Growing Soul Rings (Continued)
Conservative and hateful Soul Master were extremely dissatisfied, exclaiming, "Absurd! Signing a contract with a beast is a disgrace to Soul Master!"
"Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts! Who can guarantee that these Soul Beast won't turn against us?"
However, the rational Soul Master were quite clear-headed. "This method may truly be the way of the future! The conflict between Soul Master and Soul Beast has lasted for ten thousand years; we must find a way for them to coexist."
Because they understand that Soul Beast are indispensable in the cultivation system of soul Soul Master, and if human Soul Master want to continue to develop, they must find a way to coexist with Soul Beast.
The Spirit Hall previously established the Soul Beast Forest, and raising Soul Beast in captivity was one such method.
Just then, someone in the audience raised a crucial question, "Young lady, what's the difference between the Soul Ring you obtained through a contract and the one you obtained by hunting Soul Beast?"
Before Zhu Zhuyun could answer, someone nearby, who had clearly studied the outline of the new cultivation method carefully, interjected, "Didn't you read the announcement carefully? There's a huge difference! The Soul Ring obtained through a contract, because the Soul Beast is still alive and can continue to cultivate, means that the Soul Ring's lifespan can increase along with the Soul Beast's growth! It's not an inanimate object; it's a 'living' Soul Ring!"
This statement once again caused a stir.
Soul Ring that can grow! What does this mean? It means that Soul Master can possess Soul Ring with unlimited potential!
On the high platform, Golden Crocodile Douluo gazed at the magnificent purple Soul Ring, his eyes filled with amazement.
He originally thought that Bian Que's alchemy system was a revolutionary change, but the significance of this Contract Cultivation Method might be even more profound!
This is not merely a change in cultivation methods, but the beginning of a new era in the relationship between humans and Soul Beast!
He prided himself on being knowledgeable and experienced, yet he couldn't understand the principles and operation of this contract formation at all. He could only sense the profound knowledge it contained, which far exceeded the current scope of Soul Master knowledge.
To demonstrate more clearly, Zhu Zhuyun had a thought. Her purple Soul Ring lit up, and a shadow energy attached itself to her claws, giving her next attack a powerful tearing and concealment effect—one of the Darkmoon Cat's innate abilities.
Then, an even more astonishing scene unfolded. The Darkmoon Cat also let out a soft hiss, the contract rune on its forehead glowed slightly, and the same shadow energy condensed between its claws, but its refinement and agility were clearly superior to when Zhu Zhuyun used it!
Zhu Zhuyun explained at the opportune moment, "Both Dark Moon and I can use the contracted Soul Skill. However, because the Soul Skill originates from Dark Moon, its effect will be stronger when it is used by Dark Moon herself. We can cooperate with each other, making our tactics more flexible."
Soul Master and their Soul Beast partners share Soul Skill, and the effects are even better when used by the Soul Beast!
This caused even the most stubborn skeptics to fall into deep thought.
This means that Soul Master signs a contract gains a powerful ally who shares their mind and can enhance their own Soul Skill!
Its overall combat power is far more than just one plus one equals two!
The results of the demonstration far exceeded expectations!
Looking at the complex expressions on the faces of the crowd below the stage, ranging from doubt and shock to deep thought and even fervor, Qian Xunji knew that the implementation of this new cultivation method would no longer be a problem.
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The news that the Spirit Hall was promoting a new Soul Master cultivation system quickly spread throughout the entire continent.
Despite the "luring the enemy into the trap" incident in the last Advanced Soul Master Tournament, which greatly damaged the Spirit Hall's credibility among nobles and major powers, its sacred status among the vast majority of commoners and ordinary Soul Master remains as solid as ever.
Over the years, the Spirit Hall has been deeply ingrained in the public consciousness as a place that helps ordinary people awaken their Martial Soul, provides subsidies, and maintains order.
More importantly, the pills and Soul Tool previously introduced by the Spirit Hall have genuinely improved the strength of many Soul Master, allowing them to experience the benefits. Therefore, despite still having doubts about this new method of "contracting with Soul Beast," many Soul Master who trust the Spirit Hall are willing to give it a try and have begun to gradually come into contact with and attempt to cultivate this new system.
Simply put, the temptation was too great!
Soul Ring that can grow!
This is an incredibly powerful skill that those Soul Master from ordinary backgrounds could only dream of!
