Legendary Beast Cultivator

The night upon Azure Mist Peak became eerily silent and peaceful. The campfire had long since diminished into small flickering embers, casting faint shadows across the area. A gentle mountain breeze drifted through the towering trees, carrying with it the crisp fragrance of herbs, pine, and moist soil.

Everyone had fallen asleep, except Lin Yuan. He slowly sat under the oak tree, looking out over the endless wave of clouds bathed in starlight. The male and female white tigers quietly approached him, their silent paws making no sound upon the grass. Their golden eyes reflected against the moon light above.

Lin Yuan took a slow breath before untying his robe and removing his outer robe. The loose cloth slid smoothly from his shoulders, revealing a lean, slightly-muscular, well-trained upper body marked by a very few faint scars earned throughout the academy’s previous trials. His breathing gradually slowed, syncing with the hum of the mountain air.

"Hehehe... your beast essence has already started reacting to the beasts," The green turtle beast appeared in his palm, its small eyes glinting with rare solemnity. "Are you ready?"

Lin Yuan nodded once, his eyes calm as clear water.

The turtle beast chuckled softly. "Hahaha... Don’t lose your concentration for even a second, brat. This isn’t an easy thing you are used to."

Lin Yuan placed the turtle beast in his lap and grinned, extending his other hand. He placed his left palm upon the forehead of the male white tiger, while his right hand rested gently upon the female’s head.

Both legendary beasts closed their eyes sluggishly with a warm expression on their faces. There was no resistance, no fierce struggle, no primal hostility. The beast has only sheer, unshakeable trust.

"Let’s go!" Lin Yuan hummed to himself, his eyes closed.

The green beast essence slowly flowed from Lin Yuan’s palm. The essence wrapped around both white tigers like shimmering silk, weaving them into a single sphere. Instead of fighting the invading energy, the twin beasts lowered their majestic heads, fully accepting his soul force into their own souls.

The beast essence pool in Lin Yuan’s aperture swirled rapidly, slamming against the aperture walls. A few hours quietly passed in profound silence. The moonlight slowly crossed the heavens, casting the peak in silver light.

Deep within Lin Yuan’s aperture... the dark green beast essence pool began spinning faster and faster, forming a rumbling vortex. He took the moon rabbit out before starting the process which is hopping in the grass gracefully under the moonlight.

And in the aperture... the two magnificent, towering silhouettes slowly descended into the rumbling pool. They are the White Tigers... the mighty wild beasts rarely rests in the aperture pools of the cultivators forever. Mostly they transform into articrafts or tattoos on the cultivator.

The aperture trembled violently against the pressure of the two legendary beasts. The beast essence surged exponentially, expanding his body to its limit.

Thirty-two percent... Thirty-three... Thirty-five... Thirty-eight... Forty!

An invisible, powerful wave of pressure erupted outward from Lin Yuan’s body with an internal loud sound. The surrounding grass trembled, and a gust of pressurized wind crept across the peak before gradually turning into a quiet, profound hum. His cultivation... had broken through.

He was in Core Beast Realm — Lower Stage. The eastern horizon slowly brightened with streaks of orange and gold. The first ray of dawn illuminated Azure Mist Peak.

Qin Yuze slowly opened his eyes from his sleeping posture atop the stone boulder. His expression remained cold and calm... for a second.

"Impossible..." Qin Yuze flabbergasted, his gaze immediately darted toward the oak tree at the edge of the path.

Lin Yuan still sat cross-legged under the long branches. His breathing was steady, and the beasts beside him were calm and peaceful.

"He broke through into..." Qin Yuze’s eyes widened sharply as his breath caught in his throat. "Core Beast Realm."

A faint, genuine smile slowly appeared upon the assistant master’s usually unbothered face. He shook his head, letting out a soft sigh.

"This brat..." Qin Yuze whispered to himself, nodding his head, "is truly incredible."

Lin Yuan slowly opened his eyes, the piercing sunlight flashing into his abyssal gaze. He raised his hands to shield his eyes from the light. The refinement had succeeded flawlessly. Nearby, the two white tigers stood gently on the grass. They looked at Lin Yuan one last time, their golden eyes filled with warmth. He had won the loyalty of multiple beasts through pure kindness. He always adapted to his situation — capable of ruthlessness when necessary, and profound mercy when deserved.

Then, their massive bodies vanished into twin streams of the white light. The light swirled behind Lin Yuan before settling across his bare back.

The two magnificent tattoos slowly appeared upon his back. Each white tiger faced outward from the center of his spine, their bodies curving elegantly over his shoulder blades. The black outline of their obsidian stripes lingered across the both tattoos, while their eyes seemed almost alive under the morning sunlight. Their tails curved downward toward his waist, forming a balanced, and good design.

The two guardian tigers appeared as though they were forever protecting one another... just as they had done within the dark cave.

Lin Yuan quietly smiled, reaching back to feel the faint warmth emanating from his skin, before putting his outer robe back on. The twin majestic tattoos disappeared under the Lin Yuan’s academy robes.

