Chapter 025: Divine Beast? 1

She found herself sitting cross-legged atop a broad stone, surrounded by water. Looking around, she saw an enormous, enclosed cavern with walls glowing a searing red, occasionally crackling with unseen bursts. The only light filtered through a faint opening directly above her, barely illuminating the space. The cavern’s walls still shimmered with the aftereffects of heat; she was certain this was no ordinary cave, nor was it the sort of place one could simply escape.

Her brows furrowed in thought as she carefully surveyed her surroundings. Was this the bottom of a limestone cave? The cave was filled with bizarre rocks, some jutting into the water, and at the boundary between stone and water grew strange plants with blue, glowing blossoms. The scattered points of light stood in sharp contrast to the fiery red of the walls, lending the space a dreamlike quality.

The cavern’s floor was shaped like a pumpkin—spacious, smooth-walled, and utterly cut off from any exit except the narrow gap above, through which the weak light filtered. She estimated the height and knew with certainty that, with her current abilities, she could never reach it.

As she pondered possible means of escape, the water beside her suddenly churned violently; splashes surged up and drenched her from head to toe. The water was warm, but left her thoroughly disheveled. Alert, she drew her sword from her storage ring, ready for battle, when a low, childish voice echoed: “With your strength, I could squash you in one blow. You still want to challenge me? Save your energy!”

She pressed her lips together, refusing to let her guard down just because of the voice. To abandon hope based solely on another’s words, without even trying—what fool would do that? She wiped water from her face, her sharp gaze searching for the source.

What she saw was almost unbelievable: upon the water stood a white tiger cub, about the size of a cat, its body engulfed in crimson flames. The white tail flicked, and its round eyes brimmed with arrogance and disdain.

The little white tiger moved its mouth, and the childish voice sounded again: “Ignorant human!”

Only then did she confirm she wasn’t seeing or hearing things—the voice truly came from the tiger cub. A beast that could speak human language—could it be a divine beast? She recalled the recent magical beast frenzy in the Catra Forest; could this miniature white tiger be the mastermind behind it all? Even her composure faltered, her brow twitching.

Seeing her poised with sword in hand, the white tiger’s temper flared. With another sweep of its tail, it sent an even larger wave crashing over her, soaking her anew. Watching her, dripping and bedraggled, the white tiger burst into mischievous laughter.

Clearly, the tiger meant to tease her. After being toyed with repeatedly, she gritted her teeth. As the tiger squinted in laughter, she stabbed with her sword in a flash. Surprisingly, it did not dodge as she expected; her blade pierced its body. She stared, stunned—she had never thought herself capable of harming even a hair on a divine beast. During the magical beast frenzy, she had witnessed the power of mid- and high-level beasts, and this was a divine one.

But her surprise lasted only a moment. She withdrew her sword smoothly—only to see the cub laughing even harder, rolling on the water’s surface. The flames around it shivered with its giggles, and the cavern echoed with its childish laughter.

Unable to bear it, she finally asked, “Why are you laughing?”

After a while, the tiger cub stopped and climbed upright. She saw the wound she’d inflicted healing at an astonishing speed. What was happening?

The cub snorted and tossed its head: “How unlucky am I, to wind up with a contract partner as clueless as you? Not only are you weak, you don’t even know the basics. My luck’s been rotten lately.”

She felt bewildered by its words and sheathed her sword; this was no time for brute force. From her earlier strike, it was clear the tiger’s power far exceeded hers, as evidenced by its formidable healing.

She sat down cross-legged, facing the cub. Disliking pretense, she asked directly, “Little tiger, what do you mean?”

Her question provoked the cub; it turned and glared at her, then loudly, almost angrily, announced, “I am not a little tiger! My name is Yu Sha!” On the Sacred Radiance Continent, tigers were the lowest magical beasts, mindless creatures. To call a divine beast such was an insult. The cub jumped in outrage, and, as if still unsatisfied, opened its mouth and spat a stream of searing red flames at her.

Caught off guard, she could not evade in time; the incoming heat grew unbearably intense, and she feared she might be left scarred for life.

At the critical moment, a circular shield of light appeared around her. The red flames vanished instantly upon touching it. The cub snorted coldly at this sight.

She wiped cold sweat from her brow, unsure when she had gained such defensive power. She tried to summon the thin purple energy in her dantian, but could not reproduce the shield.

The cub gave her a contemptuous glance. “You really don’t know?”

Seeing the cub finally willing to speak candidly, she nodded seriously. The day’s string of strange events had left her numb—after all, she had seen another realm; what could shock her now?

The cub lounged on the water, its fiery glow flickering. “Contract partners cannot directly harm each other. Even accidental wounds heal instantly, like your sword just now.”

Thinking this over, she suddenly realized a startling possibility. She didn’t answer immediately, but extended her left hand, exerting all her strength. A moment later, she relaxed; she still couldn’t absorb spirit energy. So how had she formed a contract with this divine beast?

“You mean there’s a contract between us? But I’m not a spirit master.” Her confusion grew. If she couldn’t be a spirit master, how could she contract a magical beast?

The white tiger’s dissatisfaction increased. It slapped the water twice. “That’s what frustrates me most! Who’d have thought my contract partner would be someone who’s not even a spirit master? I can’t understand why that thing chose you!” The cub looked utterly dejected. “I didn’t contract with you directly, so whether or not you’re a spirit master doesn’t matter.”

What? She was even more perplexed. If the cub hadn’t contracted with her, why claim they were bound?

Seeing her confusion, the cub nearly exploded.

“Don’t tell me you don’t even know you possess Sacred Radiance energy!”

She looked utterly baffled; she really had no idea what Sacred Radiance energy was.

The cub had given up on her, nearly in tears, and resigned itself to explaining: “There’s a scroll-like object within you—that’s Sacred Radiance energy, the highest treasure on the Sacred Radiance Continent, coveted by all. If I hadn’t been told, I’d never have guessed it could be hidden inside a human body. I sent Ironwing Silver Wolf to lead you here specifically to contract with Sacred Radiance energy. Since you’re its master, I contracted with you indirectly.”

At last, she understood. The contract wasn’t with her personally, but with the Sacred Radiance energy inside her. No wonder the little white tiger, unable to harm her, vented its frustration by teasing her—disdainful of her weakness. Still, to have acquired a divine beast so unexpectedly left her with mixed feelings.

Suddenly, she smiled and asked, “Little tiger, are you a divine beast?”

“I told you, stop calling me little tiger! I have a name—Yu Sha! Yu Sha!” The cavern echoed with the cub’s plaintive voice.