The Azure Sky Continent was a world where strength determined everything.
But unlike the traditional cultivation world where martial artists refined their inner qi to transcend mortality, this world had a different path to power—Spirit Beasts.
Every cultivator's strength was measured not by their personal cultivation alone, but by the spirit beasts they contracted with. A beast tamer without beasts was nothing. A beast without a tamer was just a wild animal waiting to be hunted.
The stronger your contracted beast, the higher your status. The more beasts you could contract, the more terrifying your combat power.
At the pinnacle of this world stood the legendary Beast Sovereigns—tamers who had contracted with ten Celestial-level beasts and commanded power that could shatter mountains and overturn seas.
One thousand years ago, there had been such a man.
His name was lost to time, but his title remained: The Primordial Beast Sovereign—the strongest tamer in history, who had commanded ten Divine Beasts and stood at the absolute peak of the Azure Sky Continent.
Then, he vanished.
Some said he ascended to higher realms. Others claimed he was betrayed and killed by jealous rivals. The truth had been buried by time.
But legends never truly die.
Jiang Chen had no interest in legends.
At twenty-seven years old, he was a wandering cultivator with Foundation Establishment cultivation and exactly zero contracted beasts—which made him essentially worthless in this world's hierarchy.
He'd tried to contract a beast once, when he was younger. A common Wind Rabbit, barely at the 10-year level. The contract had failed spectacularly, the rabbit had bitten him, and he'd given up on beast taming entirely.
Now he made his living doing odd jobs, escorting merchant caravans, and staying as far away from beast tamers and their politics as humanly possible.
It was a simple life. Boring, but safe.
Which was why, when he stumbled upon the ancient ruins in the Blackened Gorge, his first instinct was to turn around and leave.
"Nope," Jiang Chen said aloud to himself, staring at the massive stone door carved with images of dragons and phoenixes. "This is exactly the kind of 'mysterious inheritance' that gets people killed. Not interested."
He turned to leave.
His legs refused to move.
"What—"
Golden light erupted from the stone door, and Jiang Chen felt an overwhelming force drag him backward. He tried to resist, channeling his Foundation Establishment qi, but it was like trying to stop an ocean with his bare hands.
"I SAID I'M NOT INTERESTED!" he shouted as the light swallowed him whole.
Jiang Chen crashed onto a smooth stone floor, groaning in pain.
When he opened his eyes, he found himself in a massive chamber. The ceiling stretched so high it disappeared into darkness. The walls were covered in murals depicting an ancient era—humans and beasts fighting side by side against monstrous enemies, a lone figure standing atop a mountain with ten magnificent beasts bowing before him.
In the center of the chamber floated a jade token, radiating golden light.
The moment Jiang Chen's eyes landed on it, something inside him stirred.
Memories that weren't his own flashed through his mind.
Standing on Heavenly Beast Peak, overlooking the continent.
Ten Divine Beasts roaring in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
A title spoken with reverence: "All Hail the Beast Sovereign!"
Betrayal. Pain. Darkness.
"I will return... and when I do, they will all kneel before me once more."
Jiang Chen clutched his head, gasping. "What... what was that?"
The jade token pulsed, and a voice—ancient, powerful, yet strangely gentle—echoed through the chamber.
"At last... you have returned, my successor."
"Successor?" Jiang Chen backed away. "Look, I think you've got the wrong person—"
The token shot forward and pressed itself against his chest.
Jiang Chen screamed as golden light flooded his body. It felt like his very soul was being rewritten, like something that had been sleeping inside him for his entire life was finally waking up.
Images cascaded through his mind—techniques for forming beast contracts, knowledge of spirit beast classifications, the sensation of commanding multiple beasts simultaneously, and most importantly...
The memory of who he had been.
When the light faded, Jiang Chen collapsed to his knees, breathing heavily.
[PRIMORDIAL BEAST SANCTUARY SYSTEM ACTIVATED]
Golden text materialized in the air before him, forming a translucent interface that only he could see.
