Chapter 336: The History of Lingxi World
The first thing that caught Xia Chao and Qiu Shi’s attention was the extremely familiar contract—the Master-Servant Contract. However, the way this contract was used in the murals differed greatly from current practices in Lingxi World.
Xia Chao saw depictions of powerful contract beasts kneeling before humans, pledging loyalty. The accompanying annotations indicated this was the signing of a Master-Servant Contract, with the human’s mark symbolizing the master’s status.
“In the earliest days of using the Master-Servant Contract, humans were the masters and contract beasts the servants—the complete opposite of today.”
Little Green Snake and the Bone-Winged White Tiger puffed up angrily, displeased with this ancient arrangement. Why should humans have been their masters?
Ignoring Little Green Snake’s eye-rolling antics around his neck, Xia Chao continued deciphering the mural’s contents. The artwork didn’t seem like a commemorative record, but rather the frantic scribblings of someone driven to madness by despair, desperately trying to leave traces of their existence in the world. As a result, both the murals and annotations were difficult to interpret.
It was hard to imagine what could have driven a cultivator of at least late-stage Divine Transformation to such extremes.
“Although they established Master-Servant Contracts, humans didn’t treat contract beasts as mere servants to be ordered about, but rather as friends with equal status.”
“Contract beasts assisted humans in cultivation, allowing some humans leisure to study various natural laws and summarize these principles, using spiritual energy as the driving force.”
“This method greatly boosted productivity, benefiting both humans and contract beasts alike.”
“More and more contract beasts grew fond of human technology, voluntarily signing contracts to become servants and attend to humans.”
“Humans and contract beasts developed harmoniously, both growing increasingly powerful.”
“One day, a strange demon beast appeared—snake-bodied with nine heads. Nobody dared form a contract with this odd creature.”
“A man named ‘Ba’ contracted with this beast.”
“The nine-headed contract beast cultivated at remarkable speed. Due to the Master-Servant Contract’s nature preventing servants from surpassing masters, ‘Ba’ always remained one level above his nine-headed companion.”
“When the nine-headed beast reached the Divine Transformation stage, it gained true wisdom and inherited ancestral memories from its bloodline, finally understanding its origins.”
“The nine-headed contract beast was named Xiangliu, a celestial beast species. An atavistic phenomenon had occurred within it, granting bloodline purity nearly identical to its ancestors—the reason for its rapid cultivation.”
“After continuous battles and slaughter, Xiangliu reached the Ascension Tribulation stage, and so did ‘Ba’.”
“Only then did people learn that beyond the Unity stage lay the Ascension Tribulation stage.”
“Later, Xiangliu achieved immortality, followed by ‘Ba’.”
The mural depicted mountainous Xiangliu stretching its nine heads to withstand the Ascension Tribulation while “Ba” stood beside it, letting the beast bear the heavenly trial for him.
When the Celestial Ladder appeared, both Xiangliu and “Ba” ascended.
“This marked both Lingxi World’s first and last ascension. Whenever asked how to reach the Ascension Tribulation stage, ‘Ba’ and Xiangliu remained silent, fearing others might surpass them.”
“No one in Lingxi World ever achieved immortality again.”
Reading this, Jiang Li shook his head slightly. By keeping the Ascension Tribulation method secret, “Ba” and Xiangliu had actually harmed Lingxi World. Unfortunately, its inhabitants misunderstood their intentions, assuming they simply refused to share knowledge.
“After their ascension, neither human nor beast ever returned—perhaps once reaching the immortal realm, they couldn’t descend again.”
After finishing the mural’s annotations, Xia Chao turned to Jiang Li. “Is that true?”
“Of course not. With the Celestial Ladder connected, immortals can visit any world, including their original one.”
“Then why didn’t they return?” Qiu Shi wondered.
“Because ‘Ba’ never truly cultivated—he essentially became immortal by lying around. Though he reached immortal rank, his combat abilities paled compared to peers. The immortal realm isn’t some peaceful utopia—he might have perished in battle shortly after ascending. And with the Master-Servant Contract’s terms, his death would have killed Xiangliu too.”
“Though this is mere speculation—not necessarily accurate.”
“While ‘Ba’ and Xiangliu never returned, they left abundant legacies before ascending. Lingxi World experienced explosive development, with increasing numbers of Unity-stage contract beasts and cultivators. Both humans and beasts eagerly participated in various bounty tournaments, world championships, and league matches for fame and wealth.”
The mural showed humans and contract beasts hand-in-hand, both radiating joyful smiles.
“Everything progressed splendidly—until one day, a contract beast reached the Ascension Tribulation stage while its master did not.”
“Through unknown means, this beast severed its contract and broke free.”
“It seemed to harbor hatred toward both humans and demon beasts, displaying brutal temperament and killing countless beings.”
“Humans and beasts attempted resistance, but stood no chance against the second Ascension Tribulation-stage entity.”
The mural depicted a red-headed, white-footed monkey baring ugly fangs—clearly a vicious demon beast. Neither Xia Chao nor Qiu Shi recognized this creature.
“It’s a Zhu Yan. Judging from its appearance in the mural, this was likely another atavistic case.” Both Jiang Li and Baixue Ling recognized it—Zhu Yan was also a celestial beast with powerful bloodline.
Xia Chao continued interpreting: “People had no choice but to hide in bomb shelters, hoping to withstand that terrifying contract beast.”
“That beast made humans distrust other contract beasts too. People abandoned their companions, hiding alone in shelters.”
“Hundreds of massive bomb shelters were constructed, yet every few days brought news of another shelter falling. The beast seemed to be searching for something—but what?”
“It apparently discovered human radio communications and somehow disrupted them.”
“We completely lost contact with the outside world.”
“That contract beast came…”
The mural ended abruptly, its creator unable to finish the final sentence. Though unwritten, everyone could guess—the Ascension Tribulation-stage Zhu Yan broke through the shelter doors, slaughtering all inside, including the mural artist.
Though likely a late-stage Divine Transformation or even Unity-stage cultivator, against an Ascension Tribulation-stage Zhu Yan, the artist stood no chance—just another victim.
“That’s it?” Xia Chao hadn’t expected an entire era’s downfall to stem from a single Zhu Yan. How it broke the Master-Servant Contract, why it hated humans, and its current whereabouts all remained mysteries.
“Perhaps there’s more.” Jiang Li scanned the shelter with his spiritual sense, finding something intriguing. Baixue Ling noticed it too.
The bomb shelter resembled a massive maze—without a map, one could easily get lost.
Following Jiang Li’s lead, the group reached a small room containing scattered bones—whether from one person or several was unclear.
Jiang Li picked up a diary. After two thousand years, the paper had become incredibly fragile until Jiang Li refined it slightly, restoring some strength and flexibility.
The diary’s first page read:
“Today I formed a Master-Servant Contract with a little red-headed, white-footed monkey.”