"If it's just contracting a soul beast, that's easy. In my original world, there were contracting arrays; I can even refine whatever variant you want. The hard part is this world's underlying logic…"
After hearing Su Wen's idea, Electrolux pondered and replied.
"Humans won't be content with mere contracts. If the base logic that strength only grows by killing soul beasts for rings can't be broken, contract magic can at best spare some talented newborns—it won't truly save the race."
"And soul bones—so long as they exist, humans and soul beasts can never truly coexist."
"You and I are human; maybe we can keep our moral baseline. Others won't. Once a tiny breach is opened, things spiral out of control…"
"As for hunting for meat and pelts—that's actually a small fraction, not even a tenth. Most soul masters don't want to hunt—yet the world's nature places both races on opposite sides."
"…"
Su Wen nodded slightly, face solemn.
To gain the Silver Dragon King's trust, the best solution was resolving human–soul beast conflict. Besides, he was friends with the Ice and Snow Empresses, and his martial soul's nature meant he'd have to face it sooner or later.
Electrolux did not hide—he openly appeared in the room.
Gu Yuena watched them think. Strangely, she felt calmer. Though "human" to her meant "despicable," they were indeed clever—the darlings of heaven and earth.
A problem she'd pondered for countless years—they were uprooting, dismissing options she'd thought promising.
Did that mean she was foolish?!
Stay calm!
She pressed her lips together; though her face stayed cool, the slight curve at the corner betrayed her mood. If she had a tail, it would be high and wagging.
She nodded from time to time, as if she were contributing—much of it went over her head.
She frantically took mental notes, afraid to miss anything.
"What if… you become a god?" Su Wen asked quietly.
"If you could seize this world's authority—attain the God of Death's seat?"
"Could you then alter the world's base logic?"
"…"
Electrolux's pupils tightened. He stared at Su Wen in surprise.
"The difficulty would be…"
"This world has no Death God—or the Death God lacks the rightful authority. Can you sense the incompleteness of this world's [Death] authority?" Su Wen's eyes narrowed.
"I've never tried. Once my divine sense recovers more, I can test it!" Electrolux was eager.
"…"
They fell silent again.
To others, altering a world's base logic was madness—yet the two discussed it earnestly, even outlining a nascent plan.
"You've found a method?" Gu Yuena blinked, silver eyes widening.
"Mm." Su Wen nodded.
"What's the first step?" The Silver Dragon King leaned in, eyes bright with expectation.
Su Wen slowly spoke two words: "Become a god."
Gu Yuena tilted her head. "Huh?!!"
Becoming a god—just the first step?!!
…
The next few days' elimination matches were packed.
No one wanted to go home in round one. Unless the gap was huge and they drew a title favorite, most teams fought desperately.
Truly a fight to the death—over three short days more than twenty died, with uncounted injuries.
Even with referees, they couldn't cover everything.
Team rest area.
Shrek still sat in front—treatment maxed. Su Wen reclined on Wang Dong'er's lap. She had both hands behind her back, a pale blue hair tie between her lips, deftly tying a ponytail.
Rest areas were assigned per last tournament's ranking: Shrek won last time, so they were up front. Their space was downright luxurious, like a mini resort; the farther back you went, the worse it got. After 50th place there weren't even benches—just standing…
Behind them, Meng Hongchen kept staring at Wang Dong'er.
The more she looked, the prettier she seemed—she nearly questioned herself.
"So pretty."
Even Mi Jia beside her sighed.
Bitter rivals for ten thousand years, but they shared taste.
"Not just her—look how many there are on Shrek's team. Only two guys; the rest are girls, all top-tier beauties… each with their own charm. Jealous," Lin Xi said. "Our Sun Moon Royal Academy…"
"Besides Meng, we have few beauties." Xiao Hongchen chimed in, equally wistful.
"Wait—something's off."
Meng Hongchen narrowed her eyes.
A tall, icy girl picked up some grapes and fed one to Su Wen. Wang Dong'er's expression didn't change at all.
