Chapter 3

03.

I took a closer look.

Grandmaster was right; the little snake had almost no spiritual energy.

On top of that, it was severely wounded, emitting a faint scent of rotting flesh.

Having suffered a gruesome death because of a spirit beast, I had zero desire to tie myself to another burden.

A half-dead creature suited me just fine.

“No need to change. I choose him.”

Before Grandmaster could protest further, Yvaine rushed forward, slicing my fingertip and pressing my blood onto the little snake.

A faint glow enveloped the serpent.

The soul pact was sealed.

Yvaine looked at me smugly. “Since Senior Sister chose it, this serpent must have hidden talents. Grandmaster, do not stop her.”

According to Highcrest rules, no matter how powerful a cultivator became, they could only bond with one spirit beast in their lifetime.

With the contract complete, even Grandmaster was powerless to undo it.

As I turned to leave, he caught my arm, his voice filled with concern.

“Lysandra, the trial for the heir position begins in one month. You must train with everything you have.”

“I do not know why you picked that wretched snake, but I trust your judgment. Take this Tier-Three Bone-Tempering Pill and feed it to the creature.”

Looking at the rare pill in his palm, I gently pushed his hand away.

I knew how hard it was to refine a Tier-Three pill.

As Grandmaster’s top disciple, I did not need to rely on a beast to secure the heir title anyway.

Even so, Grandmaster kept sending endless supplies of rare herbs and medicines to my cave over the next few days.

Seeing the mangled snake struggling to drag its rotting body toward the herbs, a rare flicker of pity stirred in my chest.

I lifted him out of the cage and placed him directly into the pile of spirit medicine.

His fate was in his own hands now.

In my previous life, I had reached the peak of the Golden Core realm, just one step away from the Nascent Soul realm.

Because Huxley could never advance, I transferred my own vital energy into him for over a decade.

I thought we were soulmates, only to find out I had nourished a venomous viper with my own blood.

Taking a deep breath, I entered a state of secluded meditation.