Beastmaster of the Nine Realms

In a world where the creatures of Shan Hai Jing are real, beast tamers are the most powerful cultivators. Su Yun was a stable boy who accidentally bonded with a Qiongqi — a winged tiger from the ancient texts, supposedly untamable. When the Nine Realms Tournament is announced — a competition to capture and bond with the most dangerous mythical beasts — Su Yun enters with nothing but a rope, a half-starved Qiongqi cub, and the desperate hope of saving his village from a corrupt sect. He doesn't need to win. He just needs to survive beasts that eat winners for breakfast.