Chapter 3739: Contracts and Transactions

Third floor of the Watcher's Tower, Soul Trial site.

Su Xiao looked at the Soul Guardian, Thorn Lady, Ghost Hunter, Soul Mage, Black Steel Knight, and the Soul Lord ahead. Including this time, he had already encountered these six fellows three times.

Initially, Su Xiao thought these six were the permanent gatekeepers of the Soul Arena. The Soul Guardian and Thorn Lady were the elite monsters of the first two stages, the Ghost Hunter, Soul Mage, and Black Steel Knight were the bosses of the subsequent three stages, and the Soul Lord was the final big boss...

But later, Su Xiao discovered that these six were not only the Soul Arena gatekeepers notarized by the Tree of the Void, but they also took private jobs. If the benefits offered were high enough, one could use powerful soul-type summoning abilities to temporarily summon them. Previously, when clashing with the Nightmare Ghost Kain, the opponent had summoned the Soul Six to deal with Su Xiao.

Now it seemed the Soul Six were not only taking private jobs, but they were also the bosses of the first stage on the third floor of the Watcher's Tower.

In reality, the Soul Six had more than these two identities; they were also the maintainers of the Ghost Forest. As for why the Soul Six had to do all these things at once, Su Xiao could not ask, lest he anger the Soul Six to the point of tears.

If it weren't for someone ransacking the Soul Arena and even kicking away the Soul Stone throne fixed to the ground, the Soul Six, who spent their days idling in the Soul Arena and beating up Tier 8 challengers with one hand, wouldn't have to take on so many identities and occasionally accept private jobs they previously looked down upon.

However, as a result of being beaten up by Su Xiao's soul abilities, the Soul Six no longer had their former arrogance. At the very least, after new challengers arrived at the Soul Arena, they were no longer exceptionally arrogant after winning.

As Su Xiao walked to the edge of the combat area, what came into view was a temple several thousand meters in size. He needed to fight one against six here and defeat the Soul Six, but he could only use soul-type abilities here.

Not every challenger had soul-type abilities, so this place was the same as the Soul Arena's notarization. After Su Xiao entered the combat area, he triggered this notarization and gained a 10-minute time limit for ability selection.

A stone platform rose from the flat ground ahead, with an open metal book placed on it. Su Xiao pressed his hand on it, and a prompt appeared.

【Prompt: You have activated the Book of Endowment. This item will temporarily grant you soul-type abilities (within the third floor of the Watcher's Tower, only these types of abilities can be used).】

【This temporary granting of soul abilities will be based on your soul strength.】

【Your soul strength is 859 points.】

【The following is your basic information.】

Challenger: Kuku Lin Bai Ye.

Health: 100%.

Soul Energy: 6000 points.

Soul Skill Slots: 5 (the more powerful the soul skill, the more soul skill slots it occupies).

【The following are the soul-type skills the Hunter can temporarily master. You need to make a combination selection based on your own number of skill slots.】

1. Soul Secret Arrow.

Effect: Condense a soul secret arrow that shoots at a designated target. During this period, short channeling is required to complete the release.

Tier: Lower-tier soul ability.

Attack Power: ★★

Release Speed: ★

Flight Speed: ★

Required Skill Slots: 1.

2. Shock Back.

Effect: Knock back and damage all enemy units centered on you.

Tier: Lower-tier soul ability.

Attack Power: ★

Release Speed: ★

Knockback Power: ★★

Required Skill Slots: 1.

3. Soul Energy Flight.

Effect: Can achieve short-term flight. The higher the skill level, the faster the flight speed and the longer the duration.

Tier: Lower-tier soul ability.

Release Speed: ★★

Distance: ★

Required Skill Slots: 1.

4. Soul Missile.

Effect: Construct 1 soul missile that tracks a designated target. If no target is selected, it will randomly track enemy targets within range. After hitting an enemy target, it will explode and cause damage to the enemy.

Tier: Lower-tier soul ability.

Attack Power: ★★

Release Speed: ★

Flight Speed: ★★

Required Skill Slots: 1.

18. Soul Storm.

Effect: Summon a continuous soul storm to damage all enemy targets within the surrounding range.

Tier: Mid-tier soul ability.

