The mission hall's murmur still lingered in the air when the inner chamber's doors shut with a muffled thud. Inside, the elders had gathered again, this time in the smaller strategy room — no attendants, no record keepers, only those who had the authority to speak freely.
Elder Mingshu set the rhino horn shard on the low table between them. Its jagged surface caught the lamplight, glowing faintly with residual qi.
"The boy brought down a Core Condensation beast," he said, "and chose to let it live."
"That choice cost us a core," the martial elder replied, his voice tight. "A resource the sect could use. Mercy has no place in this work."
The alchemy elder tapped the table thoughtfully. "Mercy? Or calculation? That beast was known for wrecking caravans — yet he claims it will stay in its territory now. If he's right, we've gained safety for the pass without drawing the attention of other high-tier beasts that prey on carrion."
One of the younger elders leaned forward. "You think he considered the balance of the region before striking?"
Elder Mingshu's gaze was steady. "I think he saw something the rest of us would not. His eyes are not those of an ordinary disciple."
Silence hung for a moment, then the martial elder grunted. "Or he's reckless."
Elder Mingshu allowed the faintest smile. "Reckless men don't walk away from a charging rhino beast without a scratch — or a kill."
Later, in the quiet of the team's shared quarters, the lamplight was softer. The clatter of armor being stowed filled the space, the scent of oiled steel mixing with fresh tea someone had set on the side table.
Lianhua lingered by the window, her reflection dark in the night glass. "I need to know," she said finally, turning toward Haotian. "Why did you let it go?"
He looked up from the cloth he was folding, meeting her eyes without hesitation. "Because it wasn't an enemy. Not yet."
Her brows drew together. "It's a beast. Strong enough to kill a squad. We had the chance to end it — and you walked away."
Haotian leaned back slightly, the faint shimmer of the Eyes of the Universe flickering in his pupils. "When it charged, its qi flow wasn't aimed to kill. It struck with power, but not finality. Every predator I've seen — man or beast — carries a rhythm when it's killing. That one… didn't."
Lianhua crossed her arms, but didn't speak, so he went on.
"It was defending its ground, not hunting. Kill it, and the vacuum would draw worse things into that pass. Leave it, and it holds the balance. We gain more by letting it live."
Her gaze softened, though her mouth kept its tight line. "Simple words," she said quietly. "But deep truth."
Haotian only shrugged. "Truth doesn't need to be complicated."
For a moment, the two of them stood in companionable silence, the low glow of the lantern casting their shadows long across the floor.
The next morning broke clear and cold, the mountain air carrying the smell of pine and distant river mist. In the outer disciples' training yard, Haotian was halfway through refining a spear form with Jinhai when a shadow fell across the ground.
A messenger in crimson-and-black sect robes stood at the edge of the yard, scroll case in hand. His voice was formal, almost clipped. "Disciple Haotian."
Haotian straightened, wiping the condensation from his blade before sheathing it. "I am."
The messenger stepped forward, offering the scroll with both hands. "You are summoned to the Council Chamber by the Beast Handling Division… and the Martial Division."
That drew a few startled looks from nearby disciples. A joint summons from two divisions was rare — rarer still for someone who wasn't already an inner disciple.
Haotian broke the seal, scanning the neat brushstrokes inside. The words were simple, but heavy:
Your conduct during the Tianshou Lowlands mission requires review. Report to the Council Chamber before the second bell.
Lianhua, who had been leaning against the yard's stone wall, straightened. "They're not wasting any time."
Haotian closed the scroll, sliding it into his sleeve. "They wouldn't. Letting that beast go made them think."
"Or made them suspicious," Jinhai muttered.
Haotian's eyes flashed briefly with the faint gold of the Eyes of the Universe, not at anyone, but as if peering at the threads of the day ahead. "Suspicion, curiosity — they lead to the same place. Answers."
Council Chamber – Second Bell
The chamber was less crowded than the full council, but still held weight. Elder Mingshu sat at one side, flanked by the Beast Handling Division's elder, a wiry man with hawk-like eyes, and the Martial Division's stern representative. The horn shard from the rhino beast lay on the table between them.
Elder Mingshu's gaze was calm. "Disciple Haotian," he began, "your team completed the mission without casualties and brought proof of subduing the rhino beast. But your decision to leave it alive has raised questions."
The Beast Handling elder leaned forward. "We've monitored that beast for years. None of our handlers could approach it without bloodshed. Yet you say it showed restraint?"
