The New Third Contract Beast: Ice Empress!

"It can form contracts with Soul Beasts, allowing them to evolve."

The Ice Empress's gaze fell upon the book.

The pages turned.

On the first page, a golden mark—Tiangang Bamboo, thirty thousand years.

On the second page, a silver-purple mark—Void Shadow Empress, four hundred thousand years.

The Ice Empress's pupils constricted sharply.

Four hundred thousand years?

That silver-purple-haired woman was a Contract Beast?

She looked at Yinye, and for the first time, a ripple appeared in her eyes.

Yinye met her gaze and smiled slightly.

"My name is Yinye," she said. "Four hundred thousand years ago, I was just like you, living alone in my own territory."

"Later, I met Master."

She raised her hand, silver-purple light swirling at her fingertips:

"Now, I am the Void Shadow Empress."

"I can merge, I can divide, and I can call upon four hundred thousand years of power at any time."

She looked at the Ice Empress, her gaze earnest:

"The evolution Master spoke of is real."

The Ice Empress fell silent.

She looked at Yinye, looked at those silver-purple eyes, and looked at the space and Shadow Power swirling around her.

That was genuine, solid four-hundred-thousand-year power.

It wasn't fake.

"You..." she began, her voice somewhat hoarse. "Are you truly willing to be a Contract Beast for a human?"

Yinye smiled.

There was tenderness in that smile.

"Master doesn't treat me like a tool," she said. "He treats me like a partner."

"He gives me a name."

"He sleeps with me."

"He lets me come out whenever I want to."

She looked at Bai Lan, her eyes filled with soft light:

"Following Master is much happier than all the years I spent living alone."

The Ice Empress fell silent.

She looked at Bai Lan.

This seven-year-old human child.

Level thirty-seven.

In her eyes, pitifully weak.

But by his side, he had a Peerless Douluo.

And a four-hundred-thousand-year-old Void Shadow Empress.

And that woman—was willing.

"What is your name?" she asked.

Bai Lan looked at her: "Bai Lan."

The Ice Empress nodded.

Then, she asked:

"You say you can help me survive the Heavenly Tribulation, on what grounds?"

Bai Lan raised his hand and pointed to the Contract Book.

"On these grounds."

"After the contract, you can evolve."

"After evolving, your age increases, and your strength increases."

He looked at the Ice Empress, his gaze calm:

"At four hundred thousand years, the Heavenly Tribulation is hard to survive."

"But what about at five hundred thousand years?"

"What about six hundred thousand years?"

"What about seven hundred thousand years?"

Ice Empress was stunned.

Evolution.

Increasing age.

Increasing strength.

If this were truly possible.

The next Heavenly Tribulation would indeed no longer be a problem.

"Are you certain?" she asked, her voice wavering for the first time.

Bai Lan nodded.

"Yinye is the proof."

"She was originally a fusion of a one-hundred-thousand-year Void Butterfly Empress and a three-hundred-thousand-year Void Shadow Lord."

"After the fusion, she became four hundred thousand years."

"Her next evolution will be even higher."

Ice Empress looked at Yinye.

Yinye nodded: "What Master says is true."

Ice Empress fell silent.

For a long time.

A very long silence.

Then, she spoke:

"What do I need to do?"

Bai Lan looked at her and said word by word:

"Submit."

"Become my Contract Beast."

"I will take you away from here."

"I will help you survive the Heavenly Tribulation."

"I will let you see a wider world."

Ice Empress looked at him.

She looked into those calm eyes.

Seven years old.

Level thirty-seven.

But in those eyes, she saw many things.

She saw determination.

She saw confidence.

And she saw something indescribable.

It was ambition.

And it was also gentleness.

"Fine," she said.

Bai Lan was slightly taken aback.

Ice Empress looked at him and said coldly:

"What, did you think I would refuse?"

Bai Lan was silent for a second, then smiled.

"I thought I would have to say a few more things."

Ice Empress snorted coldly:

"I have lived for four hundred thousand years, what haven't I seen?"

"A Peerless Douluo brought you here personally, a four-hundred-thousand-year fierce beast is testifying for you, and there is that book capable of contracting Soul Beasts."

"If I refused now, I would be a fool."

She paused and looked at Yinye:

"Besides, she said she is very happy following you."

"I want to try it."

Bai Lan smiled.

He raised his hand, aiming the Contract Book at the Ice Empress.

"Then let us—contract."

"Do not resist."

Golden light bloomed.

It enveloped the Ice Empress within it.

The Ice Empress did not resist.

She closed her eyes, allowing the golden light to surge into her body.

The sensation was quite strange.

It felt as if something was connecting her to this human.

It was not a shackle.

It was a bond.

The light lasted for a long time.

Finally—

The golden light dissipated.

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

On the third page, a jade-green scorpion-shaped mark was slowly taking form.

Text appeared beside it:

[Contract Beast: Ice Jade Empress Scorpion]

[Age: 400,000 years]

[Status: Contracted]

[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 (Must reach level 40 to unlock next evolution)]

[Note: Contract Beast can shapeshift; retains all abilities after shapeshifting]

Bai Lan looked at the mark and let out a long breath.

He raised his head.

The Ice Empress was still standing in place, watching him.

"Master," she spoke.

Her voice was still as cold as ever.

But Bai Lan detected a hint of softness beneath that coldness.

"Mm," he nodded. "From now on, I will call you Ice Empress."

The Ice Empress was slightly startled.

"Just... Ice Empress?"

Bai Lan looked at her. "Do you not like it?"

The Ice Empress was silent for a second.

Then, she shook her head.

"No."

"It is just... in the past, 'Ice Empress' was what others called me."

"Now..."

She looked at Bai Lan, a complex light flashing in her eyes:

"When it comes from your mouth, it seems different."

Bai Lan smiled.

"You will get used to it over time."

He turned around and looked at Elder Mu.

Elder Mu stood there, a faint smile on his face.

"It is done?"

Bai Lan nodded. "It is done."

Elder Mu nodded, saying nothing more.

He looked at the Ice Empress.

"Ice Empress, there is something I would like to ask you."

Ice Empress looked at him: "Speak."

Elder Mu asked: "Where is Snow Empress?"

Ice Empress's pupils constricted slightly.

"Why are you looking for Snow Empress?"

Bai Lan took over: "When I reach level forty, I will come to contract her."

Ice Empress was stunned.

Then, she laughed.

That was the first time she had ever laughed.

"You certainly have a big appetite," she said. "You just finished contracting me, and you're already eyeing Snow Empress."

Bai Lan looked at her and said earnestly:

"Both of you possess Ultimate Ice."

"You share the same origin."

"In the future, you can fuse."

"Just like Yinxing and Youye."

Ice Empress froze.

Fuse?

Fuse with Snow Empress?

She looked toward Yinye.

Yinye nodded: "After fusing, our years stack, and our strength surges. After Youye and I fused, we went from one hundred thousand and three hundred thousand to four hundred thousand."

Ice Empress fell silent.

Her and Snow Empress, four hundred thousand plus seven hundred thousand—

One million one hundred thousand.

What kind of concept was that?

And that was without even considering evolution...

What if they evolved?

She didn't dare to think about it...

They would possess god-level combat power directly!

"Snow Empress is in the deepest part of the Extreme North Core Circle," she said. "I will take you there."

Bai Lan nodded.

Ice Empress turned and walked toward the depths of the snow-capped mountains.

After a few steps, she suddenly stopped.

She looked back.

"Master."

"Hm?"

Ice Empress looked at him with a serious gaze:

"Snow Empress is more arrogant than I am."

"She might not be willing."