Contract

He could only watch helplessly as Ye Chuan’s aura connected with Yue Qingyi’s. The Azure Lotus radiance that had originally surrounded him also began to dim little by little at that very moment.

No!

Why?!

My relationship with Yue Qingyi is clearly deeper!

Why?!

Why did she choose Ye Chuan?!

The Azure Lotus Dao Seal on Lin Fan’s chest continued to tremble faintly, as though it still wanted to draw the soul contract back. However, all the silvery-white soul threads had already wrapped themselves around Ye Chuan’s wrist, showing no intention of turning back.

What Lin Fan found even more unacceptable was that the two identical marks at the center of the soul contract had, after coming into contact with the chaos power within Ye Chuan’s body, spontaneously developed a clear distinction between master and subordinate.

The black-gold moon mark on Ye Chuan’s wrist was positioned above, while the silver-white contract seal in Yue Qingyi’s palm had dimmed slightly, as though it had been completely suppressed by the former.

Lin Fan asked in a low voice within his sea of consciousness, “Master, wasn’t this soul contract specifically left behind by the Azure Lotus Immortal King for his successor?”

“The Azure Lotus Immortal King and Yue Qingyi once adventured together. They were even comrades who had survived life-and-death situations together!”

“With a relationship like that, why did the soul contract choose that Holy Son?!”

Emperor Cangxuan did not answer immediately. Seated cross-legged upon the ruined imperial throne, he stared intently at the black-gold moon mark on Ye Chuan’s wrist. For the first time, the composure on his face had faded.

After a long while, he slowly said, “The soul contract was indeed left behind by the Azure Lotus Immortal King. The Azure Lotus Dao Seal on your body also successfully awakened it. However, the level of power within Ye Chuan’s body is simply too high, and it forcibly altered the rules of the contract.”

A look of disbelief flashed through Lin Fan’s eyes. “In other words, I merely helped him awaken the soul contract?”

Emperor Cangxuan fell silent.

“There’s also a possibility that…” he said at last. “Yue Qingyi chose him.”

In the center of the main hall, Ye Chuan lowered his head and looked at the silver-white soul threads wrapped around his wrist. He could clearly sense the aura coming from the other end. The sensation was even clearer than using his divine sense to investigate.

The immortal power within Yue Qingyi was like an endless silver-white ocean. Every surge carried a chill capable of freezing the heavens and earth. Even the several old wounds hidden deep within her meridians had become clearly visible under the soul contract.

Yue Qingyi had originally been examining the soul contract, but after hearing those words, a ripple finally appeared in her tranquil eyes.

“You can sense my body through the soul contract?”

That old wound had been inflicted more than a hundred thousand years ago. Although it had long since ceased to pose any serious problem, it still contained a wisp of an indelible law. Even the Sect Master of the Taiyi Immortal Sect was unaware of it.

Ye Chuan pondered for a moment. “Not just your body. I can also sense how the immortal power within you circulates. It seems I can even touch it.”

Yue Qingyi furrowed her brows slightly. She then raised her pale hand, and a silver-white moon disk slowly condensed in her palm. The power contained within it caused a layer of frost to spread throughout the entire hall.

She was just about to use it to examine the changes in the soul contract when Ye Chuan suddenly experienced a strange sensation. It was as if, so long as he wished, he could directly alter the trajectory of the silver moon.

Ye Chuan’s thoughts stirred slightly.

The silver moon originally floating in Yue Qingyi’s palm trembled faintly. It then broke free of her control, crossed the distance between them, and slowly came to a stop in front of Ye Chuan.

The air in the main hall instantly fell silent.

Ye Chuan reached out and tapped the moon disk with a finger. He discovered that the lunar immortal power within it not only did not reject him, but instead wrapped itself around his finger and actively flowed into his body.

“So it really works.”

Somewhat surprised, Ye Chuan looked toward Yue Qingyi and asked, “Did you deliberately send this over just now?”

Yue Qingyi shook her head and replied calmly, “For that brief moment, I lost control of this portion of my immortal power.”

Ye Chuan paused. “Then why does this contract feel so strange?”

“It is indeed different from what is recorded.”

Yue Qingyi closed her eyes and tried to sense Ye Chuan’s soul through the soul contract. However, the moment her divine sense drew near, it seemed to fall into a boundless darkness.

