Magic City's skyline stretched ahead, clear and bright in the winter air.
"No matter how many times I see this place, it always feels nostalgic," Xu Mang muttered. "It is a pity I know it will be fifty meters underwater in ten years."
He sighed softly.
Soon he stood before the Clear Sky Hunter Agency, a place that was destined to become important in the future history he remembered.
It was clean, normal, and still standing.
He pushed the door open. The bell above chimed softly.
Suddenly a scene unfolded in his mind, like a memory that was not his. A hotpot party, a group of companions laughing, the smell of spice, and the clatter of chopsticks. That was Mo Fan's path, not his, but time had twisted and given him those impressions anyway.
"Young man, are you going to come in or just stand there staring?" Old Bao asked from behind the bar, smoking a cigar and polishing a glass.
Xu Mang pulled himself together and stepped inside.
"Hello. My name is Xu Mang," he introduced himself.
"So? What can we do for you?" Old Bao asked, straight to the point as always.
"I need your help with…" Xu Mang began, reaching for the cage.
Before he could finish, he noticed a small figure crouched beside the cage, twin ponytails swaying as she stared at the feral wolf pup with big curious eyes.
The last string of composure in Xu Mang's head almost snapped.
"Hmmm, Grandpa, I cannot tell what kind of wolf beast this is," Ling Ling said, tilting her head, tiny hands on her chin.
The sight of six year old Ling Ling stomping around and analyzing the pup almost made Xu Mang laugh out loud. He forced himself to stay calm and did not pounce on her like a certain future Mo Fan would have.
Old Bao flicked ash from his cigar. "Ling Ling, stay back a bit. That thing bites."
"Understood," she replied, still stole glances at the pup.
Old Bao turned to Xu Mang. "So. Explain."
Xu Mang briefly explained that he wanted to change his spirit wolf's lineage using this infant monster and needed strong backup, especially massive amounts of Ice Element and mana support.
Old Bao listened in silence. His eyes sharpened when he heard the word Antarctic.
"Ling Ling, go upstairs. Call your dad," Old Bao finally said.
A heavy voice drifted from above before she even moved.
"Who is calling me?"
A tall man around one meter ninety walked down the stairs. His hair reached his shoulders and was loosely tied back. A rough beard and mustache framed his face. His presence filled the small agency like a quiet storm.
Hunter King Leng.
Xu Mang had seen him in records and visions of another timeline, but meeting him when he was still young and full of energy was something else altogether.
"Daddy," Ling Ling rushed to him and hugged his leg.
"Had enough sleep?" Old Bao asked him.
"Yeah. I am heading back to finish that Enforcement Union quest soon," Leng said, then looked at Xu Mang. "So who is the new kid?"
"Xu Mang," Xu said with a polite bow.
"He is the one who brought that wolf infant and wants help evolving his summon," Old Bao explained.
"A summon evolution? You know our agency does not take small jobs," Leng said lazily. "Minimum down payment is one hundred thousand RMB, kid."
"I am willing to pay ten million to successfully evolve my summoned beast," Xu Mang replied calmly. "It is only a Servant Class beast right now."
"Ten million?" Leng's eyes widened slightly. "Just to evolve a Servant level summoning beast?"
He was stunned, but before he could refuse, Xu Mang continued.
"To be precise, I am trying to change my spirit wolf's lineage to a higher class. My Summoning Element is not that high yet, so the mana I can provide during evolution is limited. I need a massive external source, both pure mana and Ice Elemental energy. The more the better."
He pointed at Leng.
"You are a Half Forbidden Level Fire and Ice mage, right? You would not mind sparing a bit of mana?"
Both Old Bao and Leng Zhan froze for a moment.
How did this kid know his cultivation?
"So? What am I getting out of it?" Leng asked.
"I am already paying ten million as a base fee," Xu Mang answered.
Leng snorted. "I am China's Hunter King. You think I care about spare change?"
"How much, then?" Xu Mang asked.
"One hundred mil–"
"Deal," Xu Mang cut him off before he could finish.
Leng blinked. "…was I just tricked?"
"I am transferring it now," Xu Mang said. He took out his phone and sent the money on the spot.
Old Bao checked his own device as the notification chimed. One hundred million RMB entered the account.
"Sigh… Xiao Zhan, you dug this pit yourself. Now help him properly," Old Bao said, sliding the phone into his pocket with a satisfied look.
Leng Zhan could only sigh.
…
Xu Mang rented out an entire training ground so no one would disturb them.
He drew a huge mana gathering magic formation across the ground and dropped his blood at its center.
Old Bao and Ling Ling watched from the stands while Leng Zhan and Xu Mang stood within the circle.
Blue stardust slowly filled the formation, drawn in from several kilometers away. Within minutes the entire training ground was thick with sparkling mana.
All three onlookers were stunned.
Xu Mang sat in the middle, meditating. After steadying his breathing, he stood and rapidly connected the stars of his Summoning Element.
Seven pale moonlit stars glowed, forming the shape of a crescent. The crescent rotated and stretched, turning into a silver crack.
A dimensional fissure. A door between their world and the Summoning Plane.
A one meter tall Spirit Wolf vaulted through the crack and landed on the ground, howling to show its dominance.
Xu Mang smirked slightly.
He released the royal wolf infant from its cage.
The newborn snarled at once, trying to throw itself at the Spirit Wolf. Xu Mang pinned it to the ground with Telekinesis before it could move.
The Spirit Wolf, usually fearless, shrank back immediately. It trembled, fur standing on end.
Bloodline suppression.
Before Xu Mang could say anything, Leng Zhan spoke calmly. "The lineage difference between them is too big. Your wolf is terrified."
Indeed. The Spirit Wolf refused even the healing energy from the Summon Element before, yet now it was shaking.
