A Rip-Off System

Going against the beast tide was definitely one of Lin Kun's most thrilling (and suicidal) decisions ever.

Countless rats, venomous snakes, and centipedes surged past his feet like a black tide, emitting a grating rustle and hiss. The stench assaulted him, and several times he was almost hit or tripped by panicked spirit beasts.

"Oh my god! This is more crowded and terrifying than the subway during rush hour in my previous life!" Lin Kun pushed his [Basic Movement Technique Mastery] to its absolute limit, becoming like a fallen leaf in a gale, narrowly dodging wave after wave of the onslaught. His mind was intensely focused, [Insight Skill] fully active, predicting the gaps in the beast tide.

The academy teachers watching from afar were on the edge of their seats, their hands itching to fire signal flares multiple times. "Is this kid crazy?! Charging into the beast tide? Risking his life for a few Wind Whisper Grass?!"

The scouts from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect were equally stunned, rapidly recording: "Target's behavior is extremely abnormal. Possibly being influenced by some entity, actively seeking death? Or possesses a peculiar fetish? (Referring to being trampled by spirit beasts)."

Lin Kun had no time to care what others thought. He was currently sustained by pure greed (and an intense craving for his Book Spirit). That faint white light flickered behind the chaotic beast tide, like a guiding beacon.

The deeper he went, the sparser the beast tide became. However, the remaining spirit beasts were clearly older, with many decades or even nearly a century old, their eyes growing more ferocious.

Lin Kun's pressure increased dramatically, and several bloody gashes had already appeared on his body. He gritted his teeth, his mental power draining rapidly as he maintained his movement technique and insight.

Finally, he broke through the densest part of the beast tide, and his vision suddenly cleared. The scene in a clearing deep in the valley made him gasp!

In the center of the clearing, a peculiar small tree was withering at a visible rate! Its branches and leaves were scorched black, as if its vitality had been drained from within by some power. At the base of the withered tree lay a fist-sized, pure white object emitting a soft yet pure glow... an egg?

The surface of the egg had naturally formed, complex, and arcane silver patterns. The pure spiritual energy that attracted his Book Spirit was emanating from within the egg! And the frantic escape of the surrounding spirit beasts seemed to be due to their fear of some power that might be released when this egg hatched or broke?

"What kind of spirit beast's egg is this? The energy is so pure and powerful!" Lin Kun was both shocked and delighted. The craving from his Book Spirit was almost breaking through the heavens, its light crystals flashing wildly, indicating a tremendous opportunity!

Just as he was about to step forward for a closer look, the white egg suddenly vibrated violently! The silver patterns on its surface flared with light!

"Crack!"

A faint crack appeared at the top of the eggshell! A more refined, yet unstable and ferocious spiritual energy erupted!

[Warning! High energy reaction! Unknown spirit-type spirit beast about to hatch! Energy unstable, potential for spirit shock!] the Book Spirit sent an urgent alert.

Lin Kun's expression changed, and he instinctively wanted to retreat. But at that moment, the system's infuriating prompt sounded again, ill-timed as ever:

[Ding! Rare special event detected: Birth of an ancient spirit-type spirit beast.] [Triggered Limit Mission: Soul Partner.] [Mission Requirements: Establish a preliminary spiritual link with the spirit beast at the moment of hatching (Host must comprehend the method).] [Mission Rewards: Unknown spirit beast partner (extremely high growth potential), 500 Breakdown Points, special skill [Spirit Resonance].] [Failure Penalty: Suffer severe spiritual backlash, soul damage, becoming an idiot (70% probability) or direct brain death (30% probability).] [Mission Tip: Feel with your heart, connect with mental threads, embrace it with your spiritual power! Good luck!]

Lin Kun: "???" Good luck my ass! Is this failure penalty something a carbon-based lifeform could even come up with?! It's either becoming an idiot or dying instantly! This is a death trap!

