"Encountering a young Purple Shadow Mouse is incredibly rare. After all, the more powerful a magical beast, the more protective it is of its young. Though it's unclear why this little Shadow Mouse came to our ancestral house, the fact remains—a Purple Shadow Mouse's offspring stands before me."
"Linley, possessing a Purple Shadow Mouse equates to commanding an entire Shadow Mouse army!" Derkelot smiled at the boy. "This unique trait makes Purple Shadow Mice more valuable than seventh or eighth-level magical beasts."
The elderly spirit continued tempting his young protégé. For eight-year-old Linley, the temptation proved irresistible.
"Grandpa Derkel, how do I subdue it?" Linley asked eagerly, barely containing his excitement.
Derkelot concealed his satisfaction. If the boy could tame this creature, his own worries might lessen. As a soul-bound spirit without magical energy, the former Saint-level archmage knew he couldn't protect the child himself. Over six months together, he'd grown fond of this determined, kind-hearted youth.
"Stay focused," Derkelot cautioned sternly. "Even a juvenile Purple Shadow Mouse rivals the speed of a fourth-level adult. Neither you nor even Uncle Hillman could catch it. Moreover, you lack both the strength for forced submission and the magical capacity to create a Soul Contract array."
Reality doused Linley's enthusiasm like cold water. "Right," he sighed bitterly. "Taming requires genuine submission and a Soul Contract formation. That requires at least seventh-level mage capabilities."
His shoulders slumped. Weakness meant even fortune's favor proved useless—a Purple Shadow Mouse pup within reach, yet beyond his grasp."Linley, don't lose heart. I only said you can't forcibly subdue it, not that there's no way to tame it." Derek Howard chuckled smugly. "If it were an adult Shadow Mouse, I'd be helpless. But... this is just a juvenile Shadow Mouse pup. As a Saint-level Archmage, dealing with a purple Shadow Mouse infant is within my capabilities. Moreover, we won't even need you to set up a soul contract magic array."
Linley's cooled heart suddenly warmed up, his eyes shining as he gazed at Derek Howard.
"Grandpa Derek, tell me quickly! What method exactly?" Linley urgently transmitted his thoughts.
Derek Howard replied with proud assurance: "It's simple. Actually, the 'soul contract' from the magic array is a master-servant pact. If you can make a magical beast submit, you naturally qualify as its master. Since we can't establish a 'master-servant contract' now, we'll settle for the next best option... forming an 'equal contract' with this Shadow Mouse."
"Equal contract?" Linley looked puzzled. "What's that? I've never heard of it."
"That's not surprising. Even during my era five or six thousand years ago, few knew about 'equal contracts'," Derek Howard explained with an amused smile. "An equal contract means you and the magical beast share equivalent status. While seemingly inferior to a master-servant pact, in reality, an equal contract fosters deeper communication and genuine willingness to assist between partners. Your coordination will become truly seamless."
Comprehension dawned on Linley's face.
"Oh? Grandpa Derek, if these equal contracts have so many advantages, why don't most people use them now?" Linley questioned curiously.
Derek Howard laughed heartily: "Because equal contracts aren't established by humans - they're initiated by the magical beasts themselves."
"Initiated by magical beasts?" Linley stared blankly."No wonder there's no need to set up a soul contract magic array. So the magical beast forms it themselves." Delinkote continued, "Every magical beast is born with the ability to establish an Equity Contract. However, each beast can only form this contract once in its lifetime. Unlike the Master-Servant Contract—if the master dissolves it, others can still use the Master-Servant Contract to subjugate that beast again."
Linley nodded.
"But convincing a magical beast to willingly form an Equity Contract is extremely difficult," Delinkote said gravely. "You must make the beast view you as family, feel reluctant to part from you. Only then will it willingly form the contract with you."
Linley nodded slightly.
"Adult magical beasts possess high intelligence. Persuading one to see you as kin is nearly impossible," Delinkote sighed. "But young beasts are different. Even human infants, with their limited intellect, can be easily won over with treats. Magical beast cubs have even lower intelligence than human children. Regularly feed them delicacies, make them fond of you, play with them—soon enough, the cub will grow attached. Especially isolated young beasts without their pack. Those are easiest to tame."
