Contracting the Third Soul Beast!

The voice was low, as if it came from deep underground:

"Why... help a human?"

Yinxing did not answer.

The Void Shadow Beast looked at Bai Lan:

"Humans... weak... greedy..."

"Become my slave... and I may spare your life..."

Bai Lan was stunned for a moment.

Then, he laughed.

"A slave?"

He shook his head, his smile carrying a hint of mockery:

"What the hell do you think you are?"

The Void Shadow Beast's gaze changed.

For the first time, those deep purple eyes showed a ripple.

It was anger.

"You seek death--"

It opened its mouth, and a mass of pitch-black energy condensed within.

Shadow Cannon!

The next second, a massive black beam of light shot toward Bai Lan!

Bai Lan stood where he was, not moving an inch.

Just as the beam was about to strike him--

A golden light flashed.

The massive trunk of the Tiangang Bamboo blocked his front.

BOOM!

The black beam slammed into the golden bamboo, exploding into a sky full of black mist!

The Tiangang Bamboo did not budge.

Bai Lan stepped out from behind it, looking at the Void Shadow Beast.

"Are you done?"

He asked, his voice very calm.

The Void Shadow Beast was stunned.

It stared at the giant golden bamboo, a look of gravity appearing in its eyes for the first time.

"What... is this thing..."

Bai Lan did not answer.

He simply raised his hand.

"Tiangang Arrow Formation."

Three hundred and sixty golden bamboo leaves detached from the tips simultaneously, hovering in mid-air.

Each one radiated a brilliant golden light.

Each one was aimed directly at the Void Shadow Beast.

The Void Shadow Beast's pupils constricted.

It wanted to dodge--

But the next second, Yinxing's figure appeared behind it.

Void Domain, fully expanded!

Space twisted once again!

The Void Shadow Beast's teleportation ability was completely locked down!

"You--" it roared.

Bai Lan smiled.

"Now, it's my turn."

His hand swung down gently.

Three hundred and sixty golden streaks of light shot out simultaneously!

Arrow Rain coverage!

Boom boom boom boom boom--

Golden light exploded in the darkness, illuminating the entire canyon!

The massive body of the Void Shadow Beast was submerged by the golden Arrow Rain, letting out a series of shrill, furious roars!

Shadow Power surged out frantically, attempting to block those golden arrows!

But the arrows made of Tiangang Bamboo carried the essence of Tiangang Power.

It was a natural restraint against shadows!

Sss, sss, sss—

The arrows pierced through the shadow barrier, embedding themselves into the body of the Void Shadow Beast!

One arrow, two arrows, ten arrows, a hundred arrows—

Blood splattered!

Black and golden light intertwined!

The roars shook the heavens!

I do not know how much time passed—

The Arrow Rain ceased.

Bai Lan stood where he was, gasping for air.

Three hundred and sixty golden leaves hovered at his side, though their glow had dimmed significantly.

The stalk of the Tiangang Bamboo trembled slightly, clearly having suffered a massive expenditure of energy.

Yinxing hovered in mid-air, clutching her shoulder, her face pale.

And opposite them—

The Void Shadow Beast knelt on the ground, bathed in blood.

At least a hundred golden arrows were embedded in its body.

Those arrows emitted a faint light, continuously eroding its Shadow Power.

It raised its head, looking at Bai Lan.

In its deep purple eyes, there was no longer indifference.

Instead, there was—

Fear.

"You... what exactly are you..."

It asked, its voice hoarse.

Bai Lan looked at it without answering.

He simply stepped forward, walking toward it one step at a time.

He reached its front and stopped.

He looked up at this massive, ferocious beast.

Fifty thousand years.

Fused with the power of the Shadow Space.

Very strong.

Truly very strong.

But—

"I am your master," he said.

The Void Shadow Beast was stunned.

Bai Lan raised his hand.

The Contract Book appeared in his palm.

The pages fluttered without wind, flipping to the third page.

There, it was still blank.

"Submit," Bai Lan said. "Or die."

"Follow me, and you will possess infinite possibilities for evolution!"

"The next few hundred thousand years are just the beginning, a million years is merely a transition, and even being a Divine Beast is not the end!"

