NOVEL NEXT Chapter 97: Signing the Blood Contract, Danger Lurks!
Chapter 97: Signing the Blood Contract, Danger Lurks!
Xiao Xingyu's strategy was simple:
If Medusa refused to sign the blood contract, he would refuse to eat or drink, neglect healing, and choose to await death.
Though Medusa was a cold-blooded magical beast, the Divine Python tribe valued honor.
A life-saving grace was paramount, and Medusa’s life had been snatched from the execution platform at the naval headquarters by Xiao Xingyu.
No matter how aloof and proud Medusa was, she couldn't watch her savior die before her eyes.
Xiao Xingyu's acting was akin to that of an award-winning actor.
No props, no stunt doubles, no script, and no soundtrack were needed.
All it took was a glance, a sigh, and he could portray a "depressed patient who had lost the will to live."
Medusa, left with no choice, agreed to Xiao Xingyu's request.
Dai Lu couldn't help but ask, "Are you sure about this?"
Medusa responded with helplessness.
"Submitting to humans is something I once despised, something I found despicable."
"But this man saved me from certain death. How could I just watch him die in front of me?"
Dai Lu chuckled silently to herself, thinking, "This snake really can't handle Xiao Xingyu's tactics; he's morally coerced her."
In this day and age, moral humans are nearly extinct, and moral magical beasts are even rarer.
Dai Lu leaned in to whisper in Xiao Xingyu's ear.
"I'm curious, what would you do if Medusa didn't care about morality and your coercion didn't work?"
Xiao Xingyu, always quick-witted, whispered back.
"Don't worry, I have a backup plan."
"If soft tactics don't work, I'll resort to hard ones. If this snake doesn't succumb to moral coercion, once her wanted notice is out, I'll claim the bounty. Compared to being tortured by Shangguan Lan, she'll submit to my authority."
Dai Lu rolled her eyes at him.
"You really have a lot of tricks up your sleeve."
Xiao Xingyu had gone to great lengths to rescue Medusa. If she couldn't be of use to him, he'd rather return her to the naval headquarters and earn a bounty.
"Sasha."
"Hmm?"
"That's what I'll call you from now on."
Sasha and Lulu—such nicknames were cute and memorable, enhancing the bond between Beast Master and beast.
But for Medusa and Dai Lu, these adorable nicknames were quite embarrassing.
Xiao Xingyu didn’t need to bite his finger, as his lips still bore traces of dried blood.
He let a drop of blood fall on Medusa's forehead, establishing a soul connection between them.
A pentagram magic circle appeared beneath Medusa's feet.
The blood contract was successfully completed!
Xiao Xingyu opened his eyes and saw a mark on Medusa's forehead.
This was the symbol of the blood contract.
The mark gradually faded, not disappearing but instead becoming hidden.
Xiao Xingyu, despite his weakness, smiled broadly.
"Sasha, from now on, you're my contracted beast."
Medusa's expression was somewhat stiff.
"I really signed a blood contract with a human? Am I crazy? This is so absurd..."
Dai Lu, having experienced the same, patted Medusa's shoulder, comforting her. "Your expression and thoughts are exactly what I felt back then."
Two inherently proud, cold-blooded magical beasts who would never submit to humans had now become Xiao Xingyu's personal aides.
Xiao Xingyu activated the Demon God's Eye, and Medusa's data panel appeared before him.
**[Name]: Calamity Ghost Python, Medusa**
**[Level]: Beast God Body (Tier 2)**
**[Bloodline]: Divine Python Bloodline (Mythical Quality)**
**[Talent 1]: Calamity Descent (When the true form appears, it brings destructive disasters like tsunamis, thunderstorms, and volcanic eruptions)**
**[Talent 2]: Nightmare Envelopment (Enemies surveyed by Medusa's eyes, at a lower level than Medusa, will have their souls drawn into nightmares, becoming entrapped)**
**[Attributes]: Beastman, Psychic, Water**
**[Loyalty]: 10**
**[Skills]:**
- **Nightmare Devour**: Swallow enemies, subjecting them to the torment of nine layers of nightmares, separating soul from body.
- **Death Coil**: Use the enormous, elongated body to bind and suffocate enemies until they pass out.
- **Life Drain**: After venomous fangs pierce the enemy, drain their life force, converting it into one's own.
**[Preferences]: Desserts, living in cold environments**
**[Evolution Path]: Calamity Ghost Python (Highest Evolution Form)**
**[Hidden Evolution Path 1]: Calamity Ghost Python → Heaven-Swallowing Dragon Python**
**[Hidden Evolution Path 2]: Calamity Ghost Python → World Serpent (Body can encircle the Earth)**
The stronger the talent and higher the level of the contracted beast, the more complex and detailed the data panel.
In terms of bloodline quality, Medusa was on par with Dai Lu before she fused with the pure dragon bloodline.
And Dai Lu had only advanced to the Beast God Body (Tier 1) level by Xiao Xingyu's aid, allowing her to fuse with the pure dragon bloodline.
Xiao Xingyu hadn't boosted Medusa yet, but her level had already reached Beast God Body (Tier 2).
"Sasha has two hidden evolution paths. Which one should I choose..."
Xiao Xingyu was torn.
Two different evolution paths, each with its pros and cons.
To evolve Medusa into the Heaven-Swallowing Dragon Python, Xiao Xingyu would need to help her fuse with pure dragon power, just as he had done with Dai Lu.
However, treasures like dragon bones were rare.
Xiao Xingyu would find it difficult to acquire a similar medium for fusing a pure dragon bloodline in a short time.
If Medusa were to evolve into the World Serpent, the core evolution materials would be the **Eye of Reincarnation** and the **Beast Core of the Underworld Lord**.
These items were as rare and hard to find as dragon bones.
Xiao Xingyu sighed.
"I’m thinking too far ahead. I should focus on the present."
Pulling himself back to reality, Xiao Xingyu's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"You look pale. What's wrong?"
Dai Lu's attentive observations showed just how much she cared for Xiao Xingyu.
"Lulu, I'm fine. I just have a bad feeling..."
The inexplicable anxiety forced Xiao Xingyu into deeper contemplation.
"Damn it, this feeling is terrible!"
"What is my subconscious worried about?"
"Even though we're out of danger, my heart is still..."
Xiao Xingyu clutched his pounding chest, caught in a mental storm.
"This feeling is getting stronger..."
"Have I overlooked something?"
As time ticked by, Xiao Xingyu's heart raced, almost leaping out of his chest.
"I remember now!"
The confusion in Xiao Xingyu's eyes vanished, replaced by fear.
**System task: Rescue Medusa**
**System reward: A [Dragon Egg] + 10,000 points**
This was why Xiao Xingyu had risked his life to break into the naval headquarters.
Now that Xiao Xingyu had rescued Medusa and they had escaped the navy's reach, hiding on this unknown island, he should have triggered the system reward.
Yet, up to this moment, there was no system reward, nor any task completion notification.
This meant...
"Lulu, Sasha, we can't stay on this island!"
Dai Lu asked in confusion, "Why not?"
"We're still not out of danger!"
Just as Xiao Xingyu finished speaking, a terrifying aura enveloped the entire island.
That woman had caught up…
---
-Translator notes: If you like my work you can support me here
https://ko-fi.com/zxc1015
Thanks!