[SOUL SIGNATURE ANALYSIS COMPLETE]
[IDENTITY CONFIRMED: REINCARNATION OF THE PRIMORDIAL BEAST SOVEREIGN]
[WELCOME BACK, SOVEREIGN. YOUR LONG SLEEP HAS ENDED.]
"No," Jiang Chen whispered. "That's impossible. I'm just a failed tamer who can't even contract a Wind Rabbit—"
[NEGATIVE. HOST'S PREVIOUS ATTEMPT FAILED BECAUSE YOUR SOUL ESSENCE WAS TOO POWERFUL FOR COMMON BEASTS. ONLY SPIRIT BEASTS OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY CAN FORM CONTRACTS WITH YOU.]
[YOUR PAST LIFE AS THE BEAST SOVEREIGN HAS IMPRINTED ON YOUR REINCARNATED SOUL]
[CURRENT STATUS:]
A new screen appeared:
[HOST INFORMATION]
Name: Jiang Chen
Age: 27
Current Realm: Foundation Establishment (9th Layer)
True Soul Strength: Beast Sovereign Level (99.9% Sealed)
Beast Contracts: 0/10
Combat Power: Foundation Establishment (Can access Expert Tamer abilities when contracted with appropriate beasts)
[SEALED MEMORIES: 87% LOCKED]
[SEALED CULTIVATION: 99.9% LOCKED]
[REASON FOR SEAL: Reincarnation protection. Power must be reclaimed gradually to prevent soul collapse.]
[PAST LIFE CONTRACTED BEASTS: All deceased or scattered across realms]
Jiang Chen stared at the information, his mind reeling. "This is insane. You're telling me I was the legendary Beast Sovereign? The one from a thousand years ago?"
[CORRECT.]
[YOU WERE BETRAYED AND KILLED BY THE SHADOW ALLIANCE—A GROUP OF POWERFUL SECTS WHO FEARED YOUR STRENGTH]
[YOUR SOUL FRAGMENTED AND DRIFTED THROUGH THE CYCLE OF REINCARNATION FOR ONE THOUSAND YEARS]
[NOW, YOU HAVE BEEN REBORN]
"And let me guess," Jiang Chen said bitterly, "those people who killed me are still around?"
[AFFIRMATIVE. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE SHADOW ALLIANCE HAVE ACHIEVED IMMORTALITY THROUGH FORBIDDEN TECHNIQUES]
[THEY WILL EVENTUALLY DISCOVER YOUR REINCARNATION]
[CURRENT ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL DISCOVERY: UNKNOWN]
[RECOMMENDATION: RECLAIM YOUR POWER BEFORE THEY FIND YOU]
A cold chill ran down Jiang Chen's spine. He'd been living peacefully for twenty-seven years, completely unaware that he was the reincarnation of a legendary figure with powerful enemies.
"So what do I do?" he asked quietly.
[THE SYSTEM EXISTS TO GUIDE YOUR RETURN TO POWER]
[UNLIKE YOUR PREVIOUS LIFE, WHERE YOU WALKED THE PATH ALONE, THIS TIME YOU WILL BUILD A LEGACY]
[YOU WILL ESTABLISH A SECT]
[YOU WILL RAISE DISCIPLES]
[YOU WILL CONTRACT WITH NEW BEASTS]
[AND WHEN YOU ARE READY, YOU WILL RECLAIM YOUR THRONE AS THE SUPREME BEAST SOVEREIGN]
[MANDATORY MISSION ACTIVATED]
[MISSION: ESTABLISH HEAVENLY BEAST PEAK SECT]
Objective: Travel to the Misty Jade Mountains and claim Heavenly Beast Peak as your sect's territory
Time Limit: 7 Days
Rewards:
Sect Establishment Array (Automatically creates basic sect buildings)
5,000 Spirit Stones
1 Legendary Beast Egg (Random)
System Shop Access (Unlock ability to purchase resources, techniques, and items)
Title: "Sect Master"
[FAILURE PENALTY: Soul seal becomes permanent. You will remain at Foundation Establishment forever and lose all chance of revenge.]