Attack Power: ★★★

Release Speed: ★★★

Duration: ★★

Required Skill Slots: 4.

19. Intermediate Buff.

Effect: Significantly increase the power, flight speed, and quantity of mastered soul skills, but it will increase the consumed soul energy to 200%.

Tier: Mid-tier soul ability.

Buff Magnitude: ★★★★★

Required Skill Slots: 5.

5. Soul Gathering Gun.

Effect: Quickly construct a soul gun to attack a designated target, and after causing high penetration damage, it will explode.

Tier: High-tier soul ability.

Attack Power: ★★★★★★★

Release Speed: ★★★★★

Flight Speed: ★★★★★★★

Required Skill Slots: 5.

6. Soul Fountain.

Effect: Restore 1% of soul energy per second.

Tier: High-tier soul ability.

Sustained Combat Power: ★★★★★★★★★★

Required Skill Slots: 6.

【Prompt: You can choose any of the above skills until your soul skill slots are filled.】

【Corresponding skill points will be granted based on your soul strength. These skill points can be used to upgrade the temporarily mastered soul skills.】

【Your soul strength is 859 points. Because it significantly exceeds the soul strength achievable at the same tier, you will receive 460 skill points (upgrading lower-tier soul abilities consumes 1 point per level, mid-tier soul abilities consume 5 points per level, and high-tier soul abilities consume 10 points per level; high-tier soul skills can be upgraded to a maximum of Lv. 10).】

【There are a total of three challenges this time. For each victory, you can reset all temporarily mastered soul abilities.】

Last time in the Soul Arena, Su Xiao used "Shock Back" + "Soul Crystal Gun" to fight the enemy. This time, he planned to change his approach.

Su Xiao weighed his options and then chose to master "Soul Missile" + "Intermediate Buff" + "Soul Fountain". Using Soul Missile as the main combat ability, after raising its level high enough, both the quantity condensed in a single shot and the power could reach a very considerable level.

Su Xiao tried to gather a soul missile. A translucent blue soul ball appeared above him. This soul ball was about the size of a marble. Because the Soul Missile ability was only Lv. 1, this missile was not only small in size but also had a very small tracking range.

But one point was that soul abilities with such weak foundations generally had very high upper limits.

Opposite, the Soul Guardian, Thorn Lady, Ghost Hunter, Soul Mage, Black Steel Knight, and Soul Lord saw the soul missile Su Xiao condensed. They looked at each other; they seemed calm, but excitement was hidden in their eyes.

The Soul Lord narrowed his eyes slightly. According to his analysis, not much time had passed since their last clash in the Soul Arena. At that time, Su Xiao's soul strength was 590 points. By this calculation, reaching 650 points now was the limit.

Thinking this way, the temporary skill slots and temporary skill points brought by 650 points basically made it impossible for the Soul Missile ability to exert truly terrifying power, plus only soul abilities could be used here.

After thinking of these, the Soul Lord suddenly felt that he might win this time. If he won, not only would there be exceptionally generous gatekeeping rewards, but he could also regain the face he lost from being beaten up before. Thinking of this, the mask of pain on the Soul Lord's face gradually disappeared, and his former arrogance returned a bit.

The Soul Six looked at each other, and in each other's eyes, they all saw two words: "Beat him!"

Su Xiao naturally didn't know the psychological activities of the Soul Six. After mastering Soul Missile, he mastered "Intermediate Buff" to significantly increase the upper limit of the quantity condensed in a single shot and the power of the Soul Missile. As a price, there would be a 200% soul energy consumption.

To compensate for this problem, Su Xiao chose the high-tier soul ability "Soul Fountain".

【Soul Missile has been upgraded to Lv. 95 (maximum level).】

【Intermediate Buff has been upgraded to Lv. 10 (maximum level).】

【Soul Fountain has been upgraded to Lv. 10 (maximum level).】

Consuming a total of 445 soul skill points was not a problem at all for Su Xiao, whose soul strength reached 859 points. He started with 460 soul skill points.

Su Xiao was well-prepared. He looked at the Soul Lord ahead and found that these six people not only had strong fighting spirit, but their gazes were different from before. Did they seem to have regained some of the arrogance from their first meeting?

