Supreme Beast Resonance

CHAPTER 3: MISTY JADE MOUNTAINS

Two days of running later, Jiang Chen finally stood before the Misty Jade Mountains.

The mountain range stretched across the horizon like a sleeping dragon, its peaks shrouded in thick clouds that never seemed to dissipate. The mountains were aptly named—a permanent jade-green mist clung to the slopes, giving everything an ethereal, otherworldly appearance.

"Beautiful," Jiang Chen murmured, studying the terrain.

[DESTINATION REACHED]

[SECT ESTABLISHMENT LOCATION CONFIRMED]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO USE SECT ESTABLISHMENT TOKEN NOW?]

"Not yet. Let me scout the area first."

Jiang Chen made his way up the nearest mountain path. The air grew cooler as he climbed, the mist thickening around him. He could hear spirit beasts moving through the fog—distant roars, the rustle of wings, the padding of heavy paws on stone.

This place was teeming with spirit beast activity. Perfect for a beast taming sect.

After an hour of climbing, Jiang Chen reached a plateau about halfway up the mountain. He stopped, his eyes widening.

The plateau was massive—easily several kilometers across. A crystal-clear lake sat in the center, fed by waterfalls cascading from the peaks above. Ancient trees bordered the lake, their branches heavy with spirit fruits. The mist here was lighter, allowing golden sunlight to filter through.

"This is it," Jiang Chen said. "This is perfect."

[LOCATION ANALYSIS COMPLETE]

[HEAVENLY BEAST PEAK - OPTIMAL SECT LOCATION]

[NATURAL SPIRIT GATHERING FORMATION PRESENT]

[MULTIPLE SUITABLE ENVIRONMENTS FOR DIFFERENT BEAST TYPES]

[DEFENSIBLE TERRAIN]

[ABUNDANT RESOURCES]

[RECOMMENDATION: ESTABLISH SECT HERE]

Jiang Chen pulled the Sect Establishment Token from his spatial ring—a jade medallion that pulsed with golden light. He held it up, and the system prompt appeared:

[USE SECT ESTABLISHMENT TOKEN?]

[WARNING: ONCE USED, LOCATION CANNOT BE CHANGED]

[CONFIRM?]

"Confirm."

The token exploded into golden light that shot into the sky like a pillar reaching the heavens. The light spread across the plateau, and Jiang Chen felt the ground tremble beneath his feet.

The mist swirled violently as ancient formations carved themselves into the stone. Trees shifted position, creating natural pathways. The lake's water began to glow with spiritual energy.

And then, buildings began to materialize.

First, a main hall constructed from jade-white stone appeared at the plateau's highest point. Then training grounds, smaller pavilions, a library, residential buildings—all appearing one after another like they'd always been there, just hidden by time.

[SECT ESTABLISHMENT COMPLETE!]

[CONGRATULATIONS! HEAVENLY BEAST PEAK SECT HAS BEEN FOUNDED!]

[SECT RANK: UNRANKED (NO DISCIPLES YET)]

[SECT MASTER: JIANG CHEN]

[SECT LOCATION: MISTY JADE MOUNTAINS, HEAVENLY BEAST PEAK]

[REWARDS DISTRIBUTED:]

5,000 Spirit Stones

1 Legendary Beast Egg (Random)

System Shop Access (UNLOCKED)

Sect Management Interface (UNLOCKED)

[NEW MISSION AVAILABLE]

A new notification appeared:

[MANDATORY MISSION: RECRUIT FIRST DISCIPLE]

[TIME REMAINING: 8 DAYS]

[NEAREST POPULATION CENTER: GREENWOOD TOWN (200 KILOMETERS SOUTH)]

[RECOMMENDATION: BEGIN SEARCH IMMEDIATELY]

Jiang Chen walked through his new sect, examining everything. The buildings were simple but elegant, constructed from spirit-infused materials that would last for centuries. The main hall had a throne—no, a sect master's seat—that made him uncomfortable just looking at it.

"Too grand," he muttered. "I'm supposed to be keeping a low profile."

[YOU'RE A SECT MASTER NOW. YOU NEED SOME GRANDEUR.]

[BESIDES, DISCIPLES EXPECT THEIR MASTER TO HAVE PRESENCE]

Jiang Chen sighed and continued his inspection. He found cultivation chambers, beast stables (currently empty), storage rooms filled with basic resources, and a kitchen that was surprisingly well-stocked.

