The moment Tianlei stepped out of the lower chamber, the air changed
Noise returned.
The Beast Hall's upper platform was alive.
Newly contracted beasts stood beside their masters, crouched low with wary obedience. Their presence was deliberate and this was not merely a gathering, but a display of power made visible.
A massive Ironback Hound paced in a tight circle near the center of the platform . Its master stood nearby with one hand resting casually on the hound's reinforced collar, as though daring anyone to question who was in control.
Not far away, a Talon Hawk perched atop a stone pillar, wings folded tight against its body. Its feathers were a muted silver-gray, sharp-edged and sleek.
The same girl with feathers in her hair leaned against the same pillar, eyes half-lidded .
The hawk's gaze, however tracked every movement below with predatory precision, sharp enough to make Tianlei feel as though he were being weighed and found wanting.
He walked through It all in silence.
The Destiny Star stayed close to his leg with its head lowered. Its small body fragile-looking among the monsters on display.
Compared to the Ironback Hound or the Talon hawk , it looked like a decorative ornament mistakenly released into a battlefield.
Tianlei felt it too , the imbalance. The way eyes slid toward him .
The first laugh came quickly.
"Is that… a pet?"
The voice was amused, incredulous. A boy leaned against the railing overlooking the platform, arms crossed with his gaze fixed openly on Tianlei's side.
Another voice chimed in, louder.
"No, no. It's worse. That thing heals people."
For a brief moment, the laughter faltered as if the words needed to be processed then it spread.
"Healing? Beast Hall really lowered the bar, huh? Someone who is a deviator, and that's all he gets . I thought they said he was dangerous."
The words were casual and careless, each one landing with practiced cruelty. Tianlei kept walking.
He did not quicken his pace, nor did he slow.
But that didn't stop the pressure from building.
Bai Kun stepped forward.
The movement was subtle, but it drew attention immediately. His contracted beast was a mutated wolf with dark gray fur and elongated limbs. Its eyes glowed faintly red as it raised its head and bared its teeth at the Destiny Star.
The small creature flinched but it did not run. It pressed closer to Tianlei's leg instead, claws scraping softly against stone.
Bai Kun smirked, eyes sweeping over Tianlei with open disdain.
"I was wondering what kind of joke you'd end up being."
Tianlei didn't stop walking.
"That thing wouldn't survive a day outside the nursery," Bai Kun continued.
"You planning to heal your enemies to death?"
The massive wolf took another step forward, muscles bunching beneath its fur.
Then it stopped.
Tianlei halted.
He turned slowly, looking at Bai Kun not with challenge, but with mild disinterest like someone glancing at a barking dog that had mistaken noise for authority.
"If you're done showing off," Tianlei said calmly, "move. I don't have time for this mediocrity."
The shift was immediate.
Bai Kun's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
"I said move," Tianlei repeated, tone unchanged. "Your ugly creature is blocking the path."
Around them, the surrounding students quieted not completely, but enough for the tension to sharpen.
Bai Kun let out a cold laugh. "You think that scrap of fur will protect you?"
Tianlei looked down, meeting the Destiny Star's gaze. He knelt, placing a hand on its head. The creature trembled faintly beneath his touch, but the tremor steadied as his palm rested there.
Then he looked back up.
"Are you stupid?" Tianlei said evenly. "This is a healing beast, not some ugly creature with teeth. It may be useless for attacking but it's far more valuable than that howling trash ."
The insult landed harder than shouting ever could.
For a fraction of a second, Bai Kun's killing intent spiked .
Then it vanished.
His face drained of color as an invisible pressure crashed down on him, forcing his knees to bend. It felt like a hand closing around his throat, squeezing not enough to kill, but enough to remind.
A voice echoed faintly from behind, calm and cold.
"Disrespecting fellow individuals and academy rules, Bai Kun… are you seeking death?"
Bai Kun staggered back, eyes burning with humiliation. He said nothing.
Tianlei turned.
Xue Ren stood behind him.
Her presence was oppressive not aggressive, but absolute. Her aura pressed outward like a silent tide, heavy enough that even the Destiny Star recoiled instinctively.
Then another voice followed, neutral and authoritative.
"Congratulations on taming your first beast," Instructor zhen said. "But understand this,most beasts agree to contracts only to escape confinement. They are wild. You will need strength to suppress them, which means growing stronger yourselves."
Instructor zhen paused, letting the words settle.
"You will each be bestowed a storage ring capable of housing your beast."
He snapped his fingers.
Several rings appeared in midair, glinting briefly before shooting toward the students. Tianlei caught his without difficulty and slipped it onto his finger.
He extended his palm toward the Destiny Star. Silver light enveloped the small creature, its body dissolving into motes before vanishing into the ring.
Around him, others did the same.
"Lessons begin tomorrow," the instructor continued. "If you are late, you will be considered for severe punishment.
With a wave of his hand, dismissal was granted.
As Tianlei walked away, a burning ache spread through his chest . It was the weight of realization settling deeper.
