Tyler cautiously approached the mist. His divine sense was perfectly tuned in order to pick up the slightest energy fluctuations emanating from the mist. This approach was essential given the unknown nature and potential dangers of what lay ahead.

Stepping through the barrier, Tyler immediately sensed a shift in the environment. It was as if he had crossed into a different realm, where the rules of the natural world he knew were subtly altered by the dense concentration of True Essence around him.

Upon entering, Tyler felt a new presence instantly, but it was neither a person nor a beast. It was another divine sense, rapidly approaching his location.

This was unexpected; the presence of another divine sense in such a mystical place indicated that he was not the only cultivator interested in or drawn to the power of the mist. Not only that, but the other cultivator was in the Soul Shattering stage!

Tyler's immediate challenge was to ascertain the nature of this approaching divine sense. Was it friendly, hostile, or merely curious? The identity of its owner and their intentions could significantly impact Tyler's exploration of the mist. With his divine sense already fully deployed, Tyler was ready to bolt out of there at any moment.

But against all expectations, instead of the direct communication he came to expect from detecting another divine sense, he was met with something materializing. The illusion of a panther appeared out of the mist, taking Tyler by surprise.

What troubled him, however, was the absence of the energy fluctuations usually associated with the teleportation abilities of the few Soul Shattering cultivators he had encountered.

This revelation prompted him to contemplate the reality that abilities at higher cultivation levels could be as diverse as the paths and True Essences unique to each cultivator. Anticipating uniformity in any of the methods at the disposal of cultivators seemed simplistic and lacking perspective.

Such naivety could lead to serious dangers in the future, and Tyler couldn't help but reprimand himself. He should know better. Complacency is a dangerous killer in this world.

The illusory panther that materialized before Tyler was a mesmerizing spectacle, crafted entirely from the dense mist surrounding them. It possessed an ethereal quality, distinct and fluid form, embodying the very essence of the mist from which it was born.

This spirit beast moved with a graceful, almost otherworldly elegance. Its body, while clearly defined in the shape of a panther, was translucent, like a delicate wisp of fog given shape and purpose. The mist swirled and danced within its form, creating a constantly shifting pattern resembling a real panther's sleek, muscular structure.

Its eyes were particularly captivating. They glowed with a soft amber light that pierced through the foggy surroundings. These eyes seemed to hold a depth of wisdom and knowledge; they were windows into the very soul of the mist.

As the panther moved, it left behind a trail of misty tendrils, slowly dissipating into the surrounding fog. The creature's movements were silent, adding to its mysterious allure. It was an apparition of beauty and power, a perfect representation of the enigmatic nature of the mist itself.

The panther drew closer; it stopped a few meters away from Tyler, and with an oddly human-sounding speech, it spoke, "Intriguing. What is your name, human?"

An animal that speaks? Is that a thing now, too? Tyler wondered, his thoughts racing. Well, of course, it is, you retard! He reprimanded his own question, understanding how silly the thought was. In a world where people can teleport and summon thunderstorms while crafting weapons, and I seemingly have a mini world within my soul, it would be more surprising if there weren’t any talking animals...

Snapping out of his thoughts, Tyler adopted a courteous demeanor towards the talking panther, which showed no signs of hostility. "I'm Tyler Reed, senior. May I know your name?" he inquired, reciprocating the kindness he felt from the animal.

In response, the panther shifted its posture, sitting back on its hind legs in a remarkably human-like gesture of ease. "Tyler. I see. I am Sylvamist, and this is my domain," it replied, conveying authority and calmness.

As Sylvamist introduced itself, Tyler sensed the presence of additional creatures at the edge of his divine sense. A few cubs, seemingly part of Sylvamist's family or pack, were gradually approaching their location, but after sizing the cubs up, they were nothing but tier 2 little beasts. The real issue here would've been if the mother had turned hostile, as he could clearly tell it was in the Soul Shattering stage.

Aware now that he had ventured into a claimed territory, Tyler quickly explained his intentions. "Oh, I didn't know this place was yours. I was simply intrigued by the mist and wanted to explore a bit."

Recognizing the significance of building trust and fostering genuine communication with Sylvamist if he wanted to explore this mist, especially given the panther's non-hostile demeanor, Tyler stopped resisting the creature's attempts to probe his cultivation.

He realized that right now, leaving this mist likely hinged on Sylvamist's approval anyway, considering the panther appeared to be an integral part of the mist.

