"Xiaolu, what kind of ability do you have?" Song Jie asked gently.
Xiaolu made a few soft "ring ring ring" sounds in response, her leaves trembling slightly.
"Oh? You can control plants?" Song Jie's eyes brightened. "That's actually pretty good."
He currently lacked a reliable control ability. If Xiaolu specialized in control while he focused on offense, their coordination would be perfect.
"Good job. Dad's rooting for you," Song Jie said with a smile, gently rubbing Xiaolu's bright green leaves.
After spending a little more time interacting with Xiaolu, he sent her back to the Summoning Plane.
He planned to summon a second contracted creature before using his magic energy to feed Xiaolu.
In the early stages, it was fine to nourish a summoned beast with mana. But as they grew stronger, continuing to rely solely on mana would drastically slow their evolution.
Late that night, Song Jie resumed his control training. He was about one-third away from completing it.
By the time Mingzhu Academy opened, he was confident he'd be able to cast intermediate-level Light Magic.
Once his summoning magic power was restored, he entered the Summoning Plane again to search for a suitable creature.
However, despite searching for a long time, he couldn't find one that satisfied him.
"What a pity… another chance wasted," he sighed.
Still, Song Jie wasn't discouraged. He knew these things couldn't be rushed.
He simply returned to his training, determined to master control and release intermediate spells soon.
The night passed quietly.
When Song Jie opened his eyes the next morning, his gaze was sharp and clear.
Even though he had trained all night, he didn't feel tired.
Cultivating magic, in a sense, refreshed his spirit rather than exhausting it.
Today, his goal was to visit the Hunter Union—after all, his home could use a few more helping "hands."
After leaving home, he hailed a taxi, gave the driver the address, and headed for the Hunter Union.
The Hunter Union was a global organization that united magicians who pursued the profession of hunting.
Its branches were spread from continental level to national and regional divisions, overseeing hunter registration, maintaining order, and managing mission contributions.
Hunters themselves were ranked: starting from Junior Hunter, followed by Intermediate Hunter, Senior Hunter, and Elite Hunter.
Above them were the Hunter Masters, ranging from One-Star to Seven-Star, with the Seven-Star Hunters standing at the pinnacle.
And beyond even them—were the Hunter Kings.
Their numbers were few, but their status and influence were immense wherever they went.
Song Jie had no prior hunting experience, so this was a completely new world to him.
When he arrived, the massive building of the Hunter Union instantly caught his attention.
"So this is what it means to be rich…" he murmured.
The building was even grander than the Magic Association's headquarters.
Inside, he soon reached the main hall, surrounded by enormous screens displaying the latest bounty missions.
Since he hadn't registered yet, Song Jie approached the service desk. After a brief conversation with the receptionist, he officially became a registered hunter.
However, as a newly registered Junior Hunter, he couldn't accept missions on his own yet.
He'd have to join a hunting team first.
Looking around, Song Jie noticed several groups shouting for new recruits.
"Come on, we need a mid-level Light Mage!"
"We're short a mid-level Wind Mage! Join up and we set off immediately!"
"Our team's led by a Hunter Master! We need a Plant Mage—great rewards!"
The atmosphere buzzed with activity.
Song Jie scanned the crowd, searching for a team that would fit him best.
He wanted to start small—maybe with a mid-level team—so he could gain real field experience.
Then a voice caught his attention.
"No rank restrictions, no elemental limits! The Mu Family is recruiting people to collect plant stamens!"
"Plant stamens?" Song Jie muttered curiously.
He approached the recruiter, a man in his thirties, and asked, "Uncle, what exactly are plant stamens used for?"
The man grinned. "They're valuable. Usually used to feed plant-type summoned beasts or for alchemy."
"Interested? We've got three high-level mages in our group. Safety's guaranteed."
Song Jie didn't answer right away. He was thinking about Xiaolu.
If the stamens can feed plant-type beasts… then maybe they'll help Xiaolu grow faster.
"Little brother, no restrictions here," the man added. "We're almost full—want to come?"
"When do we leave?" Song Jie asked.
"In two days. I'll contact you before departure," the man replied.
"And the pay?"
"Ten thousand a day."
Song Jie frowned. "That's it?"
The man chuckled. "You don't get it, do you? The stamens you collect can be sold to the Mu Family—one flower can fetch fifty thousand!"
"One plant, fifty thousand… if you find ten, that's five hundred thousand!"
Song Jie knew the man was exaggerating, but he couldn't deny it—the stamens were something he needed.
"The price is fair market value, no scams," the man assured him.
"Alright," Song Jie nodded. "Count me in."
"Good! Leave your contact info, and I'll notify you when it's time."
After registering, Song Jie left the Hunter Union.
Two days later.
Song Jie received the call the night before, instructing him to head to the Mu Family Estate early the next morning.
The Mu Family, one of the Four Great Families of the Magic City, stood alongside the Bai, Lu, and Dongfang families as the city's most powerful clans.
When he arrived, several buses were already parked outside the estate.
"Young man, you're here! Get on board, we're about to head out!" the recruiter called.
Song Jie nodded and boarded one of the buses.
A few minutes later, the convoy departed, bound for Xiaokunshan—the only place where the rare stamens could be found.
Located south of Shanghai, Xiaokunshan was a vast stretch of dense forest filled with countless exotic plants and flowers.
The ride went smoothly, and by noon, they arrived.
"Everyone off!" someone shouted.
Song Jie peered through the window and saw a post station ahead, similar to the one near Xuefeng Mountain in Bo City.
Such outposts were typically built along the edge of city barriers, serving as defensive hubs and supply points for mages.
Following the crowd, Song Jie got off the bus and joined the gathering point.
"Stay close, don't wander off. We'll be entering Xiaokunshan soon!" the recruiter instructed.
Song Jie took a deep breath. A new adventure was about to begin.