At the headquarters of the Black Rose Guild, the atmosphere inside Meng Lin's office was chilling. Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a cold glow on her calm yet intensely turbulent face. On her desk sat a jet-black metal box, containing a vial of vivid crimson liquid alongside something concealed within. Meng Lin's gaze swept beyond the window, her eyes brimming with icy determination and deep-seated hatred.
"Grandmother Li Ting… I will avenge you."
Her voice was barely above a whisper, yet each word carried a weight of unshakable resolve. The moonlight reflecting in her eyes flickered like flames ignited by vengeance.
"The Meng Clan… none of you will die a peaceful death!"
Meanwhile, in Gu Tian's secret laboratory, the atmosphere was entirely different. The rich aroma of hot cocoa filled the air as the young man leaned back in his chair, lazily sipping his drink while scrolling through the latest news on his phone.
Today's headlines were particularly striking reports of over ten Level 3 cities collapsing and even a Level 4 city falling to unknown threats. Another trending topic was the upcoming university entrance exams, an event stirring immense discussion. Many prestigious institutions had already sent invitations to Gu Tian, but most were from universities that did not rank among the world's top ten.
Gu Tian ignored them. His objective had been clear from the beginning, his sole destination was Beast Emperor University, the undisputed number one institution for beast tamers in human civilization.
Unlike other universities, Beast Emperor University had no fixed admission quota, but its selection criteria were notoriously stringent. The official assessment guidelines were expected to be announced soon, but according to last year's data, only examinees who achieved an SSS ranking would qualify for direct admission.
The entrance exam, regulated by the Central Government, tested multiple factors, speed, attack power, endurance, and more. However, even the strongest candidate from last year, who had reached Low Silver Rank, did not score the highest. This proved that raw power alone wasn't enough.
But Gu Tian had his own reasons for enrolling.
He wasn't just seeking a particular beast, he needed to forge alliances and pursue other objectives beyond what ordinary students aimed for.
As Gu Tian contemplated these matters, space itself seemed to distort before his eyes. A silent rift in the void opened, and a man clad in black stepped out with an air of absolute grace.
Gu Tian lowered his phone and turned his gaze toward the figure, a faint smile curving his lips. His sharp eyes assessed the newcomer before lines of detailed information surfaced within his vision.
[Name: Lin Yun Tian]
[Talent: SS - Pure Water]
[Beast Tamer Rank: Epic - Peak]
[Beasts Under Control:]
[1. Golden Emperor Shark: Epic - Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor - Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[2. Abyssal Water Serpent: Epic - Low (Beast Potential: Emperor - Mid) (Evolution Paths: 1)]
[3. Eternal Ice-Scaled Pike: Epic - Mid (Beast Potential: Emperor - Mid) (Evolution Paths: 1)]
[4. Black Diamond Crab King: Epic - High (Beast Potential: Epic - Peak) (Evolution Paths: 2)]
[5. Primordial Water Dragon: Epic - Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor - Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[6. Immortal Leviathan: Epic - Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor - Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
[7. Ethereal Water Spirit: Epic - Mid (Beast Potential: Epic - High) (Evolution Paths: 5)]
[8. Abyssal Jellyfish Monarch: Epic - High (Beast Potential: Epic - Peak) (Evolution Paths: 2)]
[9. Void Whale of the Abyss: Epic - Peak (Beast Potential: Emperor - Peak) (Evolution Paths: 0)]
The moment Lin Yun Tian laid eyes on Gu Tian, he immediately dropped to one knee, his expression filled with unwavering respect.
"It is my honor to serve you, Young Master."
Gu Tian smiled faintly, waving his hand nonchalantly before speaking in a calm and measured tone.
"How are your younger brother and sister doing?"
At that simple question, Lin Yun Tian, whose face had always been cold and resolute, suddenly softened. His usually sharp and unwavering eyes gleamed with warmth and pride, and a rare smile touched his lips as he recounted stories about his siblings.
Gu Tian listened patiently, understanding full well that the man before him was no ordinary figure. Lin Yun Tian was once the young master of the Lin Clan, one of the Ten Sacred Clans—a youth with a bright future and a formidable force backing him.
But five years ago, everything changed.
A bloody struggle for the position of clan head erupted within the Lin Clan, resulting in a catastrophic tragedy. Lin Yun Tian's father, who had led the clan at the time, was defeated and slain by his younger brother. The event sent shockwaves through the Ten Sacred Clans, but no one intervened, as the clan's true power remained with its ancestral patriarchs.
