Legendary Beast Cultivator

The rays of dawn slowly illuminated the area nestled securely between the two towering mountains.

The roaring, transparent river flowing between Azure Mist Peak and Red Sun Peak shimmered elegantly under the fresh golden sunlight. The billowing mountain mist slowly moved above the rushing stream before vanishing effortlessly into the morning breeze.

One after another, the disciples appeared from their camps along the rocky riverbank.

After washing their faces in the cool, crystal-clear river water and completing a simple, nourishing breakfast of roasted roots and warm tea, the assistant masters gathered all fifteen disciples together near the river’s edge.

Qin Yuze stepped forward first, his dark robes fluttering in the morning wind as his cold, steady gaze swept across the gathered young disciples.

"The first part of the final trial has concluded," Qin Yuze beamed, folding his arms. "You have all survived Azure Mist Peak."

He paused for a brief beat, letting the weight of the accomplishment settle over them. "But, the second part of the trial begins now!"

"That is Red Sun Peak," Assistant Master Gu Su Feng stepped up beside him, pointing a lean arm toward the towering, majestic mountain standing proudly beyond the crawling stream.

Every disciple instinctively raised their heads, looking across the roaring water. Unlike Azure Mist Peak, whose thick, mysterious blue mist had constantly concealed most of its landscape and hidden dark dangers within its misty shades, Red Sun Peak emanated a gentle warmth.

The hundreds of maple trees stretched across its slopes from base to top. Their shiny scarlet, amber, and golden leaves waved gently under the mountain breeze, making the entire peak look like vibrant, breathtaking shades of crimson. The countless crystal-clear ponds reflected the morning sky like mirrors, while pristine streams quietly flowed between smooth, mossy rocky cliffs.

It looked peaceful, breathtakingly serene, and almost heavenly. Yet, after six intense days of wilderness survival, no disciple was dared to underestimate what lay hidden under its elegance.

"Let’s move," Shen Ruoxi announced with a soft, encouraging smile.

One by one, the five groups crossed the stone bridge spanning along the river before beginning their steady climb toward the top of Red Sun Peak.

The mountain paths here were gentler and wider than the jagged paths of Azure Mist Peak. The colorful, falling maple leaves drifted lazily through the morning air. Occasionally, small birds with various colored feathers fluttered between the branches, their cheerful chirps echoing across the forest.

Even the heavy, suffocating pressure in the atmosphere felt significantly lighter.

Chen Ming stretched his arms happily behind his head, letting out a relaxed sigh. "I like this mountain already... Now this is what I call a proper trial ground!"

"Haha.." Lian Nichang smirked slightly, shaking his head. "It has been less than an hour, Chen Ming."

"So what?" Chen Ming grinned, nodding his head. "I can sense the atmosphere is safe here,"

Lin Yuan walked at the front of group one, his eyes quietly observing every detail of the surrounding area. "Don’t lower your guard, Chen Ming. The most peaceful-looking places often hide the greatest, most unexpected surprises."

Chen Ming sighed dramatically, shaking his head. "You always ruin the beautiful mood, Lin Yuan."

Qin Yuze merely let out a faint smile from behind without making a comment.

A few hours passed peacefully as the groups scattered across their mountain’s climbing routes... Somewhere at group five.

Teng Haoran’s group followed a breezy, stone path toward one of the larger, pristine ponds among a dense bunch of red maple trees.

The transparent water reflected the surrounding maple leaves above. It was a breathtaking visual which filled warmth in disciples’ hearts.

Chen Yu Ming suddenly stopped walking mid-step, her hand clutched at her waist. "Wait, my wolf senses something strange in the water."

Her water wolf appeared beside her, lowering its body to the moist earth. Its ears twitched sharply, sniffing the air as small, cozy ripples spread across the smooth surface of the pond.

Splash!

Without a single second of warning, a familiar, shadowy beast leaped aggressively from the depths of the crystal pond!

Its dark-blue fur gleamed with shimmering droplets as compressed streams of water spiraled around its muscular body like a roaring aquatic aura. It was a Rank three Water-type Wolf.

The wild beast landed silently upon the grassy shore, its sharp fangs before releasing a low, menacing growl that sent ripples across the grass.

Huo Luo Ren immediately took a cautious step back, his eyes wide. "It came straight out of the pond?!"

Teng Haoran nodded calmly, his eyes widening as he analyzed the beast’s posture. "Stay together. Don’t lose your guard."

The wild water-type wolf circled them cautiously, using its essence to manipulate small waves from the pond to wet the surrounding grass and limit the disciples’ footing.

The three disciples coordinated their actions immediately without needing orders. Chen Yu Ming’s water wolf stepped forward to occupy the wild creature’s attention from the front, clashing in a brief strike of claws. Huo Luo Ren moved slowly to the right flank, using his fire-deer’s heat to draw the beast away from the safety of the pond water.

Teng Haoran waited patiently in a low stance, watching and calculating.

The single opening he needed came in a mere fraction of a second. The wild water-type wolf stretched its body during an aggressive lunging charge at Chen Yu Ming.

"Now!" Teng Haoran shouted, flicking his sleeve.

His wind falcon descended sharply from the canopy like a falling spear. The steady, precise counter-attack from all three disciples forced the wild beast backward, and after a fierce, determined struggle, the rank three wolf collapsed with a loud thud near the pond’s edge, its essence vanishing into thin air.