"Yinxing, or the Void Butterfly Empress as you call her, was only a thousand-year Soul Beast before. After becoming my Contract Beast, she evolved into the hundred-thousand-year beast she is today in just a short time."

"Is this true!?"

Upon hearing this, the pupils of the Void Shadow Beast constricted.

It had to be said, it was tempted.

One must know that for a Soul Beast to increase its age, it was not fast even with the help of the Shadow Space, and at fifty thousand years, it had already reached a bottleneck.

If it were truly possible to rapidly evolve and increase its age.

Then it might not be impossible for it to become a Contract Beast.

It stared fixedly at him.

It stared at that Contract Book.

It stared at those calm eyes.

It had struggled in the shadow space for so many years.

It had seen countless powerhouses and killed countless enemies.

But it had never seen a human like this.

Six years old.

Level 30.

Possessing two Soul Beasts, a 30,000-year Tiangang Bamboo, and a 100,000-year Void Butterfly Empress.

And—

This strange book Martial Soul that could allow Soul Beasts to evolve and increase their age.

It could feel that there was a power within that book which transcended the rules.

"I mean it," Bai Lan said. "I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed. By becoming my Contract Beast, you can break through the 100,000-year mark, and you will also be exempt from the Heavenly Tribulation. Yinxing wasn't struck by the Heavenly Tribulation, and she can even transform into human form at will, while also being able to return to her Soul Beast form to store her strength."

"Let us fight side by side in the future."

"Let us become gods together."

The Void Shadow Beast lowered its head.

This temptation was too great.

It remained silent for a long time.

Then—

"Fine..."

"I... submit..."

It said, its voice low.

"You will not regret your choice today."

"Do not resist."

Bai Lan smiled.

He reached out his hand and aimed the Contract Book at the Void Shadow Beast.

"Contract."

Golden light bloomed.

It enveloped the massive, ferocious beast.

The body of the Void Shadow Beast began to turn transparent, transforming into streams of black light that surged into the third page of the Contract Book.

The light lasted for a long time.

Finally—

The golden light dissipated.

The Contract Book slowly fell back into Bai Lan's hands.

On the third page, a mark in the shape of a black panther was slowly taking form.

It emitted a deep purple glow.

Bai Lan looked down.

The text on the page was emerging:

[Contract Beast: Void Shadow Beast]

[Age: 50,000 years]

[Status: Contracted (Weakened state, requires recovery)]

[Abilities: Shadow Fusion, Spatial Perception, Shadow Step, Shadow Claw, Shadow Cannon, Shadow Space Erosion, Aura Devour, Shadow Clone]

[Shadow Fusion: Merge into shadows, completely hide aura, move without a sound]

[Spatial Perception: Sensitive to surrounding spatial fluctuations, can predict danger in advance]

[Shadow Step: Short-distance teleportation between shadows, minimal consumption]

[Shadow Claw: Attacks carry shadow corrosion, wounds are extremely difficult to heal]

[Shadow Cannon: Condense shadow energy for long-range attacks, immense power]

[Shadow Space Erosion: Attacks carry the power of the shadow space, can pull parts of an enemy's body into the shadow space]

[Aura Devour: Devour the enemy's aura to restore one's own injuries]

[Shadow Clone: Create up to three Shadow Clones, each possessing thirty percent of the original body's strength]

[Evolution Count: 0/3 (Limit reached; must reach level forty to unlock the next evolution)]

[Note: The Contract Beast is in a weakened state; it is better to evolve after resting and recovering]

Fifty thousand years.

Void Shadow Beast.

Bai Lan looked at those words and let out a long breath.

He closed the Contract Book and turned to look around.

In the darkness, the figure of Elder Mu slowly emerged.

He stood not far away, watching Bai Lan.

There was a hint of gratification in his eyes.

"Finished fighting?"

Bai Lan nodded: "Finished."

Elder Mu walked over and stood by his side.

He looked at the Contract Book in Bai Lan's hand, looking at the deep purple mark on the third page.

He suddenly smiled.

"Not bad, your performance was excellent."

"A fifty-thousand-year Void Shadow Beast, fused with the power of the Shadow Space."

He looked at Bai Lan:

"Kid, do you know what you just did?"

Bai Lan thought for a moment and said:

"Contracted a very strong Soul Beast?"