Ma Hongjun retracted his dragon claws, the ice dragon still coiled behind him like his guardian beast.
The dragon's head protruded from Ma Hongjun's head, serving as a backdrop to highlight him.
Adding to this was the towering Titan Snow Demon King, which, though seated in the snow, still appeared very tall.
Ma Hongjun, his red hair flying, casually sat atop the Titan Snow Demon King.
The Titan Snow Demon King, suppressed by the ice dragon, dared not move an inch.
"This is so cool!"
the Ice Bear King secretly exclaimed.
Sitting atop the Titan Snow Demon King, an even more majestic and imposing ice dragon stood behind them.
The Snow Empress also sat on the Ice Bear King's back, facing Ma Hongjun directly.
In this scene, the young man and woman riding these ferocious beasts truly resembled a beautiful couple; they looked so perfectly matched.
The red-haired youth, unrestrained and spirited, rode the dragon, subduing the giant beast.
The white-haired goddess, pure and immaculate, rode the bear, condensing ice and snow.
The Snow Empress dismounted from the Ice Bear King's back, her snow-white feet stepping onto the snow-covered ground.
The ground was a mess, stained and muddy from the recent battle. Yet
, with each step the Snow Empress took, a blue ice crystal footprint formed.
She remained untouched, pure and immaculate.
Her slender figure appeared incredibly small and insignificant amidst the icy landscape and the colossal beasts, yet she seemed to merge with heaven and earth, the entire world under her control.
With a gentle wave of her arm, snowflakes danced, and in an instant, the ravaged battlefield was covered anew, restored to its former state.
Ma Hongjun also dismounted from the Titan Snow Demon King's head. The Titan Snow Demon King's feet were partially embedded in the snow; it stared at Ma Hongjun, afraid to make a move.
Looking at the Snow Empress, Ma Hongjun found it hard to reconcile her with that of a soul beast.
Human aesthetics certainly differed from a beast's perspective.
The Snow Empress was simply too beautiful.
Compared to those bizarre, ferocious soul beasts, he truly resembled an elf.
"Let me introduce myself, my name is Ma Hongjun!"
Ma Hongjun said, extending his hand to Xue Di.
Xue Di looked at him, puzzled, unsure how to respond to this sudden handshake.
Ma Hongjun looked at her expectantly, gesturing for her to extend her hand.
"This is a greeting between humans!"
Ma Hongjun explained.
Xue Di glanced at Ma Hongjun, then at the ice dragon behind him. She valued this powerful human, so she felt she should reciprocate his gesture.
She extended her hand as well.
Ma Hongjun extended his right hand, while Xue Di, unsure how to shake hands, extended her left.
Ma Hongjun smiled slightly, extending his left hand to shake Xue Di's left hand, and then, to avoid awkwardness, also grasped her right.
Smooth, cool, it had a very unique texture.
It felt wonderful to touch, very comfortable.
Xue Di's hands were small and delicate, but her fingers were long and slender, with a strong bone structure. Holding them felt incredibly satisfying.
He wrapped his hands tightly around Xue Di's small hands.
"Your hands are a little cold!"
Ma Hongjun said instinctively.
However, the next second, his hands were frozen solid.
A blush appeared on Xue Di's fair face. She looked at Ma Hongjun with a hint of annoyance and withdrew her hands.
But her heart was pounding.
The instant Ma Hongjun's hand touched her, Xue Di felt a strange sensation rise within her body.
It was a feeling she had never experienced before.
Xue Di had never left the far north. She had seen humans and always wondered if she was human or a spirit beast.
She possessed human characteristics, yet cultivated like a spirit beast.
She had longed for the human world, wanting to understand human life.
But she had never lived in the human world; she had always lived in the world of spirit beasts.
Was that feeling something only humans could experience?
She had never felt it with a spirit beast.
Ma Hongjun was the first person she had ever met.
Ma Hongjun looked awkwardly at his frozen hands. He had been so focused on feeling Xue Di's touch that he'd forgotten to retract his hands, and they'd been frozen.
How embarrassing!
On his left hand, the Fire Dragon's Soul Bone activated, and the fire-attribute energy quickly thawed the ice.
"What's your name? Why are you here with the soul beasts?"
Ma Hongjun felt he should set aside his preconceived notions about Xue Di and approach her directly, as this was their first true meeting.
"My name is Snow Maiden, I'm not human!"
"You're clearly human! Look at you, them, and me, who looks more like you?"
Upon hearing this, the Ice Bear King was shocked and immediately jumped over.
"Snow Empress is my mother, not human!"
"Snow Maiden is so beautiful, how could she have a brat like you!"
The Ice Empress shook her head, unable to bear it any longer.
"Alright, stop arguing. Ma Hongjun, tell Snow Empress your thoughts on Soul Pet Masters!"
