The One-Year Pact

Li Yuan took four neatly folded sets of uniforms out of the system space.

The fabric was pure black, edged in dark gold, with flowing dragon patterns embroidered at the cuffs and hem, glimmering faintly as they caught the light.

A palm-sized Black Dragon Badge was pinned to the chest, its dragon head held high, wings spread wide, so lifelike it seemed ready to soar.

"These are our Black Dragon Academy's exclusive uniforms. They come with a basic defense boost and optimized soul-power circulation." Li Yuan handed the uniforms to the four of them. "The badge on the chest has a spatial soul tool embedded inside it, about one square foot in size. Put your daily-use items in there, and you won't have to lug a bag around everywhere."

"This outfit looks so damn imposing!"

Tie Mu took the uniform. It felt heavy and solid in his hands, and he could not help rubbing it back and forth a few times, grinning like a big fool who had just gotten a new toy.

Shui Bing'er unfolded the clothes and checked the size against herself, a hint of satisfaction appearing in her eyes as well.

Dugu Yan was even more impatient, clutching the uniform to her chest and turning the Black Dragon Badge over and over to examine it.

A Liang took the uniform and casually slung it over his shoulder, glancing down at the badge on the chest as the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.

The four of them put away their uniforms and were just about to speak when a crisp notification suddenly rang out in Li Yuan's mind.

Ding! Side mission released: To improve the academy's overall comprehensive strength, please have the master cultivate the four first-generation students—Tie Mu, Shui Bing'er, A Liang, and Dugu Yan—to the Soul Di Jun level within one year.

For each student who completes the target mission, the master will receive one super cultivation resource gift pack.

No penalty for failure.

Li Yuan's eyelid twitched.

Cultivate them to Soul Di Jun within one year?

He silently swept his gaze over the soul-power levels of the four people in front of him. Tie Mu was level forty-one, Shui Bing'er was level forty-three, Dugu Yan was level thirty-one, and A Liang was level twenty-nine.

The lowest had not even reached level thirty, while the highest was only level forty-three.

Wanting them to cross the two major thresholds of Soul Ancestor and Soul King and charge straight to level sixty Soul Di Jun within a year... For a normal soul master, never mind one year—even five years might not be enough.

But Li Yuan did not panic.

His own cheat was big enough, the system rewards were generous enough, and he had no shortage of resources.

Soul Power Pills, Immortal Herbs, God-Bestowed Spirit Rings, Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Bones.

If he smashed those things into them, he could pile them up by force if he had to.

He pulled his thoughts back, his expression unchanged, and said in an indifferent tone, "I'm giving you a task. Whoever can be the first to break through to Soul Di Jun within one year will be rewarded with a top-tier martial soul, plus one Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Bone."

The moment his words landed, Tie Mu froze where he stood.

Shui Bing'er's grip on the uniform tightened.

Dugu Yan's eyes went perfectly round.

Even A Liang's lazy expression stiffened slightly.

But soon, their reactions differed.

"Break through to Soul Di Jun in one year?" Tie Mu scratched the back of his head, his face full of difficulty. "My lord, I'm only level forty-one right now. Nineteen levels in one year... that's impossible, isn't it?"

Dugu Yan also echoed in a small voice, "Level thirty-one to level sixty... in one year? My lord, that isn't a challenge, that's a dream..."

A Liang leaned against the wall without saying anything, but beneath his bamboo hat, those eyes narrowed slightly, as if he were calculating something.

Li Yuan swept his gaze over them and spoke in an unhurried tone, yet his words carried a weight that allowed no doubt. "What? As the first-generation students of Black Dragon Academy, you don't even have confidence in a challenge like this?"

He paused, his gaze sinking. "If you don't, then go back wherever you came from as soon as possible. My Black Dragon Academy does not accept trash."

The hall fell silent for an instant.

Shui Bing'er was the first to step out. She took one step forward, raised her head to meet Li Yuan's gaze, and said in a clear, firm voice:

"My lord, I, Shui Bing'er, accept this task."

Tie Mu was snapped back to himself by her shout. He gritted his teeth and also took a step forward. "I'm just a rough man, but if my lord thinks highly of me, then I dare to accept!"

Dugu Yan clenched her fists, looked at Shui Bing'er, then at Tie Mu, and took a deep breath. "I accept too!"

A Liang slowly straightened up, hooked the uniform slung over his shoulder over his arm, and lazily said with a grass stem between his teeth, "Count me in."

