Timing and Fate

In the examination grounds of the Nuoding City Spirit Academy's Contractor assessment, Tang San took a deep breath, his fingertips gathering a faint blue Spirit Power.

Before him was a hundred-year Ghost Wolf, bound by a special array. Its wild eyes stared at him warily.

"Begin drawing the Contract Array," the examiner's voice came from behind him.

Tang San closed his eyes, the structure of the Contract Array, practiced repeatedly over the past few years, appearing in his mind.

When he opened his eyes again, his fingertips had already smoothly drawn the first line of Spirit Power in the air.

"So fast!" The examiners in the observation area exchanged surprised glances. Normal students needed at least half an hour to complete the basic array, but Tang San had only taken less than a minute to form its prototype.

Tang San had always seemed ordinary, but who knew he possessed such considerable talent as a Contractor?

He was clearly a promising talent!

The array spun in the air, emitting a soft blue glow.

Tang San could feel his mental power establishing a connection with the Ghost Wolf through this array. The sensation was both strange and familiar, as if his Spirit Power was flowing through another body of his own.

But beyond this familiarity, he could faintly sense the resistance coming from the other party.

In simple terms, the Ghost Wolf was not willing to cooperate with Tang San's contract.

"Don't resist me," Tang San silently recited, increasing his mental power output.

The Ghost Wolf began to struggle, letting out sharp cries, but the light of the Contract Array grew stronger.

If he forced the contract in this situation, the affinity would likely be less than 10%. However, this was just an exam, and the contract could be directly dissolved even if it succeeded.

It wouldn't affect the normal process.

The examiners held their breath, their eyes fixed on the center of the field.

This Ghost Wolf was a specially chosen, fiercer Soul Beast, meant to test the true skill of the students. Most candidates needed multiple attempts to succeed, while Tang San seemed to only need one.

Soon, the Contract Array bloomed with a light symbolizing success.

"Contract established!"

With a crisp chime, the array transformed into countless light spots and merged into the Ghost Wolf's body.

The previously agitated Soul Beast suddenly quieted down. The hostility in its eyes gradually faded, replaced by a peculiar sense of closeness.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Tang San's forehead, but a subtle, cold smile flickered across his lips. He had succeeded, and more easily than anyone else.

"Incredible!" The chief examiner strode over. "Tang San, your mental power strength is at least triple that of students in the same year. By the standard, you could attempt to contract Soul Beasts above five thousand years old! If any Soul Beasts are willing, you could even contract those from ten thousand to hundred-thousand-year levels!"

Tang San humbly lowered his head. "It's all thanks to my teachers' excellent guidance."

He took several deep breaths and quickly dispersed the Contract Array.

The Ghost Wolf howled and immediately turned to flee.

"Excellent! I never expected such a rare Contractor talent to emerge from such a remote place." The academy's dean walked over and patted Tang San's shoulder kindly. "What's your name?"

Tang San didn't dare to be presumptuous and replied respectfully, "This junior's name is Tang San."

"Tang San, is it? Good!" The burly dean patted Tang San's back heavily, letting out a hearty laugh. "Young man, if you continue to develop at this pace, you might even become a high-ranking bishop in Spirit Hall in the future!"

Tang San smiled humbly. "Thank you for your kind words, Dean."

Tang San's development was indeed different from the original story. He had joined Spirit Hall two years ago. After all, his father didn't care for him, and he grew up receiving benefits from Spirit Hall. Naturally, he wasn't so resistant to joining.

Moreover, after becoming a Spirit Master, he could receive a monthly subsidy from Spirit Hall, which strengthened his sense of belonging.

After all, the current Tang San didn't know about his father's grievances with Spirit Hall. He only knew that Spirit Hall had been kind to him and that joining Spirit Hall was beneficial. He naturally chose this path.

There was nothing wrong with that.

It just made one wonder if Tang Hao would fly into a rage and try to disown him if he found out.

"Student Tang San, please come over here to receive your Contractor badge." A staff member called out. After passing the assessment, Tang San was rated as a Junior Contractor and would receive a bronze Contractor badge.

Contractors were currently divided into three levels: Junior, Intermediate, and Senior. Junior Contractors could draw contracts for Soul Beasts from ten to a thousand years old, Intermediate Contractors could draw contracts for thousand to ten-thousand-year-old beasts, and Senior Contractors could create contracts for hundred-thousand-year-old Soul Beasts.

Tang San solemnly put away the bronze Contractor badge. Feeling its solid weight in his hand, he breathed a sigh of relief. He no longer had to work at the blacksmith shop.

During this period, Tang San's work at the blacksmith shop was purely for labor. There were no suitable opportunities for him to practice the Chaotic Cape Hammer Technique. After all, Tang Hao had run off without even teaching him the move. Tang San's blacksmithing at this time was purely to earn money, and he would occasionally steal scraps to forge hidden weapons.

Blacksmithing was no longer a necessity for him. It was better to honestly earn money as a respected Contractor.

Speaking of which, last night he felt like he had already broken through level 30. It was time to obtain his second Soul Beast Pokemon.

Although Tang San's first Spirit Ring was from a Mandala Snake, the position of his second Spirit Ring was given to a Soul Beast Pokemon.

It was quite a fated encounter. Tang San's first Soul Beast Pokemon turned out to be a Blue Silver Grass that had cultivated for nearly nine thousand years, almost ten thousand!

If people usually paid attention to the Blue Silver Grass as a Soul Beast, the academy would have exploded by now.

After all, a Blue Silver Grass of this age was worth at least several thousand Gold Spirit Coins, and it was highly likely that it couldn't even be bought. To think that Tang San had contracted it so quietly.

Back in his dorm, Tang San tidied up his belongings and quickly moved into a single room.

The academy offered preferential treatment to Contractors, with almost every Contractor being assigned a single room. Tang San didn't want to share a dorm with others anymore, so he moved to his new room without a word.

Upon arriving at the dorm, he summoned his subordinate Blue Silver Grass.

The roots of the Blue Silver Grass were faintly surrounded by gold. As soon as it touched the ground, it began to climb along the windowsill and up the walls, extending countless tendrils to help Tang San clean the room and tidy the bed.

"Thank you for your trouble, Little Silver." Tang San had named the Blue Silver Grass Little Silver.

It was quite a coincidence.

After reaching level 20, he had been eager to obtain his own Soul Beast Pokemon. However, the fees for the Soul Hunting Forest were too high, so he decided to try his luck in the wild.

Unexpectedly, he stumbled upon and managed to subdue this Soul Beast Pokemon. It was a matter of time and fate.