Legendary Beast Cultivator

Xiao Lanxue’s group slowly walked out from the stone pathway, their faces pale. Their blue robes were drenched slightly with sweat, and their breathing remained raspy and vehement.

Chen Ming immediately rushed toward them, his eyes wide with concern. "Xiao Lanxue! What the hell happened inside there?!"

Xiao Lanxue stopped mid-step, her lips parting slightly and letting out a brief breath. Ying Yue lowered her head, her hands clutching her robes as her shoulders trembled faintly. Yun He simply remained still.

"You three girls look like you just went ten rounds with a rank five beast," Chen Ming grunted, taking a deliberate step forward.

Before Xiao Lanxue could speak, the assistant master stepped forward.

"That’s enough, Chen Ming," Assistant Master Shen Li Xiaoran murmured smoothly from the shadows of a nearby pillar, her expression stern and solemn.

"The details of the conviction trial are not to be discussed or questioned," Shen Li Xiaoran commanded, her voice cutting through the air.

Chen Ming frowned, scratching his neck. "But, Master, they look like—"

"You heard me," the assistant master interrupted, her voice leaving no room for argument. She stared toward the dark gate of the ruin. "The Altar of Conviction chooses what each individual person sees within their soul. Whatever happened inside is their own burden."

She darted her gaze toward Lin Yuan’s group. "If you truly want to claim the final inheritance, stop asking pointless questions and step inside."

Teng Haoran’s group remained silent near the maple pathway. Huo Luo Ren watched the exhausted, trembling girls with wide eyes. "They’re... they’re trembling... Why??"

Chen Yu Ming gulped, her hand clutching at her chest. "Do we... Do we really need to go there?"

Teng Haoran didn’t answer. His eyes remained locked on the pitch-black pool of the ancient altar. For the first time since the beginning of the trial... he hesitated for a brief moment.

Lin Yuan simply took a calm, deliberate step forward.

"You seriously want to go in after seeing them like that?!" Chen Ming stared at him in utter disbelief.

Lin Yuan let out a faint smile, his robes fluttering softly in the mountain breeze. "We came all the way up this mountain for the inheritance, didn’t we?"

"Of course, we are here for the inheritance," Lian Nichang let out a long sigh, shaking his head with a small smirk.

Without a single moment of hesitation, the three disciples of group one stepped together into the stone platform of the altar.

The second, the three disciples’ legs made contact with the ancient, dark stone, the real world vanished into thin air.

****

Absolute silence consumed across the area. Lin Yuan opened his eyes. He found himself standing in the center of a vast courtyard made of shiny, white marble. The magnificent golden pillars stretched high into the swirling, heavenly clouds above.

Many powerfully built cultivators, wearing silk robes and bearing the best weapons, stood still on the sides of the grand avenue. Every single person was bowing their heads toward him with a profound reverence.

"Young Master Lin Yuan!"

"Congratulations, Young Master Lin Yuan!"

"Your destiny is truly extraordinary!"

"What the fuck is this nonsense?" Lin Yuan snickered, clicking his tongue frantically.

"Yuan’er." A warm, familiar voice echoed calmly from behind him.

Lin Yuan turned his head, standing there on the marble steps was his grandfather, Lin Cangyuan. The old man’s face carried the same gentle, loving smile Lin Yuan’s mind remembered from his childhood memories under the gingko tree.

’He is Lin Yuan’s grandfather,’ Noir thought, his eyes flickering, and his expression changing slightly. "Grandfather...?"

"You’ve suffered enough in that pathetic little city, Yuan’er. The River of Origin rejected you all those months ago... but that was merely a foolish mistake," Lin Cangyuan walked toward him with extended arms, his long silver hair swaying in the breeze.

The old man raised his arm, pointing toward the clear sky.

An obscuring golden river descended gracefully from the heavens, its brilliant light illuminating the realm.

"You have been chosen by the heavens once again, my grandson," Lin Cangyuan declared proudly, his chest pouting in pride.

A holy light descended from the golden river. Within its core... a majestic, terrifying divine beast appeared.

It possessed shimmering golden scales, immense, lethal claws, and two sharp horns protruding from its head. Its thunderous roar shook the heavens itself. It was a divine beast - Dragon!

"A Dragon...?" Lin Yuan whispered, his dark eyes glinting against the golden light.

Lin Cangyuan smiled brightly, placing a hand on Lin Yuan’s shoulder. "This time, destiny has given you everything you truly deserve. No more struggling or humiliation."

The surrounding thousands of cultivators dropped to their knees, their voices echoing like thunder:

"Young Master Lin Yuan!"

"A true prodigy!"

"Future beast emperor of the continent!"

Lin Yuan stared at the colossal, magnificent dragon hovering before him. For a few long, suffocating breaths... he remained utterly silent.

The dragon slowly lowered its massive head until its snout hovered just inches from Lin Yuan.

"Take me," the dragon’s voice echoed in his mind like a divine command. "Become my master, and rule all the realms."

Lin Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a faint, cold smirk slowly appearing on his lips.

"You made one fatal mistake," Lin Yuan murmured, stroking his chin.

"What?" Lin Cangyuan’s warm expression twitched.

