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The Soul Contract originated from the Death God. This deity with powerful divine power was a terrifying presence across the Glory World, holding the powerful divine positions of Death, Soul, and Destruction.
The Soul Contract was the Death God's most proud and successful creation.
The Soul Contract was divided into the Primary Contract and the Secondary Contract. The Secondary Contract offered a strand of its soul to the Primary Contract; once signed, the life and death of the Secondary Contract bearer were entirely controlled by the Primary Contract holder.
The strength of this contract lay in the fact that as long as the Death God's spell was recited, even a powerless farmer could sign it.
Once the Primary Contract shattered the soul of the Secondary Contract in their Spiritual Sea, the soul of the Secondary Contract bearer would be dragged into the Death God's Divine Country, becoming the Death God's delicacy, regardless of where the Secondary Contract bearer was.
Therefore, the Soul Contract was also called the Whisper of the Death God. In the main plane of Glory, no one dared to sign it lightly.
Seeing the drastically changed expressions of the mage apprentices, Lide remained silent. He never considered this world as a game, and the complex-minded humans could never be as absolutely loyal to him as the Bloodline.
Do not be deceived by the respectful demeanor of the mage apprentices now. If they discovered the truth that their mentor was a vampire, would they still maintain their current attitudes?
Lide couldn't afford to gamble. Once his true identity was discovered, he would face a hunt from all of Green City and possibly the entire Human Country.
He would not want to cultivate a large batch of enemies.
"There's no need to hurry in giving me an answer. The future is in your hands.
Even if you don't sign it, you will still receive my training, as long as you show enough talent, just like Vina."
With these words, Lide turned and left, leaving behind the mage apprentices deep in thought.
"What does Lord Lide mean? That's the Whisper of the Death God, it's terrifying!"
"An official mage... Vina's magic potion must be very precious; otherwise, Lord Lide wouldn't make such demands."
"I really envy Vina. If only I were a girl..."
The mage apprentices knew well the preciousness of the magic potion. But the legendary Whisper of the Death God filled them with immense dread.
Once a Soul Contract was established, their lives would no longer be their own.
The desire for power and fear of death put them in extreme torment.
In the crowd, Kohen and Carlo, whose magic talents were similar to Vina's, exchanged a complicated look.
Kohen seemed to notice something, reached out, and pulled Carlo's clothing, and the two slightly distanced themselves from the other mage apprentices.
"Carlo, what do you think?"
Carlo looked deeply at the handsome, spirited Kohen with golden short hair.
"Kohen, if Lord Lide asked you to do something dangerous, like going to the Far Mountain Range to hunt a One-eyed Giant, could you refuse?"
Kohen was stunned and after contemplating for a moment, revealed a bit of a bitter smile.
"No, Lord Lide's orders cannot be refused by any of us."
Carlo smiled slightly, patting Kohen on the shoulder.
"In the Crimson Mage Tower, you, Vina, and I, the three of us have the best talents.
But Vina is Lord Lide's maid and often receives benefits first without having to queue like us."
Kohen looked at Carlo in confusion, not understanding what he meant by this.
"Such a precious magic potion, even an Extraordinary Mage may not have many. Lord Lide must have gone to great lengths to create it." Carlo's black pupils revealed a complicated expression.
"Kohen, you come from a noble background, but there are many things only we commoners understand.
If it weren't for Lord Lide taking me in, I'd probably be dead in the sewers of Green City by now.
If there was a chance to become an official mage, believe me, countless commoners would be willing to sign a Soul Contract or even live only ten years after drinking a magic potion."
"In this world, power is everything."
Kohen blankly stared at his companion, a small figure with messy black hair and beautiful black eyes, deeply shaken by his words.
Born into nobility, Kohen had a comfortable material life from a young age. He had difficulty understanding the mindset of commoners until now.
"If we cannot avoid danger when encountered, then what is a Soul Contract?"
"This is also a screening process for the Crimson Mage Tower. Mage apprentices who sign the Soul Contract will receive the best training from Lord Lide."
"Can't you see the changes in Lord Lide recently? An Advanced Mage with a level exceeding 10. If he diligently instructs us, how long will it take for us to become official mages? How long to become Intermediate Mages?"
After Carlo finished speaking, he turned and went upstairs, leaving the handsome Kohen in deep thought.
Lide sat leisurely in his study on the third floor, browsing through his collection of books.
In the memory of the Blood Clan Ancestor, he had already read through these thousands of books. The longevity species, with their extended lifespans, had an accumulation of knowledge far beyond that of humans.
When Carlo knocked and entered to express his decision, Lide was quite satisfied internally.
It seemed there indeed were a few clever individuals among this group of mage apprentices.
"Lord Lide, if you hadn't taken me in, I might still be begging on the streets, or even kicked into the sewers by passing nobles.
I am willing to give you everything of mine, even my soul."
Seeing those determined black eyes, Lide felt a warmth in his heart and nodded with satisfaction.
"Very good, your cleverness has earned you a future."
He reached out and took out another crystal bottle filled with Magic Blood.
He had brought out five bottles in total, two of which he kept for observation, as he needed to confirm how long the Magic Blood's effects would last when away from the Holy Spirit.
The remaining three bottles were intended for the apprentices, but the potency of the Magic Blood was so strong that it directly helped the apprentices advance, prompting further thoughts in him.
"This is Magic Blood brewed at a great cost. After drinking it, immediately fix your magic model, and if all goes well, you will breakthrough and become an official mage, like Vina."
Receiving the Magic Blood, Carlo's joy was apparent on his face.
"Yes, Lord Lide."
After saying this, Carlo knelt on one knee, placing a hand on his chest, and began to chant a long and awkward spell.
"Oi... pf... nq... Great deity who controls death and souls, I am your loyal servant, I am your most devout believer, I am willing to use your power to sign a Soul Contract with my master.
If the contract is broken, I will offer my soul, serving you forever, great Death God."
When the final words fell, Lide felt a grand and imposing power seemingly watching him from somewhere in the world.
In his Spiritual Sea, a strand of soul appeared. The Spiritual Sea, being the most essential and secretive part of a person, was challenging for external objects to enter.
But at this moment, the soul strand settled comfortably in the Spiritual Sea without rejection.
Lide touched the soul strand with his spiritual power, faintly sensing the general thoughts of the owner.
Currently, Carlo had fear, admiration, respect, and joy for Lide, all very complex emotions.
He felt that as soon as he tore this strand with his spirit, the other party would die instantaneously. His soul would become the spoils of the Death God, just as the oath declared.
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