Chapter 72

Chapter 72: Heart Soul Pact

This terrifyingly powerful beast had been here all along?

Its camouflage was exquisite; if it had not opened its eyes, Rong Shu might have been swallowed in a single bite without ever knowing it.

As she tried to step back, the beast’s pupils narrowed to vertical slits and a cold, bloodthirsty killing intent locked onto her.

She froze again and quietly withdrew the foot she had lifted to flee.

She said in a low voice: “Uh… sorry.”

Even though the beast had not moved, the suffocating pressure was like an iron hammer pounding her heart.

It was enormous, its whole body seeming to be armored in hard rock, its color nearly identical to the surrounding stone.

Even crouched, it exuded a crushing presence, its aura terrifying like that of an Ancient Dire Beast.

Holding her breath, Rong Shu tried to communicate with it: “I did not know this place was claimed. I have disturbed you. I will leave at once.”

She could not place its species, only that it was at least ten times stronger than any spirit or demonic beast she had ever seen.

The giant beast let out a low growl.

It did not seem satisfied, nor did it consent to let her leave.

Rong Shu’s expression stiffened as her fingers pressed reflexively against her Storage Pouch.

Just as she was about to use the Flying Boat to escape, a strange voice sounded in her mind: “Human youngling…”

She started and looked at the beast in astonishment, speaking aloud: “Was that you?” The beast had not moved, its jaws had not opened at all. How could it be speaking?

Moreover, the voice seemed to come from within her own mind.

Soon the heavy voice returned, confirming her guess: “I have lived for over a thousand years. Learning a little method to communicate with humans is no great feat.”

The beast’s eyes narrowed, a strange blood-red light kindling in its gaze.

The next instant, the egg in the Celestial Jade Ambrosia Pool rose into the air and settled before Rong Shu.

The beast rumbled at her, and the egg slid two inches closer.

Seeing this, Rong Shu was a little dazed and pointed to herself as she asked: “You want me to take this egg?”

The beast nodded.

It said: “Human youngling, you have already accepted the raising fee. You are obligated to take responsibility.”

[Huh?]

She widened her eyes and asked: “What raising fee?”

[When did I do that?]

The beast extended a claw and pointed at the Celestial Jade Ambrosia Pool, now short by a full third. Its meaning was obvious: that was the fee.

Rong Shu’s heart skipped a beat.

Had it been here the whole time, watching her accept the so-called fee, only to reveal itself afterward to negotiate?

She asked: “What do you want me to do?”

She did not ask what would happen if she refused.

[If it wants me to raise an egg, it should not be about to smash me flat right now, right?]

Even so, she remained wary, afraid of some hidden trap.

The voice came again: “Form a Heart Soul Pact with it. If the pact succeeds, I will let you leave and will not pursue the matter of the Immortal Jade Nectar you used.”

A Heart Soul Pact was a most unusual contract.

During it, both sides had to undergo Heart Soul Communion, shedding all external disguises and revealing the state of their heart and soul without reserve.

If the contractor’s heart was not sincere and the true self revealed was rejected by the other, the pact would fail.

The little one inside the Demonic Beast Egg was still ignorant; if the pact failed, the fault would most likely be Rong Shu’s.

As for the consequences of failure, even without much thought she knew that, even if it did not kill her, the beast would confine her here to keep the existence of the Celestial Jade Ambrosia Pool secret.

She said: “All right, I will try.”

She quietly brushed the Flying Boat inside her Storage Pouch; if the pact failed, she would use it to flee at once.

She also still had a Talisman; if the beast underestimated her and did not block her with full strength, it might buy her an instant to escape.

The voice rumbled: “Human youngling, do not disappoint me.”

The words, almost like encouragement, reached her just as her nerves were stretched taut, leaving her a little baffled.

She had no chance to ask; blood light flared in the beast’s eyes.

At the same time, a Heart Soul Pact array unfurled beneath both her and the egg.

As the last stroke of the array was drawn, Rong Shu’s consciousness was drawn into the special space of the Heart Soul Pact.

She did not see that, once the array was complete, the once-dominant beast showed a hint of exhaustion, and in the places hidden by the rock wall lay several savage wounds cut to the bone.

In that moment the beast looked like a monarch in twilight, unwilling in its heart yet forced to face an approaching end.