Chapter 1

"So, students, between the two kinds of summoning magic—contracting Magic Beasts and elemental summoning—what the academy can teach you is elemental summoning." Lin Hanxuan and the other students sat in a circle on a patch of grass within the academy, while their summoning teacher stood at the center of the circle, explaining the principles and applications of summoning to them.

The teacher was a young human woman named Yi Junqing. Yang Huan's descendants all had some degree of aptitude for learning summoning, and quite a few people from the Yi Family, which had branched off from the Yang Family, chose to become summoners as well.

Yi Junqing continued, "To learn basic elemental summoning, you can begin with this method. All of you may try using elemental perception to capture the densest elemental distribution in the surrounding environment, then select the area you believe contains the greatest amount. Use your mental power to direct and concentrate the elements. When a single element has condensed to a sufficient degree, place the catalyst inside, and there will be a great chance that an elemental body will appear in response to your summons."

Hal frowned and whispered to Lin Hanxuan, "Boss, do you understand what she's talking about?"

Lin Hanxuan spread both hands and said, "I understand it, sure, but I can't learn elemental summoning. Even if I listen a hundred times, it's no use." Lin Hanxuan, who had absolutely no way of sensing elemental energy, had long since understood that taking this class was the same as taking it for nothing.

"Yi Lin Hanxuan, goblin Hal, what are you doing instead of paying attention in class? Have you already learned everything the teacher is teaching?" Yi Junqing noticed someone whispering and immediately called out the inattentive students.

"Teacher, those two gave up ages ago, haha," someone among the students mocked.

"Yi Lin Hanxuan, I know your elemental perception test results were not ideal." Yi Junqing said sternly, "But that cannot become an excuse for not paying attention in class. You must understand that the empire's great mage Lei Xiaoqing was also born unable to sense elemental energy, yet she was still able to become a Seven-Feather Summoner. Your performance in the illusion test was very good, and several teachers have been full of praise for you. You must work hard, after all, the natural elements forever open their doors to all life."

After lecturing Lin Hanxuan, Yi Junqing said to all the students, "All right, now everyone begin practicing how to grasp elemental distribution. Hold the elemental crystal that was just handed out. If you prefer to use one you brought yourself, I will not interfere, but you must use the method I just taught you to condense an elemental body."

Lin Hanxuan looked at the small earth-colored conical crystal in his hand, a bitter taste in his mouth. No matter how he touched it, no matter how he looked at it, he felt nothing whatsoever. It would be more practical to use this time to intensify his practice of the Balance Summoning Technique. These past few days, Lin Hanxuan attended class during the day, and after dinner at night, he would rest for a while before beginning to practice the summoning technique Uncle Kun had taught him, only going to sleep when his mental power could no longer hold out. Aunt Caiyu had also reminded him that although his mental power could be described as vast and boundless, what Lin Hanxuan could actually use right now was still very little. He had to practice often in order to continue developing the mental power he had yet to use.

"Yi Lin Hanxuan, why are you spacing out?" A young noble from a fairly wealthy family walked over to Lin Hanxuan with a classmate behind him, tossing a sky-blue crystal up and down in his hand.

"Let me broaden your horizons. This is a Sky Gem. It can help condense atmospheric elements. It's very rare." The young noble Qito showed it off smugly.

"Oh, that's pretty nice." Lin Hanxuan replied halfheartedly and opened his mouth in a yawn. He did not especially dislike Qito; he had simply practiced until very late before sleeping yesterday and had little energy now.

"Let me see what you're holding... Oh, an earth-element crystal. Can you summon earth elements?" Qito still would not let Lin Hanxuan go and continued trying to talk to him.

Lin Hanxuan shook his head and said, "Not yet."

"Heh heh, then good. Young Master Qito will let you witness an Atmospheric Spirit." Qito took a blue feather fan from his waist, clenched the blue crystal tightly in his left hand, and chanted, "Atmospheric elements that fill heaven and earth, answer the request of I, Qito, and summon an Atmospheric Spirit." After Qito finished chanting, he opened his left hand, and the Sky Gem could be seen mysteriously hovering, the surrounding air slowly pouring into the gem.

Before long, an almost transparent, faintly visible Atmospheric Spirit attached itself to the Sky Gem. The air currents around it began to coil, bringing gusts of light wind.

"Wow, that's amazing." A few sharp-eyed students noticed that Qito had successfully summoned an Atmospheric Spirit and spoke enviously.

Yi Junqing also noticed that Qito had summoned an Atmospheric Spirit. Although he had succeeded only by using a high-grade atmospheric crystal, for a new student, his performance was still quite good, and she specially praised him.

Qito had shown off in a big way and felt rather pleased. He turned to look toward the group of girls and noticed that "she" was still sneaking looks at Lin Hanxuan, making him feel very uncomfortable.

"Hmph, Atmospheric Spirit, attack." Qito quietly ordered the spirit to attack Lin Hanxuan. As for what method of attack the Atmospheric Spirit would use, he did not know either; he only wanted to make Lin Hanxuan embarrass himself.

The spirit, which had originally been floating in the air waiting for its summoner's next command, received Qito's order and transformed into a sharp blade, hacking toward Lin Hanxuan.

Because Lin Hanxuan and Hal both had their backs to Qito, they did not notice the Atmospheric Spirit's attack at all. They only heard a scream come from the girls' side. Hal turned his head and saw a knife chopping toward Lin Hanxuan.

"Boss, watch out." Hal threw himself at Lin Hanxuan and rolled away on the spot. With a bang, the grass