The Ice Empress was wholeheartedly concerned for Snow Empress. During their earlier conversation, Snow Empress had told her that she wasn't confident she could survive her 700,000-year tribulation.
Therefore, the Soul Pet Masters that Ma Hongjun mentioned would come in handy.
According to Ma Hongjun, Soul Pet Masters could help Soul Pets overcome tribulations, increasing their success rate in advancement and evolution.
If Snow Empress became Ma Hongjun's Soul Pet, it could help her overcome this hurdle.
Ma Hongjun knew there was hope and immediately began explaining the relationship between Soul Pet Masters and Soul Beasts.
All the powerful Soul Beasts of the Far North were here.
Ma Hongjun's target here was them.
After listening to Ma Hongjun's explanation, the four soul beasts began to ponder.
"Becoming your soul pet, wouldn't that mean being with you every day and being controlled by you!"
Titan Snow Demon King was the first to speak, its mind being rather straightforward.
"Shut up, don't talk. With you like this, I might not even be willing to take you as my soul pet!"
Ma Hongjun stopped Titan Snow Demon King. This guy was just a mouthful of insults, only seeing the bad side and prone to causing trouble!
"A soul contract isn't about one controlling the other, but rather a bond between two people, a bridge of mutual trust and unimpeded communication, making us partners.
Become my soul pet, help me break through the shackles of cultivation, and I will help you increase your cultivation speed and evolve through tribulations.
It's a win-win process, beneficial to both humans and soul beasts.
We can be partners in battle, friends in life, and spiritual sustenance!
This method can eliminate the conflict between humans and soul beasts. I no longer need your soul rings and soul bones to increase my strength; instead, I will help you increase your strength.
Think about it, this will allow humans and soul beasts to coexist closely.
You are among the first soul beasts to understand soul pets, and you and I are pioneers of this new profession.
Together, we can create a new future for humans and soul beasts.
I don't want to kill soul beasts, but I also want to become stronger. Before, we had no choice, but now we both have a choice.
We can cooperate to break the rules of this world.
This cultivation method of mutual hunting between soul masters and soul beasts will eventually lead to the destruction of both sides.
Think about it carefully!"
Ma Hongjun finished speaking earnestly and sincerely, genuinely hoping that this way of coexistence would be recognized and spread.
In his previous life, he loved Pokémon; the bond between humans and Pokémon was truly enviable.
Changing the world and creating a new one was what Ma Hongjun found most meaningful.
Although the Soul Beasts had been replaced by Pokémon, the essence remained the same.
Among the Four Ferocious Beasts, Titan Snow Demon King, having only recently broken through its 200,000-year Heavenly Tribulation, felt no urgency, and its powerful size made facing the tribulation much easier.
Ice Bear King still had some time before its 200,000-year Heavenly Tribulation and wasn't in a rush either.
Only Ice Empress and Snow Empress, especially Snow Empress, had already foreseen the failure of her 700,000-year tribulation.
In fact, Snow Empress even considered transforming into human form to cultivate in the human world.
The relationship between Soul Pet Masters and Soul Beasts was a mutual choice.
In the Five Elements Continent, soul contracts were usually formed from the time Soul Beasts were young, and then a bond was cultivated.
However, Ma Hongjun currently lacked the time and energy to raise young Soul Beasts.
Moreover, to promote the relationship between Soul Pet Masters and Soul Beasts between humans and Soul Beasts, he had to conquer the Soul Beast Overlord.
In the far north, if the Three Heavenly Kings were conquered, wouldn't all the soul beasts in the far north be at his command? "
Capture the leader first," and the top will set an example for the bottom. Once the upper echelons are dealt with, promotion will be a simple matter of issuing a command.
Moreover, this win-win relationship, once set as a precedent, will be imitated by more and more people.
Imagine if Ma Hongjun persuaded the Three Heavenly Kings to become his soul pets.
Then, in the human world, when fighting others, Ma Hongjun could simply summon a Heavenly King. Having such a battle partner would be the envy of everyone.
This is far more impressive than the guardian beasts raised by large sects and powerful forces.
"I'll give it a try. Let's sign a soul contract,"
said the Snow Empress after only a moment's thought.
"Snow Empress, don't trust this human!"
the Titan Snow Demon King said anxiously, as it was against this kind of relationship.
This is why it's necessary to form contracts with young soul beasts. Soul beasts like the Titan Snow Demon King, whose minds are already mature, dislike this kind of bondage.
Moreover, they inherently dislike humans.
Both humans and soul beasts are diverse and varied, hence the conflict.
People have different opinions on everything, especially new things; there are supporters, opponents, and observers.
Promoting the profession of Soul Pet Master is tantamount to a reform in the Douluo Continent.
Of these four ferocious beasts, the Snow Empress is willing to try, the Titan Snow Demon King is an opponent, the Ice Empress is an observer, and the Ice Bear King is a follower.
