Where's Your Contract Beast?

"Teacher Gu Han, there's something off about those four," Teacher Li Jing said. "The Imperial Capital Magic Academy clearly came prepared. Our individual strength isn't far below theirs, but in terms of coordination and elemental combination, they're far superior. Zheng Bingxiao is Summoning Element, and Mo Fan is also Summoning Element — having two students whose primary element is Summoning isn't exactly an advantage on the battlefield."

A Contract Beast is an intermediate-tier ability for Summoning mages — it allows them to form a special contract with a juvenile Demon-Beast, taming it completely as their Contract Beast.

"Mo Fan, your elements are Summoning and Lightning, right?" Song Xia had a natural air of command about her — even with Shen Mingxiao present, she had taken it upon herself to direct the team. "How strong is your summoned creature?"

"All right, everyone rest on the side." Gu Han stepped in before the infighting could escalate further.

That drew a collective frown from the rest of the group.

Peng Liang gave a cold laugh and didn't so much as glance at Shen Mingxiao. As far as he was concerned, Shen Mingxiao wasn't anything worth acknowledging.

Shen Mingxiao's expression darkened as he returned to the group, seething.

"I used to think you were just a bit full of yourself — I didn't realize you had this little shame." Knowing full well that Shen Mingxiao had it out for him, Mo Fan fired back without pulling a single punch. "If you're not strong enough, sit on the bench and stay there. Instead you make a scene until someone decent enough steps aside to give you their spot."

Mo Fan and Zheng Bingxiao were classmates, more or less. Among the six Summoning Element students, Zheng Bingxiao was the only one who'd ever given Mo Fan so much as a nod — everyone else kept their distance.

Mo Fan didn't bother continuing the argument with Shen Mingxiao and simply walked over to Mu Nujiao.

"The people they sent out in the first round weren't all that impressive," Song Xia said. "I refuse to believe that's all the Imperial Capital Magic Academy has."

So from the Freshman Tournament until now, Mo Fan's Summoning Element had made absolutely zero progress?

Li Jing had arrived at the Imperial Capital Magic Academy ahead of Gu Han and Teacher Qiu Yuhua, primarily to handle coordination with the other school. Since Mo Fan hadn't come in the morning, he hadn't known there was a third accompanying teacher.

"It's fine, it's fine — we're all here to win. If Shen Mingxiao thinks he has a better shot, I'm happy to give up my spot." Zheng Bingxiao was entirely gracious about it, without a trace of resentment.

That meant their side had needlessly forfeited access to a mid-tier Summoning Element spell!

Mo Fan had already found Luo Song plenty irritating on his own — but Shen Mingxiao was on a different level entirely, more obnoxious and harder to shake. Better to stay close to the far more pleasant Mu Nujiao and let her presence drown out the stench of those two.

Judging from the earlier battle, Shen Mingxiao had genuinely been the strongest of the four — but a loss was still a loss, and Gu Han had no grounds to pull Mo Fan.

"Teacher Gu Han, let me go again in the next round. I didn't get to use my full strength," Shen Mingxiao said immediately.

"Well…" Gu Han glanced at Mo Fan, then at Shen Mingxiao, who was clearly dead set on getting back out there.

Peng Liang paused for a beat, then stepped down from the stage without giving Shen Mingxiao an inch: "What — we lost, so it's all my fault now?"

That left Shen Mingxiao briefly at a loss for words.

Mu Nujiao knew Mo Fan was capable with three elements. With the school's reputation at stake, it was time to commit to a real fight.

"Jiaojiao, make sure you cover me a bit during the match — without my Enchanted Gear, I don't really have any defensive options," Mo Fan reminded her.

"One step short of Battle General," Mo Fan answered honestly, finally getting around to Song Xia's earlier question.

"We'll see," Mo Fan replied, matching her lowered voice — but the shamelessness practically radiating from every syllable left Mu Nujiao speechless. "Honestly, I'd rather not let too many people in on my devastatingly brilliant talent."

"Sending a posturing fraud like Mo Fan — you'd be better off sending me back out. I'll definitely win the next round. Teacher Gu Han, do you actually want to watch us lose two rounds straight?" Shen Mingxiao had clearly snapped and dropped all pretense.

"And who the hell do you think you are? I have no idea how the academy could let someone like you — a worthless loudmouth with no real ability — come as an exchange student!" Shen Mingxiao snapped.

Shen Mingxiao's gaze was locked on Mo Fan, and watching him laugh and chat with Mu Nujiao only made his expression darker.

Everyone at school knew Shen Mingxiao was pursuing Mu Nujiao, and a large part of his hostility toward Mo Fan came down to just how close Mo Fan had gotten to her.

"The lineup for the next round is set: Mo Fan, Mu Nujiao, Song Xia, and Zheng Bingxiao," Gu Han announced.

In truth, Gu Han felt Teacher Li Jing had a point. Two of the four in this group both specialized in Summoning Element. Not that Summoning was weak — but if the other side had counters for it, they'd almost certainly drop this round too.

"Then get out there, and don't lose this time," Teacher Qiu Yuhua said.

"Don't worry — we absolutely won't!" Shen Mingxiao had vowed earlier, brimming with confidence.

"For this match, give it everything you have. Losing again would be hard to face," Mu Nujiao couldn't help whispering.

Shen Mingxiao's brow furrowed. His real objective had been to force Mo Fan out of the lineup — but someone stepping aside on their own was just as good.

*God knows how those two ever got selected as exchange students. In actual combat they'd been completely useless — we were basically fighting two against four. Not losing would've been a miracle!*

Luo Song didn't feel like opening his mouth either. Xu Dalong's parting taunts had left him ready to charge back up there and fight to the death. The sheer arrogance.

"Hmph. At this level of competition, that thing is basically just a useless pet," Shen Mingxiao said — never one to pass up a chance to tear down someone's abilities.

"What exactly were you doing out there? Why didn't your Soul Shadow Nail pin down that fire-using girl?" Shen Mingxiao pressed Peng Liang, unable to let the defeat go.

Song Xia kept her brow furrowed as she pressed further: "Where's your Contract Beast?"

Mu Nujiao couldn't even be bothered to respond to him.

"Fine then — Shen Mingxiao, you can take my spot," Zheng Bingxiao said at that moment.

After a brief show of preparation, Shen Mingxiao spotted the eyesore that was Mo Fan also in the group. Thinking back to how Peng Liang had dragged them down, he immediately turned cold: "You'd all better follow my command and not go freelancing. If we lose, none of you can afford the fallout — this is the reputation of our entire Pearl Academy on the line!"

This female teacher seemed quite partial to Shen Mingxiao, throwing her weight behind him while Gu Han was still hesitating.

"I agree," Mu Nujiao said, nodding.

Their relationship was nowhere near close enough for that kind of nickname — yet this guy had zero shame about it, "Jiaojiao" this and "Jiaojiao" that, until Mu Nujiao burned with embarrassment. She deeply regretted not having dragged Ai Tutu out of that shared apartment when she'd had the chance.

Shen Mingxiao was furious on two fronts: furious at Peng Liang, that useless Shadow Element mage, and equally furious at Zhao Manyan for his apathetic, half-hearted performance.

He simply couldn't fathom how a goddess like Mu Nujiao — with her remarkable bearing and stunning looks — could tolerate a little punk like Mo Fan hovering around her all the time. She was probably just too good-natured to put him in his place, and that was exactly why he kept pushing his luck.

"Well… I haven't found a suitable one yet," Mo Fan said.

"Zheng Bingxiao, are you sure you don't want to compete?" Teacher Gu Han asked, visibly surprised.