Chapter 501 - 357: Yu Changsheng’s Idea (Part 2)

Chapter 501: Chapter 357: Yu Changsheng’s Idea (Part 2)

"Mhm," the Sui Xian Sword Spirit nodded in satisfaction and smiled. After a moment’s thought, it casually shook its head. "Don’t worry. He won’t disagree."

Yu Changsheng didn’t comment, but he sighed inwardly.

Below, Sword Shadows danced, continuously piercing through the Purple Child’s body. Despair was etched on its tender, cute little face. It lay flat on the ground, completely demoralized.

As a Spirit Body born from Purple Bamboo and influenced by the Sword Intent from the nearby cave residence of Cao Jinxian, the Purple Child had undergone a mutation. It was born with the innate ability to use Sword Qi and an affinity for the Sword Dao.

But that was the extent of its abilities. Its Spiritual Wisdom was still only equivalent to that of an ordinary five- or six-year-old human child. For the Purple Child, comprehending the ever-changing Sword Formulas contained within the myriad Sword Shadows—let alone controlling six thousand of them—was far too difficult. It was an impossible task.

As time passed, the power of the myriad Sword Shadows erupted to its peak. With the Purple Child’s strength, it couldn’t resist in the slightest. It was only thanks to its special Physique that it hadn’t dissipated yet.

And so, the current situation came to be. Filled with despair, the Purple Child chose to simply give up. It remained motionless, allowing itself to be run through by the storm of blades.

High above, hidden from the Purple Child’s sight, were Yu Changsheng and the Sui Xian Sword Spirit. They furtively watched the dejected Purple Child below, their heads together as they whispered.

"Senior, your method is feasible, and using Beast Taming techniques for Sword Control should be an excellent approach. However, there’s still a problem. This fellow has already developed considerable Spiritual Wisdom and is incredibly stubborn. I’m afraid it will be very difficult for me to make it my fifth Spirit Beast."

Yu Changsheng rubbed the bridge of his nose, his face full of worry as he voiced his concerns.

The Purple Child was a rare Spirit Body, and it even had the strength of the Late-stage Golden Core Realm. Persuading it to willingly become his Spirit Beast was easier said than done.

Moreover, the Purple Child’s stubbornness was clear from how it had attacked him without a word the moment he stepped into its territory. Under these circumstances, forming a Contract with it would be even more difficult. After all, Yu Changsheng knew in his heart that the Purple Child was not the type to willingly submit to another.

"Then what should we do? When it comes to Beast Taming, isn’t that your department?"

Faced with Yu Changsheng’s question, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit frowned slightly and said bluntly, "Besides, does it even have a choice? If nothing else works, just give it an ultimatum: either be annihilated, or submit and become your Spirit Beast."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit spoke coolly. Its words were spoken so naturally, yet the killing intent within them was unmistakable. Yu Changsheng had no doubt that the Sui Xian Sword Spirit would actually do it.

"Don’t!"

Yu Changsheng broke out in a cold sweat. He wiped his forehead and shook his head with a bitter smile.

"We absolutely can’t do that. I’m looking for a Spirit Beast partner, not a servant. If we do it that way, even if it reluctantly agrees in the end, its resentment will be hard to quell."

"Even if it becomes my Spirit Beast, if it’s not willing, it might try to sabotage me. Not only would its power be greatly diminished, but it might even betray me at any moment, causing a backlash that would harm me. If it’s pushed too far, anything could happen. The losses would far outweigh the gains."

As he spoke, Yu Changsheng let out a heavy sigh, his expression growing even more helpless.

He naturally disapproved of the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s method, and not just because it was unreliable. The hidden dangers were too great. Another reason was that Yu Changsheng simply didn’t want to force the Purple Child.

A Spirit Beast should be a Beast Master’s partner, a comrade who advances and retreats alongside them, not an expendable servant. When signing a Spirit Beast Contract, even if both parties aren’t one hundred percent willing, there can’t be strong feelings of rebellion.

If one party is extremely unwilling, the final result will be the shattering of the Contract. It will fail to form, and the Beast Master will suffer a backlash. In a mild case, they might suffer from cultivation deviation and a wounded Divine Soul. In a severe case, they could become an imbecile with their Cultivation regressing.