Haotian met his stare evenly. "It did. I saw it in the qi flow. It had no intent to kill."
The Martial elder's tone was harder. "Do you claim you can read a beast's intent?"
"Yes," Haotian said simply.
The room was quiet for a moment, the weight of his answer settling like dust.
Elder Mingshu's lips curved slightly. "Then perhaps… we will find a way to test that claim."
The Beast Handling elder's words carried finality. "We have your test, Disciple Haotian — but it's not in a cage. A Moonfang Tiger has claimed a natural cave in the Jiuhua Foothills. Mid Core Formation. Aggressive. You'll travel there alone. Your task: assess its intent. If you're wrong, you put it down before it puts you down."
The Martial elder's voice was sharp. "You leave within the hour. No escorts."
Haotian inclined his head. "Understood."
Jiuhua Foothills – Late Afternoon
The forest air was damp, thick with the smell of moss and wet stone. Shafts of sunlight lanced through the canopy, gilding the mist that clung to the ground. Haotian moved in silence, his hand resting loosely on the hilt at his side, the faint golden rings of the Eyes of the Universe spinning in his pupils as he traced the dense qi trails leading toward the cave.
When the tree line broke, the cave yawned ahead — a jagged wound in the cliff face, its mouth rimmed with claw marks deep enough to gouge stone.
A low growl rolled from the darkness inside. Then the Moonfang Tiger stepped into the light.
Its silver-marked fur shimmered faintly in the sun, muscles taut beneath its coat, fangs catching the light like drawn blades. Its pale eyes fixed on Haotian with predator's precision.
The beast didn't stalk. It lunged.
Haotian slid sideways, the tiger's claws carving the earth where he'd stood. His jian came free in a clean draw, steel flashing as he redirected the beast's momentum with a single, precise strike across the shoulder.
It circled, growling, then came again — faster this time. Haotian met it head-on, blade and body weaving through each attack. His movements were an unbroken rhythm of evasion, redirection, and perfectly timed counters.
Minutes stretched in a blur of dust and steel. At last, Haotian drove a kick into the tiger's ribs, sending it sprawling. It landed hard, sides heaving, pinned under the weight of exhaustion rather than injury.
The Eyes of the Universe flared — and Haotian saw the truth. A second, smaller qi signature pulsed faintly within the cave.
He lowered his weapon. "A cub," he said aloud, his voice steady. "This fight is worthless. You're protecting your own."
The tiger froze mid-breath, eyes narrowing — then widening as if it understood it had been seen through.
Haotian smiled faintly. "How about it? Follow me, and I'll protect you and your cub. Three meals a day, the sect's protection, and no more constant threats."
He extended a hand.
The Moonfang Tiger stared at him for a long moment, its breath slowing, before padding forward. Its massive head lowered, pressing into his palm.
Miles away, in the observation point where the Beast Handling elder, Martial elder, and Elder Elder Mingshu were monitoring through a remote scrying mirror, the silence was absolute.
A moment later, Haotian's voice carried clearly through the enchanted glass:"Looks like it agreed. I'll fetch the cub."
He disappeared into the cave, reemerging minutes later with a tiny silver-and-white bundle cradled in his arm. The cub yawned, blinking at the world.
Haotian glanced toward the mirror and said with infuriating calm, "We'll need two rooms in the quarters now."
By the time Haotian returned through the sect gates with the Moonfang Tiger at his side and the cub tucked in the crook of one arm, word had already spread. Disciples stared openly as the massive beast padded through the courtyard without a chain, its pale eyes scanning the crowd but showing no aggression.
The cub, however, was the center of a different kind of attention — mostly from Lianhua. She had barely let Haotian step into their quarters before scooping the little bundle into her arms, hugging it close as the tiny creature gave a sleepy, squeaky growl and nuzzled into her shoulder.
She didn't let go. Not even when the first summons came.
Council Chamber – That Afternoon
The Beast Handling Division elder's tone was firm, his gaze fixed on the cub in Lianhua's arms. "Such a beast — and its offspring — belong under the sect's care. We have the facilities, the handlers, the breeding records. They should be housed in the division."
The Martial Division elder scoffed. "The tiger's combat potential is obvious. With training, it could serve as a sect war-beast. Hand it over, and it will be conditioned for battle."
Lianhua hugged the cub tighter, glaring at both men. "Over my dead body."
Haotian stood to the side, calm but with the faint golden shimmer of the Eyes of the Universe in his gaze. "Neither of you has a claim. The tiger and the cub are mine — tamed in the field by my own skill, not assigned by the sect."
