Old Tree hurriedly said, "That treasure can only wait until later to be tamed. Over the years, I have racked my mind and perhaps found a way to leave Luoyun Mountain."
"Please, Elder, go ahead," Yun Jin listened intently.
Old Tree's expression turned sheepish. "Girl, you are already at the Unity stage. A Beastmaster should be able to contract four spirit beasts. Right now, you only have three. Could you leave the last slot for me?"
Yun Jin was stunned. "Elder, you mean…"
Without hesitation, Old Tree said, "I hope you can contract me. Using the power of the contract, we can lift the treasure's confinement."
Yun Jin blinked.
Th-this…
How embarrassing!
Old Tree's cultivation was higher than hers. Once contracted, he would add immense combat power. Plus, she could use her Borrowed Power Beastmaster skill to draw strength from him. Contracting Old Tree would likely increase Yun Jin's power significantly.
She cleared her throat. "I… is this really appropriate?"
Old Tree hurriedly said, "There's nothing wrong with it. I've lived so many years and want to leave this place to see the world properly. I have long experience and skills. If you contract me, I can be of great help."
Old Tree looked at Yun Jin with hopeful eyes.
"I naturally wish for this. However, Elder's spiritual power is so profound, and I am only at Unity stage. I might not succeed in contracting you," Yun Jin said.
Her words meant she agreed.
Old Tree exhaled in relief and quickly said, "That is why I suggested waiting until you mastered the Primordial Wood. With its boost, I can suppress some of my power. I am ninety percent confident the contract will succeed."
Clearly, Old Tree had thought this through.
Yun Jin no longer hesitated. "Then let's try."
Old Tree's face immediately lit up with joy. "I will suppress part of my power. Once it's ready, girl, you use the Primordial Force to contract me."
Yun Jin nodded.
Expectation shone in Old Tree's expression. Ten thousand years. He had waited ten thousand years. Now, the chance to leave had finally arrived. In terms of raw spiritual power, he was far beyond Yun Jin. Yet recognizing her as master, Old Tree was willing without hesitation.
His future master was no ordinary person. If the contract succeeded, he could leave, and perhaps gain a tremendous opportunity.
Without a moment's delay, Old Tree began suppressing his spiritual power. He condensed the power he had accumulated over ten thousand years into a single cyan orb floating before him. His true strength was reduced dramatically, just barely enough to reach the Mahayana threshold.
Once Old Tree suppressed his power, Yun Jin acted immediately. A drop of her blood appeared at her fingertip, slowly approaching Old Tree. Despite his suppression, his spiritual power still dwarfed hers. The blood advanced only slightly before stopping.
Yun Jin activated the Primordial Force. On Luoyun Mountain, the Primordial Forces stirred, and Wood Attribute spiritual power surged, forming a cyan channel.
The blood moved forward, escorted by the spiritual energy, inching toward Old Tree.
Under their tense gaze, it slowly seeped into his trunk.
Was it done?
Yun Jin's expression was grave. This was her first time contracting a being stronger than herself. Though she had prepared, whether it would succeed still depended on fate.
Fortunately…
Her luck seemed favorable.
Moments later, Yun Jin felt a subtle, indescribable resonance between her and Old Tree.
The contract had succeeded.
"Return to Beastmaster Space," Yun Jin whispered.
She would bring Old Tree into her Beastmaster Space.
This was the Dao-given ability of Beastmasters, part of the power of Primordial Force.
Old Tree, forcibly bound here, was also under a form of Primordial Force.
Now, it was time to see which Primordial Force was stronger.
Luoyun Mountain trembled lightly. Two Primordial Forces clashed continuously.
Yun Jin felt sharp pain in her mind, but she refused to yield. The being she contracted would follow her. No one could stop it.
Old Tree's face was tense as well. This was the only method he could think of to leave. If it failed, he had no choice but to accept his fate.
The tremors on Luoyun Mountain grew stronger. All the plant spirits watched anxiously. Could Old Tree succeed? If he did, it meant they could leave this place the same way. Hope filled their hearts.
The confrontation continued. In Yun Jin's sea of consciousness, soul whirlpools churned. Two Primordial Forces struggled, centered on her. Gradually, the heavenly Dao's Primordial Force gained the upper hand. The other Primordial Force retreated reluctantly.
"Return to Beastmaster Space," Yun Jin commanded again.
This time, there was an immediate response. The Old Tree, rooted for ten thousand years, began to rise. A spark of joy crossed his heart. He could feel the land's grip loosening. Freedom was almost within reach. Having rooted for ten thousand years, his roots had tangled across Luoyun Mountain.
As he rose, the mountain shook.
A strange force arrived, and the mountain quickly returned to calm.
Yun Jin pondered.
Was it the treasure's power?
She was now certain it was an Immortal Artifact.
Though the Heavenly Dao's gift had won, something that could resist its Primordial Force must come from a higher plane.
For example…
The Immortal Realm.
Once free, Old Tree transformed into an elderly man, slowly landing before Yun Jin. He examined his new body, joy radiating from his expression. Ten thousand years. He could finally leave and see the greater world. After assuming human form, Old Tree was absorbed into her Beastmaster Space. Moments later, Yun Jin released him.
"Greetings, Master," Old Tree said, leaning on a cane, bowing respectfully.
"No need for that, Elder," Yun Jin said awkwardly, quickly helping him upright.
Old Tree was stubborn. "Master is master; etiquette cannot be neglected."
He performed a full bow again before speaking. "Master, could I ask you to give me a name?"
"A name…" Yun Jin glanced at her three spirit beasts. "Let me see. This is Gun Gun, that is Huan Huan, and this is Dan Dan. To match, you could be called…"
"Wait!" Old Tree interrupted. "Master, I just thought of something about the name."
He feared that following the pattern, he'd be called Mu Mu. A name an old man could not bear!
"Oh?" Yun Jin looked slightly disappointed but said, "Alright, then."
Old Tree's mind raced. "Master gave me new life. I wish to follow you. Let Yun be my surname. I am the spirit of plants, so let Mu be my given name. Yun Mu, how about it?"
"Yun Mu?" Yun Jin said. "If you like it, it's fine."
Yun Mu exhaled in relief.
Then Yun Jin said, "Mu Mu really is a good name."
Yun Mu froze.
Could he never escape the repetition curse?
===
木 (Mù)-> Wood/ Tree