Opening Up the World

But before going to the Extreme North Plains, Lin Yu first found Ma Xiaotao and signed a contract with her.

He and Ma Xiaotao arranged to meet in a remote, uninhabited place outside Shrek City.

"You said you could resolve the Phoenix Evil Fire in me once and for all?"

Ma Xiaotao found it utterly absurd. She had clearly been the one to seek out Junior Brother Lin Yu, coveting his Ultimate Ice. So how had Junior Brother Lin Yu suddenly come up with a way to resolve the Phoenix Evil Fire in her?

Lin Yu said, "Actually, I had a way from the beginning. I just didn't tell you."

Ma Xiaotao looked as though she had been struck by lightning. "Junior Brother Lin Yu, are you serious? If you are, I'll get very angry. And when I get angry, I'll explode."

Flames began surging continuously from her body.

Lin Yu said, "But I didn't know you at first. We weren't familiar with each other, so I didn't dare tell you."

The flames around Ma Xiaotao stopped. "Now that's something a reasonable person would say. So now that we're familiar, you're planning to tell me the solution?"

Lin Yu said, "That's right, but you need to sign a contract."

He took out a golden contract.

After reading it, Ma Xiaotao said in surprise, "I only need to pay a tiny bit of strength to resolve the Phoenix Evil Fire in me? This contract is far too cheap."

Ma Xiaotao signed without the slightest hesitation.

Just as Lin Yu had said, Ma Xiaotao's contract signing was always incredibly simple. There wasn't even the slightest complication before Lin Yu obtained the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul.

When the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul appeared, Lin Yu's Ice Snow Empress Martial Soul, Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul, and Starry Express Martial Soul all appeared together.

They revolved around Lin Yu. As the Ice Snow Empress Martial Soul and Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul spun, they began rotating in sync, as though they were magnets attracting each other.

Lin Yu immediately sensed the benefits. His Soul Power, which had reached Rank 30, began accumulating in huge amounts. If not for the lack of a soul ring, it would probably have continued rising all the way to Rank 35.

This feeling was just like when he had contracted Qian Renxue, whose Divine Seat had shattered.

The only difference was that Qian Renxue had relied on the Soul Power increase brought by her high rank, while the Ice Snow Empress Martial Soul and Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul complemented each other purely because of their ultimate attributes.

"Qian Renxue, you were right. The boost brought by two top-tier ultimate attributes complementing each other isn't the slightest bit weaker than contracting a powerful companion."

At this moment, Ma Xiaotao was utterly shocked to see that Lin Yu possessed four Martial Souls. After the contract was completed, she also sensed the existence of two other contract partners.

Snow Empress and Qian Renxue both emerged from the Spiritual Sea of Consciousness and invited Ma Xiaotao with smiles. "Welcome to the journey of opening up the world. From today onward, we're companions."

Ma Xiaotao said, "Can someone tell me what's going on? Why does it feel like I can't make sense of anything all of a sudden?"

Lin Yu said, "This needs to be explained slowly. First, eat the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. It can resolve the Evil Fire in you. Now that I know how intense your Evil Fire is, I can tell it's already beginning to affect me. It's thanks to you being able to suppress it for so many years."

After obtaining the Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul, Lin Yu also sensed the effects of the Evil Fire. Red light flickered in his eyes as he looked at Snow Empress, Qian Renxue, and Ma Xiaotao, finding them especially alluring tonight.

Snow Empress teased, "Lin Yu, I know why you can still suppress it. It's because you know you're the weakest among us. Even if you lose control, you won't be able to get the better of anyone."

Lin Yu sighed. "You've been with me for so long that you understand me better and better. I'm afraid that one day I'll have to match wits with you. What a hassle that would be."

Snow Empress was a Seven-Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. Since she had originally never mixed with human society, she had been somewhat more naive.

But Lin Yu discovered that after spending so much time with him, Snow Empress had gradually begun to resemble him. She could now see through many things and teased him more and more often.

As a wise man, he naturally didn't like this situation.

Lin Yu said to Snow Empress, "Aren't you tired of sticking with me every day? For our next expedition, we'll split up. How about you and Qian Renxue form one group?"

Snow Empress said with ease, "You can't shake me off. Your next stop is the Extreme North Plains, which is my old home. The contract partner you're looking for will very likely need my help."

Lin Yu spread his hands. "I really can't shake you off."

Snow Empress smiled smugly and asked, "You said Little Xue will part ways with us at the next stop. Where is she going?"

Lin Yu said, "I've already discussed it with Qian Renxue. She's going to visit her era from ten thousand years ago, and she'll be taking Ma Xiaotao with her. You're too clever now, so I won't tell you for the time being. I don't want you to guess my intentions."

Hearing her name, Ma Xiaotao shouted, "Take me? And to ten thousand years ago? Ah, I'm getting more and more confused. What exactly are you all? Why do you have so many unsolved mysteries surrounding you?"

Lin Yu said, "Don't worry. It's something beneficial to you. Do you want your Evil Fire Phoenix Martial Soul to evolve again? There's an opportunity to do so ten thousand years ago."

Ma Xiaotao said, "My Martial Soul can evolve? Tell me more, tell me more."

Lin Yu said, "Wait until Qian Renxue is free, and she'll explain it to you slowly. For now, eat this Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower."

Lin Yu didn't know how Ma Xiaotao usually suppressed the Evil Fire. He had only suppressed it for a short while, yet he already felt unable to endure it.

But just as Snow Empress had said, it wasn't because his willpower was strong. It was because he knew he couldn't beat any of the women present.

As Lin Yu fed the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower to Ma Xiaotao, it immediately produced a miraculous effect. The Evil Fire that had plagued her for years actually vanished without a trace.

Lin Yu also regained his clarity and breathed a sigh of relief.

Snow Empress giggled. "You missed a good opportunity. You should have teased him just now and tested his willpower."

Lin Yu rolled his eyes at Snow Empress, then summoned the Starry Express.

After gaining its third contract companion, the Starry Express condensed further. At this moment, it no longer enveloped Lin Yu. Instead, it rose into the air in a winding arc, gradually grew larger, and finally landed in front of him.

The Starry Express had a massive engine at the front, with four spacious carriages behind it.

Each carriage was a room, and Lin Yu and the others' names were written on them respectively.

Lin Yu said, "The Starry Express isn't in its complete form yet. For now, it can only condense four rooms. Let me explain it briefly. Once we have more companions, we'll also establish dedicated guest carriages, observation carriages, party carriages..."

As Lin Yu described it, everyone learned that the Starry Express was actually a fully equipped super travel train—a mobile home of adventure that could go anywhere.

They were delighted. This was exactly the kind of life they liked.

"But don't forget that the most important thing about our Starry Express is still opening up the world and embarking on adventures."

"Douluo Continent is only one of the worlds we'll pass through. The worlds we open up should be broader and more vast."

"We must keep heading toward new horizons."