Sylvamist, upon sensing Tyler's cultivation, expressed a mix of surprise and curiosity. "Truly intriguing," the panther remarked, its eyebrows rising in a gesture of intrigue. "With your cultivation, you should've long been burned to nothingness inside this mist, but you seem to just... merge perfectly with the energies. Mind sharing your trick, fellow cultivator?"

Tyler's ability to blend seamlessly with the mist's energies could be attributed to the teachings of Lin Jian about hiding his presence. He had been employing this method without noticing it since his encounter in the Twelve Ghosts Ridge a few days ago and his recent comprehension into the nature of True Essence.

Opting for transparency and sincerity, Tyler described the technique Lin Jian had imparted to him and its role in his comprehension of true essence, along with how it had helped him blend in almost anywhere and somehow failed when he stepped into this very mist.

When Tyler mentioned a technique exclusive to Soul Shattering cultivators, which Sylvamist had never heard of, its reaction was immediate. The panther's divine sense surged forward, extending towards Tyler's inner world. This probe was so potent that it manifested visibly as an ethereal mist surrounding its entire crystalline surface.

Sensing the invasive nature of this, Tyler furrowed his brow in discomfort and concern. He addressed Sylvamist, his tone harsh. "Is there an issue? I haven't deceived you, and if you'd like, I can just leave. But please, retract your divine sense a bit, or I'll just have to break through it and try to leave this place."

As he articulated his disapproval, he simultaneously formed a finger sword with his soul avatar, stepping out of his inner world. Tyler would not tolerate an invasion of this nature.

His stance was always one of reciprocity. Show me kindness; I'll give you kindness. Show me hostility; I'll roll in the mud with you and be just as hostile. Try and kill me, and I'll go down trying to kill you.

Sylvamist quickly sensed the seriousness. She also felt danger, as odd as that was. The panther's divine sense retracted almost instantly, leaving only a tiny, meter-wide cloud hovering at a safe distance.

The encounter visibly affected Sylvamist, who shivered from head to toe. The panther was taken aback by Tyler's strong soul presence and assertiveness, feeling like a blade was pressed against its throat when he spoke up a moment ago.

This wasn't mere sword intent, as any genius in the Qi Transformation realm could form that before reaching the Sea Formation stage. This was true divine sense. Sylvamist recognized something uniquely dangerous about Tyler's divine sense and instantly retreated.

After a brief, tense silence, Sylvamist sighed and broke the awkwardness. "Sorry about that; I was just surprised to learn such a technique from a Qi Transformation cultivator. You can explore my domain, but please, don't harm the cubs; they are a bit feral, although very cute."

Sylvamist melted back into the mist as she said that, leaving Tyler with her oncoming cubs. The young panthers approached, curious. Seeing how their mother had been here moments ago, they were unafraid of the human.

The small panthers were now in the presence of a tall man with short brown hair dressed in dark blue and grey clothing. Tyler stood relaxed, hands in pockets, a calm and non-threatening figure in their midst as he looked at the three of them.

The cubs, devoid of any sense of danger from Tyler, sniffed the air around him. They detected nothing amiss in his scent, which further piqued their curiosity. Emboldened by their innate playfulness and lack of fear, one particularly adventurous cub leaped forward, playfully attempting to bite at Tyler.

Seeing the lunging cub about the size of a golden retriever, Tyler chose not to repel it. Instead, he embraced the interaction, guided by a simple, universally accepted notion: when you encounter a playful cat, you pet the cat. He began to playfully wrestle with the cub, treating it with gentleness and a spirit of fun.

Soon, the other two cubs joined in, turning the encounter into a lively play session. Tyler found himself in a joyful tussle with the young panthers for a few moments, a scene that was as heartwarming as unusual.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The playful interaction between Tyler and the cubs continued, with one of them even biting him. However, to its surprise, the cub found it couldn't penetrate Tyler's skin. Instead, it resorted to joyfully jumping around and purring loudly, brushing affectionately against Tyler.

This playful encounter lasted for a good 5 to 10 minutes, during which Tyler was enveloped in the warm presence of the cubs.

Once everyone calmed down, Tyler gently set one of the cubs down and asked, "Do they have names yet?" He was aware that Sylvamist, protective and watchful, would not leave her cubs unsupervised with a stranger.

