Chapter Ninety-Three: The Familiar Pact

A faint hissing once again sounded beside Black Feather’s ear. Since the moment he had stepped into this forest, the sound had drawn ever nearer, never once ceasing.

“I keep hearing the voice of some unusual creature. It must be one of those fiends,” he said.

“Huh? You’ve gained perception too?” Ling Xiaolei asked in surprise. Even she could only sense the world beyond her when she unfolded her own net of awareness.

Ling Xi looked him over. “There is in you an inborn power of darkness, so it is hardly strange that you can sense demons. Then you shall lead the way.”

Black Feather pointed ahead. “It seems to be coming from this direction.”

They all followed after him.

“There are usually many beastkin in this forest, but we haven’t run into a single one today. They may all have been scared off by that glutton beast just now,” Shen Zai said after walking a while.

As they drew closer to the demon’s position, Black Feather suddenly perceived a thread of will, a feeling of fear and trembling sent by the demon hidden in the dense woods.

With each step closer, the trembling it transmitted grew more distinct. Of course, he knew this fear was not caused by the approach of Black Feather and the others, but by Ling Xi.

“It’s here,” Ling Xi said. Even through the thick trees, he could sense the enemy. “Looks like a half-grown little thing. Perfect for your first familiar.”

Ling Xiaolei looked around left and right, unable to tell where the demon was, while Shen Zai spread his dragon wings warily and prepared for battle.

“To subdue a familiar, the demon hunter himself must be the one to do the main attacking. Remember, all you need is to restrain it; you do not need to kill it,” Ling Xi said.

“Understood,” Ling Xiaolei replied.

“Boss, it’s trying to run!” Black Feather sensed the demon’s presence darting away into the distance.

“Shadow Barrier!”

With elegant ease, Ling Xi lifted a hand and opened a barrier that encompassed the demon and the few of them within it. Its scale and speed of formation far surpassed Ling Xiaolei’s; the four walls did not rise from below so much as appear all at once.

The demon struck the edge of the barrier and immediately veered back, circling in a half turn before rushing straight into Black Feather and the others.

Its speed was astonishing. It was only a blur, but it seemed to be a wolf-shaped demon, though leaner than any wolf of the continent, with longer, sharper teeth and claws. The dark power spilling from its body as it moved at such speed trailed behind it like a long black tail.

“Catch it with binding sorcery!” Ling Xi said.

“Binding Chains!”

Ling Xiaolei instantly flung two chains from either side of her body. They snaked after the demon, striving to close in on its four limbs.

Suddenly, the demon leapt into the air, using the barrier wall on one side as a springboard. Pushing off with force, its blade-like front claws lunged fiercely toward Ling Xiaolei.

“Shadow Light Slash!”

Black Feather gathered a flash of light at the tip of his trident and swept it across the demon’s belly. He controlled the force of his strike, only slowing the creature so it would not hurt Ling Xiaolei, rather than killing it.

Ling Xiaolei reacted just as quickly. Steadying her footing, she kept her eyes fixed on the target without blinking and swiftly swung her staff, releasing several purple rings of light.

“Stacking Slow! Binding Chains! Crushing Weight!”

One skill after another burst forth. The demon in midair was first struck by the shadow-light slash, then wrapped in several slowing halos, and its descent at once became sluggish.

Meanwhile, dozens of chains seized the moment, erupting from the ground to bind the demon tight. Its weight suddenly increased, dragging it crashing to the earth.

A perfect accomplishment, smooth and swift. Ling Xiaolei clapped her hands and said smugly, “So demons aren’t all that frightening after all!”

Ling Xi studied the demon’s size.

“What people fear is the infection that follows a demon’s attack. This demon has only ten years of cultivation; its power is equivalent to that of a ten-year beast.”

He reminded her once more:

“Now you will form a contract with it. Do you remember what I said? Although a demon hunter may freely command a demon to serve him, a corresponding price must also be paid. Have you thought it through?”

“Yes, I have,” Ling Xiaolei said with a solemn nod.

Ling Xi walked to her side and guided her to the familiar. He placed her left hand on the demon’s head, then handed her a pendant with a book-shaped ornament hanging beneath it, telling her to grip it tightly in her right hand.

Dark blue blood oozed from beneath the demon’s belly, and its aura had already weakened.

“Look into its eyes. Do not turn away.”

Ling Xiaolei fixed her gaze upon the demon before her. White light gradually began to rise from the “Book of Summoning” pendant in her hand.

“Now, recite the spell in your heart and seal your contract with the familiar.”

Sensing the incantation on the Book of Summoning in her right hand, Ling Xiaolei silently intoned it. Beneath the demon, a magic array gradually took shape, spreading wider and wider, enveloping its whole body. The chains binding it also slowly loosened.

“With this spell, I enter into a pact with you. From this day forth, you shall become my familiar.”

With the spell, the demon grew docile and lowered its head in submission.

Suddenly, a beam of purple light rose from the ground. The demon before her vanished within the converging violet glow, then leapt into Ling Xiaolei’s palm and formed a wolf-head ring upon the pendant.

“This is the Book of Summoning. Only its owner may view it,” Ling Xi said.

Ling Xiaolei could not wait to infuse it with magic and open the Book of Summoning. With a flash of white from the pendant, a massive book manifested in empty air. On the previously blank first page appeared the likeness of the little wolf.

“When you need it, you only need to recite the spell again, and the familiar can be summoned. The first time it appears, it may be difficult to control. To avoid injuring others, let us practice over in the woods.”

“Okay.”

Ling Xiaolei followed Ling Xi toward the forest at one side.

“How enviable,” Shen Zai said. “When fighting in the future, won’t we no longer need to do it ourselves?”

“I want a familiar too...” Black Feather murmured.

The two of them came to another open clearing in the woods.

“There is no one here to disturb us. Release your familiar and give it a try,” Ling Xi said, gesturing courteously.

“Summon familiar—Greedy Wolf!”

The summoning array unfolded, and a wild little wolf burst forth. Having regained its freedom, it promptly ran off without looking back, away from Ling Xiaolei.

“Oh no, it’s run away! Greedy Wolf, come back!”

Just as Ling Xiaolei was about to use Binding Chains to catch it, Ling Xi stopped her.

“The familiar’s will is already linked with yours. You only need to communicate with it by thought.”

Understanding at once, Ling Xiaolei withdrew her attack and tightly gripped the Book of Summoning on her right wrist. She held her breath and focused, until in her mind there appeared the will of the familiar.

“Familiar, return!”

Her eyes locked onto the beast as she issued the command once more.

The little wolf was wounded and could not run fast. Under the control of Ling Xiaolei’s will, it immediately grew restless and turned back at once. Instead of obediently stopping, it bared its fangs and pounced straight at her.