58: The fifth contracted beast

The Principal's Office.

Liu Rufeng looked at Xu Le's information, his expression darkening the more he read.

Thinking back to how he had confidently claimed to have seen Xu Le's video just to be more persuasive, he never expected the kid to be a Contractor.

Isn't it perfectly reasonable for a Contractor to like small animals?

Thinking about the half-hour lecture on ideology he had given him, he now wished he could transmigrate back to this morning and do it all over again.

Yuantai!

Yes, it was that brat!

Claiming he had taken in an exceptionally talented Disciple who had already achieved Major Achievement in the Soaring Nine Steps Shattering Jade Force and wanted to show him.

What kind of Contractor practices Ancient Martial Arts?

Gu Shaoqiang broke into a cold sweat for Xu Le, wondering what he could have done to make the usually magnanimous Principal this angry.

"Teacher, I think there might be a misunderstanding. Xiao Le is quite simple and honest by nature; even if he made a mistake in a moment of weakness, he can still be saved."

Liu Rufeng looked at Gu Shaoqiang with a complicated expression. At the Demon Slaying Academy, many teachers of melee classes had received training from him for a period and addressed him as 'Teacher' out of respect.

This was also why he had kicked the five of them in the rear out of frustration.

But now, after his own momentary lapse, whom should he find to kick his own rear?

And how could it be salvaged?

It was social death!

...Men's Dormitory.

Xu Le finished drawing the Formation and placed the raven inside; it immediately took flight.

"Caw! Caw!"

Like a black god of war, it flapped its wings and brandished its sharp claws, pecking directly at his eyes.

Xu Le grabbed it in one swift motion, and its sharp beak pecked his hand.

Instantly, his hand... felt nothing.

A mere ordinary bird—it wouldn't matter even if he let it peck his eyeballs.

On the contrary, the raven felt as if its beak had struck steel, nearly snapping it.

It didn't give up and tried another spot, pecking directly at the web of his right thumb, only to end up grimacing in pain again.

Xu Le placed it back into the Formation, and it took to the air once more.

Without the slightest thought of escaping, it flew straight at his face to peck him.

Xu Le: "..."

This thing really doesn't know what's good for it!

He reached out and caught it, holding it firmly in his hand as he activated the Formation.

The raven continued to attack Xu Le.

It wasn't until Xu Le's immense Mental Energy bore down on it that the raven was forced into a contract.

With the blessing of "All Ascend to Heaven," this silly bird evolved directly into an SSS-Rank Divine Pet.

[contracted beast] Little Black Crow (Renamed)

[Race] Nether Raven (SSS-Rank)

[Rank] 0

[Strength] 10

[Agility] 20

[Physique] 10

[Spirit] 60

[Equipment] None

[Talent] Divine Believer

Fanatically worships a deity. Upon gaining recognition, it can surrender its True Spirit to the deity and become a Divine Believer. As long as the deity does not abandon it, its True Spirit will never perish.

[Skills]

1. Light of Punishment

Consumes 120 Mana to unleash six fan-shaped shockwaves, each dealing Spirit × 2 damage.

2. One Into Myriad

Consumes 300 Mana to split itself into (Spirit/10) small ravens, temporarily gaining 100% Lifesteal.

3. Spiritual Interrogation

Consumes 200 Mana to initiate Spiritual Interrogation against the opponent, trapping their mind.

The duration is determined by the target's mental strength; being attacked will cause them to wake early.

4. Soul Sacrifice

Consumes 300 Mana to summon a sacrificial altar, allowing the execution of enemies with Health lower than (Spirit × 10). The soul is sacrificed to the deity for a chance to receive a divine reward. Cooldown: 24 hours.

5. Descent of the Deity

Pray devoutly. Upon the deity's approval, a projection of the worshipped deity can be summoned to descend. Cooldown: 24 hours.

(Note: You are summoning a deity, not a servant. Those who disrespect the gods will inevitably suffer divine punishment.)

[Ding! Your contracted beast, Little Black Crow, has offered its True Spirit to you, seeking the qualification to become your believer. Do you accept?]

"Accept!"

Xu Le had no reason to refuse. As soon as he agreed, he felt a sesame-sized mini raven appear in his mind; he could destroy it at any time if he wished.

Simultaneously, a new talent appeared: [Raven Emissary].

[Raven Emissary]

Whatever the believer sees, your eyes shall also see.

Xu Le gave it a try. He now felt as if he had two pairs of eyes, able to switch his consciousness to the Little Black Crow and observe himself through its gaze.

He could also observe the world with both pairs of eyes simultaneously, but he wasn't used to it yet and would accidentally trip on flat ground.

Another gain was the +1000 to all attributes granted by "The Gift" talent.

He then tried the "Descent of the Deity" skill.

After Little Black Crow cast it, the cries of a raven surfaced in Xu Le's mind. Even though it was bird language, he could understand it.

"O great deity, your servant faces the threat of death and implores you to bestow your blessing and descend as an Incarnation."

[Ding! Your believer, the Nether Raven, is begging for your help. Do you agree?]

"Agree!"

As soon as Xu Le agreed, he found his mind transferred to the Little Black Crow, carrying 10% of his main body's attributes and skills.

Light of Punishment!

With a wave of his right hand, six black lights shot out the window in a fan shape, disappearing only after flying ten meters.

The attack range was long, but the further the distance, the harder it was to hit the same target with multiple shockwaves.

Not only could he use the raven's skills, but he could also use his own, and even the contracted beasts in the Contract Space and the talent [Innate Divinity] were carried over. It was incredibly powerful.

Aside from sharing the raven's body and having slightly weaker attributes, it was practically an external Incarnation.

"Wait. Something seems wrong."

Xu Le frowned and thought for a moment, then it hit him.

"Where are the skills that lower the enemy's defense?"

"What about the legendary Curse Aura?"

He couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed.

Pets from the Flower and Bird Market were certainly cheap and could be boosted to SSS-Rank.

But their specific skills couldn't be guaranteed.

In the future, he still had to choose formal pet beasts, even if they were F-Rank.

Just as he was thinking this...

His phone's text message notification chimed.

"Xiao Le, come to the Principal's Office. —Hong Yuantai"

Xu Le put away Little Black Crow and headed straight there.

Inside the Contract Space.

Seeing a new member join, the four little ones were all very excited.

Little Yellow Chicken landed beside Little Black Crow.

It held its head high with its wings behind its back, waiting for the newcomer to acknowledge it as the boss.

Compared to the other contracted beasts, it was full of confidence now.

Its Rank was already high, and it was the King of All Birds.

All birds should submit to it.

"Quack quack quack!" (What, you want to fight?)

Little Black Crow's gaze was cold. Although it was only Rank 0, it wasn't intimidated at all.

???

Little Yellow Chicken felt that the new little brother hadn't recognized its identity, so it flapped its wings and revealed its Phoenix true form.

Its feathers burned like fire, and its three-meter-long body had a tail a full five meters long; it was exceptionally magnificent.

Little Black Crow opened its mouth, and six black lights shot out.

Light of Punishment!

It even followed behind the black lights and pecked hard at the Phoenix's tail.

Then, it turned to ash.

At only Rank 0, it couldn't even get close to Little Yellow Chicken.

Little Yellow Chicken watched in a daze, its heart filled with nervousness and panic.

Everything had happened too fast; even Little Dog hadn't had time to react.

As soon as Xu Le stepped out the door, he sensed Little Black Crow's death, and his mood instantly soured.