Wang Mu was aghast. ’Who helped Chen Nan? Is there a master hiding in the shadows?!’

Wang Mu was in shock, and Chen Nan, too, was struggling to remain calm. Just moments ago, Ning Xuan had poured her spiritual power into his Spiritual Sea through their Spiritual Link Channel, severing his father’s spirit control over him!

For anyone else to achieve this, their Spiritual Power Level would have to completely overwhelm Wang Mu’s. However, with the Spiritual Link Channel, the spiritual power Ning Xuan sent into Chen Nan’s Spiritual Sea was recognized as being from the same source as his own. It wasn’t resisted by his Spiritual Sea; instead, it joined forces with Chen Nan’s own spiritual power to fight against Wang Mu!

Only then could Wang Mu’s spirit control be severed!

"Father, my genetic compatibility with my Contractor is 96%. The mainframe forced the match, and no one is allowed to interfere with this contractual relationship! My Contractor and I have already established a spiritual connection, so please stop making a scene!" Chen Nan didn’t understand. He had already told his older brother, Chen Hui, that Ning Xuan’s spiritual power had advanced to B-Class. ’Didn’t Big Brother pass the news on to Father?’

"You ungrateful brat! Did I raise you all this time just for you to lecture me? Guards, take him away!" With a wave from Wang Mu, a dozen more guards surrounded them. Three or four of them were S-Class in overall strength!

Chen Nan grew anxious. He wasn’t afraid of these men, but he worried that if a fight broke out, Ning Xuan might get hurt by accident. If that happened, his father would be in serious trouble!

"Exactly, Chen Nan. Uncle is just looking out for you. Even if the mainframe matched you, you still have to see if it’s a suitable fit. You’re a proper noble son, yet you’re settling for a backwater hick from a Garbage Star. How could Uncle bear to see you controlled by a hick in the future?" Second Miss Bai taunted, looking smug.

The crowd glanced at the short Second Miss Bai, then back at Ning Xuan, with her black hair, black eyes, slender figure, and extraordinary grace. They felt that no matter how you looked at it, the word "hick" simply didn’t apply to her.

"Bai Er, you worthless fool! My Contractor is a once-in-a-generation talent. The chance to be by her side is a blessing countless people could only dream of. If you say one more malicious word, don’t blame me for what I do next," Chen Nan said coldly, stepping forward.

"A blessing countless people could only dream of? Hah!" Bai Er scoffed as if she’d just heard a hilarious joke. She turned to the crowd. "Hey, you all hear that? This ’blessing’ is up for grabs. Any of you want it?"

"I do!" a voice called out from the crowd.

"Which son of a bitch dares to defy me?" Hearing the response, Second Miss Bai flew into a rage and whipped her head around to find the source.

The voice came from the north. Upon hearing it, the crowd quickly parted to form a path. The man who had spoken had long, straight legs, broad shoulders, and a narrow waist. He had a head of curly golden hair and fair skin so pale it seemed cool to the touch. His features were exquisite. He exuded an air of cold nobility, radiating an unapproachable aloofness.

"You... you’re Lin Mo?" As much of a worthless fool as Second Miss Bai was, even she could recognize the man who frequently appeared in Star Network news reports: Lin Mo of the Five Maples City Lin Family, the Federation’s youngest Vice Admiral Level Officer!

Lin Mo paid no attention to Second Miss Bai, nor to anyone else. As if he could only see Ning Xuan, he walked directly in front of her and knelt, bowing his head to the ground. "I took the liberty of concealing my personal information and failed to present myself to my Contractor in a timely manner. Please, Lord Contract Master, punish me!"

Sharp gasps of surprise rippled through the onlookers, and then the crowd erupted. "What in the world is happening?"

"Is this an act?"

"What act? Don’t you recognize General Lin? Who could possibly hire *him* to put on a show?"

"Which family does that black-haired female Spirit Controller belong to? For General Lin to kneel to her willingly, she must be someone extraordinary! No wonder Mr. Chen defied his family’s orders to be with her!"

Hearing the buzz of discussion all around, Second Miss Bai stared at Ning Xuan with a mixture of shock and suspicion. Wang Mu was even more stunned. ’Did my son hire Lin Mo to put on this show?’ he wondered. But considering Lin Mo’s status, even if he and his son were friends, it was highly unlikely he would stoop to this level just to help him with an act.

"General Lin, I have already submitted a contract termination request to the mainframe. It will be approved shortly. There is nothing between us, so there’s absolutely no need for such a grand gesture!" Ning Xuan said, taking a step back with a displeased expression. ’I just arrived on Central Star and haven’t even made a name for myself in the Alchemy competition, and now I’m the center of a public spectacle over some romantic drama!’

"I concealed my information because my Mutated Value was too high and I required treatment. The moment my treatment ended, I unsealed my information to come and pay my respects. The only delay was caused by your entry into Extreme Cold City. I do not believe I have committed any other fault. Please, Lord Contract Master, withdraw the termination request!" Lin Mo raised his head, explaining earnestly to Ning Xuan.

’In truth, I was smitten the first time I saw her in the Mysterious Barrier Land. I just didn’t dare to face my own feelings back then. The Ning Xuan before me now is taller, more beautiful, and even more dazzling than she was. Looking at her... I can’t help but feel my heart race!’

"General Lin Mo, have you lost your mind? Or does she have some dirt on you, forcing you to play along with this act?" Second Miss Bai’s eyes were crimson with jealousy. ’This is Lin Mo we’re talking about! While studying at the Central Star Military Academy, he had endless admirers. The daughters of countless prominent families were infatuated with him. The Lin Family once declared that Lin Mo would be the future heir of Five Maples City and that they had already chosen a suitable partner for him. He was meant to be the Controller in his contract!’

And now, here he was, kneeling at a woman’s feet, begging her to withdraw a termination request!

"The City Guard is conducting official business! All unauthorized personnel must disperse immediately!" A squad of officers wielding energy sticks began to clear the crowd.

Second Miss Bai struggled, unwilling to leave. She saw two figures who had been with the City Guard detachment now standing behind Lin Mo. ’He called them here!’ she realized.

By now, Wang Mu’s mind had caught up to the situation. ’Lin Mo wouldn’t tarnish his reputation in front of everyone just to help someone put on an act. It seems this Contractor Chen Nan was matched with is no simple character!’

He slipped into a corner and sent a message to his eldest son. ’Judging by my younger son’s expression earlier, he must have sent some information back. If it didn’t come directly to me, he must have sent it to Chen Hui. I need to ask Chen Hui what’s going on!’

When the communication alert chimed on Chen Hui’s Light Computer, he had just been taken down from a cross-shaped torture rack. His back was covered in bloody welts from a whipping, leaving him unable to move as he lay face down on his bed.

Seeing the incoming message was from his father, Chen Hui remembered what his younger brother had told him. His brother had left Extreme Cold City yesterday and messaged him, saying that his Contractor, Ning Xuan, had advanced to B-Class in Spiritual Power Level and had also passed the Advanced Alchemist examination. He was about to accompany Ning Xuan to the Central Star Military Academy and had pleaded with Chen Hui to leak this news to their father, hoping he would prepare to apologize and make amends with Ning Xuan ahead of time.