Dark green poisonous mist gathered around him, colliding with the pressure of the tiger's roar and stirring up a fierce gale.
A trace of gravity flashed through the Thunder Pattern Tiger Emperor's eyes.
It rose from the boulder. Its massive body stretched a full five zhang long, golden thunder patterns especially dazzling against its pitch-black fur.
It neither fled nor attacked at once. It merely looked down at the two people on the ridge, as though assessing them.
"Can you understand human speech?"
Gu Ci spoke quietly, but his voice clearly reached the Thunder Pattern Tiger Emperor's ears.
The Tiger Emperor's ears twitched. It did not respond, but neither did it attack.
Gu Ci took a deep breath and stepped out from behind Dugu Bo, standing at the very front of the ridge.
Zi Dian's phantom flickered behind him and vanished. The aura of the Thunder Prison Heaven-Slaying Tiger flashed forth, and in that instant, the Thunder Pattern Tiger Emperor's pupils suddenly contracted.
The sense of suppression arising from deep within its bloodline made its heart tremble even more than Dugu Bo's Titled Douluo aura.
It stared at Gu Ci for a long time, a low whimper rumbling from its throat.
"I did not come here to kill you."
Gu Ci said calmly, "I came to discuss a deal with you."
He briefly explained the Soul Spirit Contract.
There was no need to sacrifice its life, no need to lose its mind, and it could even use his Martial Soul to further purify its bloodline.
After listening, the Thunder Pattern Tiger Emperor remained silent for a long time.
At the mountaintop, only the booming thunder and the Tiger Emperor's heavy breathing could be heard.
"Human," it finally spoke, its voice as deep as muffled thunder. "What is your Martial Soul?"