[MANDATORY MISSION ACTIVATED]
[MISSION: RECRUIT FIRST DISCIPLE]
Objective: Accept your first disciple within 10 days
Requirements: Disciple must have potential compatible with beast taming path
Rewards:
Basic Beast Taming Manual (Heaven Grade)
2,000 Spirit Stones
1 Epic Beast Egg (Random)
Disciple Starter Package (Contains cultivation pills, beast food, training equipment)
[FAILURE PENALTY: Permanent damage to cultivation foundation. Unable to form beast contracts.]
Jiang Chen sat in silence for a long moment, processing everything.
Finally, he let out a long breath. "So I don't really have a choice, do I?"
[YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHOICE, HOST]
[YOU CAN CHOOSE TO IGNORE THE SYSTEM, LIVE OUT YOUR MORTAL LIFE, AND HOPE YOUR ENEMIES NEVER FIND YOU]
[OR YOU CAN CHOOSE TO RECLAIM YOUR POWER AND DETERMINE YOUR OWN FATE]
Jiang Chen thought about his boring, peaceful life. Then he thought about powerful enemies who'd killed him once and would likely do it again if they found him weak and defenseless.
"When you put it that way..." He stood up, dusting off his robes. "Alright. I'll play along. But I'm doing this MY way—low profile, no unnecessary attention, and absolutely no heroic stupidity."
[ACKNOWLEDGED]
[ACCESSING SYSTEM INTERFACE...]
A more detailed menu appeared before him:
[PRIMORDIAL BEAST SANCTUARY SYSTEM]
[STATUS] [MISSIONS] [INVENTORY] [SHOP - LOCKED] [SECT MANAGEMENT - LOCKED] [BEAST CODEX - LOCKED]
Jiang Chen focused on [INVENTORY]:
[CURRENT INVENTORY]
Primordial Beast Token (Soul-bound, cannot be removed or stolen)
Sect Master Robes x5 (Self-repairing, enhanced defense, grows with user's cultivation)
Foundation Establishment Pills x10 (Can help break through to Golden Core)
Universal Spirit Beast Food x100 (Suitable for all beast types, accelerates growth)
Spatial Ring (50 cubic meters storage, soul-bound)
Sect Establishment Token (Single use, claims territory and creates basic sect buildings)
"Not bad for starting equipment," Jiang Chen admitted. He noticed the spatial ring had appeared on his finger—a plain silver band with subtle beast carvings. He willed the sect robes into it and felt them disappear.
He opened [MISSIONS] and reviewed his objectives:
[ACTIVE MANDATORY MISSIONS]
Establish Heavenly Beast Peak Sect (7 days, 0 hours remaining)
Recruit First Disciple (10 days, 0 hours remaining)
[OPTIONAL MISSIONS]
Explore Misty Jade Mountains (Reward: 500 Spirit Stones, 1 Random Beast Egg)
Save Wild Spirit Beast from Hunters (Reward: 1,000 Spirit Stones, Beast's gratitude, possible contract opportunity)
Reach Golden Core Realm (Reward: 3,000 Spirit Stones, Advanced Cultivation Technique)
Finally, he checked [STATUS] in detail:
[JIANG CHEN - REINCARNATED BEAST SOVEREIGN]
Cultivation Realm: Foundation Establishment 9th Layer
Beast Tamer Rank: None (No contracted beasts)
True Soul Rank: Beast Sovereign (Sealed)
Combat Abilities (Current):
Foundation Establishment Qi cultivation
Basic sword techniques
Survival skills
Sealed Abilities (Will unlock as you grow stronger):
Supreme Beast Resonance (Passive: All beasts instinctively respect you)
Ten Directions Beast Command (Command multiple beasts simultaneously)
Primordial Contract Formation (Create soul contracts with even Divine-level beasts)
Beast Evolution Guidance (Help contracted beasts break through cultivation bottlenecks)
Spirit Fusion (Temporarily merge with contracted beast for explosive power)
[15 more abilities locked]
Currently Accessible Abilities:
Beast Language Comprehension (Understand all spirit beast languages)
Spirit Beast Sense (Detect beast potential, emotions, and cultivation level)
Basic Contract Formation (Form contracts with beasts up to 10,000-year level)
Special Trait: Sovereign's Presence
Even though your power is sealed, your soul essence carries the weight of your past life. High-level beasts will instinctively sense something extraordinary about you.
