The Future of Bamboo

Bai Lan looked at her: "Hmm?"

Ice Empress turned her head back, a hint of confusion in her eyes:

"In the human world, is this how you punish someone for making a mistake?"

Bai Lan thought for a moment and said:

"Not necessarily."

"Sometimes it's a beating, sometimes it's a fine, and sometimes it's being locked away."

"Kneeling here is considered... a public humiliation, I suppose."

Ice Empress looked thoughtful.

"It's much gentler than the Extreme North," she said. "There, to offend an emperor means only death."

Yinye laughed from the side.

"That's why humans can gather together and build such massive cities."

"There are many rules, but many more survive."

"If we really followed the rules of the Soul Beasts, there wouldn't be nearly as many humans today."

Ice Empress nodded, saying nothing more.

She took one last look at the kneeling figure before turning and walking back to the bedside.

The three of them sat down again.

Cultivation continued.

An hour later.

Bai Lan opened his eyes once more.

Today's cultivation had come to an end.

He stretched his shoulders, preparing to get off the bed.

Suddenly, his heart stirred.

The Contract Book appeared automatically in his palm.

The pages flipped open.

On the first page, a golden mark glowed quietly.

Tiangang Bamboo.

Thirty thousand years.

Bai Lan looked at that mark, suddenly feeling a bit dazed.

He remembered the first time he saw it.

Back then, it was just a ten-year-old Guzhu.

Standing all alone on the outermost edge of the Soul Beast Forest.

He was only six years old at the time, having just awakened his Martial Soul, knowing nothing.

He just thought it looked nice, so he formed a contract with it.

Later—

The first evolution, it became Iron Core Bamboo.

The second evolution, it became Arrow Bamboo.

The third evolution, it became Tiangang Bamboo.

Thirty thousand years.

It was the one that had been with him the longest.

But now, it was also the one with the lowest strength and age.

"What's wrong?" Yinye's voice sounded in his ear.

Bai Lan snapped out of it and looked at her.

"Thinking about some things."

Yinye walked over and sat down beside him.

"Thinking about what?"

Bai Lan was silent for a second.

Then, he raised his hand and held the Contract Book out in front of her.

On the first page, the mark of the Tiangang Bamboo.

"It," he said.

Yinye looked at the mark, lost in thought.

"Is Master worried about it?"

Bai Lan shook his head.

"Not worried," he said. "I'm thinking about what it will do in the future."

Ice Empress also walked over and stood on the other side.

She looked down at the golden mark, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Thirty thousand years," she said. "For us, it is indeed a bit weak."

"Even if it undergoes its fourth evolution, it will reach at most one hundred thousand years. The gap between it and us is too large."

"Our fourth evolution will at least reach the level of five hundred thousand or eight hundred thousand years."

Yinye glared at her.

Ice Empress shrugged: "It is the truth. And once Snow Empress and I fuse, our age will directly break through one million years, entering the rank of Divine Beasts, making its utility even smaller."

The eight hundred thousand years Yinye mentioned referred to her.

Bai Lan smiled.

"She isn't wrong," he said. "Thirty thousand years, in front of you two, is indeed not much to look at."

He looked at the mark, his gaze becoming profound.

"I am thinking..."

Yinye and Ice Empress looked at him simultaneously.

Bai Lan spoke slowly:

"Where to find a bamboo of the same origin, or a wood-attribute fierce beast..."

"To let it fuse as well."

"Just like you."

Yinye was stunned.

Ice Empress was also stunned.

Fusion of the same origin.

They were all too familiar with this term.

Yinxing and Youye fused to become Yinye.

Four hundred thousand years.

Ice Empress and Snow Empress were about to fuse, which would result in one million one hundred thousand years.

A Tier 3 god.

That was the previous estimate; now it would certainly be higher.

After all, Snow Empress could also undergo four evolutions!

Then if--

What if Tiangang Bamboo could also find a bamboo of the same origin to fuse with?

"Master," Yinye spoke, her voice somewhat complex. "Are you thinking of..."

Bai Lan nodded.

"It has been with me the longest."

"From the very beginning, it has always been by my side."

"I don't want it to fall too far behind."

He looked at the golden mark, his eyes filled with tenderness:

"It deserves to become stronger."

Ice Empress fell silent.

She looked at Bai Lan, looking into those earnest eyes.

