Star Dragon Academy.
Pet Beast Breeding Base.
Under a lush peach blossom tree, pink mist spiraled, and the air rippled with the essence of spring.
The hesitant girl finally mustered her courage and said softly to the boy diligently working at his stall, "Um... Senior, are you free this weekend...?"
Chu Yi, who had been arduously refining Magic Potions all night, rubbed the bridge of his nose. Regaining his senses, he looked at this girl, renowned for her stunning endowments.
Under the bright, gentle sunlight, the girl wore a white dress. Her features were delicate, her skin as smooth as ivory, and her graceful curves were faintly visible. Complemented by the peach tree, she looked as if she had stepped out of a beautified image. Her clear, dark eyes shifted slightly, brimming with shyness and nervousness.
Chu Yi's gaze focused, a hint of shock flashing in his pupils. Even larger than her face?! Such an impressive chest is truly hard to refuse. It makes other girls of the same age not just feel inferior, but utterly hopeless.
Come to think of it, this is the seventh junior to invite me out.
Although I've been reincarnated for eighteen years, the only thing that truly satisfies me is that my charm is no less than in my past life; I'm even more handsome now.
Being stared at by Chu Yi, the girl holding a very large cup of milk tea quickly lowered her head, her lashes drooping slightly as a blush crept up her delicate cheeks.
"Junior, you're still an Apprentice Beast Tamer, right? Just established your Beast Taming Space?" Chu Yi asked, glancing her over.
"Ah... Um, Senior, how did you know?" the milk tea girl asked, stunned. Her face turned redder; she had thought this young, handsome senior was agreeing to her invitation.
Chu Yi smiled. "My Spiritual Power aptitude is Super. If I'm not mistaken, Junior, you've established a Water-type space with a Dark Attribute, correct?"
"Super?" the milk tea girl exclaimed. "Senior, your talent is so strong to be able to tell all that!"
Chu Yi gave a faint smile. In his eyes, the milk tea girl's Spiritual Power was like the morning mist after rain—water vapor surged, almost overflowing. It was obvious she had only recently established her Water-type space. So much water... is she planning to raise fish in there...? As for the Dark Attribute, he could sense it. After all, the secondary attribute of a Water-type space was generally Dark or Poison, used to cultivate a Pet Beast's second attribute.
"When new students establish a Pet Beast Space, there's a consolidation period. Senior happens to have a batch of Magic Potions for sale that would suit your situation," Chu Yi said, taking out three vials. Each shimmered brightly, containing specks of starlight.
"The Dawn Potion can refine Spiritual Energy and enhance the efficiency of your Breathing Technique."
"The Shadow Potion enhances Dark-type affinity, making it easier to activate a second attribute."
"The Tide Potion expands Spiritual Energy reserves and promotes better growth for Water-type Pet Beasts."
Chen Xi blinked. She was already captivated (and thoroughly upsold) by the handsome senior. She raised her fair, slender wrist and used the Federation's Star Bracelet to pay online.
Magic Potions were expensive on the market, not something an ordinary Apprentice Beast Tamer could typically afford. This junior is quite the little wealthy lady, Chu Yi mused.
"Take care, Junior," Chu Yi said with a smile. He gave her some instructions, they exchanged WeChat contacts, and he waved goodbye.
Rich and generous. Chu Yi couldn't help but feel the urge to have her become his patron.
"Eh?" After walking a considerable distance, Chen Xi finally processed what had happened. My original intention was... to invite him to watch a movie over the weekend, right? She stomped her foot in frustration. All that hard-earned courage, gone just like that. Who knows when I'll get another chance?
"However," Chen Xi murmured, clutching the potions. Her slender, delicate fingers, like white jade, contrasted with the twinkling starlight from the vials. A dangerous, stunning glint flashed in her beautiful, peach-shaped eyes. Senior is really cute.
「Later」
Finally sold them. This month's rent is covered, Chu Yi thought with a sigh of relief, resting his head against the tree trunk. Sunlight poured down, shadows swayed, reflecting a cloud-like spread of peach petals drifting in the air.
He was a Reincarnator. On his way to a barbecue, he had been punched into another world by a transforming cement truck.
Fortunately, I was an orphan, with no attachments.
Except for the regret of not having perfectly completed the latest mythological biography game on Steam, Strange Holy Land, the dark fairy tale Lost2, and Monster Girl 2... there wasn't much else I missed.
But even after reincarnating, within a few days, he became an orphan again.
This place was a world hundreds of times vaster than Blue Star! There was no flashy magic or fighting spirit, only a Beast Taming system that had developed to its peak!
A thousand years ago, following the Spiritual Qi Revival, the void generated a massive amount of Spiritual Energy. The land and sea areas continuously expanded, nurturing brand-new living beings. Whether they were birds or beasts, flowers or trees, mountains or lakes, lightning or storms, or even metallic contraptions and dream-like fantasies, all could give birth to Extraordinary Life, thereafter called Pet Beasts.
The transformation of living beings dragged humans from the top of the pyramid down to the bottom. Spiritual Energy destroyed everything, but it also brought renewal. After experiencing a "Dark Age" and then a "Starfire Age," humanity finally ushered in the exceedingly prosperous "Beast Taming Age!"
Once an individual's Spiritual Power aptitude was detected, they could practice a Breathing Technique, refining Extraordinary Particles from the universe and transforming them into their own Spiritual Energy. This allowed them to construct a Beast Taming Space, form contracts with Pet Beasts, and command these Pet Beasts in battle.
Over time, Beast Tamers became the new elite class of the era, reigning supreme.
Taming, contracting, nurturing, training, battling, evolving... This was the life of a Beast Tamer!