Ma Xiaotao, seemingly jealous, put a grape in her mouth, hugged Su Wen's head, and pressed down. After a frenzy, she languidly raised her head, licked her lips, and sat back as if nothing happened.
Shrek's rest area had sunshades; not everyone could see in—only the Sun Moon team in the second row could catch a sliver, right where Su Wen was seated.
Over the next half hour.
One graceful figure after another flitted around Su Wen.
Everyone: "…"
"They can't be…" Meng Hongchen's mouth twitched.
"Probably," Xiao Hongchen said, envious.
With his status, he could do the same in theory—but among fellow prodigies, it's much harder… And any one of the girls around Su Wen could rank top three at Sun Moon in looks and talent.
"Is he an incubus?" Xiao Hongchen quipped.
…
Unaware of Sun Moon's commentary, Su Wen suddenly sat up straight, eyes fixed in surprise on the team just stepping onto the stage—"Clear Sky Academy."
"The final elimination match: Clear Sky Academy of the Heaven Dou Empire versus White Plume Academy of Star Luo!"
The Continental Soul Master Academy Tournament only allowed academies. Rules are dead, people are alive—so sects that wanted in could set up a shell "academy," or partner with a minor one.
Clear Sky Academy was clearly that.
All members wore simple blue cloth. Compared to other youths, they were much more steady.
This drew a lot of attention.
Though the Clear Sky Sect had faded from public view, history remembered them well. Tang San from ten thousand years ago was from the Clear Sky Sect, once the continent's number one sect—"Clear Sky" still carried weight.
Not just anyone dared to use "Clear Sky."
"Dong'er?"
Su Wen murmured.
"I don't know… First and Second Dad didn't send word." Wang Dong'er looked confused.
"But those uniforms are indeed inner-sect attire—grey-black for outer sect, blue for inner. I know one of them—the second from the left: Tang Ju. I saw him over winter break. He should be above Soul King, nineteen."
She pointed him out.
"…"
Su Wen nodded.
In the original, the Clear Sky Sect stayed hidden to the end—they didn't even send people to the second tournament. Yet this time, they showed up?
"Because of me?"
His eyes narrowed.
He'd completely fallen out with that God King in the heavens.
Once the Silver Dragon King devoured that god's divine sense, there was no going back. With Destruction binding him and Gu Yuena by his side, he wasn't afraid. But… the other side seemed ready to make a move?
Also—
The leader of Clear Sky wore a blue robe and a bronze mask, hiding his face.
"Know him?" Su Wen asked softly.
"No." Wang Dong'er shook her head.
"…"
Su Wen tapped the table, eyes narrowing.
The next moment, the masked man seemed to gaze through the crowd, eyes locking on Su Wen.
A smile seemed to curl beneath the mask.
Victory was certain.
Not just this match—but… him!
"Mental power…"
Su Wen's finger paused.
There were several partitions blocking Shrek's area; it was hard for someone below to see in. Yet that person located him precisely—same as Yuhao's mental power, and not weak.
"Mental power?" Wang Dong'er was surprised.
"Let's watch a bit."
Su Wen smacked his lips.
He already had a guess, but needed time to confirm it.
…
"Match—begin!"
At the referee's signal—
White Plume Academy's rings flared.
One five-ring Soul King, six four-ring Soul Sects.
Dazzling light brightened the arena.
The crowd roared.
"Move!"
Their captain—the only Soul King—unfurled white wings. He watched Clear Sky cautiously; the name alone made him wary…
"Swish!"
Several figures behind him also sprouted white wings, soaring like nimble doves—an all-Agility team!
A clan-style academy as well.
"Heh… I've missed this arena."
Clear Sky's masked leader looked up and sighed.
"My lord?" Tang Ju asked.
"I'll handle alone."
The masked man spoke lightly.
Then countless blue vines erupted from underfoot, threads sweeping to blanket the other side.
All that remained were White Plume's terrified faces and their screams.
"First Soul Skill—Blue Silver Entanglement!"