The Compatibility Test

  Madame Scarlet led Huang Di to an underground chamber within her home, a hidden space that stretched beneath the floor. The black iron concrete floor was adorned with intricate circular formations. These patterns were composed of symbols from prominent clans: humans, dragons, beasts, and demons. Alongside elemental signs such as wind, fire, earth, and water. The room exuded an aura of mystery and power, with dim lighting reflecting off the etched symbols.

  “We’ve arrived,” Scarlet announced, her tone laced with anticipation. “Here, you will undergo the elemental and spiritual compatibility tests.”

  Huang Di was intrigued. Why perform another test if one had already been conducted? Still, he chose not to question and simply followed her instructions.

  “Huang Di, proceed to the center of the formation and sit in the lotus position,” Scarlet instructed.

  He obeyed, settling over the yin-yang symbol at the heart of the array. Scarlet, in turn, withdrew several cultivation stones, replacing them with a perfect and significantly larger stone, placing it with great care at strategic locations around the formation.

  With a focused gaze, Scarlet began to weave complex hand signs, releasing an astonishing amount of energy. Huang Di watched, astonished to witness the true strength of the elders. At first, he had believed he couldn't perceive their cultivation due to their spiritual nature. After seeing Merlin release an absurd volume of energy to activate runes and formations, he suspected the rank difference was the reason. But now, he began to suspect something far greater perhaps they were at least at the legendary Emperor Rank.

  As the formation activated, streams of energy converged toward Huang Di, igniting like a colossal bonfire. The heat and intensity were palpable; he could feel the energy vibrating around him, as though the entire world pulsed in rhythm with his soul.

  After a few minutes, the light dimmed, revealing a breathtaking sight: numerous clan and elemental symbols glowed intensely, while others remained faint or dark.

  Scarlet examined the symbols with care. Her expression quickly shifted to one of surprise and admiration.

  “It seems you’ve truly been blessed by the goddess of fortune,” she exclaimed. “Many symbols have lit up, but a few stand out in extraordinary ways: the elements of metal, fire, and wind... and even more impressively, the clans of Dragon, Human, Beast, and Astral!”

  She continued, visibly excited:

  “Even the other types you can summon would only suffer a minimal 25% loss in characteristics. That includes plant-type, insect-type, and even equipment-type summons and the last one is one of the rarest to appear! Your luck is surreal. Your compatibility with high-level summons, such as metal-element and Dragon clan, increases by 200%. For the rest fire, wind, human, beast, and astral you gain a 150% boost.”

  “Just to give you an idea,” she went on, even more animated, “my fire summons only receives a 20% enhancement. But yours, with the same type, would receive a 50% increase in attributes. It’s ridiculous in the best possible way!”

  Huang Di was amazed by the revelation of his potential. He now realized he held a new card up his sleeves, something he could use to gain significant advantages on his cultivation path. More than that, he saw the real possibility of forming powerful alliances, summoning beings that could help him reach the highest levels of the martial path.

  Madame Scarlet, meanwhile, displayed a mix of admiration and frustration:

  “If we were in my world, you’d be the sensation of an entire era. My master, one of the greatest figures of her generation, had only four types of compatibility. You have ten! If you combine these affinities with refined summoning techniques, the possibilities would be unprecedented in my homeland. People would fight to protect you and use you as a trump card while others would hunt you down for threatening the balance of power. Zizizi.”

  With a resolute smile, Huang Di reflected on Scarlet’s words. He knew his potential was both a blessing and a responsibility. With new allies and newfound abilities, he was more prepared than ever to face the challenges that awaited him on his path of cultivation.

  The Copper Grimoire

  Madame Scarlet cast a meaningful look at Huang Di, as if calculating something in secret. Feeling slightly uneasy, Huang Di stood up and asked:

  "So, what’s the next step to learn the Art of Spiritual Summoning?"

  Snapping out of her thoughts, Scarlet teased:

  "Sweetie, didn’t you say you only wanted a few tips? Now that I’ve given you a hand, you want my whole body too, hmm?"

  Huang Di flushed red like a ripe tomato, resisting the urge to flee. He was no longer a na?ve boy. He knew she was joking yet he also sensed a hint of truth in her words. He had received much and offered little in return.

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  Looking at her, he responded with sincerity:

  "I don’t have much to offer right now. You’d have to invest in the present to reap the rewards in the future. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll discover a technique that can grant you a full and vibrant life."

  When he spoke those words with conviction, Scarlet smiled, a smile that could have made anyone blush, had she still possessed a body of flesh and blood.

  She laughed and replied:

  "Sweetie, I’m just teasing you. No need to get so serious. I’d be quite happy if you could do that. There is a technique, if you reach the third stage of this relic, that might achieve something similar... But let’s forget that for now. First, sit down and center yourself. I’ll pass the technique to you."

  Huang Di sat in the lotus position, stabilizing his cultivation and closing his eyes. Facing him, Scarlet gave him a seductive look before leaning in and kissing his lips, activating the transmission of knowledge.

  By the time Huang Di felt the touch of her lips, it was already too late, the knowledge was flooding into his mind. Decades of wisdom on formations, grimoires, pacts, and spiritual contracts overwhelmed his consciousness.

  When he opened his eyes, Huang Di caught a glimpse of Scarlet’s vibrant, corporeal form, smiling brightly. But in the blink of an eye, everything returned to normal.