The Beast Handling elder's jaw tightened. "We can take custody for the good of the sect—"
"No," Haotian interrupted, his voice still level. "Sect rules are clear. A disciple's tamed beast, spirit companion, or acquired treasure cannot be seized by force without violation of sect law. Do you intend to break that law in front of witnesses?"
The silence that followed was tense. Several attending disciples glanced uneasily at each other.
Haotian's tone didn't change. "I will provide for both. I will be responsible for their safety and discipline. If the sect wishes to use their abilities, it will be done with my consent, and my terms."
The argument escalated — back and forth between division elders, each unwilling to yield — until the matter was brought directly before the sect master himself.
Sect Master's Hall – Evening
The sect master, an older man whose presence filled the vast chamber, listened without expression as the divisions presented their cases. When Haotian finished stating his claim, the master sat in silence for a long moment.
Finally, he spoke. "The rules are clear. A disciple's tamed beast is the disciple's property, so long as it does not endanger the sect. No division will seize what is his."
The words were final.
The Beast Handling elder exhaled slowly. The Martial Division elder gave a curt bow. Neither looked pleased.
Haotian inclined his head in thanks, then turned — Lianhua following with the cub nestled against her like it was already family. The Moonfang Tiger padded at their side, silent and watchful.
In the courtyard beyond, whispers followed them again — but this time, they carried something new: the awe of someone who could walk into the wilds alone… and return with loyalty that couldn't be bought.
The first light of dawn spilled across the training grounds, gilding the dewdrops on the grass. Haotian stood with his arms folded, watching as the Moonfang Tiger padded in slow circles around the guards. Its pale eyes were sharp, reading their movements as much as they were studying its.
"I'll call you… Yueying," Haotian said aloud, his tone calm but certain. The tiger flicked its ear at the name, then gave a low, approving rumble.
Lianhua emerged from the quarters with the cub in her arms, looking far less fierce than usual. She had clearly slept holding the little one all night, its tiny head nestled under her chin. "And you," she said, stroking the cub's silky fur, "are Xiaoque."
The cub blinked up at her, then gave a soft squeak in what could only be described as agreement.
Word had already spread through the outer disciples, and before long, several young women from other squads came by, eager to see the famous cub. Lianhua's expression was guarded, but she eventually allowed them to touch and pet Xiaoque — though when one girl tried to pick the cub up, Lianhua's glare was enough to freeze her in place.
Someone produced a small crimson bow tie, and before Lianhua could refuse, it was carefully tied just above the cub's brow. The little tuft of hair in front now framed its eyes in a way that made Xiaoque's cuteness almost unbearable. The gathered disciples practically melted.
Meanwhile, Haotian left Yueying and the guards to work through movement drills together. The tiger adapted quickly, learning to shift in and out of the formation, covering blind spots and forcing the guards to react to its presence as both shield and spear. The bond between beast and warriors was already forming.
But Haotian had another task. Without a word, he turned and made his way toward the Beast Handling Division's grounds. The sprawling complex was alive with the sounds of caged spirit beasts and the chatter of handlers exchanging notes.
Inside the main hall, he approached the senior record keeper, bowing slightly. "I need everything you have on Moonfang Tigers," he said, "and on raising their cubs. Feeding, training, bonding… and methods to evolve their bloodline."
The elder behind the desk raised an eyebrow at the request, but began pulling heavy scrolls and bound tomes from the shelves.
"You've chosen a rare path, disciple," the man said, stacking the records before him. "The Moonfangs are powerful — but they can be more. Few have ever seen their final form."
Haotian's eyes narrowed slightly in interest as he placed a hand on the stack. "Then I'll make sure Yueying and Xiaoque do."
Haotian carried the stack of scrolls and tomes to an unoccupied side table in the Beast Handling Division's quiet archive room. Dust motes floated lazily in the shafts of sunlight from the high windows, and the air smelled faintly of parchment, herbs, and animal musk.
He untied the first scroll with deliberate care, the Eyes of the Universe activating in a faint golden glow. At once, the dense, ancient script seemed to unravel itself, the layered diagrams and obscure annotations flowing into his mind as easily as if he had written them himself.
First Scroll – The Nature of the MoonfangMoonfang Tigers were apex predators of the night, their silver-marked fur acting as conduits for lunar qi. Their strength peaked under a full moon, where their strikes carried residual shadow energy capable of ignoring physical armor. Unlike most spirit beasts, they were fiercely protective of their kin and formed bonds that, once made, were rarely broken.
