Lu Jun withdrew his gaze. A Monarch-level creature was out of the question. With his beginner-tier Summoning Magic, contracting a Commander-level bloodline demon would already be quite an achievement.
With such innate potential, advancing to the Monarch or Emperor tier in the future wouldn't be too difficult.
One must remember later on, even Mo Fan's Wolf Beast struggled to advance to a proper Monarch-level. It almost vanished from the story in the late stages, a sign that its potential had reached its limit.
If one creature could break through effortlessly, while another had to struggle through life-or-death battles, the better choice was obvious.
Of course, aside from bloodline potential, Lu Jun also valued mental fortitude. A resilient will under the right conditions could create miracles, much like the Old Wolf before it.
And among demons tempered by the wilderness, the desire to grow stronger was rarely lacking.
His spiritual form drifted over the Dark Forest. Agile and elegant night creatures weaved through the shadows, until finally he spotted a Commander-tier demon.
It was a giant fox, reclining atop several ancient, towering trees. Its sleek and elongated body stretched over ten meters in length, covered in midnight-black fur with an elegant, streamlined physique.
Though its frame appeared lean, beneath its silky coat were dense, explosive muscles, perfectly balanced between agility and power.
Behind it, six magnificent, bushy fox tails extended outward, each tail alone reaching nearly half its total body length. They draped over several massive trees, each as thick as a black python coiled around the trunks.
The most striking feature was the narrow fox face, its forehead adorned with a dark moon imprint, silver moonlight veins spreading outward. The creature exuded a regal and domineering presence, tinged with the mysterious allure of the night.
The fox lay there lazily, its tails spread out behind it like a dark cloud, radiating a heavy, oppressive aura.
Lu Jun recognized this demon immediately. Pan Lai had not only taught him cursed incantations but had also gifted him two thick tomes one was a comprehensive Demon Encyclopedia, while the other was a specialized guide on Shadow Demons.
A blend of general knowledge and specialized study ndoubtedly a thorough effort, especially the latter, which contained information beyond the reach of ordinary mages.
Before returning to his apartment, Lu Jun had skimmed through the sections on the Dark Forest, allowing him to identify demons with ease.
[Six-Tailed Dark Moon Fox]
Species Rank: Low Commander
Element: Shadow
The one before him had clearly reached full maturity, its strength firmly in the True Commander tier, surpassing even Vampire Elders in raw power though their specializations were different.
With his current Summoning Magic and mental strength, contracting it would be extremely difficult it would require a long-term battle of attrition.
"Shame. The Dark Moon Fox isn't a Spellcasting-type demon. At forty meters in length including its six tails it embodies both ferocity and agility. The Shadow element is adequate, but it's not truly an assassin."
Lu Jun sighed. Its combat strength was undeniable, but its brutal, direct fighting style differed greatly from a stealth-based killer. Additionally, its stamina for long-distance pursuits wasn't great, and it was far from an ideal mount.
As for its fully developed intelligence and mature will, that wasn't an issue.
Dimensional Summoning was temporary, akin to hiring a mercenary, while Contract Summoning was a true lifelong bond something he had to cultivate from an early stage.
Later, once he became powerful enough, if the Dark Moon Fox sought to evolve into a Monarch-level, it would naturally lower its arrogance and submit.
He found himself salivating at the thought if he could contract it, the boost to his Summoning Magic would be as impactful as his Water Element ace.
Moreover, the Dark Moon Fox fit his aesthetics perfectly. He would continue searching, but if he couldn't find a better choice, he would return to capture and subdue it, breaking its will over a month or two.
Lu Jun cast a deep, lingering gaze at the bewitching demon fox, mentally marking its location, before turning and leaving.
Not long after, he spotted a massive black inferno blazing in a section of the Dark Forest, billowing thick, inky smoke into the air. Curious, he shifted his spiritual form and flew over to investigate.
As he drew closer, the pungent stench of sulfur filled the air, reminiscent of an erupting volcano. His soul form trembled slightly, feeling the scorching heatwaves.