Delinkote's words illuminated Linley's mind.
"So it's just about handling a child," Linley laughed.
This was familiar territory—he'd spent years playing with his younger brother Warton. Handling children was second nature to him.
"Linley, don't be overconfident. Taming a magical beast cub requires caution. One misstep, and that Shadowmouse might bite you," Delinkote warned.
"Bite me?"
Linley glanced at the distant black Shadowmouse. The crunching sound of its stone-gnawing made him shiver—it devoured rock as easily as humans eat bread. He harbored no doubts about the razor sharpness of those teeth."What should I do?" Linley suddenly felt uncertain.
"Don't worry. Follow my instructions, and there will be absolutely no problem. However, this 'clumsy method' of mine requires extreme patience. You must not rush," Delin Cowart explained slowly. "Linley, Shadowmice are omnivorous magical beasts. They eat stones, bones, and even meat, but their favorite is roasted meat. This is knowledge passed down by predecessors."
"First, go to Black Mountain and hunt a small beast. Roast the meat and place it far away on the ground. Remember, do not attempt to approach it directly. Each time, offer it food and wait for it to come closer on its own," Delin Cowart said with a smile. "If you approach proactively, it might panic and attack. But if it chooses to approach you, there will be no danger."
"It's a clumsy method, but the safest," Delin Cowart added cheerfully.
Linley suddenly understood.
The method was indeed simple and crude, yet straightforward.
"Grandpa Delin, what if the Shadowmouse runs away?" Linley worried. If he prepared the roasted meat but the Shadowmouse had already fled, his efforts would be in vain.
"No one can say for sure. It depends on your luck. But I suspect it won't leave anytime soon," Delin Cowart replied.
"Alright, I'll go hunt a beast now." Linley nodded and sprinted outside. As he ran, his footsteps pressed firmly against the ground, yet strangely, they made no sound—a hallmark of an earth-element mage.
Once he left the cluster of ancient houses at the rear, his footsteps resumed their normal rhythm.
"Young Master Linley, heading to Black Mountain?" The steward, Hiri, who was sweeping with a broom, smiled as he watched Linley dash past.
"Mhm." Linley acknowledged briefly before rushing off.
For the past six months, Linley had ventured to Black Mountain every afternoon to practice magic. Though others were unaware of his magical training, they knew he spent his free afternoons there, assuming he simply went to play.Autumn had withered most trees upon Mount Wu, yet many evergreens remained, alongside maple trees ablaze with fiery crimson.
A nimble figure darted through the mountain forest, Lin Lei's footsteps silent as shadows, his movements fluid and swift. After half a year absorbing earth elemental energies, Lin Lei had not only cultivated earth magic power but also significantly enhanced his physical prowess.
Now comparable to a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old youth from Wushan Town, he possessed the strength of a first-level warrior.
Mount Wu teemed with squirrels and rabbits, while fierce beasts remained scarce. This was why adults permitted children to roam the mountain freely—as an ordinary hill, it seldom hosted large predators, let alone magical creatures.
Lin Lei halted abruptly, gaze locking onto a pale yellow wild rabbit nibbling grass in the distance.
Even the highly vigilant creature remained oblivious to the boy's presence.
"Rabbits react swiftly and move quickly. Best use magic," Lin Lei decided, focusing inwardly to recite an incantation silently.
He sensed the reservoir of earth magic power at his sternum stirring. Whereas warriors channeled combat aura from a point ten centimeters below the navel, mages drew magic power from the chest's center—precisely the midpoint between the two nipples. Spiritual energy, the soul's essence, resided solely within the mind.
Whether chanted aloud or silently, spell incantations served the same purpose: aligning one's spiritual energy into specific configurations through syllabic resonance.
Within seconds, Lin Lei's eyes flashed coldly toward the unsuspecting prey as his muted chant concluded.
Earth-element primary spell—Earth Spike!
