An Incense Stick's Time! Battle Bei Bei!

"Bai Lan, come here." Elder Mu beckoned.

Bai Lan walked over and bowed slightly in greeting.

Elder Mu chuckled and pointed to the three children behind him: "These three little ones happen to be here too, let me introduce them to you."

He first pointed to the gentle-looking youth: "Bei Bei, ten years old, a two-ring Soul Grand Master, level 24. Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul, currently in the advanced class."

Bei Bei nodded at Bai Lan with a mild smile: "Hello."

Elder Mu then pointed to the girl with a ponytail: "Tang Ya, ten years old, a two-ring Soul Grand Master, level 23. Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul."

Tang Ya blinked her large eyes, looking curiously at the Contract Book in Bai Lan's hand: "A book Martial Soul? How rare!"

Finally, there was the arrogant youth: "Xu Sanshi, nine years old, a two-ring Soul Grand Master, level 22. Mysterious Turtle Martial Soul."

Xu Sanshi looked Bai Lan up and down, curling his lip: "Six years old? A new student who just enrolled?"

Bai Lan nodded.

Xu Sanshi snorted and said nothing more.

Elder Mu smiled and shook his head, his gaze falling on Bai Lan: "Bai Lan, I only glanced at your book Martial Soul earlier and didn't look closely. Can you explain its abilities in detail now?"

Bai Lan pondered for a moment.

The abilities of the Contract Book were his greatest trump card, but since he had already entered Shrek, it would be known sooner or later.

After all, he would be staying here for a long time.

Since that was the case, it was better to just speak up.

Perhaps he would receive special attention and heavy investment in resources ahead of time.

Growth and time were the most important things to him right now.

Since Elder Mu had asked, it meant he wanted to understand his true level to arrange a follow-up training plan.

Hiding things would be counterproductive.

"Replying to Elder Mu," Bai Lan raised his hand, and the Contract Book appeared once more: "My Martial Soul currently has four main abilities."

"First, for every ten levels I increase, I can forcibly contract one life form or non-life form that has no resistance, to serve as a Contract Beast."

A flash of light crossed Elder Mu's eyes.

"Second, for every ten levels I increase, I can allow an already contracted Contract Beast to evolve once. The number of evolutions for each Contract Beast is independent."

The smile on Bei Bei's face faded slightly, and his expression turned serious.

"Third, I can see the evolution route map of the Contract Beast."

Tang Ya let out a "Wow": "Isn't that too amazing?"

"Fourth..." Bai Lan paused: "I can share all the abilities of the Contract Beast."

"I have already contracted my first Contract Beast and completed its first evolution."

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell silent for a moment.

Xu Sanshi's jaw dropped.

He stared at the book in Bai Lan's hand, his eyes widening slightly: "Share? You mean, whatever abilities your Contract Beast has, you can use them too?"

"Yes."

"Then if you contracted a bird that can fly, you could fly too?"

"Yes."

"What if you contracted a dragon?"

Bai Lan thought for a moment: "Then I should be able to use the dragon's abilities as well."

Xu Sanshi stopped talking.

Tang Ya counted on her fingers from the side: "Contracting one every ten levels, and each one can evolve... wouldn't that mean by the time you reach Title Douluo, you'd have nine Contract Beasts, each with nine evolutions..."

She couldn't finish the math, but her eyes grew brighter and brighter: "This is too broken!"

Bei Bei looked at Bai Lan thoughtfully: "You just said that the Contract Beast must have no resistance?"

"Yes." Bai Lan nodded: "I can only contract targets that cannot resist, such as newborns, Soul Beasts that have been injured and lost their combat capability, or inanimate objects without consciousness."

"That is a huge limitation." Bei Bei said: "Targets without resistance are either too weak or need to be subdued first."

"That is correct."

After listening, Elder Mu stroked his beard and laughed: "Interesting, truly interesting. This Martial Soul has huge potential, but it is weak in the early stages, slow to accumulate in the middle, and only truly exerts its power in the late stages."