A Destiny Star wasn't going to take him anywhere. Not in a place like this.
But for now, his immediate concern wasn't his future.
It was Bai Kun.
That earlier insult felt less like words and more like a key that had unlocked a door best left closed.
He walked beside Xue Ren toward the five-storey apartments at the edge of the academy. From here, he could still see the Beast Hall in the distance .
"This is the boys' dormitory. You will have a roommate," she said as they reached the gate.
The gatekeeper rushed forward immediately, opening the entrance and bowing deeply. Tianlei expected her to stop, but she didn't even hesitate.
They climbed to the third floor, walking down a corridor lined with identical doors. When they reached Room 121, she stopped.
"This is your room," she said, opening it.
Tianlei stepped inside, exhaustion crashing over him in full force.
His roommate stood inside, clearly just finished bathing, a towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Their eyes met briefly.
Tianlei assessed the situation and immediately deprioritized conversation. He ignored the man entirely, heading straight for the empty bed and stripping off his armor beneath the uniform.
The smell of sweat was unsurprisingly strong, given the armor's suffocating design.
Without another glance, he headed for the shower.
The water was warm. A luxury for someone like him who grew up in a slum . He let it cascade down his body, washing away grime and tension. It had been over a week since his last proper shower. Even before mysteriously awakening here, he'd gone days without one.
The storage ring glowed faintly through the steam. Waterproof, supposedly but something about it felt… awake.
He stepped out, towel around his waist.
And froze.
Xue Ren sat casually on his bed.
"God—I thought this was the boys' dormitory," Tianlei snapped. "What are you still doing here?"
She rose smoothly, taking deliberate steps toward him.
" I'm your assigned caretaker."
She placed at his his belly.
His roommate sat on his own bed, eyes closed in meditation, oblivious or pretending to be.
"You should work out more," she said casually.
Tianlei scoffed. "If you're bored, want to help me ace my game?"
"Why so angry?" she smiled.
That smile remembered him of the fact that he hadn't seen her even laughing with anybody except acting bossy .
"Well, I'm not those men."
"Then you're no man at all."
His fingers twitched and he unintentionally unleashed his killing intent but he was to angry at those words to even know .
Xue Ren eyes just sharpened on him and his killing intent was crushed instantly.
Pressure slammed him to his knees.
"Such weak killing intent . As a deviator ,I expected more from you."
Tianlei anchored his feet ,forcing himself upright only for the pressure to double.
He clenched his fists. His roommate did not move.
Tianlei raised his head.
"I respect you as a senior," he spat, "not as some untouchable queen. If you want to help a taste of me, then have it "
He drove a finger into his other palm and black blood stained vein burst from his blood, lashing toward her like a living whip.
A spear of about two meters appeared in her right head. She swung it and it cut the vein clean.
"Blood Devil–Eating Vein Grass…" his roommate whispered in shock.
The black vein recoiled, plunging back into Tianlei's palm.
He fell on his knees, pain tearing through hand.
Then silver light erupted from his storage ring and destiny Star emerged.
Frost spread across the floor as its aura flared. Light from its forehead shot into Tianlei's hand, sealing the wound.
Destiny Star turned toward Xue Ren and growled.
She laughed softly. "A Destiny Star healing beast, huh? Impressive."
The creature unleashed a cold frost aura but she simply raised a hand.
" It seems you can manage ."
It didn't retreat until Tianlei spoke.
"Calm down."
Xue Ren extended her hand towards him and he took it despite what just happened .
That's your contracted beast, right?"
"Yeah," Tianlei replied flatly. "A weak pet. Worthless in battle. Go ahead—say whatever you want."
She chuckled.
"I say little, actions are better than words . But as a Beast Master, you'll have more chances to contract stronger beasts. Still, this little one has… unique value."
"what value could that be?"
"Destiny Star healing beasts are born from the essence of heaven and earth," she explained.
"They possess unparalleled healing abilities, exceptional mental-force support, and remarkable agility."
Tianlei's eyes widened with awe but for someone like him seeking strength . A beast that concentrates on the well being of the body was of no use in battle .
Tianlei's face fell but he forced himself to be appreciative for the information.
"Thanks for the enlightenment "
The heavens are absolute, lawful and judgmental," Xue Ren continued.
"Destiny Stars have extraordinary abilities but those gifts take centuries to manifest, and no one has that kind of time in a world driven by endless battles and reliance on pills."
Tianlei's eyes narrowed.
"The heavens being absolute, lawful, judgmental… those are principles of Buddhism, Daoism, Taoism. So destiny stars are healing beasts. "
Xue Ren snapped her fingers.
"Indeed , they're spirit beasts which don't rely on genes like most beasts and humans to grow stronger ."
"But if you wish to make the your destiny star beast stronger including yourself ,you will have to walk a different path ."
Her smile sharpened.
"You'll have to abandon Gene Evolution entirely and focus on soul cultivation ."