Soul Pact Takes Form

Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time.

The Soul Contract Stone hovered beside Meow Meow's paw, a faint white light swirling around the Soul-Calming Bell.

It was not large, nor did it look like some earth-shattering treasure.

Yet, Bibi Dong could sense a very peculiar aura emanating from within it.

It was not like a Soul Bone.

It was not like a Soul Ring.

It did not even resemble the ancient spiritual artifacts collected by the Martial Soul Hall.

"If you assist the Martial Soul Hall, how long until this kind of soul contract becomes truly viable?"

Bibi Dong asked the most critical question.

Meow Meow looked up at her, his tail stiffening slightly.

"About that..."

He had spoken with such excitement, but when actually pressed for a timeline, Meow Meow felt a bit guilty himself.

Soul Rings were the most stable component of the cultivation system on the Douluo Continent.

Changing such rules was not something that could be accomplished with a few swipes of a paw.

"A hundred years?"

Meow Meow offered a conservative number first.

Bibi Dong did not speak.

Meow Meow thought about it again.

"If this cat uses more time arrays, perhaps a few decades?"

Bibi Dong still did not speak.

Meow Meow blinked, feeling as though he had lost some face as a cat.

"Ahem, of course, that is only under normal circumstances."

"This cat is not an ordinary cat, after all."

Bibi Dong finally smiled faintly.

"And how does this 'not ordinary' cat intend to proceed?"

Meow Meow immediately sat up straight.

"Start with the areas where the rules are shallowest."

"Low-Rank Soul Beasts, Low-Rank Soul Masters, and low-level Soul Rings."

"The connection between a Hundred-Year Soul Beast and a one-ring Soul Master is the simplest; if we cannot even achieve this layer, there is no point in dreaming about replacing ten-thousand-year Soul Rings in the future."

Bibi Dong nodded.

This line of reasoning was sound.

If Meow Meow had opened his mouth to claim he could forge a contract between a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast and a Title Douluo, she would have been worried that the cat had lost his mind.

"What do you need?"

"I need a Soul Master willing to cooperate, and a Soul Beast willing to cooperate."

Meow Meow paused, then added another point.

"And a little bit of time."

"How long?"

"One night in the outside world, ten years within the array."

Bibi Dong's eyes flickered.

"You can do that?"

"I can now."

Meow Meow was very confident.

His Time Stop Divine Ability could already fix time for short durations.

Combined with the Ten Thousand Array Diagram, the Soul-Calming Bell, and the newly acquired Soul Contract Stone, carving out a small experimental space with a different flow of time was not too difficult for him now.

Of course, it could not be too large.

Nor could it be maintained indefinitely.

Otherwise, Meow Meow would end up as a paralyzed cat.

"We shall start the trial within the Pope's Palace."

Bibi Dong said.

Meow Meow nodded.

"However, a Soul Master cannot be chosen at random."

"The first person to test the Soul Pact will leave a record for the future."

"If their temperament is unstable, it will be troublesome if problems arise later."

Bibi Dong pondered for a moment.

"I will have Yue Guan select a low-ranking deacon from Martial Soul Hall."

"No."

Meow Meow shook his head.

"This person must be young, with a clean disposition."

"It would be best if they haven't truly absorbed their First Soul Ring yet."

Bibi Dong looked at Meow Meow, a flash of realization crossing her eyes.

"You want to verify from the very beginning whether the Soul Pact can replace a Soul Ring."

"Mm."

Meow Meow nodded.

"If we are going to do it, we should do it thoroughly."

Soon, Yue Guan was summoned inside.

After hearing Bibi Dong's instructions, Yue Guan's expression turned strange.

Bring a child who hasn't absorbed a Soul Ring to the Pope's Palace?

And find a Hundred-Year Soul Beast willing to cooperate?

This task sounded even more bizarre than killing a Title Douluo.

But Yue Guan did not ask any questions.

He was already used to it.

Ever since Meow Meow came to Martial Soul Hall, bizarre things happened more and more every day.

Before long, a youth of about ten years old was brought in.

The youth was very nervous, his gait unsteady as he walked.

"Greetings, Your Eminence the Pope."

His voice trembled as he knelt.

Bibi Dong glanced at him.

"Rise."

The youth dared not stand.

Meow Meow watched with a sense of helplessness, raising a paw to pat the table.

"Don't be afraid, we aren't eating people today."

