Legendary Beast Cultivator

Long before the rise of the five continents, before the great sects towered up into the skies and divided the untamed wilderness into territories, the world was a vast, elegant masterpiece.

Power was the only thing, and conquering was the only recognized method of controlling the wilderness. Cultivators of that era relied on harsh methods and blood oaths to tame wild beasts’ will to their will, believing that fear was the sole connection and strong enough to hold a beast’s heart.

The lone cultivator once wandered that endless wilderness with only his beasts beside him. The Silent Wanderer never sought fame, never amassed mountains of beast stones, and never raised a hand to establish a sect.

He simply walked, and walked throughout his life. One night, after weeks of crossing a jagged, old mountain peak where the air was hazy, and the exhaustion broke his tireless journey. The Silent Wanderer leaned his back against the gnarled roots of a tree — a tall tree that had watched centuries pass.

Around him, his beasts rested in a warm silence. A White Tiger lay curled upon a high rocky stone, its fur gleaming like silver under the pale sky. A Moon Deer grazed below the tree’s shadow gracefully, its \antlers shimmering faintly in the moonlight. High above, nestled within the canopy of the tree, a Golden Roc perched with its elegant eyes squinted, taking in the whisper of the night breeze.

A few hours passed. The moon began its slow descent. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the valley changed. The peaceful stillness shattered as a suffocating aura rushed out from the dense forest. A powerful Rank Four uncommon beast appeared. It is a broad-backed, iron-scaled predator filled with hunger wandered into the bushes fastly. Its massive paws crushed stone to debris, and its footsteps shook the earth, sending ripples through the graceful night breeze.

The creature’s gleaming red eyes locked onto the Silent Wanderer. Before the predator could take another step toward the unconscious man, something remarkable occurred.

None of the beasts looked toward their master, and let out a panicked cry to awaken him. Also they didn’t wait for a command, or a gesture to attack the wild beast.

Without a single order, they moved at once.

The Golden Roc folded its sprawling wings and descended silently from the canopy, landing between the beast and the Silent Wanderer with a warning hum. The White Tiger leaped down from the stone without a sound, its muscles twisted once, stepping in front of the sleeping master. The Moon Deer stepped forward, its antlers flaring with a defensive barrier of spirit light that shielded the resting man from the Rank Four beast’s aura.

They instinctively moved between the danger and the one they had chosen to follow. The mountain remained locked in a tense, eerie silence for a few heartbeats. Every time the Rank Four beast attempted to push forward, the beasts in front of it kept it hiding in the bushes. The beast knew the others were aware of its existence, and if it stepped out from the bushes to attack the cultivator, they would rip it to shreds.

By dawn, the valley had grown quiet once again. The Rank Four beast had retreated, turning back into the woods, driven away by the unbreakable defense and fear of the Wanderer’s beasts.

The morning light rays fell through the canopy and made the Silent Wanderer move once before opening his eyes.

The beasts are lingering around him with an intense expression in their eyes which changed into a warm smile when they saw their master awake. He simply let out a warm, quiet expression that held more gratitude than any words could convey.

Placing a hand upon the White Tiger’s lowered head, he rubbed behind its ears before softly speaking to the quiet mountain.

"A bond forged through fear obeys only commands," the Silent Wanderer murmured, his gaze darting slowly from the tiger to the deer, and finally toward the Golden Roc perched above. "A bond forged through trust protects... even the master didn’t ask for it."

From that day onward, cultivators across the seven continents remembered another saying from the enigmatic figure: "The greatest command is the one that never needs to be given."

****

A cool mountain breeze crept across the campsite, carrying the scorching smell through the air to the high and scattering the faint sparks of last night’s fires.

The morning sun slowly rose behind the jagged peak of Azure Mist Peak, casting the sky in pale shades of gold and white. One by one, the fifteen disciples sprawled out from their shelter tents, stretching their hands and smearing their eyes to clear the dizziness. The campfires had long since burned down into mounds of warm, grey ashes.

Chen Ming came out from his tent and stretched his arms wide, letting out a loud, dramatic yawn that echoed across the nearby areas.

"Ah... I slept like a dead man," Chen Ming’s voice muffled against the yawn, smacking his lips and grinning at the sky.

Lian Nichang, who was already crouched beside the campfire, attempting to reignite a flame for morning tea, let out a slight laugh.

"You slept like a dead man, and you also snored even in death," Lian Nichang teased without looking up, blowing the fuming wood until a small flame came to life. "I thought a Rank Three beast was rushing through the trees right next to my tent."

Chen Ming crossed his arms, and sneered. "I do not snore! That was just my innate energy oozing out when I was asleep!"

