"It can form contracts with Soul Beasts and help them evolve."
Ice Empress's gaze fell on the book.
Its pages opened.
On the first page was a golden emblem—Tiangang Bamboo, thirty thousand years old.
On the second page was a silver-purple emblem—Void Shadow Empress, four hundred thousand years old.
Ice Empress's pupils contracted sharply.
Four hundred thousand years?
That silver-purple-haired woman was a Contract Beast?
She looked at Yinye, and for the first time, her eyes showed a flicker of emotion.
Yinye met her gaze and smiled faintly.
"My name is Yinye," she said. "Four hundred thousand years ago, I lived alone in my own territory, just like you."
"Then I met my master."
She raised her hand, and silver-purple light swirled around her fingertips.
"Now, I am the Void Shadow Empress."
"I can merge, split apart, and call upon the power of four hundred thousand years at any time."
She looked at Ice Empress, her gaze earnest.
"What my master said about evolution is true."
Ice Empress fell silent.
She looked at Yinye, at those silver-purple eyes, at the spatial and shadow power flowing around her.
That was the genuine power of a four-hundred-thousand-year-old being.
It wasn't fake.
"You..." she began, her voice a little hoarse. "You're really willing to become a human's Contract Beast?"
Yinye smiled.
There was a warmth in her smile.
"My master doesn't treat me like a tool," she said. "He treats me as a companion."
"He gave me a name."
"He sleeps beside me."
"When I want to come out, he lets me."
She looked at Bai Lan, her eyes filled with gentle light.
"Following my master is much happier than spending all those years alone."
Ice Empress fell silent.
She looked at Bai Lan.
This seven-year-old human child.
Level thirty-seven.
In her eyes, he was pitifully weak.
But a Peerless Douluo accompanied him.
And so did a four-hundred-thousand-year-old Void Shadow Empress.
And that woman had chosen to follow him willingly.
"What's your name?" she asked.
Bai Lan looked at her. "Bai Lan."
Ice Empress nodded.
Then she asked:
"You said you could help me survive the Heavenly Tribulation. What makes you so sure?"
Bai Lan raised a hand and pointed at the Contract Book.
"This."
"After forming a contract, you can evolve."
"Once you evolve, your age and strength will increase."
He looked at Ice Empress, his gaze calm.
"At four hundred thousand years, the Heavenly Tribulation is difficult to overcome."
"What about five hundred thousand years?"
"Six hundred thousand?"
"Seven hundred thousand?"
Ice Empress was stunned.
Evolve.
Increase her age.
Increase her strength.
If that was really possible...
Then the next Heavenly Tribulation would indeed no longer be a problem.
"You're sure?" she asked. For the first time, her voice betrayed a flicker of emotion.
Bai Lan nodded.
"Yinye is proof."
"She was originally formed by the fusion of a hundred-thousand-year-old Void Butterfly Empress and a three-hundred-thousand-year-old Void Shadow Lord."
"After fusing, she became four hundred thousand years old."
"Her next evolution will take her even further."
Ice Empress looked at Yinye.
Yinye nodded. "What my master said is true."
Ice Empress fell silent.
For a long time.
A very long silence.
Then she spoke:
"What do I have to do?"
Bai Lan looked at her and said, each word deliberate:
"Submit."
"Become my Contract Beast."
"I'll take you out of here."
"I'll help you survive the Heavenly Tribulation."
"And I'll show you a much wider world."
Ice Empress looked at him.
At those calm eyes.
Seven years old.
Level thirty-seven.
Yet in those eyes, she saw many things.
Resolve.
Confidence.
And something she couldn't quite describe.
Ambition.
And gentleness.
"Fine," she said.
Bai Lan was slightly taken aback.
Ice Empress looked at him and said coldly:
"What, did you think I'd refuse?"
Bai Lan was silent for a second, then smiled.
"I thought I'd have to say a bit more."
Ice Empress gave a cold snort.
"I've lived for four hundred thousand years. What haven't I seen?"