The youth looked up and saw an orange cat sitting upright on the Pope's desk; his mind went blank for a moment.

Is this... the legendary Holy Cat?

"What is your name?"

Meow Meow asked.

"Re-replying to Lord Holy Cat, my name is Lin An."

"What is your Martial Soul?"

"Green Vine."

"What is your Innate Soul Power?"

"Level three."

Meow Meow nodded.

Neither high nor low.

It was just right for the experiment.

If it were too high, it might involve talent mutations, and if it were too low, they might not be able to withstand the Soul Pact.

"Release your Martial Soul."

Lin An hurriedly raised his hand.

A wisp of pale green vine sprouted from his palm, thin and possessing a hint of flexibility.

Meow Meow activated Martial Soul Insight.

The next moment, the internal patterns of the Green Vine appeared in his eyes.

The aura of life is not particularly strong, but it is very stable.

If a Martial Soul of this type follows a path of control and support, it may have some future prospects.

"Not bad."

Meow Meow nodded.

Lin An's eyes lit up.

Someone who had been told since childhood that his talent was mediocre was nearly moved to tears on the spot after being praised by the Holy Cat.

Following this, Yue Guan brought over another Soul Beast.

It was a century-old Green Wood Mouse.

Its body was small, its fur was a grayish-green, and there were fine tree-like patterns on its tail.

This type of Soul Beast is not fierce; it likes to gnaw on the roots of spiritual trees and will burrow into the ground to escape when it encounters danger.

When it was brought into the Pope's Palace, it curled into a ball, looking even more terrified than Lin An.

Meow Meow glanced at it.

"Let it be this one."

Green Wood Mouse: "Squeak?"

Meow Meow extended a paw and pressed it onto the Soul Contract Stone.

The light of the Soul Contract Stone flared, slowly enveloping both Lin An and the Green Wood Mouse.

Lin An's Green Vine Martial Soul swayed gently.

The tree patterns on the Green Wood Mouse's tail also began to glow.

Meow Meow did not rush to activate it.

"Remember, a soul contract is not enslavement."

"A Soul Master cannot forcibly seize the origin of a Soul Beast."

"A Soul Beast cannot use the soul contract to backfire on the Soul Master."

"If either party harbors malice, the soul contract cannot be formed."

Bibi Dong listened quietly.

These few sentences sounded simple, yet they directly established the fundamental rules of the soul contract.

Yue Guan, standing to the side, could not help but straighten his expression.

He suddenly felt that if this matter truly succeeded, Martial Soul Hall might master an entirely new method of cultivation in the future.

Meow Meow closed his eyes.

The Soul-Calming Bell chimed softly.

The Ten Thousand Array Diagram unfurled in mid-air.

A small space was partitioned off by the array.

Inside were the Green Wood Mouse, Lin An, and a projection of Meow Meow's primordial spirit.

Only an instant passed in the outside world, but years had already begun to flow within the array.

In the first year, Lin An only learned how to coexist peacefully with the Green Wood Mouse.

The Green Wood Mouse was still afraid of him.

Lin An was also afraid that he might accidentally kill the Soul Beast.

In the second year, the Green Wood Mouse began to accept the nourishment provided by Lin An's Green Vine.

Although the life force of the Green Vine Martial Soul was not strong, it was more suitable for the mouse than ordinary vegetation.

In the third year, the Green Wood Mouse was willing to let Lin An touch its tail.

Lin An was happy for three days.

Meow Meow watched and shook his head.

"How is this child even easier to satisfy than this Meow?"

In the fifth year, Lin An attempted to resonate his soul power with the Green Wood Mouse.

He failed.

The Green Wood Mouse was so frightened that it burrowed into the soil and did not come out for three months.

In the seventh year, Lin An finally learned not to be impatient.

His Green Vine Martial Soul hung down, no longer forcibly attempting Entanglement, but instead building a nest for it.

In the ninth year, the Green Wood Mouse took the initiative to rest its tail on the Green Vine.

The Soul Contract Stone lit up for the first time.

In the tenth year.

Lin An and the Green Wood Mouse closed their eyes simultaneously.

A faint cyan ring emerged within the Green Vine martial soul.

That ring was not a soul ring left behind by a deceased soul beast.

It lacked the intense resentment of a soul beast.

It was more like a seed.

Gentle, stable, and carrying a trace of the Green Wood Mouse's aura.

"It's done."

Meow Meow opened his eyes.

Only one night had passed in the outside world.