Ordinary people might not understand, but these commoner Soul Master who have suffered losses know all too well what a high-age Soul Ring means.
Many talented commoner Soul Master, due to their youthful ignorance, lack of guidance, or scarcity of resources, only absorbed their first and Second Soul Ring for a few decades, severely hindering their combat strength and future development potential.
The optimal Soul Ring configuration is an almost unattainable luxury for them, but it is the standard configuration for nobles and disciples of sects.
Of course, contracts are also beneficial to Soul Beast, as they can share the cultivation talents of Soul Master, receive level-up feedback, and accelerate their growth.
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Inside a simple hotel in Suotuo City.
Ma Hongjun lay on the bed in a "spread-eagle" position, snoring loudly.
His eyes were dark and bluish-black, and although his body appeared obese, his muscles were loose, making him a typical case of being overweight and lacking the robust physique expected of Power Attack System Battle Soul Master.
He smacked his lips, his face burning slightly from the sunlight streaming through the dilapidated window.
Finally, unable to bear the light and heat any longer, he groggily opened his eyes, looked out the window at the sun high in the sky, let out a long yawn, and was filled with weariness.
Last night, in order to vent his damn Evil Fire, he stayed out all night, only managing to get back to the hotel to sleep at the crack of dawn.
Ma Hongjun's current Soul Power has just reached level 40, making him a Soul Ancestor. Without the supervision and support of Dean Flender and the others, he is inherently lazy, lacks ambition, and has no connections or resources. His Soul Ring are no longer optimally configured; they are yellow, yellow, yellow, and purple.
However, Ma Hongjun no longer cares about these things.
Suppressing and releasing that tormenting Evil Fire every day had already exhausted most of his time, energy, and money, leaving him no time to cultivate.
Most of the Soul Master subsidies issued by the Spirit Hall became his "payment for prostitution".
In the past, he could rely on his status as Soul Master to deceive some naive common girls and barely satisfy his needs.
However, ever since the Spirit Hall Empire introduced the "Martial Soul Awakening Pill," which can help commoners Second Awakening their Martial Soul a second time, the number of Soul Master has increased, and Soul Master are no longer scarce. Since he is neither handsome nor rich, and is even a bit sleazy, naturally no girls are willing to pay attention to him.
After quickly splashing his face with cold water, Ma Hongjun swayed as he walked out of the hotel, intending to go to the Spirit Hall Branch to collect his monthly Soul Master subsidy, which was currently his main source of income.
While waiting in line, he looked around boredly and suddenly saw a crowd of people gathered in front of the bulletin board, with no end to their chatter.
Unable to resist his curiosity, Ma Hongjun squeezed in to join the fun.
When he finally managed to squeeze to the front and see the contents of the huge notice, especially the words "sign an equal contract with Soul Beast," "obtain a growable Soul Ring," and "share accelerated cultivation," Ma Hongjun's eyes widened and his mouth opened unconsciously. His sleepiness and fatigue were instantly replaced by immense shock!
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Some people are still in shock, while others have already tried and succeeded.
There has never been a shortage of daring gamblers. Under the auspices of the Spirit Hall, many Soul Master have begun to enter the Soul Master Forest to "meet" Soul Beast.
These Soul Beast were carefully selected and bred, and they are friendly towards humans.
Signing a contract is not as brutal and direct as hunting Soul Beast in the past; both the Soul Beast and the Soul Master must be satisfied before a contract can be signed.
The more powerful Soul Beast is, the more unruly it is. Of course, Soul Master with great talent are often more favored by Soul Beast...
In conclusion, there are both advantages and disadvantages!
Deep within the secret base painstakingly built by the remaining forces of the Star Luo Empire, the atmosphere was more somber and oppressive than ever before.
Detailed information about the Spirit Hall's implementation of a new Soul Master training system was delivered to the higher-ups of the Star Luo Empire.
Prior to this, the Spirit Hall's incredibly effective pills, as well as its high-performance Soul Tool armor and weapons that had already begun to be deployed in the army, had already suffocated the Star Luo Empire resistance. Every clash felt like fighting a steel torrent with flesh and blood.
And now, this so-called "new cultivation method" sounds even more... insane than elixirs and Soul Tool.
When several ministers and generals trembled as they opened the encrypted intelligence files and saw the detailed descriptions, they could hardly believe their eyes.
