Chapter 40: The Pact

"What's wrong with Yan Zhi?" Jiang Nannan asked anxiously.

The "Yan Zhi" she mentioned was the pink giant python that had been with her mother earlier—the Softbone Python.

In the original story, Jiang Nannan's soul spirit was also a Softbone Python.

Though it was unclear whether this Yan Zhi was the same python that would later become her soul spirit in the original plot, Jiang Nannan seemed destined to have a connection with such pink serpents.

Last year, Jiang Nannan had returned to Emerald City from Shrek Academy for a break when she encountered a heavily injured Softbone Python lying unconscious in the forest.

A terrifying wound nearly split the rose-hued python in two, with blackened, charred edges surrounding the gash. It was hard to imagine what kind of attacker could leave such a scar.

Jiang Nannan had cautiously scanned the area for traces of battle but found none. Clearly, this python had consciously made its way toward Emerald City after evading its pursuers.

The fact that it sought help in its injured state indicated its considerable intelligence.

Leaving it there would have doomed the python—whether through death or by becoming prey to other soul beasts.

After some thought, and mindful of Emerald City's philosophy, Jiang Nannan decided to bring the python back to the city for treatment.

Summoning courage from who knows where, the girl—whose martial soul was a rabbit, who had just reached level 30 but hadn't acquired her third ring yet, and who was a speed-type soul master—somehow managed to drag the ten-meter-long, larger-than-her python all the way back to Emerald Jade City.

Yan Zhi survived thanks to the city's care. Perhaps grateful for the life-saving gesture, the python grew extremely attached to Jiang Nannan. From that point on, it stayed in the city and lived with Jiang Nannan and her mother.

Its high intelligence allowed the python to integrate into the small family quickly, becoming almost like a new family member.

Now, hearing her mother say that something was wrong with Yan Zhi, Jiang Nannan couldn't help but feel deeply worried.

"I'm not entirely sure," her mother replied, face clouded with worry. "Since this morning, Yan Zhi hasn't moved. At first, I thought it was just napping, but when I checked on it earlier, its eyes had turned completely white. It looks like it's in pain and has been struggling on the ground. I don't know what to do."

Jiang Nannan was equally puzzled. A snake's eyes turning white? Could it be poisoned by something it ate?

"It's shedding its skin," Wang Rui said after a moment of thought. "Snake and lizard-type soul beasts regularly shed their skin. Each time is like a minor tribulation for them. Normally, they'd prepare well in advance for such an event. However, this python has been living with you, so its growth and cultivation speed must have been enhanced by its high intelligence. Over the past two years, its accelerated growth likely caught it off guard, leaving it unprepared for shedding."

"Then... what should we do?" Jiang Nannan asked, flustered.

"I'll go take a look," Wang Rui replied.

"I'll join you," Lu Mingyou said, turning to Huo Yuqing. "Yuhao, there's a soul engineer from New City coming over to fix the storage soul device in the shop. He should arrive shortly. Could you watch over the store?"

"Sure, teacher," Huo Yuqing replied obediently.

The group followed Jiang Nannan back to her home.

Jiang Nannan's home had a small backyard enclosed by a vine-covered fence. The yard contained some vegetables, now trampled and askew.

In the yard, Yan Zhi was rolling and writhing in pain, emitting pained hissing sounds. Its eyes, once as dazzling as red gemstones, had turned completely white, while its bright pink scales had lost their luster.

The snake was rubbing its head against the fence and walls, its body twisting in unnatural ways that betrayed its agony.

Wang Rui immediately noticed a pale pink patch lifting slightly near Yan Zhi's mouth.

Jiang Nannan's face showed her heartbreak. She stepped forward, but the giant python suddenly coiled its upper body into an "S" shape, aiming its head at her and issuing a warning hiss.

"It can't see right now. I suggest you don't approach recklessly," Wang Rui cautioned, his gaze sharp.

Hesitating, the girl raised her hand cautiously and said softly, "Yan Zhi, don't be afraid. It's me."

The snake paused, its massive head inching toward her. Jiang Nannan held her ground.

Yan Zhi extended its forked tongue, tasting the air near her before its tense body relaxed. Its delicate pink tail tip silently moved toward her and curled around her wrist.

Clearly, Jiang Nannan's presence brought the temporarily blind python a sense of security.

"Teacher, is there anything we can do to help Yan Zhi?" Jiang Nannan asked softly, looking at the restless snake.

"I'm afraid not," Lu Mingyou replied, her expression troubled. "Shedding is a natural trial for snake-type soul beasts. External interference often increases the difficulty of overcoming it. However, they usually require a significant amount of water during this process. Let's start by fetching some water."

"I'll handle it," Nannan's mother offered before heading off with a bucket.

As Jiang Nannan gently comforted Yan Zhi, Lu Mingyou's eyes glimmered with approval. She used her soul power to transmit her voice to Wang Rui.

"If a contract existed between them, the shedding process might be smoother. Young Master Rui, do you think they're ready for such a pact?"

Wang Rui did not answer immediately. Instead, he activated his Destiny Eye.

The fate energies around Jiang Nannan and Yan Zhi were already showing clear signs of merging.

The human's fate intertwined harmoniously with the soul beast's, forming a distinct pink thread connecting them. It was as though they were truly family, their fates linked—a phenomenon born of deep affection and bonds.

Between humans and humans, soul beasts and soul beasts, or even soul beasts and humans, such fate entanglements could emerge when trust, love, and unity were profound.

For example, harmonious couples, steadfast friends, and like-minded partners often displayed these fate fusions.

The "pact" Wang Rui had devised relied on this phenomenon. He referred to this power as a "contract," though it differed fundamentally from conventional agreements, sharing only similar effects.

By harnessing the power of destiny, he could deepen the fusion of human and soul beast fates, making them a unified whole at a metaphysical level—truly sharing in each other's joys and sorrows.

If a soul beast's and a human's martial souls had intrinsic connections—such as being of the same species, complementary attributes, or other rare links—their powers would resonate, causing unique changes.

Because their fates were essentially merged, they could enhance each other's cultivation speed, share skills, split damage and energy consumption, and more—each bond yielding unique outcomes.

However, if no resonance existed, the fusion could still proceed on the basis of their emotional bond, but it would confer no practical benefits and might even result in harm.

This was the limitation of the "contract" Wang Rui had developed.

As for Yan Zhi and the Softbone Rabbit...

"Unfortunately, the contract has its limits. There's nothing I can do for now," Wang Rui said, shaking his head.

"Why not try the contract magic from our world?" a wizened voice echoed in Wang Rui's mind.