3. Enforced Pact

Ning Xuan absorbed the information she had just seen while following another staff member up to the second floor. The psychic power detection device needed to be calibrated before use. During the wait, the staff handed her a booklet titled *The Awakening and Growth of Psychic Power*.

The shelf near the entrance held many copies, apparently basic introductory materials.

Ning Xuan quickly flipped through the booklet. She was quietly gathering information about this world, careful not to make any rash moves. She needed to integrate here calmly and smoothly.

Once the device was ready, Ning Xuan put on the psychic power helmet connected to the machine. She sensed a subtle psychic force probing into her mental sea. It was gentle, without any aggression, entering and retreating within less than a second.

“Congratulations, ma’am. You have awakened psychic power and become a Spirit Controller. Your psychic power has just awakened. The initial test shows a psychic power value of 56, with a rating of Grade D.” Ning Xuan had just read the booklet: a psychic power value of 1 to 10 corresponded to Grade F; 11 to 50 was Grade E; 51 to 100 was Grade D; 101 to 1000 was Grade C.

Values higher than that were unrecorded and required testing at a more advanced institution.

“You have just awakened psychic power. Your brain domain breadth cannot be measured yet. Please come to the information center in your residence one month from now for testing. The brain domain breadth correlates directly with your future potential, so it is crucial you get this test done. Generally, a companion spirit will awaken within a year after psychic power activation. During this period, please remain in a safe environment, maintain proper nutrition, sufficient sleep, and a positive mindset. We detected that your information light brain has been damaged; we have issued you a new one. Your personal data has been updated and stored. You can access it by clicking on your left wrist.” The staff member informed her with a professional smile.

Through the booklet, Ning Xuan learned that once psychic power is awakened, a companion spirit can also awaken, making one a Spirit Controller. Male controllers tended to excel at killing, while females were proficient in healing, psychological guidance, and clearing negative states.

The psychic power value grows with age after awakening, typically ceasing to increase once physical development completes at around eighteen years old. Therefore, the age of awakening is critical—the earlier the awakening, the greater the potential. Besides initial test values, brain domain breadth is also a key factor in determining psychic power ranking.

Usually, children with potential awaken psychic power before fifteen. Those who have not awakened by then are generally assumed to have no chance.

“Ms. Ning, our system shows that you have not yet registered your genetic information. According to Federal law, anyone who awakens psychic power must have their genetic data recorded in the gene bank and participate in gene matching. During your first gene entry, the main brain will screen for contract candidates with over 90% compatibility. Rest assured, such matches are rare; this is primarily to prepare for your future contract partner search. Compatibility over 60% allows contract formation, while over 90% mandates a contract. Please cooperate!” A team of staff in uniform found Ning Xuan as she was about to go downstairs.

She was then taken up to the fifth floor, had blood drawn, and was placed inside a large glass chamber.

Ning Xuan had only wanted to check her personal information, but it turned out to be so complicated. What did gene matching mean? What about contracts and contract holders? And companion spirits—what were they exactly? She was utterly confused, feeling there was much common knowledge she needed to catch up on. Feeling a little irritated, she headed down to the first floor and approached Lin Mo, tapping him on the shoulder. “Weren’t you going to send me off? Let’s go!”

Lin Mo was busy operating something on his light brain. Startled by her tap, he immediately straightened up, nervously placing his hands behind his back, staring straight ahead, chest out, standing perfectly erect.

“Why are you so nervous? And why is your face so red?” Ning Xuan frowned, sensing something was off, as if he had been caught doing something wrong.

Lin Mo recalled the information just received by his light brain. He felt an indescribable mixture of emotions—he had casually helped someone and ended up bringing back a troublemaker. Secretly, he assessed this girl who wasn’t yet an adult: she was seventeen, had just awakened psychic power, rated D initially. Although not low, at her age her psychic power wouldn’t grow naturally anymore. Female Spirit Controllers were not adept at killing and couldn’t improve their psychic power through combat. Upgrading would require psychic power potions, but even with top-tier potions supplied, her growth would be very slow. Whether she could reach B rank in the next twenty or thirty years was uncertain.

“It’s fine. Let’s go! I’ll see you off!” Lin Mo instinctively bowed slightly and gestured for her to lead the way.

Ning Xuan looked at him curiously. In just a few minutes, Lin Mo’s demeanor had become much more courteous, even somewhat respectful.

Once aboard the spaceship, Ning Xuan’s light brain chimed repeatedly. She opened one notification to find a message from the main brain: “Congratulations, you have matched with a contract holder at 97% compatibility and have been forcibly contracted. The other party’s psychic power rank far exceeds yours. They have chosen high-level protection; contract holder information is temporarily unavailable.”

“What does ‘forcibly contracted’ mean?” Ning Xuan asked him after reading the message.

Lin Mo’s heart leapt to his throat. Of course, he didn’t believe Ning Xuan truly didn’t know what forced contracts entailed. He thought she had discovered something and was breaking out in cold sweat, unsure how to respond. But Ning Xuan seemed to sense his reluctance. “Never mind, I’ll look it up myself!”

She opened the information search on her light brain and began reading about strong contracts, forced contract conditions, whether contracts could be dissolved, why the other party used high-level Spirit Controller protection to hide their information, and how long such protection could last.

After absorbing all the information, Ning Xuan fell silent. She reviewed the messages she had received: five contract candidates with compatibility ranging from 92% to 97%. Four used high-level protection, one used special position protection. None would reveal their information.

In other words, although they could not refuse the contract, they could delay its formalization. The main brain had matched her with five candidates over 90% compatibility, but all five collectively rejected her.

Recalling the Federal contract system, Ning Xuan found it somewhat understandable why they had made this decision.