2: Chapter 2 The CEO Disliked by the Empress

How much had she sacrificed?

It was not just the brush with death in the Northern Abyss.

To persuade her Family to exhaust their resources in support of her, she even had to confess her identity as a reincarnated person to her father, the Clan Chief!

That was her greatest secret.

Had it not been to secure absolute trust and a tilt in resources, she would never have revealed a single shred of it.

The look of shock, ecstasy, and subsequent full support from her father was still vivid in her mind.

Although the Family Elders were skeptical, under her father's staunch support, they overcame opposition and mobilized a near-massive amount of resources for her.

All her hopes, the entirety of her efforts for this second life... just a moment ago, were swallowed in one gulp by a Gecko that had crawled out from who knows which wall crack!

All her efforts were wasted!

And the result was thousands of times worse than the Moonlight Wolf from her past life!

The Moonlight Wolf was, at the very least, a proper War Beast, possessing an extraordinary Bloodline and capable of growing alongside her Cultivate.

But what about a Gecko? Apart from catching mosquitoes, what use could it possibly have?

It didn't even count as the lowest rank of Common Beast; it was just a purely ordinary creature!

What was even more fatal was that a Life-Bound War Beast could not be changed!

This was the iron Law of the Universe.

Once the contract was completed, their Souls would be symbiotic, and their lives would be intertwined.

If one flourished, both flourished; if one suffered, both suffered.

The potential of a War Beast would affect the growth ceiling of a Beast Tamer, and the strength of a Beast Tamer could, in turn, nourish the War Beast.

Once intimacy reached a certain level, the two could even share certain ability traits.

She, the Human Race Empress of her past life, a future Divine-Grade powerhouse, was now bound in life and death to... a Gecko?

"No!!!"

Xia Youchu lunged forward fiercely.

Her slender, fair fingers pinched the little Gecko that was still savoring its meal.

"Spit it out! Spit it out for me!"

She shook Ling Tian vigorously, attempting to shake out the Nine-Winged Golden Cicada that had not yet been fully digested.

Ling Tian was immersed in the warm, comfortable sensation brought by digesting that golden pupa, and being disturbed like this, he immediately squirmed in annoyance.

[Ding! Consumed "Nine-Winged Golden Cicada (Juvenile)", gained Evolution Points +1000!]

[Strength, Agility, Stamina, and Spirit have increased significantly!]

[Obtained special trait: [Foundation of Nine Transformations] (Golden Legend)!]

[Trait effect: Each time the life rank evolves, you may additionally select one body part for an extra strengthening transformation.]

[Evolution Points have met the advancement requirements; do you wish to begin evolution immediately?]

A series of System notification sounds rang in Ling Tian's mind, making him overjoyed.

One thousand Evolution Points!

And a Golden trait! An extra transformation opportunity!

This was a huge profit!

He hadn't expected the pupa he just ate to be so top-tier!

Looking at the fierce-looking Xia Youchu, Ling Tian immediately shouted in his mind: "Evolve! Immediately! Right now!"

Outside, seeing that shaking was ineffective, a flash of ruthlessness crossed Xia Youchu's eyes.

She formed her fingers into a sword shape, and a wisp of pure Yuan Power gathered at her fingertips, about to slice toward Ling Tian's bloated little belly!

Even if she could only salvage a bit of the Nine-Winged Golden Cicada's Origin, it would be better than...

However, she soon discovered that the unique and sacred aura of the Nine-Winged Golden Cicada within the Gecko had completely vanished.

It finished digesting it?

In just a few seconds?!

Xia Youchu's fingers froze in mid-air, and she fell into complete despair.

What kind of Gecko was this? Its digestive System was so Heaven-Defying?!

"Heh... hehe..."

She released her hand, letting Ling Tian drop to the floor, while she retreated powerlessly two steps, leaning against the cold wall, and let out a bitter laugh.

It was over.

Everything was over.

A Life-Bound War Beast could not be replaced; once contracted, it was a lifelong bond.

Unless one party died, the Soul link would never be broken.

And if a Life-Bound War Beast died, it would be a near-devastating blow to the Beast Tamer: the Soul would be severely damaged, the Foundation would be impaired, and they would struggle to make any progress for the rest of their life.

She, Xia Youchu, returned from Rebirth, and her future path had actually been locked shut... by a Gecko?

The strength of a Beast Tamer lay in the nourishment from their War Beast and coordinated combat.

The higher the War Beast's potential, the faster the Beast Tamer grew, and the stronger the power they could command.

