The Ye Family courtyard had never seen such a gathering.
Disciples from neighboring clans, minor sects, and wandering martial prodigies crowded the space, all drawn by rumors of a young master who could tame spirit beasts with a whisper and defeat opponents with a palm.
Banners flapped, the wind carrying the scent of rain and earth. The Spirit Beast Tournament, a contest held once every five years, was about to begin.
---
Ye Chen arrived early, standing beneath the shade of the plum tree he often meditated under.
Inside his mind, the Book Realm pulsed. A new shelf had appeared, lined with ancient tomes about beast-taming, qi resonance, and combat strategy.
> "A tournament… then I will read every opponent before they strike," he murmured.
---
The first round began.
Ye Chen's opponent: Lin Feng, a prodigy of the Azure Serpent Sect, already known for his mastery over the Crimson Fang Serpent, a mid-level spirit beast.
The serpent hissed, coiling and snapping, its eyes glowing red. The crowd murmured.
Ye Chen closed his eyes, his palm brushing the air in meditation. Inside the Book Realm, he opened:
> "Beast Whispering and Qi Alignment"
He observed the patterns of the serpent—the rise and fall of its energy, the rhythm of its strikes, the subtle shifts in Lin Feng's own aura.
> "Every beast has thought. Every master leaves traces in movement. Follow the trace, align the flow…"
---
The battle began. Lin Feng commanded his serpent to strike.
The creature's fangs gleamed, teeth like daggers. Its qi flared like fire.
Ye Chen did not move with force. He whispered softly, reciting a verse:
> "The river bends, the willow sways;
The mind still, the world obeys."
His qi flowed, invisible but tangible. The serpent's strikes slowed, its aggression diffused. The Crimson Fang circled, lowered its head, and submitted to Ye Chen's palm.
The crowd erupted into gasps and whispers.
> "The beast yields… without harm!"
"That's… the same method as the Ironback Wolf!"
"How is this possible?"
---
Round after round, Ye Chen faced prodigies with fire, lightning, and shadow beasts.
A storm tiger from the Thunderclap Sect. He aligned with its movements, letting it exhaust its fury before gently subduing it.
A crystal fox from the Frostbite Clan. He read its instincts, predicting its jumps and turns, until it curled at his feet.
A pair of twin wyverns from the Twin Phoenix Sect. He synchronized his qi with theirs, his movements like flowing water, and they descended without harm.
By the end of the first day, Ye Chen remained unbeaten.
---
Back in the garden that night, Ye Chen meditated. His mind entered the Book Realm again.
A new tome floated forward, glowing with an intensity that almost hurt the eyes:
> "The Codex of Prodigy Masters"
A whisper spoke:
> "The world begins to notice. Rivals gather, guardians awaken, and the storms approach.
Do not rely on knowledge alone—courage and insight must guide you."
Ye Chen smiled faintly, recalling the faces of the defeated prodigies and their beasts.
> "Every opponent is a page. Every battle, a verse.
And I… will write the poem of my own path."