Chapter 360: The Mysterious X of Humanity...
The third day of the Contract Soul Master Tournament had arrived. From the original 100 contestants, only 25 remained. Since the number was odd, a draw was held to determine who would automatically advance to the final round. One lucky contestant would bypass the next round entirely, while the remaining 24 would be divided into 12 pairs for one on one battles. The winners would advance, forming six pairs, then three, until only three contestants remained. Adding in the lucky contestant, they would make a final four. From there, two duels would determine the final two contestants, who would then battle for the championship.
The draw took place before the matches began, and soon, the lucky contestant was revealed Zhu Zhuyun, a student of White Cloud Academy.
At this stage of the competition, 22 of the remaining 25 contestants were students of White Cloud Academy. The other three were independent fighters who had managed to acquire contract stones distributed by White Cloud City, thus embarking on the path of Contract Soul Masters.
No one doubted the fairness of the competition. Given that the Contract Soul Master system was still in its infancy, it was only natural that White Cloud Academy, with its immense resources and elite instructors, would produce the best talent. This was precisely why so many people were desperate to secure a spot in the academy. After all, it was founded by deities, and both the headmaster and vice headmaster were divine beings. Even though these gods did not personally teach students, it was said that the academy's curriculum was written by them. To study the wisdom of the gods was an opportunity that could benefit a person for a lifetime.
With the competition underway, the initial rounds reduced the remaining 12 contestants to six, then three. The final four were determined: Hu Liena, Huo Wu, Shui Bing'er, and the lucky contestant Zhu Zhuyun.
A second draw paired them up:
Hu Liena vs. Zhu Zhuyun
Huo Wu vs. Shui Bing'er
As expected, the tournament's champion would be decided among White Cloud Academy students.
In the VIP section, Qian Renxue turned to Ye Cheng with interest. "A'Cheng, who do you think will make it to the final round?"
Over the past six years, thanks to their daughter Klee acting as a bond between them, their relationship had evolved rapidly. From barely knowing each other, they had become close enough to hold hands and use affectionate nicknames.
"It's hard to say," Ye Cheng replied, shaking his head. "If this were purely a battle between Soul Masters, then the champion would undoubtedly be Hu Liena. But this is a Contract Soul Master competition it's all about synergy between human and soul beast. The Soul Master's strength isn't the deciding factor here." He turned his gaze to the arena and smiled. "Let's just watch and see."
"Hmm." Qian Renxue nodded in agreement, turning her attention to the first match.
Of the two duels, Hu Liena vs. Zhu Zhuyun was the more intriguing matchup. Ye Cheng and Qian Renxue also focused their attention on this battle.
On Arena One, Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuyun stood facing each other. Even before the referee announced the start of the match, an intense, murderous aura filled the space between them.
Although both were academy students, different factions existed within the academy. Clearly, Hu Liena and Zhu Zhuyun belonged to separate groups. They were not enemies, but they were certainly not close friends. Unlike the fiery yet playful rivalry between Huo Wu and Shui Bing'er, these two had no desire for casual conversation.
Zhu Zhuyun's contract soul beast was a three headed dog with white fur and blue markings. The presence of three heads alone indicated its noble lineage. This rare beast had been obtained through Zhu Zhuyun's connections specifically, through her younger sister, Zhu Zhuqing.
The legendary three headed dog was said to be the guardian of the underworld. Regardless of whether that legend was true, the fact that it existed in myth at all proved that it was an extraordinary soul beast. It was, without a doubt, a divine tier beast.
In this world, the three headed dog was formally known as the "Three Headed Crimson Demon Hound" and was a significant species among soul beasts.
The one beside Zhu Zhuyun, though still young and not yet powerful, had limitless potential due to its noble bloodline. More importantly, this was not just any three headed dog it was a mutated three headed dog!
Ordinarily, three headed dogs had reddish fur and fire based abilities. However, this one had pure white fur and, oddly enough, an ice based attribute completely opposite to its species' natural affinity. Such a variation was exceedingly rare.
If not for Zhu Zhuqing or rather, the influence of Ye Cheng Zhu Zhuyun would never have been able to form a contract with such a rare and powerful soul beast. This world operated on connections and status, and those with the right background could indeed accomplish the impossible.
By the way, this three headed dog was female.
And why was that important? Because the majority of female Contract Soul Masters specifically chose female soul beasts as their partners. Once a contract was formed, the soul beast became the master's closest companion closer than anyone else. Anyone could betray you, but your contracted partner never would. Betraying you meant betraying themselves.
Of course, in a world full of anomalies, exceptions did exist. However, they were extremely rare.
Because of this deep bond, most Contract Soul Masters preferred choosing a soul beast of the same gender to avoid any unwanted complications. Spending every moment together, day and night, could lead to unexpected emotions.
And this wasn't just speculation. In this world, soul beasts not only possessed human like intelligence but could also take on human form once they reached a certain level.
Classic legends like The Tale of the White Snake had persisted for centuries, proving that humanity's desires transcended species. As long as something looked human and was attractive enough, most people wouldn't care whether their partner was truly human.
However, societal norms and ethical concerns made people hesitant to accept non human partners. Most individuals instinctively resisted the idea at least until they found themselves in that situation. By then, it would be too late.
Choosing a same gender soul beast preemptively eliminated that risk.
In same gender partnerships, no matter how close a human and soul beast became, their bond would at most develop into a deep friendship like sisters or brothers. Cases where these relationships turned romantic were exceedingly rare.
Because of this, even though there was no formal rule requiring Contract Soul Masters to choose same gender partners, most naturally made that decision.
(End of Chapter)
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