  "Thank you," he said, astonished. "I didn’t expect it to be so intense... But I suppose I need to be at least at the Earth Rank to summon anything, right?"

  Scarlet shook her head.

  "Not necessarily. Now, you need to sign a contract with a grimoire. It will serve as the place where your summons is stored when not in use. Oh, I have something for you."

  In her hand appeared a book wrapped in arcane symbols. Had it not been for the recent knowledge transfer, Huang Di wouldn’t have recognized it a Copper Grimoire, the most basic tool for beginners.

  "What’s the magic word?" she asked with a laugh.

  "Thank you very much, Scarlet-sensei," he replied, accepting the grimoire.

  Huang Di lightly cut his finger and sprinkled blood onto the grimoire, reciting the incantation and releasing his energy. The grimoire glowed brightly, binding to his spirit and forming his first spiritual connection.

  "From now on, all your summons will be linked to the grimoire," Scarlet explained. "But keep in mind, a Copper Grimoire only has one hundred pages to be filled. To evolve it into higher ranks: like Silver, Gold, or Diamond, your cultivation must rise."

  She continued:

  "The Earth Rank corresponds to the Copper Grimoire; Silver to the Sky Rank; Gold to the King Rank; and Diamond to the Emperor. The higher the grimoire’s rank, the more powerful the creatures you’ll be able to summon."

  Huang Di nodded, consolidating what he had just learned. There was still much he didn’t understand, how could he summon anything without meeting specific requirements? But he knew this was only the beginning. To master the Art of Spiritual Summoning, he would have to dive much deeper into the mysteries of the grimoire and the limits and possibilities it held.

  An Invitation to the Unknown

  After receiving the copper grimoire, Huang Di was eager to attempt his first summoning. However, Madame Scarlet intervened, sensing his impatience.

  "Now that you have the basic knowledge of summoning, it's time for me to introduce you to the true Art of Spiritual Summoning," she said, her tone suddenly serious, a stark contrast to her usual playful demeanor.

  Huang Di was surprised by the shift in her attitude. He had expected more teasing, but she was clearly focused on imparting something important.

  "The common version of summoning you’ve learned has its limitations," she explained. "It restricts the number of entities you can summon simultaneously. What I’m about to teach you is the version used by the elites of my world. It allows for a significant increase in both the characteristics and number of summonses."

  Huang Di prepared himself, extending his hands. Scarlet took them firmly, and he felt a surge of energy rush through his body. Unlike the previous transmission, this one was slower and more meticulous. He closed his eyes, focusing on the images flooding his mind, detailed visions refining the basic technique and unveiling the secrets that distinguished elite practitioners from the ordinary.

  The information was dense, yet Huang Di absorbed it with unwavering determination. He saw how the enhanced version permitted the summoning of different types of entities, even without direct compatibility, and how the number of simultaneous summonses increased drastically. He also realized that the energy requirements were considerable, demanding precise control.

  As he meditated upon the skill, Huang Di achieved minor success, allowing him to summon up to three entities simultaneously. If he achieved greater success, that number would increase to five. And with perfect success, up to ten. That was considered the standard limit in Scarlet’s world, only exceeded by those with exceptional energy reserves.

  After twelve hours, the transmission concluded. Huang Di opened his eyes to see Scarlet visibly exhausted, as if part of her vital energy had been spent. He was about to voice his concern, but she quickly took a tonic and gradually recovered.

  "Don’t worry, I’m already feeling better," she said, noting his unease. "Inheritance transmission is always draining, but it’s worth it. This version I gave you is unique and exclusive. Only you can use it."

  Huang Di reflected as Scarlet continued:

  "This version is superior even to what I usually use, as it’s been adapted for cultivators. The energy of my world is different from yours, so I created this variation to better align with your essence. You’re the only one I’ve ever passed it to and remember: you can’t transmit it to anyone else until you fulfill the promise you made me."

  Additionally, the technique bore the qualities of a growth-type skill classic trait of secret techniques. As a skill of Imperial Rank, it would take time to master. At his current level, he estimated it would take at least ten years to fully materialize. But if he reached Sky Rank swiftly, that time could shrink to just one year. Now, he had everything he needed to perform his first summoning.

  Determined, Huang Di sat in the lotus position, stabilizing and recovering his energy. It took him another two hours to be fully prepared. Then, he took six perfect stones from his pouch and drew a summoning pentagram, mixing a bit of his own blood with that of rank-five beasts to strengthen the magic circle.

  At the center, he placed the heart of a tiger, a symbol of strength and courage. He then activated the enchantment while Scarlet watched attentively. Huang Di gathered his energy, performing intricate hand gestures and channeling Qi through his arms. When he had accumulated a significant amount, he entered a deep trance.

  Within his mind, he saw a black cub a blend of panther and wolf being chased by more powerful beasts. The creature was wounded and in great danger. With his astral body, Huang Di extended his consciousness and grasped the creature firmly. In an instant, both vanished from that threatening realm.

  Meanwhile, in the real world, Huang Di’s body completed the ritualistic dance, and a flash of energy filled the room. A confused beast materialized the very cub he had seen in his vision and Huang Di, completely drained, collapsed to the floor.

  He had succeeded in performing his first summons.