Deep within the chaos, something vast and impossible to look at directly seemed to exist. Merely approaching it slightly caused an instinctive sense of danger to rise within her Immortal King soul.

Yue Qingyi quickly withdrew her divine sense and opened her eyes again. Looking at Ye Chuan, she said, “I cannot sense your thoughts, nor can I use the soul contract to examine the condition of your body.”

Ye Chuan asked, “So I can see you, but you can’t see me?”

Yue Qingyi did not particularly like that way of putting it, but it was indeed the truth. She could only nod lightly.

“The soul contract was originally supposed to place the protector in the dominant position. Now, however, it has been completely reversed.”

Standing not far away, Lin Fan listened to their conversation. The resentment he had just forced down surged once more in his heart.

According to what Emperor Cangxuan had said earlier, he, the possessor of the Azure Lotus Dao Seal, should have become the master of the soul contract, while Yue Qingyi would have become a protector unable to disobey the contract.

Now, all the benefits had fallen into Ye Chuan’s hands!

Ye Chuan had become Yue Qingyi’s contracted master!

He had someone else’s contract on his body!

Ye Chuan could examine Yue Qingyi’s condition and even directly call upon her immortal power. In contrast, Yue Qingyi could not even approach Ye Chuan’s soul.

Lin Fan took a deep breath and forcibly restored a calm expression to his face. He then cupped his fists and said, “It seems that this soul contract is more fated with Holy Son Ye. Allow me to congratulate you both.”

There was not the slightest trace of displeasure in his tone. He even wore a gentle smile, but the fist he had clenched revealed his true feelings.

His fists were clenched tight!

Ye Chuan glanced at Lin Fan and asked casually, “Weren’t you quite eager to obtain this contract?”

The smile on Lin Fan’s face froze for an instant, but he quickly returned to normal. He replied calmly, “Opportunities belong to those destined to receive them. Since the soul contract has chosen Holy Son Ye, I naturally won’t force the matter.”

“That’s good.”

Ye Chuan nodded seriously before saying, “I was even thinking that if you really wanted it, I could research how to take it out and give it to you.”

Lin Fan’s eyelids twitched slightly. “There’s no need.”

The words sounded as though Ye Chuan was considering his feelings, but they only made Lin Fan feel even worse.

The Immortal King soul contract he had anticipated all night had now fallen into Ye Chuan’s hands and become something that could be casually given away.

Emperor Cangxuan seemed to sense that Lin Fan’s Dao heart was becoming unstable. He reminded him through their connection in his sea of consciousness, “Do not let your temporary gains or losses affect you. You possess nine-colored fortune and the Azure Lotus Dao Seal. Once you obtain the true Azure Lotus inheritance, you will catch up to this small difference sooner or later.”

Lin Fan did not respond. He merely shifted his gaze back toward the center of the main hall.

Yue Qingyi continued examining the soul contract. She raised a finger, and a strand of lunar immortal power flowed along the silver-white soul thread and entered Ye Chuan’s body, intending to search for the reason the contract had changed.

The moment that strand of immortal power entered Ye Chuan’s meridians, it was wrapped up by the chaos power. It then rapidly circulated along the soul contract, completing an entire cycle.

Yue Qingyi’s body trembled faintly.

Her Immortal King cultivation, which had remained stagnant for countless years, had actually increased by an extremely minute amount in that instant. Although she was still far from making a true breakthrough, it proved that this soul contract possessed effects far beyond anything recorded.

At the same time, Ye Chuan’s cultivation at the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm trembled slightly.

He lowered his head and sensed the changes within him, his eyes lighting up. “What just happened? It seems like my cultivation increased a little.”

Yue Qingyi was silent for a moment before explaining, “The soul contract has connected your Chaotic Power with my Yin Immortal Power. As long as the two forces circulate at the same time, they will form a special cycle.”

Ye Chuan quickly understood. “In other words, if we cultivate together, our speed will be faster than usual?”

“That is one way to put it.”

Yue Qingyi nodded lightly and continued, “However, ordinary cultivation cannot make the two powers fully harmonize. We need to use the Taiyin lineage’s Dao-Harmonizing Method, which allows the soul and immortal power to remain in sync.”

“So it’s playing cards, right? I get it,” Lan Xiaoke said with a nod from the side.

Lin Fan’s breathing nearly stopped when he heard this.