Seeing the cracks on the eggshell multiplying and the emanating spiritual fluctuations becoming more unstable, Lin Kun fell into extreme struggle.

Run? He might make it, but missing this immense opportunity would be truly painful, and his Book Spirit seemed to be desperately craving it. Go forward? The cost of failure was too dire! It was gambling with his life!

"Damn it! Fortune favors the bold! I'm going for it!" The thought of facing the combined pressure of Tang San and Ning Rongrong upon his return spurred a surge of determination in Lin Kun. "It's just a spiritual link, isn't it? I have Mental Threads!"

He charged forward abruptly, simultaneously unleashing all his Mental Threads with full force, like gentle tendrils, cautiously wrapping around the egg that was about to shatter!

The moment his Mental Threads touched the eggshell—

The egg completely cracked open!

There was no earth-shattering roar, only a silent, yet soul-tearing shriek that erupted violently! A tangible spiritual storm spread out from the hatching point!

"Pfft—!" Lin Kun bore the brunt of it, as if struck by a heavy blow. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his brain feeling like it was being pierced by billions of needles. His vision went black, and he almost passed out! His Mental Threads were instantly torn to shreds!

The academy teachers and sect scouts in the distance, though farther away, also felt a strong wave of spiritual dizziness, their faces turning pale with shock!

"Not good! It's a spirit shock!" The academy teacher, suppressing his discomfort, prepared to rush over and save him!

But amidst this destructive spiritual storm, Lin Kun, relying on his strong will to survive and his recently enhanced mental power, managed to maintain a sliver of clarity! He felt his Book Spirit erupt with unprecedented brilliance, desperately protecting the core of his consciousness!

"Connect... connect..." his blurry intent struggled, recalling the system's nonsensical words: "Feel with your heart, connect with mental threads, embrace it with your spiritual power."

He abandoned all resistance, making his remaining mental power extremely gentle, like a warm stream of water. Instead of trying to connect, he tried to "embrace" the nascent, fearful, and confused consciousness at the center of the storm.

"Don't be afraid... don't be afraid..." he conveyed vague goodwill with his own intent.

The violent spiritual storm seemed to pause slightly. At the center of the storm, a palm-sized, snow-white, fluffy little creature, resembling a small fox and a small ermine, opened its eyes. They were blue eyes as pure as crystal, filled with nascent bewilderment and fear of everything around it.

It felt Lin Kun's faint yet warm intent, like grasping a piece of driftwood in a raging ocean, and instinctively moved towards that intent.

Lin Kun had a flash of inspiration. He condensed another trace of a subtle Mental Thread and gently, like a caress, touched the little beast's forehead.

This time, there was no resistance, no storm. A faint but incredibly clear sense of closeness and connection was established through the Mental Thread.

The spiritual storm slowly subsided.

[Ding! Limit Mission [Soul Partner] completed! Rewards: Spirit Beast Partner (Unnamed), 500 Breakdown Points, special skill [Spirit Resonance] have been issued.]

Lin Kun collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air, his body soaked in cold sweat and blood, his head throbbing, but a look of ecstatic joy spread across his face!

He succeeded! His gamble paid off!

The snow-white little beast crawled unsteadily out of the eggshell, tilted its head curiously at the collapsed Lin Kun, then let out a faint "chirp." It wobbled over to Lin Kun's face and nudged his cheek with its fluffy little head. A cool, gentle spiritual power entered Lin Kun's mind, alleviating his headache.

"Little guy... I'll call you 'Little White' from now on..." Lin Kun smiled weakly, his vision went black, and he completely lost consciousness from exhaustion.

In the distance, the academy teachers and sect scouts exchanged stunned glances, seeing the utter shock in each other's eyes.

Academy Teacher: "Just now... was that... a spiritual link? Did he subdue that spirit beast?" Sect Scout: "Target... suspected of successfully forming a contract with an unknown high-level spirit-type spirit beast?! Intelligence level: Top Secret! Must be reported to the young lady immediately!"