Ten minutes of preparation time passed. The transparent barrier in front disappeared. The Soul Lord spoke:

"Miefa, don't say we are despicable for being six against one. Little ones, charge for me..."

The Soul Lord shouted. The giant-like Black Steel Knight took the lead. He held a tower shield nearly 5 meters high in his left hand and a long-handled war hammer in his right. The momentum of the charge was exceptionally terrifying, but in the next second, he braked hard and almost sat on the ground.

Soul missiles appeared above Su Xiao one by one. Each of these soul missiles was as big as a millstone. A single release was a full several hundred.

This wasn't the end. As Su Xiao held his hand in a virtual grip, these hundreds of soul missiles were all compressed into black balls the size of marbles, emitting a creepy buzzing sound.

A soul black ball swept out. Due to the skill level itself and the bonus of the max-level buff, the flight speed of this soul black ball was extremely fast. In an instant, it reached the front of the Black Steel Knight and hit his tower shield.

Boom!!

The center of the Black Steel Knight's tower shield dented inward. He flew backward and crashed into the wall. Then, several soul missiles followed closely. After several deafening roars, large pieces of broken armor flew out.

The walls of the surrounding hall collapsed, and the combat terrain expanded, turning into abandoned ruins. One could vaguely see the Black Steel Knight limping away into the distance.

After seeing this scene, the Soul Lord's eyes twitched violently. He turned to look at Su Xiao, his gaze exceptionally solemn. He, the Soul Lord, would absolutely not run away today!

Su Xiao naturally didn't know the Soul Lord's thoughts. He just wanted to test these temporarily mastered soul abilities. He glanced at the remaining 90% soul energy. Anyway, with "Soul Fountain" quickly restoring soul energy, he might as well use Soul Missile a few more times.

Su Xiao's soul energy was consumed rapidly. Soon, thousands of soul black balls appeared. The buzzing sound after compression seemed exceptionally terrifying.

Su Xiao held a soul black ball in his hand. Under his control, all the soul black balls attacked the Soul Guardian, Thorn Lady, Ghost Hunter, Soul Mage, Black Steel Knight, and Soul Lord.

The Soul Lord, who had just made up his mind not to run, gave himself and his surrounding subordinates a speed buff and then soared into the air, flying into the distance.

Su Xiao jumped onto a towering stone pillar. After looking at the few people fleeing into the distance, he took out the Eye of Mystery and adjusted it like twisting a Rubik's cube, click, click.

As for the battle with the Soul Six, just wait. After Soul Missile was raised to the limit, its tracking power could be called perverted. Once it locked onto a target, it would either hit or continue chasing for more than an hour.

Su Xiao waited for nearly half an hour. The surrounding scene changed. The ruins gradually turned into smoke, and the scene returned to the initial hall. The bruised and swollen Soul Six were lying or sprawled on the ground.

Su Xiao had long expected to be able to defeat the Soul Six. However, for the sake of safety, he chose Soul Missile. After all, it was one against six. Not giving the enemy any chance was the best choice.

【Prompt: You have defeated the Soul Lord.】

【You have obtained the Soul Candy recipe.】

【Your temporary soul skill slots +1.】

【You have obtained one temporary soul skill reset permission.】

Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao knew that the original content of this stage's challenge was only to defeat the Soul Lord, not necessarily to defeat everyone in the Soul Six.

The stone platform rose in front. Su Xiao pressed his hand on the Book of Endowment. First, he used the reset permission to reset "Soul Missile" and "Intermediate Buff". He mastered these two abilities actually to test what the recovery upper limit was after raising "Soul Fountain" to max level.

The result obtained was that "Soul Fountain" could restore 10% of soul energy per second. The strength of this temporarily granted soul ability was simply unreasonable. Normally, there would be no such perverted recovery ability. Even if there were, it would be at the cost of consuming physical energy or health, rather than the current situation where nothing was consumed and soul energy was continuously restored.

After knowing the strength upper limit of "Soul Fountain", Su Xiao had the confidence to win the subsequent two stages. He scrolled down the skill list and finally mastered an ability called "Death Embrace" with 19 soul skill slots.