Li Yuan looked at the four pairs of eyes in front of him, all filled with fighting spirit, and nodded slightly. "Very good. Next, the teachers of each department will create exclusive cultivation plans tailored to you."

"Also, I have one more requirement." Li Yuan raised one finger. "Cultivate and study during the day, and at night, everyone goes to the Soto City Great Spirit Fighting Arena for actual combat. Within half a year, I want to see each of you obtain a Purple-Gold Spirit Fighting Badge. Whoever completes it first, I'll reward first with four Soul Power Pills. Second place gets three, third place gets two, and fourth place gets one."

This time, the four of them did not make a fuss.

After all, compared to "breaking through to Soul Di Jun in one year," "getting a Purple-Gold Badge in half a year" actually sounded less absurd.

But Tie Mu could not help asking, "My lord, this Soul Power Pill... what does it do?"

The corner of Li Yuan's mouth lifted slightly. "A Soul Power Pill can unconditionally raise your soul power by one level after being taken. It is only effective for soul masters below Soul Douluo."

Unconditionally raise one level?

The four of them all held their breath at the same time.

Tie Mu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he shouted in his rough voice, "Then this time, first place is mine for sure!"

Shui Bing'er glanced at him calmly, her tone steady yet carrying unquestionable certainty. "With me here, first place can only be mine. None of you should even think about taking it."

Dugu Yan pressed her lips together and said nothing, but her clenched fists exposed the unwillingness to back down in her heart.

Li Yuan looked at the fighting spirit igniting in the eyes of the four before him, then slowly stood with his hands behind his back.

The firelight flickered in the bronze lamps, reflected on his sharply defined profile, and traced an exceedingly faint curve at his lips.

This game of chess had only just begun.

Li Yuan turned his gaze to the ten teachers. "All right, I'll leave the rest to you."

The middle-aged woman at their head stepped forward and cupped her hands. "Rest assured, my lord. We will do everything in our power to cultivate the finest geniuses for you."

Li Yuan nodded. With matters here settled, it was time he made a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.

As their lord, he couldn't very well be weaker than them, could he?

It was also the perfect chance to test his new innate ability and see what it was really all about.

Then he turned and walked toward the door. After taking two steps, he glanced to the side and said, "Long Yuan, Di Jun. We're setting off for the Star Dou Great Forest."

"Yes, my lord."

Three figures shot out through the academy gates and soon vanished at the end of the horizon.

At the same time.

West Street, Soto City.

A peddler carrying shoulder baskets walked along his familiar route, humming a tuneless little song.

Every morning, he had to pass through this street to set up his stall at the market. He had taken this road for more than ten years, and could find his stall with his eyes closed.

But today, as he walked, his steps gradually slowed.

The old locust tree at the street corner was still there, and the bun shop beside it was still there too.

But when he looked farther ahead, he narrowed his eyes, glanced around a few times, scratched the back of his head, and his face filled with confusion.

"Huh... strange..."

He set down his baskets, turned in a circle where he stood, then took a few steps forward. He looked back the way he had come, then ahead again, always feeling that something was off.

"I remember there was... wasn't there a pretty big building here?"

He patted his forehead, trying hard to recall.

That building had seemed rather imposing. There had even been a Spirit Hall sign hanging at the entrance, and every day when he passed by, he would glance inside a couple of times.

But today... only an empty stretch of land remained there, flat and neat, without even a broken brick left behind.

"Did I take the wrong road?"

The peddler rubbed his eyes and looked at the shops on both sides again.

"No, that's not right. On the left is Blacksmith Wang's forge, and on the right is Widow Zhang's cloth shop. They all match."

Yet the space in the middle, where a building should have been, was empty.

Scratching his head, he stood there in utter bewilderment, unable to figure out for a long while whether he was simply getting old and seeing things.

Not far away, an old farmer driving an ox cart also stopped. He craned his neck to look at the empty plot, then turned to look at the street sign at the corner and let out a startled sound.

"This is damned strange. I passed by here just yesterday. Where's the building? Where's that huge building?"

Beside him, a woman selling vegetables set down her basket and came over to peer around as well. The more she looked, the more wrong it seemed. "Exactly! I pass by that gate every morning, and there were even two guards in black robes standing at the entrance. How come there isn't even a soul here today? You can't even see the foundations."

"Is it haunted?"

"Don't talk nonsense! Don't scare people first thing in the morning..."

The three of them looked at one another, and none of them could explain what was going on.