Chapter 85 – Space

Azure Dragon, who was close behind Yun Xiguang, saw these words and let out a long sigh. Just as he was about to say, “You finally know,” he never expected Yun Xiguang to touch the line of “preferences” with emotion and say, “Turns out, Chi Qiong also sees me as his soul partner, just as I do.”

Azure Dragon: “…”

Forget it. Yun Xiguang was extraordinarily intelligent, except when it came to matters of love, where he was naturally lacking.

But on second thought, it wasn’t necessarily that Yun Xiguang was lacking. It was simply that Supreme Deity’s appearance was too… unbearably adorable. Even Azure Dragon, a divine beast born able to sense Supreme Deity’s pressure, would often think, ‘This chick is really cute,’ how much more so for Yun Xiguang?

Yun Xiguang faced Supreme Deity every day in that form; how could he possibly develop romantic feelings?

One might even say that if Yun Xiguang did indeed develop affection for Chi Qiong in the form of a little yellow chick, that would be a significant problem.

Azure Dragon quietly twisted its tail away from Yun Xiguang, afraid that after Chi Qiong was unsealed, he would find out that it had seen these words.

Before Supreme Deity expressed his intentions, if they were to meddle and interfere in his affairs of the heart, they might suffer the punishment of burning flames. Azure Dragon wouldn’t do such a foolish thing; it was better to see and not say anything.

Unaware of Azure Dragon’s solemn thoughts, Yun Xiguang felt joy and anxiety upon seeing these words.

He had to quickly lift the seal on the Beast Codex.

Fortunately, lifting seals was something he was getting used to; it wasn’t his first time doing so.

Just as before, Yun Xiguang bit the tip of his middle finger and smeared the blood onto the page of the Beast Codex that belonged to Chi Qiong, attempting to pull him back through their contract.

Last time, the blood allowed Chi Qiong to leave the Beast Codex.

However, this time, Chi Qiong didn’t smoothly depart from the Beast Codex as Yun Xiguang imagined. His portrait remained on the first page of the Beast Codex.

Yun Xiguang slightly frowned, wondering if he had made a mistake somewhere, when Chi Qiong’s resistance was transmitted to his mind through the blood pact.

Yun Xiguang was slightly taken aback. Did Chi Qiong himself not want to leave the Beast Codex?

Why was that? Could it be that Chi Qiong had discovered something within the Beast Codex?

Yun Xiguang wanted to understand Chi Qiong’s thoughts, but separated by a book, he could only feel Chi Qiong’s emotions and not his true intentions.

Just as Yun Xiguang was at a loss for what to do, Bai Ze, who had been treated, slowly opened its eyes. Although still undergoing treatment, it could now speak, so it struggled to push Ning Shan away with its hoof and weakly said to Yun Xiguang, “Yun Xiguang, you can use the phoenix feather given to you by Supreme Deity as a medium for the contract in the form of a blood pact.”

Bai Ze had the longest-standing blood pact with Qin Shu and understood better than anyone how to communicate through a blood pact.

Yun Xiguang immediately took off the large gold chain hanging around his neck. He had once lent it to the Golden-Winged Great Peng, and when Li Zheng and the Golden-Winged Great Peng were trapped in Youying Academy, they had relied on this large gold chain to determine the location of the Golden-Winged Great Peng and pull them back.

After that, the Golden-Winged Great Peng returned the large gold chain to Yun Xiguang.

Yun Xiguang removed the crystal bottle pendant from the gold chain and opened the bottle.

Inside was the downy feather that had fallen on him during his first encounter with Chi Qiong.

At the time, he had thought it was just Chi Qiong shedding feathers.

Yun Xiguang took out the feather and squeezed his finger hard, causing fresh blood to flow from the unhealed wound. Yun Xiguang dropped this blood onto the feather.

Then, following Bai Ze’s instructions, he placed the feather on his forehead.

This feather absorbed Yun Xiguang’s blood and transformed into a bloody pattern, sinking into Yun Xiguang’s forehead.

Yun Xiguang, who lacked a root of contract, finally had a substitute root of contract.

Through this bloody pattern, Yun Xiguang’s consciousness entered the contract space for the first time.

The contract space was a living space created by a Spiritbond Master using their own soul energy for a spirit beast. Spirit beasts could freely use the Spiritbond Master’s soul energy to construct the space according to their preferences, shaping the contract space into what they liked.

In essence, the contract space was a home that a Spiritbond Master built for a spirit beast with their soul, providing stability in a world that couldn’t accommodate them.

Yun Xiguang had always regretted not being able to provide Chi Qiong with a home. He had no idea what kind of home Chi Qiong wanted, but now he finally saw it.