【Death Embrace】

Effect: Use soul power to control any enemy target within 100 meters, consuming 5% soul energy per second until your own soul energy is exhausted.

Tier: High-tier soul ability.

Lethality: ★～★★★★★★★★ (As the control time increases, the power continuously increases).

Control Time Limit: --

Control Strength: Based on the user's soul strength.

Required Skill Slots: 19.

After mastering this high-tier soul ability, Su Xiao maxed it out with his existing soul skill points. After consulting that the opponents in the subsequent two stages were both individual entities, this ability was even more secure.

Checking the consumption of the max-level "Death Embrace" ability, it consumed 9.5% soul energy per second. Under normal circumstances, it would be controlling the enemy for a dozen seconds, but with the perverted recovery ability of "Soul Fountain", Su Xiao could control the enemy to death.

Su Xiao's right hand lifted, palm facing up. Washinoki Washinoki Jishi of meters away, the Black Steel Knight's bent tower shield flew up on its own. As Su Xiao's right hand gradually gripped, the metal tower shield made a clicking squeezing sound, and finally, it was squeezed to the size of an apple.

Su Xiao released the control. The apple-sized metal ball hit the ground with a bang. Because of its amazing density, the sound was exceptionally loud.

After seeing this scene, the Soul Lord suddenly felt that as an old acquaintance, this Miefa was clearly showing mercy before.

After this misunderstanding appeared, the arrogance and resentment in the Soul Lord's eyes converged a lot. He hesitated and said, "Miefa, the two behind are much stronger than us."

"......"

Su Xiao did not speak. He was somewhat curious as to why the Soul Lord and the others all looked so rough and unrefined, yet had developed the recipe for Soul Candy. After asking about this, the Thorn Lady replied bluntly that it was not actually because they loved eating Soul Candy, but because they had a steady stream of customers who frequently came to them to place orders for it.

Upon learning this, Su Xiao did not probe further. He had no intention of competing with the Soul Arena for customers in this regard; he was more interested in knowing who the guardians of the subsequent two levels were.

Regarding this, the Soul Lord, constrained by the notarization rules, did not disclose the information, only vaguely indicating that both individuals were very strong. However, compared to the obstacles on the third level, most challengers who came to the Watcher's Gao Ta ended up failing at the Apostle Game on the seventh level.

Su Xiao walked toward the door leading to the second challenge of the third level. After pushing open the massive door, the surrounding scene changed. This was an area similar to an underground space, with soul tentacles hanging down from a ceiling dozens of meters high, the ends of the tentacles dangling about a few meters from the ground.

Located ahead, a figure clad in soul feathers was floating at a position three meters above the ground. It was humanoid in its entirety, but its eyes seemed to contain vast stars; this was the Star Spirit guarding this place.

The Star Spirit, whose eyes seemed to contain ten thousand stars, was looking down at Su Xiao. The feathers on its body scattered particles of seven-colored light. Even though the battle had clearly begun, it still just floated there, seemingly disdaining to take the initiative.

Seeing this, Su Xiao gripped the air with one hand. The squeezing force of "Death Embrace" sealed the Star Spirit, which was dozens of meters away, in mid-air and gradually increased the pressure.

"Death Embrace, how long can you trap me for?"

The Star Spirit still looked down at Su Xiao. Soon, more than ten seconds passed, and the restraint of Death Embrace did not disappear; instead, the squeezing force became increasingly fierce.

Various rays of light erupted with the Star Spirit as the center, but this only caused the restrained area of "Death Embrace" to expand slightly. Soon, "Death Embrace" shrank again and began to squeeze the Star Spirit's body.

"Wait... wait! We should have a one-on-one frontal battle. Doing this won't train your control over soul energy."

Su Xiao did not know if the Star Spirit's physical defense was tough, but the opponent's mouth was indeed very hard. He increased the force of his one-handed grip, and "Death Embrace" began to erupt with the most terrifying squeezing pressure, causing the Star Spirit's entire body to emit cracking sounds.

"This Law-Destroyer, spare my life."

As soon as the words fell, with a crisp snap, the Star Spirit within the restraints stopped moving. Seeing this, Su Xiao used soul power to toss it aside. After glancing at the prompt and discovering that the rewards were all temporary soul skill points and temporary skill slots, he felt slightly disappointed; he needed things he could take out of this place more.