This was the mainstream of the current world; it was the fastest and most powerful power System, verified countless times.

Cultivation Realms, from low to high, were divided into: Yuan Disciple, Yuan Practitioner, Yuan Master, Grand Yuan Master, Yuan Spirit, Yuan King, Yuan Emperor, Yuan Emperor, Primordial Spirit. Each major Realm was further divided into nine stars.

Beast Tamers and War Beasts were symbiotically linked in Soul, and their Realm advancement promoted each other.

A Beast Tamer with a high-potential War Beast had a Cultivation speed far exceeding their peers.

Conversely, if the Life-Bound War Beast had low potential...

Xia Youchu glanced at the Gecko dazed on the floor, and her heart sank to the bottom.

Relying on it for nourishment?

It was likely struggling just to survive itself! Let alone helping her Cultivate!

She might even be dragged down by this Gecko, with a Cultivation speed inferior to an ordinary person!

Was she, having lived a second life, destined to repeat the tragedy of her past life?

No, it might even be worse than her past life!

In her past life, at least she had the Moonlight Wolf; although its potential was insufficient, it was a reliable partner in the early stages.

What about this life? A Gecko?

Despair, like a tide, crashed against her mind wave after wave.

But just then, deep in her eyes, the pride belonging to the Empress of her past life reignited!

No!

I, Xia Youchu, was able to ascend to the Emperor Realm; it was never just by relying on War Beasts!

Even without a powerful Life-Bound War Beast, I still have the memories of my past life, my understanding of Law, and countless powerful Cultivation Techniques and combat skills!

If the path of the Beast Tamer was blocked, then I would take another path: Ancient Martial Arts cultivation!

Using oneself as the Universe, excavating the hidden treasures of the human body, not relying on external objects, but solely on oneself!

This path, in this era where Beast Taming was mainstream, was viewed as difficult with a low ceiling, a deviant path.

But Xia Youchu knew that in the ancient era, there were great cultivators who specialized in the self, whose fists could shatter stars and feet could split mountains and rivers, equally powerful and unmatched!

It was just that this path required more resources, enduring more loneliness and tempering, and without a Life-Bound War Beast to share damage and provide support, it would be even more dangerous.

But, she had no other choice!

Thinking of this, Xia Youchu's eyes became sharp and firm once again.

The majesty belonging to the Empress returned to her once more.

She walked forward, picked up the Gecko from the floor again, held it before her eyes, and forced those tiny eyes to meet her gaze.

"Listen," her voice was cold, carrying unquestionable majesty, "I don't know how you were able to swallow my Nine-Winged Golden Cicada. But since, by some twist of fate, you have become my Life-Bound War Beast, then there are some rules you must follow!"

Ling Tian was currently in a subtle state before evolution, feeling as if countless little ants were crawling inside his body, itchy and hot, and his perception of the outside world was somewhat blurred.

He only saw an extremely beautiful young girl's face, chattering away at him.

He tried hard to concentrate, wanting to convey his thoughts: "Woman, stop yapping! Hurry up and prepare some food! Once I finish evolving, I'll take you to eat and drink well, and we will dominate the Universe!"

However, his Soul strength at this moment was truly too weak; the thoughts he conveyed were only a series of vague desires: "Hungry! Eat! Eat, eat, eat!"

Upon receiving these thoughts, Xia Youchu felt a tightness in her chest, almost gasping for air.

Eat, eat, eat! All you know is how to eat!

Wasn't swallowing my Nine-Winged Golden Cicada just now enough?!

She suppressed the urge to crush this thing to death, took a deep breath, and said coldly: "From today on, you will stay in this Quiet Room and are not allowed to leave a single step! I will provide the most basic food for you to keep you alive. But if you dare to step out of here, or cause me any more trouble..."

Her eyes became sharp: "I wouldn't mind risking damage to my Soul just to clear away an accident like you!"

After speaking, she ignored the protests of the little thing in her hand and gently placed it on a soft cushion in the corner of the room.

"Stay here properly!"

Leaving behind this sentence, Xia Youchu turned resolutely and left the Quiet Room.

She had decided; since this Gecko was destined not to be an asset, she would treat it as a "pendant" that needed protection.

Imprisoned in this absolutely safe Quiet Room, providing the minimum survival guarantee, ensuring it would not die and implicate her.

And she would completely abandon the path of the Beast Tamer, fully devote herself to Ancient Martial Arts cultivation, and rely on herself to carve out a bloody path!