The Ironback Silver Tiger let out a low growl, extending its wounded paw as if it were a wronged child; if one hadn't witnessed it firsthand, few would believe this was a high-tier magical beast, a king of the jungle!
Seeing its state, Chen Feng finally understood. Although the Ironback Silver Tiger was formidable, it still couldn't neutralize the fire-elemental damage from the "Barbaric Bite." Its subservient plea was merely a request for him to heal its injured paw!
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but marvel at the intelligence of a high-tier magical beast. As the overlord of the jungle, realizing it couldn't dispel the internal fire toxin, it actually lowered its noble head to its opponent. Such endurance and cunning were things even humans would find difficult to achieve!
In truth, Chen Feng didn't realize that in the jungle, might had always made right. Among magical beasts and humans alike, submission was always rendered only to the strong!
Though the Ironback Silver Tiger was proud, after one failed strike that resulted in its own injury, and then witnessing Chen Feng casually dispatch dozens of Scarlet-tailed Grass Vipers, the sheer shock seared an imprint of strength onto its consciousness. This was why it now submitted with a soft voice.
Knowing the Ironback Silver Tiger's objective, Chen Feng completely relaxed. A glint sparked in his eyes, and a bold idea surfaced in his mind!
A contract!
If he seized the moment of its submission to forge a Soul Contract with such a powerful, still-maturing high-tier magical beast, wouldn't he gain a formidable ally for free?
Chen Feng slowly narrowed his eyes, fixing his gaze upon the beast, his face adopting an inscrutable expression. He ignored its mournful plight, turned his back to it, and slowly began walking toward the opposite bank. Though his outward demeanor was calm, his heart hammered like an earthquake; if his guess was wrong, he might face the Ironback Silver Tiger's rage!
However, after a moment, the Ironback Silver Tiger displayed nothing but fear and confusion, no sign of aggression.
This solidified Chen Feng's thought. He quickened his pace and vanished among the trees in a blink.
The Ironback Silver Tiger closed the distance in three swift bounds, blocking his path. Its large, round eyes were filled with hesitation. Suddenly, it let out a deafening roar that echoed through the valley long after it faded.
Chen Feng steeled himself, clenched his jaw, his face betraying no emotion. The last vestige of qixuan energy within him surged like a flame toward his fingertips.
The pale yellow, flame-like qixuan whipped in the mountain wind, emanating a noticeable heat that was intensely striking.
Seeing the flame on his finger, the Ironback Silver Tiger retreated several steps, its eyes filled with dread. Its massive head lowered, not daring to move an inch.
Chen Feng maintained the flame on his hand, but his complexion grew increasingly pale. His qixuan energy had been nearly depleted during the battle with the Scarlet-tailed Grass Vipers; the flame on his finger was now merely a bluff. If the beast didn't charge, even a gust of wind might extinguish it.
Just as Chen Feng felt he couldn't hold on, the Ironback Silver Tiger opposite him abruptly raised its head, bellowed once more, and spat a thin stream of blood into the air, which coalesced into a strange hexagonal star pattern. The surrounding heaven and earth yuanqi instantly became chaotic, converging entirely toward the center of the hexagon!
A Soul Blood Pact!
The Soul Contract was the cruelest contract between a magical beast and a human. The relationship formed by this contract was one of servitude—an unequal pact!
An unequal pact meant the bound magical beast could only ever have one master throughout its life and would die upon its master's demise, forever constrained from acting against the master's wishes in any way!
The master, however, was not bound by such restrictions; they could forge new contracts with other magical beasts, and the death of the bound creature would have no effect on them.
High-tier magical beasts usually avoided this form, as intelligent beasts possessed dignity; which one would willingly place their life and death under the control of a human?
Besides the Soul Blood Pact, there was also the Equality Contract, which was far more lenient. Both parties held equal status, their souls could communicate mutually, and it was generally the best option for a high-tier magical beast contracting with a human.
Chen Feng had expected at least an Equality Contract; to have the other party initiate a Soul Blood Pact instantly was astonishing. But since the Ironback Silver Tiger showed no reservations, why should he hesitate?
