The meeting room fell quiet for a moment.
Xuan Zi glanced at the envoys from the three nations across the table and tapped it lightly with his fingers.
"All right."
"We're all here because of Soul Spirits, so let's not beat around the bush."
"How do you want to work together?"
Vina spoke first.
"It's simple."
"If Soul Spirits can replace some Soul Rings and even ease the conflict between Soul Masters and Soul Beasts, they shouldn't be limited to Shrek."
"The Heaven Soul Empire hopes to take part in promoting Soul Spirits."
"That includes contract methods, Soul Spirit cultivation, and exchanges of personnel."
She had not opened with an outrageous demand.
Nor had she asked for all the technology to be shared.
Clearly, she had done her homework before coming.
Yan Shaozhe adjusted his glasses.
"Promotion is certainly possible."
"Soul Spirits weren't created for Shrek's use alone."
At those words,
a flicker of delight crossed Vina's eyes.
But before she could speak, Yan Shaozhe continued,
"However."
"The Soul Spirit System is still far from mature."
"The contracting process, the Soul Beast's willingness, the Soul Master's capacity to withstand it."
"Even what changes occur when Soul Beasts of different ages become Soul Spirits."
"Shrek is still figuring all of that out."
"So talking about opening everything up now..."
He shook his head.
"It isn't realistic."
Vina did not look disappointed.
"You mean we can cooperate, Dean Yan, but we need to take it step by step?"
"Exactly."
Yan Shaozhe nodded.
"We can start with personnel exchanges."
"If your three nations are willing, you can also select some young Soul Masters to take part in further testing and refinement of the Soul Spirit System."
"As for the core contracting technology..."
He paused there.
His gaze went instinctively to Long Yaochen.
After