Yun Xiguang had originally assumed that Chi Qiong’s contract space would resemble a world of volcanoes, filled with fire everywhere, while Chi Qiong slept amidst the colorful flames.

But unexpectedly, Chi Qiong’s world wasn’t like that.

This world was beautiful, with blue skies, white clouds, lush green grass, dense forests, and clear rivers.

It was a world teeming with vitality.

Yun Xiguang could see birds soaring in the sky, fish swimming in the river, and animals flashing past in the forest.

Looking further away, he could hear the sound of tides and see the desert winds on the other side.

The contract space didn’t conform to geographical knowledge; it was merely an imaginary space. Spirit beasts could place all the things they liked in the contract space.

This was the contract space Chi Qiong preferred.

Although he said he disliked aquatic creatures, in his contract space, water-dwelling creatures lived happily.

Yun Xiguang saw a small house on the lawn and walked over.

It was a three-story small villa with a courtyard, somewhat resembling the villas in the sanatorium , though a bit larger.

There was a large wooden house in the courtyard, with a silver-white long tail hanging by the door, and inside lay a snow wolf.

On the roof was a bird’s nest, with hints of gold flashing inside, likely the young Golden-Winged Peng.

In the backyard was a pond, coiled around which were a red and a green snake, symbolizing Azure Dragon and the Crimson Chi.

Beside the pond was a patch of grass where a sheep was grazing, “Baa baa.”

It was Bai Ze.

Additionally, outside the yard were several empty nests, seemingly because Chi Qiong believed Yun Xiguang would bring more troublesome spirit beasts that would give birds headaches. Although he didn’t particularly like them, His Majesty Supreme Deity still left nests for these potential future spirit beasts. He could generously allow these guys to live near him, but they were absolutely not allowed inside the house.

Yun Xiguang walked to the door and tried pushing it. The door opened to him.

Chi Qiong’s house hadn’t excluded him; his space was always open to Yun Xiguang.

Yun Xiguang’s heart was filled with joy and gratitude. Looking at the layout of the house, he thought that in the future, even if he sold all three houses left by his parents, he would buy a house like this villa for Chi Qiong.

The first floor was a living room with a long table and many chairs, indicating that Chi Qiong allowed the spirit beasts outside to eat in the living room.

Upstairs, Yun Xiguang found a study and gymnasium he liked, as well as a room filled with trees… it could be considered a greenhouse, favored by Chi Qiong.

There was only one bedroom on the second floor, suggesting that Chi Qiong had no intention of letting any guests stay at his house.

I wonder if there’s a place for me in this bedroom, Yun Xiguang thought with some apprehension.

He tried pushing the door, knowing that if Chi Qiong didn’t want him to enter, he wouldn’t be able to open it.

Seeing the door easily pushed open, Yun Xiguang felt relieved.

In the bedroom was a bed measuring three meters wide, and in the center, a little yellow chick was sleeping soundly.

Upon seeing the little yellow chick, Yun Xiguang felt an incredibly tender affection well up in his heart. He quietly climbed onto the bed, lay beside the little yellow chick, and gently rubbed its head with his fingers.

This touch caused the sleeping little yellow chick to open its eyes.

In the next moment, a magnificent golden wing appeared in Yun Xiguang’s field of vision, blocking the ceiling and lightly covering him.

“You… shouldn’t you be in the Beast Codex, unable to enter the contract space?” Yun Xiguang said softly, meeting the eyes of this fire phoenix.

As soon as he finished speaking, the wing covering his body transformed into a strong arm, wrapping around him.

The man in the splendid attire propped himself up, leaning over to look at him.

His gaze remained like that of the little yellow chick’s — proud, clear, focused, and laced with a hint of gentleness.

“The phoenix feather I gave you contains a fragment of my consciousness. I am that fragment,” Chi Qiong said to Yun Xiguang.

“Do you know the thoughts of your main body in the Beast Codex?” Yun Xiguang asked, concerned.

He had constructed the contract space to learn Chi Qiong’s thoughts and understand why he didn’t want to leave the Beast Codex.

“Of course I know. I am the consciousness of the Exalted One, and my thoughts are in sync with the Exalted One’s,” Chi Qiong said, running a hand through a lock of Yun Xiguang’s hair as he spoke.

Yun Xiguang was solely focused on the matter at hand, completely oblivious to the ambiguity of their interaction. He hurriedly asked, “Why don’t you come out? Is there something you must accomplish in the Beast Codex?”

Chi Qiong said, “Do you know that the Beast Codex is a manifestation of Youying’s power?”