*Thwip!*
A jagged stone spire erupted beneath the rabbit, piercing its abdomen. Crimson blood bloomed across yellow-tinged fur as the creature convulsed wildly. The more it struggled, the faster its life essence drained into the autumn soil.Lin Lei darted over in an instant, directly grabbing the wild hare's throat with one hand. A crisp *snap* echoed as the previously thrashing hare convulsed twice and fell still. Ever since witnessing those two battles half a year ago, the "Bloodlust" latent in the Dragonblood Warrior's bloodline had gradually begun to surface.
"Though I've reached Level 1 as both a warrior and a mage, magic still holds the edge in offensive power," Lin Lei remarked with a smile, clutching the hare.
Mages were categorized into nine tiers. Advancing to Level 1 was relatively simple. But as the tiers climbed, each subsequent level demanded exponentially more time! Even formidable seventh or eighth-level mages might spend a century striving in vain to progress further.
For Level 1 mages, those with talent could attain it in half a year. Even the less gifted, so long as they met the basic requirements to become mages, could reach Level 1 within two or three years.
Gripping the lifeless hare, Lin Lei dashed straight down the mountain.
"Lin Lei, why didn't you roast it? Though Shadowmice prefer raw meat, they adore roasted fare most," Dellinger Cowart's voice resounded in Lin Lei's mind.
"Grandpa Dellinger, you've never had to coax a child, have you?" Lin Lei teased while running.
Dellinger Cowart paused. He'd never had grandchildren, and as a revered Saint-level Archmage, when would he ever need to placate a child?
"Ah... no, I haven't," Dellinger Cowart admitted.Linley said confidently, "I often coax little Wharton. Let me tell you, when giving things to children, you shouldn't start with something too good. Otherwise, they'll demand good things every time, even better ones later. Right now, that Shadow Mouse is gnawing stones. If I give it raw meat now, it'll be thrilled. Feed it raw meat for seven or eight days first, then switch to roasted meat. It'll be even more excited then."
Derek Covot immediately grasped the meaning.
As an old fox who had seen much of the world, he naturally understood this principle. When managing subordinates, one should first give small rewards before gradually offering better ones. Otherwise, overwhelming them with excessive benefits from the start would only inflate their expectations beyond satisfaction.
"I read about this principle in a book regarding raising monkeys - 'three in the morning and four at evening' works much better than 'four in the morning and three at evening'," Linley chuckled.
Derek Covot suddenly realized that although Linley was only eight and a half years old, his wisdom already surpassed that of ordinary teenagers.
"The Baruch family's education does yield remarkable results," Derek Covot silently praised. True education enlightens the mind, yet most commoners couldn't access proper schooling. The entry requirements and tuition fees of decent magic or warrior academies remained beyond ordinary people's reach.
...
Carrying a wild rabbit home wouldn't raise eyebrows in Wushan Town. In fact, ever since Linley mastered casting Earth Spike, he'd frequently brought back game.
"Young Master Linley is so capable, catching another hare," townsfolk would cheerfully remark.
Linley responded with polite smiles as he walked through the streets.
"I wonder if that Shadow Mouse will accept food from others."
Taking a deep breath, Linley entered the cluster of ancient buildings behind his family estate, cautiously advancing step by soundless step toward the Shadow Mouse's location. Within moments, he returned to the same spot."Where's the Shadow Mouse?" Lin Lei looked towards the ancient courtyard, where only scattered rocks and withered fallen leaves remained.
The traces of gnawed rocks were still visible, yet after scanning the entire courtyard, no shadow mouse could be found. A pang of disappointment and sorrow welled up in Lin Lei's heart: "Grandpa Delin, the shadow mouse is gone. It's only been an hour. Has it left?"
A stream of light flew out from the Coiling Dragon Ring, materializing into De Lin Kewote clad in a moon-white robe.
De Lin Kewote also furrowed his brows: "That shouldn't be. How could the shadow mouse leave after just one hour?"
Suddenly—
"Crunch, crunch~~" The familiar faint gnawing sounds resumed. Lin Lei's eyes lit up as he immediately walked toward a dilapidated adjacent courtyard. Reaching the threshold, he clearly saw the black shadow mouse continuously shifting positions while gnawing at stones, resembling a sculptor shaping rocks into bizarre forms.
