Supreme Beast Resonance

CHAPTER 5: FOUNDATIONS

Dawn broke over Heavenly Beast Peak, the jade-green mist glowing softly in the first light of morning.

Tang Hao stood in the training grounds, Lei perched on his shoulder. The Thunder Wing Eagle chick was still small, his golden-white feathers crackling with occasional sparks of electricity. Both disciple and beast looked at Jiang Chen with eager anticipation.

“Ready for your first day of training?” Jiang Chen asked.

“Yes, Master!” Tang Hao’s voice rang with enthusiasm.

“Good. First lesson—being a beast tamer isn’t just about having a contracted beast. It’s about understanding your partner completely.” Jiang Chen gestured for them to sit. “Sit. Both of you.”

Tang Hao sat cross-legged on the ground. Lei hopped down and settled beside him, tilting his head curiously.

“Close your eyes,” Jiang Chen instructed. “Tang Hao, focus on the connection between you and Lei. Feel the soul bond. Don’t try to command him—just observe.”

Tang Hao closed his eyes, his breathing gradually slowing. After a moment, his expression shifted—surprise, then wonder.

“I can… I can feel him,” Tang Hao whispered. “His emotions. He’s curious. And hungry.”

Lei chirped, as if confirming it.

Jiang Chen nodded. “That’s the soul bond. Right now it’s basic—emotions and simple intentions. But as you both grow stronger, this connection will deepen. Eventually, you’ll be able to communicate complex strategies wordlessly during battle.”

He pulled out some Universal Spirit Beast Food from his spatial ring. “Feed him. Not just throwing food—hand-feed him. Physical contact strengthens the bond in these early stages.”

Tang Hao took the food and offered it to Lei. The eagle chick ate eagerly from his hand, sparks of lightning dancing between them with each touch. Tang Hao laughed. “It tickles!”

“That’s his lightning affinity resonating with your qi. It means you’re compatible.” Jiang Chen watched them carefully. “Now, the most important thing you need to understand—Lei isn’t just a tool for combat. He’s a living being with his own growth path. Your job as his tamer is to guide that growth.”

“How do I do that, Master?”

“Through cultivation. Through training. And through understanding his nature.” Jiang Chen stood. “Lei is a Thunder Wing Eagle—a sky beast with lightning affinity. His natural strengths are speed, aerial combat, and lightning attacks. But right now, he’s just a chick. He can’t even fly properly yet.”

As if to demonstrate, Lei spread his small wings and flapped them. He managed to lift off the ground for about two seconds before tumbling back down with an indignant chirp.

Tang Hao caught him. “It’s okay, Lei. We’ll practice.”

“Exactly,” Jiang Chen said. “For the next month, your primary focus will be helping Lei develop his basic abilities: flying, controlling his lightning, building his strength. Only when his foundation is solid will we move to combat training.”

“A whole month just on basics?” Tang Hao looked disappointed.

“Do you know why most beast tamers are weak?” Jiang Chen’s tone turned serious. “Because they rush. They contract a beast and immediately try to use it for fighting, ignoring the foundation. The beast never reaches its full potential, and the tamer never truly understands their partner.”

He gestured to the open area of the training ground. “Lei needs to learn to fly before he can dive-bomb enemies. He needs to control his lightning before he can use it as a weapon. And you need to learn to move with him, anticipate his needs, and support his growth.”

Tang Hao straightened, determination settling over his features. “I understand, Master. We’ll build a strong foundation. Right, Lei?”

The eagle chick chirped enthusiastically.

“Good. Now, your training schedule.” Jiang Chen began outlining the daily routine. “Dawn to mid-morning: physical conditioning for you, flight practice for Lei. You’ll run laps around the plateau while Lei practices flying alongside you. This builds stamina for both of you and teaches coordination.

“Mid-morning to noon: cultivation. You’ll use the technique from the Basic Beast Taming Manual to cultivate together. This strengthens your bond and helps Lei’s growth.

