The silence lasted only a moment before the training ground erupted.
"He actually won!"
"A Rank 2 beast beat a Rank 18 tiger?"
"Did you see that final strike? Perfect timing!"
"Zhang Hao's face is priceless!"
Ethan knelt beside Shadow, checking her condition. She was exhausted, her spiritual energy nearly depleted, but she was uninjured. Through their bond, he felt her satisfaction and pride. They'd won their first real fight.
"Good work, girl," he murmured, stroking her midnight fur. "You were amazing."
Shadow purred weakly, her three eyes half-closed.
Across the combat circle, Zhang Hao stood frozen, his face alternating between red and white. His Crimson Flame Tiger had returned to his side, looking confused and ashamed at its defeat.
"That... that was a fluke!" Zhang Hao finally sputtered. "My tiger wasn't taking it seriously! If this were a real battle—"
"If this were a real battle, your tiger would be dead," Instructor Wang interrupted coldly. "That final strike hit a vital point. Chen Xuan showed both tactical awareness and proper beast coordination. You, on the other hand, relied entirely on your beast's superior rank and became careless."
Zhang Hao's mouth opened and closed like a fish.
"Combat isn't just about raw power," Instructor Wang continued, addressing the entire class now. "A weaker opponent with superior tactics can defeat a stronger one. This is a fundamental lesson all of you need to learn. Rank isn't everything."
He looked at Ethan. "Well done, Chen Xuan. Your beast is clearly exhausted. Take her to rest and recover. We'll begin your special training tomorrow."
Ethan bowed. "Thank you, Instructor."
As he left the training ground with Shadow, he could feel dozens of eyes on his back. The whispers followed him, but their tone had changed. No more dismissive mockery. Now there was genuine interest, some grudging respect, and—from a few students—worry.
Chen Xuan, the academy's trash, had just defeated someone sixteen ranks above his weight class.
Liu Yue caught up to him as he walked toward his courtyard.
"That was incredible!" she said, her Frost Sparrow chirping excitedly. "I've never seen someone use Shadow Step so effectively in combat. Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Ethan shrugged. "I didn't. Shadow's the one who did all the work. I just gave basic directions."
"Don't be modest. Beast taming is all about coordination between tamer and beast. Your timing was perfect." She paused. "Though I have to ask—how did you know about the tiger's injured leg?"
"Shadow's Triple-Eye Perception," Ethan explained. "It lets her analyze opponents and find weaknesses. I just trusted her judgment."
Liu Yue nodded thoughtfully. "Three-Eyed Shadow Cats are known for that ability, but most tamers don't think to use it tactically. They just rely on their beast's natural instincts." She smiled. "You're smarter than people give you credit for."
"Thanks," Ethan said. "I think."
They reached his courtyard, and Liu Yue said goodbye, promising to see him in class tomorrow. Ethan carried Shadow inside and set her on his bed. She immediately curled up and fell asleep, her body instinctively circulating spiritual energy to recover.
Ethan checked her status.
[Name: Shadow]
[Species: Three-Eyed Shadow Cat]
[Rank: Mortal Beast Rank 2 (Progress: 26%)]
[Cultivation Speed: 100x (System Bonus)]
[Health: 85%]
[Spiritual Energy: 15%]
[Bloodline: Dormant Draconic (Shadow Dragon - 0.3%)]
[Skills: Shadow Step (Level 1), Night Vision, Triple-Eye Perception]
[Status: Exhausted - Recovery time: 6 hours]
[Time to Rank 3: 2 days, 16 hours]
The combat had actually helped her cultivation progress slightly—fighting pushed beasts to grow. Even with the energy depletion, her progress had increased from 23% to 26%.
Ethan let her rest and pulled up his own status.
[Host: Ethan Cross]
[Cultivation: Beast Apprentice, Rank 1 (Progress: 48%)]
[Contracted Beasts: 1/4]
[Evolution Points: 120 EP]
He'd been at 48% progress to Rank 2 since yesterday. His own cultivation was far slower than Shadow's, even with the improved breathing technique. He needed more resources.
"System, what's the most efficient way to increase my cultivation with my current EP?"
[Analysis Complete]
[Option 1: Purchase 12 Low-Grade Spirit Stones (120 EP)]
[Result: Approximately 30-40% cultivation progress]
[Estimated time to Rank 2: 2-3 days]
[Option 2: Purchase 4 Spirit Gathering Pills (100 EP)]
[Result: Permanent +4% cultivation speed]
[Estimated time to Rank 2: 5 days with natural cultivation]
[Option 3: Save EP for Beast Breakthrough Pill (50 EP)]
[Helps Shadow reach Rank 3 faster, earn 10 EP from advancement]
[Recommendation: Option 2 provides long-term benefits]
Ethan considered. Spirit Gathering Pills gave permanent bonuses to cultivation speed. That compounded over time. But option 3 was interesting—if he helped Shadow advance faster, he'd earn EP from her progression, which he could then reinvest.
Actually, he could do both.