Bibi Dong and Yue Guan were both waiting inside the hall.

When Lin An opened his eyes, he stood frozen in place.

He clearly felt as though a very long time had passed, yet his body remained at its original age.

The Green Wood Mouse lay on his shoulder, its tail gently coiled around his Green Vine.

"A soul ring."

Lin An looked down at the cyan ring on his martial soul, his voice trembling.

"I have a soul ring."

Bibi Dong stood up.

Yue Guan could not help but step closer.

The soul ring was very pale.

It looked different from a standard hundred-year soul ring; it was not a bright yellow, but carried a cyan-wood luster.

Yet, it truly possessed the effects of a soul ring.

Lin An's soul power had already broken through the level ten limit.

It was even beginning to flow toward level eleven.

"Try your Soul Skill."

Meow Meow said.

Lin An nodded hurriedly.

"First Soul Skill, Green Wood Entanglement."

Green vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around a stone pedestal in the hall.

The strength was not overwhelming.

But compared to an ordinary first soul skill, it was not much worse.

More importantly, the Green Wood Mouse had not died.

It was even lying on Lin An's shoulder, its spirit appearing better than before.

"Try the Feedback now."

Meow Meow said.

Lin An felt a bit nervous, attempting to inject his soul power into the soul ring.

The Green Wood Mouse's tail lit up, and the aura on its body actually grew a little as a result.

Although it was very little, it was indeed effective.

Yue Guan's expression was shaken.

"Doesn't this mean..."

"It is not a complete replacement."

Meow Meow interrupted immediately.

"Currently, it only works at low levels, both parties must be willing, and the soul beast must be compatible with the martial soul's attributes."

"Furthermore, the growth of a Soul Pact takes a very long time."

"If a Soul Master wants to become strong in a short time, hunting soul beasts is still faster."

Bibi Dong looked at the Green Wood Mouse on Lin An's shoulder, her voice low.

"But it provides another path."

"Yes."

Meow Meow nodded.

"Not all Soul Masters are suited for the path of slaughter."

"Some people can slowly nurture a Soul Pact."

"Soul Masters gain Soul Rings, and Soul Beasts gain Feedback."

"In the future, if the Soul Master grows stronger, the Soul Beast can also advance alongside them."

"This path is slow, but it is steady."

A flash of light crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.

If Martial Soul Hall could master this path, the cultivation of commoner Soul Masters in the future would be completely transformed.

What low-rank Soul Masters lacked most was not talent, but a safe First Soul Ring.

Many commoner children could not even afford to go to the Soul Hunting Forest.

If there were a Soul Pact Academy, the situation would change drastically.

Yue Guan could not help but ask, "Lord Holy Cat, can this Soul Pact be popularized?"

Meow Meow thought for a moment.

"It cannot be popularized immediately."

"At the very least, it must be tested within Martial Soul Hall first."

"The Soul Pact relies on one's character; if someone uses it to enslave Soul Beasts or swindle them out of their essence, the rules will collapse."

"Besides, This Cat still needs to write a set of Soul Pact regulations."

When he mentioned the word "write," Meow Meow's expression stiffened.

He did not like writing things.

Bibi Dong saw through his thoughts and said indifferently, "I will have someone organize it."

Meow Meow breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good then."

[Ding, detected that the host has completed the prototype of the Soul Pact.]

[Ding, the completion progress of the Soul Master path has increased.]

[Ding, a new branch has appeared in the Martial Soul Hall commoner Soul Master cultivation system.]

[Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining a Soul Pact Initial Success Gift Pack.]

Meow Meow's eyes lit up immediately.

There really was a gift pack!

"Open it."

[Soul Pact Initial Success Gift Pack: Treasure: Soul Pact Stele, Treasure: Hundred Beasts Catalog, Divine Ability: Spirit Pact Pacification.]

[Soul Pact Stele: Can record Soul Pact rules, suppress Soul Pact oaths, and prevent malicious forced pacts and backlash.]

[Hundred Beasts Catalog: Can record Soul Beast attributes, habits, age, compatible Martial Souls, and the success rate of the Soul Pact.]

[Spirit Pact Pacification: Can pacify startled Soul Beasts and reduce the difficulty of Soul Pact communication.]

Seeing this, Meow Meow became happy at once.

This gift pack was too practical.

Especially the Hundred Beasts Catalog.

In the future, he would not have to rely on guessing every time.