After all, a Spirit Beast Contract is about relative fairness. Both sides have the right to choose. Just as the Beast Master chooses the Spirit Beast, the Spirit Beast also chooses the Beast Master.

"There’s some truth to what you’re saying. So what do you think we should do?"

Hearing this, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s brow furrowed even more deeply. It fell into a deep dilemma, asking glumly, clearly troubled.

"Well..."

"I need to think about this carefully... There has to be a way to get the best of both worlds..."

Yu Changsheng murmured, lost in deep thought.

He knew that when it came to contracting a Spirit Beast, some Contracts didn’t require complete willingness from both sides. As long as a Beast Master was strong enough, they could force a Spirit Beast to sign a Contract with them.

But as Yu Changsheng had said, with a Contract signed like this, the Spirit Beast’s status was often extremely low. It wouldn’t be a partner, but more like a servant.

The rapport between it and the Beast Master would be terrible. The power it could unleash, its combat effectiveness, would be worlds apart from that of a normally contracted Spirit Beast. The difference was like night and day.

Furthermore, some benefits enjoyed through a normal Contract couldn’t be shared through this kind of "servant" Contract, which also came with enormous hidden dangers.

If the Beast Master were ever to be severely injured and unable to suppress the Spirit Beast, there would be no guarantee that the beast wouldn’t turn on and devour its master. Such things were not uncommon in the Cultivation Realm.

Therefore, unless it was a last resort, Yu Changsheng was unwilling to do things this way.

’Besides, if I really did that, the Purple Child’s strength is comparable to the Late-stage Golden Core Realm, a whole major Realm higher than mine right now.’

’If it gets angry during the signing process and is pushed to the brink, I won’t be able to suppress it. The damage I’d suffer then... that would be a truly hopeless situation.’

’Even if I get lucky and the Contract succeeds, the Purple Child is a special existence born in this Purple Bamboo Mountain, blessed and protected by the entire mountain. If I really did that, I’m afraid the moment I leave these ruins, the Purple Bamboo here would devour me, leaving not even a scrap behind.’

Thinking this, Yu Changsheng suddenly shivered. A wave of revulsion washed over him, and he shook his head hard.

’No, no. The risk is too great. I can’t try it.’

’So, what should I do? How can I guarantee the highest chance of success?’

Yu Changsheng’s head ached as he wracked his brain for a solution, his brow furrowed in concentration.

After a long while, Yu Changsheng suddenly clapped his hands, his eyes lighting up.

"I’ve got it! If the hard approach won’t work, we’ll have to use a soft one."

"Oh?" The Sui Xian Sword Spirit looked at Yu Changsheng with great interest, asking curiously, "What, you’ve thought of a solution? Tell me, what’s the plan?"

"Well, we’ll have to appeal to its emotions..."

Yu Changsheng scratched the back of his head, explaining in a low, earnest-sounding voice.

He was thinking about how he had convinced the Purple Child to let him into the ruins before. He planned to use the same trick again: playing the sympathy card.

After all, the Purple Child was clearly the type who wouldn’t yield to force, only to a gentle touch.

He began to explain his plan in detail...

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit listened with lowered brows as Yu Changsheng laid out his plan. Its gaze grew brighter and brighter, and the way it looked at Yu Changsheng became more and more peculiar.

After a long moment, when the Sui Xian Sword Spirit looked at Yu Changsheng again, its gaze was completely different.

"Not bad, kid. I thought you were all simple and upright, but who knew you’d be so good at tricking a child."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit said, raising a brow suggestively.

"Hehe, not at all. It’s just a little strategy. I’ll need your cooperation, Senior. Otherwise, there really is no other way."

Yu Changsheng waved his hands with a sheepish grin, his expression a mix of simple honesty and helplessness.

"Mhm. Fine, we’ll do it your way. Whether it succeeds or not all depends on this."

"You’re a clever one, kid. You get to be the good guy, and I’m left to play the bad guy, is that it?"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit nodded, let out a long breath, and said with an amused tone.

"Thank you for your help, Senior." Yu Changsheng cupped his fist, overjoyed, and spoke respectfully.