Xiao Yan stepped out of his meditation chamber and into the bright morning sun. The Xiao Clan estate was vast, built into the side of a lush mountain where the Spirit Qi was naturally denser. Elaborate pagodas with sweeping eaves of red tile rose above the treeline, connected by winding stone paths and arched bridges. It was a place of immense wealth and power.
He kept his head down as he walked. He didn't want to draw attention to himself. For the last sixteen years, the "blind" version of him had been a quiet, withdrawn shadow. Most people in the clan simply looked past him as if he were a piece of furniture. That was fine with him.
He followed a path that led away from the central courtyard toward the western edge of the estate. The air here began to change.
The sweet scent of blooming plum blossoms was replaced by the earthy, musky smell of animals and wet hay. This was the Spirit Beast Pavilion, the heart of the clan's logistical power.
In this world, beasts were categorized by their utility and combat prowess. A cultivator without a mount or a combat partner was seen as incomplete.
The Xiao Clan specialized in breeding Wind-Riding Wolves, creatures known for their speed and loyalty. As Xiao Yan passed the main stables, he saw several inner disciples training with their wolves.
'They look impressive, but they're just basic tools,' Xiao Yan thought.
He focused his mind and whispered, "System, scan the nearest wolf."
A screen flickered into his vision, hovering over a large grey wolf with glowing green eyes.
[Scan Result]
[Species: Wind-Riding Wolf]
[Grade: Common (Mid-tier)]
[Bloodline: 12% Highland Wolf]
[Potential: C]
[Stats: Strength 8.2, Agility 12.5, Constitution 7.4]
[Evaluation: A standard mount. Its growth has reached its limit.]
Xiao Yan moved on. He wasn't interested in the "standard" beasts. If he wanted to survive the inevitable arrival of the protagonist, he needed something that defied logic.
He walked past the high-quality stables where the elite beasts were kept in clean, spacious pens. He headed further back, where the smell grew sharper and the environment more neglected. This was the "Discard Pile."
This section was reserved for beasts that were born with defects, those that were too old to serve, or creatures captured in the wild that refused to be tamed. The cages here were rusted, and the bedding was thin. The stable hands rarely visited this area, leaving the creatures to rot or be sold off to traveling merchants for a pittance.
Xiao Yan slowly walked down the row of cages. He scanned everything he saw.
[Species: Iron-Skin Boar. Potential: D. Evaluation: Too stubborn for labor.]
[Species: Three-Eyed Crow. Potential: E. Evaluation: Blind in two eyes. Useless.]
He felt a pang of sympathy for these creatures. They were cast aside just like the original owner of his body. He was looking for a needle in a haystack, and his head was starting to ache from the constant scanning. He stopped in front of a small, cramped cage at the very end of the row, hidden under a tattered tarp.
Inside was a small, shivering ball of matted fur. It looked like a fox, but its coat was a dull, sickly grey rather than the vibrant colors usually found in spirit foxes. It was incredibly thin, its ribs visible through its skin. One of its ears was notched, and its eyes were clouded with film. It didn't even look up when he approached.
"System, scan this one," he muttered.
The blue screen took a moment longer to load this time. When it finally appeared, the text was a deep, shimmering gold that stood out against the usual neon blue.
[Scan Result]
[Species: Faded Star-Fox (Degenerated)]
[Grade: Trash (Current) / Divine (Sealed)]
[Bloodline: 0.01% Ancient Celestial Devourer (Dormant)]
[Potential: SSS (Hidden)]
[Stats: Strength 0.4, Agility 0.6, Constitution 0.3, Soul Force 5.1]
[Evolution Path: Star-Eating Fox -> Moon-Veil Fox -> Celestial Void Devourer]
[Condition: Severe Malnutrition, Poisoned Bloodline, Soul Fracture]
Xiao Yan felt his breath catch in his throat. His hands shook slightly as he read the "Potential" section over and over again. SSS. In every game or story he had ever known, that was the peak. This tiny, dying animal was a god in the making.
'The clan elders must have seen its low physical stats and assumed it was just a failed mutation,' Xiao Yan thought.
The fox let out a weak, wheezing cough. It looked like it wouldn't last another week in this cage. Xiao Yan realized that the high Soul Force stat was likely why it was still alive. It was holding onto its life through sheer mental willpower, even as its body failed.
He looked around to make sure no stable hands were watching. He reached out and touched the cold iron bars of the cage. The fox flinched, pulling back into the shadows, its clouded eyes reflecting a sliver of the morning light.
"I know how you feel," he said softly. "Nobody expects anything from you. They think you're a waste of space. But I see what you really are."
The fox didn't move, but its ears twitched at the sound of his voice.
Xiao Yan checked his own status again. He remembered the class description. He could tame beasts and trigger evolutions by sacrificing his own attributes. It was a high price to pay, especially when he was already so weak, but he knew he wouldn't find an opportunity like this again.
"System, what do I need to tame this Faded Star-Fox?"
[Taming Guide: Faded Star-Fox]
[Difficulty: Extreme (Due to Soul Fracture)]
[Requirement 1: Establish a Soul Link. (Requires 2.0 Soul Force sacrifice)]
[Requirement 2: Feed with Spirit-Rich blood. (Requires user's blood)]
[Requirement 3: Clear the Poisoned Bloodline. (Requires Moon-Grass or System Purification)]
Xiao Yan winced. Losing 2.0 Soul Force would cut his current stat in half. It would make him feel exhausted and might even hinder his own cultivation speed. But then he looked at the "Potential" rank again.
'If I wait until I'm stronger, this thing will be dead. If I don't take this risk, then...'
He made his decision. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small jade knife he had brought for protection. He didn't hesitate. He made a small cut on his palm and let the blood drip onto a piece of dry bread he had carried from breakfast. He pushed the bread through the bars.
The fox sniffed the air. Its nose wrinkled as it smelled the blood. Slowly, painfully, it dragged itself forward. It looked at Xiao Yan for a long moment, as if judging his soul. Then, it began to eat.
"I'm going to get you out of here," Xiao Yan promised.
He felt a strange tugging sensation in the back of his mind. The System interface began to glow with a soft, pulsing light.
[Warning: Proceeding with Soul Link will result in permanent attribute reduction until regained through cultivation. Do you wish to proceed?]
Xiao Yan gripped the bars of the cage. "Do it!"
A golden thread of light erupted from his forehead and shot into the fox. The creature let out a high-pitched yip, its body arching as the connection was forged. Xiao Yan felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. It felt like someone had reached into his head and pulled out a piece of his very being. His knees buckled, and he had to lean against the cage to stay upright.
[Soul Link Successful.]
[Bond Established: Unnamed Faded Star-Fox.]
[Current Attributes Updated.]
[Soul Force: 4.0 -> 2.0]
The fox stopped shivering. It looked at him, and for the first time, the film in its eyes seemed to clear just a little. It crept toward the front of the cage and licked the blood from his palm.
Xiao Yan smiled despite the throbbing pain in his head.