The hall erupted into applause before Zhao Ming could steady his breathing. The sudden thunder of thousands of voices crashed against his ears, pulling him away from the impossible sight before him. Students filled every row of the vast Awakening Hall, their eager conversations echoing beneath a ceiling carved with ancient runes that shimmered like stars. Golden banners bearing the crest of the Azure Spirit Academy hung from towering pillars, while the enormous Spirit Awakening Crystal floated at the centre of the arena, radiating waves of pure spiritual energy.Everything looked exactly as he remembered. The polished marble floor. The scent of incense is drifting through the air. The nervous excitement on every young face. Even the warm morning sunlight pouring through the stained-glass windows was identical. For a terrifying moment, Zhao Ming wondered if he had finally died and this was nothing more than a dream crafted from regret. Then he looked down. His hands were no longer stai

"What did you just say?" Principal Gu's voice thundered through the Awakening Hall, breaking the suffocating silence that had swallowed the academy moments earlier. Thousands of eyes remained fixed on Zhao Ming. No one moved. No one dared to breathe. The shattered fragments of the unfinished Spirit Contract still floated lazily through the air, sparkling like broken stars before disappearing one by one.Standing at the centre of the hall, Zhao Ming met every stunned gaze without flinching. His expression remained calm. Far calmer than it had any right to be. "I said..." His voice carried clearly across the hall. "I refuse to contract with her." The silence lasted only a heartbeat. Then the entire academy exploded. "He's insane!""Did he hit his head?" "That's an S-Class Spirit Beast! "You only get one contract in your lifetime!" Students shouted over one another until the grand hall dissolved into complete chaos. Teachers argued. Royal officials stood frozen. Even the guards exchanged

The contract went wrong. The moment Zhao Ming's fingertips touched Lilith's trembling hand, the ordinary crimson contract array beneath the cage shattered like fragile glass. A violent surge of golden light erupted between them. The entire Spirit Beast market trembled.The old merchant stumbled backwards, his face draining of colour as every Spirit Beast in the building suddenly became restless. Wolves howled. Birds slammed against their cages. Even the ferocious beasts that had ignored everything moments ago lowered their heads toward the brilliant pillar of light rising from the forgotten corner."What... what is happening?" the old merchant whispered.He had witnessed thousands of Spirit Contracts throughout his life. Nothing had ever looked like this. A normal contract linked the souls of a Beast Master and a Spirit Beast. This...This felt as though heaven itself had descended to witness the bond. Lilith gasped as streams of golden symbols circled her body. Her small wings fluttere

The forest welcomed them with silence. It wasn't the peaceful silence of nature or the comforting hush beneath ancient trees. It was the kind that pressed against the skin, warning every living creature that something unseen was watching. The moment the first group of students crossed the stone gate leading into the Spirit Forest, the academy's protective barrier disappeared behind them with a low hum.There would be no rescue unless the instructors deemed it necessary. Every student understood the unspoken rule. Survive on your own. Principal Gu's voice echoed one last time from beyond the barrier."The Spirit Forest Examination will last until sunset. Collect Spirit Cores, identify rare herbs, or discover hidden relics. Your performance will determine your academy ranking."A ripple of excitement spread through the students. For Zhao Ming, however, excitement had long since become caution. His gaze swept across the towering trees."This place..."In his previous life, he had crossed th