The loud voice captured everyone's attention.
The initially somewhat noisy Contract Room became incredibly quiet at this moment.
Xiao Zhan stopped in his tracks and turned to look at the two.
Lin Dong, whom he recognized, and from what he had heard on the street, Xiao Zhan knew that Lin Dong was now Jiang Xian'er's Contracted partner.
He said indifferently, "Why should I apologize?"
"You made Xian'er unhappy, you should apologize!" Lin Dong stepped forward, assertively positioning himself in front of Jiang Xian'er.
He felt that he had protected Jiang Xian'er well and could bring her a sense of security.
Hearing this, Xiao Zhan only found it laughable. What kind of twisted logic was this—she's unhappy, so he must apologize?
It was simply unreasonable troublemaking.
He no longer wanted to have any ties with Jiang Xian'er, feeling more disgusted the more it dragged on. Without saying a word, he turned around, intending to leave.
But Lin Dong's brow furrowed, feeling ignored?
By someone inferior and worthless?
How could he tolerate this?
"Xiao Zhan, stop right there! Did I say you could leave?"
Xiao Zhan could not be bothered with him, mere senseless barking, lacking any substance.
Only genuine, overpowering strength held absolute sway in speech.
A Contract Room just ahead was now unoccupied, and he needed to hurry to form a Contract. After contracting, he could start training and then become a true Spirit Master!
Only by achieving that could he have a footing in this world!
But his non-response only served to make Lin Dong feel a great loss of face, especially under the watchful eyes of the audience.
He felt extremely humiliated!
Rage surged into his head!
"Xiao Zhan, I told you to stop! You good-for-nothing trash, if you dare not apologize to Xian'er today, I will make sure you'll never be able to contract an Artifact Spirit in your life!"
These words were no bluff for Lin Dong.
A lowly F-grade piece of trash, with the backing of his family heritage, he could completely isolate Xiao Zhan.
After all, contracting was voluntary, Xiao Zhan was an orphan, making it exceedingly simple for Lin Dong to block his attempts to contract with Artifact Spirits.
Money plus threats, easily done.
And if Xiao Zhan wanted to contract, he could either beg Lin Dong or resort to a forced Contract method, but such coerced methods were exclusive to the mighty.
Xiao Zhan, who wasn't even a Spirit Master yet, simply couldn't force a contract.
By saying this, Lin Dong believed he had Xiao Zhan under his control.
After all, even an F-grade, though worthless, was still stronger than an ordinary person.
One would definitely want to contract if possible.
He wouldn't choose to give up.
Just as he thought Xiao Zhan would come over, kneel and apologise reluctantly, Xiao Zhan continued to ignore him and headed towards the Contract Room.
Xiao Zhan couldn't be threatened?
Lin Dong once again felt his face trampled upon, his reputation not just torn but now being stomped furiously into the ground!
Especially under the watching eyes of the bystanders, which felt like coarse salt rubbed into his raw, stinging face.
Clenching his teeth!
Fury building up!
This was only his first day at the Changchi City Spirit Academy, and he had lost so much face.
How could he establish authority in this academy in the future?
Just as he felt lost, he suddenly noticed Ye Youlong.
His eyes lit up.
He hurriedly ran in front of Ye Youlong.
He blocked her.
"I'll give you ten thousand Federation coins, refuse to form a contract with him!"
"Get lost."
Ye Youlong's tone was indifferent, too lazy to even lift her eyelids.
"You!" Lin Dong was immediately choked with rage, Xiao Zhan ignored him, and now even this woman dared to ignore him?
"One hundred thousand! One hundred thousand Federation coins! Surely, that should suffice now!"
"I said, get lost!"
Ye Youlong's eyelids slowly lifted, her deep eyes, dark as black holes, shot out a cold gleam.
Lin Dong felt as if death was staring him down.
His hair stood on end!
But upon closer inspection, that feeling vanished, and he steadied his nerves, thinking it was an illusion.
"Don't push your luck, one hundred thousand Federation coins is an astronomical sum. With that money, you could easily find an E-rank or even D-rank Spirit Master. This is a tremendous favor for you; you should thank me! I advise you not to be ungrateful!"
Lin Dong gazed at Ye Youlong's face.
It must be said, Ye Youlong was truly beautiful, extremely cold and stunning, exuding a dark aura!
If only Ye Youlong weren't such a low-level useless person, he might even consider forming a contract with her.
And why was he so sure Ye Youlong was a low-level useless person? Well, who else would contract with useless people but another useless person!
Hearing this, Ye Youlong's brows chilled, and she kicked out directly!
Hitting Lin Dong right in the abdomen, flipping him over face-down!
Awakening as an Artifact Spirit was different from being a Spirit Master.
Artifact Spirits gain combat ability immediately upon awakening. In contrast, Spirit Masters do not; they need to form a Contract first to possess combat abilities!
In other words, most of the combat abilities of Spirit Masters actually come from Artifact Spirits.
Thus, the kick from Ye Youlong was incredibly powerful, not something an ordinary person could deliver.
With that kick, Lin Dong fell to the ground clutching his stomach, curling up with a pale face, sweating profusely.
Trembling all over, he tried to speak but couldn't utter a word.
"Trash, if it weren't for the Federation's law against killing, I would have taken your life just now!" Ye Youlong said coldly.
Due to the prevalence of Demon Beasts in this world and humanity's weak position, the Federation laws strictly prohibit Spirit Masters from killing each other!
Violators will be stripped of their Spirit Master status and exiled to the border regions!
Of course, that's the official law, but clandestine killings aren't rare.
Having said that, Ye Youlong pulled Xiao Zhan and stepped into the Contract Room.
Upon entering, the door automatically closed, blocking all external disturbances. The sudden quiet and peace made Xiao Zhan appreciate the good soundproofing.
Outside.
Jiang Xian'er looked at the disgraced Lin Dong and shook her head in disdain.
Putting aside their talents, the difference in character between Lin Dong and Xiao Zhan was vast, not even on the same level.
But regardless, Lin Dong was now her Contract partner, and she still needed to show the proper concern.
"Are you alright?"
Lin Dong, in pain, twisted his face; even breathing was difficult, but hearing Jiang Xian'er's concern made him feel a lot better.
"I, I'm fine."
He then added, "Xiao Zhan is simply too arrogant. An F-rank rubbish, where does he get the guts! I must reclaim our position. When they come out from the contract, I'll make them pay for their arrogance!"
"Xian'er, let's go form our Contract now too. When they come out, we'll show them together. Make Xiao Zhan kneel before you to apologize, with our S-rank talents and Artifact Spirits, we can definitely make them beg for mercy!"
"Okay."
Jiang Xian'er nodded, even if not to reclaim their stance, they still needed to form the Contract.
Thus, the two entered another Contract Room.