Legendary Beast Cultivator

The creepy silence lingered throughout the training hall before a faint gust of wind broke the silence. Every disciple locked their eyes upon the circular arena, while the tall mechanical guardians remained motionless around its circular edge. Their bronze masks shone against the morning sunlight casting through the windows, making their crimson eyes appear like they are alive.

Gu Yanluo folded his hands behind his back before slowly turning toward the disciples. His sharp gaze swept across the crowd, pausing for a split second on Lin Yuan, who stood with an unbothered expression, before moving away. And he commanded Gu Fang Xin to enter the arena first.

Without hesitation, Gu Fang Xin walked toward the arena. A narrow opening suddenly appeared between two mechanical guardians as hidden gears rotated under the circular arena with a clanking sound.

The two mechanical guardians slowly tilted apart, revealing a small entrance just wide enough for a single disciple to pass.

Gu Fang Xin took a heavy breath before walking inside followed by Gu Yanluo.

Gu Yanluo and Gu Fang Xin remained standing inside the circular arena.

Gu Yanluo approached him calmly. From within his sleeve, he took out a long strip of black silk.

"This trial does not test your eyes," he said, his voice devoid of any warmth. "It tests your trust."

Gu Yanluo tied the silk cloth around Gu Fang Xin’s eyes tightly, so that his vision was completely obscured by darkness.

Gu Fang Xin unconsciously tightened his fists, his heartbeat quickening.

"Calm your breathing," Gu Yanluo’s voice echoed beside his ear, cold and commanding. "If fear enters your heart... your beast will feel it... which will lead to your defeat!"

Gu Fang Xin slowly exhaled, forcing his panic and tension to quiet down. His breathing slowly became steady. Gu Yanluo nodded faintly before stepping outside the arena from the entrance he came.

The guardians immediately returned to their original positions with a loud thud. Then, Gu Yanluo raised his right hand, his fingers positioned like they were ready to snap. Every disciple subconsciously held their breath.

The loud sound of his fingers’ snap echoed throughout the hall. Immediately, the crimson eyes of all ten mechanical guardians shimmered brightly simultaneously.

The guardians were awakened, their bodies trembling once before they tried to step up. Without a single wasted movement, the nearest guardian stepped forward.

Its metallic foot struck the stone floor with a clicking sound. The guardians held a wooden staff in their hands. A guardian’s wooden training staff descended toward Gu Fang Xin’s shoulder with an immense speed.

Whoosh!

Even though he was unable to see, Gu Fang Xin instinctively tumbled sideways. The staff slashed the empty air before smashing into the ground with a loud sound. The stone debris scattered across the arena. Before Gu Fang Xin could even recover his balance, a second guardian attacked from behind, followed closely by a third.

Their attacks never overlapped with others recklessly. A guardian’s strike forced the next opening to another guardian. Gu Fang Xin crouched instantly under another sweeping strike, listening to the sounds of the guardian’s metallic movements, but his breathing was already becoming vehement.

’I can’t keep this up... I can’t see a fucking thing,’ he thought frantically, commanding his beast to manifest.

Just then, a warm connection shot out from his aperture. A slender Fire Serpent slowly materialized with a calm hissing sound. Its crimson scales shimmered under the sunlight while faint flames lingered gracefully around its body. It was small and elegant. The little serpent coiled itself around Gu Fang Xin’s shoulders before lifting its head, its split tongue flickering with a hiss as it sensed the incoming danger.

Without hesitation, it gently pushed Gu Fang Xin’s left shoulder. Almost instinctively, Gu Fang Xin pivoted his body, and in an instant a wooden fist passed barely inches from his face.

Soon, another warning came immediately; the serpent lightly tapped his arm. The serpent was moving fastly to help Gu Fang Xin. He crouched low just as a devastating kick passed right above his head.

The disciples around the arena widened their eyes in surprise.

"It’s guiding him..." Chen Ming whispered, his fists clenching. "It doesn’t even need words."

Lin Yuan stood calmly among the crowd, watching the battle with a serene expression. In his mind, the voice of the turtle beast emanated from the turtle ring.

’Heh, the brat’s snake has decent instincts,’ the Turtle Beast muttered, chuckling softly. ’But it’s too rigid. True synchronization shouldn’t require nudging or gesturing. It can be done with a single breath.’

’For a Baby Beast Realm Peak Stage cultivator, I guess it’s already a respectable start,’ Lin Yuan replied silently, his gaze remaining locked on to the arena.

Inside the circle, attack after attack followed. The Fire Serpent never panicked. Its body continuously moved around Gu Fang Xin’s shoulders, gently nudging, tightening, or pulling whenever danger approached. Sometimes Gu Fang Xin reacted too slowly. A wooden staff clipped his ribs with a dull thud. Another strike grazed across his thigh, and another one slammed against his back, causing him to stumble.

Ten minutes slowly passed. The thick beads of sweat dripped against Gu Fang Xin’s academy robes, and his breathing grew heavy. But the Fire Serpent remained beside him from beginning to end, never abandoning him, or hesitating.

