Most of the participants had already been guided into the Supreme Beast Sect under the supervision of the elders. However, the young master of Norway City was among the last to arrive.
He had his reasons—chiefly, the fear of being recognized by Ye Chen.
But trying to avoid someone like Ye Chen by simply lingering at the back of the group was naïve at best.
The Supreme Beast Sect was nestled deep within a secluded mountain range, far removed from the interference of mortal kingdoms and bustling cities. It lacked the floating palaces and divine splendor of Immortal Realm sects, but it held a wild charm of its own. The steep slopes were cloaked in dense, misty forests, and wild spirit herbs sprouted between the stones—a testament to the untamed spiritual energy still lingering in the land.
A narrow stone path wound between the cliffs, occasionally passing warm spirit springs whose rising steam carried a faint medicinal scent. The sect buildings themselves were unadorned—sturdy wooden halls perched on rocky ledges, with tiled roofs and simple beast pens nearby. The training grounds were open and functional, devoid of any excessive decoration.
From time to time, the cries of spirit beasts echoed in the distance. Disciples in plain robes could be seen feeding and taming these creatures with practiced movements. There were no grand arrays or floating peaks, yet the spiritual energy here was slightly denser than the outside world—just enough to support cultivation and beast mastery.
It was a humble sect.
But it had potential.
A place where strength dictated status, and spirit beasts were the stepping stones to ascension.
After registration, participants were divided based on their performance during the selection. Those who had only tamed beasts weaker than themselves were placed in the Outer Sect—where resources were meager and progress slow. Those who tamed beasts equal to their own cultivation entered the Inner Sect, where cultivation techniques and spiritual resources were more accessible.
And the Core Region?
That was reserved for the true elites—geniuses from noble clans or personal disciples of the elders. Ye Chen and Princess Smriti were naturally placed there without question.
Avinash, unsurprisingly, was led to the Inner Sect.
Though he had kept a low profile, his performance hadn't gone unnoticed. He had tamed a beast at the Foundation Building Realm—matching his apparent cultivation. What no one realized was that he had already stepped into the Core Formation Realm, his true strength hidden flawlessly thanks to the Destiny-Stealing System.
As for the swan beast... it looked sluggish and lazy, but Avinash suspected it was using some concealing treasure.
He was given a small courtyard tucked away in the Inner Sect's residential area. It was simple and quiet, with a few spirit trees growing around it. Nothing luxurious—but for someone who had lived countless lifetimes, the silence and solitude were welcome companions.
Avinash kept to himself. He cultivated diligently, trained quietly, and made no effort to draw attention.he chose the path of invisibility.
He wasn't the Chosen One.
And he didn't need to act like one.
But no matter how much he searched, he found no trace of the Ice Empress.
Not even a hint.
He even asked the System to scan the entire sect for her presence.
[System Notice: No other Child of Destiny detected within the sect. Only Ye Chen qualifies.]
A faint unease began to settle in his chest.
Then, a letter came from Princess Smriti.
A grand beast hunt was scheduled for the following year. It wasn't just a sect event—powerful clans and sects from all over the continent would attend. Even the Gu Family, the Phoenix Dynasty, and the Patliputra Dynasty were expected to send their core disciples.
Avinash's expression darkened.
He knew what that meant.
The devil would make his move soon.
Not a mythical devil—but a real one.
A devil cultivator hiding in plain sight within the Phoenix Dynasty: the third prince. A practitioner of the Blood Immortal Technique—a wicked path that consumed blood and souls for power.
Avinash didn't intend to save anyone.
That wasn't his purpose.
But the chaos the devil's appearance would cause... that, he could exploit.
Still, time was running out.
Leaving the sect—if only temporarily—might be the wisest course.
As for that swan beast…
"Tch. That lazy thing is always ready to fly off the moment I look away," Avinash muttered under his breath.
Decision made, he walked toward the Mission Hall.
It was time to accept a mission—and begin looking beyond these mountains.
The Mission Hall was a modest structure made of polished darkwood. Inside, rows of scrolls and notices lined the walls. A few disciples loitered near the counter, whispering and pointing.
Behind the desk sat a young woman, probably no older than eighteen. She had a bright smile and an air of mischief in her eyes as she sorted through mission slips.
Avinash stepped forward and asked politely, "Sister, I'm looking for a mission. One with good rewards… and hopefully, not too much work."
The receptionist looked up at him, gave him a once-over, and smirked.
"Little brother, huh? You're a straightforward one," she said with a soft chuckle. "Most try to act tough. You're the first to ask for an easy job out loud."
She rummaged through a stack of scrolls, clearly amused, and finally plucked one from the bottom.
"Here. Something just your speed," she said, stamping it with the sect seal and handing it over.
Avinash scratched his head in mild embarrassment, took the scroll, and muttered, "Thank you, sister."
He stepped out of the hall and made his way to the sect's southern gate. Showing the mission scroll to the guards, he received permission to leave and soared into the sky.
Hundreds of miles passed beneath him, the landscape slowly shifting from mountain to forest. When he reached a quiet glade near a riverbank, he descended and opened his beast pouch.
With a gust of wind and a flurry of feathers, the first thing that flew out was…
"YOU BASTARD! Greedy! Heartless! A disgrace to humans! I should've known not to trust a big-fat walking monkey like you!"
The swan beast flapped its wings furiously and hurled curses like a storm.
Avinash sighed.
"Still ungrateful, I see," he said flatly.
The swan glanced around, realizing it was outside the sect, and immediately soared into the sky with a squawk.
"You better not let me see you again, human!"
Avinash smirked and shouted, "If I do, I'll roast you this time!"
The swan screeched in fear and flapped its wings even faster, vanishing into the clouds.