Reborn With the God-Tier Spirit Beast System

Chapter 4: The Craziest Decision in History

"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 bewildered glances. The academy had witnessed many shocking awakenings over the centuries.

None compared to this. Principal Gu descended from the platform in a blur, stopping directly before Zhao Ming. His usually composed face had become pale. "Do you understand what you're throwing away?" His voice trembled not with anger, but disbelief. "This is an S-Class Celestial Spirit Beast. "There may never be another one in your lifetime."

"You are about to discard the greatest blessing Heaven has ever given you." Zhao Ming looked at the old man respectfully. "I understand." "Then why?"

The question echoed throughout the hall. Every person present wanted the same answer. Even Seraphina watched him carefully. Unlike everyone else, her confusion remained hidden behind a graceful smile. Inside, however, her thoughts had become restless. Something isn't right. She had observed countless awakenings. Every Beast Master reacted with overwhelming excitement. Pride. Gratitude. Sometimes tears. Never this.

This human looked at her... As though he already knew her. As though he had judged her. The feeling unsettled her. She pushed it aside. No matter. He'll change his mind.No one rejects power. Yet Zhao Ming's next words shattered that certainty."I have no intention of forming a contract with her." Gasps rippled through the audience once again. Before anyone could respond, Zhao Ming continued. "I'm willing..."

He paused deliberately.  To sell her." Silence crashed over the hall. Even the royal officials forgot to breathe. One elderly minister blinked repeatedly. "I'm certain. I misheard." Another official shook his head. "No. "I heard it too. "He wants. to sell an S-Class Spirit Beast." For several seconds, nobody knew how to react.

Then laughter erupted. Not joyful laughter. Disbelieving laughter. One student nearly doubled over. "This idiot has completely lost his mind!" Another pointed toward Zhao Ming. "Someone call a healer. "His Spirit Sea must be damaged." Lin Wei stared at Zhao Ming as though looking at a stranger. You're joking." Zhao Ming simply shook his head. "No."

The answer struck harder than any weapon. Then another voice rang out. Loud. Confident.Filled with amusement."If you're serious... "I'll buy her." The crowd parted. Han Tianyu stepped forward, wearing the same arrogant smile Zhao Ming remembered from his previous life. Expensive jade ornaments decorated his robes. Several family guards followed behind him.

He looked at Zhao Ming with open mockery. "I've always believed fools should be rewarded." "If you insist on throwing away Heaven's greatest gift..." "I'll gladly take responsibility." The royal officials immediately frowned. One of them stepped forward. "Young Master Han." "This matter concerns the kingdom." Han Tianyu smiled politely. "Then allow the kingdom to witness a fair transaction."

He looked back at Zhao Ming. "I'll offer one hundred million Spirit Coins." The hall erupted. One hundred million. The amount was enough to purchase cities. Enough to establish a noble clan.Enough to fund an army. Lin Wei nearly collapsed. "One hundred million?" "He's serious!" Teachers exchanged shocked glances. Principal Gu hesitated. Normally, transferring an unbound Spirit Beast before completing the first contract was almost unheard of. But...

There was no law forbidding it. Seraphina quietly observed the conversation. Her sapphire eyes settled on Han Tianyu. She sensed overwhelming wealth. Political influence. Resources beyond imagination. Compared to Zhao Ming... Han Tianyu offered everything she valued. Power. Status. Opportunity. A nearly invisible smile tugged at the corner of her lips. Perhaps...

This truly is the better choice. Zhao Ming noticed. Of course he noticed. That tiny movement. That almost imperceptible satisfaction. Exactly like before. She wasn't disappointed. She wasn't hurt. She wasn't even surprised. She was pleased. Because, deep inside, she had already begun calculating which master would benefit her future more. His heart grew colder.

He had hoped... Even a little... That seeing her again might reveal some misunderstanding. It hadn't. Greed still lived behind those beautiful eyes. Nothing had changed. Han Tianyu crossed his arms. "Well?" "What's your answer?" Without hesitation, Zhao Ming replied. "I accept." Shock swept through the hall once more. Principal Gu stepped forward urgently. "Think carefully!" "You'll regret this decision for the rest of your life!" Zhao Ming smiled faintly.

"I already have." Those quiet words carried a weight no one else understood. Only Zhao Ming knew they were true. He had already spent an entire lifetime regretting his first choice. He would not repeat it. The royal officials reluctantly prepared the transfer formation. Golden arrays spread across the marble floor. Ancient contract symbols rotated beneath Seraphina's feet. Since no permanent bond had formed with Zhao Ming, ownership could still be transferred.

The process began. Light enveloped the hall. Threads of golden spiritual energy slowly shifted from Zhao Ming toward Han Tianyu. The transfer completed in seconds. The moment the final thread disappeared, Seraphina gracefully floated beside her new master. Han Tianyu laughed triumphantly. "This is the greatest investment I've ever made." He looked directly at Zhao Ming. "You just sold your future."

The students nodded. Teachers sighed. Even Principal Gu lowered his head in disappointment. Everyone believed Zhao Ming had thrown away destiny itself. Only Zhao Ming smiled. It wasn't a smile of defeat. It was a relief. "No." His calm voice cut through the noise. "I sold yours." Han Tianyu frowned. "What?" "You'll understand. "Eventually." Their eyes met.

For the briefest moment, Han Tianyu felt an inexplicable chill run down his spine. Then he dismissed it. How could a fool threaten him? He now possessed the strongest Spirit Beast in the kingdom. His future was limitless. Meanwhile... Standing several steps behind everyone else, Seraphina glanced back toward Zhao Ming. Why... Why wasn't he watching her leave? Every Beast Master should have been devastated. He should have begged her to stay. Instead... He looked almost... Free.

The feeling irritated her. She quickly turned away. It doesn't matter. Soon he'll realise what he lost. And by then... it will be too late. Across the hall, Zhao Ming lowered his eyes. Not toward Seraphina. Toward the forgotten corner where a tiny girl with trembling black wings stood silently watching everything. Lilith. She looked confused. Afraid.

As though wondering why anyone would willingly abandon such a magnificent Spirit Beast. She never imagined... He had abandoned heaven... To choose her. At that exact moment, time seemed to freeze. A familiar mechanical voice echoed inside Zhao Ming's mind. Hidden Destiny Altered. His breathing stopped. Golden letters unfolded before his eyes, visible only to him. Future Timeline... Deviating. Calculating Destiny Changes...

The glowing text flickered once. Then a new message appeared. God-Tier Spirit Beast System Synchronisation: 10%. New Function Unlocked... Before Zhao Ming could read the next line, the screen dissolved into countless particles of light. His pupils contracted. The system... Had begun responding to the future he had just rewritten.