The types of Pet Beasts were myriad and diverse: Demon Beasts, Elements, Plants, Demons, Ghosts, Mechanicals, Fairies, Beastmen, Giant Dragons, Insectoids...
And Star Dragon Academy, where he resided, was dedicated to cultivating the young generation of Beast Tamers, boasting a hundred-year history.
Two years ago, when he was still a first-year student, he was detected to have Super Mental Power. Spiritual Power aptitude was divided into four levels: Low, Mid, High, and Super. High aptitude was enough to be termed a genius. Super Talent was even rarer, a favored child of the Beast Taming World, with only one such individual emerging in hundreds of thousands.
Thus, Chu Yi was selected for the Starfire Sequence. This was a legacy from the "Starfire Age," designed to cultivate the most outstanding Beast Tamers, making every spot crucial.
Yet, less than half a year later, Chu Yi's presence grew weaker. External questioning and targeted criticism never ceased.
This was because he couldn't contract any Pet Beasts. Whether it was high-quality Pet Beasts like the Fire Crow, Demon Blade Mantis, or Iron Armor Giant Rhinoceros, or even the weakest like a Slime, Mud Crab, Inflatable Mouse, or Earth Worm—he could contract none of them.
Within the Starfire Sequence circle, he earned the label of an "outcast." Especially after, despairing of contracting a Pet Beast, he turned to specialize in Magic Pharmacy. In the eyes of outsiders, he gradually became seen as a self-destructive, unambitious failure.
Magic Pharmacy? What was that? It was a support profession, serving Beast Tamers by providing Magic Potions, breeding assistance, and medical services. Not top-tier, but better than being at the bottom.
However, Super Talent was extremely rare. For a time, a number of high-ranking individuals still protected him. Chu Yi managed to hang on for two years, completing all the courses in Magic Pharmacy and reaching an apprentice level in Magic Potion crafting.
This continued until an irresistible factor emerged. Arranged by certain influential people, he was expelled from the Starfire Sequence last month. The vacant spot was promptly filled by the child of a plutocrat.
Heh, parents dead, a fallen genius, a tearful good-for-nothing... I've really ticked all the tragic protagonist boxes...
For these two years, no matter how strong his aptitude was, or how monstrous his Cultivation talent, he just couldn't contract a Pet Beast! The very reason Beast Tamers held privileges was because of their Pet Beasts in combat!
My talent is definitely not the problem. The issue is, why can't I contract a Pet Beast?
Could it be... that because I reincarnated here, I don't actually belong to this world, so all contracting methods are ineffective for me?
He had considered this problem long ago. Unfortunately, it was his deepest secret, one he couldn't reveal to anyone. He could only feign ignorance while fumbling through various contracting methods and searching for information in the library.
SIGH...
A gentle breeze brushed past, carrying a disturbing fragrance and scattering a rain of pink petals.
A small, orange-furred fox poked its head out of his pocket. Its eyes were drowsy as it leaned forward and licked Chu Yi's palm.
Red Fox, a Mid-grade Servant-level Pet Beast. Servant was the lowest quality. Above it were Elite, War General, Commander, King, Overlord, and Legend. Each tier was further divided into Low, Mid, and High three grades based on potential. As for levels, they were divided into ten stages and ten ranks, meaning levels 1 to 100.
The Star Bracelet, distributed by the Federation, automatically displayed this Pet Beast's information:
[Name]: Red Fox
[Rank]: Mid-grade Servant
[Level]: 5
[Attributes]: Beast, Fire
[Weakness]: Water
[Skills]: Scratch (Beginner), Little Spark (Proficient)
[Special Skill]: None
[Status]: Affectionate
[Evolution Path]:
① Fur Fox: Star Cup Flower x10, Honey x5, Fur Ball x20...
② Wind Chasing Fox: Second-grade Wind-type Crystal Core x1...
③ Fire Demon: Third-grade Fire-type Crystal Core x1, Heart of Elements x1...
④ Blazing Fire Fox (Mutant): Not Unlocked (Click for details)
The Star Bracelet contained the Pet Beast evolution paths provided by the Federation. Advanced evolution knowledge was sealed and required contribution points to exchange.
Already level 5? Its growth is really fast, Chu Yi thought as he picked up the Red Fox, his palm massaging its head. The fluffy fur was incredibly soft. The little fox hummed, its copper-brown eyes squinting into crescent moons as it let out a soft purr of comfort.
"YIP~"
Soft and tender, it tugged at one's heartstrings.
This Red Fox was adopted by Chu Yi from the outside, and he had named her Bika because she was such a flirt.
"AWOO—"
Bika raised her small head, tore open the packaging, and began to enjoy her favorite beef jerky.
The Red Fox is a common Pet Beast. If fed Fire-type Crystal Cores over a long period, its Beast attribute can be purged, transforming it into an elemental Fire Demon. Its quality would then leap to Mid-grade Elite.
Although I can't contract Pet Beasts, I can become a Beast Tamer.
This path of Beast Taming was a complex profession. It represented the defiance of commoners against the limitations of their Beast Taming aptitude—a struggle against fate. Exceptional Beast Tamers who chose this route could even rise to prominence later in life, guiding their Pet Beasts through continuous evolution, their combat power not much inferior to other Beast Tamers.
Choosing this path of Beast Taming meant that one's initial Pet Beast would be very weak, which was better for fostering a deep emotional bond between master and pet. This was also why Chu Yi had adopted the Red Fox.
"Bika, let's work hard together from now on."
"AWOO—"
Chu Yi stroked Bika's head and smiled.
Suddenly, a wild wind raged, sending peach petals flying in a frenzy.
His mind trembled.
Deep within his consciousness, a ripple spread out, and an unspeakable, indescribable darkness began to writhe.