Chen Feng let out a breath. The flame of qixuan vanished instantly from his hand. He bit his finger, and a drop of blood flew to the center of the hexagonal star, which instantly shifted from radiating white light to a blood-red hue, forming what looked like a crimson cloud in the air!
An infinite, innate power from heaven and earth pressed down from the hexagonal star. Chen Feng felt his whole body tremble, cold sweat streaming down his spine!
It was then Chen Feng understood why the Soul Blood Pact could not be violated: it harnessed the will of heaven and earth, forcefully breaching the psychological limits of both parties. Should the contract terms be broken, it was likely that this immense consciousness of the world would not spare the offender!
Chen Feng finally grasped why the Ironback Silver Tiger chose this contract. The Equality Contract allowed for mutual non-interference, even reciprocal harm, but the Soul Blood Pact was different. Even the bound party could not casually kill the master, as any such act would inflict a blow upon the master due to the linked souls.
Did the Ironback Silver Tiger fear that he would kill it after the contract was signed?
Chen Feng managed a wry smile. He would certainly like to do so, but he needed the capability first!
Still, it was understandable. If he possessed great strength, he might indeed consider eliminating the beast. This wasn't due to cruelty; in this world where strength was paramount, survival demanded eliminating any potential threat lurking at one's side!
The red light of the hexagonal star suddenly burst open, splitting into two equally sized spherical masses that swiftly rushed toward them.
Chen Feng felt a resounding boom in his mind as something new manifested. A bridge seemed to form between their souls, allowing him to clearly read the information within the Ironback Silver Tiger's mind.
"Master…"
A tender voice echoed from the depths of his consciousness.
Chen Feng turned to look at the Ironback Silver Tiger with utter disbelief. Judging by the voice, this creature couldn't be very old, despite its bulk being many times greater than his own.
"How... old are you?" Chen Feng hesitantly uttered the first words to his contracted beast.
"I am only three months old, Master!" the Ironback Silver Tiger replied.
"Three months..." Chen Feng was speechless. Three months old, and already possessing the power of a Fourth-Tier Fighter? Magical beasts truly were different! Yet, the excitement in Chen Feng's heart was indescribable—such a powerful beast would obey his every command in the future. What a boastful achievement!
"Well, stop calling me Master; it sounds awkward!" Chen Feng said.
"Then what should I call you?" The Ironback Silver Tiger looked up with eager anticipation.
Chen Feng stroked his chin in thought for a moment. "Call me Boss from now on! And stop calling yourself Ironback Silver Tiger; it's a mouthful. I'll call you... Little Tiger!"
"Little Tiger? Boss? Hmm, okay!" Little Tiger sounded somewhat excited.
However, looking at Little Tiger's frame, which bore absolutely no resemblance to the word 'little,' Chen Feng shuddered.
After exchanging a few words with Little Tiger, Chen Feng learned why it had immediately attacked upon seeing him. Little Tiger’s parents had died not long ago, murdered! In its young mind, it harbored deep hatred for humans, which prompted its initial assault. But after being wounded, the agonizing pain in its paw became unbearable, forcing it into a state of pitiable submission.
Hearing this, the shock in Chen Feng’s heart remained unshaken. Just how powerful must a person be to slay two adult Ironback Silver Tigers?
But why kill them? And why leave Little Tiger alive?
Chen Feng asked a few more questions about the stone cave, but Little Tiger could offer no clear explanation, only knowing it had lived there since birth.
Since he couldn't get more information, Chen Feng sat cross-legged on the ground and cultivated until his internal qixuan power recovered to about sixty or seventy percent. Then, he began helping Little Tiger purge the fire toxin from its body.
It turned out the so-called fire toxin was merely the dispersed form of qixuan energy. After being struck by the "Barbaric Bite," a strand of Chen Feng's qixuan energy remained swirling inside Little Tiger, destroying muscle tissue. No wonder even a high-tier Illusionary Beast like Little Tiger couldn't expel it.
Chen Feng carefully manipulated his internal qixuan to slowly draw out Little Tiger's "fire toxin." The beast's face showed an expression of intoxicated pleasure. Once there was not a trace of his qixuan energy left inside, it let out a long roar toward the sky and suddenly leaped into the warm pool!
ps: Dear brothers and sisters, midnight has arrived; Old Cliff has delivered the promised chapter update!
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