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He was dying. At fourteen years old… How could the heavens be so unjust? Was being born poor and talentless a sin?!

Even though his parents were lowly mortal farmers with many kids, he was the one they gave the opportunity to go cultivate. They nearly sold everything for him to get such an opportunity, hoping he would make it and save them afterwards. He managed to get into a sect thanks to them. It was a very low-ranked one but it was still a sect. A place where the chosen ones trained and pursued immortality… He had dreamt of it so many times back when he was even younger.

Yet, the dream was very different from the reality. Inside the sect, he was just one more newcomer. At the bottom. Still, he worked hard and diligently. He went to every lesson, even those he had already assisted, in case he had missed something. He did his best, spending most of the time learning or cultivating, rarely mingling with others.

And one day, he managed to enter the spiritual accumulation realm. From there, it became obvious that he would need external resources to grow further. Wild spiritual energy was no longer enough to support him. But resources weren't given to anyone and everyone. He needed to work for it, nothing was free. But he never complained and took odd jobs that he could do in the sect. Sweeping the grounds, cleaning arenas by wiping the bloodstains off, helping at the dining hall… He worked hard to get resources. And yet… He was forced to surrender them every time to a group of a bully.

Regardless of how hard he worked, they took everything from him. The first time, he blamed it on his bad luck but the second time…He knew he was screwed. But he still arbored hope. They crushed it the third time. They robbed him for three consecutive months of hard work. They got the resources even though they never did anything…

This injustice wasn't something he could tolerate any longer so, he went to tattle to an elder. And what happened? He was led here by the group of bullies and beaten to death. What happened? Probably, they bought the elder. Elders too needed resources after all. This was a small sect.

He couldn't even curse anymore as his strength was leaving him. He wanted revenge but, even more than that, he felt sorry for his family. They had gambled everything for him… and he would never ever be able to repay their kindness.

As death approached, he began to tear up and felt fear. He mustered the remaining strength he had to pray: "Gods, Devils, whoever, anyone, please, someone punish these fuckers and give them a gruesome death in my stead. Mother, Father, sorry, your son was trash and couldn't do anything for you"

And a few seconds later, he saw something descending from the trees. It was a big bird at least a meter tall. An owl. And judging from its size, definitely a spiritual beast. If he had the strength, he would have laughed. He just pleaded for mercy and, as if to mock him, the heavens sent a spiritual beast to devour him alive.

What a pitiful end.

He could see the owl approaching yet he couldn't move. He was scared, angry, sad, despairing, regretful… He closed his eyes, hoping silently for his life to end quickly so he felt less pain. However, the death didn't come. Instead, he felt something nudge his arm gently. He opened his eyes and saw the owl nudging his hand with its beak towards something… A pill? A pill?! It was a pill!

His last vitality flared up as he grabbed the pill and ate it. A peak of adrenaline rushed into him as he saw a way to survive. Instinctively, he reached for it with all he had left in him. If it had been a subconscious illusion, he would have died right after from exhausting his final abilities. But it wasn't. It was a true medicinal pellet.

He could feel his internal injuries heal little by little and his strength coming back. The pill wouldn't be enough though but he would be able to survive. He looked at the owl. This spiritual beast saved him. Before he could think further, two more pills popped out near one of the owl's claws. That's when he noticed that there were a dozen spatial rings on the claws of this owl.

He lightly smiled as he thought that even a random spiritual beast was wealthier than him.

Then, he grabbed the pills and ate them. The medicinal properties entered his body and revitalized it. His injuries would be cured in a bit more than a hour, enough so that he could go back to the sect infirmary. This was enough.

Moments later, he regained enough strength to speak and said: "Thank you, brother owl, I won't ever forget your kindness"

He didn't expect anything else from this creature. Maybe, it belonged to a senior who took pity on him? Maybe it was a passer-by? Regardless, it was someone that didn't want to show himself. Not once did he entertain the thought that the beast was alone.

Until he saw what the owl did next. It took out a blank paper, ink and a feather from another bird from its spatial ring. Then, it dipped the feather into the ink. Finally, it began to write words on the paper. Once he seemed satisfied with itself, or looked like it, the owl turned the paper towards him so he could read.

The handwriting was messy. Considering the owl was using a wing to write, it was expected to be so. Regardless, it was readable. And that made it impressive in its own way. He had never seen or even heard of a spiritual beast able to do this, even if instructed by its owner… Spiritual beasts were supposed to only understand the simplest of commands. Yet, here there was one who could write human language? And a bird-type at that. He would never again feel insulted if someone called him a bird-brain. This was just how shocking this was.

As for what was written, he only read it a moment later, once he had calmed down from the surprise. It read: "Do you want revenge? Do you want strength?"

At this moment, he had a thought. It was very silly but it appeared in his mind. What if this bird was the legendary auspicious senior looking for a chosen one to pass on his legacy? What if he would be granted a superior technique that would enable him to reach the heavens and rule the lands?! It got him excited. One couldn't blame him. He was a fourteen-year-old who just survived from a savage beat-up to wake up to such a mystical situation.

He nodded his head fervently. Nothing happened. Then, it hit him that maybe the owl didn't understand head movements? Or the one behind the beast couldn't see and only hear? He hurried to say: "Yes, brother owl, yes, I do!"

The owl seemed to nod but he believed it to be his imagination. It would be weird otherwise… The owl took back the paper and began to write once more. He eagerly awaited the next sentences. Soon, the paper was turned back towards him and it read: "This owl here can grant you that wish but for a corresponding price"

Who cared about paying a price? He would have died without this owl and he would likely be taken back here to die soon enough if he returned to the sect. Whatever price it was, it would be nicer than being beaten up to death for a second time.

He said to the owl: "Whatever the price, I'm willing to pay, brother owl!"

The owl seemed to nod once again. Once might be a coincidence, but twice? He began to reevaluate this spiritual beast. It might be extraordinary to have such incredible intellect. Whoever was controlling it would definitely be a master amongst masters! It excited him even further.

The owl began to write again and, what he read next confused him greatly: "Then, make an equal's contract with this owl and we will talk further"

An equal's contract was something that beast tamers did when they encountered spiritual beasts too strong for them to overwhelm and tame. But, before any of that, how could he dare do this? It would mean severing the link it had with its owner first! Wouldn't he send the master in rage if he attempted such a thing?!

He hurried to shake his head sideways as he quickly spoke: "I don't dare! I don't dare!"

The owl seemed infuriated by those words.