Advanced Soul Spirit Method

Yan Jingzhe returned to his residence and entered the cultivation chamber.

The Soul Tool Array in the cultivation chamber was still running. The runes embedded in the floor gave off a faint glow. The moment Yan Jingzhe entered, a dazzling white light suddenly appeared, illuminating the entire room.

He sank his consciousness into the Sea of Spirit, intending to speak with Electrolux about creating the Soul Spirit Method.

On the golden sea, the mass of gray mist had become much more solid than it had been a few months ago. Electrolux's phantom emerged from the mist. This time, his outline was far clearer; even the folds of his clothes and the joints of his fingers could be seen. The old man sat atop the sea as though dozing. Only when he sensed Yan Jingzhe's consciousness approaching did he slowly open his eyes.

"It seems the old man is needed again." Electrolux's voice was stronger than before, though it still carried the hoarseness unique to the elderly.

"Elder Yi, there is indeed something." In his spiritual form, Yan Jingzhe sat down across from him.

Electrolux nodded without asking further, quietly waiting for him to continue.

Yan Jingzhe was silent for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. "Elder Yi, let me first tell you about how Soul Masters in this world cultivate."

Electrolux glanced at him, signaling for him to continue.

"The Soul Masters here obtain Soul Rings by hunting Soul Beasts." Yan Jingzhe raised a hand, and the phantoms of nine Soul Rings appeared around him—one yellow, two purple, three black, and three red—slowly revolving. "After every Soul Beast dies, a Soul Ring appears. It is absorbed by a Soul Master and becomes a source of power. Every time a Soul Master advances a rank, they must hunt a Soul Beast, or they cannot break through their bottleneck. From one ring to nine rings, that means at least nine Soul Beasts must die."

Electrolux stared at those Soul Rings for a while, his brows gradually furrowing.

"This cultivation system feels rather distorted." His voice deepened.

"Yes, Elder Yi," Yan Jingzhe said. "The relationship between humans and Soul Beasts in this world has always been like this. Soul Masters have no right to choose: hunt, absorb, grow stronger. Soul Beasts have no right to choose either: be killed, kill in return, or hide deep in the forests and struggle on. And I know of a god who wiped out all the Soul Beasts in an entire forest just to monopolize a treasured land."

Electrolux's brow furrowed even more deeply. "You mean the god who seeks to control this world?"

"That's him."

Electrolux fell silent for a moment before slowly saying, "You brought this up because it has something to do with the old man, doesn't it?"

Yan Jingzhe nodded. "Elder Yi, there will be something in this world called a Soul Spirit. It is something you will create in the future. In the original timeline, your research changed the way Soul Masters obtained Soul Rings."

Electrolux's phantom straightened slightly. "Let me hear it."

"A Soul Spirit is a living Soul Beast transformed through a special ritual into a spiritual entity that resides within a Soul Master's body. This way, Soul Masters can obtain Soul Rings without killing Soul Beasts, and Soul Beasts can continue living in another form without dying. It sounds good, doesn't it?"

Electrolux did not nod. He could hear the "but" in Yan Jingzhe's tone.

"But," Yan Jingzhe continued, "the original Soul Spirit had a fatal flaw. Once the Soul Master died, the Soul Spirit died with them. What does that mean? It means that if humans create a Soul Guidance Device capable of storing Soul Beasts that have been transformed into Soul Spirits, then given human nature, there will no longer be any Soul Beasts in this world."

Electrolux was silent for a long time.

"So," the old man slowly said, "what you want the old man to do is not simply copy that so-called 'Soul Spirit,' but improve it."

"That's right."

Yan Jingzhe looked directly at Electrolux's phantom and said each word distinctly, "What I want is an equal, sustainable contract. Soul Beasts and Soul Masters will form contracts. The Soul Beasts will become Soul Spirits, but they can continue cultivating, continue increasing their years of cultivation, and even fight for the Soul Masters. The Soul Rings they provide will not be a one-time transaction; they will gradually unlock as their years of cultivation increase. When a Soul Master dies, the Soul Spirit will not perish with them. It can remain behind and protect that Soul Master's family. Generation after generation, as long as the descendants possess sufficient talent and proper character, they can earn the recognition of this Soul Spirit ancestor, become the next inheritor, and continue onward."

He paused. "That way, Soul Beasts will not go extinct. Powerful Soul Beasts will instead gain longer lives and more stable cultivation environments by becoming Soul Spirits. The relationship between humans and Soul Beasts will change from hunting and being hunted to symbiosis and inheritance, completely shattering this distorted cultivation system."

The Sea of Spirit was quiet for a long time.

At last, the old man spoke.

"I think the old man has some ideas about what you described, but it will take time." There was a gravity in Electrolux's voice that had not been there before. "But what benefit does this bring you? I do not believe you are doing this for the Soul Beasts or for future generations."

"Yes, Elder Yi." Yan Jingzhe did not deny it. Instead, he nodded in admission. "Do you remember what we said when we first met?"

"The method of becoming a god?" Electrolux smiled.

"Yes, everything is for the sake of becoming a god." Yan Jingzhe answered firmly. "Someone became a First-Level God tens of thousands of years ago through the faith of Sea Soul Beasts, so the faith of Soul Beasts is very important. I must obtain it. I ask that Elder Yi lend me a hand."

Electrolux closed his eyes and remained silent for a long time. Gentle waves lapped across the golden sea, sending ripples spreading beneath his feet.

Then he opened his eyes.

"The old man can help you with this."

He extended a hand. A mass of grayish-white light appeared in his phantom palm. It was not bright, yet it carried the weight that only came from the accumulation of ages.

"But you must give the old man time. This cannot be accomplished overnight. I will need extensive deduction and experimentation, so you must provide me with a large number of hundred-year, thousand-year, and ten-thousand-year Soul Beasts."

Yan Jingzhe rose to his feet and gave Electrolux a slight bow. "Thank you, Elder Yi. My promise has never changed. Once I become a god, I will surely resurrect you."

Electrolux waved a hand. "Enough. It is enough that you have the intention. The old man is going to start pondering this now. You should leave first."

Yan Jingzhe's consciousness withdrew from the Sea of Spirit, and he was in an excellent mood.

He thought to himself, Once Electrolux deduces that new Soul Spirit Contract System, the faith of the Soul Beasts should be secure. As for humanity's faith, I only need to wait for war to arrive. For now, I'll let Shrek Academy's foundation grow even stronger. When that time comes, many things can begin.

Meals had to be eaten one bite at a time, and roads had to be walked one step at a time.

He had plenty of time.