The morning sun rose gently over the Twilight Shadow Sect.
Birdsong. Cool wind. Peaceful vibes.
Until—
BOOM!
"She's loose again!"
"Someone stop the chicken!"
Wei Feng sprinted through the courtyard barefoot, chasing Moonchick—now the size of a large dog—who was wearing a small red scarf and holding a pouch of spirit stones in her beak.
"That's my emergency snack fund!" Lin Fan shouted.
"She thinks it's shiny food!" Wei Feng cried.
Moonchick leapt onto the roof and let out a triumphant squawk. The roof tiles shimmered with qi from her recent evolution.
Shen Mo sipped tea calmly nearby.
"Is this part of her training?" Yun Xi asked.
"No," Shen Mo said. "But it builds character."
Later – Training Grounds
Shen Mo stood in front of all four disciples, arms crossed.
"Today marks the beginning of formal beast-taming training. One day, you may command spirit beasts on the battlefield. Or, in some cases, befriend unreasonably intelligent poultry."
Wei Feng stood beside Moonchick, beaming. She now wore a ceremonial sect sash… mostly to keep her from stealing others'.
Shen Mo pointed to the wooden training dummies, now modified to look like common beasts.
"Your task: calm or subdue the dummy beast using your preferred method. No violence."
Lin Fan raised his hand. "Can I use confusing spices?"
"That is your preferred method," Shen Mo admitted. "Allowed."
Xue Rong cracked his knuckles. "Do I have to not punch it?"
"Yes."
"...I'll try."
Trial #1: Lin Fan
Lin Fan sprinkled spice powder in front of the wooden dummy resembling a spirit boar.
"Observe, friends. I call this blend: 'Snoozy Swine Surprise.'"
The dummy began to shake as if reacting—Shen Mo had placed a basic illusion array to simulate emotional responses.
After a few sniffs, it slumped over "asleep."
"Success," Yun Xi noted.
"Also mildly delicious," Lin Fan said, fanning the scent toward the group.
Trial #2: Xue Rong
He walked up to the dummy, sat down in front of it, and... stared.
For fifteen minutes.
No movement.
Then the dummy slightly "bowed."
"What just happened?" Han Li whispered.
"He established dominance through passive qi pressure," Shen Mo replied. "Very primal. Very effective. Very Xue."
Xue Rong nodded solemnly. "...Good pig."
Trial #3: Han Li
He approached his dummy, shaking slightly.
"U-uh, nice spirit dog… I brought biscuits."
He gently placed a homemade treat on the ground. The illusion dummy "wagged" its tail.
Han Li smiled. "Oh! I think it's working—"
CHOMP!
Moonchick swooped in and stole the biscuit.
Han Li sighed. "Moonchick…"
"That still counts," Shen Mo muttered.
Trial #4: Wei Feng
He didn't walk up to the dummy.
He sat ten feet away and closed his eyes.
Moonchick sat beside him, quiet.
The illusion dummy—programmed for random beast patterns—shuddered.
Then turned toward Wei Feng.
And bowed.
Silence.
Even Shen Mo looked surprised.
[System Notification:]Wei Feng's Beast Affinity: Activated (Level 1 → Level 2)Trait Evolved: Silent BondNearby spirit beasts recognize Wei Feng as kin.
Moonchick has begun developing Qi Beast Leadership Aura.
Later – Sect Dining Hall
They all ate together. Wei Feng had a mountain of vegetables. Moonchick pecked delicately from a golden dish (Lin Fan's idea).
"I didn't think chickens could get smug," Yun Xi said.
"She's not smug," Wei Feng corrected. "She's proud."
Shen Mo observed them quietly.
"One day," he said softly, "this weird little group… will terrify the continent."
"Did you say something?" Lin Fan asked, mouth full.
"Just admiring our progress."
That Night – Shen Mo's Meditation
In his quiet chamber, Shen Mo sat cross-legged, ring glowing faintly.
The Black Sky Fragment pulsed again.
"More eyes watching," he muttered. "But not enemies... not yet."
Suddenly, a whisper echoed in his mind. Ancient. Female. Regal.
"The Seventh Beast shall return. The Ring remembers."
Shen Mo opened his eyes.
"Seventh… Beast?"
The ground trembled faintly beneath him.
Far below Twilight Mountain, something massive stirred.