Chapter 1: The Day Heaven Mocked Him
Sub-Chapter 1: Death Beneath the Heavenly Throne
The sky was red.
Not the red of sunset. Not the red of fire.
It was the red of blood.
Lin Tianyu stood at the peak of the Heavenly Throne, his long black robes torn, stained, and fluttering in the violent wind. Lightning split the sky above him. The great formation beneath his feet was cracking, ancient symbols shattering one by one.
Below the mountain, thousands of beast tamers watched.
Some with fear.
Some with hatred.
Some with cold satisfaction.
Heavenly Beast Sovereign.
That was the name they once shouted with pride.
Now they shouted something else.
"Traitor!"
"Demon!"
"Kill him!"
Lin Tianyu laughed.
It was not a mad laugh. It was calm. Deep. Almost amused.
Behind him floated his contracted beast — a massive creature that covered half the sky. Its body shimmered like a galaxy, translucent and filled with drifting stars. Endless tendrils stretched outward, each one glowing with ancient runes.
The Heavenly Void Sovereign.
The strongest beast to ever exist.
And yet… it was dying.
A black spear pierced through its core, sealing its power. Dark chains wrapped around its body, tightening with every breath it took.
Lin Tianyu slowly turned his head.
Standing at the center of the sealing formation were five figures.
His most trusted allies.
His closest friends.
The ones who had followed him from nothing.
Elder Fang.
Sect Master Zhao.
Lady Red Veil.
Han Zifeng.
And—
Su Yao.
His eyes paused on her.
She did not meet his gaze.
Her silver fox beast stood beside her, trembling. Not from fear of him.
From guilt.
"So," Lin Tianyu said softly, his voice carrying across the mountain without effort. "This is how it ends."
Elder Fang stepped forward, his white beard flowing, eyes cold.
"You grew too strong."
Sect Master Zhao added, "The Heavenly Beast must belong to the world. Not to one man."
Han Zifeng smiled faintly. "You were always ahead of me. I hated that."
Lady Red Veil's lips curved. "Power that cannot be controlled must be destroyed."
Finally, Su Yao spoke.
Her voice was steady.
"You changed."
The wind howled louder.
Lin Tianyu looked at her for a long moment.
Then he smiled.
"No," he said quietly. "I remembered."
The sky trembled.
The Heavenly Void Sovereign let out a deep, ancient cry that shook the heavens. The black spear began to pulse, draining more and more of its life.
Lin Tianyu felt it.
The bond between him and his beast was breaking.
His cultivation was collapsing.
His meridians cracked like shattered glass.
Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
But he did not kneel.
He stepped forward instead.
"You think you are killing a tyrant," he said calmly. "But you are killing the only man who knew what is coming."
The five figures frowned.
In the distant sky, a dark crack began to spread.
A crack none of them noticed.
Lin Tianyu did.
He remembered.
Twenty years from now.
The Beast Calamity.
When ancient creatures beyond this world would descend.
When sects would fall in days.
When continents would sink.
When billions would die.
In his first life, he rose too late.
He became strong—but not strong enough to stop it.
And when he finally found the truth behind the Heavenly Void Sovereign…
They betrayed him.
Because they feared him more than the coming disaster.
Fools.
The black spear flared with blinding light.
The sealing formation activated completely.
Chains pierced through Lin Tianyu's body, locking his cultivation.
His knees almost buckled.
Almost.
Han Zifeng lifted his hand.
"End it."
The sky filled with killing intent.
Thousands of beasts roared.
Countless attacks gathered into one massive wave of destruction.
Lin Tianyu closed his eyes.
Not in surrender.
In decision.
"If heaven gives me another chance," he whispered inside his heart, "I will not be merciful."
His consciousness sank deep into his dantian.
Deep into the bond with his beast.
There, at the very core, beneath layers of sealed power, was something small.
Something that did not match the mighty galaxy-like form the world saw.
A tiny flicker.
A translucent, fragile shape.
Like a drifting jellyfish made of light.
The true origin of the Heavenly Void Sovereign.
Not born strong.
Not born grand.
It had once been weak.
Ignored.
Mocked.
Just like him.
"I was wrong before," Lin Tianyu murmured in his soul. "I forced your evolution. I rushed your path."
The tiny jellyfish pulsed gently.
As if responding.
The massive destructive wave descended.
The world turned white.
In that final moment, Lin Tianyu smiled.
Then he shattered his own core.
Boom.
The Heavenly Throne exploded.
Light swallowed the mountain.
Space cracked.
Time twisted.
The dark crack in the sky widened violently.
And everything went silent.
—
Water dripped.
Slowly.
Steadily.
