Waste? No, An Absolute Genius!

"I was waiting for you."

A woman cloaked entirely in darkness responded to him.

Black hair, black dress, and eyes so black they bordered on excessive. Apart from her starkly pale face and blood-red lips that seemed ominously vivid, she resembled nothing less than a Dark Night Elf walking through the shadows of night.

"Why were you waiting for me?" Xiao Zhan frowned.

Ye Youlong gave a wicked smile, lifting her long legs and crossing them casually. Her perfectly smooth, white thighs became exposed in large swathes to the cool air.

But she didn't seem to care in the slightest.

She took a sip of her strong coffee.

"Your awakening is over now, isn't it? So, how did it go, did you end up as an F-tier?"

"How do you know that?"

"Your face has already given me the answer."

Xiao Zhan's voice turned cold, "That has nothing to do with you, so please leave now."

"Haha... *cough, cough*..." Ye Youlong let out a sultry, mocking laugh, but perhaps she laughed too intensely, as she couldn't help coughing twice.

Her complexion turned even paler.

"Of course, it has everything to do with me."

"What do you mean?" Hearing this, Xiao Zhan frowned deeply and stared at her with fierce determination.

Ye Youlong stood up and slowly walked toward Xiao Zhan, her eyes locked with his.

She wanted to seem towering and imposing, but her height fell short of Xiao Zhan's, forcing her to abandon the attempt.

"You were injured by my Scythe Energy. Do you think that has nothing to do with me?"

"You're that scythe!"

Xiao Zhan's pupils contracted fiercely, radiating disbelief!

Just recently, while he was out enjoying himself with Jiang Xian'er, they had stumbled upon a battle between a black scythe and a Demon Beast. The scythe was pitch black, nearly three meters long, its attacks sharp and relentless, emanating a soul-devouring power.

Sensing danger, Xiao Zhan had grabbed Jiang Xian'er, intending to leave, but Jiang Xian'er refused to heed his warning and approached instead.

The scythe had unleashed a wave of Scythe Energy targeting Jiang Xian'er.

Seeing that Jiang Xian'er was about to be struck down.

In an act of desperation, Xiao Zhan had shielded Jiang Xian'er with his own body, taking the full impact!

He had thought that the injury would kill him, but to his surprise, he survived.

Still, the Scythe Energy had left its mark, putting him through prolonged recovery before he started to see improvements. Even then, his learning ability, cognitive skills, and physical condition were all deteriorating.

With today's Talent Awakening, the dismal F-tier result filled him with suspicions that the injury was to blame.

And now, those suspicions were directly confirmed!

"Why, why would you do that to me?" Xiao Zhan demanded.

A person's talent determines their future!

Ye Youlong had severely injured him, robbing him of his talent. This was more unbearable than losing his life!

Xiao Zhan seemed like a lion pacing in fury!

But faced with his roar, Ye Youlong remained calm, like a serene cat. "The reason is simple, I want to claim you for myself."

"Claim me?"

Xiao Zhan froze, unable to grasp what she meant.

Ye Youlong sat back down, crossing her legs once again, exuding an air of languid arrogance. "Let me introduce myself first. My name is Ye Youlong, a student of the White Emperor Spirit Academy. I'm also an Artifact Spirit of SSS-tier bloodline talent, specializing in Perception."

"Finding you was entirely by chance, but that chance turned out to be quite satisfying. Because my goal is to locate an SSS-tier Talent Spirit Master and form a contract with them!"

"And you, you're the one I'm looking for."

"Me?" Xiao Zhan felt both shocked and amused.

The shock came from Ye Youlong being an SSS-tier Artifact Spirit.

The amusement stemmed from her asserting he was also an SSS-tier Spirit Master.

"I'm currently an F-tier Talent, I just tested for it. What makes you say I'm SSS-tier?" Xiao Zhan asked.

Ye Youlong responded with a faint smile, her black-and-white eyes shimmering with wisdom. "It's simple, my bloodline talent skill is Perception. I can perceive your spiritual power and physical attributes, which allow me to judge that your talent is SSS-tier!"

"I've perceived many people, and you absolutely possess SSS-tier talent!"

"As for why your current rank is F-tier, the reason is just as simple. My Artifact Spirit form caused damage to your body, affecting various factors, which led to your awakening as an F-tier."

"All you need to do is form a contract with me, and that damage will vanish. Your SSS-tier talent will be restored!"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan felt his breath catch.

