"Xiao Zhan really has all the luck with ladies, huh? Just moments ago he was with Jiang Xian'er, and now he's found another girl."
"Don't just blabber, Jiang Xian'er isn't with Xiao Zhan anymore. Lin Dong from the neighboring Raging Sun Spirit Academy has awakened an S-grade Spirit talent and is rushing to our academy to sign a Contract with her. Be careful what you say, or he might whack you!"
"Lin Dong is really fast, faster than herding ducks. But Xiao Zhan is quick too, immediately switching to another girl. Being handsome really helps, easily hooks up with girls!"
"This girl also doesn't look like just anybody, where are they heading to? Isn't that the direction to the Contract Room? Are they going to make a Contract?"
"No way, does that girl not know that Xiao Zhan is useless? Still daring to make a Contract? She might have been tricked!"
"Can talent be faked? During the Contract, both parties exchange information, the truth will come out instantly. I guess that girl must also be F-grade, probably drawn to Xiao Zhan's looks to make a contract with him."
"But the girl is so pretty, she totally could find an E-grade Spirit Master, surely many would be scrambling for her."
"Who knows, I think there's more to this than meets the eye. Let's go check out the excitement!"
Xiao Zhan treated these words as if they were just wind past his ears and proceeded with Ye Youlong to the Contract Room, arriving soon.
Today, being the awakening day, the Contract Room was crowded with many people. Unexpectedly, when Xiao Zhan arrived, people instinctively made way for him.
Everyone's expressions were quite odd.
Seemed curious, yet weary as if afraid of bad luck.
Xiao Zhan didn't mind, having experienced great highs and lows, his mindset had significantly shifted.
If people made way, he'd just walk forward.
Completely unconcerned about what others thought.
As for Ye Youlong, she was accustomed to such gazes, always being the center of attention wherever she went because of her excellence from a young age.
"Hey, Xian'er, isn't that Xiao Zhan? Why is he also at the Contract Room? Could he be here for you? And who's that girl with him?"
In the crowd, a decent-looking girl spoke to Jiang Xian'er next to her.
Upon hearing this, Jiang Xian'er also lifted her eyes, and indeed saw Xiao Zhan among the crowd.
Compared to before, his body no longer carried the desolation of a failed awakening, nor did it carry the pre-awakening confidence and pride; instead, it was replaced by a calm demeanor, composed and unflustered.
All these changes in just a few hours, she was curious about what Xiao Zhan had experienced.
But then, when she saw the incredibly beautiful woman by Xiao Zhan's side, she seemed to understand everything.
A hint of pity flashed in her eyes.
She shook her head.
Xiao Zhan and Ye Youlong were heading to make a Contract, exactly where Jiang Xian'er was.
Inevitably, the two met each other.
The atmosphere upon their meeting was inevitably a bit eerie.
Just in a few short hours, they had neither said anything to each other, nor done anything, they hadn't even seen each other face-to-face.
Yet both understood without needing to say anything.
"Xiao Zhan, you don't need to do this, we are from two different worlds now, why bother?"
The coldness was evident on Jiang Xian'er's innocent face.
In this world, talent almost decides everything.
She is S-grade, Xiao Zhan is F-grade, from the moment of awakening, he should have understood that they were meant to part ways.
Not taking initiative and not responding was an adult's way of rejection, Xiao Zhan should understand this.
"What's wrong with what I am doing?"
Xiao Zhan, upon hearing this, was somewhat perplexedly odd?
Is it a problem to make a contract with Ye Youlong myself?
Could it be, Jiang Xian'er, you still plan to continue contracting with yourself?
Xiao Zhan doesn't believe he has that much charm.
Adults understand these things.
In this world, to avoid unnecessary entanglements and troubles, almost everyone before male and female adulthood awakening will not engage in romantic relationships and will consciously keep their distance.
Even if stirred by youthful impulses, they won't make their relationship public, merely engaging in ambiguous interactions day-to-day.
Because reality is cruel, you cannot be sure if the person you like will awaken a talent that matches. If the disparity is too great, the emotional investment in the early stages can become a very painful thing.
Severed feelings hurt immensely.
And further on, after signing contracts with others, if the heart is not clear, it can create a barrier between the parties of the contract, the compatibility cannot be improved, and strength will be greatly diminished.
The impact on strength is the most fatal.
Therefore, before awakening, both men and women rationally keep their distance.
The reason Xiao Zhan and Jiang Xian'er are so close is that they have been childhood sweethearts since they were young, and of course, because both are outstanding.
They believe that even if they are unlucky in their awakening results, it wouldn't be too far off.
They could still form a contract.
Yet, they never anticipated the gap would be so vast.
But even though they had such good relations before, they never broached that layer of relationship and just walked together often.
Of course, this world is not lacking in those crazed by love, who despite discovering a significant gap post-awakening, still choose against all odds to sign a contract with the other, all for the sake of genuine love.
Would those people be miserable?
Not necessarily.
Because, as mentioned before, in this world, talent determines almost everything.
The uncertainty lies in this "almost."
Apart from almost, there's also one aspect, giving those with lesser talents a chance to turn their lives around.
That is Compatibility!
Perfect compatibility can unleash power many times greater than one's own!
For instance, an F-grade and an A-grade contracting together, typically, they might only attain the realm of a Second Grade Spirit Master throughout their lives.
But when their compatibility reaches perfection, they can burst forth with strength matching or even surpassing that of a Third Grade Spirit Master!
However, that's the limit; they cannot surpass a Fourth Grade Spirit Master.
Talent is ultimately the foundation; no matter how strong an ant is, it's still an ant and can never shake an elephant!
Compatibility is everyone's pursuit.
But for those with low talent, it's merely a desperate consolation.
For those with high talent, its effect of icing on the cake is far more effective than adding fuel in snowy weather.
Seeing Xiao Zhan knowingly ask, Jiang Xian'er's impression of Xiao Zhan greatly diminishes, her expression gradually growing colder.
Wouldn't it be better just to part in silence?
Why choose such a method for revenge?
Jiang Xian'er said, "Xiao Zhan, I know this matter has hit you hard, but you are a smart person. You should know that it's impossible between us."
"You brought her here merely to provoke me. But does it work, will I choose to sign a contract with you now? I'm sorry, my rationality is stronger than you think."
"Compared to talent, beauty is not worth mentioning. Doing such a thing, in my view, is really childish."