Su Yang sat cross-legged in his new home, quiet and deep in thought. The day's success still echoed in his chest, but his mind wasn't at ease.
I passed the alchemy exam… I earned gold… yet something still feels off…
Then his eyes landed on Max, who was now curled up on the floor, softly snoring.
"Max…" Su Yang murmured, remembering something.
Earlier, he had briefly appraised Max's status using the system, but he hadn't paid close attention. Curious, Su Yang called up the appraisal window again—this time carefully.
And what he saw made his heart skip a beat.
---
> [Name: Max (??)]
[Age: ???]
[Race: ?????]
[Skills:]
• Heavenly Eater – Can consume anything in this world without harm.
• Digestion – Can digest anything and convert it into cultivation. Not bound by world laws.
• Finding – Can locate any being through soul scent; once seen, never forgotten.
• Jump – Can break space and leap through obstacles. Not bound by terrain or distance.
(Note: He is hungry right now.)
---
Su Yang froze.
"...What the hell are you?" he whispered, staring at the screen.
His eyes flickered from the stats to Max, who now lay belly-up, tongue out, snoring like an oversized puppy.
"This… This isn't just some spirit beast. You're a monster," Su Yang muttered, blinking in disbelief.
Heavenly Eater? Not bound by this world's laws?
He rubbed his forehead.
"You're stronger than half the city... and you're sleeping like a lazy dog in my bed."
Hearing his voice, Max's ears twitched. He opened one eye, looked at Su Yang, and—burped.
Then, wagging his tail, he leaped into Su Yang's lap and licked his face.
"Okay, okay! I get it, you're adorable!" Su Yang laughed, hugging him. "But now I'm really curious… Why did you choose me?"
Max barked once and stared at Su Yang, his tail wagging.
"You really don't want to answer, huh? Mysterious little guy…"
Su Yang leaned back with a sigh. "Well, if you're hungry, then we should feed you properly."
He stood and stretched, cracking his knuckles. "And I could use some martial arts training myself. My Mountain Splitting Punch needs sharpening."
Su Yang grabbed his pouch, then glanced at Max.
"Let's head to the Spirit Forest on the eastern side of Lu City. That place is crawling with spirit beasts and medicinal herbs. You eat, I train, and maybe we find something useful."
Max gave a sharp "Woof!" and ran in circles around the room.
---
A New Journey Begins – To the Spirit Forest
The early afternoon sun bathed Lu City's outer walls in golden light. Su Yang wore a hooded robe to avoid drawing attention, with Max walking calmly at his side. Despite his immense stats, Max looked no different than a fluffy dog trotting happily along a dusty road.
As they exited the eastern gate, the guards paid them no mind. Just another boy with a dog, heading to the wild.
But only Su Yang knew the truth.
The Spirit Forest came into view, a vast woodland with mist curling through its trees like snakes of vapor. Here, low-level cultivators tested themselves. Many entered… not all returned.
Standing at the edge, Su Yang took a deep breath.
"This is it. I need to push myself. If I want to master the Mountain Splitting Punch, I have to feel pressure… danger… pain."
He looked down at
Max. "And you—try not to eat the entire forest, alright?"
Max wagged his tail innocently.