Chapter 10: A Contract Forged in Fire and Space

In his previous life, Ye Xingchen had encountered countless individuals initially drawn to him by the lure of profit.

Yet, with the passage of time and deeper interactions, many of these relationships, born from mutual gain, gradually deepened and transformed into steadfast friendships.

After all, the intricacies of human nature and the principle of reciprocity are fundamental to navigating the world.

Therefore, for Ye Xingchen to truly forge a connection with the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix, he inherently needed a compelling leverage to sway its will.

After all, pursuing a path of sustainable development aligned perfectly with the natural order of the Dao.

[This is…]

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix’s golden pupils abruptly constricted.

The Fire of Chaos was no stranger to it, being an innate divine ability passed down through its very bloodline.

Yet, it was a fundamental truth of the heavens and earth that the more potent an innate talent, the rarer the materials required to temper it.

Heavenly spiritual treasures were naturally coveted by the strong, and the more supreme a resource, the more formidable the cultivators who vied for it.

This intense competition among numerous powerhouses rendered many resources exceedingly scarce and slow to regenerate, perfectly embodying the adage that rarity dictates value.

To achieve a breakthrough at a certain level, members of the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix lineage were compelled to seek out the world’s most extraordinary flames.

With each cycle of phoenix nirvana, their cultivation would ascend to a higher plane.

Its current formidable realm was entirely thanks to a serendipitous encounter with the primordial source of the Fire of Chaos, which it had leveraged for its own nirvana.

However, since that momentous event, this legendary primordial flame had never again manifested in the world.

Consequently, all other flame seeds it had later discovered paled in comparison, akin to fireflies against a brilliant moon, serving only to deepen its sense of wistful longing.

After all, that ultimate sublimation, born from the Fire of Chaos, had long ago intoxicated it, feeling as refreshing as sweet dew.

Any ordinary flames it encountered thereafter, no matter how scorching, not only failed to facilitate further breakthroughs in its cultivation but also struggled to stir even the slightest ripple within its being.

Instead, they only intensified its yearning for that unparalleled ecstasy it had once known.

“Now, perhaps we can discuss terms.”

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix inclined its head slightly.

[I am eager to hear the details.]

Truly worthy of a divine beast possessing such profound intelligence.

“It’s quite simple,” Ye Xingchen stated, his expression serene.

“I have a friend who is a water elemental mage, and I hope you can forge a familiar contract with her.”

“A familiar contract…”

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix mused for a moment.

[Since you have promised to assist me in achieving human form, it is only natural for you to have conditions. However, I am yet to know how long this contract must be maintained?]

“The day you achieve your human Dao body will be the day the contract terminates. After that, whether you stay or leave will be entirely up to your own will.”

Ye Xingchen’s tone remained unperturbed, yet he abruptly shifted the conversation.

“However, if you dare harm my friend…”

Without warning, Ye Xingchen casually unleashed a punch into the empty air.

“Boom—”

What appeared to be a nonchalant strike ignited terrifying energy fluctuations within the void.

The entire spatial fabric fractured like a mirror struck by a heavy hammer, with countless spiderweb-like fissures instantly propagating outwards from the epicenter of his fist.

Turbulent spatial currents surged forth from the gaping cracks, causing all demonic beasts present to instantly feel as though they had plunged into an icy abyss.

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix’s entire plumage bristled, as it instinctively unfurled its wings to shield its body.

To its horror, it discovered that its very own Fire of Chaos, a source of immense pride, flickered precariously like a candle in a gale before this seismic spatial tremor.

Even more terrifying was the realization that this punch, though clearly aimed at the void, had already instilled within it a chilling sense of impending life-or-death peril from its mere aftershocks.

This individual was truly unfathomable, dangerously so!

Ye Xingchen slowly withdrew his fist, and the shattered space commenced its self-repair.

His expression remained perfectly normal, as if he had merely performed the most mundane of actions.

Yet, in that instant, all sentient beings grasped the terrifying truth.

Had that single punch landed with full force, it was likely that the entire spatial passage would have been utterly annihilated, reduced to dust.

Some of the more timid demonic beasts had even begun to whimper and cry out for their mothers.

“In an instant, you would be reduced to ashes…”

Ye Xingchen spoke with a chilling nonchalance, yet before his words fully dissipated, the air within the entire summoning passage abruptly congealed.

The residual might of the punch that had rent the void moments ago still permeated the air, causing every demonic beast to feel a prickling dread, as if thorns were digging into their backs.