A few moments later... Chen Ming slowly crawled out of the leaf-thatched shelter, yawning loudly. He stretched his arms lazily before freezing in mid-movement.

"Lin Yuan?" Chen Ming stuttered, jolting his head once.

"Good Morning..." Lian Nichang stepped outside following Chen Ming, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He stopped speaking mid-word. "...Wait."

Both disciples stared at Lin Yuan, sensing the terrifying refined pressure oozing out from his body.

"You broke through into the Core Beast Realm?!" Chen Ming yelled, his voice cracking in awe.

"Haha... Yeah," Lin Yuan smiled, nodding his head in approval. "A little."

"A little?!" Chen Ming muttered, his face twitching slightly. "You reached the Core Beast Realm, overnight! And you say it was little..."

Lian Nichang shook his head sluggishly, letting out a bitter laugh. "I’ve stopped comparing my progress to yours long before, Lin Yuan. It’s healthier for my self-esteem."

Qin Yuze walked over with his arms folded within his wide sleeves, stopping before the three disciples.

"You’ve achieved something few cultivators in this continent would even dare attempt," Qin Yuze beamed, his eyes locking onto Lin Yuan. He paused for a brief beat. "...Don’t become arrogant just because you tamed the two legendary beasts! They listened to your will because you saved them!"

"I know about that, assistant master," Lin Yuan bowed respectfully, cupping his fists. "I will never be arrogant with my beasts."

After a quick breakfast of roasted, edible plants and tea, Group one packed their belongings once more. Their journey down the slope of Azure Mist Peak had begun.

Meanwhile... The remaining groups were also approaching the top of the mountain one after another. Group Two reached the peak shortly before noon.

Chi Fenglian immediately ran to the edge of the cliff, spreading his arms wide toward the pack of clouds. "I survived! The mountain couldn’t defeat my resolve!"

"Hahaha..." Huo Ren laughed, slapping his back. "You nearly got eaten by a swarm of wasps on the first day!"

"I still survived!" Chi Fenglian grinned, his face pouting slightly.

Xiao Yanrui merely shook his head with a small smile before taking the lead to begin their walk down.

Group Three reached the top during the late afternoon.

Ying Yue quietly stood beside the stone boulder, admiring the endless, mountain chains stretching all the way toward the horizon. "It’s so beautiful..."

Xiao Lanxue nodded, her cool demeanor softening as the wind blew her hair. "Definitely worth the days of trekking."

Without lingering there, they adjusted their bags and began their journey down through a path.

Group Four reached the top after an hour the group three left. Gu Fang Xin stood proudly on a rock, declaring himself the greatest wilderness explorer in Green Hollow City’s history until Lian Mei Lin immediately reminded him that he had gotten them lost twice in the lower ravines.

Assistant master He Muran laughed louder than either of them, his voice echoing across the peak. Group Five arrived after sunset. Teng Haoran quietly offered a respectful, traditional bow toward the peak before turning around. Guided by Shen Ruoxi, their journey down the mountain continued without a single delay.

Two more days passed in a downward journey. The terrifying mountain that had once seemed impossibly vast now gradually fell behind their heels. At the end of the sixth day... Group One became the first team to successfully descend the Azure Mist Peak.

Beyond the pathway there was a broad, rocky valley stretched across the sky. The dark mountain has a roaring river of white, transparent water. The stream churned frantically over rocks, spraying cold mist into the air.

Across the area stood their final destination. Its steep, reddish cliffs shimmered elegantly under the setting sun, giving the mountain a mesmerizing appearance of blazing sun.

It was Red Sun Peak.

Chen Ming slowly lowered his storage backpack onto a flat stone, staring across the roaring river.

"So..." Chen Ming muttered, his eyes locked onto the Red Sun Peak, "...this is where the second trial begins."

Lian Nichang nodded frenziedly, squinting against the stream. "It somehow feels even more mysterious and dangerous than the Azure Mist Peak."

Group One built a proper camp beside the riverbank, lighting a small fire as twilight settled. Three hours later... Group Three came out safely from the forest pathway, joining them by the water.

And soon afterward, Groups Two, Four, and Five also descended the mountain path one after another without an injury.

For the first time in nearly a week... all fifteen disciples gathered together once again around the crackling campfires. The five assistant masters stood together near the area, quietly exchanging satisfied, proud glances.

Every single group had survived Azure Mist Peak. The first trial... was completed. And the words of Qin Yuze about Lin Yuan’s multi-beast refinement flabbergasted the assistant masters. But a faint grin appeared on Gu Su Feng’s face before disappearing into void.

As the campfire crackled brightly under the darkening evening sky, Lin Yuan stood up and walked to the edge of the riverbank, looking up toward the crimson mountain across the water.

A faint, confident smile appeared upon his face. He gently clenched a hand against his chest, feeling the warm rhythm of his aperture where his beast essence pool lingered slightly.

"Let’s witness the glory of Red Sun Peak tomorrow," Lin Yuan smirked, nodding his head, "my beasts."