Legendary Beast Cultivator

Chapter 55: Rare nature of Kindness

The night after the combat trial was agonizing for Lin Yuan. His body screamed in pain, his eyes squinting against the lanterns in the street. He sluggishly walks in the streets at night. He can’t sleep, whenever he tries to sleep, the body rattles against his consciousness to awake him.

Lin Yuan walked toward the merchant street, taking a calm step forward.

"These academy classes and trials took up my time nowadays..." Lin Yuan murmured, calling out his turtle. "I need to tame a beast—"

Whoosh!

A faint hum of moving bush, interrupted Lin Yuan’s words. Lin Yuan jolted his head to the right side — the side hum came from. He slowly walked toward the bush with a defensive stance.

As he grazed the bush slightly, he saw a white shimmering rabbit laid down helplessly, its chest heaving in exhaustion.

Thick blood oozing out continuously from the faint slash on the abdomen of the rabbit beast.

"Escaped from an attack..." Lin Yuan muttered, his eyes filled in solemn.

Lin Yuan sluggishly knelt beside the rabbit, taking it into his hands meticulously.

"Don’t worry... I will heal you..." Lin Yuan’s words soothed the rabbit tense deliberately. He took out a jade bottle from his robe pockets. It was Low-Grade Healing Powder. As he suffered with bruises and cuts, Dan Zhenren gave an extra bottle of medicinal powder for clotting blood to Lin Yuan.

He slowly bent the bottle and tapped on its body thrice. The powder splashed on the rabbit’s wound, and after a few seconds the wound slowly began to clot.

Lin Yuan slowly smeared the white fur of the rabbit. A few minutes passed... and the rabbit gained its consciousness. Its ears stood straight suddenly, lingering in all directions. And it slowly held up on its legs, seeing Lin Yuan’s calm face with a confused gaze. His deep eyes are locked onto the rabbit, a calm and deep solemn expression on his face.

The rabbit let out a faint happy smile on its face as Lin Yuan rubbed his finger on its head. And he let the rabbit down freely.

Lin Yuan stood up and started walking again, but the rabbit followed at his back. He turned back and smiled once before kneeling again. He took the rabbit in his hands.

"Do you want to be with me?" Lin Yuan whispered, a faint smile lingered on his face.

The rabbit slowly nodded its head, blinking its eyes once.

"Haha... Okay then..." Lin Yuan boasted, sitting beside the bush. He held the rabbit meticulously, concentrating his mind into his aperture.

’Oh... you found a companion for me, Lin Yuan..’ A familiar voice hummed in Lin Yuan’s mind. It was the turtle beast. ’Wait... You can hear the rabbit’s voice like you hear mine?’

"No.. let me concentrate.." Lin Yuan muttered, clicking his tongue. His leafy green beast essence shot out, swirling around the rabbit beast once.

Whoosh!

After a few minutes, the rabbit beast was refined perfectly. And the rabbit started to shimmer bright white.

’It was Moon Rabbit — a rare type of uncommon beast...’ The turtle beast elucidated, its voice booming in Lin Yuan’s mind. ’A great find, Lin Yuan. You planned so precisely that the rabbit itself came choosing you.. Hahaha!’

Lin Yuan commanded his rabbit to retreat, watching as it was slowly wrapped and settled into his aperture pool. A cunning smile tugged at the corner of his lips. The moment he had his eyes on the wounded beast, the benevolent plan had appeared in his mind.

He had played like a savior, perfectly treating the creature with soothing kindness, then granting it freedom the moment its wounds began to heal. He knew the innate nature of beasts; show them genuine warmth, and their loyalty would follow unconditionally. No chain is longer than willingness.

As per the plan, the rabbit chose to return to him, a bond born of both gratitude and desire to stay by his side. Finally, Lin Yuan successfully refined the beast, claiming his second companion within his body. Lin Yuan went to his house with a satisfying smile on his face.

After successfully refining the Moon Rabbit, Lin Yuan returned to his residence before meditating throughout the remaining night. Although every muscle in his body still ached from Teng Lianhua’s merciless endurance trial, the beast essence flowing inside his aperture slowly soothed the pain.

The little Moon Rabbit rested peacefully inside his calm beast essence pool, occasionally lowering its head to drink the leafy green beast essence from the aperture pool.

’The little fellow seems comfortable.’ The turtle’s voice hummed in Lin Yuan’s mind slowly.

Lin Yuan smiled faintly.

"As long as it doesn’t steal all my beast essence," Lin Yuan groaned, his calm face filled with unbothered expression.

’Hahaha...’ The Turtle Beast laughed, the ring shining faintly. ’I doubt a Rank 2 Moon Rabbit can outdrink me.’

"You have good information about the beasts," Lin Yuan murmured, praising the turtle along with a confused gaze.

Lin Yuan slowly closed his eyes, and slept wholefully.

****

The gentle chirping of birds echoed across the academy as the morning sun sluggishly rose above Green Hollow City.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The familiar footsteps of academy disciples echoed throughout the academy hall. One after another, the fifteen disciples gathered before the training hall once again.

Chen Ming lazily stretched his back.

"My body still hurts..." Chen Ming groaned, cracking his bones slightly.

"Good!" A deep, familiar voice suddenly interrupted him. "Pain meant growth."

The disciples immediately straightened. It was Teng Lianhua; he stood before them with his arms folded. Unlike yesterday, he wasn’t smiling, his expression carried unusual seriousness.