Then he reached his personal quarters—a spacious room with a large bed, a cultivation mat, and windows overlooking the entire plateau.

On the table sat a glowing egg.

[LEGENDARY BEAST EGG - REWARD ITEM]

[SPECIES: UNKNOWN (WILL BE REVEALED UPON HATCHING)]

[CULTIVATION LEVEL: WILL START AT 100-YEAR LEVEL]

[INCUBATION REQUIREMENTS: STRONG SPIRITUAL ENERGY, CAREFUL NURTURING]

[ESTIMATED HATCHING TIME: 7-14 DAYS]

[RECOMMENDATION: KEEP WITH YOU AT ALL TIMES. YOUR SOVEREIGN ESSENCE WILL ACCELERATE GROWTH]

The egg was about the size of a melon, its shell swirling with multiple colors—gold, silver, azure, and crimson all blending together. It pulsed with a gentle warmth.

Jiang Chen picked it up carefully. "Guess you're coming with me to find disciples."

He placed the egg in his spatial ring, where the system assured him it would remain in stasis until he took it out again.

[SYSTEM SHOP NOW AVAILABLE]

[WOULD YOU LIKE TO BROWSE?]

"Might as well see what's available."

A translucent interface appeared, displaying countless items:

[SYSTEM SHOP - HEAVENLY BEAST PEAK SECT]

CULTIVATION RESOURCES:

Qi Gathering Pills (x10): 100 Spirit Stones

Foundation Breaking Pills (x5): 500 Spirit Stones

Golden Core Formation Pills (x3): 2,000 Spirit Stones

Nascent Soul Advancement Pills (x1): 10,000 Spirit Stones

TECHNIQUES:

Basic Beast Taming Manual: 1,000 Spirit Stones

Intermediate Combat Techniques: 3,000 Spirit Stones

Advanced Beast Communication: 5,000 Spirit Stones

BEAST ITEMS:

Spirit Beast Food (Premium, x100): 500 Spirit Stones

Beast Evolution Herb: 2,000 Spirit Stones

Bloodline Awakening Potion: 8,000 Spirit Stones

EGGS:

Random Common Beast Egg: 1,000 Spirit Stones

Random Rare Beast Egg: 3,000 Spirit Stones

Random Epic Beast Egg: 8,000 Spirit Stones

Random Legendary Beast Egg: 20,000 Spirit Stones

SECT UPGRADES:

Basic Defense Formation: 5,000 Spirit Stones

Spirit Gathering Array Enhancement: 3,000 Spirit Stones

Pavilion Expansion (Various Types): 10,000+ Spirit Stones

Jiang Chen whistled. "These prices are steep."

[QUALITY COSTS SPIRIT STONES]

[YOU CURRENTLY HAVE 5,800 SPIRIT STONES]

[RECOMMENDATION: SAVE FOR DISCIPLE STARTER PACKAGES AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS]

"Agreed." Jiang Chen closed the shop. "First priority: find disciples. Everything else comes after."

He took one last look at his sect, then headed back down the mountain.

Time to visit Greenwood Town.

Greenwood Town was exactly what its name suggested—a modest town built in a forest clearing, surrounded by green on all sides.

Jiang Chen arrived at sunset, his appearance drawing little attention. Just another wandering cultivator passing through.

The town was bustling with activity. Merchants hawked their wares, street food vendors filled the air with delicious smells, and beast tamers walked through the streets with their contracted beasts following behind.

Jiang Chen noticed the beasts wore collars—all of them. Slave contracts, forced into submission through pain and fear.

His jaw clenched. This was common practice in most of the cultivation world, but it still disgusted him.

[HOST'S EMOTIONAL RESPONSE DETECTED]

[REMINDER: YOUR PAST SELF OPPOSED SLAVE CONTRACTS]

[THIS WAS ONE REASON THE SHADOW ALLIANCE FEARED YOU]

"I remember," Jiang Chen said quietly.

He made his way through the town, observing. He wasn't sure how to find a "destined disciple." Did the system have some way to identify them?

[AFFIRMATIVE]

[SOVEREIGN'S INSTINCT (PASSIVE ABILITY) WILL ALERT YOU WHEN NEAR SUITABLE CANDIDATES]

[YOU WILL FEEL A RESONANCE]

"That's vague."

[TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS]

Jiang Chen spent the next hour wandering, waiting for this supposed "resonance." He passed training grounds where young tamers practiced with their beasts. He saw the local Beast Tamer Academy, where children learned the basics of contracts and beast care.

Nothing. No resonance, no pull, no—

He stopped.

There. In an alley between two buildings. A faint... feeling. Like a string being plucked somewhere in his chest.

Jiang Chen turned and walked toward the alley.

He found a boy.

Maybe fifteen years old, dressed in rough, patched clothing. The boy was covered in bruises, his face swollen on one side. He sat with his back against the wall, clutching his ribs and breathing carefully.

But what caught Jiang Chen's attention was the boy's eyes.

Despite the pain, despite the obvious beating he'd taken, the boy's eyes burned with fierce determination. No tears. No self-pity. Just pure, stubborn will.

[RESONANCE DETECTED]

[POTENTIAL DISCIPLE IDENTIFIED]

[ANALYZING...]

[NAME: UNKNOWN]

[AGE: 15]

[CULTIVATION: BODY TEMPERING (3RD STAGE)]

[CONTRACTED BEASTS: 0]

[HIDDEN POTENTIAL: EXCEPTIONAL]

[ELEMENT AFFINITY: LIGHTNING (SUPREME GRADE - SEALED)]

[DESTINY RATING: S-RANK]

[RECOMMENDATION: RECRUIT IMMEDIATELY]

Jiang Chen approached slowly. "You alright, kid?"

The boy's head snapped up, his body tensing defensively. "I'm fine. Don't need charity."

"Wasn't offering charity. Just asking a question." Jiang Chen crouched down to eye level. "Who did this to you?"

"None of your business."

"Fair enough." Jiang Chen studied the boy more carefully. "Let me guess—you tried to contract a beast and failed. Someone made fun of you. You fought back. They won."

The boy's expression flickered—surprise, then anger. "How did you—"

"Lucky guess." Jiang Chen stood and offered his hand. "What's your name?"

The boy stared at the offered hand suspiciously. "...Tang Hao."

"Tang Hao," Jiang Chen repeated. "Good name. Strong name."

"Doesn't matter. I can't even contract a basic spirit beast. I'm useless as a tamer."

"Who told you that?"

"Everyone!" Tang Hao's frustration exploded out. "I've tried five times! Five different beasts, and none of them accept my contract! The Academy said I'm incompatible with beast taming. That I should give up and become a blacksmith like my father!"

"And what do you want?"

Tang Hao looked up, meeting Jiang Chen's eyes. "I want to be a tamer. I want to soar through the sky with a powerful beast. I want to prove everyone wrong."

The resonance in Jiang Chen's chest grew stronger.

"Then let me ask you something, Tang Hao." Jiang Chen's voice was calm but serious. "If I told you that you could become a beast tamer—a powerful one—but it would require leaving this town and training harder than you've ever trained in your life, would you do it?"

Tang Hao's eyes widened. "You... you're a tamer?"

"Sect master, actually. I just established a sect in the Misty Jade Mountains." Jiang Chen pulled out one of the sect robes from his spatial ring. "I'm looking for disciples. Interested?"

"But I can't—"

"You can't contract common beasts," Jiang Chen interrupted. "That's because you're not meant for common beasts. Your spirit is too strong, your potential too high. You need a beast that matches your destiny."

Tang Hao stared at him like he was crazy. "That's... that sounds like nonsense."

"Maybe. Or maybe I know what I'm talking about." Jiang Chen stood. "Either way, the offer stands. Become my disciple, train at my sect, and I'll help you contract a beast worthy of your potential. Or stay here, become a blacksmith, and always wonder 'what if.'"

He turned to walk away.

"Wait!"

Jiang Chen stopped.

Tang Hao struggled to his feet, wincing at his injuries. "If... if you're serious. If you really think I can become a tamer..." He took a shaky breath. "Then I'll do it. I'll become your disciple."

[FIRST DISCIPLE RECRUITMENT SUCCESSFUL!]

[TANG HAO HAS AGREED TO JOIN HEAVENLY BEAST PEAK SECT!]

Jiang Chen smiled and tossed the sect robe to Tang Hao. "Welcome to the Heavenly Beast Peak Sect, First Disciple Tang Hao."