Central Continent, Northern area, Norway City.
The streets were so bustling that one could barely hear the sound of their own footsteps. It was the heart of winter—most houses were blanketed in thick layers of snow. Even the occasional winter sunlight couldn't melt it. However, the roads told a different story. Forget about snow—not even a single drop of water was seen on them. It was as if some powerful formation kept the paths dry and clean.
A handsome teenager could be seen walking alone on the pedestrian path, heading in the direction of a busy-looking hotel. His eyes were calm, steps unhurried, but his aura gave off a faint chill—clearly, he wasn't an ordinary person.
All around him, groups of teenagers chattered excitedly, and families with young cultivators in tow bustled about. From their expressions, it was evident—they were all here for the same purpose: to participate in the Supreme Beast Sect Assignment.
"Looks like this is going to be fun," the teenager thought with a small grin.
This young man was none other than Avinash. He had also come to join the Supreme Beast Sect, though he didn't particularly like it. In this sect, one had to rely on a beast companion to fight. In the upper Realm, such sects rarely existed—most were suppressed by powerful beast clans who monopolized beast cultivation.
As he arrived near the entrance, A golden palm-shaped board floated in the air above the gate, with the welcome written on it.
Two middle-aged guards stood silently on either side of the gate. Avinash didn't even spare them a glance and walked straight inside, exuding an air of indifference. It was clear—he didn't consider them worth his attention.
Upon entering the hotel, he found an empty corner on the first floor and calmly took a seat. He then called out to a nearby waiter in a medium voice—neither too loud nor too soft.
The waiter arrived promptly and asked politely, "Sir, what can I do for you?"
"Bring me the menu," Avinash replied casually.
After glancing over the menu, he ordered a few dishes he liked. Just as the waiter walked away, a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
[Ding! Host, a Son of Fortune has been detected nearby.]
"Oh? A Son of Luck?" Avinash raised an eyebrow, surprised.
[Yes, Host. After the latest system update—I can detect them]
"Hm, not bad. I'll need more updates," he replied lazily.
[Ding! A Daughter of Luck has also been detected.]
"Oh? Another one? System, tell me—how do I obtain the Daughter of Luck? Hunting? Stealing her fate?"
[Host, it's a bit more complicated. Daughters of Luck are usually tied to Sons of Luck and depend heavily on them. Very few are independent. To obtain their luck, you must first break their dependency and change their fate.]
"In other words, I have to make them strong and independent women?" Avinash smirked. "System, are you secretly a feminist?"
As he chuckled to himself, the waiter returned with his order, placing the dishes carefully on the table before leaving with a polite nod.
Avinash didn't wait long. He washed his hands and was just about to start eating when—
"You beggar! You can't come in here!"
A loud voice echoed from the entrance of the hotel.
Everyone turned to look. A young man, dressed in very simple, worn-out clothes, was trying to enter. He looked like a country bumpkin, probably from some remote region. The guards at the entrance blocked his way.
"Hey, you lot! Do you even know who I am? How dare you servants stop me?"
The voice belonged to the teenager who was being stopped at the entrance. His name—ye Chen.
Seeing the disrespectful attitude of the guards, his face turned dark with fury. His voice carried pride as he continued coldly, "My status is far above what your eyes can comprehend."
"Oh? You must be the emperor of some imaginary kingdom then, huh?"
The guard sneered, looking him up and down. "Wearing such tattered clothes and still showing off? At least buy yourself decent robes first!"
The people gathered around the hotel lobby burst into laughter. Even some young masters and noble daughters watching from the balconies chuckled, treating the scene as a lighthearted joke.
"Go away, beggar. This isn't your village tea shop, you know?"
"So shameless, trying to use 'status' with such appearance. Pfft—"
Their words were meant to provoke, and they succeeded.
At first, ye Chen thought he was being refused entry because of his worn clothes—something he could accept. But now he realized these people were deliberately mocking him. A trace of rage flashed through his eyes, and his spiritual energy began to stir as he clenched his fists. Just as he was about to retaliate—
A cold, yet melodious voice rang out from the third floor.