The face that had fallen into despair from awakening such a low-tier talent now lit up with renewed radiance.

Even if Ye Youlong's claims were uncertain, the mere fact that an SSS-tier Artifact Spirit wanted to form a contract with him felt like an unimaginable stroke of fortune!

Think about it!

How often would an SSS-tier Artifact Spirit choose a so-called failure for a contract?

Ye Youlong's words held ninety percent credibility in his mind!

"You're an SSS-tier Artifact Spirit and a top student at the White Emperor Spirit Academy. Why must you choose me?" Xiao Zhan voiced his lingering doubt.

The White Emperor Spirit Academy was one of the Federation's four most prestigious academies!

It enacted elite programs and only accepted students above B-tier.

With Ye Youlong's exceptional talent, she could easily form a contract with an outstanding Spirit Master within her academy. Why would she travel far and wide to seek him out instead?

"Do you think SSS-tier Talent Spirit Masters are common?" Ye Youlong rolled her eyes at Xiao Zhan.

"Regardless of whether it's SSS-tier Talent Spirit Masters or SSS-tier Artifact Spirits, they're extraordinarily rare! Within the Federation Government's yearly awakening of new students, you might not even see a few, and sometimes, there's none at all!"

"I happen to have bad luck, being the only SSS-tier Artifact Spirit form in our academy this year! And as for SSS-tier Talent Spirit Masters, there isn't even one!"

"So tell me, what choice do I have? Should I lower my standards and form a contract with those SS-tier failures?"

Well now, in her eyes, even SS-tier ranked spirits had become failures.

"Why don't you try searching at other academies then?" Xiao Zhan suggested.

Ye Youlong shrugged as if that was obvious, "Exactly, I went searching in the other academies. But after thoroughly combing through the remaining three top academies, there was only one SSS-tier Spirit Master. The issue was... he already formed a contract with another woman."

"I have a cleanliness obsession, I refuse to touch men who've already contracted other women!"

"Having no other choice, I had to look elsewhere, hoping to find someone unexpected. And lucky me, I actually found you—I thought I'd have to wait until the next batch of awakenings."

After hearing everything she said, Xiao Zhan began to understand.

It boiled down to a genius girl refusing to settle, seeking a genius boy to create their joint legacy of greatness.

But Xiao Zhan still had one lingering doubt, "Then why didn't you approach me directly? Why injure me with Scythe Energy?"

: Signing a Life and Death Contract with an SSS-Ranked School Beauty Artifact Spirit!

Ye Youlong didn't want this either.

"At that time, I encountered a Demon Beast, and after the battle, I was so tense that I unconsciously released Scythe Energy."

"As you know, Artifact Spirits like me who are still in a free state, without the cooperation of a Spirit Master, are prone to making mistakes in battle."

"Who knew you were going to protect that woman, she deserved it!"

At this point, Ye Youlong felt a bit jealous.

Perhaps just as she said, she has a mental obsession and cannot stand her Spirit Master contacting other women.

Even if they haven't signed a Contract yet.

"Let me apologize, I was actually going to talk to you directly about it."

Xiao Zhan of course knew these, he was still angry in his heart, but upon hearing her say this, he nodded as a sign of accepting her apology.

Artifact Spirits and Spirit Masters are the same.

Artifact Spirits can cultivate on their own and choose not to sign a Contract with a Spirit Master.

However, by doing so, they would be greatly limited and their cultivation speed would be very slow.

They can't compare at all with those who have formed a Contract.

And in battle, their strength can only exert up to half of their true potential.

So regardless of the type, most Artifact Spirits would choose to sign a Contract.

Similarly, it is the same for Spirit Masters, without a contract with an Artifact Spirit, their cultivation speed and strength are very weak.

In most cases, they will sign a Contract as quickly as possible.

"Okay, according to what you said, I am an SSS Level Talent. But I don't have the Bloodline Talent Skills, would you still choose to sign with me?" Xiao Zhan asked.

"This is not a problem, after you form a Contract with me, your Bloodline Talent Soul Skill will appear. This situation arises because my Artifact Spirit incarnation has special attributes."

"Alright, one last question, let me see your Artifact Spirit incarnation first."

Ye Youlong slightly angered, "So I've said so much, you think I'm lying to you?"

"Whether it's a lie or not, it's not up to you to decide, I have to confirm it myself."