"Purchase one Beast Breakthrough Pill and two Spirit Gathering Pills," he decided.
[Purchase Confirmed]
[Cost: 100 EP]
[Remaining Balance: 20 EP]
Three pills materialized in his dimensional storage. Ethan took out the two Spirit Gathering Pills—small golden spheres that glowed with concentrated spiritual energy—and swallowed them both.
Immediately, he felt warmth spread through his body. His meridians widened slightly, and the spiritual energy in his dantian began circulating faster, as if someone had oiled the gears of a machine.
[Cultivation Speed: +2% (Permanent)]
[New Base Cultivation Speed: 102% of normal]
It wasn't a huge increase, but it would add up over time. Every day from now on, he'd cultivate 2% faster than normal people.
The Beast Breakthrough Pill he saved for when Shadow was closer to her breakthrough. Using it too early would waste its effectiveness.
---
Evening fell, and Ethan reported to the Beast Medical Hall for his detention duty. The same medical assistant from yesterday greeted him.
"You're the talk of the academy," she said with an amused smile. "The trash tamer who beat Zhang Hao. Never thought I'd see the day."
"Neither did I," Ethan admitted.
She led him to the treatment rooms. "Tonight you'll be assisting with basic healing work. We have three injured beasts that need spiritual energy treatments. I'll supervise."
The work was actually interesting. Ethan learned how to channel spiritual energy in specific patterns to accelerate natural healing, how to identify different types of injuries, and which herbs worked best for various beast species.
By the time his two hours were up, he'd gained practical knowledge that would help him care for Shadow—and his future contracted beasts—much better.
[Skill Acquired: Basic Beast Medicine (Level 1)]
[Effect: 10% more effective when healing contracted beasts]
Ethan's eyebrows rose. The system could grant him skills just from learning? That was useful.
As he left the Medical Hall, he checked the daily login reward.
[Daily Login Reward - Day 3]
[Reward: 5 Evolution Points]
[Current EP Balance: 25 EP]
[Consecutive Days: 3]
[Note: Bonus rewards at 7 days, 30 days, 100 days, 365 days]
There were milestone bonuses? Even better.
---
The next morning began with another surprise.
When Ethan woke up, Shadow was already awake and vibrating with energy. Through their bond, he felt something different about her—she was stronger.
He pulled up her status.
[Name: Shadow]
[Species: Three-Eyed Shadow Cat]
[Rank: Mortal Beast Rank 2 (Progress: 89%)]
[Cultivation Speed: 100x (System Bonus)]
[Health: 100%]
[Spiritual Energy: 100%]
[Time to Rank 3: 6 hours]
Eighty-nine percent! She'd recovered from yesterday's exhaustion and made enormous progress overnight. The 100x cultivation speed was no joke.
"You're almost ready to break through," Ethan told her, pulling out the Beast Breakthrough Pill. "When you hit 95%, we'll use this."
Shadow's three eyes fixated on the pill with obvious desire.
"Patience," Ethan laughed. "A few more hours."
He went through his morning routine, claimed his daily login reward—another 5 EP, bringing him to 30 total—and headed to class.
But before the first lecture could begin, a messenger arrived.
"Chen Xuan? Instructor Wang wants to see you at the advanced training ground. Immediately."
The special training was starting.
---
The advanced training ground was separate from the regular student areas, reserved for instructor use and elite disciples. It was larger, with specialized equipment—weighted training dummies that could take hits from Rank 30 beasts, obstacle courses designed to test speed and agility, and even a small artificial forest for stealth training.
Instructor Wang waited in the center with his Thunder Wolf. Two other students were already there—both senior students Ethan recognized but had never spoken to. They were ranked in the top ten of the academy.
"You're here," Instructor Wang said. "Good. Since you'll be training with me for the next month, you should meet your training partners. This is Zhao Lin and Wu Feng. Both Beast Warrior Rank 7."
The two seniors nodded to Ethan. They didn't look particularly friendly, but they weren't hostile either. More... evaluating.
"Chen Xuan just advanced from probation," Instructor Wang continued, addressing the seniors. "But his tactical abilities are exceptional. I want you three to train together."
Zhao Lin, a muscular young man with a scar on his cheek, frowned. "Instructor, he's only Beast Apprentice Rank 1. How is he supposed to keep up with us?"
"That's what training is for," Instructor Wang replied. "Besides, raw cultivation isn't everything. He beat Zhang Hao's Rank 18 tiger yesterday with a Rank 2 cat."
Wu Feng, a lean girl with sharp eyes, looked at Shadow with new interest. "I heard about that. Impressive tactics. But tactics only work if you have the foundation to execute them."
"Which is why we're here," Instructor Wang said. "Your training will focus on three areas: physical conditioning, spiritual energy control, and coordinated beast combat. We'll start with physical conditioning."
He gestured to a section of the training ground filled with various weighted equipment.
"Each of you will wear spiritual weight seals. These suppress your spiritual energy and increase your physical weight based on your cultivation level. Chen Xuan, since you're Rank 1, yours will be set to double your body weight. Zhao Lin and Wu Feng, yours will be quadruple."
