The summoning ritual came to an end.
Su Nian swiftly established a soul connection with her newly-born companions.
A convergence of consciousness.
She learned their true names from the distant Void Beast Lair clans.
The Wind Elemental Holy Dragon, named Stormwing Velora.
The leader of the Purple Domain Spirit Cat clan, Fulgura.
And that Sea Island Giant Spirit Turtle, Atogus, whose size was too great to manifest here.
Their voices echoed in Su Nian’s mind, explaining their origins.
Void Contract Beasts were not magical creations born out of nothingness.
Instead, they answered the call of their world’s deity.
To follow her, Su Nian, their newly chosen master.
Because of this, their clans would receive the blessing and protection of that deity.
It was a fair exchange, founded upon the deity’s contract.
Therefore, they willingly responded to the summoning to offer loyalty and strength to their master.
Void Beasts were not rootless wanderers; they had their own worlds, clans, and lives.
At the same time, the deity of that other world left behind a rule.
That world’s imprint must never be mentioned in this one.
Thus, the Contract Beasts requested Su Nian to bestow new names upon them for this world.
Su Nian’s gaze swept over her three companions, each with a different form but equally radiating powerful auras.
Her thoughts began to stir.
‘Names? That was a novel matter. It made sense.’
Even that bastard Horned Demon’s undead knight underling had an impressive-sounding name, “Da Hei.”
Naturally, her Contract Beasts could not go without names.
‘Hmph!’
However, she was not good at naming things…
That elegant and dignified wind dragon, surrounded by streams of azure air…
A body massive as a mountain.
‘Let’s call you “Little Green.” Simple and easy to remember.’
Though it hardly matched the word “little,” and somehow sounded like a snake?
The spirit cat, dark purple all over, its fur sleek and shimmering with tiny sparks of lightning—
‘Let’s call you “Little Violet.” The color fit quite well.’
As for the giant turtle, so huge even the Forbidden Zone could not hold it, like a moving island…
‘Let’s call you “Big Mountain.” Direct and fitting.’
“Little Green, Little Violet, Big Mountain.”
Through the soul connection, Su Nian transmitted these three simple and straightforward names.
“From now on, I’ll be counting on you.”
No flowery words, only the most direct titles.
Surprisingly, the three powerful saint-level Contract Beasts showed not a trace of discontent.
Instead, they responded with clarity, joy, and acceptance.
Their immense eyes brimmed with curiosity and friendliness toward their new master.
In their original clan cultures, after all, names were always simple and practical.
‘Little Violet’s size is convenient,’ Su Nian thought, ‘She can pass as… a stray cat I picked up outside.’
She reached out and gently cradled Little Violet in her arms.
A sensation of warmth and silkiness met her touch.
The dark purple fur was like the finest silk, exquisite to the touch.
She could even feel minute electrical currents crackling beneath her fingertips.
‘So comfortable! This feeling was even more addictive than the rarest fabrics.’
The Purple Domain Spirit Cat, Little Violet, seemed to enjoy her master’s caress as well.
It purred in a low, satisfied hum.
Curling up, it nestled into Su Nian’s warm embrace, seeking a cozy spot.
Its amethyst eyes narrowed in contentment as it dozed.
It looked just like an exceptionally beautiful housecat.
Who would imagine that this seemingly gentle and harmless little creature was a saint-level powerhouse controlling thunder and space?
“As for Little Green and Big Mountain…”
Su Nian’s eyes swept past the wind dragon hovering in the forest, and she sensed the overwhelming presence of the giant turtle in the void.
‘I’ll have to trouble you both to stay in my space for now.’ With a thought from Su Nian the Wind Elemental Holy Dragon, Little Green, turned into a streak of green light.
The aura of the Sea Island Giant Spirit Turtle, Big Mountain, faded away as well.
Their forms vanished into the spinning starry vortex deep within Su Nian’s right eye.
Temporarily returning to the Void Lair Space belonging only to her and her Contract Beasts.
After completing all this.
Su Nian grew alert, meticulously cleaning up the scene.
Not a single trace could be left behind.
To summon saint-level creatures—especially three at once—the resulting energy fluctuations were anything but ordinary.
Everything must be erased.
She extended her fair fingers, and the water elements in the air swiftly converged.
Clear water materialized, flowing like it had a will of its own as it washed the ground.
Sweeping away any lingering footprints, bits of scales, and all physical traces.
At last—
Little Violet, still in her arms, opened her eyes.
A ripple of spatial power shimmered in those purple pupils.
A formless wave spread out from her, smoothing away all the spatial folds and distortions left by the earlier space rift.
No flaws remained.
Su Nian checked carefully.
Once she was sure there were no anomalies, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She tidied her slightly rumpled ivory dress, ruffled by the previous energy surge.
She smoothed a few strands of golden hair beside her ear and took a deep breath.
Her face once again wore that familiar expression of cool indifference, tinged with aloofness as if she had just finished a regular magic training session.
