“Phew, I’m almost there!”

Deep within the mountains, a young man moved with the agility of an eagle, his sharp eyes scanning the path ahead. Despite his breakneck speed, he navigated the dense forest with uncanny precision, weaving through obstacles like a fleeting shadow.

The scenery blurred as it zipped past him, but the uneven terrain didn’t seem to faze him. It was as if the forest bent to his will, unable to hinder his momentum.

His name was Wei Yun. Dressed in a pale white robe, his fair skin and youthful features glowed with vitality. His sharp, elegant visage carried an effortless charm.

As Wei Yun ran, the bundle strapped to his back swayed with his movements. From within it came faint, youthful growls, as though some small, lively creature were trapped inside and instinctively struggling to break free.

Roar!

Suddenly, a powerful and majestic roar echoed through the mountains, shaking the woods. For a brief moment, the entire forest fell silent as countless animals froze in terror before fleeing as if facing a deadly predator.

Emerging from a thicket not far away, a tiger leaped into view, its form commanding and terrifying. Nearly three meters tall and over five meters long. The tiger’s piercing eyes glowed with a predatory menace, its sleek white fur rippling over a powerful frame. Each step it took crushed the earth beneath its paws, radiating an aura of dominance.

Hearing the commotion behind him, Wei Yun heart clenched. His sense of urgency grew stronger. Yet, instead of stopping, he picked up speed, running with even more determination.

Moments later, the massive tiger leapt onto a rocky outcrop about three meters wide at the mountain's summit. From its vantage point, it scanned the forest below, searching for its prey.

The tiger’s black nose twitched as it sniffed the air, its piercing gaze sweeping the forest. Within seconds, it locked eyes with Wei Yun. A cold, predatory glint flashed across its face.

With explosive power, the tiger launched itself from the boulder it had perched on, moving with an agility that defied its size. Trees cracked and branches flew as its enormous body tore through the forest, closing the distance between them.

Wei Yun felt a bitter pang in his chest. If he’d had any other choice, he would never have provoked such a fearsome beast. This mission, planned over five grueling days, was meant to avoid life-threatening danger while still yielding a bountiful reward. Yet, even the best-laid plans could unravel.

Forcing himself to stay calm, Wei Yun pushed his body to its limit. Being chased by a five-meter-long tiger left him no room for hesitation.

He darted between trees, his movements sharp and deliberate, the map of the forest etched in his mind. Within moments, he reached his first destination: a cluster of crooked trees, their bent trunks forming an odd, natural barrier. Beneath them lay a bed of green foliage, partially concealing a clever trap.

The vines, tough and flexible, had been fashioned into nooses that formed loops covering an area of several meters, leaving only a narrow path for safe passage. This was a trap that used the tension of bent tree branches. When triggered, the noose would tighten instantly, and the tension of the snapping branches would further constrict the noose, immobilizing any prey caught in it.

Wei Yun slowed slightly as he approached, maneuvering through the safe passage with precision. Behind him, the tiger barreled forward, its focus solely on its prey.

A short moment later, the tiger charged directly into the trap. Its forepaw landed inside one of the hidden loops. With a loud snap, the bent branches recoiled violently, trying to hoist the tiger into the air. Unfortunately, the tiger was far too heavy, over a ton. The branches lacked the strength to lift it.

Even so, the tiger’s movement was significantly restricted. Its right front paw was suspended in the air, leaving it in an awkward position and halting its pursuit temporarily. The tiger instinctively struggled against the snare, attempting to break free. But the vines were incredibly tough, and breaking free would take some time.

Wei Yun allowed himself a faint smile as he heard the commotion behind him. But he didn’t slow down, nor did he look back. There was a simple reason for his caution: The tiger, formidable as it was, wasn’t an ordinary beast. It was a spirit beast.

In this world, spirit beasts reigned supreme. They thrived in every corner, on land, in the skies, beneath the seas, and even in hostile environments like volcanoes and swamps. Spirit beasts could evolve from various forms of life, animals, plants, even rocks or water droplets. They possessed a wide range of unique abilities

From this phenomenon emerged a revered profession: the Beastmaster.

Beastmasters could form contracts with wild spirit beasts, train and nurture them, command them in battle and even utilizing their extraordinary abilities for various tasks. Most Beastmasters acquired their first spirit beast, known as their lifebound companion, through their family, mentors, or sects.

But Wei Yun’s path was different.

Though he had a family and mentors, Wei Yun had awakened a rare gift that set him apart. This ability made him scoff at the beasts they offered, dismissing them as inferior.

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For a Beastmaster, the first spirit beast was crucial. The bond, forged through a life contract, profoundly influenced the Beastmaster’s growth and potential. A powerful companion enhanced its master’s strength, fostering rapid progress and breakthroughs.

The spirit beast also had a profound connection to its master. Its death would cause severe backlash, making the selection of a high-quality spirit beast all the more vital.

Unlike most Beastmasters who needed luck and experience to judge a spirit beast’s potential, Wei Yun had a unique ability due to a mutation in his soul.

This ability allowed his spiritual power to penetrate directly into a spirit beast’s core, bypassing physical barriers. By releasing his spiritual power, he could instantly glean information about a beast, including its name, rank, quality, and bloodline.

While this ability had limitations tied to his spiritual power, its range currently extended only to about 30 meters, it gave Wei Yun a significant edge over others. As he grew stronger, his spiritual power’s range would expand. One day, he might be able to scan areas spanning several kilometers, drastically improving his efficiency.

This advantage was why he rejected the "inferior" beasts offered by his family, choosing instead to take the risk of venturing into the wilderness to find a high-quality spirit beast.