She suddenly remembered the first time she saw him.

Back then, she only thought he was a weak, reckless human child.

But now--

She saw it.

She saw his attitude toward his Contract Beast.

Not a tool.

Not a combat asset.

A partner.

Family.

"Master," she spoke.

Bai Lan looked at her.

Ice Empress said, "I have lived for seven hundred thousand years and have seen countless humans."

"They have only two attitudes toward soul beasts."

"Either hunt them to take their Soul Ring."

"Or fear them and stay away."

She looked at Bai Lan, her gaze earnest:

"Only you are different."

Bai Lan was stunned for a moment.

Yinye laughed from the side.

"That is why we are all willing to follow Master," she said, "It is not because of the contract."

"It is because Master is worth it."

Bai Lan was silent for a few seconds.

Then, he smiled.

"Alright, enough with the sentimentality." He stood up, "Help me think, where can we find wood-attribute soul beasts of the same origin?"

Yinye and Ice Empress exchanged a glance.

Then, both of them smiled at the same time.

"Okay."

The three of them sat together.

Bai Lan took out a map and spread it on the bed.

"Bamboo of the same origin..." he muttered, "What powerful bamboo soul beasts are there on the Douluo Continent?"

Yinye thought for a moment.

"I have heard of one called the 'Nine-Section Green Jade Bamboo'."

"It is said that in the depths of the Star Dou Great Forest, there are ones at the hundred-thousand-year level."

Bai Lan's eyes lit up.

"A hundred thousand years?"

Yinye nodded.

"But it is only a legend," she said, "No one has ever seen one with their own eyes."

Ice Empress suddenly spoke:

"There is another one."

Bai Lan looked at her.

Ice Empress said, "On the very edge of the Extreme North, there is an 'Ice Soul Profound Bamboo'."

"It is an ice attribute, different from the Tiangang Bamboo, but they are of the same origin—both are bamboo."

"The age is probably around fifty thousand years."

Bai Lan raised an eyebrow.

"Ice attribute?"

Ice Empress nodded.

"The Tiangang Bamboo has gold and wood attributes," she said, "Gold generates water, and water generates ice. If you fuse it with an ice-attribute bamboo, it might have unexpected effects."

Bai Lan looked thoughtful.

"Are there any others?"

Yinye thought for a moment, then suddenly said:

"Master, have you ever thought about..."

She paused, her gaze becoming profound:

"Going to one place?"

Bai Lan asked, "Where?"

Yinye slowly spat out three words:

"Soul Beast Forest."

Bai Lan was stunned for a moment.

"That isn't..."

Yinye nodded.

"It is," she said, "but has Master forgotten?"

"The place where you first saw the Tiangang Bamboo."

"It is right there."

Bai Lan froze.

Of course he remembered.

That was when he had just awakened his Martial Soul.

Six years old.

He had walked into the Soul Beast Forest alone.

On the very outskirts, he had seen that ten-year-old Guzhu.

Back then, it had stood there all by itself.

Now, it was already a thirty-thousand-year-old Tiangang Bamboo.

But if he went back there.

"Are you saying..." he began.

Yinye nodded.

"That place might have something of the same origin."

"It might even be its kin, its descendants, its—"

She paused, then said softly:

"Family."

Bai Lan fell silent.

He looked at the golden mark on the Contract Book.

Family...

"Master," the voice of the Ice Empress rang out.

Bai Lan looked at her.

The Ice Empress said, "No matter where you want to go, we will follow."

Yinye nodded.

"Together."

Bai Lan looked at the two of them.

He looked at the determination in their eyes.

Suddenly, he smiled.

"Alright."

He stood up and walked to the window.

He gazed outside.

That direction was the direction of the Soul Beast Forest.

"After some time passes," he said, "we will make a trip there."

Behind him, Yinye and the Ice Empress nodded in unison.

"Alright."

Outside the window, the sunlight was perfect.

In the distance, the figure kneeling at the academy gate remained motionless.

But Bai Lan no longer cared.

He gazed into the distance, his eyes filled with anticipation.

That place held his starting point.

It also held the starting point of the Tiangang Bamboo.

Perhaps—

It also held its future.

The Contract Book lay quietly by the pillow.

On the first page, the golden mark glowed faintly.

It was as if it were responding.

And as if it were waiting in anticipation.