from beginning to end. She could see the power flowing between Golden Hawksbill Turtle, Scarlet King, Su Zui, and Qian Renxue, their movements perfectly coordinated.
Su Zui raised his hand and pressed down on the Wine Gourd, slowly regulating his rapid breathing.
"Grandpa, this is called Soul Spirit Contract."
Su Zui's voice carried clearly across the empty training ground.
"It's not about hunting Soul Beasts to strip them of their Soul Rings, but rather about Soul Masters and Soul Beasts Soul Master a symbiotic pact. The Soul Beast doesn't die; instead, a wisp of its original Divine Soul is separated and bound to the Soul Spirit. Their powers are interconnected, and they grow together. The Soul Spirit can assist in battle, sharing damage with the Soul Master; as the Soul Master's cultivation level increases, the Soul Spirit also receives nourishment."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the group of Titled Douluos on the stone platform, and continued, "The contract is two-way; there is no such thing as one-sided plunder. The Soul Beast must be willing; we will not force it. Once the contract is formed, we share both the good and the bad."
As soon as he finished speaking, a low commotion arose on the stone platform.
"Symbiosis? Soul Beasts don't have to die?"
Light Feather Douluo spoke in a low voice, his face full of disbelief.
"Throughout history, the only way for Soul Master to obtain Soul Ring has been by hunting Soul Beasts. This has been a rule that has continued for tens of thousands of years. How could there be such a method in the world?"
"No wonder the three Soul Beasts fought so fiercely without holding back, without any coercion or frenzy; they were fighting side by side willingly..."
Golden Crocodile frowned even more deeply, pondering Su Zui's words repeatedly. After a long while, he finally spoke in a deep voice, "If what you say is true, the very foundation of the Soul Master system will be shaken. Soul Masters and Soul Beasts have been fighting each other for generations; they are natural enemies, yet they also coexist..."
His words trailed off, but everyone present understood their weight. The law of the jungle was the ironclad rule he believed in, and this symbiotic relationship that broke the rules of hunting instinctively repelled him.
Yue Guan's fingertips twirled gently, his eyes filled with amazement, yet also a hint of wariness. "Novice. I've lived this long and never heard of such a contract before."
Bibi Dong, hidden in the shadows of the high platform, finally fully digested Su Zui's words.
The first feeling that surged within me wasn't attraction, but vigilance.
This contract breaks away from the path of advancement that Soul Masters have used for thousands of years. Once it spreads, the power structure of the entire continent will shift, disrupting her long-term plans.
But as she remained vigilant, another thought slowly surfaced—she possessed Twin Martial Souls, and currently had six empty Soul Ring slots...
She suppressed the turmoil in her heart, her face maintaining the Pope's unique indifference, revealing not a trace of emotion. Her gaze, however, fell upon Su Zui, silently noting the matter, intending to find an opportunity later to clarify the contract matter privately.
Qian Daoliu silent for a long time, his gaze deep and thoughtful.
Having witnessed countless conflicts and upheavals across the continent over nearly a thousand years, he could immediately see the immense opportunity hidden within this matter, and also understood that behind every new path lay unseen dangers. He first seized upon the most crucial point of doubt and asked, "Where did you obtain this secret contract technique?"
Su Zui had already prepared his explanation, speaking calmly, "It was passed down to me by the remnant soul of a slumbering ancient Soul Master. He broke through the boundary between life and death to forge this path of symbiosis. Only I possess this secret technique; the signing and transmission of the agreement must be strictly controlled, and it cannot be disseminated indiscriminately."
This answer temporarily silenced everyone's desire to find the source, but the questions did not stop.
Ghost Leopard Douluo immediately followed up, "If Soul Masters rely on Soul Rings to accumulate power and break through realms, Soul Spirits replace Soul Rings, won't the rules for advancement collapse directly?"
"Soul Spirit can inherit the power source corresponding to the original Soul Ring. There is no need to hunt it down and strip the Soul Ring off. Soul Masters can still break through normally."
Su Zui explained, "The only limitation is the cultivation level of the contracted Soul Beast itself, which determines the upper limit of the power that the Soul Spirit can provide."
After a moment of hushed discussion, Qian Daoliu raised his hand, and the murmurs gradually subsided.
"If the contract can be implemented stably, it will be a rare opportunity for the Spirit Hall." Qian Daoliu looked at Su Zui, "What do you plan to do? Do you want to promote the Soul Spirit Contract to the entire continent?"
Su Zui knew in his heart that this was the opportunity he had been waiting for. He suppressed the slight expectation in his heart and steadied his tone. "Yes. I would like to ask the Great Enshrined how to safely spread the Soul Spirit Method so that more Soul Masters and Soul Beasts can embark on this path of symbiosis."