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix’s plumage stirred without a breeze, for it distinctly perceived that behind those seemingly casual words lay a terrifying power capable of altering the very fabric of heaven and earth.

At this moment, Ye Xingchen stood there, yet he seemed to have merged seamlessly with the entirety of the heavens and earth, every subtle movement of his hands and feet subtly aligning with the profound laws of the Dao.

A bead of cold sweat trickled down the foreheads of several legendary demonic beasts, including the Dark Hidden Fortune Dragon, striking the ground with a faint, crisp sound.

In this deathly silence, every living creature truly realized that this seemingly placid human cultivator could, with but a flick of a finger, effortlessly claim their lives.

Ye Xingchen’s seemingly effortless punch unleashed a tempest within the heart of the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix.

As a divine beast, it understood with far greater clarity than any other demonic beast present the terrifying might encapsulated within that single punch.

That seemingly casual motion, in truth, subtly incorporated the laws of space; if he genuinely intended to take its life, it was unlikely even the opportunity for nirvana and rebirth would remain.

‘This is a display of power, and even more so, a demonstration of sincerity…’

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix understood with piercing clarity.

Since the other party possessed the power to effortlessly reduce it to ash, they naturally also held the capability to fulfill their promise of aiding its transformation into human form.

Glancing around, the demonic beast overlords, typically so arrogant and untamed, were all now prostrated on the ground, not daring to even draw a full breath.

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix suddenly felt a sense of relief; before absolute power, what was called dignity was nothing more than an illusion.

Moreover, the realm demonstrated by the individual before it had long since surpassed the domain of ordinary powerhouses; submitting to such a being was no disgrace.

On the contrary, earning his regard was an exceedingly rare feat.

Indeed, such a terrifying human powerhouse was likely the first it had ever encountered in all its countless lifetimes.

[Your Excellency’s cultivation reaches the heavens. This contract, I shall naturally accept.]

The Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix shed all its arrogance, solemnly lowering its proud head.

In that instant, it truly realized that receiving guidance from such an existence might well be the immense opportunity it needed to shatter the shackles of its bloodline.

His fingertip lifted gently, and a wisp of golden light dissolved into the glabella of the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix.

“To ensure everything, I have planted a restriction within your body. As long as you uphold your promise, I will naturally assist you with all my might. Moreover, this also serves as a safeguard for my friend.”

Before his words fully faded, although the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix detected no anomaly within its own body, it knew, from the formidable display of power it had just witnessed from this expert…

…that this restriction was undoubtedly real and far from simple.

While the terms of the contract might appear somewhat imbalanced, to earn the favor of such a paramount expert was, in fact, an extraordinary stroke of destiny.

[Your Excellency is indeed farsighted.]

Ye Xingchen suddenly joined his fingers, tracing a circle in the empty air, and a single-sided spatial mirror, shimmering like a sheet of water, abruptly materialized.

On the other side of the mirror, Mu Wanqing was seen with her head bowed, meticulously adjusting her ice crystal robes, radiating an aura both endearing and vibrant.

“Remember this face.”

The mirror suddenly projected Mu Wanqing’s distinctive water elemental magic patterns as she prepared to cast a spell.

Those intricate ice crystal patterns astonishingly resonated with the Chaos Fire markings adorning the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix’s wings, coalescing in the void to form an exquisite ice-fire Tai Chi symbol.

A flicker of inexplicable astonishment passed through the Xuanxiao Divine Phoenix’s golden pupils.

In all its countless cycles of nirvana, it had never once witnessed a human capable of generating a water-elemental resonance with phoenix fire, let alone with its clan’s inherently primordial Fire of Chaos.

That was no ordinary flame, but the very Fire of Origin—the profound power bestowed upon its lineage by the heavens themselves.

Whoosh—

With a swift lift of his hand, Ye Xingchen dispelled the spatial mirror, then gently touched the divine phoenix’s glabella with his fingertip.

“When the contract is established, I will have Qizai send you a small gift.”

Within the alternate dimension, upon hearing these words, the sword spirit Qizai immediately enveloped a hamster in sword qi, spinning wildly.

The banner previously proclaiming [Main Wife] tied to its back had already been altered to [Dowry Maid].

“Then…”

Amidst the prostrations of the gathered demonic beasts, Ye Xingchen’s primordial spirit vanished from the spot with a dashing “whoosh.”