Following the coup, those of the main lineage were mercilessly hunted down. Lin Yun Tian, one of the few survivors, escaped with his younger siblings, but their ordeal had only just begun. Pursued relentlessly, they faced a life of unimaginable suffering.
Gu Tian never fully uncovered the true cause behind the Lin Clan's downfall. Every trace of evidence had been erased. However, according to rumors, Lin Yun Tian's father had mismanaged the clan's resources, leading it into decline. This may have contributed to the rebellion.
With nothing left, Lin Yun Tian and his two siblings fled to Rainfall City. By then, he was on the verge of starvation and despair, reduced to begging for scraps. But no one spared him even a glance.
That was until the day he met Gu Tian.
With nowhere else to turn, Lin Yun Tian knelt before Gu Tian and begged for help.
To this day, Gu Tian himself wasn't sure what had compelled him to act at that moment. Perhaps it was curiosity. Perhaps it was pity.
But regardless, he had made his choice.
Gu Tian bought him food, but as he observed Lin Yun Tian more closely, he noticed something alarming, his body was covered in festering wounds, reeking of blood and infection. Without hesitation, Gu Tian ordered the Gu Clan's secret division to take him in for treatment.
Then, he asked one simple question:
"Where are your siblings?"
Lin Yun Tian's eyes lit up with desperation and gratitude as he immediately led Gu Tian to them.
Their destination: a crumbling bridge in the slums.
There, two children huddled together, shivering against the cold.
The little girl was missing both her legs. The boy was in an even worse state—his body was completely paralyzed.
At that moment, something inside Gu Tian stirred.
But he wasted no time. He immediately commanded his secret division to extract the children and bring them in for emergency medical care.
Several days later, after their wounds were treated and they were nursed back to health, Lin Yun Tian knelt before Gu Tian once again. This time, his eyes held nothing but absolute loyalty.
"I swear upon my life... I will serve you until the day I draw my last breath!"
Lin Yun Tian's words were not empty promises. He sealed the oath with his own blood, signing a lifetime contract in Gu Tian's presence.
From that moment onward, Gu Tian took Lin Yun Tian under his wing, using his resources and influence to rebuild him. He provided him with beasts, training, and even guided his evolution—all before he had even awakened the Eyes of the Omniscient God.
Lin Yun Tian became his sword, the most trusted weapon in Gu Tian's hands, second only to his own family.
Gu Tian had once obtained an ancient tome that recorded the evolutionary paths of water-elemental beasts. Through extensive experimentation with numerous beasts, he perfected the evolution process, enabling Lin Yun Tian once a crippled man with nothing left to rise to the ranks of one of the most powerful Epic-ranked beast tamers within just five years.
It was all thanks to that ancient book.
However, Gu Tian knew that his father also possessed a water-element beast, yet he had found no evolutionary path for it within the tome. But instead of giving up, Gu Tian became obsessed with finding similar ancient records. He mobilized the Gu Clan's secret division, ordering them to search relentlessly for more books of its kind.
Despite their efforts, not a single one was found.
After reminiscing briefly about the past, Gu Tian smiled faintly as he listened to Lin Yun Tian's lively stories about his younger siblings.
Then, he suddenly asked, "Once they awaken their talents, should I be the one to choose their beasts for them?"
Lin Yun Tian's eyes trembled slightly before he quickly bowed deeply.
"Thank you so much, Young Master!"
Gu Tian chuckled softly. "But before that… what about the thing I asked you to find?"
Lin Yun Tian lifted his head before flashing a small smile. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the far side of the laboratory.
Suddenly, space itself split open, revealing multiple reinforced cages—each containing a skeletal beast within.
[Name: Skeleton]
[Power Level: Black Iron - Low]
[Race: Undead]
[Element: Darkness]
[Special Ability: Strike (F)]
[Potential: Black Iron - Mid]
[Evolution Paths: 9999+]
...…
...…
...…
[Name: Skeleton]
[Power Level: Black Iron - Low]
[Race: Undead]
[Element: Darkness]
[Special Ability: Strike (F)]
[Potential: Black Iron - Mid]
[Evolution Paths: 9999+]
...…
...…
...…
[Name: Skeleton]
[Power Level: Black Iron - Low]
[Race: Undead]
[Element: Darkness]
[Special Ability: Strike (F)]
[Potential: Black Iron - Mid]
[Evolution Paths: 9999+]
...…
...…
...…