Qian Daoliu slightly, not finalizing a plan on the spot, and turned to look at the elders and deities on the high platform. "Pass on my order, convene an elders' meeting immediately, and everyone move to the council hall of the Angel Temple. This matter concerns the future direction of the Spirit Hall, let us discuss it together!"
The group set off for the temple, with Qian Renxue walking beside Su Zui, quietly listening to all the conversations that had just taken place.
She herself had formed Soul Spirit Contract with the Scarlet King and personally experienced the symbiotic connection, so she approved of this path. However, she also knew that the elders had many concerns, and this matter still needed to be discussed carefully.
Before long, everyone gathered in the spacious council hall of the Angel Temple. Angel Statue stood in the center of the hall, with soft divine light flowing slowly around it, and elders and worshippers sat on both sides of the long table. Qian Renxue found a seat on the side and sat down quietly to listen.
Once the discussion began, ideas from all sides immediately followed.
Mighty Lion Douluo spoke first, his tone urgent. "In my opinion, the Spirit Hall should step in and announce to the entire continent that the Soul Spirit Contract is public! Leveraging the Spirit Hall's influence, we can summon all the Soul Masters in the world to come and learn, and then send people to the Star Dou Great Forest and the Far North to negotiate the contract with the Soul Beast clans."
The Azure Luan Douluo beside him immediately shook his head, his expression cautious. "No. The two great empires have always been wary of the Spirit Hall, regarding us as a major threat. Once this contract is labeled with the Spirit Hall's name, they will immediately assume that this is a means for us to win people's hearts and minds, directly prohibiting their own Soul Masters from contacting it, and even sending people to intercept and kill Soul Beasts willing to enter into the contract. Moreover, the two great empires are not of one mind; some are wary of us, while others will only be eyeing this power, trying every means to seize the secret technique."
"Why not pilot this within the Spirit Hall first, giving priority to its disciples and affiliated Spirit Masters in forming Spirit Spirits? Once we've cultivated a large number of Spirit Spirit Masters and our strength surpasses that of the two great empires, then we can expand it to other regions."
"It's too slow. If we keep dragging this out, who knows how many years we'll waste, and the opportunity will just slip away. Besides, the Soul Beasts and Soul Masters of the Star Dou Great Forest have a long-standing grudge against us. Why should they trust us? They might not be willing to make a contract."
The debate in the main hall was heated, with some being radical and others conservative. One proposal after another was thrown out, only to have its flaws pointed out one after another.
Su Zui sat to the side, her fingertips lightly tapping her thigh, listening quietly.
He understood everyone's limitations; people subconsciously tied their Soul Spirits to the Spirit Hall. But this was precisely the biggest problem. The Spirit Hall had too many enemies and a too-famous reputation. Once Soul Spirit was associated with the Spirit Hall, it would be labeled as an adversary from the very beginning.
Qian Daoliu listened quietly to everyone's remarks, his fingers lightly tapping the table as he noted down feasible ideas. Only after the arguments had subsided did he speak.
"What you all say makes sense."
The aged voice drowned out the noise in the hall.
"Going public directly is too risky; developing behind closed doors means missing opportunities. I have an idea. The Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies is coming up soon, and the eyes of the entire continent will be focused on it. We can select disciples from the Spirit Hall Academy to try to form Soul Spirits, build a team, achieve good results in the tournament, and win the championship in the strongest form."
"By revealing the power of the Soul Spirit in front of all the Soul Masters and major powers across the continent, people will be more interested in the benefits than if we went door-to-door to persuade them."
Many elders nodded slightly after listening, finding the idea feasible.
Su Zui gently shook her head.
All eyes in the hall turned to him.
Qian Daoliu looked at him, his expression calm. "Xiao Zui, if you have other ideas, feel free to share them."
Su Zui stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, and explained his concerns, "Great Enshrined, esteemed elders, this method seems sound, but there's an insurmountable hurdle. The Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empire Empires harbor deep hostility towards the Spirit Hall. As long as Soul Spirit is associated with the Spirit Hall, they will stop at nothing to obstruct and smear it."
"The Soul Spirit path itself is neutral; once it's branded with the Spirit Hall's mark, its subsequent promotion will be severely restricted."
He paused, then continued, "My idea is to start from scratch. I'll build a completely new, independent organization, open an academy, and train our own team to participate in the continent-wide tournament. Once the team wins the championship, we'll showcase the advantages of Soul Spirits in front of everyone."
"This organization is nominally unrelated to the Spirit Hall and operates independently. The two great empires won't immediately treat it as a pawn of the Spirit Hall; instead, they'll be inclined to court it. Through this courtship, we'll use the organization as a shell to absorb talented Soul Masters from all over the continent, slowly gathering talent and resources. Over time, we'll gradually undermine the foundations of the two great empires."
After the words were spoken, the council hall fell silent for a moment. The elders exchanged glances, each weighing the weight of this plan.
Questions followed immediately.
