The Celestial Jade Clan was vast, spanning mountains, rivers, and sacred grounds, but beyond its borders lay the Mystic Moon Forest—an ancient, untamed land filled with spiritual energy, rare herbs, and fearsome beasts.
It was forbidden for young disciples to enter unsupervised.
Which, of course, made it irresistible to a certain group of reckless children.
Under the glow of the evening sun, Li Tian, Wu Xue, Bai Ling, and Han Lei stood near the edge of the Mystic Moon Forest, gazing into the deep expanse of towering trees and swirling mist.
"You do realize this is a terrible idea, right?" Bai Ling said flatly, arms crossed.
Wu Xue grinned. "Terrible? Or exciting?"
Han Lei smacked his fists together. "I say we go! We've trained enough—time to see some real action."
Tian remained silent for a moment, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings. He had read about the Mystic Moon Forest—a place of ancient power, home to both opportunity and danger.
"It's not just a game," he finally said. "There are real threats here. But…" His lips curled into a smirk. "That's why we're going."
Wu Xue cheered, Bai Ling sighed in reluctant agreement, and Han Lei grinned in anticipation.
And so, the four of them slipped past the outer guards and stepped into the unknown.
The deeper they went, the denser the Qi became. The forest pulsed with life—strange flowers that glowed in the twilight, vines that shimmered with a silver hue, and distant howls that sent a shiver down their spines.
"Stay close," Tian warned. His senses were sharp, detecting subtle shifts in the air.
Wu Xue, ever the troublemaker, twirled her sword. "Relax, Tian. We're just exploring."
Just then—
CRACK!
The ground trembled as a Shadow Fang Wolf emerged from the underbrush. Its crimson eyes locked onto them, saliva dripping from its snarling fangs.
Han Lei stepped forward. "A mid-tier spirit beast… I'll handle it!"
Before anyone could argue, he charged in, his wooden training sword meeting the wolf's claws. Sparks flew as metal clashed against hardened bone.
The wolf was fast, powerful, but Han Lei was a fortress. He held his ground, unyielding.
Bai Ling whispered an incantation, sending a blast of wind that knocked the beast off balance.
Seizing the moment, Tian struck with inhuman speed—one precise movement, one clean strike.
The wolf collapsed.
Han Lei let out a victorious laugh. "That was fun!"
Tian shook his head. "We're just getting started."
A Cry in the Darkness
As they ventured further, the forest grew eerily silent.
Then—
A sharp, agonized cry echoed through the trees.
Bai Ling tensed. "That wasn't a normal beast."
Tian's eyes narrowed. "Let's move."
Following the sound, they reached a clearing bathed in moonlight, where a massive Steelclaw Bear stood menacingly over a small, trembling figure.
It was a fox cub.
But not just any fox—its fur was snow-white with silver markings, its eyes a mesmerizing shade of violet.
"A Moonshadow Fox?" Bai Ling gasped. "They're incredibly rare!"
The fox whimpered, one of its hind legs badly wounded.
Wu Xue tightened her grip on her sword. "We can't just watch."
Tian had already moved.
With lightning speed, he launched himself at the bear, his wooden sword meeting the beast's claws with an impact that shook the ground.
The Steelclaw Bear was a high-tier beast, far beyond their current level. Yet Tian's attacks were flawless—each strike precisely aimed at the beast's weak points.
Wu Xue and Han Lei jumped in, coordinating their attacks, while Bai Ling provided ranged support.
The battle was fierce. Claws slashed, swords struck, blood splattered.
But in the end—
With a final strike, Tian pierced through the beast's throat.
The bear let out a final roar before collapsing.
Silence filled the air.
A Bond Formed
Tian turned to the injured Moonshadow Fox. It gazed at him with intelligent, wary eyes, clearly expecting death.
Instead, he crouched down and reached out.
The fox flinched but didn't run.
"You're safe now," he murmured, his voice softer than usual.
Gently, he lifted the small creature into his arms. Its fur was soft, its body trembling.
Bai Ling stared. "I've never seen you act this way before."
Wu Xue grinned. "Looks like our little Tian has a soft spot."
Tian ignored them.
The fox curled slightly in his arms, as if sensing something in him—a warmth, a power beyond ordinary Qi.
Then, something unexpected happened.
A faint silver glow surrounded the fox's body, and a tiny thread of spiritual energy connected to Tian's soul.
Bai Ling's eyes widened. "It's forming a bond with you!"
Tian blinked. He hadn't expected this.
A spirit beast contract—one formed naturally, not forced.
Which meant…
This fox had chosen him.
A Name Given
As they made their way back, Tian gently stroked the fox's fur.
"What will you name her?" Wu Xue asked.
He looked down at the small creature, her violet eyes reflecting the moon above.
"Yue'er."
The fox blinked, as if understanding, and then nuzzled closer to his chest.
Wu Xue grinned. "Well, Yue'er, welcome to the team."
Bai Ling sighed. "I hope you realize this isn't an ordinary fox. It will grow into something… powerful."
Tian simply smiled.
I know.
And deep inside, a strange feeling stirred within him.
As if this meeting… was fate itself.