Second Tome – Cub Rearing & Bonding
A Moonfang cub's temperament was shaped almost entirely in its first year. Consistent feeding, physical interaction, and shared combat experiences with its bonded human were essential for loyalty. A cub that hunted alongside its master before reaching maturity could synchronize qi flows, creating an almost telepathic combat link.
Third Manuscript – The Evolution Path
This was what drew Haotian's full focus. Moonfang Tigers had three recorded evolution stages:
Moonfang Predator → the base form, as Yueying was now.
Silver Eclipse Fang → a mid-tier evolution, gained by tempering the beast's qi under alternating lunar and solar energy cycles. It drastically increased speed, qi recovery, and stealth abilities.
Lunar Sovereign Beast → the rarest form, attainable only if the Moonfang consumed an artifact infused with pure lunar essence while bonded to a cultivator whose qi harmonized perfectly with its own. In this form, the beast's physical limits surpassed even ancient drakes, and its cubs inherited the evolved traits.
Notes at the margin warned: Evolution will fail if the beast does not fully trust its master, or if the cub's early training is inconsistent.
Haotian's lips curved faintly. "So trust and shared battles are the key…" He glanced toward the small training field visible from the archive window, where Yueying was pacing beside the guards, eyes sharp, tail flicking in time with their drills.
He tapped the final page thoughtfully. "Lunar Sovereign Beast… let's see if we can walk that path."
The training field was cleared, the morning mist still clinging to the grass. Yueying stood at Haotian's left, her silver-marked fur rippling faintly with stored qi, while Xiaoque, still small, crouched at Lianhua's feet with curious eyes fixed on the space ahead. Four of the guards formed the outer perimeter, weapons ready.
Haotian exhaled, letting his Eyes of the Universe flare. "We move as one," he said quietly, "qi flowing like a single breath. Yueying, stay on my left flank — guard rotation clockwise. Guards, time your attacks with her movements. Lianhua, keep Xiaoque close, but let her watch every strike."
At his signal, the trial began. A series of weighted training golems surged forward, their limbs moving with unnatural speed. Yueying leapt first, claws flashing, tearing through a wooden shield in one blow. Haotian's blade cut a follow-up opening, and the nearest guard struck cleanly.
For the first few exchanges, it worked — Yueying's movements complementing Haotian's and the guards' patterns. But as the pace quickened, the rhythm faltered. Yueying's attacks, though powerful, were a heartbeat too early or too late, breaking the formation's flow. Xiaoque, eager, darted forward at the wrong moment, forcing Lianhua to intercept before a golem's strike connected.
By the trial's end, the formation was scattered. Yueying's flanks were overexposed twice, and the qi synchrony Haotian needed for evolution hadn't stabilized once.
Haotian sheathed his sword slowly. "This path… isn't going to be as simple as shared drills," he murmured to himself. "They'll need more — strength, endurance, even refined qi to match mine."
His gaze shifted toward the east side of the sect, where the faint smoke from the alchemy furnaces curled into the sky.
Alchemy Division – Elder Yao's Workshop
Elder Yao was hunched over a cauldron when Haotian entered, the air thick with the fragrant tang of brewing spirit herbs. The old man looked up sharply, and a grin spread across his face.
"Well, well! I was just thinking I could use your hands in the furnace room again, boy. We could—"
"I'm looking for something else," Haotian interrupted politely, bowing. "Pills for beasts — specifically, Moonfang Tigers."
Elder Yao's brows shot up. "Moonfang Tiger? Those are nearly mythical in these parts. Where in the nine heavens did you—" His words cut short as the realization hit. "You tamed one, didn't you?"
"And its cub," Haotian confirmed.
Elder Yao leaned back with a low whistle. "You cause more waves in this sect than half the inner elders combined. No… I don't have recipes for them, not directly. Only rumors — lunar qi supplements, some herb mixtures to temper their energy. But nothing precise."
"Then where would I find it?"
"The library," Yao said without hesitation. "Up to the third floor should have what you need. I'll authorize it." He rummaged through a drawer and produced a jade emblem stamped with the alchemy division's seal. "Take this. But you'd better come back after — we still have pills to refine together."
Haotian accepted the emblem with a bow. "I'll stop by after I finish this task. That's a promise."
"You'd better keep it," Yao said with mock sternness.
"I will," Haotian assured him, then turned and left, the emblem heavy with opportunity in his palm.
