The Gap

After the Jiang Family, having reached the end of their patience, joined forces to drive him out of the house, he went down into a mine alone, intent on dying. Instead, he unexpectedly formed a contract with an incomparably powerful Contract Spirit, setting him on the path to prominence.

In just a few months, he secured a ticket to the Upper City with an unstoppable display of strength.

After he arrived in the Upper City, his talent caught the eye of an influential figure, who took him in as a son-in-law.

In just a few decades, he established a new Jiang Family in the Upper City, one a hundred times more powerful than the Jiang Family in the Lower City.

When the Lower City Jiang Family learned of it, especially his father, who had led the effort to drive him out, they were filled with regret, their guts turning green with it. They hurriedly sent people bearing lavish gifts to the Upper City to apologize to him.

By then, the former family outcast had reached middle age and lost the sharp edge he once possessed.

Perhaps mindful of their blood ties, he ultimately chose to forgive his father.

It was precisely because of this that the Lower City Jiang Family gained a powerful Upper City family as their backer and rapidly expanded.

In the end, they became the undisputed number one family in the Lower City.

Hearing Jiang Chen bring up this episode without the slightest courtesy, Jiang Chutian's outstretched hand froze in midair, leaving him utterly embarrassed.

Jiang Ruoxue also looked embarrassed, her cheeks burning as though someone had slapped her in public.

Jiang Chen continued:

"You Jiang Family people turn whichever way the wind blows. If my Jiang Family's ancestor hadn't been softhearted and shown mercy, your Lower City Jiang Family could have been wiped out in an instant.

"The fact that you can now throw your weight around in the Lower City under my Upper City Jiang Family's name is already an immense favor. Don't imagine that currying favor with me will bring you any additional benefits."

Every word struck home, stabbing deep into the hearts of the Jiang Family members.

Hearing this, Jiang Ruoxue grew even more ashamed. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails nearly dug into her flesh.

For the first time, she felt so inferior before someone because of her background that she couldn't even raise her head.

But then Jiang Chen suddenly glanced at her and said appraisingly:

"Still, the fact that you formed a contract with an S-Rank Contract Spirit means you do have some talent."

The sudden remark left Jiang Ruoxue, who had been mired in shame and anger, momentarily stunned.

"Before long, Dawnlight Academy, where I study, will hold a student selection in the Lower City. You can take part when the time comes."

"If you pass the selection and officially join Dawnlight Academy, I can recommend a decent team for you."

Dawnlight Academy!

That was one of the top Contract Spirit Master academies in the entire Federation!

Jiang Ruoxue trembled all over with excitement when she heard this.

"Really, Brother Jiang Chen?"

Jiang Chen didn't answer her question, merely looking at her as though it went without saying.

Overwhelming joy swept through Jiang Ruoxue's mind. She felt as though she were dreaming.

She couldn't resist pressing him further:

"Brother Jiang Chen, then my talent... what level would it be among the geniuses of the Upper City?"

Looking at Jiang Ruoxue's eyes, so full of expectation, Jiang Chen unhesitatingly poured a bucket of cold water over her.

"Among all known S-Rank Contract Spirits, an S-Rank Cold Moon Fox ranks in the lower middle."

"In the Upper City, you could still be called a decent genius."

Jiang Ruoxue breathed a small sigh of relief. A decent genius was an acceptable assessment.

But Jiang Chen's next words utterly shattered the hope that had just kindled in her heart.

"But your mental strength is only A-Rank, and who knows how many resources it took to barely raise it to that level.

"At that level, you might stand out as the tallest among dwarfs in the Lower City, but in the Upper City..."

Jiang Chen paused, then uttered three words.

"Very ordinary."

"However," he added, seeming to recall something, "you were fairly lucky to summon an S-Rank Contract Spirit with A-Rank mental strength.

"Luck is also part of one's strength."

The words "very ordinary" struck Jiang Ruoxue like a bolt of lightning.

The talent she had been so proud of had been disparaged as worthless!

The Jiang Family members also exchanged glances.

They all knew how Jiang Ruoxue had obtained her S-Rank Contract Spirit. If she hadn't stolen it from a girl with S-Rank talent, she probably wouldn't even have earned the assessment of "very ordinary."

After all, the Contract Spirit Jiang Ruoxue had summoned on her own was only a Slime.

Even so, Jiang Ruoxue was still a genius of a caliber that might not appear once in several decades in the Lower City.

They hadn't expected the gap between the geniuses of the Upper and Lower Cities to be so vast.

Just then, a rustling sound came from the woods not far away.