"You can’t cheat me," Lin Yuan slowly shook his head, stepping back slightly. "My grandfather never spoke like an arrogant, grandiose fool. He taught me that strength is gained step by step, not handed out by fucking cheap illusions."

The golden courtyard froze in mid-air. Lin Yuan looked into the golden eyes of the massive dragon with cold disdain.

"And besides... the River of Origin already rejected me." Lin Yuan’s voice was steady and clear. "I don’t need that damn destiny to change its fucking mind. I forge my own path with my hands."

The golden world instantly fractured like shattered glass. The divine dragon shattered into ash. Lin Cangyuan vanished into dust. The marble palace collapsed into nothingness; everything disappeared into the void.

****

Chen Ming opened his eyes, finding himself standing in the center of a large city.

There are tens of thousands of people surrounding him, cheering his name until the sky shakes. Everywhere he looked... giant flags bearing his name fluttered from the rooftops.

"Chen Ming! The bravest cultivator in history!"

"The youngest, and most genius of the Qinglin Continent!"

Chen Ming’s mouth slowly opened wide, his jaw nearly dropping to the ground. "...Holy shit."

A luxurious mansion stood before him. An enormous, gold stone plate hung above the grand double doors: Chen Clan Young Master Residence.

A head servant bowed deeply beside him. "Young Master Chen Ming! Your father has just declared to the continent that you are the greatest genius of your generation!"

"Really?! My dad said that instead of calling me a useless brat?!" Chen Ming stared at the servant, blinking slightly.

"Yes, Young Master! And look above!"

SCREECH!

A magnificent Wind-Falcon descended from the heavens, its wings blocking out the sun above the courtyard.

"Your new, powerful Wind-Falcon! You are immortal!" The servant bowed even lower.

"Eh??? Immortal?" Chen Ming flabbergasted, taking a step back.

The colossal falcon lowered its head toward him, its voice echoing with authority. "Master... climb on to me, and we shall soar above all heavens."

Chen Ming stepped toward it, his heart hammering against his ribs wildly.

Everything he had ever dreamed of back in his room... was sitting in front of his face. Fame, supreme power, an invincible beast, respect from his family, and a life free of painful, exhausting struggle.

Then... his eyes happened to glance back. Standing behind him in the dirt of a narrow path there was his old wind-falcon. Its feathers were groomed and dusty, its small body was covered with dozens of tiny scars, and it was looking at Chen Ming in quiet silence.

Chen Ming’s excited expression slowly changed.

The massive falcon in front of him spoke again, its voice booming across the area. "Abandon that weak, common creature. Just be with me, and I can make you the strongest cultivator alive."

Chen Ming looked at his messy old companion standing alone in the path. Then he looked back at the majestic falcon.

"Hell nah!!" He scratched the back of his neck, letting out a casual breath.

The grand illusion froze in shock, the falcon’s voice turned cold. "Why? Why choose trash over supreme heavens?"

"Because that little idiot has been getting beaten up alongside me since day one." Chen Ming grinned, turning his back on the massive beast. "I don’t want a fucking commanding bastard like you!"

He casually walked past the mansion, heading straight toward his dirty old wind-falcon in the path, reaching out his hand to pat its head.

"Besides..." Chen Ming snickered, "who the hell said I need a better bird to become the strongest?"

The grand city instantly shattered into shiny dust.

****

Lian Nichang stood inside a quiet, peaceful mountain village.

There was no fierce cultivation, grueling academy, or constant threat of danger and failure. His parents were standing before him at the entrance of a cozy, wooden home. Both were smiling at him with unconditional warmth.

His mother stepped forward, wrapping him in a tight, loving hug. "You’ve returned home, Nichang."

Lian Nichang’s eyes immediately became blurry, a bead of tear crawling slightly from his eye.

"Mom..."

His father laughed, patting his shoulder. "Your long, exhausting cultivation journey is over, son. Stay here with us, and live a peaceful, quiet life."

A warm, steaming meal waiting on the wooden dining table inside. His wolf beast was sleeping peacefully beside the sunny doorway.

Lian Nichang sat down at the table. For a few, quiet minutes... he simply leaned back and enjoyed the peaceful warmth he had craved for years.

Then... he noticed something different. His wolf beast opened its eyes and stood up, walking to the edge to stare toward the dark mountain peaks in the distance. Its eyes carried a thirst for growth and adventure.

"You want to keep going up there, don’t you, buddy?" Lian Nichang slowly stood up from the table.

The wolf beast turned its head and offered a calm nod.

"Yeah... me too." Lian Nichang smiled sadly, rubbing his eyes.

"If you step off from this house and choose that dangerous path, Nichang... you may never be able to return to this peace."

He turned back to look at his parents. His mother shook her head softly, tears dwelling from her eyes.

Lian Nichang looked at the warm village, then he turned his eyes back toward the towering mountains ahead.

He took a steady breath, his body straightening with resolve.

"I know," Lian Nichang whispered, stepping forward to hug his mother one final time. "I’m so sorry, Mom."

He turned his back on the cozy home and continued speaking. "I still have my own path to walk."

The peaceful village instantly vanished into shimmering light. The three distinct illusions shattered almost simultaneously.

And, the three disciples did not return to the real world upon the black stone platform. They remained separated in individual areas in pride.