Most people would have overthought this moment – acting timid, hesitating, worried about appearing too eager or making the other party uncomfortable. But Bai Hao was not like most people. The word "affected" simply did not exist in his vocabulary. Here was a tremendous opportunity to strengthen himself, laid out right before his eyes – arrogance was the last thing on his mind.
"Don't delay any longer – let's sign this spiritual contract right now."
Bai Hao stood up suddenly, his chair scraping against the floor with a sharp sound that cut through the quiet classroom. His gaze was sharp and direct, fixing on Mu Wanqiu without blinking, every word carrying unwavering resolve.
Mu Wanqiu seemed genuinely surprised by his straightforward response, clearly not expecting him to accept so quickly. Her cherry-red lips parted slightly, and her clear amber eyes widened with shock – a rare display of emotion from someone usually so composed.
This is for the best, she thought to herself, a sense of relief washing over her. At last, she could repay the debt owed for her sister's life, freeing herself from the constant weight of gratitude that had lingered in her heart for three years. The other party's firm attitude saved her from navigating unnecessary pleasantries or delicate maneuvering. She was already tired of the false flattery and hidden agendas that usually surrounded her – it was precisely this honest, open approach that had always set Bai Hao apart in her eyes. Taking him to Qingbei University would at least settle the score for his heroic act. If Bai Hao had any ulterior motives, she would address them when the time came – but for now, she would not hesitate or interfere with his decision.
Suppressing the subtle, unexplainable flutters in her chest, Mu Wanqiu nodded slowly. In the dim, golden light of the setting sun streaming through the windows, she bent slightly forward, her slender waist curving into an elegant arc. A gentle, floral fragrance – like blooming white magnolias after rain – drifted from her toward him as she leaned closer, her movements graceful and deliberate.
For a Spirit Master (female) and Spirit Envoy (male) to officially form a contract, the Spirit Master's inherent contract mark must come into direct contact with the chosen location on the Envoy's body and maintain that connection for a set period. Only then will the contract be successfully sealed, leaving behind a unique sacred rune at the point of contact. Yun Meng's contract mark was on her left palm, so their pact had been formed by pressing her hand against the back of his. But Mu Wanqiu's contract location was far more special and private – something she had never shared with anyone before. It was hidden on her tongue.
In other words, to complete the contract, she would need to use her tongue to touch and maintain contact with a part of Bai Hao's body for several minutes. This was a secret she had guarded closely since her awakening, knowing how easily such information could be misinterpreted.
"Tell me – where do you want the sacred mark placed?"
Her voice remained clear and steady, but carried a soft persuasiveness that was worlds away from Yun Meng's sharp tone the night before. She presented the choice to him openly and respectfully, giving him full control over the matter.
Bai Hao had initially planned to suggest the back of his hand, just like with Yun Meng. But then he remembered the sacred mark already there – one that would appear whenever he used Projection, making it easy for others to discover he held contracts with multiple Spirit Masters. To avoid endless explanations and the complications that would come with revealing his unique ability, he knew he needed to choose a more discreet location. After a brief moment of hesitation, he made his decision.
He reached up and gently pulled down the collar of his loose cotton shirt, revealing smooth, toned skin along his collarbone and the subtle curve of his chest muscles beneath. Without a trace of self-consciousness, he pointed to the area just below his left collarbone – usually hidden completely by clothing.
"Let's place it here."
At the sight, Mu Wanqiu's face flushed bright red. Her gaze darted to the exposed skin, then quickly away, but not before a deep blush spread from her ears down to her cheeks, staining her fair complexion like rose petals. Unconsciously, she bit down on her inner lip, her fingers trembling slightly as she hesitated for what felt like an eternity. Yet she found herself unable to say a single word of refusal.
This position… it's far too intimate, she thought, her heart beating faster against her ribs.
"Good," she finally replied in a low voice, a mix of resignation and helplessness in her tone. "Then… so be it."
As she spoke, and to Bai Hao's surprise and confusion, she reached out with her cool, delicate hands to adjust his collar more carefully, ensuring only the exact spot was exposed. Then, without another word, she leaned forward and gently pressed her lips to his chest – her warm breath brushing against his skin before the soft, slightly slippery sensation of her tongue made contact.
Bai Hao felt her jade-like fingertips graze lightly over his skin, sending a faint shiver down his spine.
"Hiss…"
Before he could process what was happening, a warm, tingling sensation spread from the point of contact, stimulating every nerve ending in his body. A soft, pale golden light began to radiate outward slowly – holy and gentle, like the first rays of dawn breaking through thick clouds. At the center of the light, a golden lotus seemed to bloom, its petals unfurling one by one in a mesmerizing pattern – the signature formation for branding a sacred rune.
The two remained in this intimate, almost surreal position for several minutes. What should have been a short span of time stretched out endlessly, as if the world itself had slowed down around them. The air grew thick and still, so stuffy it was hard to breathe, leaving only the sound of their quiet, synchronized breathing echoing through the empty classroom.
Finally, after what felt like an age, the golden light faded suddenly and disappeared, like a tired bird returning to its nest. A gentle wave of warmth spread across the contact point, and a brilliant golden mark – shaped like a burning star with delicate, flame-like lines extending outward – materialized just beneath his skin.
Given that he had only recently awakened his abilities and had not yet begun proper cultivation, bearing the sacred runes of two Saint-level contracts simultaneously was no small feat. Without warning, a wave of intense dizziness washed over him, darkening his vision and leaving his mind feeling heavy and drowsy. His current cultivation level was simply too low – if not for his unusual physique, he would never have been able to withstand the combined power of two such contracts.