Hisssss!
A piercing cry echoed through the black-flamed forest.
Then, from within the blazing inferno, a massive six-legged Nightmare Steed emerged its entire body wreathed in black hellfire, clad in thick, indestructible armor. Its six hooves burned with flames, charging forward with unstoppable momentum.
Wherever it galloped, it left behind a trail of charred, scorched earth, as if the Abyss itself had corroded the ground.
Its face was covered by a steel mask, engraved with sinister curse runes, while its crimson eyes blazed with unrelenting bloodlust. A twisted, spiraling horn jutted from its forehead.
At full speed, the Nightmare Steed suddenly leaped into the air, its scarlet mane billowing like flames.
Just as it was about to collide directly with Lu Jun's spiritual form, its body flickered an Abyssal Rift tore open ahead, its shadowy and spectral aura spreading outward.
As it ran, its figure grew fainter, until it vanished entirely into the darkness.
Fortunately, Lu Jun reacted instantly, branding it with two layers of Mental Curses just before it disappeared. Now, he could vaguely sense its presence somewhere within the Dark Forest.
"Damn… a Commander-tier Nightmare Steed, with Shadow, Curse, and Undead attributes."
Lu Jun stood awestruck for a moment before muttering his admiration.
The Nightmare Steed wasn't enormous, but it possessed the ability to traverse the Spirit Realm, wield Cursed Hellfire, and its steel armor was a natural extension of its body, granting it exceptional defense.
It was said that ancient warhorses that perished in battle could mutate into these terrifying creatures.
Among Shadow Element Mages, this was considered the ultimate mount perfect for long-distance escapes, direct combat, and assassinations alike. Its greatest strength was its versatility.
Rumor had it that Su Lu, the current chairman of the Asian Magic Association, had once aspired to contract a Nightmare Steed in his youth, but such creatures were nearly impossible to find within the structured world of modern magic.
Of course, the Nightmare Horse was not without flaws. It was capable of many things, yet not exceptional in any particular field. It was slightly lacking compared to the ideal companion that Lu Jun envisioned.
Still, he was eager to sign a contract with it. He couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation all the demonic beasts here were top-tier, leaving him with an impossible choice.
Logically speaking, whether it was the Six-Tailed Dark Moon Fox or the Six-Legged Nightmare Horse, either one would be more than sufficient as a contracted beast for a Summoner at the Basic Level.
In fact, even in National Institutes' Battles, summoning one of them would make it a core force.
Both had clear evolutionary paths. The Dark Moon Fox would ultimately advance toward the Nine-Tailed Monarch, while the Nightmare Horse, according to Holy City and Norse Mythology, was said to have originated from the fallen form of Odin's Eight-Legged Pegasus. By following that blueprint, it could steadily progress in strength.
Wooooo!
Just as Lu Jun was caught in his dilemma, an intense disturbance erupted from the distance.
Curious, he gazed toward the source.
A terrifying black-purple lightning bolt streaked across the Dark Forest's outskirts, its speed far surpassing the Nightmare Horse. In the blink of an eye, it traversed the entire forest, its thunderous roar echoing through the once-silent landscape.
This mysterious entity plowed a deep trench through the forest, leaving behind scorched remnants of residual lightning. In mere moments, it arrived at the center where the Dark Sacred Tree loomed.
Instantly, every shadow creature in the forest was startled, turning their attention toward the intruder.
Which shadow beast dared to behave so brazenly in the Dark Forest, even to the point of provoking its ruler?!
Lu Jun was equally astonished. The thunder-cloaked figure never slowed down, charging straight ahead before gracefully ascending the Sacred Tree's peak.
As it climbed the incline, its movement naturally slowed, finally revealing its true appearance.
It was a creature resembling a stag, with two straight, sharp antlers extending backward. Its sleek, black body was slender yet powerful, its limbs and torso entwined with thick bolts of lightning, exuding an overwhelming aura of darkness and power.
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