Emperor Cangxuan had told him yesterday that the Taiyin Guardian Soul Contract, combined with the Dao-Harmonizing Method, could allow both parties to share their cultivation insights. Yue Qingyi could even personally help him break through to a higher realm.

That opportunity had originally belonged to him.

Now that the contract had been taken by Ye Chuan, even the Dao-harmonizing cultivation had fallen into Ye Chuan’s hands!

Lin Fan asked in a low voice within his sea of consciousness, “Master, can the Dao-Harmonizing Method really allow Ye Chuan to break through so quickly?”

Emperor Cangxuan remained silent for a moment before slowly replying,

“Ye Chuan has already reached the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm, and the accumulation within his body far exceeds that of ordinary cultivators. As long as Yue Qingyi is willing to harmonize with him, reaching the Immortal King realm will be almost effortless.”

Lin Fan forcibly suppressed his emotions, then cupped his hands and said, “Since Ancestor Yue still needs to continue examining the soul contract, this disciple will take his leave and not disturb you any further.”

Yue Qingyi glanced at him and said, “The Azure Lotus Dao Seal within you is indeed related to an old acquaintance of mine. I will have someone deliver part of the Azure Lotus Immortal King’s inheritance to Azurewood Peak.”

Lin Fan felt slightly better.

At the very least, the Azure Lotus inheritance was still in his hands.

As long as he entered the Azure Lotus Secret Realm and obtained the true power left behind by the Immortal King, he would still have a chance to catch up with Ye Chuan.

Lin Fan bowed solemnly, his tone returning to its usual calmness. “Thank you, Ancestor Yue. This disciple will certainly not let down the inheritance left behind by the Azure Lotus Immortal King.”

With that, he turned and left the main hall. His pace remained unhurried. It was only after the gates of the Moon God Hall had completely closed behind him that the smile on his face gradually vanished.

As he headed toward Azurewood Peak, he happened to pass a steward accompanied by several outer disciples. Upon seeing Lin Fan emerge from the Moon God Hall, the steward immediately revealed an envious expression.

“Junior Disciple Lin, you have already received an audience with Ancestor Yue so quickly. You must have gained some astonishing opportunity, right?”

Lin Fan stopped, his expression quickly returning to normal. He smiled and said, “Ancestor Yue merely asked about the origin of the Azure Lotus Dao Seal. She then agreed to bestow part of the Azure Lotus inheritance upon me. It can hardly be called an astonishing opportunity.”

When the disciples heard about the Azure Lotus inheritance, the envy in their eyes became even more pronounced.

“That is the inheritance of an Immortal King! Junior Disciple Lin truly has incredible luck. You have only just joined the sect, yet you have already earned Ancestor Yue’s favor. In the future, you will surely become the Dao Child of one of the peaks.”

Lin Fan listened to their flattery, but his mood did not improve in the slightest.

If Ye Chuan had not been there, the inheritance of an Immortal King would indeed have been enough to excite him for a long time.

But just moments ago…

Ye Chuan had obtained an Immortal King as his soul-contract partner right in front of him. He could even draw upon Yue Qingyi’s power at any time.

By comparison, the inheritance he had yet to receive suddenly seemed far less precious.

Lin Fan made a few perfunctory replies before quickly returning alone to Azurewood Peak. Only after the formation around his cave dwelling had completely sealed itself did he slam a fist into the stone wall beside him.

The sturdy immortal stone instantly split into several cracks.

“Why?”

Lin Fan lowered his voice, the unwillingness in his eyes finally impossible to conceal.

“The Azure Lotus Dao Seal is clearly on me. The soul contract was clearly left behind by the Azure Lotus Immortal King. So why did it choose Ye Chuan in the end?”

Emperor Cangxuan emerged from the ancient ring, his voice still carrying a trace of dignity.

“It was merely an accident. Your true foundation has never been that soul contract, but your own destiny and the Azure Lotus inheritance.”

Lin Fan slowly raised his head. “Master, that isn’t what you said before.”

Emperor Cangxuan’s expression stiffened slightly.

Yesterday, he had told Lin Fan that as long as he obtained Yue Qingyi’s Guardian Soul Contract, hardly anyone in the Eastern Wasteland would dare to make a move against him. He had even said that Lin Fan could use dual cultivation to grow rapidly.

