Chapter 325: Soul Contract and the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda
The air was fresh, filled with a strong vitality, and the energy density here was noticeably higher than in the outside world. The elements were also easier to perceive, but beyond that, it wasn't much different from an ordinary forest.
Seeing Han Li glancing around, Gu Yue didn't pay it much mind. To her, this was merely a place to settle.
Where's the famed Gold of Life? Give me a piece to see.
Han Li found nothing, but he wasn't disappointed. He had only wanted to check whether it was there or not didn't matter much to him.
At his current level, this substance was no longer of significant use. He no longer needed it to nourish his body or strengthen his spiritual power.
Looking at Gu Yue walking ahead, Han Li didn't bother asking. Even if it existed, this wealthy "landlord" likely had already absorbed it all.
"Up ahead it's a Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog, around ninety thousand years old. Due to excessive battles in its early years, its vitality has declined significantly. Bi Ji has struggled to sustain it, and it has agreed to this arrangement."
Gu Yue slowed her pace slightly, her expression unchanged, as she relayed the information she had learned from Di Tian and the others.
A soul beast at the end of its natural lifespan didn't stir her emotions in the slightest.
"Alright."
Han Li nodded. A member of the Crimson King's clan, huh?
His left wristband glowed, and Ning Fengzhi was released.
"Saint Son, this is…"
Ning Fengzhi had barely materialized when he turned to Han Li, ready to ask questions only to be met with Gu Yue's gaze.
Just one glance from her made it feel like his breath was being stolen. He quickly cut himself off, realizing this was not the time to speak.
Han Li patted his shoulder. "Follow along, don't ask questions. Just do as I say. Your martial soul and soul rings will be taken care of."
Ning Fengzhi nodded, not daring to look in Gu Yue's direction again. The pressure she exuded was immense, and it was clear that she wasn't particularly friendly.
Meanwhile, his mind raced to decipher Gu Yue's identity. Was she a hidden ace of the Spirit Hall? Some unknown powerhouse? Judging from her demeanor, she was undoubtedly a figure of high status, yet he had never heard of her before.
Han Li ignored Ning Fengzhi's thoughts and speculations. He had already sworn a martial soul oath he was practically meat on the chopping block now. Even if he knew more, it wouldn't make a difference, and there was no need for extra explanations.
Silently, the three of them continued walking for about 500 meters, emerging from the forest.
On an open clearing lay a massive Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog. Its soul power fluctuations were strong, but its vitality was weak. Even its eyes struggled to stay open it was clearly nearing the end of its lifespan.
Upon seeing Gu Yue, it instinctively tried to rise, but even that small effort proved impossible.
Gu Yue shook her head slightly, and the soul beast settled back down.
"Alright, let me see this method of yours."
Gu Yue turned to Han Li and Ning Fengzhi.
"Sure."
Han Li didn't hesitate. He turned to Ning Fengzhi.
"A ninety thousand year old Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog your eighth soul ring. Any objections?"
Ning Fengzhi's mouth opened slightly, and his fists clenched, but he nodded rapidly.
This was completely different from what he had expected he had anticipated another gemstone type soul beast.
But this was a ninety thousand year soul ring. It was on par with or even surpassed his Sword Uncle's ninth soul ring.
How could he not be satisfied?
His later soul rings had always been empty slots anyway. As long as he succeeded, this would be recorded in history there was nothing to complain about.
"Good. Follow me."
Han Li led him a few steps forward, stopping before the Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog.
He activated Mental Link, enveloping everyone in his domain.
"I already explained everything to you. You're doing this voluntarily, correct?"
Han Li, amused, directed his question at the Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog.
"Woof."
Perhaps because Gu Yue was present, even within the mental space, the massive demon dog simply let out a single bark to confirm its willingness before falling silent.
"None of you should resist."
Han Li's voice echoed, and a formation constructed from mental power appeared between Ning Fengzhi and the Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog.
"By my decree, through the Soul Spirit Array establish the contract!"
Inside their spiritual worlds, Han Li's voice rang with divine authority.
The mental forces of both parties were drawn into the array.
As his incantation concluded, the formation radiated dazzling light, enveloping them.
The formation's glow penetrated their bodies. Ning Fengzhi's martial soul automatically manifested, and simultaneously, the Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog's soul power surged. A black soul ring rose above the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, while the beast's spirit manifested in an illusory form above it.
Vast soul power flowed through the pagoda into Ning Fengzhi, forcing him to focus entirely on absorbing it.
Externally, Gu Yue withdrew her gaze from Ning Fengzhi and turned to Han Li.
"The formation is merely a facade. You're the one truly orchestrating this, aren't you? It looks promising, but in the short term, it's impractical for widespread adoption. It also doesn't fully resolve the core issue."
With this technique, Han Li's identity as the true master of this plane was beyond doubt.
Gu Yue was stronger than Han Li, yet even she couldn't accomplish this.
From Gu Yue's perspective, the method was indeed effective, but it was merely a temporary solution.
"There isn't enough time, so this will have to do. Besides, making more attempts before I succeed isn't a bad thing, right?"