Whatever Martial Soul was suitable for which Soul Beast, he would know just by flipping through it.

As for the Soul Pact Stele, it could be placed in the Holy Fire Primary Academy as a treasure to anchor the school.

"The system has finally become sensible."

Meow Meow flicked his tail in satisfaction.

Bibi Dong looked at him in this state, knowing he had gained benefits again.

But this time, she did not mind.

Because the benefits Martial Soul Hall gained were even greater.

Lin An was still kneeling on the spot, feeling as if he were in a dream.

"Your Holiness, Lord Holy Cat, I..."

"From now on, you shall remain at the Martial Soul Hall Holy Fire Primary Academy."

Bibi Dong said.

"You are the first Soul Pact Soul Master."

"This matter must not be spread outside for the time being."

Lin An hurriedly kowtowed.

"Yes!"

The Green Wood Mouse also lowered its head, "Squeak."

Meow Meow found it amusing.

"It has to count as a student, too."

Lin An was stunned.

Bibi Dong, however, nodded.

"Very well."

The corners of Yue Guan's mouth twitched slightly.

Martial Soul Hall Academy recruiting a soul beast as a student.

If word of this got out, the entire continent would likely think Martial Soul Hall had gone insane.

Yet, he couldn't help but feel that this idea actually had merit.

That was the most absurd part of all.

Meow Meow looked at the Green Wood Mouse, then at Lin An, and suddenly thought of something.

"From now on, the Soul Pact students can't just be Soul Masters."

"Soul beasts must learn, too."

"At the very least, we must let the soul beasts know that signing a Soul Pact isn't the same as selling their lives."

"And we certainly can't let Soul Masters bully them."

Bibi Dong nodded slightly.

"I will arrange for this."

Meow Meow lay down, feeling satisfied.

Having been busy all night, he was indeed a bit tired.

But just as he closed his eyes, Meow Meow suddenly opened them again.

"Wait, no."

Bibi Dong looked at him.

"What is wrong?"

Meow Meow stared at the Soul Contract Stone, his eyes flickering with a subtle expression.

"This Meow only wanted to solve the problem of low-tier soul rings."

"But if the Soul Pact truly matures, and Soul Masters and soul beasts join forces in the future, the soul beasts will also be able to learn combat styles from human Soul Masters."

"Won't powerful soul beasts become even stronger?"

Bibi Dong was silent for a moment.

"They will."

Yue Guan also nodded gently.

This was almost inevitable.

Soul beasts receive Feedback from Soul Masters, and Soul Masters receive the essence of soul beasts.

If both sides cooperate well, the increase in combat power will be very significant.

"Therefore, the Soul Pact cannot be signed indiscriminately."

Meow Meow suddenly became serious.

"Especially soul beasts with overly vicious natures; we cannot open it up to them for the time being."

"Otherwise, we might end up raising a group of soul beasts that are even harder to fight than the original ones."

Bibi Dong said, "Then we shall establish a Soul Pact Audit."

"Mm."

Meow Meow nodded.

"The Soul Masters must be audited, and the soul beasts must be audited as well."

"Both sides must pass."

"Furthermore, the Soul Pact Stele must remain in the hands of Martial Soul Hall."

"At least for now, it cannot be allowed to leak out."

Bibi Dong looked at Meow Meow, a hint of admiration appearing in her eyes.

This cat usually looked lazy, but when it came to serious matters, he was becoming increasingly steady.

"You have thought this through very thoroughly."

Meow Meow held his head high.

"This Meow has always been clever."

Bibi Dong reached out and gently tapped his forehead.

"Clever cat, shall we continue?"

Meow Meow's body stiffened.

"Not continuing."

"Sleeping."

As soon as he finished speaking, he curled himself into a ball, pretending to be fast asleep.

Bibi Dong looked at this ball of orange-red fur, her gaze softening for a fleeting moment.

Yue Guan stood to the side, suddenly feeling that the atmosphere in the Pope's Palace was different from before.

It used to be very cold here.

Now, while still majestic, it no longer made one feel suffocated.

Perhaps this was the most remarkable thing about that cat.

What he changed was not just the method of cultivation.

It was also the human heart.

Three days later.

A secret order was issued from within Martial Soul Hall.

A Soul Pact Experimental Academy was to be established outside Martial Soul City.

The first batch of students would only recruit civilian Soul Masters who had not yet absorbed their First Soul Ring.