His family upbringing had equipped him with survival skills, physical conditioning, and a wealth of knowledge. Most importantly, he was aware of his own limits. That is why the area he chose to explore wasn’t far from his family’s territory and had been cleared of powerful spirit beasts. With sufficient preparation, his safety was reasonably assured.

Now, with the tiger ensnared behind him, Wei Yun pushed onward, determined to see his mission through.

Roar!

A furious roar erupted behind him. The tiger, realizing it was falling behind, grew desperate. It opened its mouth, gathering countless green light particles that coalesced into a pale green wind blade. With a sharp slice, the wind blade severed the vines holding it captive.

Now free, the tiger leaped forward, bypassing the trap entirely. Seeing Wei Yun about to escape its view, it channeled wind energy once more. Its massive body became shrouded in a green glow, and its speed increased dramatically.

Up ahead, Wei Yun’s ears twitched as he sensed the tiger closing in. Without looking back, he clenched his teeth and sprinted toward his next target location.

“Its getting closer!”

The tiger’s eyes burned with rage as it swiftly closed the distance. In just a few breaths, only 30 meters remained between them.

Ordinarily, the tiger could have launched a ranged attack at this distance, but it seemed hesitant for some reason.

Wei Yun reached the edge of the forest, where a steep cliff loomed before him. The wind roared, whipping his robes like a tempest, and the path ahead ended abruptly. Jagged rocks and withered grass swayed wildly under the relentless gusts. Below, an endless abyss, cloaked in thick mist. A loose stone dislodged beneath his foot, tumbling silently into the void.

Across the chasm, another stretch of forest beckoned. The gap was wide, but Wei Yun knew this terrain. He had prepared for this escape, rehearsing every step to ensure his survival.

Behind him, the tiger burst from the trees, its gaze locked on him. Realizing its prey was on the verge of escaping, the beast finally abandoned its restraint. Without hesitation, it began to gather wind energy, preparing to unleash another wind blade.

Before the white tiger could unleash its wind blade, the ground beneath its powerful paws gave way. This time, it wasn’t another loop snare but a simple spike pit trap concealed beneath the forest floor.

The tiger plummeted downward, its massive frame on a collision course with the sharp bamboo stakes embedded at the bottom of the pit.

At the critical moment, the tiger’s claws lashed out, anchoring onto the jagged walls with precision. With an explosive push, it vaulted free, defying its predicament with sheer strength.

But its triumph was short-lived. As it landed, the tiger’s paws struck unstable ground again, a second pit trap, linked to the first. Before it could react, gravity claimed it once more, sending it tumbling into the depths of the second spike-filled pit.

By the time the tiger finally clawed its way out of the second trap, it was battered and bloodied. It lost its chance to launch a ranged attack against Wei Yun, as it could no longer reach him.

Meanwhile , Wei Yun sprinted with everything he had. His heart thundered in his chest as he approached the gap between two cliffs, a chasm that yawned open like the maw of a beast.

“Three, two, one—now!”

With a burst of momentum, Wei Yun grabbed the rope and swung himself across the expanse using a rope secured on the far side. As he hurtled toward the opposing cliff wall, he stretched out his legs, bracing for impact.

Simultaneously, he directed his spiritual power outward, forming a protective shield around his body.

Beastmasters weren’t limited to controlling spirit beasts; they could also manipulate their spiritual power to perform extraordinary feats. The spiritual shield was one such ability, creating a temporary layer of defense against external forces. Combined with Wei Yun’s physical conditioning, it was enough to cushion the brunt of the collision.

The moment his feet connected with the cliff wall, the spiritual shield vibrated violently, absorbing the force before shattering into faint sparks. A numbing jolt shot through his legs, but the shield had done its job—his bones were intact. Gritting his teeth, Wei Yun clung tightly to the rope, resisting the pull of the abyss below.

“I made it!” he gasped.

When the feeling returned to his legs, Wei Yun began the arduous climb up the rope. Hand over hand, foot over foot, he hauled himself toward solid ground.

Finally, he reached the top. With a grunt of effort, he rolled onto the cliff edge, lying flat on the cool, solid earth.

For several moments, Wei Yun lay there, his chest heaving as he gulped down air. Though the plan had played out in a matter of minutes, it had pushed him to the brink. A single mistake would have meant certain death, crushed, impaled, or devoured by the tiger.

Gradually, the tension in his muscles eased. As a triumphant grin spread across his face, Wei Yun let out a laugh. His voice echoed through the mountains, a declaration of success to the wilderness around him.

Roar!

Across the chasm, the white tiger reappeared, its massive form silhouetted against the cliff’s edge. It let out a furious bellow, gathering wind energy into a shimmering blade. The energy blade surged forward, cutting through the air, only to dissipate uselessly before reaching Wei Yun.

Smirking, Wei Yun rose to his feet and dusted himself off. He turned to the tiger and cupped his hands in mock apology. “I’m truly sorry for the trouble! Don’t worry, I promise to take good care of it! And who knows, if I get the chance, I’ll bring it back to visit you someday!”

Despite the life-threatening chase, Wei Yun couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. He had been the one to provoke the tiger, after all. If not for his intrusion, the beast wouldn’t have pursued him so relentlessly.

The tiger roared again, its frustration evident, but there was nothing it could do. Pacing furiously along the edge of the cliff, it glared at Wei Yun with a mixture of rage and resignation.

“Goodbye!” Not wanting to provoke the tiger further, Wei Yun waved at it before turning to leave. Soon, his figure disappeared into the dense thicket.

After Wei Yun vanished, the tiger stomped around in agitation before pausing in thought. Finally, it turned abruptly, intending to descend the mountain and circle back to the forest on the opposite side. This was its last hope.