Han Li chuckled indifferently and shrugged. When it came to increasing trust, being too serious wouldn't help.
Gu Yue nodded, her gaze flickering slightly. Her confidence in him grew a bit more. Regardless of everything else, Han Li had consistently demonstrated goodwill.
The two silently observed as Ning Fengzhi absorbed the soul ring. For a while, there was no more conversation they simply waited for the result.
However, their focus on this soul contract like process was different.
Gu Yue was more concerned with the state of the soul spirit after the process was complete, using it as a benchmark to assess feasibility. Han Li, on the other hand, already knew it would succeed his interest lay in how the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would evolve through this breakthrough.
In the original story, Ning Rongrong's case was not a good reference. Her martial soul had evolved due to consuming immortal herbs, and her soul skills were essentially custom made. Han Li was more curious about how Ning Fengzhi's martial soul would develop under these conditions.
More than half an hour passed.
Ning Fengzhi's fluctuating soul power finally settled, and he opened his eyes, his expression flashing with joy.
He had done it!
He had broken the curse of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and achieved what his ancestors had never managed.
He wasn't just at rank 80 he had jumped directly to rank 86. Feeling the vastly strengthened soul power within him, his eyes welled with emotion.
"Congratulations, Sect Master Ning."
Seeing his reaction, Han Li smiled and offered his congratulations.
"No words can express my gratitude."
Ning Fengzhi bowed deeply. This was something of immeasurable importance to him, yet he refrained from saying any meaningless words about servitude or duty.
Han Li didn't avoid the bow. He deserved it. Moreover, at that moment, he sensed faith energy from Ning Fengzhi a pure and refined form of it.
He wasn't sure about the future, but at least for now, Ning Fengzhi was entirely sincere.
And even if he weren't, Han Li wasn't concerned. The martial soul oath wasn't just for show.
"Alright, Sect Master Ning, don't just focus on your soul ring why don't you take a look at your martial soul?"
Han Li pointed at the martial soul in Ning Fengzhi's hand, which he had momentarily overlooked. His smile widened.
"My martial soul?"
Ning Fengzhi lowered his gaze to his martial soul.
His eyes blinked rapidly, and his left hand trembled as he counted the layers one by one.
"Five… six… seven… eight…"
His hand stopped at the very top layer. The crystal clear pagoda had grown an eighth level, with faint traces of red shimmering on the newly formed tier.
"Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
He stared at it in a daze for a long time before finally suppressing his excitement and voicing the new name of his martial soul.
Then, he prepared to bow to Han Li again.
"Hold on. First, tell me about your new soul skill, then summon your soul spirit so we can take a look."
Han Li used his soul power to stop him mid bow, giving him a look that reminded him of Gu Yue's presence. Only then did Ning Fengzhi finally regain his composure.
He closed his eyes for a moment, activating his eighth soul ring. A Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog materialized in front of him, its form composed entirely of soul power.
The soul beast seemed surprised as well. As soon as it appeared, it tested its movements, hopping on the spot before glancing back at where its physical body had once been.
"Woof, woof, woof!"
It happily bounded forward a few steps before lowering itself in reverence before Gu Yue.
Ning Fengzhi, now its contracted partner, translated for Han Li:
"It says… 'I'm alive again.'"
Han Li's mouth twitched. Did you really have to translate that? Do you think I actually care?
"You two get along well, I see. Its combat ability should be decent. So, what's your eighth soul skill?"
That was what Han Li was truly interested in. Who cared what the dog was saying?
Ning Fengzhi finally collected himself, realizing Han Li's disinterest. He gave an embarrassed chuckle.
The series of changes he had undergone had been so miraculous that he had momentarily lost his usual composure.
"Attribute Bestowal. Unlike my previous abilities, which enhanced the attributes of a target's martial soul, my eighth soul skill can directly imbue the recipient with a fire attribute, equivalent in strength to the Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog's flames. It's very strong, but also has more limitations."
His voice was calmer when discussing his soul skill.
While it was powerful, all his soul skills now enjoyed a 10% boost, but the eighth soul skill clearly differed it depended entirely on the strength of his soul spirit.
Of course, it was still incredibly strong. After all, this was a ninety thousand year old Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog. But compared to his breakthrough, martial soul evolution, and newfound combat capability, the soul skill itself seemed almost ordinary by comparison.
"Not bad."
After hearing the details, Han Li nodded in approval. Attribute Bestowal an excellent ability, and one that aligned with his expectations.
"Alright, put it away. You've just broken through adjust your state. I'll send you back shortly."
Han Li glanced at Ning Fengzhi.
Without hesitation, Ning Fengzhi smoothly retracted his martial soul and allowed the soul spirit to merge back into him. He then walked over to Han Li, waiting to be stored inside his wristband once again.
He understood this process now!
As for Gu Yue's identity, after witnessing the Three Headed Crimson Demon Dog's reaction and reverence, he had developed a reasonable guess.
But he wouldn't say a word to anyone. Not even to Ning Rongrong and the others.
From now on, Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect follows only the Saint Son!
(End of Chapter)
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