“Afternoon: combat fundamentals for you, element control for Lei. I’ll teach you sword forms while Lei practices channeling his lightning. Separate training, but you’ll watch each other—learning what your partner is capable of.

“Evening: joint exercises. You and Lei will work together on coordination drills. This is where you learn to truly move as one.”

Tang Hao listened intently, committing every word to memory.

“We start now,” Jiang Chen said. “Ten laps around the training ground. Lei will attempt to fly beside you. When he gets tired, he can rest on your shoulder, but he must try to fly for as long as he can manage.”

“Yes, Master!” Tang Hao jumped to his feet.

“And Tang Hao?” Jiang Chen’s voice stopped him. “This will be hard. Lei will crash. You’ll be exhausted. There will be days you want to quit. But remember—every bit of effort now will pay off a hundredfold later.”

Tang Hao nodded seriously, then began running. Lei took off beside him, wings flapping frantically. The eagle chick managed about ten meters before tumbling down. Tang Hao caught him, set him down gently, and they started again.

Jiang Chen watched them for a moment, then moved to a secluded corner of the plateau and drew his sword. The morning mist swirled around him as he began flowing through sword forms—movements refined over a lifetime in his previous existence.

Each strike was precise, economical, deadly. His Foundation Establishment cultivation felt like wearing heavy chains, restricting movements that should flow like water. But the muscle memory remained, even if the power was sealed.

Three months, he thought, executing a complex sequence. Three months until enemies start actively searching. I need to unseal at least part of my cultivation by then.

[RECOMMENDATION: FOCUS ON RECRUITING MORE DISCIPLES FIRST]

[EACH DISCIPLE’S GROWTH CONTRIBUTES TO YOUR SECT’S OVERALL POWER]

[STRONGER SECT = MORE MISSIONS = MORE REWARDS = FASTER UNSEALING]

“I know,” Jiang Chen muttered. “But I need to train Tang Hao properly first. He’s my foundation. If I do this right with him, word will spread. Quality over quantity.”

He continued his forms, the sword singing through the air. Occasionally, he glanced over at Tang Hao and Lei. The boy was on his fifth lap now, drenched in sweat but refusing to slow down. Lei had managed to fly for nearly thirty meters on his last attempt before needing to rest.

Good determination, Jiang Chen thought with approval. They’ll make it.

By mid-morning, Tang Hao collapsed beside the lake, gasping for breath. Lei perched beside him, equally exhausted, his small chest heaving.

“Water break,” Jiang Chen announced, tossing Tang Hao a canteen. “Then we cultivate.”

After they’d recovered, Jiang Chen guided them to a spot near the lake with particularly rich spiritual energy. He pulled out the Basic Beast Taming Manual.

“This technique is called Twin Resonance Breathing,” Jiang Chen explained. “It’s designed specifically for tamers and their beasts to cultivate together. Watch.”

He demonstrated the breathing pattern—slow, deep, rhythmic. “The key is synchronization. Your breath, Lei’s breath, your heartbeats—all must align. When they do, your qi will naturally flow in harmony, strengthening both of you.”

Tang Hao and Lei tried to mimic the pattern. It was awkward at first—Tang Hao’s breathing was too fast, Lei’s too irregular. But gradually, with Jiang Chen’s guidance, they began to find the rhythm.

“Good. Now close your eyes and focus on the soul bond. Feel each other’s presence.”

Tang Hao’s face scrunched in concentration. Lei’s eyes closed, his head tucking slightly. And then, slowly, a faint golden glow began to surround them both—the visible manifestation of their resonating qi.

[DISCIPLE PROGRESS: TANG HAO + LEI]

[BOND SYNCHRONIZATION: 15% → 25%]

[CULTIVATION EFFICIENCY: INCREASED]

Jiang Chen smiled slightly. Faster than he’d expected. Tang Hao’s potential truly was exceptional.

They cultivated for two hours. When they finished, Tang Hao looked refreshed despite the morning’s exhaustion. Lei’s feathers seemed brighter, the crackling electricity more controlled.