"Let him in. I know him."
The voice was not loud, but it carried immense weight. The moment it echoed through the hotel, the lively atmosphere fell silent. Everyone turned their heads toward the source.
Even Avinash, who had just begun enjoying his meal, paused and looked up curiously.
The crowd followed the voice—and what they saw left them utterly speechless.
A graceful, fairy-like woman stood beside a carved jade railing. Her robes shimmered with the light of spiritual silk, her bearing regal and dignified. But what shocked the audience the most was her identity.
She was none other than the Eldest Princess of the Patliputra Dynasty—Princess Smriti.
One of the most prestigious and powerful dynasties in the region. A single word from her could shake an entire city.
The guards stiffened, their faces going pale. Even the so-called young master of Norway City, who had been secretly watching from the side, showed a complex expression.
"Hmph. Sons of Luck... wherever they go, they stir up trouble and attract beauties."
Avinash smirked slightly, his Celestial Reincarnation Eyes glowing faintly. "And with beauties come jealous rivals. A good show is about to begin."
After all, everyone in the city knew—the young master of Norway City had always pursued Princess Smriti. And now, she publicly acknowledged ye Chen... a seemingly countryside bumpkin?
This was bound to incite a storm of envy.
But ye Chen didn't seem concerned about any of that. His expression softened as he looked up at the princess, eyes filled with gratitude and admiration. Her support seemed to mean the world to him.
After the princess spoke, the guards didn't dare hesitate. Their attitude did a complete 180.
"Young Master ye, please forgive our rudeness just now! Please, this way!"
They respectfully led him inside the hotel, bowing their heads in apology.
Shubham, however, didn't even spare them a second glance.
He walked in calmly—his back straight, his steps light.
Although many cultivators present were itching to beat ye Chen black and blue after his recent antics, they ultimately restrained themselves. This was not the time. The selection for the Supreme Beast Sect was about to begin, and they had all gathered here for that very purpose. Wasting time on an unknown brat would only ruin their chances.
So, suppressing the fury in their hearts, they chose to ignore him and returned to their eating and—some, rather blatantly—cheating.
Ye Chen, completely unbothered by the heavy gazes aimed at him, calmly ordered some food and sat on the first floor of the inn, feasting at leisure. But his thoughts were far from peaceful.
"Heh… saving that Princess of the Patliputra Dynasty really was one of the smartest decisions of my life. I still don't know much about her talent or temperament, but her body… tsk tsk… like a celestial fairy descended from the heavens. I wonder when I'll get a taste of her…"
His lips curled slightly, a lewd glint flashing in his eyes.
The incident he referred to had taken place a few months ago. At that time, the princess had gone hunting but became separated from her guards. Ye Chen had stepped in to save her from a ferocious spirit beast. Impressed by his strength and potential, the princess had taken a certain 'interest' in him.
Ye Chen, in his inflated ego, believed she had fallen for his so-called bravery.
But how could a princess raised in the intricate web of palace politics not see through his petty thoughts? Princess Smriti wasn't some naïve noble lady—she was a tactician in her own right.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the floor, Avinash continued to eat quietly. No one dared approach him, not because of any known identity, but simply because he wasn't someone blessed by fate. No dazzling aura, no halo of destiny. Just another ordinary cultivator—or so they thought.
As he chewed on a steamed spirit bun, Avinash communicated with his system mentally.
"System, this Smriti… is she one of those Children of Luck?"
[Ding! No, host. Instead of a Daughter of Luck, she is better described as someone cursed with it.]
"Wait… this ye Chen. I vaguely remember him from my past life. Didn't he become famous as the Beast Emperor? Had both a True Dragon and a Nine-Tailed Fox Saintess as companions. I always thought he was overrated though. Always relying on others during battles. I used to call him a freeloader…"
[Ding! Host, that's because ye Chen possesses a rare physique—the Supreme Beast Emperor Physique. Ranked sixteenth on the Heaven-Approved Physique List. This constitution allows him to attract and command all manner of beasts; even noble bloodline beasts are drawn to serve him. This is precisely why Princess Smriti is trying to cultivate a connection with him.]