He looked at Bai Lan with a hint of admiration: "The fact that you were able to contract a Soul Beast immediately after awakening and complete its first evolution shows that you have a clear mind and know which path you should take."

Bai Lan lowered his head slightly: "Elder Mu is too kind."

"It is not kindness, it is the truth." Elder Mu changed the subject: "However, just listening to you is always just talk on paper. Since the three of them are here, why don't we..."

He looked at Bei Bei: "Bei Bei, have a spar with Bai Lan."

Bei Bei was stunned: "Now?"

"Now," Elder Mu pointed to the incense burner in the corner of the hall, "you have the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. Just suppress your strength to the same level as his. Bai Lan, you may use all the abilities of your Contract Beast."

Tang Ya's eyes lit up as she tugged on Xu Sanshi's sleeve, "We're in for a good show!"

Xu Sanshi shook off her hand, his mouth curling in disdain, "A six-year-old freshman, what's there to see..."

Yet, his eyes remained locked firmly on Bai Lan.

Bai Lan was silent for a second, then nodded, "Fine."

In the center of the hall, the crowd stepped back, leaving an open space.

Elder Mu lit a stick of incense and inserted it into the burner.

Wisps of smoke curled upward.

"Begin."

As soon as the words fell, Bai Lan's Contract Book flashed with light.

A stream of light shot out from the pages, landing beside him and transforming into a silver bamboo plant about two people tall.

It was his first Contract Beast, the Iron Core Bamboo.

The bamboo stalk shimmered with a metallic luster, and its long, slender leaves were as sharp as blades.

A flash of surprise crossed Bei Bei's eyes, "This is..."

"A Contract Beast," Bai Lan said, "Iron Core Bamboo, century-level."

Bei Bei nodded, asking no further questions.

He took a deep breath, and blue-purple electric light surged over his body.

Martial Soul Avatar: Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon.

Two yellow Soul Rings rose from beneath his feet, pulsing slowly.

A level 24 Soul Grand Master.

A single yellow Soul Ring rose beneath Bai Lan's feet as well.

It was the century-level Soul Ring granted to him by the Iron Core Bamboo, symbolizing four shared abilities.

The two stood ten meters apart, facing off.

Tang Ya crouched in the corner, resting her chin in her hands, her eyes fixed on the center of the room without blinking.

Xu Sanshi leaned against a pillar beside her, appearing nonchalant, yet his gaze was locked tightly onto Bai Lan.

"How long do you think he can last?" Tang Ya whispered.

Xu Sanshi curled his lip, "One stick of incense? Even if Bei Bei suppresses his strength, he still has the foundation of a level 24, and he's a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. That kid is only six and just awakened his soul a few days ago; lasting half a stick of incense would be impressive."

"I think he can last the whole time," Tang Ya said.

"Based on what?"

"Intuition."

Xu Sanshi rolled his eyes.

In the center of the room.

Bei Bei did not rush to attack, instead looking at Bai Lan, "You attack first."

Bai Lan did not stand on ceremony.

With a thought, the Iron Core Bamboo trembled violently.

Nine bamboo leaves detached simultaneously, hovering in mid-air with their tips pointed directly at Bei Bei!

Go!

Nine silver streaks of light shot out!

Bei Bei's eyes narrowed. He shifted his feet lightly, his body weaving through the gaps between the bamboo leaves like a fish in water.

Not a single one of the nine leaves could even graze the hem of his clothes.

"Not fast enough," he said, "and your accuracy is lacking."

Bai Lan did not respond, simply continuing to manipulate the bamboo leaves.

The nine leaves turned in mid-air, lunging at Bei Bei once more!

This time, the angles were even more devious, sealing off all his room for evasion.

A glimmer of appreciation flashed in Bei Bei's eyes. Instead of retreating, he advanced, and his first Soul Ring lit up.