Once Gu Jin followed his instruction, Long Yifan said,
"Now close your eyes and insert your mana in the summoning stone. This is called activation and without this step, you will never be able to open a summoning portal.
Once you insert your mana in the stone, it will slowly travel into the array beneath you. The array will then be activated and you will soon be teleported to the summoning plane.
During this entire ti, ensure that you don’t leave the summoning stone or stand up from your position."
Gu Jin took a steady breath and focused her mana into the summoning stone resting in her palm.
The stone pulsed faintly, absorbing her energy, and a faint glow spread across the intricate array beneath her.
Si Kai, seated beside her, tightened his grip on her hand, his gaze sharp as he observed the flow of energy around them.
A soft hum filled the air, the resonance of the array growing stronger.
Long Yifan took a step back, observing carefully.
"Good. Maintain your focus. The portal should open in a few monts."
He then turned toward Si Kai and said,
"You too close your eyes."
Si Kai nodded. He can sense that Long Yifan just wanted to ensure that no mishaps happened, so he followed Long Yifan’s orders.
Gu Jin felt a shift in the air—an invisible force pulling at her.
The summoning stone grew warm, vibrating slightly as the runes etched into the ground ignited with brilliant light.
A vortex of energy swirled around them, distorting the space within the array.
Si Kai remained completely still, his expression calm but his aura subtly shifting.
His free hand hovered over the ground, fingers twitching slightly as if tracing unseen patterns in the air.
His protective barrier began to take shape, forming a translucent do around them. It flickered for a brief mont before solidifying.
A sharp crack echoed through the space, and in an instant, everything went white.
....................
When the blinding light faded, Gu Jin found herself standing on a vast, ethereal plain. The sky above was an endless expanse of swirling colors—deep blues, purples, and streaks of silver rging together in an ever-changing dance. The ground beneath her feet was smooth and reflective, like polished obsidian, yet it felt solid and stable.
Si Kai exhaled slowly beside her, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "So, this is the summoning plane... it feels different than I imagined."
Gu Jin nodded.
The space around them carried a distinct energy, one that made her skin tingle with anticipation.
It was an environnt entirely separate from the physical world—one where the rules of nature were rewritten, where spirits and beasts of imnse power road freely.
She turned to Si Kai. "You still feel stable here?"
Si Kai smirked. "Of course. My barrier held, and I can sense everything just fine."
Before Gu Jin could respond, a distant roar echoed across the plane.
It was a deep, resonant sound that sent ripples through the air. A mont later, multiple shadows began to erge from the shifting horizon.
"The beasts... they’re already aware of our presence," Si Kai murmured.
Gu Jin watched as the shadows in the distance took form, growing larger with every step.
Soon, two magnificent beasts ca into view—winged lions with shimring golden fur and piercing blue eyes.
Their enormous wings folded neatly against their bodies, and a noble aura radiated from them as they stopped a short distance away.
Si Kai’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Not bad, Sister. You have quite the eye for quality."
Gu Jin took a confident step forward. "You." She pointed at one of the winged lions. "Would you like to form a contract with ?"
The lion blinked at her, tilting its head slightly as if considering her words. Before it could respond, Si Kai chuckled.
"You do realize that’s a Sky Sovereign Winged Lion, right? One of the highest-ranking beasts in the summoning plane."
Gu Jin’s eyes glead with excitent. "Then it’s perfect!" She smiled at the beast. "If you form a contract with , I promise to buy you the best resources, rarest treasures, and even a golden silk bed to sleep on."
The winged lion narrowed its eyes, then slowly turned away and walked off without a single glance back.
Si Kai burst out laughing.
"Oh no, Sister, I think you just got rejected. That was the most dignified ’no’ I’ve ever seen."
Gu Jin scowled. "Tch, ungrateful beast. Who even wants you?"
She turned her attention to another creature nearby—a large, muscular serpent with glistening obsidian scales. It coiled around itself, watching them cautiously.