Lin Tianyu's eyes snapped open.
He inhaled sharply.
Air.
Normal air.
Not filled with blood.
Not filled with killing intent.
He was lying on a wooden floor.
The ceiling above him was simple.
Old.
Familiar.
He sat up instantly.
His body felt light.
Too light.
No overwhelming cultivation.
No broken meridians.
No collapsing beast bond.
He looked at his hands.
Young.
Unscarred.
His breathing grew slower.
Calmer.
He turned his head toward the bronze mirror at the side of the room.
A sixteen-year-old boy stared back at him.
Sharp eyes.
Clear skin.
Unbroken spirit.
Lin Tianyu stood up slowly.
He walked to the window and pushed it open.
Morning light poured in.
Outside, he heard excited voices.
"You're going to awaken today!"
"I heard Zhao Ming summoned a Flame Tiger!"
"My brother said the academy elders will personally watch this year!"
Awakening Day.
Lin Tianyu's fingers tightened slightly on the window frame.
He remembered this day.
The day every youth in the city would awaken their contracted beast.
The day his fate was sealed.
The day he summoned—
He stopped.
His heartbeat quickened slightly.
He rushed to his desk.
On it was a calendar.
The date was clear.
Exactly twenty years before his death.
He exhaled slowly.
He was back.
Not in another body.
Not in another world.
His own body.
Before everything began.
He closed his eyes for a moment.
Memories flooded him.
The humiliation.
The laughter.
The whispers.
"The weakest beast in history."
"A useless jellyfish."
"A disgrace to beast tamers."
In his first life, he had believed them.
He had tried to abandon it.
Tried to force it to evolve unnaturally.
Tried to compare it to others.
He was young.
Proud.
Impatient.
He did not understand what he truly had.
But now—
A slow smile appeared on his face.
This time, he knew.
A knock came at his door.
"Tianyu! Hurry up!" a familiar voice called. "The awakening ceremony is about to begin!"
He recognized that voice.
Chen Wei.
His childhood friend.
Alive.
Still alive.
Lin Tianyu walked to the door and opened it.
Chen Wei stood there, grinning widely.
"Nervous?" Chen Wei laughed. "Don't worry. Even if you awaken something weak, you can still join the outer academy."
Lin Tianyu looked at him quietly.
Chen Wei blinked. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
Lin Tianyu smiled slightly.
"Nothing," he said. "Let's go."
He stepped outside.
The sky above the city was bright and clear.
Peaceful.
So peaceful it almost felt fragile.
Lin Tianyu looked up at it.
In twenty years, that sky would crack open.
But not this time.
This time, he would prepare from the very beginning.
This time, he would awaken it properly.
And this time—
When heaven tried to mock him…
He would laugh last.Chapter 1: The Day Heaven Mocked Him
Sub-Chapter 2: The Beast No One Wanted
The Awakening Plaza was already full when Lin Tianyu arrived.
Hundreds of youths stood in neat rows, each wearing academy robes, each trying to look calm. Some whispered confidently. Some hid their nervousness behind laughter. Parents and elders filled the outer seats, their eyes filled with hope.
At the center of the plaza stood a massive crystal pillar.
It was taller than three men stacked together and glowed with a faint blue light. Ancient runes circled its surface, moving slowly like drifting clouds.
That was the Awakening Pillar.
The moment a youth placed their hand on it, their soul would resonate with the Beast Realm.
Whatever creature answered that call would become their life-bound beast.
No one could choose.
No one could refuse.
Lin Tianyu looked at the pillar quietly.
He remembered standing here twenty years ago.
He remembered the way people laughed.
He remembered lowering his head.
This time, he did not lower it.
"Tianyu!"
Chen Wei waved from the third row. "Over here!"
Lin Tianyu walked over calmly.
Chen Wei leaned closer. "I heard Han Zifeng is awakening today too."
Lin Tianyu's eyes shifted slightly.
Of course he was.
In this timeline, Han Zifeng would awaken a Thunder Tiger. A rare beast. Fast, aggressive, powerful. It would immediately place him among the top talents of the city.
Chen Wei continued whispering, "They say the sect elders are watching him closely. He might even enter the Inner Academy directly."
Lin Tianyu gave a small smile. "Good for him."
Chen Wei frowned. "You're strangely calm today."
Before Lin Tianyu could respond, a loud voice echoed across the plaza.
"Silence!"
An elder in gray robes stepped forward onto the platform beside the crystal pillar.
Elder Fang.
His posture was straight. His eyes sharp.
In this timeline, he was still respected. Trusted. Seen as a pillar of the academy.
Lin Tianyu looked at him without emotion.
