The First Summoner - Chapter 82

Shen Yan met his gaze.

She answered softly, “Mm.”

Feng Xingyao’s smile faded as he continued, “With your current strength, you can only activate the first array form. For now, all you need to practice is First Form: Beast Suppression.”

He rose and began demonstrating its summoning hand seals.

“Watch carefully. I’ll only teach you once.”

“All right.” Shen Yan nodded earnestly.

It did not take long for Feng Xingyao to complete the hand seals. Then he had her stand and attempt them herself.

Shen Yan rose, recalling each position his hands had assumed. She copied the sequence while channeling her spiritual power into the summoning formation created by the seals.

The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda appeared at her summons, but none of the immense pressure she had imagined accompanied it.

As Shen Yan frowned, Feng Xingyao suddenly appeared behind her. He supported her arm and lifted it slightly, his cool yet bewitching voice brushing past her ear.

“Draw the spiritual power from your Body Spirit Bones into the first array form. Use your mental power to support it and envelop the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda. Then you will be able to control the pagoda as you wish.”

Shen Yan’s expression grew focused as she nodded.

She thought she understood.

Seeing this, Feng Xingyao slowly retreated several steps. Shen Yan was so focused on controlling the pagoda that she paid almost no attention to his movements.

She tried several times.

Before long, she achieved a modest degree of success. She had found the proper sensation.

Shen Yan summoned the flood dragon Wuying into the ability space.

The moment Wuying appeared, it stared nervously at Feng Xingyao, barely able to suppress its terror.

Feng Xingyao cast it an indifferent glance.

Wuying instinctively curled in on itself. Ordinarily, if Feng Xingyao had not been there, it would have started talking long ago.

Seeing its behavior, Shen Yan turned to Feng Xingyao.

“Did you frighten it?”

He scoffed. “Why would I bother?”

Only half convinced, Shen Yan looked back at Wuying and deliberately asked, “Why aren’t you talking?”

Wuying’s voice became mild. “This sovereign does not feel like talking today.”

Shen Yan did not press the matter. She knew Feng Xingyao was certainly the reason Wuying had become like this. The man carried too many secrets, and she had no wish to investigate them.

She told the flood dragon, “I summoned you here because I want your help testing First Form: Beast Suppression.”

“Do as you please.” Wuying showed no fear. In its opinion, Shen Yan was pathetically weak.

Shen Yan no longer hesitated. She immediately used the Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda’s First Form: Beast Suppression against Wuying.

In an instant, the array’s power enlarged the pagoda and sent it crashing down toward the flood dragon!

The pressure of the first array form stirred a violent gale that nearly toppled the shelves inside the ability space. Before they could fall, Feng Xingyao flicked a hand, and a barrier instantly enveloped them.

Boom!

The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda bore down on Wuying. Its tiny, mung-bean-sized eyes narrowed as though it found the sensation pleasant.

“More pressure,” Wuying said.

Shen Yan released more spiritual power, driving the pagoda harder against it.

Yet Wuying still sensed no danger. If it wished, it could bat the pagoda away with one sweep of its tail.

It opened its eyes and could not resist saying, “You are far too weak.”

Shen Yan fell silent. She truly was weak at present.

Just as she prepared to recall the pagoda and continue practicing the first array form, a presence approached from behind. Feng Xingyao’s long fingers closed gently around her wrist, and a tingling sensation spread where their skin touched.

Shen Yan’s eyelid twitched. She was about to pull away when—

“Aaaah! No! Stop!” Wuying screamed.

Forgetting Feng Xingyao, Shen Yan looked toward the sound. The Ninefold Demon-Suppressing Pagoda had actually crushed Wuying beneath it.

This was…

Feng Xingyao’s power.

“Save this sovereign!” Wuying howled in pain.

Shen Yan turned to him. “That’s enough.”

“All right.” Feng Xingyao lowered his gaze to her, then withdrew his hand.

After the pagoda was recalled, Wuying looked at him with hatred and fear. The man had nearly crippled it just now.

“This flood dragon is stronger than you,” Feng Xingyao told Shen Yan. “It is understandable that you cannot subdue it yet. Aren’t you about to take some academy’s entrance test?”

Shen Yan nodded slightly.

Feng Xingyao smiled. “Then you must raise your cultivation properly.”

She hardly needed him to tell her that.

Shen Yan practiced First Form: Beast Suppression inside the ability space for two hours before leaving.

She took out Western Region Academy’s entrance-test token and studied it carefully, then returned it to her storage space.

She had to be admitted to Western Region Academy.

Rather than rest, she took out beast crystals from the spirit beasts she had killed in Lingyan Forest and began refining their power.

Once again, she cultivated throughout the night.

This time, she finally broke through to Yellow-rank level ten.

Early the next morning, the Zhuge brothers came looking for her.

Zhuge Youlin grinned. “Shen Yan, want to explore Western Region City?”

She had planned to remain at the inn and cultivate, but then she remembered the clothes she had promised Feng Xingyao and nodded.

“All right. I want to buy several sets of clothes.”

Zhuge Youlin clicked his tongue. “Forget clothes. We’re going to the Beast-Martial Arena!”

“The Beast-Martial Arena?”

Shen Yan truly had never heard of it.

Zhuge Youlin explained with a grin, “It’s a place for beast fights and martial matches! Want to make some money?!”

Zhuge Weiran frowned, worry filling his face. “Youlin, that place is dangerous. Don’t go! Second Miss Shen, you shouldn’t—”

“I’ll go,” Shen Yan said.

Zhuge Weiran choked into silence.

“Seventh Brother, if you don’t want to come, I’ll go with Shen Yan.” Smiling brightly, Zhuge Youlin wrapped an arm around Zhuge Weiran’s shoulders and leaned almost all his weight against him.

Zhuge Weiran rubbed his forehead and sighed helplessly.

He still did not want Zhuge Youlin entering the Beast-Martial Arena. He knew his ninth brother’s temperament all too well.

“Youlin, don’t go.”

Zhuge Youlin released him.

He looked at his brother, his tone calm. “Seventh Brother, I’m not a child anymore. I know what I should and shouldn’t do. I know you care about me more than anyone, but people must experience many things before they can grow strong.”

Zhuge Weiran’s emotions turned complicated at those words.

Even Shen Yan could not help giving Zhuge Youlin a second look.

He might appear young and ignorant, but his mind was far more mature than it seemed.