"Hey, that's odd. I gave you a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, but your level barely improved. Isn't that strange?" Da Ming expressed confusion.
Xiao Tian offered his guess: "It's likely a limitation from the contracted soul. Since you've become souls, not died, it's understandable that soul masters can't drastically raise their levels after gaining spirit rings. There are definitely drawbacks to soul contracts."
He paused, then added, "But this might actually benefit soul beasts by easing conflicts between soul masters and soul beasts."
"Brother, what do you mean?" Xiao Wu, no longer shy, tugged on Xiao Tian's arm curiously.
Xiao Tian thought a moment, then explained: "Once a soul beast becomes a soul master's soul, it grows with the soul master. This means the soul beast's cultivation accelerates since soul masters develop far faster than soul beasts."
"What does this have to do with easing conflicts?" Er Ming scratched his head, confused.
Xiao Tian replied, "Well, the spirit rings from soul beasts grant soul masters spirit skills and ongoing cultivation but don't significantly boost their levels due to the soul beast's age limit. For example, my fourth spirit ring added a ten-thousand-year spirit ring, which normally would raise my level by at least three, but it only pushed me to level forty-one."
Da Ming's eyes brightened as he grasped Xiao Tian's meaning.
"I get it now," Da Ming said. "Knowing that long-lived contracted souls don't raise our levels much early on, soul masters won't chase contracts with long-lived soul beasts recklessly, not even titled soul masters. Because the soul will grow as the master grows, and the spirit rings last equally long, there's no need to worry about long-lifespan soul beast contracts."
However, Da Ming's expression suddenly grew serious.
"But wait—what about titled Douluo?" he asked. "Isn't there a big flaw with the soul contract?"
Xiao Tian answered calmly: "Are you worried that since one soul can add multiple spirit rings to a soul master, some soul masters might slaughter soul beasts purely to harvest soul bones?"
"You know about that?" Da Ming looked surprised.
"I've thought about it," Xiao Tian said. "If the soul contract spreads, strict regulations will be necessary. Maybe even a dedicated patrol group. Anyone caught killing soul beasts indiscriminately would be handed over to your soul beast world authorities."
Xiao Tian believed the Spirit Hall, being civilian-friendly, should oversee regulating soul contracts, not the two empires, which might exploit it.
But there was a problem—Bibi Dong, influenced by Rakshasa God's paranoid thoughts, complicated promotion efforts.
Xiao Tian doubted the Spirit Hall's ability to promote soul contracts effectively now.
That left one last option: building his own power.
But that troubled Xiao Tian, knowing building a power base meant gaining allies and likely clashing with the Spirit Hall later. Despite Bibi Dong's past good ties with Arou, years of Rakshasa Divine Mind influence muddied loyalties.
If joining the Spirit Hall was risky, perhaps founding his own sect was better—maybe a Shushan Sword Sect like Tang San's in the Douluo world.
Xiao Tian chuckled wryly at his ambition. With his strength now, thinking about founding a sect was lofty. Better to focus on the present first.
He turned back to Da Ming and Er Ming, "There are pros and cons to soul contracts. Don't worry now; solving this will take a long time. No rush."
They nodded, admitting some anxiety.
Da Ming looked at the soul bones in Xiao Tian's hand, "Why don't you absorb these two now? They should push you over the level 50 threshold!"
Elsewhere, Da Ming and Er Ming's sudden appearance at the forest outskirts caused many weaker soul beasts to hide.
Meanwhile, Flanders and the others flew swiftly out of the Star Forest, breathing sighs of relief upon escape.
Flying fast, Ning Rongrong, previously unconscious, fidgeted, waking slowly with a frown, confused. Had they escaped?
She checked herself, feeling her soul power had rebounded significantly but still felt drained. The lingering weakness made her uncomfortable.
"Rongrong, you're awake!" Zhu Zhuqing noticed first, surprised.
Her voice drew others' attention.
Ning Rongrong scanned around anxiously, not seeing Xiao Tian or Xiao Wu.
She asked hesitantly, "Where are Xiao Tian and Xiao Wu?"
Concern etched her face as she looked to Zhu Zhuqing.
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