Pushing open the last door of the third level, this place was also a grand hall. A black shadow was located behind soul mist. The guardian of this level was named the Immortal Elder. Strangely, although the battle was about to begin, the soul mist did not dissipate.

"Sigh, the former Elemental Guardian is the only one left. This is sigh-inducing. How can these old bones of mine block a Law-Destroyer from ascending this high tower?"

After the Immortal Elder within the soul mist said this, he chose to forfeit. It could only be said that ginger is still spicier when old. After quietly witnessing the Star Spirit almost being hammered to death, he decisively chose to let them pass, not only to avoid being hammered but perhaps even to offer a favor.

Following the Immortal Elder's forfeiture, Su Xiao felt a sense of teleportation strike. The next second, he had already appeared on the innermost side of the third level. Zuiyas, Wood, and the others were also teleported here. Ahead was the metal spiral staircase leading to the fourth level.

【Prompt: Your squad has passed the Soul Winner challenge. Do you wish to proceed with the challenge reward settlement?】

【Cumulative reward settlement has been selected. For every round of the challenge completed, this reward will increase by 1.7 times.】

After ascending to the fourth level, Su Xiao found that this place was very dark, with only a faint light filtering in from above, preventing one from being completely shrouded in darkness. However, the surrounding darkness blocked perception.

Just then, the faint light from above suddenly disappeared.

【The fourth level of the Gao Ta challenge has been opened.】

【Content of this challenge: Darkness Descends.】

【Prompt: Strike the enemy in the darkness a total of three times to pass this trial.】

Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao pressed one hand onto the hilt of his blade, waiting only for the enemy to appear to unleash a "Polar Blade · World".

After waiting for more than ten seconds, the enemy in the darkness did not appear, but the prompt did.

【Prompt: Your squad has passed the Darkness Descends challenge. Do you wish to proceed with the challenge reward settlement?】

【Cumulative reward settlement has been selected. For every round of the challenge completed, this reward will increase by 1.8 times.】

The darkness within the fourth level dissipated rapidly, and sounds of biting and chewing came through. Su Xiao looked toward the sound and discovered that the semi-beastified Dark Eater was pinning a monster composed of dark matter to the ground, tearing and swallowing it in large mouthfuls. This was much more appetizing than eating during the Endless Gourmet challenge on the second level.

And the monster on the fourth level was no longer moving much at this moment. After the Dark Eater bit off another large chunk, it stopped moving completely.

Clearly, this level had been passed. Although he hadn't struck this dark creature three times, the Dark Eater had directly devoured the opponent.

The center of the ceiling opened, and the metal spiral staircase descended with a clatter. Su Xiao walked toward the fifth level.

After arriving at the fifth level, he entered a long corridor. This corridor was several meters wide and dozens of meters high, as if it had no end. He walked all the way, and finally, when he reached the end of the corridor, the metal spiral staircase leading to the sixth level was right ahead.

In front of the spiral staircase, a figure draped in black robes, with a tattered hood and a gaunt, skeletal frame, was standing in front of a balance scale. This balance scale was very low, with the inner side extending into the pale golden mist, as if foreshadowing the unknown fate of everyone.

【The fifth level of the Gao Ta challenge has been opened.】

【Content of this challenge: Fate Weight.】

The condition for passing this level was very simple: as long as one stepped onto the balance scale and the scale beneath one's feet did not tilt up, it counted as passing. However, once one's own fortune was not heavy enough and the scale tray beneath one's feet rose to a high position, one would be swallowed by the mist at the other end of the scale, forever lost in that mist.

"Knowing when to retreat is sometimes the wisest decision."

The old man beside the Fate Scale grinned, revealing the few teeth he had left.

Wood stepped forward and stepped onto the scale tray at one end of the Fate Scale. Seeing this scene, the black-robed old man smiled even more eerily. This Fate Scale was not meant to be stepped on like that. Stepping on it this way, even for a Law-Destroyer carrying the fortune of a Law-Destroyer, would at most result in a tie, and it was impossible for others to pass; they would all be swallowed by the mist of fate.