An eerie silence returned under the gently swaying maple trees. The three disciples released a long breath of relief.

Teng Haoran meticulously took his knife out and recovered the shimmering, blue beast core from the defeated rank three beast, wrapping it inside a cloth.

"We got a rank three beast core," Teng Haoran said, a confident smirk crawling on his lips.

Chen Yu Ming let out a warm smile, dusting off her robes. "This journey is becoming worthwhile."

Assistant Master Shen Ruoxi, watching from a stone boulder, looked down at the three disciples with quiet approval. "You relied upon one another in a good way... Never abandon that trust, brats."

The three disciples nodded slowly before continuing their trek into the Red Sun Peak.

****

Meanwhile, at group one. The red and golden maple leaves withered lazily around Lin Yuan’s group as they climbed another gentle slope.

A peaceful, cool breeze passed through the quiet forest.

Chen Ming reached out his hand, catching a falling maple leaf between his fingers. "If every remaining trial looked and felt like this, I’d honestly never complain about academy training again."

"You complained this morning during breakfast," Lian Nichang reminded him with a smirk.

Chen Ming puffed out his chest. "I complained in a sarcastic way! There’s a profound difference!"

"Hahaha, that’s certainly a talent," Lian Nichang laughed out loud, clutching his chest.

"Quiet!" Lin Yuan suddenly stopped mid-step, his body freezing.

Chen Ming and Lian Nichang immediately jolted into full alert, their relaxed smiles vanishing instantly.

Then, something moved beyond the grove of red maple trees ahead. The branches moved with a crackle sound, and a low growl echoed through the quiet woods.

A few moments later, a large, feline-like uncommon beast stepped onto the path. Its dark, muscular body was covered in gray dots , and a dense, pulsing blue beast essence emanated from its broad body. It was a rank three uncommon beast cheetah.

The wild creature lowered its head, its crimson, predatory eyes locking onto the three disciples. Without any hesitation, it lunged forward like a cannonball.

Chen Ming instinctively snapped to summon his wind falcon. Lian Nichang concentrated into his aperture to call forth his wolf beast.

"Wait," Lin Yuan quietly raised one hand, his voice cool and calm.

The two disciples looked toward him in surprise.

"I’ll handle this," Lin Yuan muttered, snapping his fingers.

His beast essence swirled within his aperture. And within a flash of moment, the two magnificent, towering white silhouettes appeared from his back, their white fur and shining golden eyes obscuring under the sunlight. The twin White Tigers roared at the same time.

The forest instantly fell into suffocating silence. The lunging rank three cheetah froze mid-leap, its paws trenching into the ground.

Before the wild cheetah could even attempt to turn and retreat in terror, one of the white tigers stepped forward instantly.

An obscuring white crossed the twenty-meter distance in a fraction of a second with a loud boom.

The next instant... The massive rank three beast was hurled across the clearing, crashing among a few maple trees fifty yards away. It did not rise again. Everything became deathly silent once more.

"Are you kidding?" Chen Ming stared, his face frowned in shock.

Lian Nichang slowly lowered his raised hands, speechless. "It was dead in single strike,"

The white tiger calmly turned around and walked back to Lin Yuan’s side, lowering its head. Its golden eyes remained gentle, as though nothing had just changed.

Lin Yuan let out a faint, approving smile. "Good work, my dear tiger!"

He reached out his hand to stroke the tiger’s forehead, then, he suddenly stopped letting out a vehement gasp.

A sharp, agonizing, tearing pain burst out within his chest. Lin Yuan’s expression changed, the agonizing pain spread rapidly through his aperture like a wild inferno.

The twin white tigers immediately growled in concern, turning their massive heads toward him.

"Lin Yuan?!" Chen Ming shouted, his smile vanishing as he stepped forward.

Lin Yuan pressed his hand tightly against his chest, his knuckles turning white as his breathing became ragged and shallow. "My... my aperture..."

Another crippling ache coursed through his body. His vision obscured, turning black at the edges as the surrounding area began to spin out of control.

"Lin Yuan!" Lian Nichang yelled, scrambling forward with frantic eyes.

"I..." Before Lin Yuan could finish speaking, his legs gave way against his weight. His body tilted forward, collapsing like a chopped tree.

Chen Ming and Lian Nichang rushed forward, catching Lin Yuan’s body before his face struck the hard ground.

"Lin Yuan!"

"Lin Yuan, wake up!"

The two disciples exchanged frantic, terrified glances as Lin Yuan remained unconscious in their arms, his forehead drenched in sweat.

Beside them... the twin legendary white tigers stood still, their golden eyes withering with a trace of worry and distress.

Assistant Master Qin Yuze’s calm expression finally disappeared. He dropped to his knees beside Lin Yuan, his two fingers pressing firmly onto the boy’s wrist to inspect his condition.

"This isn’t ordinary physical exhaustion..." Qin Yuze muttered under his breath, his face frowning, sensing Lin Yuan’s nearly hollow aperture.

His sharp gaze slowly darted toward the two magnificent white tigers standing over them. A sudden, chilling realization appeared upon the assistant master’s mind.

"Commanding the two legendary beasts out drank 90% of his beast essence," Qin Yuze stuttered, nodding his head.

The maple forest grew eerily silent.