A dozen meters away, a pair of amber eyes materialized, revealing Sylvamist's presence as she observed the interaction. She responded to Tyler's question: "We don't have names until someone bestows us one or we grow strong enough to give ourselves one."

Tyler found this concept both sad and intriguing. He thought that names were unnecessary for communication or identification within their groups in the animal world, especially among creatures like panthers. They had their ways of knowing and understanding each other, especially in a pride-like setting with cubs like this.

He also recognized that panthers were typically solitary animals, and gatherings like this were unique to the period when the cubs were still young and dependent, thus making names entirely irrelevant later in life when they became solo hunters in the night.

Tyler thought about it briefly as he sat there, petting the big cats. "Did anyone give you your name?"

With a sigh, the mother panther fully materialized, causing two of the cubs to jump away from Tyler and seek comfort with their mother instead. However, the one that had initially jumped on Tyler remained, enjoying the attention it believed it deserved for its daring approach. "I named myself. My mate, however, was named by a powerful cultivator."

Intrigued, Tyler continued his inquiry. "Oh? Do you think I would have heard of this cultivator?" He asked while scratching the cub's ears.

Sylvamist demeanor changed entirely after hearing this question. "No one asks about our benefactor." She threw Tyler an icy glare, making him shiver from head to toe as he felt the mist react to the change in attitude.

Turning his hands in surrender, Tyler quickly replied, "Alright, no need to get upset. I didn't know and was just curious, that's all." As he raised his hands, the cub beside him lifted its head, clearly expecting more scratches. Tyler obliged, resuming the gentle strokes, which earned him loud growls and purring from the cub.

Sylvamist observed this interaction with a mixture of affection and caution. She had never had positive experiences with humans in the past, and it was the first time her cubs had ever encountered one. Wanting to impart wisdom to her offspring, she emitted a few sounds and growls, prompting all three cubs to look at Tyler.

However, the cub beside Tyler seemed unfazed and even growled at its mother, telling her that this particular human was different and not a threat. Otherwise, he wouldn’t offer so many scratches! It reached for Tyler's hand, encouraging him to continue.

Sylvamist couldn't help but sigh at her youngest cub's defiance.

While not understanding the exact words, Tyler could sense the dynamics at play. He couldn't help but grin at the defiant cub's attitude. He had always had a soft spot for individuals who challenged authority, perhaps because he had been one himself.

Throughout his military career, he had often felt like an outlier due to his resistance to strict ranks and authority within the organization, making him an oddity among his peers.

"This one has quite the attitude huh." Said Tyler.

Rolling her eyes, Sylvamist answered. "Yes. He is the youngest and the strongest of his siblings, so he has a bit of a problem with authority and respecting his elders."

Muttering to himself, Tyler felt a twinge of sadness. "If this was the past, I'd take him home, and he'd be the most spoiled cat ever." Tyler noticed his words drew a curious and puzzled look from Sylvamist. He quickly continued before she could interject, "Don't mind me; I just miss Henry. He was an amazing cat, and I have a soft spot for those who dislike authority."

Sylvamist couldn't help but inquire further. "You had a named animal in the past?"

Tyler paused the scratches on the cub and sighed, reminded of his long-departed feline companion. "Yes. He passed away many, many years ago. I named him when he was just a newborn, back when my friend's cat had a litter of kittens."

Sylvamist was taken aback by this revelation. As far as she knew, only extremely powerful cultivators could name animals as names carried great significance in one's cultivation and path. Little did she know that this had transpired before the shattering, which would have left her even more astonished had she known.

Cautiously, she asked. "Can you... Name him?" she said, pointing at her cub beside Tyler.

Tyler looked over at Sylvamist and asked back. "Sure, but wouldn't it be better if it came from him, or better you or his father?"

The mother shook her head. "Our paths don't allow us to name our offspring. Unless we wanted to completely forgo our own lives, we can't."

It revealed a unique aspect of their culture and the constraints they faced in their paths as mystical creatures that Tyler was unaware of. He considered the gravity of the request.

Naming someone, even an animal, was not just a casual act.

Yet, he also recognized the simplicity and the joy that could come from such an act. It's just a name, he thought, but a name that could forge a unique connection between him and the cub and, by extension, with Sylvamist.

He looked at the cub lying contentedly beside him, contemplating a suitable name as he scratched the good boy's ears.

This was not just a gesture of goodwill towards Sylvamist; it was an opportunity for Tyler to leave a positive and lasting imprint in the life of this cub, a chance to contribute something meaningful to someone else's path that he had encountered by chance within these mists.

