Chapter 8: Whispers of the Ancient Beast Realm
Chapter 8: Whispers of the Ancient Beast Realm
Ling Huai exhaled, her breath misting in the cool air as she gazed at the enormous wolf before her. The creature had once looked upon her as prey, yet now, there was something different in its golden eyes—respect, wariness, and… something deeper.
"You are not like the others."
His voice resonated in her mind, a low, ancient timbre filled with an emotion she couldn't quite place.
She lifted her hands, watching the faint glow of pure silver qi, tinged with pink, shimmer over her fingertips.
"This qi…" The wolf's tone carried something akin to awe. "Not since the ancient times have I seen this color."
Ling Huai narrowed her eyes. "Ancient times?"
The wolf stood, his powerful frame cutting through the shadows. He padded toward her, each step slow, deliberate.
"Long ago, there were those who wielded qi so pure, so untainted, that beasts did not fear them. Instead, they revered them. These rare beings were known as Celestial Beast Sovereigns. They ruled over both human and beast alike, binding them not through force, but through will."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"But they were wiped out. Their very existence erased from history."
A sharp wind cut through the forest, rustling the leaves above them. Ling Huai clenched her fists.
"If others discover what you are, they will hunt you."
She frowned. "Why? If I can tame beasts, doesn't that make me stronger?"
The wolf's golden gaze burned into hers.
"Power invites greed. Those with power over beasts were seen as threats to the balance of the world. And so… they were slaughtered."
A chilling silence followed.
Ling Huai inhaled deeply. She had barely begun to understand her abilities, yet already, her existence was a danger.
She smirked. Fine. Let them try.
The Fall of the Beast Realm
The wolf turned his gaze to the sky, his eyes distant.
"Before humans built their kingdoms, there was another world. One untouched by greed, one where beasts roamed free. We called it the Beast Realm."
Ling Huai listened in silence as he spoke.
"It was a paradise—until war came. A great battle shattered our world. Our strongest warriors perished. The survivors were scattered across the mortal and spirit realms."
His ears flattened slightly, and Ling Huai could feel his sorrow ripple through the mind link.
"Now, we are nothing but remnants, hiding in the shadows of a world that does not belong to us."
A realm beyond this one? That meant there could still be survivors, lost fragments of history waiting to be uncovered.
But something didn't add up.
"You said your strongest warriors fell. What was strong enough to destroy an entire world?"
The wolf's body tensed.
"Demonic Beasts."
Ling Huai stiffened.
"Not all beasts perished. Some, in their desperation, fell to corruption. Their minds were twisted, their bodies warped into something monstrous. They became creatures of hunger, of destruction."
She recalled the savagery of the wild beasts that had attacked earlier. But if those were normal beasts, what did a demonic one look like?
"They devour qi. And your qi… is the purest I have ever seen."
Ling Huai's jaw tightened. So I'm basically a walking feast.
She exhaled slowly. If these creatures existed, she had no choice but to become stronger.
The Three Hunters
"However, the demonic beasts are not your only enemy."
Ling Huai raised an eyebrow.
"Humans have their own monsters."
Her heart skipped a beat.
"The Three Hunters—beast slayers of unmatched skill. They do not hunt for power. They hunt for extermination."
Ling Huai frowned. "Why would they target beast tamers?"
The wolf's voice darkened.
"Because they believe no human should have power over beasts. To them, tamers are abominations, and beasts are nothing but weapons to be destroyed."
He listed them one by one:
The Butcher – A masked executioner who wiped out entire beast-taming clans with a single blade.
The Black Alchemist – A woman who tortures beasts to extract their power, creating forbidden potions.
The Silent Shadow – A ghost-like assassin who can kill a beast before it even senses danger.
Ling Huai's fingers twitched. If these people found out about her...
She would be hunted.
Ling Huai took a deep breath, letting the information settle. She had too many enemies, and not enough power.
Before she could speak, the wolf's voice cut through her thoughts.
"You must understand something. You cannot form a contract with every beast you tame."
She narrowed her eyes. "Why not?"
"Because a contract is a bond. The more beasts you form contracts with, the more energy you must share. If you take on too many, your qi will drain, and you will die."
Her stomach clenched. So there was a limit.
"However, there is another path."
Power Sharing
The wolf's gaze gleamed with something unreadable.
"Instead of forming contracts, you can establish temporary agreements. This is called Power Sharing."
She leaned forward. "Explain."
"Power Sharing allows you to summon a contracted beast's abilities as your own. You will not need to call me physically, but you will be able to use my strength, my speed, even my instincts—for a limited time."
Her pulse quickened. That meant she could wield different beast abilities, adapting to battles in ways her enemies wouldn't expect.
It was perfect.
"But this technique is not something I will give for free."
Ling Huai met his gaze. "What do you want?"
The wolf's eyes darkened.
"Five strands of your qi."
Her breath hitched.
Five strands? That was nearly half of her current reserves. If she lost that much, it would take days to recover.
She hesitated.
The wolf smirked.
"What's wrong, human? Are you afraid?"
Ling Huai scoffed. "Afraid? Hardly."
Then, without another word, she extended her hand.
Silver qi, tinged with pink, drifted from her fingertips. The strands moved like liquid light, flowing into the wolf's body.
A deep, guttural hum vibrated from within him. His wounds closed, his fur shimmered brighter, and for a moment, his golden eyes glowed like molten gold.
The energy transfer left Ling Huai slightly pale, but she didn't flinch.
The wolf exhaled, satisfied.
"A fair trade."
Ling Huai smirked.
"Now teach me."