"You absolutely did," Lian Nichang replied, his eyes lingering with amusement as he set a small kettle with tea over the flame. "Ask Lin Yuan if you don’t believe me."

Nearby, Lin Yuan was already fully ready, twitching his body once to rattle his bones. He quietly packed his remaining belongings into his storage pouch before turning his head to glance toward the towering mountain above them.

"You were loud," Lin Yuan smirked, nodding slightly.

Chen Ming groaned, muttering under his breath about unsupportive teammates, though a self-deprecating smile curled at the corner of his lips.

Lin Yuan kept his gaze locked on Azure Mist Peak. The violent, swirling mist covering its peak seemed even denser than it had yesterday, twisting like creepers around the stone. And deep within the forests that covered the slope, the muffled, echoing cries of unknown beasts echoed through the mountain base occasionally like a calm reminder of the limit they were about to enter.

One by one, the assistant masters gathered the disciples into their groups. The cheerful morning quickly died down as the atmosphere of the upcoming trial settled back over the camp.

Qin Yuze stepped to the front of Group One, folding his arms across his chest. His posture was still, his gaze sharp as he looked down at Chen Ming, Lin Yuan, and Lian Nichang.

"This is where our escort ends," Qin Yuze said, his voice echoing in the morning air. He paused for a bit, letting out a silent sigh upon them before continuing. "From this point onward, every decision belongs to you three. We are not your shields. We are not your guides. We are merely observers."

He stepped closer, his expression narrowing with seriousness. "If your choices lead to wrong turns, bruises, exhaustion, or bitter failure... do not turn back expecting us to step in and solve your problems."

"We will only act if your lives are truly in danger," Qin Yuze warned with an arrogant expression on his face. "And if we have to step in, consider your trial is over!"

Across the campsite, the other assistant masters gave similar warnings to their respective groups.

Gu Su Feng gave a relaxed smile to his group, though his eyes remained cool.

"If you argue with each other out there, that’s your problem. Learn to manage your own asses, brats," Su Feng chuckled, waving his sleeve.

A short distance away, He Muran chuckled, leaning on to a tree. "If you fall into a muddy swamp or trip into a pit of spiky vines, climb out yourselves. Nobody is pulling you up."

Shen Li Xiaoran folded her arms, her voice cutting through the murmurs. "If you lose the trail and get lost, find your own way back. I won’t be coming for your aid, hahaha!"

Beside her, Shen Ruoxi added gently, her soft voice carrying genuine warmth, "But remember... trust your companions. They may save your life long before we ever need to step in."

The fifteen disciples nodded solemnly, understanding the weight of the words.

At the foot of the mountain, where the soft, lingering grass ended and the wilderness began, five groups walked into the different overgrown trails branching off into different directions, toward the mountain peak.

Qin Yuze raised a single hand and pointed toward the path, where the fog moved low along the damp earth.

"Group One," He commanded, his voice carrying authority. "This path is yours."

Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Ming flexed his shoulders, and stepped forward to take the lead.

"As leader..." Chen Ming called out over his shoulder, letting out a confident smirk. "Follow me! We move forward!"

Lin Yuan quietly followed into step behind him, his hand resting comfortably aside, his senses broad and alert. Lian Nichang brought up the rear, pulling his cloak tight against the chill mist and looking around the shadowed forests with curiosity.

The moment they walked into the path, the forest welcomed them with a blanket of cool, lingering mist and the scent of damp moss and wet wood. The towering blue-leaved trees reached high into the sky, allowing the faint morning sunlight into soft rays of azure light. A few spirit butterflies with wings flapping dusted the air with faint, sparkling powder as they drifted through the air. And small, long-eared uncommon rabbits moved between paths of luminescent grass, startled by the sound of approaching footsteps.

Somewhere ahead, hidden by the thick bushes, the soothing roar of a rushing stream echoed through the trees.

Chen Ming let out a breath he didn’t realize he was holding and let his shoulders drop. He glanced around at the forest surroundings, beautiful scenery.

"See? This doesn’t seem so dangerous after all," Chen Ming grinned, letting out a weary sigh.

Lin Yuan did not relax his posture, his eyes continuously skimming the bushes on either side of the narrow path.

"The dangerous things rarely show themselves," Lin Yuan replied, his voice steady and calm.

Lian Nichang swallowed hard, clutching his robes a little tighter as he looked at the shadows stretching between the massive blue trees. "I suddenly wish you hadn’t said that, Lin Yuan."

Right on the path, from somewhere within the mist-shrouded forest, a rumbling roar echoed throughout the Azure Mist Peak, shaking faintly through the damp earth under their feet.

The three young cultivators froze in place. They exchanged silent glances, the brief moment of happiness evaporating instantly.