I Contracted Myself

[Appraisal Successful]

[Lone Testicle Pearl: A pearl housing the spirit of the Nether Mist. Formed from a specific organ of the Nether Mist Black Goat after its death. When consumed by other creatures, there is a 1% chance of gaining the ability to control 'Nether Mist.']

Finally, after countless failures, Zhang Ping managed to successfully appraise the black pearl.

As the attributes of the black pearl unfolded, images related to it appeared before Zhang Ping's eyes: a massive black goat emanating black mist. This mist transformed into enormous goat horns, continuously attacking the surrounding mutated beasts.

Suddenly, a gigantic mutated wild boar charged in. The black goat instantly turned into mist and dispersed, then reformed above the wild boar, raining down countless goat horns. The wild boar's back was immediately pierced with several large holes.

However, the wild boar's vitality was incredibly tenacious. As it was attacked, it opened its mouth and bit upwards. The black goat let out a painful cry, and the black mist scattered.

In the next second, the black goat fell from the wild boar's back, convulsing violently, its body stiffening.

Gradually, a large amount of black mist emerged from its body, all rushing into the wild boar's mouth. Before the wild boar could spit out what was in its mouth, a cold light swept over from somewhere, and its head was blown off by a shockwave, its body collapsing heavily.

The scene ended there.

Zhang Ping looked at the black pearl in his hand with a complicated expression. To eat or not to eat, that was the question.

He had a gut feeling that if he ate this pearl, there was a high chance he would gain the 'Nether Mist' ability. But knowing what it was made him feel uneasy.

Some people could eat anything, so why wasn't he one of them?

Zhang Ping sighed inwardly.

He was sure that the Lone Testicle Pearl was more valuable than an Elemental Gem in Mingzhu City.

This was a treasure that could change a person's fate.

Why did martial arts schools charge so much?

Because most martial arts schools possessed a powerful martial technique, which, when mastered, could rival superpowers.

Why were weapons and equipment so expensive?

Because wielding a weapon was akin to having an extra means of attack. Weapons were also considered a form of ability!

The issue was that the former required rigorous cultivation, talent, and comprehension, while the latter required learning how to use the weapon, which also took a lot of time to master.

But treasures like the Lone Testicle Pearl were different.

Just swallowing it gave a chance to gain an ability. How could it not be precious?

Most Awakeners only had one ability in their lifetime. Who wouldn't want more?

Zhang Ping looked at the Lone Testicle Pearl, memories flashing through his mind.

Buried alive in a landslide in his previous life, suffocating under the earth.

At the Patrol Guard headquarters, seeing the Tianchang Fox that killed Su Jingyao swaggering in front of him, yet having to smile and pretend.

Being at the mercy of the Moon Prince during school inspections.

Facing the Tianchang Fox's attack in the Black Chamber, feeling utter despair.

"Am I, so weak, in any position to be picky?"

Zhang Ping snapped back to reality, looking at the Lone Testicle Pearl, mocking himself inwardly.

He tilted his head back and swallowed the Lone Testicle Pearl, struggling to get it down.

After swallowing, he immediately appraised himself, but his attributes didn't change. He frowned slightly, thinking he might not have gained the ability, when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his abdomen.

He gritted his teeth, suppressing any sound, clutching his stomach and curling up on the ground.

Vaguely, he felt something rushing from his stomach to his brain, followed by a piercing scream.

The scream seemed like an auditory hallucination, disappearing in an instant.

Next, black mist began to seep from his sweat glands.

The thin mist floated around his body, like a veil covering him.

After about five minutes, the pain gradually subsided.

Zhang Ping lay exhausted on the ground, too tired to move.

After a while, he appraised himself again.

[Appraisal Successful]

[Summoned Beast: Zhang Ping]

[Master: Zhang Ping]

[Race: Human]

[Potential: ☆☆☆☆☆]

[Lifespan: 99]

[Rank: Primary Awakener]

[Level: 9]

[Talents]

[Contract Gem: Can consume stamina and mental strength to condense a Contract Gem. Once the target willingly accepts the Contract Gem, their life, soul, and consciousness will be dominated by the Summoner. They will also gain the Summoner's potential and luck. After the first consumption, subsequent consumptions will slightly enhance their potential, with a 1% chance of awakening a new talent. Note: The talent ability obtained by Summoner Zhang Ping through the overuse of IQ, potential, and luck is powerful but has a significant flaw. Overambition seems to be a bad thing.]

[Absolute Command: You have absolute control over your summoned beasts. Your commands cannot be disobeyed.]

[Absolute Obedience: You must absolutely obey the Summoner's commands. You will loyally execute the Summoner's orders.]

[Collector's Edition Appraisal Skill: Can appraise targets with a 60% chance of obtaining information. After the first successful appraisal, the success rate for subsequent appraisals on the same target will increase to 100%. Note: This talent ability was born from the curiosity of both Summoned Beast Zhang Ping and Summoner Zhang Ping.]