But honestly, it was because this cub was such a lovely and cute little furball that it deserved one.

After careful consideration under the scrutiny of a worried and anxious mother, Tyler poked the cub beside him to get his attention. As it turned towards him, he looked it straight in the eyes and pointed at it.

With its appearance and fiery attitude, Tyler settled on a name. "I name you Daredevil."

A gigantic power surge rippled through Tyler's inner world when the name was bestowed. This surge was so intense that it coursed into his acupoints and reverberated into his soul avatar, indicating a deep and mystical connection had been forged between him and the newly named Daredevil.

The experience was so powerful that it caused his avatar to radiate with 333 stars and illuminate his entire inner world, causing the mists all around Tyler to disperse for a split second.

After a moment, the light died, and the stars dimmed, a sign of the significant energy exchange that had just occurred, and the domain returned to its natural misty state.

This reaction was surprising to Tyler, but it wasn't debilitating or painful in any way. The simple act of naming the cub had unexpectedly drawn a considerable amount of his Qi and parts of this mysterious soul power he had only really felt when he had achieved trinity. The naming really was more than just a symbolic gesture.

It triggered a profound, energetic transaction, linking him and Daredevil in a way he hadn't anticipated.

The naming of the cub resulted in a profound and magical phenomenon that left both Sylvamist and her cubs in awe as they felt the mists shiver from the power fluctuations. Sylvamist, witnessing the exchange of power and the evident bond being formed, was rendered speechless, her gaze fixed on Tyler with a mixture of astonishment and respect at the Qi Transformation cultivator's ability to overpower her domain, even if it was just for a split second.

As the surge of power finally settled within Tyler's inner world, he was overwhelmed by a sudden wave of fatigue.

The energy expenditure, much more significant than he had anticipated, took its toll, and he felt his consciousness slipping away. After muttering a few slurred words about feeling sleepy, Tyler succumbed to exhaustion, drifting into a deep sleep beside Daredevil.

Meanwhile, Daredevil, the newly named cub, experienced a remarkable transformation. The cub awakened to a new sense of power and a deep connection to Tyler as its fur shone with a newfound luster.

When Tyler's consciousness faded, Daredevil instinctively rose, asserting its newfound presence. It growled at its siblings, warning them to stay away.

The most striking change was in Daredevil's eyes, which shifted from their usual amber hue to a deep dark blue, mirroring Tyler's eye color. This physical transformation was a sign of the deep bond established through the naming ritual.

It symbolizes a shared essence between Tyler and Daredevil, marking the cub as distinct and profoundly connected to Tyler.

Sylvamist, observing these changes in her cub, was filled with a complex mix of emotions. The bond formed between her offspring and this human cultivator was unprecedented to her, having only heard about it from her mate.

In the wake of the extraordinary events, Sylvamist took charge of the situation. She understood Daredevil's need to ensure Tyler's safety at this moment.

"Daredevil, come. We'll bring Tyler home," she instructed, her voice carrying both authority and concern. The cub seemed to comprehend her words in a way it hadn't before.

A budding intelligence it hadn't had before. It understood human language.

Daredevil, feeling a sense of duty and protectiveness towards Tyler, arduously lifted him by the hem of his clothes. It was a struggle for the young cub, but its determination was evident.

Even when Sylvamist moved in to assist, Daredevil rebuffed her help. The cub felt instinctively this task was its responsibility, a duty that had emerged from the deep, inexplicable bond it now shared with Tyler.

This sense of duty was profound, rooted in the very essence of Daredevil's being. The cub felt that Tyler was important, not just as a newfound ally or friend, but on a deeper, almost existential level.

This feeling transcended the usual instincts of a young animal; it was as if Daredevil recognized that its destiny was now inextricably linked with Tyler's.

Sylvamist watched this display of loyalty and protectiveness with a mixture of pride and curiosity, and she resorted to lightening Tyler's weight through the power of the mist, helping her cub accomplish its goal.

As mother and cub worked together to ensure Tyler's safety, it was clear that this encounter in the mist had changed the course of the cub's life, binding them in a shared narrative that was only beginning to unfold.

***

Emerging from the depths of the nearby mysterious pond at the center of this mist, a man with deep red eyes rose to the surface. As he sensed the approach of his mate, cubs, and the human who accompanied them, he transformed back into his panther form to greet them.