"To sign an equal contract with Soul Beast?"
"Interconnected Soul Power, growing together?"
"Soul Ring... can Soul Ring evolve along with their contracted Soul Beast? Can Soul Ring grow stronger?!"
An old general suddenly clutched his chest, his face turned deathly pale, and he swayed as if he were about to faint. Those around him quickly supported him.
"It can grow... Soul Ring ..." another minister, who came from a civil service background, murmured to himself, his voice filled with a trembling despair.
He knew all too well what this meant.
This means that the Soul Master trained by the Spirit Hall will be completely freed from the constraints of Soul Ring age limits and will have unlimited growth potential!
"Soul Master and Soul Beast fighting together..." A general in charge of intelligence looked ashen-faced. "This... doesn't this mean that they can not only solve the problem of Soul Ring supply, but may even... bind the entire Soul Beast race to their war machine?"
This conjecture plunged the entire locked room into a deathly silence.
Originally, Soul Beast were both a common "enemy" and a resource for humanity, as well as a complex environmental factor that the Star Luo Empire could utilize.
But now, if the Spirit Hall really succeeds in implementing this method, Soul Beast will transform from potential threats and resources into allies of the Spirit Hall Empire!
What will we use to restore our country?
How could they, these remnants of a defeated army, constantly on the run and lacking resources, possibly fight against a vast empire with limitless potential Soul Master, an army Soul Tool, and possibly the support of the entire Soul Beast race?
"The restoration of the kingdom... seems so far away..." An old prince from a collateral branch of the royal family uttered, his voice trembling, expressing the sentiments of everyone present.
Is it really... possible to restore the country?
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On the edge of the Extreme North Icefield, there is a remote town shrouded in cold winds all year round.
Inside the dimly lit tavern, the crackling fire barely dispelled the bone-chilling cold.
In the corner, a figure sat alone. She had long, smooth, crystal-clear silver hair with a strong luster, which cascaded down to almost her ankles, shimmering softly even in the dim tavern.
The woman lowered her head slightly, her eyes, as bright as the purest amethyst, carrying a trace of weakness and lingering gloom. This was Gu Yuena had fled after being seriously injured and was hiding here to heal.
The tavern was bustling with noise as mercenaries and hunters talked loudly about their livelihoods, women, and... all sorts of earth-shattering news from afar.
At the next table, several men, their clothes damp with the smell of snow and wind, were talking animatedly.
"Have you heard? The Spirit Hall has stirred up a big commotion again!"
"What's going on? Didn't they almost wipe out both great empires?"
"It's not war, it's cultivation! I heard they've introduced a new cultivation method, something like... Soul Beast Contract?"
"A contract? With Soul Beast? Are you kidding me! Soul Beast are lucky if they don't fight us to the death, let alone form a contract with us?"
"It's absolutely true! I have a cousin who works in Spirit City, and he mentioned it in his letter! He said that we no longer need to kill Soul Beast; we can sign some kind of contract with them and become stronger together! It's the talk of the Spirit City!"
"Clang!"
A loud bang interrupted their discussion.
Gu Yuena slammed her hand on the table and stood up abruptly, causing the wooden stool beneath her to tip backward due to her uncontrolled force.
Her amethyst-like eyes were filled with utter shock and disbelief as she stared intently at the man speaking at the next table, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"What... what did you just say?! Say it again! What Soul Beast contract?!"
The drunkard, who was talking animatedly, was interrupted. He turned around in displeasure, his face contorted with anger, about to erupt. However, when he saw Gu Yuena's face clearly, all his anger vanished instantly.
He stood there, mouth agape, staring in a daze, his gaze fixed on Gu Yuena's otherworldly beauty and her cascading silver hair. His mind went blank; he had completely forgotten his earlier displeasure and had forgotten to answer.
Seeing his appearance, Gu Yuena's eyes flashed with disgust and anxiety, and a trace of her powerful dragon might uncontrollably leaked out.
The drunkard jolted awake as if doused with cold water, jolting him out of his daze. Meeting those icy, bone-chilling purple eyes, a primal fear instantly sobered him up considerably.
"It's... it's true!" he stammered, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. "The Spirit Hall... the Spirit Hall announced a new cultivation method, saying... saying that Soul Master can sign an equal contract with Soul Beast and cultivate and grow together... it's all over the place now..."