"If your wolf is that afraid, this will be impossible. It will fail," Leng said.
"No, it will not. When I tell you to transfer energy into the formation where the wolves are, do it," Xu Mang said firmly.
"Wolfie," Xu Mang called.
The Spirit Wolf looked at him, still cowering.
"Are you really afraid of this thing?"
Xu Mang walked over to the infant royal wolf pinned under his Telekinesis. He slowly placed his foot on the royal pup's head, lightly pressing it down.
The Spirit Wolf's eyes went wide. Its master was trampling a creature it feared beyond reason.
"The beast you fear is nothing in front of me. Look clearly. See who you should actually be afraid of," Xu Mang said, voice steady.
"I will turn you, who hides from stronger beasts, into the strongest overlord in your plane. You will not have to hide from anyone as long as you follow me. I will make you the apex predator. So trust and follow only me."
The Spirit Wolf trembled. Then its eyes burned.
Awoo!
It howled in answer.
"Good," Xu Mang smiled slightly. "Let us start."
He increased the pressure of his Telekinesis. With one sharp twist, he snapped the royal infant's neck.
The body shrivelled as blood oozed out and formed a floating sphere beside him. Bones cracked free from the skin and hovered in front of him as well.
"Any of you a Fire Mage?" Xu Mang asked.
"I am," Leng Zhan replied.
"Then please burn these bones into powder," Xu Mang said.
A yellow flame flickered in Leng's hand, wrapping around the bones. To his shock, they did not burn at all.
"This is…" he muttered.
"Try your Super Level spell," Xu Mang said calmly. "They will not break easily."
Leng hesitated.
Old Bao's eyes shone with excitement. "Go on. I want to see this too."
Leng frowned, then summoned his full Super Level Fire. A Heavenly Flame surged from his star palace, forming a great flaming gate in the sky.
The bones floated into it.
Even under that terrifying heat, the bones held for a while before slowly, reluctantly turning to dust.
"Enough," Xu Mang said. "Any more and they will vanish completely."
Next, he placed a hand on the royal wolf's remaining skin, closing his eyes. He traced the elemental patterns and pulled out the pure Ice Elemental core within. A cyan white light emerged, representing the essence of the wolf's element.
He guided the floating core beside the bone dust and blood.
The Black Totem Pendant hummed at his chest, understanding his intent. Once Xu Mang gave permission, it released a dark azure light that stretched out, devouring the Royal Wolf's soul entirely and purifying it into a clean soul imprint.
Blood. Bone. Elemental core. Soul.
All prepared.
"You ready, Wolfie?" Xu Mang asked.
The Spirit Wolf nodded, though its body shook from fear and anticipation.
"The process will hurt. Try to endure," Xu Mang said quietly.
First, he extracted the Spirit Wolf's original blood and lineage, pulling it out through its pores. The wolf howled in pain as its body shrivelled.
Xu Mang's heart tightened, but he did not stop. When there was no original blood left, he slowly infused the royal blood in its place.
The Spirit Wolf's body filled out again. Its fur shifted from dark to pure snow white.
Next the Ice Elemental core merged into its chest. Cyan dust burst from its body and shrank into a small crystal crown forming on its forehead.
Then came the bone dust, merging into its frame. The Spirit Wolf grew rapidly. White bone spikes sprouted from its flesh, stretching its skin. It collapsed, twitching in agony, but its eyes remained clear.
"Can you take it?" Xu Mang asked.
Awoo!
It howled that it would walk this path to the end.
Xu Mang saw the Spirit Wolf's life force dipping lower. One mistake and it would die.
He called over his shoulder without looking away. "Hunter King Leng, use your Ice Element to stabilize him. Please."
Leng nodded and placed his hand near the wolf. Heavenly Ice energy flowed into its body.
The Spirit Wolf greedily absorbed the power, not only the energy, but a tiny part of Leng's Heavenly Ice Soul Seed. Leng pulled his hand back in shock.
Xu Mang sat in meditation, pulling the gathered mana back into his Summon Stardust and recovering his own reserves. Within minutes he was ready again.
His wolf's bones finally stopped growing. Two meters tall now, its body crackled with strength, every movement accompanied by a crisp sound.
"You did it," Xu Mang said softly. "Good job."
"Last step."
The Black Totem Pendant released the purified Royal Wolf soul.
"Devour it," Xu Mang ordered. "That is an order."
The Spirit Wolf, still ugly and covered in bone spikes, leapt at the white soul and tore into it. The soul tried to flee, but Xu Mang's Telekinesis formed a barrier around it.
The wolf swallowed.
Its heartbeat thundered.
A blinding white light enveloped it.
Leng Zhan watched, stunned. Old Bao's mouth curled into an excited grin.
"He did it," Leng finally said.
"Yes," Xu Mang's eyes shone. "He is evolving."
The glowing wolf slowly floated into the air, then began to shrink. From two meters down to less than one. When the light faded, a small figure landed softly on the ground.
A tiny wolf with spotless snow white fur. Cyan runes like flowing marks of power traced across its body. A small crystal crown rested on its forehead, radiating pure Ice Element.
Its eyes opened. Inside them burned a dangerous frost that looked like flames.
Every step it took left an icy pawprint behind. Snow dust fell softly from its fur.
The little wolf trotted up to Xu Mang and rubbed against his leg.
Xu Mang picked it up. Its fur was softer than clouds, its body cold and refreshing to touch.
"That is right," Xu Mang said, smiling for real this time. "You are royalty now."
"From now on, you will be called Snow Frost Star Wolf."
Awoo!
The little wolf lifted its head and howled happily, icy frost dancing around its small body.
A true royal of the wolf race had been born under Xu Mang's command.