Betrayer.
Elder Fang raised his hand.
"Today marks the Awakening Ceremony of this year's youths. Remember this: your beast does not define your limit. Your will does."
Lin Tianyu almost laughed.
He had heard those same words before.
Empty.
One by one, names were called.
The first youth stepped forward nervously and placed his hand on the pillar.
The crystal flared.
A projection appeared in the air.
A Stone Armored Boar.
Decent defense. Average potential.
Polite applause followed.
Next.
A Wind Sparrow.
Good speed. Weak attack.
Next.
A Fire Wolf.
Stronger applause.
Excitement began to rise as better beasts appeared.
Then—
"Han Zifeng!"
The crowd grew louder immediately.
Han Zifeng walked forward confidently, hands behind his back. His expression was calm, but pride showed clearly in his eyes.
He placed his hand on the pillar.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then thunder exploded.
The sky above the plaza darkened slightly.
Electric sparks shot out from the crystal.
Gasps filled the air.
A massive tiger formed in the projection above—its body wrapped in lightning, eyes glowing with power.
"Thunder Tiger!"
"A rare-grade beast!"
"Incredible!"
The applause was thunderous.
Sect elders in the high seats nodded approvingly.
Han Zifeng slowly withdrew his hand, a faint smile on his lips as he turned to face the crowd.
His gaze briefly swept across the rows.
It paused for half a second on Lin Tianyu.
Then moved away.
Chen Wei swallowed. "That's… terrifying."
Lin Tianyu simply watched.
Yes. In his past life, this was the moment the gap began.
But not this time.
More names were called.
Excitement continued.
Then—
"Lin Tianyu."
The plaza quieted slightly.
He was not famous like Han Zifeng.
But he was known.
He had once ranked highly in written theory exams.
Some expected something decent from him.
Lin Tianyu stepped forward calmly.
Each step was steady.
He stopped before the crystal pillar.
The surface reflected his face back at him.
Young.
Composed.
Behind him, whispers began.
"Think he'll awaken something strong?"
"He studies too much. Maybe a scholar-type beast."
Lin Tianyu raised his hand.
For a brief moment, he closed his eyes.
He did not push his soul outward forcefully like last time.
He did not try to dominate the resonance.
Instead, he relaxed.
He allowed his consciousness to sink gently.
To listen.
Deep within, he felt it.
A faint pulse.
Soft.
Almost shy.
He placed his palm against the crystal.
The pillar lit up.
But unlike Han Zifeng's violent lightning—
This glow was faint.
Very faint.
The projection formed slowly.
Translucent.
Small.
Murmurs began immediately.
"What is that?"
"Is that… floating?"
"It looks like… a jellyfish?"
The projection became clearer.
A tiny, almost transparent creature drifted in the air. Its body was round and soft. Thin tendrils waved gently beneath it.
No aura.
No pressure.
No elemental fluctuation.
Just… small.
Silence lasted for three seconds.
Then laughter exploded across the plaza.
"A jellyfish?!"
"What kind of land beast tamer awakens a water jellyfish?"
"Is that even combat-capable?"
"That's worse than a Wind Sparrow!"
Chen Wei stared in disbelief. "Tianyu…"
Even the elders frowned.
Elder Fang's brows furrowed slightly.
"A Spirit Drifting Jelly," one elder muttered. "Lowest-grade. No attack specialization."
Han Zifeng crossed his arms, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Lin Tianyu slowly opened his eyes.
Above him, the tiny jellyfish projection floated quietly.
Just like before.
He heard every whisper.
Every laugh.
He felt the familiar weight of ridicule pressing down.
In his first life, his face had burned with shame.
His hands had trembled.
He had wanted to disappear.
This time—
He smiled.
Not widely.
Just slightly.
The tiny jellyfish pulsed once.
Softly.
As if responding to his emotion.
Elder Fang cleared his throat. "Lin Tianyu. Beast classification: Low-grade support type. Minimal combat potential."
More whispers.
"Support? Support what?"
"It can't even shock someone."
Lin Tianyu withdrew his hand calmly.
The projection faded.
As he turned around, he caught sight of Su Yao standing among the later candidates.
Her silver eyes were observing him quietly.
Not mocking.
Not laughing.
Just watching.
Interesting.
He returned to his row.
Chen Wei leaned close. "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Lin Tianyu asked lightly.
"Well… it's just… that beast…"
"It's fine," Lin Tianyu replied calmly.
On the high platform, Elder Fang announced, "Those with low-grade beasts will be assigned to the Outer Academy division."
Soft disappointment rippled through the crowd.
Outer Academy.
The place for those with little potential.