"Tch… does that mean my Chaos Qilin bloodline will react to his physique?"
[Ding! No, host. Your Chaos Qilin bloodline ranks far higher. The Supreme Beast Emperor Physique may control beasts, but it cannot suppress divine bloodlines of your level.]
"Hmph. Good to know…"
Finishing his meal, Avinash calmly washed his hands and paid the bill. He then moved to the waiting lounge on the first floor, silently observing the flow of people.
Suddenly, a deep, resounding bell echoed across the city—the signal from the Supreme Beast Sect!
The assignment was about to begin.
One by one, the cultivators began leaving the inn in a hurry, their excitement and nervousness palpable. Among them were Princess Smriti and shubham. Even from a distance, their presence exuded a distinct, oppressive aura—like invisible barriers warning others to stay far away.
The next trial… was about to begin.
Soon, the plaza outside the inn transformed into a sea of movement as the candidates for the Supreme Beast Sect's selection began lining up. There was a clear division in the lines—men and women stood separately, but the real divide came with status.
Those born of noble blood, adorned in luxurious robes and radiant spiritual artifacts, stood in a special queue marked with golden talismans. Among them stood the princess, her posture regal and eyes calm, and other well-dressed youths who clearly hailed from influential clans or city-lord families.
Then, further to the side, a longer, less decorated line held the commoners. Their robes were plain, their spiritual essence restrained. This was where shubham and Avinash stood.
Avinash glanced at the separation and simply accepted it with a nod. In this world, where power determined everything, such divisions were as normal as sunrise and sunset. He didn't feel slighted; rather, it amused him slightly. After all, cultivation had a way of flipping the scales over time.
Ye Chen, however, felt differently.
His eyes locked on the noble line for a moment, his gaze lingering on the ones who looked down on people like him. Though his face remained composed, deep inside, humiliation churned like a storm.
"Not because they placed me here… but because my parents left me to stand here."
He clenched his fists behind his back.
"One day… I'll make this world see. I'll rise, and they'll all lower their heads."
In truth, many so-called Sons of Fortune shared a similar fate. Cast aside in youth, ignored and trampled… only to later become the blazing suns everyone sought to bask under.
A sharp, authoritative voice echoed across the plaza. The crowd turned toward a large stone platform, where a tall figure in sect robes stood with a jade scroll in one hand and a spirit-sealing orb in the other.
"Welcome, young cultivators. You've gathered here today for the selection into our Supreme Beast Sect. Let me now declare the foundational rules. Firstly—each participant must be under the age of sixteen and have reached at least the Foundation Building Realm. Secondly—you must demonstrate your ability to tame a spirit beast."
He gestured with his hand, and a great bronze cage behind him was unveiled. Inside were various spirit beasts—striped tigers growling lowly, graceful swans preening their feathers, leopards with burning eyes, and more. Their presence caused waves of spiritual pressure to ripple across the area.
Gasps rang out. The aura of these beasts was enough to cause lesser cultivators to tremble.
After hearing the requirements, several youths began backing away. Some lowered their heads in defeat. Others quietly stepped out of the lines, unwilling to embarrass themselves or risk injury. Still, even after the dropouts, more than half the crowd remained—hope burning in their hearts.
The selection began.
Each participant stepped forward to have their age and cultivation verified. A talisman would scan their essence and mark them as qualified or unqualified.
The first qualified youth, a wiry boy with decent cultivation, was handed a beast-controlling manual. With trembling hands, he stood before a fearsome tiger spirit beast, chanting the incantations with all his might.
He poured his spiritual power into the technique. Time passed. Sweat soaked his robe.
But the tiger didn't even look his way. It lay in the corner, completely indifferent.
"Like a woman ignoring a poor man's poetry and going off with a rich merchant," someone in the crowd muttered, drawing a few chuckles.
Defeated, the boy stepped back, shame burning on his face.
Yet, the process didn't halt.
Candidate after candidate stepped forward. Some managed to earn a fleeting response from the beasts—eye contact, a tail flick, or a few steps closer. But only a few managed to form a proper connection.
