Chapter 1: The Mysterious Egg

A sharp jolt of pain shot through Liu Xian's head as his consciousness stirred. His mind was in chaos, filled with fragments of unfamiliar memories and emotions. Slowly, he opened his eyes, blinking at the sight of a simple wooden ceiling.

This wasn't his cramped apartment in the city.

Groaning, he sat up, his body sluggish as though it hadn't moved in days. The room was small and tidy, furnished with a narrow bed, a worn desk covered in books, and a rickety chair. Morning sunlight filtered through the cracks in the shutters, casting thin beams across the dusty floor.

"What the hell happened?" Liu Xian muttered, rubbing his temples. The last thing he remembered was playing an online game, then a sudden feeling of weightlessness before darkness claimed him.

As his surroundings came into focus, a flood of unfamiliar memories surged into his mind. His name was Liu Xian—but he wasn't the same Liu Xian anymore. He had transmigrated, his soul inhabiting the body of a boy in another world.

The memories were fragmented but clear enough to make sense of his situation. This body belonged to a young man of the same name, a student at the Greenleaf Beast Taming Academy, one of the top schools for aspiring tamers.

Unfortunately, this Liu Xian was nothing special. In fact, he was a laughingstock.

The memories revealed a life of constant failure. He had no beast companion, no spiritual physique to speak of, and no noteworthy achievements. At the academy, where strength and talent determined status, Liu Xian was at the very bottom.

"Well, that's just great," Liu Xian grumbled, running a hand through his messy hair. "I've reincarnated into the weakest of the weak."

As he sat there, digesting his situation, his gaze fell on something unusual on the desk.

An egg.

The egg was large, about the size of a watermelon, its surface smooth and faintly glowing with silver and black patterns that pulsed rhythmically. It sat in a makeshift nest of straw, as though it had been placed there with care.

"What is this?" Liu Xian muttered, stepping closer.

Before he could touch it, a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

[Welcome, Host, to the Beastmaster System.]

Liu Xian froze, his breath catching. "What… who said that?"

[This is the Beastmaster System, assigned to aid you in becoming the strongest beast tamer in the world. Initializing…]

Before Liu Xian could react, a translucent screen appeared before him, hovering in mid-air.

System Notification

Congratulations on being chosen as the host for the Beastmaster System.

Your mission: Ascend to the peak of the Beast Taming world and uncover the secrets of your reincarnation.

Starting Stats:

Spiritual Physique: 0.5 (Below Average)

Beast Control Limit: 1

Tamer Rank: Unranked

Starter Rewards:

Beginner Beast Egg (Randomized Potential)

Beast Appraisal Skill

Mandatory Mission Activated:

Hatch the Beginner Beast Egg within 24 hours. Failure will result in host termination.

"Termination?!" Liu Xian exclaimed, stumbling back into the chair. "You're kidding, right?"

[Negative. Failure to comply will result in immediate host elimination. Begin task immediately.]

Liu Xian's pulse quickened. There was no room for argument or delay. His life literally depended on hatching this egg.

Liu Xian carefully picked up the egg, cradling it in his hands. Its surface was warm to the touch, and the faint glow seemed to react to his presence.

"How am I supposed to hatch this thing?" he muttered.

[Tip: Beasts respond to warmth, energy, and emotional connection. Focus on bonding with the egg to stimulate its hatching process.]

Liu Xian sighed. "Great. I've got to play babysitter to an egg. Fantastic."

He sat cross-legged on the floor, holding the egg close. Following the system's advice, he closed his eyes and focused, imagining his energy flowing into the egg. At first, it felt ridiculous, like trying to light a fire with damp wood.

But after a few minutes, he felt something—faint vibrations, like a heartbeat, pulsing from within the egg.

[Progress: 10%. The beast inside is beginning to awaken.]

Encouraged, Liu Xian continued. He spoke to the egg, his voice soft but firm.

"Look, I don't know what kind of creature you are, and I don't know why I'm here. But if we're going to survive, we'll need each other. I'll do my part if you do yours. Deal?"

The egg pulsed brighter, cracks beginning to form along its surface.

[Progress: 50%. Bonding process successful. Hatching imminent.]

Liu Xian's excitement grew, but so did his anxiety. He had no idea what kind of creature would emerge. The memories of this world suggested beasts ranged from harmless companions to deadly predators.

"Please don't eat me," he muttered nervously.

After hours of effort, the egg began to shake violently. The cracks widened, and a soft glow seeped through. With a final shattering sound, the shell broke apart, and a small creature tumbled out onto Liu Xian's lap.

It was a tiny, jet-black fox with silver streaks running along its fur. Its eyes were a striking shade of amber, glowing faintly in the dim light. The creature yawned, revealing sharp little teeth, and stretched its legs before curling up in Liu Xian's lap.

Beast Analysis:

Name: Shadow Fox

Stage: 1

Level: 1

Potential: Gold

Skills: Shadow Dash (Basic), Night Vision (Basic)

"Gold potential?" Liu Xian whispered, staring at the screen in disbelief. Even with his limited knowledge, he knew that potential was a measure of a beast's future growth. Gold was extraordinary, leagues above the average beasts most students tamed.

The system's voice chimed in again.

[Congratulations, Host, on hatching your first beast: Shadow Fox.]

Beast Control Limit +1

Spiritual Physique +0.1

The fox let out a soft chirp and nuzzled against Liu Xian's hand. Despite its small size, its presence felt powerful, as though it held untapped strength.

"Well, little guy," Liu Xian said, stroking its silky fur, "it looks like you're stuck with me now. Let's make the best of it."

The fox yawned again, curling into a ball, and Liu Xian couldn't help but smile.

The system's screen flashed again, displaying a new notification.

New Mission Activated:

Strengthen the bond with your Shadow Fox and train it to reach Stage 1, Level 3 within three days.

Failure Penalty: Reduced spiritual physique.

Liu Xian sighed. "No time to rest, huh?"

He glanced out the window, where the sun was beginning to set. The academy loomed in the distance, a sprawling complex of towers and courtyards where his future challenges awaited.

"I don't know what's waiting for me out there," Liu Xian said, his voice firm, "but I won't let this second chance go to waste."

The Shadow Fox opened one eye, as though agreeing with him.

Together, they prepared to face the unknown.

To be continue