(Beast Subjugation Arc — a.k.a. "The Pet Arc")
The forest was quiet. Too quiet.
Mist rolled between ancient trees, every droplet shimmering faintly with spiritual energy. The air carried a scent of ozone and moss — thick, heavy, almost alive.
Li Ming crouched beside a cracked boulder, scanning a set of deep claw marks on the ground. "Three claws. Wide spacing. Pressure's too clean to be a wild beast. That means it's intelligent."
Bai Guo fluttered onto his shoulder, peering down. "Or it's just very neat about its murder habits."
Li Ming ignored him, tracing the marks with two fingers. The Qi residue still pulsed faintly, bright and cold. "Definitely a spirit beast. The sect said it's been absorbing ambient Qi at a ridiculous rate. If it keeps growing, it could destabilize the entire valley."
He stood, brushing off the dust. "We subdue it. Quick and clean."
Bai Guo nodded, though his tone was skeptical. "And by 'subdue,' you mean—?"