“I know,” Yun Xiguang nodded. “That’s precisely why you should leave the Beast Codex as soon as possible. I’m worried that your forced fusion with Youying’s power will accelerate the process of the world’s reboot.”

Chi Qiong’s expression turned serious as he said to Yun Xiguang, “You defeated Zhulong, didn’t you?”

Yun Xiguang nodded.

“You’ve gathered nine phoenix feathers, haven’t you?”

Hearing Chi Qiong’s question, Yun Xiguang felt a faint unease rise within him, and he nodded again.

“After you leave the contract space, send all nine phoenix feathers into the Beast Codex using the blood pact,” Chi Qiong said solemnly.

Yun Xiguang was startled. He wanted to sit up but was held down by Chi Qiong. He could only reach up to grab Chi Qiong’s shoulders, saying anxiously, “You should know that once the nine phoenix feathers enter the Beast Codex, your power will merge with Youying’s power to become chaotic force, accelerating the process of the world’s reboot. Do… do you have a plan?”

Chi Qiong said seriously, “I’ve been thinking about what you said. You mentioned wanting the laws to hear your voice, your thoughts. I’ve been pondering how to make the laws, which exist without consciousness or only follow procedures, hear your voice. Now that we’ve encountered Youying, I’ve come up with a method.”

“What method?” Yun Xiguang furrowed his brows, feeling a growing unease.

Chi Qiong said, “If we don’t convince the laws, they won’t abandon their purpose. They don’t have concepts of victory or defeat, and we can’t eliminate the laws because as long as the world exists, the laws won’t disappear.

“Given that, there’s only one way: to reconstruct the balance of the world and show the laws new possibilities. Only then will they change their purpose and establish new rules.”

Yun Xiguang said, “Actually, Youying seemed to have a similar idea, but it chose to destroy human civilization and dismantle science as a tool.”

“My thoughts are naturally different from Youying’s. How could I do something as foolish as Youying? My plan is…” Chi Qiong paused here, focusing intently on Yun Xiguang.

Caught by the eyes that hid a fiery sincerity beneath them, Yun Xiguang felt somewhat at a loss. Instinctively wanting to look away, he yearned to understand Chi Qiong’s thoughts. With determination, he met those eyes, responding to Chi Qiong’s intensity.

This time, it was Chi Qiong whose cheeks flushed slightly as he turned his head, avoiding Yun Xiguang’s gaze.

“What’s the plan?” Yun Xiguang pressed. “Are you planning to do something dangerous?”

“To me, there’s nothing dangerous in this world,” Chi Qiong said confidently. He looked back at Yun Xiguang, his demeanor relaxed as he said, “If the plan succeeds, the world continues to function, and you and I are together. If the plan fails, the world restarts, and you and I die together under the contract’s connection, still together.”

Failure was not in Chi Qiong’s vocabulary.

Yun Xiguang smiled in relief, nodding and saying, “No matter what your plan is, I’ll always be with you.”

Hearing Yun Xiguang’s words, Chi Qiong nodded in satisfaction, saying delightedly, “I’ve seen your consistent intentions. Considering your sincerity, I’ll give you a little response.”

Yun Xiguang: “?”

Chi Qiong didn’t notice Yun Xiguang’s puzzled gaze and continued, “Since you’ve seen my thoughts in the Beast Codex, it’s similar to that.”

Yun Xiguang: “??”

Chi Qiong glanced at Yun Xiguang’s face, which was redder, but he still insisted, “Under normal circumstances, I would hasten to fulfill your wish, but we have important matters to attend to now. The matter between you and me will be discussed later.”

Yun Xiguang: “???”

Chi Qiong: “What’s with that look? Are you so impatient? Then I’ll give you an assurance in advance so that you’re not too anxious.”

With that, Chi Qiong lowered his head and gently kissed Yun Xiguang on the lips.

Yun Xiguang: “????”

He couldn’t lie still anymore and sat up abruptly.

Just then, Chi Qiong was truly embarrassed and couldn’t maintain his dignified demeanor as Supreme Deity. Rolling over to the side, he transformed into a little yellow chick with a red face, trying to get away with it.

Yun Xiguang said earnestly to Chi Qiong, “Your meaning is… we… you…”

Before he could finish his sentence, Chi Qiong couldn’t bear the embarrassment anymore. He lightly flapped his wings and chirped, chasing Yun Xiguang out of the contract space.

As Yun Xiguang’s consciousness left the contract space, he still heard Chi Qiong’s voice: “The matter between you and me will be discussed later. After we succeed, I’ll certainly satisfy you. Quickly send the phoenix feathers into the Beast Codex so I can deal with this as soon as possible.”

Back in reality, Yun Xiguang: “…”

Who could explain to him what had just happened?