The examiner announced to each successful candidate, "You have been accepted as a disciple of the Supreme Beast Sect. However, your true status—Outer, Inner, or Core disciple—will be determined after you enter the Beast Mountain Range and form your first soul bond with a beast. The strength and grade of that beast shall decide your rank."
Eventually, the princess stepped forward, her movements like flowing moonlight. She gracefully summoned her spiritual power, channeled the beast-controlling art, and tamed a swan beast with gentle ease. It responded to her like an old friend, causing many in the crowd to sigh in admiration.
Soon after, Ye Chen walked forward. Though dressed plainly, his eyes held a quiet storm.
He didn't even read the manual. He simply gazed at a beast—a white-furred lion with golden eyes—and the creature instantly lowered its head in submission.
The plaza fell silent for a breath.
"W-What...?"
A few watchers exchanged glances, shaken.
"He subdued a spirit beast with just one glance… What kind of talent is that?"
But Ye Chen remained silent, stepping back without arrogance. Internally, however, his pride bloomed.
Then, it was Avinash's turn.
He passed the basic verification smoothly. Without fanfare, he walked toward the beast cage, choosing a swan beast—graceful and aloof. His steps were steady, without hesitation. His fingers danced slightly as he performed the beast-controlling art, but he didn't channel much spiritual energy.
The swan blinked once… and calmly walked to his side.
No explosion of energy, no grand display. Just a quiet success.
Because of its understated nature, none in the crowd paid him much attention.
"Just a swan? Probably a low-tier success."
Avinash simply shrugged. He didn't care for attention. His true stage was far beyond this little test.
Once the selections were complete, the examiner gazed at the remaining three to four hundred successful candidates.
"All of you have passed. Now, we will escort you to the Beast Mountain Ranges via the Supreme Beast Sect's flying boats. Prepare yourselves!"
Excitement broke out among the youths. Cheers, claps, and hopeful chatter filled the air. Even the princess and Shubham showed visible eagerness, their eyes gleaming with expectation.
Only Avinash remained quiet, rubbing his temples.
"Still need to take care of someone… What a headache."
Soon, four massive flying boats descended from the clouds. Their hulls gleamed with spiritual inscriptions, and beast-shaped prow heads roared with flowing qi.
Boarding was organized by gender and social status. Yet, no one protested. This was their chance to change everything.
"Just tame a powerful beast," someone muttered. "Become at least an Inner Disciple, and the world will bow."
One by one, the cultivators boarded. For many of them, it was their first time on a flying treasure. Though some Foundation Realm cultivators could fly for brief moments, soaring on a sect's spiritual vessel was another experience entirely.
The boats rose into the sky with a low hum, cutting through the clouds.
Avinash leaned against the railing, his eyes gazing at the horizon, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"System… About that princess. Why do you call her cursed by luck?"
[Ding! Host, her body is now possessed by Smriti—the last surviving member of the Spirit Race. This upper realm race cultivated the 'Eyes of Destiny,' a divine art that allows one to perceive and influence fate.]
[Their talents are tied directly to the destiny they possess. Naturally, those without enough luck become powerless. The Heavenly Emperor feared their ability to manipulate fate, and thus ordered the extermination of their race.]
[Smriti survived by burning her own destiny and escaped to this lower world. She now inhabits this princess's body, hiding her identity, and is planning her revenge by aligning herself with Ye Chen.]
Avinash's lips curled into a smirk.
"A woman with no cultivation talent but burning with hatred… If I were the Heavenly Emperor, I'd have done the same but that son of bitch is no good also."
"Still… what if I give her just enough power to crawl forward? Heh… watching her struggle, watching her twist fate… It might be entertaining."
As the sun dipped below the horizon, bathing the skies in golden-red light, the atmosphere aboard the flying boats grew calm.
One by one, the cultivators retreated to their assigned rooms. Rest was needed—after all, what awaited them at Beast Mountain was far from a game.
But for Avinash, rest could wait. He stared at the sky, a quiet smile playing on his lips, as if already seeing the threads of destiny slowly rearranging themselves.