Gu Jin cleared her throat.
"You there, great serpent! I see you are wise and powerful. Would you consider forming a contract with ? I can offer you a lake filled with the purest spiritual water."
The serpent flicked its tongue out, considering her words.
Then, with slow, deliberate movents, it turned around and slithered away without responding.
Si Kai doubled over with laughter.
"Sister, do you think these creatures are beggars? A lake? That’s all you’ve got?"
Gu Jin clenched her fists. "Shut up. At least I’m trying."
She scanned the surroundings and spotted a three-eyed wolf standing proudly atop a small hill. Determined, she approached it.
"Mighty three-eyed wolf, your noble presence alone speaks of greatness. Form a contract with , and I will personally prepare the most extravagant feast of celestial ats for you."
The wolf’s third eye opened, glowing faintly.
It let out a long sigh—yes, an actual sigh—before shaking its head and trotting away.
Si Kai whistled.
"Wow. That wolf just sighed at you. Do you realize how special that is? You made a divine beast exasperated. That takes talent."
Gu Jin shot him a deadly glare.
"Say another word, and you’ll be the next one sighing—for rcy."
Undeterred, she tried again with a pair of twin foxes, their tails flickering with golden flas.
"Beautiful fox spirits, I see you are both elegant and intelligent. If you form a contract with , I promise to provide you with the finest silk pillows and warst spiritual tea."
The twin foxes exchanged a look before turning in unison and vanishing into thin air, their bodies dissolving like mist.
Si Kai clutched his stomach, gasping for breath between laughs.
"They didn’t even bother walking away! They just disappeared! Oh, Sister, you might set a record for the most rejections in one day."
Gu Jin exhaled sharply and rubbed her temples.
"I swear if one more beast walks away from —"
She turned and spotted a gigantic tortoise, its shell covered in glowing ancient runes.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward.
"Wise tortoise, surely you understand the value of a strong partner. I—"
Before she could finish, the tortoise yawned, stretched its legs, and pulled its head into its shell, instantly falling asleep.
Si Kai wiped a tear from his eye. "Sister, just admit it. You have a negative charm with beasts. Maybe you should offer them sothing they actually want."
Gu Jin clenched her jaw and cracked her knuckles.
"Maybe I should offer them your head on a plate."
Si Kai held up his hands in mock surrender.
"Alright, alright! No need for violence. How about I help you identify a beast that actually wants a contract?"
Gu Jin took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.
"Fine. But if you laugh one more ti, you’ll be finding yourself a new set of teeth."
Gu Jin and Si Kai wandered through the summoning plane, searching for a suitable beast. They had encountered several creatures willing to form a contract, but their demands were outrageous.
One enormous, golden-feathered eagle gazed down at them and declared,
"If you wish to form a contract with , you must build a grand temple in my honor and have mortals worship every single day!"
Gu Jin nearly choked.
"Worship you? Every day? Who do you think you are, the ruler of the heavens?"
The eagle flapped its wings proudly. "That is correct."
She scoffed and walked away. "Next!"
Then, a sleek, silver-furred panther approached them gracefully.
"I will form a contract with you, but only if you promise to bathe in the finest scented oils every single morning. My fur must remain pristine at all tis."
Gu Jin blinked. "So... you want to be your personal maid?"
"Exactly." The panther purred.
Si Kai smirked. "Sister, I think you’d make an excellent servant."
Gu Jin shot him a deadly glare before storming off.
Then there was the giant frog that wanted a five-course al prepared for it daily, the flaming horse that demanded a personal cloud to float on at all tis, and the tiny talking squirrel that insisted on being carried everywhere in a silk pouch.
"I give up!" Gu Jin groaned as she flopped onto a quiet rock.
"These beasts are insane! How am I supposed to find a partner when they all act like spoiled nobles?"
Si Kai chuckled and leaned back against the rock.
"Maybe you should lower your standards."
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