Things will be difficult, but Ma Hongjun believes that one day Soul Pet Masters will become prevalent because their future doesn't lead to a dead end like Soul Masters, but rather a broad and promising path.
Both the world of Pokémon and the Five Elements Continent described in Dragon Soul have proven that this relationship can become mainstream.
The Five Elements Continent is a world far more powerful and prosperous than the Douluo Continent.
"I'm willing to believe him!"
Xue Di had her reasons. Unlike Titan Snow Demon King, she wasn't single-minded and entirely influenced by subjective opinions.
From the moment they met, Xue Di had been observing Ma Hongjun, but she focused more on Tianmeng Ice Silkworm, Xiao Zi, and Xiao Xuelian.
From Bing Di's account, she already knew the identities of these three soul beasts.
Moreover, judging from their mental reactions, they all seemed to have a high degree of acceptance of this human.
Another factor was the divine inheritance.
This was undoubtedly a temptation for Xue Di.
Ma Hongjun's ability to gain divine approval indirectly proved many things. One
could only truly understand the power of a god by getting closer to them.
Xue Di was undoubtedly that soul beast who was close to godhood.
The divine inheritance was also a goal she pursued.
Furthermore, becoming Ma Hongjun's soul pet would allow her to enter the human world.
As for the restrictions and bonds, they weren't impossible to break free from. If she truly didn't want to be with this human, she could sever her soul connection with him.
The only price was a damaged soul!
Xue Di could afford to gamble that!
"Mom, let me go first!"
The Ice Bear King bravely stepped forward.
"Human, I'll sign a contract with you first!"
"Little White!" The Snow Empress looked at the Ice Bear King with satisfaction, stroking its fur with her jade-like hand!
"No need, you must trust your mother."
Although Ma Hongjun's words were well-reasoned, it was still the first time, a gamble, and the Snow Empress didn't want the Ice Bear King to take the risk.
"Mom, you're the strongest here. I'll sign a soul contract with this human first. If it doesn't match what this human says, or if there are any other changes, you can also help me.
Or avenge me!
But, if you sign a contract with him and there's a trick involved, we won't be a match for this human.
Then, our entire far north will be destroyed by humans!"
The Ice Bear King's words were reasonable and well-considered.
This left the Snow Empress speechless, and even the Titan Snow Demon King looked at the Ice Bear King with new respect.
The Ice Empress also strongly agreed with the Ice Bear King's statement, although after spending time together, she was willing to trust Ma Hongjun.
However, this was the first time, and while they trusted in the character, there was no guarantee that nothing would go wrong.
Ma Hongjun had also said that during the soul contract process, if one party resisted, both would suffer a backlash!
Therefore, letting the Ice Bear King try first minimized the risk to the Snow Empress.
Their starting points differed, but they all agreed on the Ice Bear King's words.
The four beasts looked at Ma Hongjun; now their opinions were aligned.
"Dragon Soul, how is it?"
Ma Hongjun asked in his mind.
"It's good. This Ice Bear King is the weakest, so the soul contract will be much easier, and opening its soul space will be much easier.
However, you must make it obedient; it cannot resist during the soul contract process, otherwise, it's better to do it with the Snow Empress!"
Ma Hongjun nodded, approving of this approach.
Actually, from another perspective, contracting with the Ice Bear King first was also good. Otherwise
, if he contracted with the Snow Empress, with the other three ferocious beasts watching from the sidelines, if any strange phenomena occurred during the process, it would inevitably be affected by these soul beasts who cared about the Snow Empress. Someone with a fiery temper like the Titan Snow Demon King would probably interrupt the contract ceremony.
With the Snow Empress present to protect him and the contract with the Ice Bear King, there's no need to worry about that.
Ma Hongjun replied with genuine joy,
"Okay!"
"Then let's form a soul contract with the little bear first. But I need to make it clear beforehand that this is my first time forming a soul contract.
Everyone is still in the exploratory stage. This process will be guided by my martial soul, the former Otherworldly Dragon God. During this process, neither of us can resist with our souls."
"I don't know what will happen during the process, but resistance will backfire,"
Ma Hongjun said earnestly, looking at the Ice Bear King. He
wasn't familiar with the bear's personality and worried it might deliberately cause trouble and harm each other.
It was indeed hard to say; if it didn't cooperate, the contract, which could have proceeded smoothly, would definitely be broken.
Then, the Snow Empress and the other ferocious beasts, unaware of what had happened, would surely think Ma Hongjun was a liar.
"I swear by the Heavenly Tribulation that I will cooperate, or I will die a horrible death under the Heavenly Tribulation! "
the Ice Bear King declared directly, its expression extremely serious.
It was willing to do anything for its mother!
The Ice Empress, acting as the mediator, seeing that neither side had any objections, said,
"Then let's begin!" (End of Chapter)