Ethan's eyes widened. Double his body weight? He weighed about 150 pounds, so he'd effectively be carrying an extra 150 pounds constantly?
Instructor Wang smiled grimly. "Beast tamers rely too heavily on their contracted beasts. But if your beast is defeated or unable to fight, what will you do? Physical strength matters. A strong body supports stronger spiritual cultivation."
He handed each of them a set of metal bands—one for each wrist and ankle.
"You'll wear these during all training sessions. Now, ten laps around the training ground. Go."
The training ground's perimeter was about 400 meters. Ten laps meant four kilometers.
With double body weight.
This was going to be hell.
---
Two hours later, Ethan collapsed on the ground, gasping for air. His legs felt like jelly, his lungs burned, and sweat poured down his face.
He'd managed six laps before he couldn't run anymore and had to walk the rest. Zhao Lin and Wu Feng had completed all ten laps, though they were also exhausted.
"Pathetic," Instructor Wang said, but there was a hint of approval in his tone. "But you didn't quit. That's something."
He tossed each of them a water flask. "Drink. Rest for ten minutes. Then we move to spiritual energy control exercises."
Shadow sat beside Ethan, looking concerned through their bond. She wanted to help but didn't know how.
"I'm fine," Ethan told her between gulps of water. "This is good for me. I need to get stronger."
[Physical Exertion Detected]
[Body Conditioning +1%]
[Effect: Slightly increased physical strength and stamina]
Even the brutal training gave system benefits? Ethan almost laughed. Everything in this world could make him stronger if he pushed hard enough.
The next exercise involved holding a specific meditation pose while channeling spiritual energy through increasingly complex meridian pathways. It was mentally exhausting in a completely different way than the running.
By the time the two-hour special training session ended, Ethan felt like he'd been through a war.
"Same time tomorrow," Instructor Wang said. "Don't be late."
Ethan limped back to his courtyard, every muscle in his body screaming. Shadow walked beside him, sending supportive feelings through their bond.
When they finally got back to his room, Ethan collapsed on the bed.
And then he felt it.
Through the bond, a surge of energy. Shadow's spiritual energy was spiking, her cultivation reaching critical mass.
Ethan sat up despite his exhaustion and checked her status.
[Name: Shadow]
[Species: Three-Eyed Shadow Cat]
[Rank: Mortal Beast Rank 2 (Progress: 96%)]
[Status: Ready for Breakthrough]
[Use Beast Breakthrough Pill now?]
"Yes," Ethan said immediately.
He pulled out the pill and held it to Shadow's mouth. She swallowed it eagerly, and immediately her body began to glow with purple-black light.
The breakthrough had begun.
Shadow's form blurred, spiritual energy swirling around her like a vortex. Ethan could feel through their bond that she was being transformed from the inside out, her body restructuring, her power increasing.
The glow intensified, filling the entire room with dark light.
And then, with a final pulse of energy, it faded.
Shadow stood on his bed, and she was different.
Slightly larger—about the size of a full-grown house cat now instead of a kitten. Her midnight fur gleamed with an almost liquid quality, and her three eyes burned with brighter purple light. The aura around her had changed, becoming sharper, more dangerous.
[Breakthrough Successful!]
[Name: Shadow]
[Species: Three-Eyed Shadow Cat]
[Rank: Mortal Beast Rank 3]
[Cultivation Speed: 100x (System Bonus)]
[Health: 100%]
[Spiritual Energy: 100%]
[Bloodline: Dormant Draconic (Shadow Dragon - 0.3%)]
[Skills: Shadow Step (Level 2), Night Vision, Triple-Eye Perception, NEW - Shadow Claw]
[New Skill Acquired: Shadow Claw - Attacks infused with shadow energy, can ignore 10% of physical defense]
[Evolution Points Gained: +10 EP]
[Current EP Balance: 40 EP]
Shadow let out a triumphant yowl and pounced on Ethan, knocking him back onto the bed. Through their bond, he felt her joy and excitement. She was stronger now, much stronger.
"Congratulations, Shadow," Ethan laughed, scratching behind her ears. "Rank 3 already. At this rate, you'll be the strongest beast in the academy before the month is out."
Shadow purred loudly, clearly agreeing with that assessment.
Ethan checked the time estimate for her next rank.
[Time to Rank 4: 3 days, 2 hours]
The higher the rank, the longer each breakthrough took, even with 100x speed. But three days for a rank that would normally take months? Ethan would take that any day.
He lay back on his bed, Shadow curled up on his chest, and smiled at the ceiling.
Special training with Instructor Wang was brutal, but it was making him stronger.
Shadow was advancing rapidly, soon she'd be strong enough that rank differences wouldn't matter as much.
He had the System Shop to buy resources.
And he was only at Beast Apprentice Rank 1. The first tiny step on a very long journey.
But for the first time since transmigrating to this world, Ethan felt like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.
The path ahead was long and difficult.
But he was ready for it.