The Rainbow Butterfly suckled on the honey Ye Guchen had offered it, glancing at him from time to time as if considering his proposal.
Because of the Martial Soul Contract Grimoire's properties, Ye Guchen naturally inspired a sense of closeness in Soul Beasts.
For some reason, the human before it gave off an aura that felt incredibly familiar.
The Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly seemed to understand something. Its wings slowly folded in, and it settled firmly on Ye Guchen's fingertip, showing no intention of flying away.
"Does that mean you agree?"
Ye Guchen was overjoyed. He'd expected to have to do quite a bit of talking, but hadn't imagined he would persuade it so easily.
Ye Guchen hurriedly summoned his Contract Grimoire Martial Soul.
As the ancient tome turned to its fifth page, the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly seemed to feel a summons and flew straight down onto the Contract Grimoire.
At once, the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly felt a warm aura envelop it. Rainbow Butterflies were timid by nature, and faced with this sudden change, it instinctively began to struggle.
The Rainbow Butterfly struggled a little, but when it sensed that the aura meant it no harm, it soon quieted down, allowing the contract's power to link its Soul Power with Ye Guchen's.
The light faded, and a Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly totem appeared on the Contract Grimoire's fifth page. It was proof that the contract with the Rainbow Butterfly had been completed.
At the same time, an unfamiliar Soul Power flowed into his body. It was the Rainbow Butterfly's strength. Though weak, it was exceptionally pure, carrying a unique healing and amplifying quality.
"So faint, but it feels so good..."
Ye Guchen couldn't help exclaiming.
That power coursed through his limbs, giving him the pleasant sensation of soaking in a hot spring. It swept away most of the fatigue he'd accumulated during his days of travel.
At the same time, Ye Guchen's Soul Power synchronized with his Dou I body, reaching level 53. This hundred-year Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly hadn't given him much Soul Power in return.
The Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly on his fingertip seemed to have finished adjusting to the contract. It flapped its wings happily, circled Ye Guchen a few times, then landed on his shoulder. The seven-colored light on its wings shone brighter than before.
Ye Guchen held out a finger and gently stroked its wings. They felt soft yet resilient.
"From now on, I'll call you... Qi Hong." Ye Guchen gave it a simple name.
Qi Hong flapped its wings, seeming to reply.
At the same time, a dramatic change took place inside the Contract Grimoire. A space had appeared out of nowhere on the fifth page, a habitat belonging to the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly.
A ring-shaped valley embraced the whole landscape like an emerald belt. Flowers of every color covered the valley floor, not in a haphazard jumble, but as if someone had overturned a painter's palette and let the hues blend together in perfect balance.
Strange trees stood tall or twisted into gnarled shapes, each with its own bearing, as if they were whispering to one another.
A waterfall leaped lightly down from the cliff top, breaking into countless transparent droplets before flowing into a series of tiered pools.
The pool water was unexpectedly colorful—some pools were emerald green, others blue as glazed glass, and still others a pale amber touched by sunlight. The water was clear enough to reveal the patterns of the pebbles on the bottom.
Beside the pools, beneath the waterfall, and among the trees stood several ancient pavilions, quiet as they listened to the sound of the water and wind.
Stone paths wound through the landscape, each step falling on damp moss and scattered petals.
A breeze swept by, and the shadows of flowers and trees broke into rippling glimmers across the colorful water.
This little world was even more beautiful than Butterfly Valley outside—not with elaborate bustle, but with a natural tranquility and brilliance that made it impossible to look away.
Ye Guchen brought the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly into this space.
As soon as it entered, the Rainbow Butterfly began to dance through the air.
"Master, this place is beautiful! It's even lovelier than my old home!"
"I'm glad you like it!"
The Rainbow Butterfly's cultivation was also increasing little by little. In just this short time, it had gained nearly a hundred years.
"My cultivation?!"
The Rainbow Butterfly's shocked voice came through the contract mark.
Unable to believe it, it landed on Ye Guchen's shoulder and tilted its head at him, as if waiting for him to explain.
Ye Guchen reached out and rubbed the Rainbow Butterfly with his fingertip, then explained.
"I told you I would help you break through your species' limits. After signing a contract with me, your cultivation will gradually synchronize with mine. So ten thousand years is nowhere near your limit!"
Hearing this, the Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly danced happily once more, but before long, it landed on Ye Guchen's shoulder.
A tentative voice came through. "Um... Master, could you help my kin, too? Our species is far too weak in attack. Without that fifty-thousand-year Plate Armor Rhino protecting us, we'd probably have been wiped out long ago!"
Ye Guchen looked around the space, then caught it on his fingertip and said,
"If they're willing, they can all move in here! I can't help them break through their cultivation limits yet, but I can keep them safe."
"Really? That's wonderful! Our species won't have to worry about being wiped out by other species anymore!"
"Qi Hong, go discuss the move with your kin. I'll wait for you outside."
After leaving the Contract Grimoire's space, Qi Hong spoke with the other Rainbow Butterflies in the cave. When the dozen or so Rainbow Butterflies heard what it said, they all turned to look at Ye Guchen. Once he nodded, they flew out through the waterfall to rally their kin for the move.
Just then, Ma Xiaotao's voice came from beyond the curtain of water.
"Guchen! Six-Color! What are you doing in there? A Six-Colored Rainbow Butterfly flew out, and you didn't even notice?"
Ye Guchen smiled, then carried Qi Hong through the curtain of water, rejoining the others.
When everyone saw the Rainbow Butterfly on his shoulder, its wings shimmering with seven-colored light, they all froze.
Even Ma Xiaotao, who had been carefully trying to catch the Six-Colored Rainbow Butterfly, stopped what she was doing.
Gongyang Mo was the first to react. He practically jumped into the air.
"S-Seven-colored?! It's really seven-colored?! Oh my god, you actually found one?!"
Yao Haoxuan looked just as astonished. "There really are seven-colored ones in Butterfly Valley? Gongyang Mo, your family's records weren't lying?"
"What do you mean, they weren't lying?" Gongyang Mo glared at him in annoyance, but soon turned his eyes back to Qi Hong, filled with wonder. "The Seven-Colored Rainbow Butterfly—it's a legendary creature! My family's records say one appeared only once in a thousand years, and you just found one..."
Dai Yueheng was also visibly moved. He'd thought the Rainbow Butterfly's potential was too low and urged Ye Guchen to look for another Soul Beast. He hadn't expected Ye Guchen to actually find a seven-colored one.
"This butterfly's support abilities..." Dai Yueheng's gaze sharpened. "They might really be no weaker than the Seven Treasures Glazed Pagoda's."
Ma Xiaotao leaned closer, studying Qi Hong with curiosity. "It's pretty cute. It suits you."
Qi Hong seemed shy around strangers. It hid behind Ye Guchen's neck, peeking out with half its head as its seven-colored wings trembled slightly.
Xi Xi came over too, showing a rare girlish enthusiasm. "It's so beautiful! Guchen, you are unbelievably lucky!"
Ye Guchen smiled. "We wouldn't have come here without Gongyang Mo's information."
Gongyang Mo immediately puffed out his chest. "Of course! When it really counts, you have to rely on me!"
"All right, all right, we know you're amazing." Yao Haoxuan patted his shoulder. "But if your information had been wrong, Guchen might've made you pay for it."
"How could I be wrong? When I do something, I'm the picture of reliability!" Gongyang Mo said smugly.
The group joked around for a while. Then Ye Guchen opened the Contract Grimoire, and before their astonished eyes, every Rainbow Butterfly in Butterfly Valley poured into the tome, leaving only ordinary butterflies behind.
Before you continue