“How do you feel?” Jiang Chen asked.

“Amazing,” Tang Hao breathed. “I can feel Lei’s energy mixed with mine. It’s like we’re sharing strength.”

“That’s exactly what you’re doing. This is why proper cultivation is crucial—it’s not just about your individual growth, but growing together.” Jiang Chen stood. “Lunch break. One hour. Then we continue.”

The afternoon session focused on fundamentals.

Jiang Chen had Tang Hao practice basic sword forms while Lei worked on controlling his lightning. They were separated by about twenty meters—close enough to watch each other but far enough not to interfere.

“Stance!” Jiang Chen corrected, adjusting Tang Hao’s posture with his foot. “Your weight distribution is still off. If Lei needs to land on your shoulder mid-combat, you need to be able to adjust instantly without losing balance.”

Tang Hao corrected his stance and continued the forms. Meanwhile, Lei attempted to shoot lightning at a target—a wooden post Jiang Chen had set up. Most of the bolts went wild, scorching the ground randomly.

“Lei, focus!” Jiang Chen called out. “Lightning isn’t about power right now—it’s about control. Small bolt. Aimed. Breathe, then release.”

The eagle chick took a breath, concentrated, and released a tiny spark. It actually hit the post this time, leaving a small scorch mark.

Lei chirped triumphantly, hopping in place.

“Better! Again. Ten more times, same spot.”

For hours, they trained. Tang Hao repeated sword forms until his muscles screamed. Lei shot lightning bolts until he could barely produce a spark. But neither complained. Neither quit.

As the sun began to set, Jiang Chen called them together for the final session—joint exercises.

“Stand here,” Jiang Chen positioned Tang Hao in the center of the training ground. “Lei, hover at head height.”

Lei flapped his wings, managing to maintain a shaky hover just above Tang Hao.

“Now, move forward together. Tang Hao walks, Lei flies beside him. Maintain the same pace. Same rhythm. You should move as one unit.”

They tried. Tang Hao walked too fast. Lei couldn’t keep up. They stopped, adjusted, tried again. This time Lei flew too high. Tang Hao had to crane his neck to watch him.

“Again.”

And again. And again.

On the twentieth attempt, something clicked. Tang Hao walked forward at a measured pace, his breathing steady. Lei flew beside him, wings beating in rhythm with his partner’s steps. They moved together, truly together, for ten whole meters before Lei’s exhaustion broke the synchronization.

“Good!” Jiang Chen said. “That’s what we’re building toward. When you can maintain that synchronization while running, while fighting, while Lei is executing aerial maneuvers—then your foundation will be complete.”

Tang Hao looked at Lei, both of them exhausted but satisfied. “We did it, Lei. Just a little bit, but we did it.”

The eagle chick nuzzled his cheek affectionately.

“That’s enough for today,” Jiang Chen announced. “Feed Lei, eat dinner, then cultivate for one hour before sleep. Tomorrow, we do it all again.”

As evening settled over Heavenly Beast Peak, Tang Hao sat by the lake with Lei resting in his lap. The eagle chick was already half-asleep, exhausted from the day’s training.

Tang Hao knelt beside Lei, stroking the eagle’s head. “Back in town, they said I’d never tame a beast. That I was useless.” He looked up at the fading sky. “Today I proved them wrong. And tomorrow… we’ll prove them even more wrong.”

Lei chirped softly in his sleep, as if agreeing.

From the shadows of the main hall, Jiang Chen watched his disciple, a slight smile on his face. Good, he thought. Hold onto that determination. You’ll need it for what’s coming.

He turned away and pulled out the legendary beast egg from his spatial ring.

[INCUBATION PROGRESS: 18%]

[ESTIMATED HATCHING: 8–9 DAYS]

He held the egg, feeling the life inside pulse with power. Multiple elements swirled in the shell—colors shifting between gold, azure, crimson, and silver.

“Soon,” he murmured. “Soon you’ll hatch, and then I’ll have my first contracted beast again.”

The egg pulsed warmly in response, as if it understood.