After returning to the firewood shed, Li Changjin curled up in the corner, his body trembling as quiet sobs escaped him.
"Why…? Why…? It's been four years… Cangling… gods… why…" he choked, his voice breaking.
Then—
A voice.
Low. Young. Echoing from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"Li Changjin… you have been chosen… as my successor."
Li's head snapped up. "Who's there?! Show yourself!" he shouted.
"Come… to the cave nearby… there… we will meet…"
The voice faded.
Despite the fear creeping into his bones, Li Changjin stepped out into the night and made his way toward the mountain cave.
The wind howled unnaturally, cold and sharp like claws. Shadows twisted along the path, and the forest seemed… wrong. Watching him.
By the time he arrived, his back was soaked in cold sweat.
The cave loomed before him—massive enough to swallow several full-grown elephants. Inside, it was pitch black. No light. No end in sight.
Yet faint sounds echoed within—growls, whispers… the cries of spirit beasts.
(In Cangling, spirit beasts are essential to cultivation. Beast Armors originate from them, and powerful cultivators can even tame them as companions.)
Seconds passed.
Then—
A sudden gust.
"Whoosh!"
A suit of black armor materialized before him, floating in the air, radiating an ancient, oppressive aura.
"I am the one who spoke to you," the voice returned.
"You… Li Changjin… are my chosen heir."
"Heir?" Li frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"I am… Hei Yuan… ancestor of Beast Armors… no… not all… but most. I am also known as… the God of Beast Armor. From now on… you may call me… Master Beast."
Li blinked. "Master Beast? Hei Yuan? God of Beast Armor? What kind of nonsense is this?"
Before he could think further—
A deafening roar exploded from deep within the cave.
"Not good—it's a peak fourth-tier White Winged Tiger!" Li's face paled. "Seriously?! I just failed my awakening and now I'm about to get eaten?!"
"Do not fear… I will protect you," Master Beast said calmly.
A surge of dark energy erupted.
"The aura of Cangling… this is the first strike—Abyssal Devour!"
The cave trembled violently.
In a single instant… the White Winged Tiger was obliterated.
Gone.
"Li Changjin… absorb this Beast Armor," Master Beast said.
"What?! I'm rank zero, level zero! How can I absorb something like this?!"
"Do not worry… you are the first in history… no… it is too soon to tell you… Just do it."
Li hesitated. Then clenched his teeth.
"…Fine. I'll trust you this once."
He sat down cross-legged, placing his hands on his knees, and began circulating his energy.
Moments later—
"…What?! It worked?!"
His eyes widened in shock.
"This… is only the beginning," Master Beast said.
"Why are you helping me?" Li asked.
A pause.
"…Because you are the only one in this world… the true… supreme being."
Before Li could react, the black armor surged forward, turning into a streak of shadow that shot straight into his mind.
And then—silence.
"Then… let's begin!" Li roared.
He guided the energy, drawing the White Winged Tiger's Beast Armor toward him.
"This… is a left leg armor…" he murmured.
"YES!"
With a burst of white light—and the echo of a tiger's roar—the armor fused into his left leg.
BOOM!
A white book appeared before him, floating in the air.
On its cover were the words:
"Beast Armor Skill Compendium."
Without hesitation, Li opened it.
The pages flipped on their own, stopping precisely at the section for the White Winged Tiger's left leg armor.
First Skill — White Wing Slash:
Unleash ten blade-like strikes with a kick. (More will unlock in the future.)
"Whoa… this skill… it's insane…" Li gasped, barely containing his excitement.
He noticed two more lines beneath it—hidden, sealed.
"Those must be the other skills…" he whispered.
To be continued…