Chapter 11: The First Star
Bai Tian Long stepped into the quiet serenity of his newly assigned courtyard. The walls were engraved with beast-taming formations, and the soil shimmered faintly from the presence of low-grade spiritual arrays — it was modest, but it had potential.
He took a deep breath and gently placed the Regressive Flame Lion Cub on a soft mat surrounded by incense and contract runes.
Then, closing his eyes, he activated the core of his newly awakened Beast-Taming Space.
From deep within his soul, ancient symbols began to pulse. A circle of glowing golden runes floated above the cub.
"Beast-Taming Initiation: Ancient Contract Ritual — Flame Variant."
The moment the incantation completed, the contract seal released a pulse of spiritual energy. Light flashed — not just in the courtyard, but high in the sky.
Above the land, as if responding to the ritual, a star shimmered into existence. It glowed a steady amber-red, hovering directly above the Bai Clan's territory.
Within the Beast-Taming Space, the cub blinked as it found itself inside a floating realm, vibrant with energy. Misty grasslands stretched infinitely, lined with spiritual fountains and warm, calming light.
Looking up, the cub saw the glowing star — and it filled its tiny heart with comfort.
It curled up near a warm spring and drifted off to sleep, its body already beginning to absorb the nurturing qi of the space.
---
Outside, the golden light of the completed contract faded.
Bai Tian Long exhaled slowly. He could feel it — the feedback from the completed bond.
It wasn't much — the lion was still a cub, its core undeveloped — but it was enough to refresh his spirit, like drinking a surge of clean, revitalizing air.
Still, a quiet sigh escaped his lips.
"This is only the first step."
He looked to the side, where the Thunderstorm Void Egg rested in a reinforced cradle of jade and spatial arrays.
"It'll take months just to incubate you," he muttered.
Even if he nurtured the lion and the egg at peak efficiency, it would take at least six months to a year before either could evolve to Demon Servant level.
And until they did…
He clenched his fist.
Without the feedback boost of a servant-rank beast, my body is still too weak. I can't even step into proper martial arts... let alone reach the Innate Realm.
For now, he was still a boy with dreams in a world ruled by power.
Just as he sighed, the system interface lit up once more, startling him slightly with a soft chime.
[System Notification]
1. Host, congratulations on forming your first contract! A new system function — Lottery Ticket — has been issued. Host only needs to say when he wishes to use it.
2. Host is forgetting to claim the rest of the items from the beginner's gift bag.
3. If Host is concerned about his weak body, he may want to revisit his Past Life Unique Talent — it may offer assistance.
Bai Tian Long blinked. "I forgot... about the rest of the gift bag?"
But his focus immediately snapped to the third message.
"Check past life unique talent," he muttered.
The system screen shifted, showing:
Past Life Unique Talent: Split Soul Avatar (Rank: F > Evolvable)
Description: Allows the host to split a portion of their soul to form an external avatar. The avatar can perform tasks independently, cultivate separately, and most importantly — provides direct feedback to the host's body and spirit.
Bai Tian Long's eyes widened.
Feedback? Like an imperial beast contract?
His heart raced. This was no ordinary trick — in the cultivation world, avatars were rare even for Nascent Soul cultivators, and even then, they were more like puppets — projections with limited value.
But this...
Mine can cultivate. Mine can provide feedback. Mine is like a second self…
It's not just a technique. It's a weapon.
Excitement roared through his chest.
"If I can manifest this avatar… I might not have to wait a whole year. I could train. I could recover. I could even fight."
For the first time, the horizon looked just a little closer.
He clenched his fists again — not with frustration, but determination.
"Let's see how far I can push this." with dreams in a world ruled by power.
Still brimming with excitement, Bai Tian Long narrowed his eyes and said aloud, "System, what exactly is left in the beginner's gift bag?"
The system responded instantly:
[System Notification]
One item remains: a Lottery Ticket for a cultivation technique. Note: This technique can only be practiced after the Host has awakened a Spiritual Root.
Bai Tian Long hummed thoughtfully.
"So I can't use it yet…"
But still — the promise of a powerful technique tailored by the system itself was not something to take lightly.
First, I stabilize the contract. Then, I work on awakening my spiritual root. After that… the path to cultivation will open fully.
with dreams in a world ruled by power.
But a star had been born.
And it would only grow brighter.
---