Lin Lei stood at the threshold.
"Thud!" Lin Lei intentionally kicked the threshold to make a noise.
"Swish!"
The black shadow mouse instantly darted over ten meters away, its jet-black eyes fixed on the threshold. Upon seeing Lin Lei, its gaze filled with wariness.
"Here, food for you."
Lin Lei smiled at the magical beast 'Shadow Mouse' and tossed the hare onto the threshold. The shadow mouse might not understand human speech, but Lin Lei believed higher-intelligence magical beasts could comprehend the meaning behind a smile.
After all, magical beasts weren't ordinary animals. Their intelligence was only slightly inferior to humans', and some powerful magical beasts could even be exceedingly cunning.
"Mustn't rush, mustn't rush." Lin Lei mentally admonished himself before reluctantly forcing himself to leave.
Seeing Lin Lei depart and noticing the hare, the shadow mouse waited briefly before losing patience. It dashed to the threshold in a flash, simultaneously glancing into the distance where Lin Lei had already retreated far away. Observing the hare before it, the magical beast shadow mouse excitedly stood upright, hopping joyfully.
"Zhi zhi~~~" The shadow mouse emitted cheerful squeaks.Then it swiftly began tearing into the wild rabbit meat. Its sharp teeth ripped with extraordinary speed. Despite the Shadowmouse's small size compared to the larger rabbit, it devoured everything except the fur completely, leaving not even bone fragments.
"Gurgle~~" The little Shadowmouse's throat moved as it patted its belly in a very human-like manner, utterly thrilled.
Compared to stones, flesh and blood were clearly much more delicious.
After finishing, the little Shadowmouse gazed in the direction Linley had departed. In the young magical beast's mind, its fondness for that human boy immediately grew. Being newly born and still a magical beast infant, it even began anticipating - would that boy bring it another rabbit?
That evening before dinner.
"I wonder if that little Shadowmouse will eat it." Linley walked through the ancient buildings of the rear garden, heading straight for the courtyard where he'd left the rabbit that afternoon.
"Linley, don't worry. It's just a magical beast infant with a voracious appetite," Derek Covot's cheerful voice echoed in Linley's mind.
Nodding slightly, Linley soon reached the threshold. Blood-stained rabbit fur remained, but all flesh and bones had vanished. Seeing this, Linley's eyes brightened.
"Perfect!" He clenched his fist in triumph.
The first step succeeded. Now persistence was needed!
The next afternoon, Linley killed a wild rabbit and a pheasant. He left the rabbit for Uncle Hiri to roast for dinner, while placing the pheasant at the familiar spot - the threshold of the ancient courtyard.
"The magical Shadowmouse is actually watching me." Linley chuckled as he saw the creature observing him from the courtyard.
"Linley, this looks promising. The fact it doesn't immediately flee at your presence shows its hostility towards you has significantly diminished," Derek Covot remarked, privately delighted for Linley. Encountering a young high-level magical beast was truly fortunate.
"I really don't know where the parents of this little Shadowmouse have gone," Derek Covot pondered inwardly.
Linley tossed the pheasant onto the threshold. Speaking gently to the Shadowmouse, he smiled and retreated while glancing back repeatedly. The little Shadowmouse soon darted out, glanced around, and upon seeing Linley in the distance showing no particular fear, began eagerly tearing into the pheasant.The third day, the fourth day, the fifth day...
As days passed, Linley continued to meditate and practice magic day after day, while regularly feeding wild rabbits and other prey to the young Shadow Mouse. Neither Hogg nor Hillman, nor anyone else in Wushan Town, realized Linley was cultivating magical abilities. Similarly, none of them knew the boy was nurturing a magical beast that already possessed fourth-level strength during its infancy!
Only Delinkwater, who had watched Linley grow step by step, understood everything clearly.
"This tiny Wushan Town can never confine Linley," murmured Delinkwater while observing the boy immersed in magical energy accumulation through meditation. Anticipation gleamed in his eyes. "The day will come when he strides onto the grand stage of the entire Yulan Continent with a fully matured Purple Shadow Mouse by his side."