Turning, she strode away with composure, leaving the Forbidden Zone behind the Magic Academy.
With three powerful Void Contract Beasts in hand—
The most crucial part of her revenge plan was complete.
Now, only the final problem remained.
The last step that would determine success or failure.
Choosing the final battlefield with that bastard Horned Demon.
Although her initial plan was to settle the fight somewhere remote, she still had to consider the exact location carefully.
After a moment’s thought Su Nian decided to head to the Magic Academy’s task hall.
That’s right Red Maple Magic Academy, as the continent’s top magic institution, offered much more than just education.
It also had a task board system similar to an adventurers’ guild.
All kinds of commission tasks filled the board, waiting for the academy’s magicians to accept them.
Students could gain valuable practical experience and exchange it for credits by completing tasks.
Mentors could earn rare magical materials or generous monetary rewards.
Su Nian’s current status as the academy’s celebrated genius “Mentor” meant she had access to a level of tasks far above ordinary students.
Her eyes swept quickly across the Task Panel, information flowing swiftly through her mind.
Soon, one task entry caught her attention.
Go to Blackstone Canyon to collect several rare magical plants needed for an important potion research project.
Blackstone Canyon.
Su Nian’s memory was stirred.
That place was remote, practically a no-man’s-land, and the terrain was complex.
More importantly, high-level magical beasts often appeared there, making it perilous.
Clearly it was the perfect place for her final showdown!
A spot where she could avoid all unrelated witnesses, and completely bury that bastard Horned Demon.
The outline of her plan quickly solidified in her mind.
Of course, she couldn’t just declare her intent to go to such a dangerous place without reason.
That would certainly arouse the bastard Horned Demon’s suspicion.
She needed a legitimate excuse.
One that he couldn’t refuse, or might even insist on accompanying her and now, that reason was right before her eyes.
As an academy Mentor, she would be going “for work,” for “important potion research.”
The excuse was flawless.
Given past experience, there was no reason that bastard Horned Demon would stop her from carrying out academy tasks.
***
In the task hall.
Sunlight streamed through the massive stained glass windows on either side of the corridor, casting multicolored patterns across the hall.
A beam happened to fall on Su Nian, bathing her in a dreamlike halo.
Her ivory dress outlined a breathtakingly beautiful figure.
Her perfect features and cool demeanor made her the undisputed center of attention wherever she went.
Inside the hall, students and Mentors passing by couldn’t help but have their eyes drawn to her.
Whispers filled with awe and curiosity rose in the background.
Today’s Su Nian seemed somehow different from before.
Between her brows was a brilliance hard to describe—a light of absolute confidence from deep within.
The soaring fighting spirit of one about to take vengeance with her own hands.
Her astonishing charm made even old mages who usually cared only for magical research look up in spite of themselves.
Su Nian walked straight to the task desk and very quickly, she found the Potion Studies Mentor who had posted the collection task.
He was an old man with white hair and a beard almost hanging to his chest.
Burying his head in a pile of thick parchment scrolls, he was absorbed in his work, paying no heed to the world around him.
Until Su Nian arrived to accept the task.
The Old Mentor was devoted to potion research, pouring nearly all his energy into it.
When he heard that this outrageously young but already famous Mentor Su Nian was willing to take on the dangerous Blackstone Canyon collection task, a glimmer of surprise flashed in his cloudy old eyes.
This task had been posted for quite some time.
The dangers of Blackstone Canyon had scared off more than a few.
No one expected this seemingly delicate and beautiful young Mentor to have such courage.
“You’re going to Blackstone Canyon?”
The Old Mentor lifted his head, carefully looking Su Nian over.
“Yes, for an important magical experiment. I need those materials.” Su Nian’s voice was calm, betraying no emotion.
The Old Mentor adjusted his Presbyopia Glasses, then glanced at the requirements on the task scroll.
“Those materials really are rare, and only a place like Blackstone Canyon has them… Very well, since Mentor Su Nian is willing to go, that is for the best.”
The Old Mentor picked up his quill and signed his name on the scroll, indicating his initial approval of Su Nian’s application.
“But remember Blackstone Canyon is no good place. High-level magical beasts roam there, the terrain is complex—it’s extremely dangerous. A young girl like you going alone is far too risky.”
“It’d be best to find a few powerful companions to accompany you, so you can look after each other. Safety first.”
The Old Mentor rambled on, simply out of a senior’s concern for his junior.
At the same time, he added a note to the task scroll, marking it as dangerous and recommending it be attempted as a group.
To Su Nian, these words were music to her ears.
A pillow delivered to a sleepy head.
Wasn’t this exactly what she needed?
A perfect excuse that would force that bastard Horned Demon to go with her!
“Thank you for the reminder. I’ll be careful,” Su Nian said.
‘Heh heh heh.’
The Contract Beasts were summoned, the battlefield and the excuse for going there had been set.
It was only natural to request that the bastard Horned Demon protect her on the journey to Blackstone Canyon.