They Were Afraid

Naturally, those nobles would not agree.

They had opposed Spirit Hall awakening martial souls for commoners from the very beginning, because it meant commoners possessed the power to overthrow the ruling class. Let alone this new kind of soul beast Pokemon—a power system where one plus one was greater than two—which had already severely threatened noble rule.

Naturally, the nobles could not agree.

But so what?

"So what?" A cold smile appeared on Solomon's handsome face. "We follow the will of the gods. All who stand against us, all who regard us as enemies, are enemies of the gods! Lucifer, you should know what to do at a time like this."

What should she do?

Bibi Dong froze for a moment, then lowered her head respectfully. "Naturally, crush them."

"Exactly. That is how it should be." Solomon spoke as though it were only natural. "I will write down the method for forming contracts with soul beasts. When the time comes, distribute the Contract Array to every branch of Spirit Hall. Have all grassroots personnel learn how to operate it, then vigorously promote soul beast Pokemon. Ideally, every young soul master of the new generation should possess a soul beast Pokemon suited to their wishes, so that soul rings, those relics of antiquity, may be forgotten by history."

"Yes!"

At dawn the next day, a colossal array one hundred meters in diameter shone brilliantly in the morning light at the central square of Spirit City.

Complex runes flowed across the array's surface like living things, emanating pale blue Soul Power ripples. Pope Solomon stood at the center of the array, raising his scepter as his voice rang through the skies.

"From this day onward, Spirit Hall will open the 'Soul Beast Contract Array' to all soul masters across the continent! Any soul master, regardless of birth, may form an equal contract with a soul beast here and obtain power beyond soul rings!"

Tens of thousands gathered in the square erupted into deafening cheers.

Bibi Dong stood beside the Pope, watching the cheering crowd below. She knew that from this moment onward, the power system of Douluo Continent would undergo earth-shaking changes.

"Lucifer." Solomon turned to Bibi Dong with a smile. "Within three months, I want Contract Arrays spread across every Spirit Hall branch on Douluo Continent."

"By your command, Holy Son." Bibi Dong dropped to one knee and placed her right hand over her chest. "I have already assembled three hundred array masters. They will carry array blueprints to every region. At the same time, all outstanding students of Spirit Hall Academy will undergo Contractual Mentor training."

Solomon nodded in satisfaction. "Remember, commoners are our foundation. Every child in every village must know that they no longer need to risk their lives hunting soul beasts for soul rings."

Three months later, at the Spirit Hall branch in Fanies City.

"Place your hand at the edge of the array and feel the resonance between you and the soul beast." Marco Polo instructed a frail boy. Beside him stood a trembling ten-year Wind Baboon.

The boy nervously closed his eyes. A faint glow gradually lit up within the array, while pale green patterns appeared on the Wind Baboon's body. The compatibility was neither high nor low, but the contract had been successfully formed.

"I—I did it!" The boy jumped up excitedly. "I can feel what Little Wind is thinking!"

Marco Polo revealed a gratified smile. "Remember, a Contracted Soul Beast is not a servant, but a companion. As you grow together, it will evolve even more powerful strength."

Scenes like this took place in more than a thousand towns across Douluo Continent within only three months.

Spirit Hall's stewards taught commoner soul masters how to use Contract Arrays day and night, while the younger generation rapidly embraced this safer and more powerful means of obtaining strength.

Meanwhile, the nobles' reaction was entirely different from that of the commoners.

Star Luo Empire, White Tiger Duke's Mansion.

"This is rebellion! Utter rebellion!" Prince Dai smashed the redwood table with a single palm strike, vicious light gleaming in his eyes. "Spirit Hall is trying to tear out the foundation of us nobles!"

Dozens of nobles in the hall wore grim expressions. They understood clearly that once commoner soul masters could easily gain power comparable to nobles, the entire ruling system would collapse.

"Your Highness," the Patriarch of the Zhu Family said in a deep voice, "I sent people to investigate. Those Contracted Soul Beasts are indeed strange. A level-twenty Soul Grandmaster with a contracted hundred-year soul beast actually defeated a level-thirty Soul Elder from my family!"

"They must be suppressed immediately!" An old general clad in golden armor roared. "I suggest dispatching the White Tiger Legion to wipe out every Spirit Hall branch within our borders!"

Prince Dai sneered. "Do you think Spirit Hall will sit and wait to die? According to secret reports, Spirit Hall has already secretly gathered five thousand soul masters to protect the arrays in different regions. Besides, tearing off all pretense with Spirit Hall at a time like this is no good thing. Who knows, perhaps the Heaven Dou Empire is watching us make fools of ourselves." He rose to his feet, his expression dark and murderous, before suddenly revealing an exceedingly sinister smile. "Pass down my order. Start with those lowborn wretches who dare use contracts! Create the illusion of soul beasts killing people. Those wretches have no brains. Once we spread word that Spirit Hall's contracts are fake, most of them will probably start causing trouble."

Heaven Dou Empire, the imperial palace council hall.

Xue Ye's face was livid as he looked at the memorial in his hand. "Beng'er, what do you think of Spirit Hall's soul beast contract system? They call it soul beast Pokemon. What are your thoughts?"

Crown Prince Xue Beng bowed respectfully. "Father Emperor, I believe this will benefit both the nation and its people. If the Contract Array can be widely implemented, the overall strength of Heaven Dou soul masters will rise by more than thirty percent."

"Absurd!" Prince Xue Xing cut in sharply. "This is clearly Spirit Hall's scheme to dismantle the Empire's rule! Once commoners wield such power, who will obey the nobles? Who will remain loyal to the imperial family?"

The court immediately split into two factions, arguing without end.

Xue Beng froze, then felt that his father's words seemed somewhat reasonable. Once commoners possessed this power, would those wretches truly still support a new emperor?

A lingering fear rose within him, and he immediately changed his mind, saying that this was inappropriate.

Even more people in court began arguing. Some sincerely believed this would benefit the nation and its people, while no one thought it would shake the authority of the noble system... For a time, the court was as noisy as a marketplace.

"Enough!" Xue Ye rubbed his temples wearily, unable to stop himself from missing the former Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, who had been so steady and dependable. What a pity...

"Do not prohibit Contract Arrays for now, but Heaven Dou Royal Academy may not teach any related material. Also, send envoys to Spirit Hall and demand that they limit the number of contracted soul masters."

At this moment, nearly every empire, large and small, made the same choice. They were afraid.

Solomon naturally received the news.

They were afraid.

That meant I was walking the right path!

Their attempts to stop me only proved that my choice could not have been more correct!

If they still wanted to strike back at me, that would prove beyond doubt that there was no choice more correct than this.