Crack!!

After a harsh, loud sound, the Fate Scale was snapped in two from the middle by Wood's pressure. The mist of fate immediately went berserk, sucking the broken Fate Scale and the black-robed old man into the mist. This caused the black-robed old man to reveal his hideous form, with eyes appearing all over his body.

Seeing the black-robed old man reveal his true form, Wood pulled up his sleeve, ripped a burning contract off his arm, and threw it toward the black-robed old man. Before the opponent was sucked into the mist, Wood said: "Don't think that only you can be a contract master."

Eyes stared fixedly at Wood, and in his unwillingness, he was sucked into the mist of fate.

【Prompt: Your squad has passed the Fate Weight challenge. Do you wish to proceed with the challenge reward settlement?】

【Cumulative reward settlement has been selected. For every round of the challenge completed, this reward will increase by 1.9 times.】

After arriving at the sixth level along the metal spiral staircase, various types of coins floated in sight, including Samsara Paradise coins and soul coins. Continuing deeper, an old square wooden table appeared ahead. A figure with a petite build, an inch-lens embedded over his right eye, and a large bundle placed beside his seat was sitting behind the wooden table, fast asleep.

The large bundle beside this person was full of scrolls, so many that they were almost bursting the large bundle.

【The sixth level of the Gao Ta challenge has been opened.】

【Content of this challenge: Transaction.】

【Gain profit in the transaction with the large-bundle profiteer (even a profit of 0.01 soul coins can pass this challenge).】

Everyone looked at Caesar. Caesar took out the Abyss Jar, wore it on his head, and took out all three divine artifacts—【Endless Greed】, 【Filthy Foot-binding Cloth】, and 【Deceiver's Headwrap】—before walking toward the large-bundle profiteer.

The large-bundle profiteer, who was fast asleep behind the square table, suddenly shivered and woke up. Seeing Caesar walking toward him, he blinked his eyes. After confirming he wasn't seeing things, astonishing hatred erupted in his eyes. This was clearly someone who had been scammed by Caesar before.

A gray fog wall appeared ahead, blocking the view of Su Xiao and the others. After a full hour, the gray fog wall disappeared, and a prompt appeared.

【Prompt: Squad member Nicholas Caesar has been disqualified from the challenge and teleported back to the bottom level of the Watcher's Gao Ta.】

Looking at the large-bundle profiteer now, the large bundle beside him that was about to burst had completely deflated and was lying limply on the ground, while the large-bundle profiteer himself was left with only a pair of old underpants.

The large-bundle profiteer stood there in a daze. After coming to his senses, he cursed in an unknown language and then ran toward the metal spiral staircase leading to the lower level. Judging by his expression, he was clearly going to fight Caesar to the death.

Was Caesar eliminated? No, it was Caesar who had swindled his opponent until he only had his underpants left, and he had already run away.

【Prompt: Your squad has passed the Transaction challenge. Do you wish to proceed with the challenge reward settlement?】

【Cumulative reward settlement has been selected. For every round of the challenge completed, this reward will increase by 【missing value】 times.】

Arriving at the seventh level along the spiral staircase, as soon as he entered this level, Su Xiao heard soothing music. This was a gallery. The paintings on the walls on both sides were mostly of various rare and exotic beasts. The degree of realism of these paintings was so high that it was as if the actual bodies of these rare beasts had been two-dimensionalized and printed on them.

【The seventh level of the Gao Ta challenge has been opened.】

【Content of this challenge: Apostle Game.】

Seeing this prompt, Su Xiao's footsteps paused. The difficulty of the Watcher's Gao Ta was not determined entirely by the level. According to the Soul Lord, the challenges on two levels of the Watcher's Gao Ta were the hardest to pass; one of them was the twelfth level, and the other was the seventh level he was currently experiencing: the Apostle Game.

Not only that, one of Su Xiao's "Hunting List · Blood Pact" bounties this time should correspond to this Apostle Game.

【"Bounty 4, Apostle's Game: Become the winner in the game against the Eyeless Apostle (100 ounces of Space-Time Power have been paid to activate this bounty; upon completing this bounty, you will receive 6000 ounces of Space-Time Power)."】 (To be continued)