The alchemy library's third floor was hushed, the air heavy with the scent of aged parchment and spirit ink. Only a handful of desks sat between towering shelves, each stacked with scrolls that had not been touched in decades.
Haotian stepped inside, the jade emblem in hand, and without hesitation activated the faint golden glow of the Eyes of the Universe. He began with the section on Rare Spirit Beasts – Alchemical Applications. The text unraveled into pure understanding as he read, his mind absorbing each diagram, ingredient list, and cultivation note.
One book became two. Two became ten. He didn't notice the hours passing.
By the time he had combed the third floor, he was already halfway through the second, then down to the first — devouring everything from basic pill refinement theory to obscure lunar-qi binding methods. The library's day lamps burned low and were relit. Servants came and went. He never moved except to reach for another text.
Three Days Later
Elder Yao found him at the far corner of the first floor, surrounded by precarious stacks of books, eyes bloodshot, dark rings under them, his lips moving as he mumbled overlapping snippets of pill formulas, beast qi stabilization cycles, and lunar essence transmutation theory.
"By the heavens…" Yao muttered. "You really are a shut-in."
Haotian barely blinked when the old man hauled him up by the collar. His stomach gave a loud, miserable growl.
Outer Quarters – Team Room
The door slammed open, and Elder Yao dragged Haotian inside like a captured criminal.
Lianhua was the first to react. She bolted forward — then froze when she saw his gaunt frame and hollow-eyed stare. "Haotian…?!"
Before anyone could stop her, she threw her arms around him. "I thought you were a corpse!"
Elder Yao rubbed his temple. "He's not dead. Just didn't eat or sleep for three days while reading every book in the library. First, second, and third floors."
Lianhua's relief snapped like a bowstring. She dropped him flat to the floor, straddled him in one swift move, and grabbed his collar. "THREE DAYS?!" Her voice rose, switching instantly to full-sister scolding mode. "Do you want to die? Do you want me to kill you?!"
She shook him so hard his head rattled like a training dummy. The others stared in silent horror, a few whispering, Maybe he's dead now.
Realizing the scene she was making, Lianhua's face went crimson. She let go — only to grab him by the front of his robe, lift him as if he weighed nothing, and throw him into the wall.
The impact cracked the plaster. Haotian slid partway down, then hung embedded in the dent, blinking slowly.
Lianhua, clutching Xiaoque, ran out the door without looking back.
Silence.
Jinhai scratched his head. "...Yeah, he's definitely dead this time."
The morning sun spilled across the training yard, catching the dust motes in the air like drifting sparks. Inside the team's quarters, a table was already covered in meticulously stacked notes and scrolls.
Haotian sat at the head of the table, very much alive — though with a faint wall-shaped imprint still ghosting one shoulder of his robe. His hair was tied back neatly, his expression calm, as though being hurled into masonry was just another part of cultivation life.
One by one, Lianhua, the guards, and even Yueying padded into the room. Xiaoque, sporting the still-perfect crimson bow tie, was perched on Lianhua's shoulder, making small squeaks as she pawed curiously at the parchment piles.
Haotian tapped the top stack. "Three days in the alchemy library was worth it. I've compiled every known recipe for beast enhancement pills — and a few rare formulas that could directly influence a Moonfang's evolution path."
Jinhai eyed the heap. "That's… a lot of paper."
Haotian ignored him, sliding one set of notes toward Lianhua. "These are for Xiaoque — cub-strengthening pellets to build her qi reserves early, bone-tempering pills to reinforce her frame before her first growth stage, and a mild lunar qi infusion regimen."
Lianhua's eyes widened. "You can make all this?"
"With Elder Yao's facilities, yes," Haotian said simply. "And more. For Yueying—" He patted the tiger's broad head as she lay beside him. "—a staged series of lunar-solar cycle pills. If she takes them while training in alternating light conditions, her qi flow will adjust toward the Silver Eclipse Fang stage."
Yueying gave a low rumble, as if she understood her name and the promise behind it.
Haotian spread another page — a precise diagram of qi pathways overlaid on the Moonfang form. "The process won't be easy. Timing, dosage, and synchronization with my qi will be critical. If we do it right, Yueying can reach the Silver Eclipse stage in under a year."
Jinhai whistled low. "And if we do it wrong?"
Haotian's mouth curved faintly. "We won't."
Lianhua shifted Xiaoque in her arms, the cub curling into her chest. "So when do we start?"
"Today," Haotian said. "First step — brewing the base pellets for both of them." He rose, gathering the top stack of notes. "I'm heading to Elder Yao's workshop."