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Han Yan's lips pressed together. He remained calm, though a small part of him admitted he was… slightly intimidated. But only slightly.
"Thanks, but I'll pass on begging. I already said no. And yes, I do understand that you are very impressive. Now can we… end this theatrical display?"
The cat froze, and for a moment, even the panther seemed to hold its breath. Then, slowly, deliberately, the cat flopped onto its side, sprawling like an overdramatic actor conceding a scene but its golden eyes never left Han Yan.
Then the small cat suddenly burst into uncontrollable laughter. Its tiny body shook as it sat proudly atop the black panther's broad head, its furry tail flicking with amusement. Han Yan could only stare, dumbfounded, as the creature wiped away imaginary tears of mirth with its paw.
"Pfft—hahaha! Mortals, truly, you are endlessly entertaining." The laughter subsided, and a certain dignity returned to its posture. Sitting upright, tail curling like a regal banner, it looked down at Han Yan with an expression that carried both arrogance and faint amusement.
Han Yan stared at the small creature, momentarily confused by its sudden laughter. Though surprise flickered in his eyes, his expression soon steadied, calm and composed. A faint, oppressive aura surrounded the cat, subtle yet powerful enough that even the black panther beneath it an apex predator stood perfectly still, not daring to move without permission.
When the laughter finally subsided, the cat sat upright, its tiny form exuding an odd mixture of elegance and dominance. Its eyes, twin golden orbs, seemed to hold entire galaxies within them.
"Fine," it said, voice suddenly calm, resonant, and layered with authority. "Since your mortal ignorance is boundless, this ancestor shall lower himself and explain. Consider it a rare favor, for this ancestor does not repeat his story lightly."
Han Yan blinked, a quiet unease settling in his chest. Despite its small size, something about the creature's presence felt unsettling, and he could tell its origins were anything but simple.
"I," the cat began, "am not some common feline wandering aimlessly through your world. I am a rare Heavenly spirit beast, one born in the Upper Realm from the purest essence of heaven and earth."
Its gaze drifted upward, as if looking beyond the clouds, beyond the skies themselves.
"The Upper Realm… is not a place ordinary mortals could even begin to imagine. There, the air itself hums with divine qi so dense that a mortal's body would shatter just by breathing it. Mountains float among the clouds, rivers flow with spiritual light, and ancient trees stretch their roots through the fabric of Heaven. Every living thing there every stone, every drop of dew possesses spirit."
Han Yan could only listen, eyes wide, as the small creature spoke with quiet pride and great sorrow intertwined.
"In that realm, cultivators and spirit beasts coexist. The humans who dwell there are not just ordinary mortals. They are powerful cultivators who have long transcended the limits of the lower realms.
Some live in harmony with us, forming soul contracts that bind life and destiny together, walking the path of cultivation side by side.
Others…" The cat's voice dropped lower, a shadow passing through its eyes. "Others see us only as resources to be taken our bones forged into weapons, our blood used in elixirs, our cores turned into treasures of unimaginable power."
It flicked its tail with disdain. "I was once revered among spirit beasts, the guardian of a thousand peaks, known for my unmatched affinity with celestial qi. My spirit core, they said, shimmered like a star pure, flawless, radiant. That brilliance, however, became this one's curse."
The cat's expression hardened slightly. "Beasts of my kind are rare perhaps one born in a thousand millennia. And with rarity comes greed. The other great spirit beasts, jealous and fearful, conspired against me. Their hunger was simple they wished to devour my spirit core. By consuming it, they believed they could ascend to the next realm, becoming something closer to divine."
Han Yan grew quiet, his mind wandering as he tried to picture it the vast skies of the Upper Realm, filled with divine beasts and endless clouds of spiritual light. The thought of such a place, so far beyond mortal reach, stirred something deep within him.
Yet as a transmigrator, he couldn't help but frown slightly. Since his sister had never mentioned such a realm in her narration, he thought it sounded like a major plot hole, and it was definitely not a place he had any interest in exploring.
Unaware of Han Yan's wandering thoughts, the cat continued its story, its tone growing heavier.
"But it was not only beasts who came for me," it said, voice now edged with quiet fury. "The cultivators of the Upper Realm also sought me. Some wished to slay me and refine my essence into pills that could extend life or boost cultivation. Others, more foolish or arrogant, sought to subdue me to forge a soul contract and bind me as their spirit beast.
To them, I was not a living being, but a symbol of power, a shortcut to immortality."
The cat let out a low, humorless chuckle, its golden eyes narrowing. "Humans… always reaching beyond their limits. In their endless pursuit of power, they forget that some things are never meant to be controlled."
Han Yan frowned, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "I thought spirit beasts and humans in the Upper Realm were on good terms?"
The cat gave a soft, humorless chuckle.
"Peace, mortal, is a fragile thing. In the Upper Realm, coexistence is built on balance and fear. Humans need spirit beasts to grow stronger our cores, our bloodlines, our blessings, and even our guidance in cultivating the deeper mysteries of qi. Without us, many of their so-called great sects would never have risen to power."
It paused, its golden eyes narrowing slightly. "And spirit beasts… we depend on humans for alchemy, for formations, for the protection of sacred lands, and for the food we cannot always obtain on our own. But greed is ever-present. Some humans desire control; some spirit beasts desire revenge. The cycle of harmony and betrayal has never ended."
Its eyes softened slightly, voice lowering. "Among those humans, there were a few who respected us, who sought true companionship rather than power. There was someone who… stood by my side once."
The cat's gaze drifted into the distance, its tone tinged with something unreadable. "He was a cultivator unlike the rest calm, patient, never greedy. While others sought my strength, he sought understanding. We traveled together for many years, facing beasts and heavens alike. He treated me not as a spirit beast, but as an equal."
It paused, the faintest flicker of emotion crossing its golden eyes before it quickly looked away. "But that was long ago. He… he died protecting me, standing against those who sought my power."
The cat shook its head slightly, as if shaking off bad memories. Its golden eyes hardened once more, and the weight of its voice returned.
Han Yan remained still, his expression composed but thoughtful. "And after that… what became of you?"
The cat's tail curled tightly, its tone turning heavy. "They came for me all of them. Spirit beasts and cultivators alike. For seven nights, the skies burned. Mountains crumbled, rivers turned to steam, and the heavens wept lightning. Even the stars seemed to flee from the massive slaughter."
Its claws extended slightly, gleaming like tiny blades. "I fought. I killed. But in the end, I was overwhelmed. To escape annihilation, I shattered my own spirit core, splintered my essence into fragments, and cast them across realms. My true body was sealed, and what remains is this," it gestured to itself, a small, weary smile curving its mouth, "a mere shadow of what I once was."
Silence followed, as the forest around them seemed to hold its breath.
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