[Please contract a Beast within 1 hour to activate the System.]
[If the time limit is exceeded, the System will automatically become invalid.]
[Countdown begins: 0 hours : 59 minutes : 59 seconds]
Yi Tian stared blankly at the screen of light before him, which only he could see.
"Did I travel to a parallel world? Everyone I know is still here, but there are countless beasts, and everyone is a Beast Tamer?"
"And I come with a System?"
"Today is the day for contracting beasts. The location I'm in right now is... the Fog Mountain Stone Monkey Breeding Base?"
Moments later, after sorting through the flood of information in his brain, Yi Tian was ecstatic.
"A powerful Beast Tamer equals power, fame, and wealth?"
"And as a man with a System, it would be unreasonable not to become a powerful Beast Tamer and reach the peak of life."
After a brief moment of joy, Yi Tian regained his cool.
"I have to complete a contract within an hour."
In this world where the Beast Taming industry was highly developed, there were two common ways to obtain a beast.
The first was to buy one with your own money.
But Yi Tian had no money!
He and his sister, Yi Ying, had grown up depending on each other. Yi Ying was two years older than him and had contracted a beast called a Fluffy Sheep.
The Fluffy Sheep grew wool extremely fast, and the sheared wool could be sold as raw textile material.
For the past two years, the siblings had survived by selling sheep's wool.
They absolutely could not afford to buy a beast.
The other way was a state subsidy, which covered a Beast Tamer's first beast.
High school students would undergo an exam to test their Beast Taming talent.
Based on their talent, the state would provide a range of beasts to choose from.
High talent meant a wide range of choices; low talent meant a small range.
Yi Tian's talent was very poor; he had only one choice: The Stone Monkey.
The Stone Monkey had no combat ability, but after evolving into a Stone Monkey King, it would automatically gain a brewing skill.
The Monkey Wine it brewed could be sold for money.
"So, I really don't have any other choice."
"A Stone Monkey it is. I have a System; I can raise even the most useless beast."
[Countdown: 0 hours : 57 minutes : 54 seconds]
In the time Yi Tian was dazing, more than two minutes had passed. The countdown was urging him to hurry up and contract a Stone Monkey.
Yi Tian stepped forward and began to look for a little monkey that he felt a connection with.
...
"This monkey isn't great. All the other monkeys are gathering fruits and flowers to prepare for awakening their brewing skills in the future, but this one is just playing with a small stick."
"Brewing wine to make money is the Stone Monkey's only value."
"A Stone Monkey unwilling to brew wine has no value."
Several students were pointing and commenting on a small monkey, about half the length of an arm, sitting on the cliff.
Soon, they all shook their heads and left.
The little monkey revealed a somewhat human-like look of rebellion, then continued playing with its stick.
Just because no Beast Tamer wants me? Well, I don't want you either!
Just then, a handsome boy trotted over.
He looked at the little monkey and said one sentence.
"Is that you, Brother Monkey?"
Little Monkey: ???
Strange human.
It turned around, indicating it didn't want to communicate.
But it seemed the human hadn't given up on the desire to communicate. He extended a hand and spoke sincerely.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Yi Tian. Little monkey, I've taken a liking to you. Be my beast."
In high school, every student learned the secret technique of communicating with beasts, so the little monkey naturally understood Yi Tian's meaning.
Although the only beast he could contract was a Stone Monkey, Yi Tian didn't just pick one at random. He had responsibly toured the entire breeding base.
There were hundreds of contractable Stone Monkeys in the base, but this one was the most special.
Seeing it playing with a stick, he couldn't help but think of a certain existence in mythology.
Seeing that time was running out, he steeled his heart. This is the one!
The little monkey was stunned.
Huh? A human is willing to contract me?
A feeling of being accepted emerged. Why do I feel... a little happy?
And then, in a daze, the little monkey signed the contract with Yi Tian.
"Let's call you Da Sheng (Great Sage), how about that?"
Yi Tian had thought carefully about this name; it represented his expectations.
The little monkey was puzzled. It was still in its infancy and couldn't understand complex things yet.
But it didn't reject the name.
Yi Tian rubbed Da Sheng's monkey head, his face full of excitement. Mission accomplished!
In his brain, a mechanical voice was sounding.
[Congratulations to the Host for contracting a beast. Obtained: Simplified Beast Taming System]
[System built-in data panel has been activated]
[Please explore other functions of the System on your own]
Simplified Beast Taming System?
Yi Tian asked tentatively in his mind.
"System, can you introduce your functions?"
Unfortunately, there was no reply.
It seemed he really had to explore it himself.
Simplify, simplify... as the name suggests, doesn't it mean making complex things simple?
And since the System had the words "Beast Taming," Yi Tian speculated:
The System could simplify complex processes related to Beast Taming.
"Let's try it."
Yi Tian took out a cultivation manual issued by the school called the "Spirit Absorption Breathing Method."
Beasts were divided into grades, from low to high: Infancy, Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Diamond.
To increase their level, beasts needed to cultivate techniques to absorb the spiritual energy naturally existing in the world.
"I wonder if the process of cultivating techniques can be simplified."
Yi Tian flipped through the manual. As soon as he closed the book, a notification sound rang out.
[Detected simplifiable cultivation technique. Target: Da Sheng]
[Spend 1000 Dragon Coins to simplify?]
Yi Tian's eyes lit up first. It really works!
Then his face stiffened. Damn, it costs money!
Over the past few years, he had saved a small treasury by working odd jobs. It wasn't much, just over 1000.
Would one simplification use up years of savings?
Yi Tian was rational. No pain, no gain.
Holding back tears, he selected "Yes."
Immediately, a refreshing notification sound rang out.
[Simplification Complete!]
[Spirit Absorption Breathing Method → Drinking Alcohol]
A stream of light immediately popped out from the manual and entered Da Sheng's body.
A trace of confusion appeared on Da Sheng's face, which was smaller than a palm.
Then, through the telepathic connection established by the contract, it conveyed a message.
Yi Tian translated it. The rough meaning was:
"Yi Tian, thirsty, drink alcohol."
Yi Tian was shocked.
Everyone knew that Stone Monkeys were beasts that loved wine as much as their lives.
But he didn't expect the System to directly simplify the cultivation process into drinking alcohol?
Did that mean Da Sheng could increase his realm just by drinking?
Yi Tian couldn't wait to let Da Sheng try it out.
At the gate of the breeding base, there were people selling Monkey Wine.
Gritting his teeth, he took out his last 100 bucks and bought the cheapest bottle of Monkey Wine.
Plop.
A warm sensation came from his shoulder. Turning his head, Yi Tian couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
It was Da Sheng's drool.
Yi Tian popped the cap open and handed it to Da Sheng.