[Nether Mist Night Walker: Gains night vision, significantly reduces presence at night, greatly increases movement speed, reduces weight, becomes completely invisible in shadows, and greatly reduces presence when shrouded in Nether Mist.]

[Fire Eater: Can restore stamina by consuming flames and convert excess flames into fire elemental energy stored in the body. After releasing the energy, temporarily gains a flame-wrapped effect until the fire elemental energy is exhausted. This ability will gradually increase the user's resistance to high temperatures. Note: Potential is just potential. Only when it is realized as strength does it become true power.]

[Wind Whisperer: The wind will bring you all kinds of information, whether you want to know it or not. Note: There are no walls that the wind cannot penetrate, and no secrets that the wind does not know.]

[Unusual Eater: When consuming special items, there is a 10% chance of gaining a corresponding special constitution. Note: Why does this kid eat everything?]

[Nether Mist Body: Can absorb the fear of living beings and convert it into controllable Nether Mist. Note: Your fear is my food!]

...

Worth it!

Zhang Ping looked at his attributes and wanted to laugh out loud, but considering the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit leader was nearby, he held back.

He never expected that swallowing the Lone Testicle Pearl would enhance him so much. His lifespan increased from 89 to 99, and his level rose from 3 to 9.

The Strategic Appraisal Skill upgraded to the Collector's Edition Appraisal Skill, and the Night Walker evolved into the Nether Mist Night Walker.

Most importantly, he gained two new abilities.

Nether Mist.

This was his first true offensive ability, and it was both offensive and defensive.

As for Unusual Eater, he hadn't experienced it yet, so he wasn't sure of its exact effects. But gaining such a significant boost from eating the Lone Testicle Pearl made him extremely satisfied.

Awesome!

Zhang Ping lay on the ground, eyes closed, silently laughing, but as he laughed, tears began to flow.

He had so many things he wanted to do.

Those Tianchang Foxes he hated so much, he had long wanted to kill them all, but his lack of strength left him helpless.

Especially when he saw Su Jingyao's human skin, he had to pretend not to know, even acting with a straight face in front of the murderer, pretending the other person was Su Jingyao.

The memory of it burned like fire every time he recalled it.

Zhang Ping placed his right hand on his mouth, then the fire element turned into flames, which he quickly absorbed. Once his stamina recovered, he sat up from the ground.

Although his injuries hadn't healed, his stamina recovery improved his spirits.

He looked towards the battlefield and saw Liu Sishan approaching the Salt Frost Tree. The burly men wielding axes were also climbing the Salt Frost Tree.

The white ape was carving a bloody path near Liu Sishan, also nearing the Salt Frost Tree.

Zhang Ping counted and found that about ten people might be able to pick the Salt Frost Fruit, while there were more mutated beasts, including the white giant snake and the white ape, breaking through the encirclement.

"Hope she's okay."

Zhang Ping knew his current strength couldn't help Liu Sishan, so he could only silently pray.

Then he looked at his hand, and the mist around him condensed into his palm. Compared to the vast Nether Mist controlled by the black goat, he could only gather a palm-sized amount of mist.

Only by absorbing enough fear could he convert more Nether Mist.

Nether Mist wasn't real mist; it was a very special existence, not even considered energy. Zhang Ping didn't know what it was.

He could use it to cut objects, block attacks, and even wrap himself in it to teleport, appearing to become an element.

This ability had immense potential and a super-rank attribute.

Even as a Primary Awakener, Zhang Ping's Nether Mist could effectively harm high-level and even top-tier mutated beasts. It was a very special ability.

"Nether Mist Black Goat, I need to investigate what kind of mutated beast it is."

Zhang Ping controlled the mist to fly around his body, then used it to cut the surrounding rocks. He gently touched the smooth cut surface, thinking silently.

Gurgle.

His stomach growled loudly. He was hungry.

Since leaving in the morning, he had only eaten compressed energy bars for lunch and dinner. Although his stamina was restored, he still felt hungry.

He thought for a moment and then peeked at the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit leader nearby.

With his current strength, the leader wasn't much of a challenge. But as food, it might be perfect to test the Unusual Eater ability.

He flicked his finger, and a mist shot towards the Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit leader.

The leader reacted quickly, jumping up to kick the mist with its powerful legs, but the next second, the mist pierced through its leg and into its brain, killing it instantly!

Why did all Awakeners pursue more and stronger abilities?

Because a powerful offensive superpower could easily change the outcome of a battle.

Zhang Ping picked up the dead Corrosive Water Bullet Rabbit leader, estimating it weighed about forty pounds.

He carried it back behind the rocks, forming a small knife with the mist. Although he didn't have as much mist as the black goat, his control was more flexible and varied.

He skinned it and removed the internal organs.

Then Zhang Ping's palm ignited with flames, carefully roasting every inch of rabbit meat. There was salt around, so he scraped some clean-looking salt and sprinkled it lightly on the meat.

A delicious aroma wafted from his location towards the battlefield.

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