The early morning stillness enveloped the land, with only a handful of faint stars scattered across the pale gray sky. A soft, silvery mist clung to the earth, giving the world an almost dreamlike appearance.
As dawn broke, the warm amber-red glow of sunlight crept over the horizon, slowly lighting up the window frames of countless homes and gently stirring the world awake from its quiet slumber.
“A day’s success begins in the morning.” Wei Yun lived by this mantra, shaping his disciplined daily routine around it. After tending to his own needs and those of his spirit beasts, he led Mira to the training ground, ready to begin another day of intense training.
As for Sylvia, she remained in the room, focusing on honing her skills. Wei Yun trusted her diligent nature, he knew that even without supervision, she would not slack off.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to take Sylvia out for training, but her body was still too frail, having only recently been born. She needed more time to adjust before she could handle the intensity of outdoor exercises.
With less than twenty days remaining before the family’s qualification exam, Wei Yun needed to do everything in his power to boost Mira’s strength and prepare to defeat his competitors. Combat would be the deciding factor, and Wei Yun had already resolved to take Mira out into the wilderness for real-world battles once she achieved a suitable level of combat readiness.
Today, however, instead of heading to the familiar bamboo forest, Wei Yun took Mira to the family’s designated training grounds to advance to push her to the next stage of her growth.
The training grounds were bustling as usual, filled with clan members and their spirit beasts. The air was thick with the sound of commands, growls, and the clash of skills as trainers pushed their companions to improve.
The path to greatness was paved with hard work, and these early-rising Beastmasters were a testament to that effort. Unfortunately, diligence alone wasn’t enough to guarantee success in this world. Talent played an equally crucial role, and without it, even the most dedicated trainers would find their progress capped.
In the world of Beastmasters, talent was intrinsically tied to the potential of their spirit beasts. The higher the potential of a beast, the greater the talent of its master.
Among the trainers, Wei Yun’s gaze landed on Wei Hao, a particularly arrogant member of the family. Wei Hao was known for his ostentatious behavior and numerous personality flaws, but one thing was undeniable: his work ethic was second to none.
At the moment, Wei Hao was intently training his Flame Wolf, and from the look of things, the creature had made substantial progress. Its frame had grown visibly larger since Wei Yun had last seen it.
Still, no matter how hard the Flame Wolf worked, the difference in quality and bloodline between it and Mira was insurmountable. In just ten days, Mira had not only closed the gap but had also surpassed the Flame Wolf in power.
Shifting his gaze, Wei Yun observed several other familiar faces, rivals who, like him, were doing their utmost to prepare for the upcoming qualification exams.
Having taken in the scene, Wei Yun turned his full attention to Mira. It was time to implement the extreme training regimen he had planned.
Extreme training involved pushing a spirit beast to its physical and mental limits under strict conditions. By doing so, a beast could experience substantial growth in physical fitness, endurance, and even resolve.
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Wei Yun straightened his posture, his usually relaxed expression giving way to a rare seriousness. His voice carried a note of encouragement.
“Mira, today’s training will be grueling. Do you think you can handle it?”
Before beginning, it was important to prime Mira’s fighting spirit, instilling in her a subconscious belief that she must never give up. This mindset would help her push through the most challenging moments.
Mira lifted her head and hesitated for only a moment before nodding resolutely. A spark of determination lit up her eyes.
“Good. Let’s begin by putting these on. They’ll make your training more effective.”
Wei Yun took out a set of iron weights, four compact cuffs, each weighing 2.5 kilograms, for a total of 10 kilograms. These weights, crafted to adjust perfectly to the size of any spirit beast’s ankles, were a relic left behind by his parents, who had also been Beastmasters.
Once the weights were secured, Mira’s body sank slightly under the added burden. Weighing only a few dozen kilograms herself, the sudden addition of ten kilograms was a noticeable adjustment.
“Mira, sprint around the training ground as fast as you can! One full lap!” Wei Yun commanded.
Mira immediately bolted forward, giving it her all. Meanwhile, Wei Yun flipped over an hourglass to measure her time. Comparing tangible data after each lap would provide a clear sense of progress, motivating Mira to keep improving.
The training ground was vast, with one lap measuring roughly 800 meters. By the time Mira completed her first lap, the hourglass had emptied 1/10 of its sand, equivalent to 1.5 minutes. This meant Mira’s average speed, while carrying the weights, was 8.9 meters per second.
For a human, such speed under a 10-kilogram load would be extraordinary. However, for a spirit beast built for running, this was far from impressive. Thankfully, Wei Yun knew Mira’s potential. With time, she would adapt to the weights, and her speed would improve significantly.
“Good job, Mira. You’ve earned a five-minute break!”
Mira panted heavily, her breaths coming in quick bursts as she tried to recover her strength. Noticing her exhaustion, Wei Yun swiftly uncorked a clay jar. The moment he opened it, a fresh, woodsy fragrance filled the air, reminiscent of an untouched forest.
He poured out a small bowl of thick, emerald liquid and placed it before Mira.
It was Healing Spring, produced during Sylvia’s training the previous night. Its restorative properties could quickly replenish a spirit beast’s stamina.
The moment the aroma hit her nose, Mira’s eyes lit up. She eagerly lowered her head and began gulping down the liquid.
Almost instantly, a soothing green glow enveloped her body. The Healing Spring coursed through her, washing away her exhaustion and leaving her feeling rejuvenated.
What’s more, Mira felt a subtle yet noticeable improvement in her physical strength, a testament to the miraculous effects of the Healing Spring.
After finishing her drink, Mira picked up the bowl in her mouth and placed it at Wei Yun’s feet, wagging her tail furiously. Her big, pleading eyes made her intentions crystal clear: she wanted more.
Wei Yun chuckled, shaking his head. “Mira, you’re not a dog. If you want another bowl, you’ll have to earn it. Beat your previous time, and I’ll give you more Healing Spring. Fail, and you’ll go without.”
It wasn’t stinginess on Wei Yun’s part,he didn’t want Mira becoming overly reliant on external aids. And truth be told, Sylvia’s production of Healing Spring was limited; it had taken her an entire night to produce a single jar.
Denied her immediate request, Mira let out a soft whine, but her eyes gleamed with determination.
As soon as Wei Yun reset the hourglass, Mira exploded into motion, her legs pounding against the ground with renewed vigor.
For the next hour, Mira gave it her all. Each lap pushed her closer to her limits, but she refused to give up, driven by the promise of another bowl of Healing Spring.
Over time, her progress began to slow, but Mira pushed through with sheer determination. The effects of the Healing Spring kept her going, allowing her to meet the mark on every lap.
By the end of the hour, Mira was utterly exhausted. Her once-shiny fur was matted with dirt, and she collapsed onto the ground, too tired to move.
Wei Yun crouched beside her, his voice warm. “You’ve worked hard, Mira. You’ve earned this.”
Hearing his praise, Mira perked up just enough to lap up the fresh bowl of Healing Spring Wei Yun offered her.
Just as Mira was recovering, a familiar voice interrupted the moment.
“Hey, Wei Yun, what are you giving her to drink?”
Wei Yun turned to see Wei Hao approaching, his gaze fixed intently on the clay jar in Wei Yun’s hand.