In fact, Xiao Zhan had no choice, whether what Ye Youlong said was true or false, he could only sign a Contract with Ye Youlong.

Or in other words, only if Ye Youlong is willing to sign a Contract with him!

If not, he simply couldn't find any Artifact Spirit.

Artifact Spirits are upward compatible, Spirit Masters are downward compatible, just like male and female matchmaking.

F-level Artifact Spirits have options, but F-level Spirit Masters are so worried they could grey their hair!

And his reason for wanting a glimpse is simple, just to have a mental preparation.

If Ye Youlong really is that Scythe that hurt him, he would be happy.

But if not, he could accept.

He just wanted to be mentally prepared.

It's that simple.

Ye Youlong snorted coldly, which could be taken as her agreeing to his request. Her body turned ethereal, and a mass of black light appeared with a shadowy and chilling presence.

Inside the black light, a nearly three-meter-long black Scythe appeared, resembling the Grim Reaper's scythe!

The whole body was pitch-black, the only part was the blade's edge, which was bright red!

Like blood that hadn't been wiped clean!

Eerily terrifying!

This, is the scythe that injured Xiao Zhan!

An undoubted SSS-level Artifact Spirit!

"Now can we sign the Contract?" Ye Youlong's voice echoed in the Spiritual Sea.

"Yes! Let's sign an Equal Contract then."

There are three types of Contract modes, namely the Master-Servant Contract, the Equal Contract, and the Life and Death Contract!

Master-Servant Contract, as the name implies, one is the master and the other is the servant!

The master can be a Spirit Master or an Artifact Spirit, but generally, it is the Spirit Master who is the master.

However, signing a master-servant contract is rare because the contract is entirely unequal; the 'master' can arbitrarily abandon or even kill the 'servant' without any backlash from the contract.

It is extremely unfair.

Only in very special circumstances do people choose a master-servant contract.

And usually, such cases involve coercion.

The second type of contract, the equal contract, is the most widely used.

Once signed, both parties are equal, and there is no question of one oppressing the other.

Everything is decided together, and if opinions differ, resistance is possible without backlash from the contract.

Moreover, if one wishes to dissolve the contract, it only requires the agreement of one party.

It represents an absolutely equal relationship.

The third type of contract can be understood literally or as a marriage contract!

Due to the special gender relations between Spirit Masters and Artifact Spirits, those who generally choose to sign this kind of Life and Death Contract are loving spouses.

This contract has extremely strong binding effects; once signed, it cannot be dissolved by any means.

And if one person dies, the other will also die!

It is that dominant!

Thus, it is named the Life and Death Contract!

Generally, few people sign this contract, even among many couples.

After all, dying together, who can bear that?

But this contract also has its greatest benefit; it can allow the compatibility of two people to potentially reach perfection!

Under perfect conditions, Spirit Masters and Artifact Spirits can exert power beyond their own limits, achieving instant kills in equal-level battles.

Thus, although few sign this contract, it is still not that rare, just comparatively less, far more than the master-servant contract.

Hearing Xiao Zhan's words.

Ye Youlong immediately transformed back into human form, but spoke with an imposing tone, "This mistress has already said, I am a clean freak, whoever signs a contract with me, can only sign with me in this lifetime! So, we must have a Life and Death Contract!"

No room for negotiation in her undeniable tone!

Xiao Zhan was somewhat stupefied.

But thinking about it, he didn't care much anymore. In his current state, he was just glad someone would contract with him.

And to gain a wife in the process, even better.

After all, Ye Youlong was pretty, even more beautiful than Jiang Xian'er.

Taking her as a wife was no loss.

"Are you sure? Once signed, it cannot be changed," Xiao Zhan still reminded.

After all, she is a girl, prone to impulsiveness!

"I never regret my decisions!"

"Alright then, let's go sign the contract!"

Signing a contract requires a specific place.

First, there are protections during the signing to prevent accidents.

Second, it's recorded in a register, uploaded to the Federation Government database for subsequent management by the government.

Thus, the two arrived at Changchi City Spirit Academy!

Now, this was the only place where they could sign the contract.

The signing institution could not be privately established.

And with their arrival, naturally, it attracted the attention of many students.

Xiao Zhan needs no further introduction, once a super prodigy, now a top-level waste, who in Changchi City Spirit Academy does not know of him?

As for Ye Youlong, with her stunning appearance and cool, dark aura, surpassing even Jiang Xian'er in beauty, it was impossible not to notice her.