Jiang Chen closed the interface and looked around the ancient chamber. "Alright. First step: get to the Misty Jade Mountains. Second step: establish the sect. Third step: find a disciple."
He started toward the exit, then paused. "System, one question. In my past life... was I a good person?"
[EVALUATING...]
[YOUR PAST SELF WAS KNOWN AS RIGHTEOUS AND HONORABLE]
[YOU PROTECTED THE WEAK, OPPOSED THOSE WHO ABUSED BEASTS, AND SOUGHT BALANCE BETWEEN HUMANS AND SPIRIT BEASTS]
[THIS IS WHY THE SHADOW ALLIANCE FEARED YOU—YOU THREATENED THEIR EXPLOITATION OF BEASTS FOR POWER]
"I see." Jiang Chen nodded slowly. "Then I'll walk the same path. If I'm going to reclaim that power, I might as well do it right."
[ADMIRABLE, HOST]
[NOW HURRY UP. YOU ONLY HAVE 7 DAYS TO REACH THE MISTY JADE MOUNTAINS.]
Jiang Chen left the ancient chamber and emerged into the Blackened Gorge. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and red.
He pulled out a map from his spatial ring and located the Misty Jade Mountains—roughly 800 kilometers northeast. At his current cultivation level, it would take him about five days of continuous travel.
"Cutting it close," he muttered, "but doable."
As he began his journey, Jiang Chen failed to notice the ancient formation in the chamber behind him flaring to life one last time before crumbling to dust.
Far away, in a palace built from black jade and surrounded by blood-red mist, a figure sat on a throne made of beast bones.
The figure's eyes—glowing crimson in the darkness—suddenly snapped open.
"The Primordial Beast Sovereign's soul signature just activated," a voice like grinding stone echoed through the hall. "After one thousand years of searching... he has finally reincarnated."
A cruel smile spread across the shadowed face.
"Send word to the other Alliance members. This time, we will not simply kill him—we will make him watch as we destroy everything he builds, one piece at a time."
"And then, we will devour his soul permanently."
[SYSTEM ALERT]
[WARNING: HOSTILE FORCES HAVE DETECTED YOUR AWAKENING]
[ESTIMATED TIME UNTIL THEY LOCATE YOU: 3-6 MONTHS]
[RECOMMENDATION: GROW STRONGER. MUCH STRONGER. VERY QUICKLY.]
[SECONDARY RECOMMENDATION: STOP TRYING TO MAINTAIN LOW PROFILE]
[YOUR ENEMIES ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE ALIVE]
[MIGHT AS WELL BE STRONG WHEN THEY FIND YOU]
Jiang Chen, walking along the road toward the northeast, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
"System... what was that alert?"
[NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT RIGHT NOW]
[JUST FOCUS ON YOUR MISSIONS]
[EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE]
[PROBABLY]
"I really hate you sometimes," Jiang Chen muttered.
[THE FEELING IS MUTUAL, HOST]
[NOW MOVE FASTER. THOSE MOUNTAINS WON'T CLAIM THEMSELVES.]
As Jiang Chen picked up his pace, a new notification appeared:
[HIDDEN QUEST DISCOVERED: THE SOVEREIGN'S RETURN]
Objective: Reclaim your position as the Supreme Beast Sovereign
Progress: 0.001%
Reward: [CLASSIFIED]
Note: This quest cannot be refused or abandoned. Good luck!
Jiang Chen sighed deeply.
His peaceful life was definitely over.