When A Mi and Xiao Ye walked out of the energy Light Gate of the Beginner Training Ground, they looked different from when they entered a few hours ago.
Xiao Ye’s old clothes were even more tattered, with several obvious tears at the cuffs and trouser legs, stained with grass juice and mud marks—clear "battle damage" from fighting alongside A Mi or setting traps.
She kept her head slightly lowered, seemingly trying to hide some fatigue with her bangs, but she stayed tightly by A Mi’s side.
As for A Mi, although his Spirit Body still didn't look very solid, his gaze was much sharper than before.
He was holding a small bag temporarily made of coarse cloth in his arms, which seemed to contain something, faintly emitting a slight glimmer.
—Those were a few low-Grade "Experience Particles" they accidentally found in a corner of the Training Ground, along with some common materials unique to the Training Ground. Although they weren't worth much, they were a small harvest for them.
As soon as they emerged, they immediately attracted the attention of some people who were resting in the lobby or preparing to enter the Training Ground.
After all, this pair—a Contracted Spirit with weak energy fluctuations, and a timid-looking Crow-person Spirit Master in shabby clothes—had entered the Training Ground without even being able to afford the cheapest auxiliary Potion, which had left an impression on people.
Some curious individuals, perhaps out of boredom or perhaps with a sense of scrutiny, opened their System from afar, preparing to investigate the other party's information.
Under the Rules of Contract, when a non-Spirit Master views another person's Contracted Spirit Panel, they can usually only see the most basic information, such as Race and Level.
The investigation results were quickly fed back.
【Race: Unknown 】
【Level: 10 】
“Level Ten? So fast?!” Someone couldn't help but exclaim softly, their voice carrying obvious surprise. “It’s only been half a day, right? Went from Level One to Level Ten? This Speed…”
This soft exclamation drew more gazes.
Reaching Level Ten in half a day was excessively efficient for many novice Contracted Spirits, especially without using any auxiliary Potions.
However, this surprise did not last long.
When those gazes lingered on "Level: 10" and "Race: Unknown," combined with A Mi's not-so-powerful Aura, and Xiao Ye’s obvious poverty beside him, a sense of "understanding" quickly replaced the surprise.
“Hmph, I knew it.”
An Orc Spirit Master, arms crossed and accompanied by a Flame Wolf-shaped Contracted Spirit, scoffed dismissively.
“Level Ten in half a day sounds impressive. But look at him—his energy fluctuation is pitifully weak, and his Race is unknown... He’s just some rogue without a proper lineage.”
An Elf Mage standing nearby nodded, adding in a flat tone, “Moreover, if it were a high-Grade Contracted Spirit, the experience required for leveling up would be massive; it would be impossible to be this fast.
This leveling speed can’t even be achieved by the most ordinary C-Rank.”
“So, isn't the conclusion obvious?” A Spirit Master resembling a Dwarf craftsman stroked his beard, looking worldly-wise. “It’s probably just a D-Rank Contracted Spirit.
If the Grade is low, the experience needed to level up is naturally less. What’s so strange about being a bit faster?”
“D-Rank… Then it’s not strange, it’s really not strange.”
The person who was initially surprised nodded as if realizing something, and the interest in their eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a hint of undetectable contempt.
Despite what was said, A Mi and Xiao Ye were still noticed by more people.
...This often happens when a person is terrifyingly strong, or ridiculously weak.
“Yeah, fast leveling is fine, but their ceiling is low. What’s the use of rushing ahead early on?
Later on, when the level hits its limit and attribute growth can’t keep up, they’ll still end up as bottom-tier trash.”
An Orc Spirit Master drew his conclusion, stopped paying attention to A Mi and Xiao Ye, and turned back to communicate with his Flame Wolf.
The surrounding murmurs gradually subsided.
The rapid leveling of a "D-Rank Contracted Spirit" was like a small pebble thrown into a lake in this Contract Hall full of capable people—it caused a slight ripple before quickly sinking, drawing no further attention.
After all, beings with limited potential were not worth investing much focus in.
A Mi heard the discussions around him, his face expressionless, only tightening his grip slightly on the small bag he held.
Xiao Ye moved closer to him, her small hand quietly grasping the corner of his clothes, seemingly trying to convey silent support.
They knew clearly that although these discussions were harsh, they served as a form of camouflage to some extent.
No one would invest too much energy in a "D-Rank Trash," which perfectly gave them space to grow low-key.
A Mi looked down at Xiao Ye clinging tightly beside him, his gaze becoming firm again.
Other people's opinions didn't matter; what mattered was that they were genuinely getting stronger. Even if it was one step at a time, it was better than standing still and being looked down upon.
“Let’s go, Xiao Ye,” he said softly. “Let’s go back and rest well, and come back tomorrow.”
“Mm!”
Xiao Ye nodded vigorously and followed A Mi, passing through the indifferent or pitying gazes, leaving the noisy and realistic hall.