The ones no one expected much from.
In his previous life, this announcement had crushed him.
Today, it meant nothing.
Because he knew something none of them did.
That "Spirit Drifting Jelly" was not complete.
It was sealed.
Deep within it lay a sleeping origin.
A Heaven-Origin Beast.
One that required patience.
Understanding.
And emotional resonance—not forced evolution.
The ceremony continued.
Su Yao was called.
She stepped forward gracefully.
When she placed her hand on the pillar, silver light bloomed.
A Moon Fox appeared—elegant, beautiful, radiating illusion energy.
Applause filled the plaza again.
A high-grade beast.
She withdrew her hand and turned.
For a brief second, her eyes met Lin Tianyu's.
He did not look away.
She hesitated slightly.
Then returned to her place.
After the final name was called, Elder Fang raised his voice.
"The Awakening Ceremony is complete. Academy placements will begin tomorrow."
The crowd slowly began to disperse.
Laughter still followed Lin Tianyu as he walked.
"Jellyfish Tamer!"
"Be careful not to dry out!"
Chen Wei looked angry on his behalf, but Lin Tianyu simply walked forward calmly.
Inside his chest, he felt it again.
That soft pulse.
The tiny jellyfish spirit had already formed within his dantian.
Small.
Fragile.
Quiet.
He closed his eyes briefly as he walked.
In his mind, he spoke gently.
"This time… I won't rush you."
The jellyfish's tendrils flickered faintly.
Almost like it understood.
Lin Tianyu opened his eyes again.
Above him, the sky was still clear.
But far beyond sight—
Something ancient stirred.
And somewhere deep within the Beast Realm—
A sealed presence shifted… just slightly.Chapter 1: The Day Heaven Mocked Him
Sub-Chapter 3: Laughter in the Outer Court
The next morning, the Outer Academy courtyard was louder than a marketplace.
Groups of newly awakened tamers gathered beneath the stone arches, showing off their beasts like trophies. Fire flickered. Wind blades sliced the air. A stone boar smashed into a training dummy while its master laughed proudly.
Lin Tianyu walked through the gate without hurry.
The academy was exactly as he remembered—gray stone paths, training arenas carved into the earth, banners of the sect hanging high. Twenty years ago, he had entered this place with a heavy heart.
Today, he entered like a man returning to a board already set for his game.
"Look who it is."
The voice came from the right.
Three boys stood near the weapon racks. One of them, tall with narrow eyes and a crooked grin, stepped forward.
Luo Jian.
In his previous life, Luo Jian had made it his hobby to mock Lin Tianyu daily.
"Have you brought your sea pet?" Luo Jian smirked. "Careful. The sun might dry it out."
The other two laughed loudly.
Lin Tianyu stopped in front of them, calm.
"I'll remember this joke," he said lightly.
Luo Jian blinked. He had expected embarrassment. Not this.
"Remember it? What will you do, splash me?"
More laughter.
Around them, other Outer Academy students turned to watch. News traveled fast. The boy with the jellyfish had become a minor legend overnight.
Lin Tianyu did not respond further. He simply walked past them toward the central training board.
Behind him, Luo Jian muttered, "Acting proud with that trash beast…"
Lin Tianyu ignored him.
At the center of the courtyard stood Instructor Gao, a broad-shouldered man with a scar across his chin.
He scanned the gathered students.
"Listen carefully," Instructor Gao's voice boomed. "The Outer Academy is not a playground. Low-grade beasts do not mean you are useless. But if you act useless, you will remain useless."
Some students straightened.
Others looked doubtful.
"Today," Gao continued, "we test your basic resonance. Summon your beasts. Maintain them for ten breaths. If your connection collapses before that, you will train separately."
One by one, beasts appeared in flashes of light.
Wind Sparrow.
Stone Boar.
Fire Wolf.
Even a Vine Serpent slithered out from someone's shadow.
The courtyard filled with energy.
Lin Tianyu closed his eyes briefly and reached inward.
He did not force.
He did not command.
He invited.
A soft glow formed before him.
The tiny jellyfish appeared, floating quietly in the air.
It was smaller than most beasts present.
Its body was almost transparent, sunlight passing through it like glass.
Immediately, whispers began again.
"It's so small."
"Can that even bite?"
"Looks like it would lose in a puddle."
Lin Tianyu ignored them.
Inside, he felt the bond.
Weak, but stable.
In his previous life, he had tried to flood it with spiritual energy immediately, trying to make it evolve faster.
The result had been backlash.
This time, he kept his breathing steady.
Ten breaths passed.
The jellyfish continued floating.
No collapse.
No instability.
Instructor Gao's eyes paused on him for a moment.