At the same time, Martial Soul Hall began to secretly take in a number of low-level, docile soul beasts.

No slaughtering.

No forced pacts.

No leaks.

Violators would be severely punished.

When this order was first issued, many Martial Soul Hall deacons were somewhat confused.

Weren't soul beasts meant to be hunted?

Why were they being taken in?

But the order came from the Pope's Palace, and no one dared to ask more.

On the other side, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, and Yan were also summoned to the Pope's Palace.

Meow Meow was lying on a prayer mat, having just woken up, his eyes still a bit hazy.

He looked at the Golden Generation before him, feeling a sense of emotion in his heart.

These three would be the faces of Martial Soul Hall's younger generation in the future.

Yet, originally, they were suppressed and beaten by Tang San every step of the way.

What a pity.

"Lord Holy Cat."

Hu Liena bowed very obediently.

Xie Yue followed suit and bowed as well.

Yan looked at Meow Meow with a trace of curiosity on his face.

He clearly wanted to pet the cat very much.

But he didn't dare.

Meow Meow sensed this gaze and narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Don't move your paws around."

Yan immediately withdrew his hands.

Hu Liena couldn't help but chuckle.

Bibi Dong looked at the three of them and said, "From today on, the three of you will receive special instruction from Meow Meow."

The three of them were shocked.

Special instruction?

From Lord Holy Cat?

Yan's eyes lit up.

Xie Yue's expression turned serious.

Hu Liena looked at Meow Meow, feeling a faint sense of anticipation.

Meow Meow stretched his back.

"Your foundations are decent enough."

"But your paths are a bit too narrow."

"Xie Yue only thinks of blades."

"Yan only thinks of fire."

"Nana only thinks of charm."

Hu Liena's face flushed slightly.

Xie Yue's brows twitched.

Yan, however, looked somewhat unconvinced.

"What else should a Flame Martial Soul think about if not fire?"

Meow Meow glanced at him.

"Think about earth."

Yan froze.

"Huh?"

Meow Meow said earnestly, "Your Martial Soul is the Flame Lord, not a mere flicker of flame."

"The Flame Lord possesses fire, but also the power of magma and the earth."

"If you only know how to burn, it's only natural that you're easily countered."

Yan opened his mouth, finding himself unable to refute this.

A flicker of surprise crossed Bibi Dong's eyes.

She could tell that Meow Meow wasn't just speaking at random.

Meow Meow then looked toward Xie Yue.

"Your Moon Blade isn't just a blade, either."

"The moon has its phases, and the blade has its yin and yang."

"If you only pursue speed and sharpness, you'll find yourself hitting a painful bottleneck later on."

Xie Yue's expression turned solemn.

Finally, Meow Meow looked at Hu Liena.

"As for you."

Hu Liena stood up straight instinctively.

"Your Demon Fox Martial Soul isn't just about charming others."

"Charm is merely the external manifestation."

"What is truly formidable is the ability to manipulate the mind."

"If you can only make others dazed, you'll be useless against anyone with a firm will."

"You must learn to see others clearly, and see yourself clearly as well."

Hu Liena was stunned.

She didn't fully understand these words.

But she felt they were very important.

Seeing that all three had begun to take things seriously, Meow Meow felt satisfied.

That's more like it.

The Golden Generation of Martial Soul Hall cannot just be experience fodder.

If Tang San wants to keep relying on tricks to suppress Martial Soul Hall in the future, he'll have to ask this cat if I agree first.

"Starting today, the three of you will enter the Holy Fire Advanced Class."

Meow Meow flicked his tail.

"Lesson one: Understand your own Martial Soul."

Yan muttered under his breath, "We've been cultivating for so many years; don't we already understand them?"

Meow Meow looked at him with a smile.

"Then tell me, where does your fire come from?"

Yan was taken aback.

"It comes from my Martial Soul."

"And where does the Martial Soul come from?"

"My bloodline?"

"And where does the bloodline come from?"

Yan fell silent.

Meow Meow nodded.

"See, you don't know."

Hu Liena couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Xie Yue also lowered his head and gave a light cough.

Yan's face flushed red; he wanted to retort, but realized he truly couldn't answer.

Watching this scene, a hint of amusement appeared in Bibi Dong's eyes.

She suddenly felt that letting Meow Meow teach these three might actually yield unexpected results.

At the very least, this cat never did things by the book.

And the future of the Douluo Continent, perhaps, was exactly what needed something unconventional.