"Today’s lesson..." Teng Lianhua beamed, his voice booming across the hall. "...is not about fighting."

The disciples exchanged confused glances.

"Not about fighting?"

"Then why had they gathered before the training hall?"

"Follow me." Teng Lianhua commanded, slowly turning around and walking outside. The disciples quietly followed behind him.

They crossed the central academy halls and walked past Dan Zhenren’s Refinement Chamber...

Passed the Medicinal Garden...

Then eventually, everyone stopped. Before them stood an enormous stone gate nearly five meters tall. Ancient beast carvings covered its surface, along with skewering vines wrapped around the weathered stone. Above the gate hung three words.

Academy Great Forest.

"I’ve studied here for months..." Chen Ming’s jaw dropped, seeing the massive place. "But, I never knew this place existed."

Mo Qinghe, Dan Zhenren and the remaining masters were already waiting nearby. Lin Cangxuan quietly stood under the gate with his hands behind his back.

Seeing everyone’s astonishment... The Headmaster smiled.

"This place has existed longer than the academy itself," The Headmaster elucidated, his eyes skimming through the disciples. "It is open only for combat trials."

Crank!

The stone gate slowly opened, and a cool breeze drifted outward. The disciples subconsciously widened their eyes. It didn’t look like a stadium. It was a forest. Tall trees blocked most of the sunlight, thick bushes covered the ground, and massive boulders created countless blind spots.

Small streams quietly flowed between the rocks, birds continuously flew from branch to branch.

From somewhere deep within, a beast’s roar echoed. The disciples instinctively became alert.

"This is inside the academy?" Lian Nichang frowned, his fingers twitching in tense.

"It is," Dan Zhenren murmured, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "The academy has spent generations creating this wilderness."

"This place contains dozens of Rank 1 and Rank 2 uncommon beasts," Teng Lianhua boasted, slowly stepping forward. "No disciple has ever been killed here, unless they ignored the rules."

Immediately, the atmosphere became serious.

Teng Lianhua raised one finger.

"Rule One: No beast essence. If anyone uses beast essence, they are immediately disqualified."

He raised a second finger.

"Rule Two: If you are seriously injured or faint after fighting beasts... then you are disqualified."

Then he raised third finger.

"Rule Three: No internal conflicts in groups. If any disciple intentionally attacks another in their group, both shall be disqualified."

"So we can’t fight each other?" Chen Ming frowned, squinting his eyes.

"No..." Teng Lianhua replied calmly. "The beasts are your enemies today."

He pointed toward the forest.

"Scattered throughout the exits of the Academy Great Forest, there are five jade crystals." Teng Lianhua announced, his voice echoing across the place. "They are hidden beside the five exits."

The disciples became curious.

"This forest has five entrances," Teng Lianhua continued. "And five exits. The first five disciples to return, while carrying one jade crystal shall pass the trial."

A wave of whispers spread among the students.

"So speed matters."

"No..." Ying Yue murmured, nodding her head. "Finding the exit matters more."

Lin Yuan quietly observed the forest. Dense vegetation, countless hiding places, unknown rank 1 to rank 3 beasts, and hidden exits.

.

’A survival trial...’ Lin Yuan thought, smiling faintly. ’Interesting.’

Teng Lianhua nodded slightly after seeing Lin Yuan’s expression.

"From each entrance, three members can enter," Teng Lianhua spoke once, explaining the last thing. The disciples blinked. "But remember, there are only five jade crystals. So we will only have five winners out of fifteen disciples!"

Everyone understood immediately. They can make allies, but allies would eventually separate, because only one person could carry each crystal. The trial would naturally force difficult decisions.

Teng Lianhua slowly unfolded a scroll.

"The entrance groups are as follows.

First Group to Enter.

Lin Yuan.

Chen Ming.

Huo Ren.

...

Second Group to Enter..

Gu Fang Xin.

Ying Yue.

Chen Yu Ming.

...

Third Group to Enter..

Xiao Yanrui.

Xiao Lanxue.

Lian Nichang.

...

Fourth Group to Enter..

Chi Fenglian.

Yun He.

Lian Mei Lin.

...

Fifth Group to Enter.

Teng Haoran.

Huo Luo Ren.

Chi Ruyan."

The disciples quietly memorized their groups. Lin Yuan glanced toward Chen Ming as he grinned.

"Looks like we’re together again," Chen Ming sneered.

"Unfortunately," Lin Yuan sighed, clicking his tongue.

"Tsk..." Chen Ming muttered, his gaze darting toward the forest. "You wound my heart."

Before the laughter could continue—

ROOOOAR!!

A thunderous beast roar suddenly erupted from inside the forest. The surrounding birds scattered into the sky. Some bushes violently shook, even the disciples felt goosebumps.

Teng Lianhua smiled.

"They’re awake," Teng Lianhua said, slowly raising his hand. "The gates are opening."

The five massive entrances gradually rumbled open side by side. A cool wind carrying the scent of moist earth drifted from the forest. Every disciple instinctively lowered their balance. Their expressions sluggishly became serious.

"Remember..." Teng Lianhua’s booming voice echoed throughout the academy. "This isn’t a competition of strength. It is a competition of survival."

He slowly lowered his raised hand, a grin spread across his face. "The Peak Endurance Trial begins now!"