"Hm."
Most students succeeded in the basic test.
A few failed and were sent aside for remedial control training.
After the resonance test came the practical trial.
"Pairs," Instructor Gao ordered. "Light sparring only. No lethal force. Test your beast's response speed."
Students quickly chose opponents.
Luo Jian stepped forward with a grin.
"Jellyfish. Spar with me."
His beast—a Razor Fang Dog—appeared beside him. Lean. Muscular. Sharp teeth glinting.
Murmurs rose.
"That's unfair."
"It'll be over instantly."
Lin Tianyu looked at Luo Jian calmly.
"Fine."
They stepped into the training circle.
Instructor Gao folded his arms. "Begin."
Luo Jian wasted no time.
"Razor Fang, charge!"
The dog lunged forward, claws digging into stone.
Lin Tianyu did not move immediately.
Inside, he spoke gently.
"Float higher."
The jellyfish drifted upward, just out of snapping range.
Laughter erupted.
"It's running!"
"Of course it's running!"
The Razor Fang Dog leaped.
Lin Tianyu's eyes sharpened slightly.
"Now."
The jellyfish's tendrils flickered faintly.
For the briefest second, the air shimmered.
The dog froze mid-air.
Just for a heartbeat.
Its muscles locked as if struck by invisible threads.
Then it crashed awkwardly to the ground.
Silence.
The paralysis lasted less than a second.
But it happened.
Luo Jian blinked in confusion. "What was that?"
"Again!" he shouted angrily.
The dog charged once more.
This time, Lin Tianyu stepped slightly to the side.
"Lower. Brush."
The jellyfish descended just enough that one thin tendril grazed the dog's ear.
The dog yelped.
Its body trembled.
It stumbled, movements slightly delayed.
Not strong.
Not dramatic.
But real.
Instructor Gao's eyes narrowed.
"Enough."
He stepped forward.
Luo Jian looked ready to argue, but Gao's glare silenced him.
"Minor neural interference," Gao said slowly. "Low intensity. But precise."
Students exchanged confused looks.
"Interference?"
"With that thing?"
Luo Jian pulled his beast back, embarrassed.
Lin Tianyu calmly withdrew the jellyfish.
It dissolved into light and returned to his dantian.
Inside, he felt the tiny pulse again.
Satisfied.
It had not used raw power.
It had used control.
In his previous life, he had never noticed this subtle ability until much later.
Now, he saw it clearly.
It did not need brute strength.
It affected nerves.
Mind.
Timing.
Instructor Gao looked at Lin Tianyu for a long moment.
"Control matters," he said to the group. "Raw strength without control is nothing."
The class resumed sparring.
But the laughter toward Lin Tianyu was quieter now.
Not gone.
Just uncertain.
After training ended, students began leaving in small groups.
Luo Jian shot Lin Tianyu one last glare before walking off.
Chen Wei hurried over.
"I saw that!" he whispered excitedly. "It froze the dog for a second!"
"Only for a second," Lin Tianyu replied calmly.
"That's still amazing!"
Lin Tianyu looked toward the distant Inner Academy buildings.
He knew this was only the beginning.
Minor paralysis would not be enough.
Not for what was coming.
As the courtyard emptied, a figure approached.
Su Yao.
Her Moon Fox padded silently beside her.
She stopped a few steps away.
"You controlled it well," she said.
Her voice was calm, almost cool.
Lin Tianyu met her gaze.
"Thank you."
She studied him carefully.
"You're not upset."
"Should I be?"
"You were mocked yesterday."
Lin Tianyu gave a faint smile.
"Mockery doesn't change reality."
She seemed to consider that.
"The interference ability," she continued. "That's not normal for a Spirit Drifting Jelly."
He tilted his head slightly. "You noticed."
She nodded once.
"My fox senses spiritual fluctuations. Yours was… different."
Interesting.
Even in this timeline, she was perceptive.
Lin Tianyu stepped slightly closer.
"Then keep watching," he said quietly.
For a moment, something unreadable passed through her eyes.
Then she turned away.
"We'll see."
She walked back toward the Inner Academy path.
Lin Tianyu watched her go.
In his past life, she had stood against him at the end.
But that story was not written yet.
He looked down at his hand.
Inside his dantian, the tiny jellyfish floated gently.
"Today was only the first breath," he murmured inwardly.
The tendrils flickered.
Above the academy, clouds slowly drifted across the sun.
Far beyond the visible sky, something ancient shifted again.
A seal, buried deep within another realm, trembled faintly.
And in the Outer Academy courtyard, where laughter had once crushed a young boy's spirit—
A different future had quietly begun.