Inside his body, two vastly different energy natures surged upward at once, clashing violently as if trying to tear him apart from the inside out. The sudden strain caused his heart to pump blood at an accelerated rate, painting his face bright red and leaving him gasping for breath.
"Bai Hao – are you okay?!"
Mu Wanqiu immediately sensed something was wrong, her shy demeanor vanishing in an instant as concern replaced it. She had never heard of anyone experiencing such a reaction to a sacred mark branding, and for a moment she felt completely panicked and disoriented.
"Something's wro—"
Before she could finish the word "wrong," an incredibly cold aura suddenly erupted from within Bai Hao's body. A pure, bone-chilling current – carrying the ancient chill of ten-thousand-year-old ice – surged forth from the deepest reaches of his spiritual sea, as if awakened by the clashing energies. It swept through his body in an instant, and the raging conflict between the two contract abilities was immediately suppressed, as if held in check by an invisible hand.
The pain receded like a retreating tide, and the previously chaotic energies stabilized at once in the depths of his spiritual ocean, calm and obedient as if under a powerful hypnosis. A moment later, a flood of information about Mu Wanqiu's ability flooded into his consciousness.
[Daylight]
"Using the spiritual pact as the key and light as the sword!"
This unique ability allows manipulation of light-elemental psionic energy – an authority over light that transcends ordinary psychic power, belonging to the realm of the supernatural. Such innate abilities are highly coveted among extraordinary individuals, with immense developmental potential. As the user's cultivation advances, it will likely evolve into more complex and powerful forms.
While lower-tier talents typically only increase combat power through "quantitative" growth, Saint-level and higher abilities undergo profound "qualitative" transformations as the user's realm rises. In short, they are abilities that grow and improve alongside their wielder – the core reason why high-tier talents are universally regarded as superior to lower ones. At low cultivation levels, the gap between Saint-rank and below may seem small, but as power increases, the difference becomes an insurmountable chasm.
In Mu Wanqiu's current state, having just awakened the ability, its maximum power is roughly equivalent to a few stun grenades – not enough to cause significant damage, but highly effective in supporting roles.
"Thank you."
Even though excitement bubbled up inside him – making him want nothing more than to find a secluded spot to test his new power immediately – Bai Hao forced himself to stay calm and offer his gratitude.
"You have nothing to thank me for," Mu Wanqiu replied quickly, taking two small steps back as if creating distance would help her regain her composure. Her fingers moved frantically to tuck a few strands of loose black hair behind her ear, her movements betraying her flustered state. She pressed her lips together tightly, trying to restore her usual cool demeanor, but the faint blush on her ears refused to fade.
That position was so embarrassing… she thought to herself, her mind replaying the moment over and over again.
"I… I should go now."
She glanced briefly at Bai Hao, who was clearly fighting back his excitement, then turned decisively toward the door. Though she tried to walk with her usual grace, her steps were slightly hurried. After such an intimate gesture, she desperately needed time to calm her racing heart. With the college entrance exams drawing near, it was undeniable that young men and women on the cusp of adulthood would feel their emotions heightened – and Mu Wanqiu's feelings for Bai Hao had long since grown beyond simple gratitude, making moments like this even more difficult to navigate.
In the blink of an eye, Bai Hao was alone in the classroom. He pulled down his collar slightly and looked down, clearly seeing the golden mark just below his left collarbone – its simple, elegant lines combining flame and starlight in a pattern that seemed to glow with inner warmth. A faint halo surrounded the area, like mist clinging to morning grass. This was the sacred rune unique to Mu Wanqiu's [Daylight] ability – pure, holy, and completely hidden beneath his skin until activated.
The supernatural power of Daylight has incredible potential, he thought to himself. But with the exams so close, I'm afraid I won't have much time to explore it fully…
When the bell rang for evening self-study, Mu Wanqiu had calmed herself enough to look for Bai Hao – only to find his seat empty. He had skipped class entirely.
Bai Hao hadn't even stopped for dinner. As soon as school let out, he had rushed straight home, his mind completely focused on one thing: testing his new Daylight ability. Once inside his small apartment, he drew all the curtains tightly shut, plunging the room into deep shadow – an isolated island of darkness in the bustling city.
He stood in the center of his living room, raised both hands, and closed his eyes to concentrate, calling forth the power of Daylight. Beneath his shirt, the sacred rune pulsed faintly, responding to his will. Golden specks of light began to gather in the air around his palms, merging and growing brighter until they formed a single, cohesive mass.
In the blink of an eye, a fist-sized sphere of brilliant golden light hovered above his outstretched hand – like a concentrated embryo of the sun itself. Even though he had prepared in advance, turning his head and squeezing his eyes shut, the intensity of the light still seared his vision white. It took nearly ten seconds for his eyes to adjust and for the world around him to slowly come back into focus.
"Even with precautions, the impact can't be fully avoided," he muttered to himself, rubbing his eyes. "But this will definitely be a game-changer in critical battle moments."
The ability to temporarily blind all enemies, robbing them of their sense of space and direction, was undeniably powerful from a tactical standpoint. Its only significant drawback was its lack of friend-or-foe differentiation – something he would need to be careful about in group situations.
"And it doesn't seem to have any destructive power at all?"
He examined the light closely, sensing no traces of destructive energy within it. With a casual flick of his wrist, he tossed the sphere across the room – it vanished the moment it left his hand, dissolving harmlessly into the air.
"But what if we could compress this light repeatedly… squeeze it to its absolute limit… like a magnifying glass focusing sunlight into a single point? Wouldn't that turn light and heat into a genuine destructive force?"
Developing new applications for abilities was always a long, difficult process for even the most gifted individuals. Though Bai Hao had a clear vision in mind, he knew putting it into practice would require overcoming countless challenges – and time was something he didn't have much of.