"With you leading the organization, how can you guarantee it won't slip out of your control in the future?"
"You're traveling the continent under a new identity. How can you keep your disguise completely secret? Once it's discovered that you have connections with the Spirit Hall, you'll lose everything."
"Where can we find Soul Beasts willing to enter into a contract? Soul Beast tribes won't easily trust an organization that just appeared out of thin air."
Golden Crocodile Douluo spoke in a deep voice, his concerns more direct than others. "I'm not optimistic. The law of the jungle is an age-old truth, and this kind of symbiosis is itself heretical. Even if this organization is truly established, once it grows strong and commands a large number of Soul Masters, and turns its attention against the Spirit Hall, who can restrain it?"
Su Zui had anticipated this and calmly replied, "The foundation of the entire organization rests on the Soul Spirit Contract, and the secret technique is in my hands. Without this method, no matter how many Soul Masters others recruit, they cannot replicate this power. As for my identity, I plan to change my name and will no longer use the name Su Zui when I act outside."
He looked up, his voice carrying clearly throughout the hall. "New name, Su Mengzhou. This organization, I want to call it— Spirit Pagoda."
The moment the words "Spirit Pagoda" were uttered, the council hall fell silent.
Bibi Dong sat to one side, her eyes flickering slightly beneath her veil.
The Spirit Pagoda, Su Mengzhou. If this organization can truly gain a foothold, the variables on the continent will only increase. She remained silent, quietly observing everyone's attitude.
Qian Renxue clenched her sleeves, a hint of anticipation rising in her heart. She had personally experienced the taste of symbiosis and believed this path was feasible, but she also knew that Su Zui would have an extremely heavy burden to bear.
Qian Daoliu silent for a long time before slowly leaning back in his chair, his gaze falling on Su Zui.
The risks of this road are huge, but the rewards are enough to shake the structure of the entire continent. He will not let go unconditionally. He has already drawn a bottom line in his heart and has a backup plan.
"Spirit Pagoda, Su Mengzhou..."
Qian Daoliu read it aloud in a low voice and nodded slowly.
"Since you've already thought it through, I can agree to this plan, but there are bottom lines. The Spirit Hall will never openly have any connection with the Spirit Pagoda; secretly, the Martial Soul will still support you. But the Spirit Hall will not publicly acknowledge any connection with the Spirit Pagoda."
His tone grew more serious. "There's another condition: the secret techniques cannot be leaked casually, and the development of the Spirit Pagoda cannot harm the interests of the Spirit Hall. This is the bottom line."
"I understand," Su Zui bowed in agreement.
Further discussions continued, and everyone gradually finalized the preliminary details of the Spirit Pagoda.
They chose a neutral location, avoiding Spirit City.
Teams must be careful in selecting personnel, prioritizing character and maintaining a proper balance during major competitions. They must showcase the power of their Soul Spirits while avoiding revealing their ties to the Spirit Hall.
Everyone reached a consensus that the Spirit Pagoda should not be expanded too much in the early stages, but should steadily test the attitudes of the two great empires.
The meeting lasted for an hour, and the general framework was finally finalized.
The elders rose one after another to take their leave, and the hall gradually emptied out. Qian Daoliu called out to Su Zui, who was about to leave with Qian Renxue.
"Xiao Zui, you stay."
Qian Renxue paused, glanced back, and nodded gently. Unlike the elders, she didn't have many schemes. She only knew that Su Zui was about to do something extremely difficult, and although she felt a little uneasy, she didn't press for details. She simply said softly, "Xiao Zui, I'll go back to the Saintess Hall and wait for you."
Only Qian Daoliu and Su Zui remained in the main hall.
The golden light cast by the Angel Statue fell on the old man's shoulders. He looked at Su Zui, his tone losing the solemnity he displayed in front of everyone in the council, and gaining a more reserved tone befitting a private conversation.
"This is all the support I can offer you publicly, after all, this matter is far too complex."
Qian Daoliu spoke slowly, "The resources I secretly gave you will all be erased from your life, leaving no trace of the Spirit Hall. But remember, giving you conveniences doesn't mean I'll always have your back. Golden Crocodile and the others' concerns aren't unfounded; people's hearts can change. You must protect the path of the Soul Spirit, but you must also uphold the bottom line you promised me."
"I remember," Su Zui replied.
Qian Daoliu nodded slightly. "Go. Think about the first step, come up with a sound plan, and then come back to me."
Su Zui bowed and took his leave, then turned and walked out of the council hall.
Just as they turned the corner of the corridor, a tall, slender figure leaned quietly against the shadow cast by a pillar, a scepter resting casually at her side—it was Bibi Dong.
She looked up at Su Zui, her voice low, carried by the evening breeze flowing through the corridor.
"Come with me, Xiao Zui. Soul Spirit Contract, I have some things I'd like to ask you privately."