"A Peerless Douluo personally brought you here, a four-hundred-thousand-year-old Ferocious Beast vouched for you, and you have a book that can form contracts with Soul Beasts."
"If I still refused, I'd be a fool."
She paused and looked at Yinye.
"Besides, she said she's happy following you."
"I want to give it a try."
Bai Lan smiled.
He raised his hand and pointed the Contract Book at Ice Empress.
"Then let's form the contract."
"Don't resist."
Golden light burst forth.
It enveloped Ice Empress.
Ice Empress didn't resist.
She closed her eyes and let the golden light flow into her body.
The sensation was strange.
It was as if something were connecting her to this human.
It wasn't a restraint.
It was a bond.
The light lasted for a long time.
At last—
The golden light faded.
The Contract Book slowly settled back into Bai Lan's hands.
On the third page, an emerald scorpion-shaped emblem gradually took shape.
Words appeared beside it:
[Contract Beast: Ice Jade Empress Scorpion] [Age: Four hundred thousand years] [Status: Contract formed] [Abilities: Ice Attribute Control, Ultimate Ice, Ice Empress Pincer, Ice Emperor Body Protection, Ice Emperor Wrath, Ice Jade Empress Scorpion True Form...] [Evolution Count: 0/3 (Reach level forty to unlock the next evolution)] [Tip: Contract Beasts can undergo Humanoid Transformation and retain all abilities after transforming]
Bai Lan looked at the emblem and let out a long breath.
He lifted his head.
Ice Empress was still standing there, looking at him.
"Master," she said.
Her voice was still as cold as ever.
But beneath that chill, Bai Lan could hear a hint of warmth.
"Mm." He nodded. "From now on, I'll call you Ice Empress."
Ice Empress was slightly taken aback.
"Just... Ice Empress?"
Bai Lan looked at her. "You don't like it?"
Ice Empress was silent for a second.
Then she shook her head.
"No."
"It's just... Ice Empress was what others called me before."
"But now..."
She looked at Bai Lan, a complicated glimmer passing through her eyes.
"When you say it, it feels different."
Bai Lan smiled.
"You'll get used to it."
He turned and looked at Mu En.
Mu En stood there with a faint smile on his face.
"Did it work?"
Bai Lan nodded. "It did."
Mu En nodded without saying more.
He looked at Ice Empress.
"Ice Empress, there's something I'd like to ask you."
The Ice Empress looked at him. "Speak."
Mu En asked, "Where is the Snow Empress?"
The Ice Empress's pupils contracted slightly.
"Why are you looking for the Snow Empress?"
Bai Lan answered, "Once I reach level forty, I'll come make a contract with her."
The Ice Empress froze.
Then she smiled.
It was the first time she had ever smiled.
"You certainly have a big appetite," she said. "You've only just made a contract with me, and you're already setting your sights on the Snow Empress."
Bai Lan looked at her and said seriously,
"The two of you both possess Ultimate Ice."
"You share the same origin."
"In the future, you can fuse."
"Just like Yinxing and Youye."
The Ice Empress was stunned.
Fuse?
Fuse with the Snow Empress?
She looked at Yinye.
Yinye nodded. "After fusion, your years are added together, and your strength surges. After Youye and I fused, we went from one hundred thousand and three hundred thousand years to four hundred thousand."
The Ice Empress fell silent.
She and the Snow Empress: four hundred thousand plus seven hundred thousand—
One million one hundred thousand.
What did that even mean?
And that was without evolving...
What if they evolved?
It was almost too much to imagine...
They'd have god-level combat strength right away!
"The Snow Empress is in the deepest part of the Extreme North Core Circle," she said. "I'll take you there."
Bai Lan nodded.
The Ice Empress turned and headed deeper into the snowy mountains.
After a few steps, she suddenly stopped.
She glanced back.
"Master."
"Hmm?"
The Ice Empress looked at him, her gaze serious.
"The Snow Empress is prouder than I am."
"She might not be willing."
Before you continue