Three Matters

Electrolux saw through the true nature of the Soul-Eating Engraving Knife, notorious as it was, with a single glance.

He could not help but sigh from the bottom of his heart. "My young friend, I truly have to wonder about your luck."

"Life Gold is an exceedingly rare and precious treasure. It would have been one thing if you had casually taken out such a large piece last time, but this time, you even happened to find another small piece at a bargain."

"I wonder if you have heard of the mysterious notion of destiny. I think you are the child of destiny in this world!"

Lu Yuan smiled faintly and said, "You flatter me, Elder Yi. How could I be some child of destiny? I was just luckier than others."

He pointed at the Soul-Eating Engraving Knife and asked, "Elder Yi, this Soul-Eating Engraving Knife has a strange history, and so on..."

"Do you have a way to resolve it? Once it is resolved, you can use this piece of Life Gold as well!"

At his words, Electrolux released his spiritual power and swept it over the Soul-Eating Engraving Knife.

"Someone merely infused evil intent and a curse into the Life Gold. That instigator truly came up with quite the idea."

"He only sensed the enormous energy within the Life Gold, yet he had no idea how to make it unleash its true wonders."

After explaining the condition of the Soul-Eating Engraving Knife, a trace of confusion appeared on Electrolux's face.

"My young friend, ever since we met, not only have I failed to help you much, I have instead continually enjoyed your care. And now you wish to give me this piece of Life Gold as well. How could I accept that?"

Lu Yuan said, "Elder Yi, are you that eager to work?"

Electrolux tilted his head.

"Perfect. I have three matters I would like to ask Elder Yi to help me with!"

Electrolux: "..."

"Please speak, my young friend!"

Lu Yuan first asked, "Elder Yi, what do you think of my Void Realm?"

Electrolux said thoughtfully, "A world of its own, with limitless potential!"

"I would like to ask Elder Yi to help me build a tower within the Void Realm!"

Electrolux: "???"

Do I look like I do construction work?

Lu Yuan chuckled. "Of course, I will not have Elder Yi do it personally. I will have the beings within the Void Realm handle it. You only need to provide some guidance."

"Very well!"

Electrolux nodded and agreed.

"And the second matter?"

Lu Yuan said, "The second matter... is actually related to the third."

"Elder Yi, you mentioned before that your magic was undead magic, correct?"

Electrolux nodded.

Lu Yuan first explained the Martial Soul and Soul Ring system of Douluo Continent from beginning to end.

He began with awakening one's Martial Soul at the age of six, then explained how Soul Masters raised their ranks by obtaining Soul Rings through hunting Soul Beasts, followed by the distinctions in Soul Ring age and the rare value of Soul Bones.

He included the nine cultivation realms of Soul Masters, the restriction that each realm required the addition of a Soul Ring, as well as special rules such as Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts being able to take human form and offer sacrifices.

Electrolux remained silent for a long time after hearing it all.

"Hunting living creatures, taking their essence, and attaching it to oneself."

Electrolux spoke slowly, his tone giving no indication of praise or condemnation.

"The cultivation system of your world is rather... more direct than I imagined."

Lu Yuan said, "That is why I have a goal: to change this system."

"Soul Beasts are not resources. They are living beings. But Soul Masters genuinely need Soul Rings if they want to grow stronger. It is a deadlock."

"You already have an idea?"

"I have an idea that is not yet mature."

Lu Yuan looked at Electrolux and said, "Elder Yi, among the undead magic you studied, is there some method... of establishing a soul connection with another party without killing them?"

"Like forming some kind of contract!"

"Let the Soul Beast live, while allowing it to lend its power to the Soul Master. The Soul Master would provide protection and room to grow. Both sides would coexist, rather than one side killing the other."

Electrolux fell into thought after hearing this.

"You mean... a living Soul Beast would form a contractual bond with a Soul Master and provide power on the level of a Soul Ring?"

"And that Soul Beast would retain its own consciousness and the ability to act independently?"

"Exactly. And this contractual relationship could benefit both sides. The Soul Master would gain an increase in power, while the Soul Beast would receive human assistance and faster growth. If the contract ran deep enough, they might even gain other things... such as Soul Bones?"

Electrolux was silent for a moment.

"This is somewhat like Soul Symbiosis. Two independent souls form a deep connection through a contract. If one does not perish, neither does the other."

"But generally speaking, there is almost no possibility of voluntary symbiosis between the living and the undead."

Lu Yuan's eyes lit up. "But Soul Beasts and humans here have a natural channel connecting their Soul Power—that is, Soul Rings. If that channel could be changed into a living one..."

"You brat."

Amusement entered Electrolux's voice.

"You want me to rewrite this world's cultivation rules for you?"

"There is no need to rewrite them. We only need to add a new option. Soul Beasts would have a third path besides being hunted or sacrificed."

Electrolux said nothing.

This was undoubtedly a mad idea, but it was also a great innovation.

It could give two naturally opposing races a chance to coexist.

If this world had such a thing as merit, then creating this system would surely earn boundless merit!

Electrolux said, "I will agree to this matter as well! What is your third matter?"

Lu Yuan said, "The third matter may have to wait a few days. When the time comes, I will need Elder Yi to display his full might!"

"Oh?"

Electrolux was intrigued. "Then I shall wait for it."

"Let us purify this engraving knife first."

Electrolux released a white Purification Light.

Bathed in the Purification Light, the Soul-Eating Fierce Blade seemed to resist in its death throes. An intense azure glow suddenly erupted from its body.

That azure glow unexpectedly formed a vicious face in the air, assuming the posture of a frenzied howl, as though it wanted to turn around and devour the slender white light released by Electrolux.

However, though the Purification Light appeared extremely faint, when it fell upon the Soul-Eating Fierce Blade, it felt like boiling oil being poured into a pile of snow.

In an instant, the ferocious face within the azure glow faded by half. Its originally savage features immediately blurred, while azure light swirled around it.

Yet streams of black vapor rose and vanished from within that azure light under the effects of the Purification Light. The azure radiance upon the Soul-Eating Engraving Knife also began to grow purer and gentler.

The entire purification process was brief. Soon, the final wisp of black vapor on the Soul-Eating Fierce Blade quietly disappeared.

The engraving knife's originally dark body also transformed into something like an azure crystal.

The pure Life Gold was revealed.

An exuberant aura of vitality, as though all things were bursting into life, rushed toward them!

Lu Yuan took a breath and felt utterly refreshed.

Mm~ Ninety-nine percent pure! A rare treasure!