Born from the cosmic chaos preceding human civilization, the Ancestral Yaoguai emerged as the first shapeshifting entity, fragmenting its essence across countless forms while retaining a singular consciousness. Ancient texts from multiple civilizations describe encounters with this primordial trickster, though each culture interpreted its manifestations through their unique mythological frameworks, never recognizing they faced the same fundamental force of nature.

The Ancestral Yaoguai exists simultaneously as both singular and plural, capable of manifesting aspects of itself across multiple locations while maintaining a cohesive consciousness. Its true form remains unknowable, though it favors hybrid manifestations that combine features from multiple animal species with ethereal elements that defy physical laws. The entity feeds on human curiosity and fear, growing stronger whenever cryptid lore is shared or investigated, which explains the persistent nature of cryptid sightings throughout human history.

The Ancestral Yaoguai serves as the living repository of all cryptid knowledge and abilities, distributing aspects of its power to worthy descendants while reclaiming the essence of those that fade from human memory. It maintains the delicate balance between revelation and mystery in the cryptid world, ensuring humans glimpse just enough to sustain belief without gaining complete understanding.