The fox's eyes narrowed as the lizard's blood floated closer.
Huh, I didn't notice it before, but its blood... how can a beast with just a mid-tier bloodline have such pure blood? You wouldn't even see this kind of purity in a beast with a high-tier bloodline.
But that wasn't the only strange thing.
It wasn't just the purity—the bloodline itself was unfamiliar.
I can't even tell what kind of bloodline this is, and I've seen a lot.
The fox stared harder at the floating blood.
It wasn't familiar—not even a hint.
It was like it didn't belong to anything the fox knew.
Tch, maybe I haven't seen as much as I thought.
Its tail flicked behind it.
The two balls of blood hovered between them, pulsing softly with a steady light.
Slowly, they drifted toward each other.
The fox looked at the lizard, who was still licking its paw.
"Alright, let's begin."
Lizarius glanced at the fox.
"Hmm, come on.
That was just the first step.
Just do as I do, okay?"
Both blood balls merged together, glowing brighter.
The fox raised its paw beside the blood orb. "Same as me," it instructed.
The lizard just stared.
Why the hell is it just staring? the fox thought.
I already told it what to do.
Just do what I'm doing.
Or don't tell me it's having second thoughts.
Suddenly, the lizard stepped forward.
It raised its paw closer to the blood, just like the fox.
The fox blinked in surprise and muttered, "Huh, finally."
Its tone was bored, but its ears twitched.
The two orbs merged into one.
With their paws beside the glowing blood, the fox spoke solemnly:
"With this blood, we form a pact.
From this moment forth, neither of us shall betray or turn against the other, in word, will, or hidden intent.
Should either break this oath, may their beast core shatter, their cultivation collapse, and their soul scatter—never to return to the cycle of rebirth.
Let the heavens bear witness and enforce this oath."
The fox tilted its head, scrutinizing the silent beast.
"Well.
You don't have to say anything.
But if you're in, pour your qi into the blood now."
Lizarius stared, its golden eyes glowing faintly.
After a moment, the blood around its claw shimmered.
A ripple of power passed from its body into the blood orb.
The pact reacted immediately—the light surged upward like a flare, then collapsed inward with a soundless pulse.
The fox's fur bristled—not from fear, but instinct.
That qi... what was that?
As the light dimmed, the blood vanished, absorbed into the ether.
The pact was sealed.
But the fox froze, not moving.
It stared at the lizard, its tail still.
Lizarius stared back with wide eyes, then lowered its paw and turned to walk away.
The fox stood watching.
Lizarius stopped, turned its head down, and licked its paw again before picking up the pouch with its maw.
As it turned back toward the fox, it said, "Alright.
The oath's done, and since there's nothing left here—no treasure, no cultivators—it's best we don't linger any longer.
Let's head out before trouble finds us."
Lizarius walked closer to the fox. Suddenly, its body shrank rapidly.
Within moments, it stood no taller than the small pouch clenched gently in its maw—both now the same diminutive size.
Holding the pouch, the lizard slowly began turning invisible, flying up toward the fox.
"Huh?" The fox glanced at it as it gently landed on its head.
The fox also began turning invisible slowly.
Lizarius crouched down between the fox's ears, rolling and wrapping its body around the pouch.
The fox, now invisible, raised its paw to its gaze and thought,
Hmm, are we really invisible now? But how exactly does it work? It's just like a Concealment Talisman—hiding not just my body, but my sounds and presence too.
It's really convenient.
It's like a talisman that never runs out.
Its eyes gleamed with excitement.
With this, I might be able to get inside the treasury of a cultivation clan without being caught.
But an ability like this probably has limits.
I wonder how long it lasts.
And if higher-stage cultivators might be able to sense it.
The concealment capability might be at least that of a high-tier Earth-grade talisman.
Still, it's worth trying.
Only cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment can sense something hidden with a talisman of that level.