Their road was still long, and this was merely the beginning.
Time shifted to the evening, when the Contract Hall was illuminated by soft lights, making the interior as bright as day.
At this moment, Lina was meeting with her parents in the VIP lounge area in a corner of the hall.
Lina’s parents shared the typical elegant appearance and outstanding temperament of the Elf Race, dressed richly yet tastefully.
Ever since Lina entered this top academy with excellent grades and displayed outstanding summoning talent, the family had regarded her as a key focus for cultivation.
Although they were pleased with the girl’s independence, the family always hoped to provide support at critical moments to ensure her path of growth was smoother.
“I heard you successfully contracted a new Contracted Spirit recently?”
Lina’s mother, an Elf female wearing an exquisite forehead ornament, asked gently.
“Leave it to us. The family will mobilize resources to raise it to a suitable level for your current stage as soon as possible. You focus on cultivating your Fire Phoenix; that is your core Combat Power for the Future.”
Lina nodded. Although she was accustomed to handling her own affairs, she also understood this was the family’s goodwill and the most efficient solution.
...More importantly, if she refused, she couldn't guarantee her parents wouldn't nag endlessly, and she’d still end up being scolded after they did it anyway...
She summoned the small Flower Demon, composed of Vines and flowers, and handed it over to her parents.
The Flower Demon seemed to sense that it was about to be upgraded, emitting a faint, pleasant rustling sound.
While waiting for her parents to handle the necessary procedures, Lina’s gaze casually swept across the huge, real-time updating magic Light Screen in the center of the hall.
It displayed various leaderboards categorized by type, such as the "Daily Kill List," "Mission Completion Efficiency List," and "Contracted Spirit Level List," all designed to motivate Contractors to compete.
Her gaze inadvertently swept over one of the less conspicuous lists—the "Beginner Training Ground Recent Leveling Speed List."
This list recorded Contracted Spirits with high leveling efficiency in the Beginner Training Ground, usually used to discover promising newcomers.
Suddenly, her gaze locked onto a newly refreshed name at the bottom of the list, and a flicker of disbelief crossed her emerald-green eyes.
【Spirit Master: Xiao Ye | Contracted Spirit: A Mi | Initial Level: 1 | Final Level: 10 | Time Taken: Approx. 4.5 Star Hours 】
A Mi? Xiao Ye?
That D-Rank Contracted Spirit whose Contract she had terminated, and that timid-looking Crow-person Maiden?
Not only did they successfully find their way here, but... they went from Level 1 to Level 10 in half a day? This speed was quite eye-catching, even in the Beginner Training Ground.
“What is it, Lina?” Her father, an Elf male with a steady demeanor, noticed his daughter’s momentary distraction and followed her gaze to the Light Screen. “Do you see someone you know?”
Lina snapped back to attention, pointing at the name with a complex tone, “Yes... That Contracted Spirit, A Mi, is the one I mentioned to you before—the one whose overall evaluation was only D-Rank, who didn't even have a Magic Tool, so I terminated the Contract.”
“D-Rank? Doesn't even have a Magic Tool?” Lina’s mother frowned slightly upon hearing this, then showed an expression of understanding.
“No wonder its leveling speed made the list. The experience required for low-Grade Contracted Spirits to grow is far less than high-Grade ones, so leveling naturally appears fast. This is just false prosperity; they will reveal their true nature in the mid to late stages.”
She looked at Lina with approval and affirmation, “You did the right thing, Lina. Wasting precious resources and time on a Contracted Spirit with limited potential that can’t even reach C-Rank is an extremely unwise choice.
Every one of your Contract slots is precious and should be reserved for more valuable partners.”
“I know.” Lina nodded, her tone returning to its usual calm and arrogance. Rationally, she knew her parents were correct; abandoning A Mi was the right decision for maximizing benefits.
But for some reason, seeing that name and that leveling speed stirred an extremely subtle, indescribable feeling in her heart—not regret, but more like surprise and a slight discomfort at having her perception challenged.
She didn't want to continue this topic, nor did she want to hear her parents’ earnest teachings on optimal resource allocation（She had heard enough of that already）.
She interrupted her parents’ apparent intention to analyze further and raised a crystal card shimmering with magical light in her hand—it was the substantial support funding the family had just given her.
“Father, Mother, I understand these principles. You go handle the Flower Demon’s upgrade first.”
As she spoke, she turned toward the dazzling commercial area of the hall, her eyes reigniting with the curiosity and thirst for the unknown and for power befitting her age. “I plan to browse on my own, purchase some Art Tools that might be useful, and look for a suitable Medium or special Sacrifice. I need to prepare for the next summoning.”
With that, she lingered no longer, stepping out with light and confident strides to merge into the bustling crowd of the hall, leaving the discussion about the D-Rank Contracted Spirit behind her.
For her, that was ultimately just an insignificant interlude on her glorious path.
Her gaze was always focused on what lay higher up.