Chapter 1: Divine Ruins Mirage
“Gina, congratulations! You’re amazing, becoming a war beast master.” “Thank you, cousin Arthur, I was just lucky,” replied Gina modestly.
Gina, the girl with the elegant smile, had long brown hair braided into a thick plait that rested over her shoulder. Her delicate features and graceful demeanor gave her the appearance of the girl-next-door, yet with an air of sophistication.
The one congratulating her was a silver-haired youth named Arthur. Despite his handsome and youthful appearance, his smile seemed insincere. He wore luxurious, diamond-studded clothes, exuding the typical air of a pampered scion.
In contrast, Gina wore a simple yet elegant dress, understated and tasteful. Not far behind them was another girl with golden wavy hair, her pretty face shadowed with a hint of jealousy as she gazed at Gina’s back.
Engaged in casual conversation, Gina and Arthur walked towards the grand hall of the castle, the golden-haired girl trailing silently behind them. As they proceeded, a tall, bespectacled boy carrying a food box approached from the opposite direction. His black hair and eyes, along with his refined features and scholarly aura, gave him a gentle appearance.
“Good day, young masters and mistresses,” he greeted with a formal smile, not breaking his stride. Gina acknowledged him with a polite nod, while the other two didn’t even glance at him. The golden-haired girl, in particular, stepped aside with a look of disdain as he passed.
Gina paused and curiously glanced at the boy’s receding figure.
“What’s so interesting about that loser? Come on, cousin, let’s head to the dining hall. Today, you passed the spirit awakening ceremony and became a war beast master. My parents are throwing a celebration for you, and even grandmother is coming,” Arthur urged, eager to continue.
“Cousin Arthur, I’ve only been here a few days, but I’ve run into that person a few times. Who is he?” Gina asked, curiosity piqued.
“That guy? He’s my father’s illegitimate son,” Arthur replied dismissively. “During last year’s spirit awakening ceremony, he didn’t show any aptitude for becoming a war beast master, a warrior, or a mage. He’s just got a good-looking face and is a complete freeloader in the family.”
The one speaking was Eva, the blonde girl, who spoke with blatant disdain. Her expression was full of contempt.
“Eva, watch your mouth. It doesn’t matter what you say about him, but don’t drag our father’s name into it,” Arthur warned.
Eva snorted but said no more, clearly unconcerned by her brother’s reprimand.
This was just a minor interlude. Soon, the three of them arrived at the dining hall, where most of the Wilson family elders were already gathered. The banquet began in earnest...
Ignoring the mocking glances of the servants along the way, Fang Tianyun carried the food box into his room.
The room was plain and simple, with only the necessary furniture, devoid of any luxurious items.
He opened the food box to reveal a meal meant for one. It wasn’t lavish, but it was adequate.
Though a bit lonely.
However, Fang Tianyun enjoyed this solitude; it was perfect for planning his future and... secretly developing his abilities.
After eating and cleaning the food box, Fang Tianyun sat cross-legged on his bed with his eyes closed.
He delved into his mind’s sea of consciousness, where an entirely different world awaited.
An endless plain stretched out, populated by various powerful beasts and birds. In the distance, mist-shrouded mountains stood tall.
In a valley nestled among the mountains was an ancient palace, now in ruins.
The palace appeared weathered and battered, as if it had withstood countless storms, yet it exuded a resilient, primeval aura.
Mountains, plains, and the palace formed a small world within his consciousness, a world Fang Tianyun called the Divine Ruins Mirage.
This was the only thing Fang Tianyun could call his golden cheat in this world.
Yes, Fang Tianyun had been an Earthling in his previous life. He was a self-made entrepreneur whose company was on the verge of going public by the time he was thirty. The night before the IPO, he got drunk at a celebration party, got into his car in a daze, and then there was a blur of crashes and chaos. When it was over, he had crossed over to another world.
He found himself in a place called the Eternal Continent, a fantastical world where technology, magic, and war beasts coexisted. He was reborn as an infant left at the doorstep of the Wilson family in the dead of winter. That baby would have perished from the cold had it not been for the mysterious jade pendant protecting Fang Tianyun's soul. The pendant, which had fallen like a shooting star onto the infant, fused his consciousness with the body, allowing for a perfect rebirth.
The mysterious jade pendant, which Fang Tianyun had found in an antique market in his previous life, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Now, this pendant hung silently on the gate of the palace within the Divine Ruins Mirage.
Fang Tianyun had just reached adulthood, and the Divine Ruins Mirage had only started appearing in his sea of consciousness six years ago. Initially, it was pitch black. He spent years exploring it as if it were an RTS game, uncovering its secrets bit by bit.
The powerful beasts of legend within the Mirage were under his control, though their activities were currently confined to the Mirage itself. The greatest discovery was the palace.
Within the palace lay an ancient battlefield maze, filled with various treasures, including secret manuals, elixirs, and divine weapons. However, the palace gates opened at irregular intervals, ranging from just over four months to six months, and remained open for only one day. When the time was up, Fang Tianyun would be transported out of the palace.
The day the palace doors opened was when Fang Tianyun enjoyed his treasure-hunting spree the most.
Over the years, he had collected many valuable treasures from the palace. This was a secret known only to him.
"It's completely full now. Gathering more spirit energy is meaningless. It seems it's time for me to leave."
Feeling the primal spirit energy compressed to its limit within him, a gleam of determination flashed in Fang Tianyun's eyes, and a confident smile curved on his lips.
The technological development on the Eternal Continent far surpassed that of Blue Star. At least, Blue Star couldn't produce those colossal mechs that stood tens of meters high. Moreover, this world was suffused with a power known as primal spirit, which could be absorbed and utilized through various techniques, giving rise to three professions: Beastmasters, Warriors, and Mages.
Among these professions, Beastmasters were the rarest and most esteemed. Warriors and Mages were often considered secondary options for those who failed to become Beastmasters, as the power of war beasts in this world was overwhelmingly strong.
Many regions remained untouched by human civilization because they were inhabited by formidable war beasts. Some areas constantly battled wild war beasts, and poorly located cities even faced beast tides. As a profession capable of controlling beasts in battle, Beastmasters naturally garnered immense respect.
In human society, there were also large-scale beast combat competitions, ranging from inter-city to international events. Beast combat remained the world's premier competitive sport, with enduring popularity.
Fang Tianyun's first goal was to become a highly regarded Beastmaster!