Now that the soul contract had been taken by Ye Chuan, it had suddenly become an insignificant external possession.

Emperor Cangxuan remained silent for a moment before saying, “The path of cultivation is bound to be filled with all kinds of unexpected changes. A true Child of Destiny will not lose faith merely because one opportunity has been taken from him.”

Lin Fan closed his eyes. Only after a long while did he regain his composure.

“Master is right. As long as I obtain the complete inheritance of the Azure Lotus Immortal King, I may not be unable to surpass him in the future.”

Those words were both an answer to Emperor Cangxuan and an attempt to convince himself.

…

Inside the Moon God Hall.

Lan Xiaoke had listened for quite some time. “What kind of gibberish is this Dao-harmonizing method? Isn’t it just playing cards? I’m good at that. What… you’ve lived for so many years and never tried it? You don’t even have a single opposite-sex demonic beast around you? It’s fine. I’ll teach you.”

Yue Qingyi’s expression remained calm, but a faint blush quietly appeared on the tips of her ears.

“The Taiyin Dao-Harmonizing Method only requires the simultaneous circulation of immortal power and the soul. It is not the kind of thing you are imagining.”

In reality, however, the merging of souls brought sensations far more intense than anything physical.

Lan Xiaoke drawled an elongated “Oh,” but the expression on her face clearly showed that she was not entirely convinced.

Even so, Lan Xiaoke moved aside, swaying as she headed out. “Then I’ll go outside first. Remember to call me when you need me.”

Once the doors closed again, Yue Qingyi raised her hand and laid down an Immortal King barrier. A silver-white curtain of light soon enveloped the entire hall, completely isolating it from all divine senses outside.

She turned to Ye Chuan and said, “The soul contract has only just been established. The two powers have yet to fully stabilize, so this is the most suitable time to begin Dao-harmonizing cultivation.”

Ye Chuan sensed the slight loosening in his realm and asked directly, “About how far can this help me break through?”

“Although your cultivation has remained at the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm, judging from the strength of your physical body and soul, I believe breaking through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm will not be a problem.”

Yue Qingyi paused for a moment before continuing, “As for how much further you can advance, that will depend on how much Taiyin Law you can withstand.”

When Ye Chuan heard that he could break through, he did not hesitate any longer. He found an open space and sat down cross-legged.

“Then let’s begin.”

Yue Qingyi looked at the cultivation posture he had already assumed. After remaining silent for two seconds, she said, “Dao-harmonizing cultivation requires both parties to completely relax their souls. You really are not worried at all.”

Ye Chuan looked at her in confusion. “You’re an Immortal King. If you aren’t afraid of me taking advantage of you, what do I have to worry about?”

Yue Qingyi replied calmly, “The soul contract is now under your control. I am the one who should truly be worried.”

Ye Chuan thought about it and found that her words did seem reasonable. He then solemnly promised, “Don’t worry. I won’t use the soul contract to do anything strange.”

Yue Qingyi did not continue the subject. Instead, she walked over and sat cross-legged opposite Ye Chuan, forming a complex hand seal with both hands. Her silvery-white hair drifted gently in the Taiyin Immortal Power.

“Extend your hands.”

Ye Chuan raised both hands as instructed.

Yue Qingyi lightly pressed her palms against his. A cool sensation spread through them, and the black-gold moon pattern on their soul contract lit up at the same moment.

The next instant, a vast surge of Taiyin Immortal Power flowed into Ye Chuan’s body through their joined palms. Guided by the power of chaos, it rapidly circulated through him before finally returning to Yue Qingyi’s meridians.

Once the two powers formed a cycle, the originally disordered energies within Ye Chuan’s body gradually settled under the guidance of the Taiyin Laws.

The Taiyin Immortal Power now resembled a tranquil river, slowly drawing all of Ye Chuan’s chaotic energies in the same direction. Even the cultivation barrier that had held him back for several days began to loosen continuously within this cycle.

Yue Qingyi benefited considerably as well.

After passing through the soul contract, the power of chaos within Ye Chuan had lost its former aggressiveness. Instead, it began repairing several old wounds that had remained hidden within her body for years.

What surprised Yue Qingyi, however, was that Ye Chuan’s constitution seemed like an endless black hole. No matter how much it absorbed, it showed no sign of reaching its limit—

At the same time, Ye Chuan’s cultivation began to surge!