Finally, the time is up and the crimson eyes of the guardians slowly fade back into darkness. The guardians slowly stepped back into their original positions.

And silence returned to the hall. Gu Yanluo stepped into the arena and untied the blindfold. Gu Fang Xin shielded his eyes against the sunlight, causing him to blink repeatedly before a relieved smile crossed his face. The Fire Serpent affectionately rubbed its head against his cheek before vanishing back into his aperture.

Gu Yanluo examined the fresh bruises on the boy’s arms and shoulders, nodding faintly. "As expected of a Baby Beast Realm Peak Stage cultivator. There is trust, instinct and cooperation."

Gu Yanluo looked into Gu Fang Xin’s eyes. "Your Fire Serpent moved before you did. It chose to protect you."

Gu Fang Xin smiled proudly, cupping his hands.

"I wish to see whether this bond remains when your beast one day evolves into a far greater existence." Gu Yanluo continued, his voice dropping slightly. "The stronger a beast becomes, the more difficult the pure trust becomes. Do not disappoint your companion."

"Yes, Master!" Gu Fang Xin boasted.

A faint smile crossed Gu Yanluo’s face for a mere moment before disappearing. "Well done."

The disciples applauded softly as Gu Fang Xin returned to the group, rubbing the painful bruises on his shoulder.

"Haha... not bad," Chen Ming nodded in approval.

Gu Yanluo’s gaze darted across the crowd again. "Lian Nichang."

The young man stepped forward calmly. Unlike Gu Fang Xin, his breathing never changed, and his expression remained cold. He entered the arena without hesitation and allowed Gu Yanluo to tie the black silk around his eyes.

Snap!

Listening to the snapping sound of Gu Yanluo’s fingers, the guardians awakened again. The first strike came immediately, cutting through the air. Almost at the same instant, a gray Wolf materialized beside her. The beast ducked its body, its ears twitching sharply. Without looking, Lian Nichang followed every subtle movement of the Wolf as it was like he could see his wolf. One step, then another. The pair flowed around the mechanical attacks with surprising precision.

Suddenly, a guardian changed its movement. A wooden fist struck his shoulder, sending him staggering backward. The Wolf immediately leaped, pressing its flank against his waist to prevent him from falling completely. Lian Nichang recovered instantly, and the trial continued relentlessly.

Ten minutes later, the formation shut down again. Lian Nichang appeared breathing vehemently, a long purple bruise stretching across one shoulder, but he remained standing still.

Gu Yanluo nodded in approval. "Excellent recovery. Your Wolf trusted your movement, and you trusted its instincts. Eighty-five percent efficiency."

Lian Nichang bowed respectfully. "Thank you, Master."

"Next. Chi Fenglian."

The sturdy disciple entered confidently, a broad grin on his face. The moments after the blindfold was tied and the battle began, a massive Boar silhouette burst out from his aperture.

Unlike the graceful Wolf or agile Fire Serpent, the Boar relied upon brute force and strong positioning. Whenever a strike approached, it bumped Chi Fenglian sideways with surprising precision, allowing him to avoid the incoming attacks. Although his movements lacked any semblance of elegance, they remained steady.

When the ten minutes finally ended, Chi Fenglian’s robes were covered in gray dust and fresh bruises.

"Eighty-six percent. It was stable, and the Boar protects exactly as expected," Gu Yanluo nodded, his voice calm.

Chi Fenglian laughed loudly, shaking his head.

"Ying Yue!" Gu Yanluo called out.

The young girl walked into the arena, her excitement replaced by a sudden wave of focus. A few moments later, a Lightning Wolf emerged beside her. Compared to Lian Nichang’s Wolf, this beast moved with explosive bursts of speed. Each time danger approached, it darted around Ying Yue in flashes of silver-white light, warning her with the soft growls.

Ying Yue elegantly avoided many attacks, but occasionally she reacted a heartbeat too late, earning a few light bruises across her arms. When the ten minutes finally ended, she collapsed onto one knee, breathing heavily.

Gu Yanluo helped her stand, checking her condition. "Eighty percent."

He folded his hands behind his back before looking toward the remaining disciples. A satisfied smile finally appeared on his face.

"Hahaha... My dear brats... You’ve formed better bonds than I expected." He slowly looked around the hall, his eyes glinting. "Eighty percent synchronization is already a respectable beginning. But..." His sharp eyes became serious once more. "The path ahead is far longer."

Gu Yanluo turned his attention toward the disciples, thinking whom to send next into the arena. His gaze lingered on Lin Yuan for a moment, his eyes twitching slightly as he saw the boy still standing there with that utterly calm, unbothered smile.

’Let’s see how long you can keep up that arrogant face, brat,’ Gu Yanluo thought, a surge of irritation rising in his chest before he suppressed it. He clicked his tongue inwardly and faced the crowd.

"Alright..." His voice echoed loudly throughout the training hall, cutting through the murmurs. "Now... the next disciple to enter the arena is..."