The fox slowly exhaled.
A long breath escaped her lips.
Her gaze remained fixed upon the heavens.
*...The last strike.*
Silence.
*Everything...*
*Depends on this one.*
She slowly lowered her body.
Every muscle tensed.
The medicinal power still coursed through her meridians.
Just enough.
Enough to remain standing.
Enough to gamble everything.
Her eyes became incomparably calm.
There was no fear.
No hesitation.
Only absolute determination.
"...Come."
The heavens answered.
**BOOM!!**
The tribulation clouds exploded.
The final bolt descended.
It no longer resembled ordinary lightning.
Instead—
it became a blinding pillar connecting heaven and earth.
Every surrounding mountain trembled violently.
The air itself screamed beneath its overwhelming pressure.
The fox never moved.
She welcomed it head-on.
The pillar swallowed her completely.
**BOOOOOOM!!**
The earth shook.
The surrounding forest bent beneath the overwhelming shockwave.
Stone after stone exploded into dust.
The heavens remained illuminated.
For more than a minute—
the pillar continued descending without pause.
Refining.
Destroying.
Judging.
Only after that seemingly endless minute—
did the heavenly lightning finally begin to weaken.
The pillar gradually narrowed.
Then—
slowly faded away.
Silence returned.
The tribulation clouds began to disperse.
Layer by layer—
they drifted apart.
The oppressive pressure weighing upon the heavens vanished.
Sunlight slowly broke through the darkened sky once more.
Below—
the fox lay motionless at the center of an enormous crater.
Smoke continuously rose from her body.
Her fur had become almost completely charred.
The earth beneath her still crackled with lingering arcs of heavenly lightning.
Not even the slightest movement came from her.
Several breaths passed.
Then—
an invisible figure silently appeared beside the crater.
Lizarius.
His concealment remained active.
His calm golden gaze quietly settled upon the fox.
*...Still breathing.*
Her heartbeat—
although incredibly weak—
had not stopped.
Silence.
Then—
his eyes shifted slightly.
The surrounding spiritual qi...
Was changing.
From every direction—
countless streams of heaven and earth spiritual qi began converging toward the crater.
At first—
they appeared as faint wisps.
Then—
they became flowing rivers.
The surrounding atmosphere trembled.
The spiritual qi gathered faster and faster.
Without pause—
it flowed into the fox's body.
The lingering heavenly lightning within the crater was gradually drawn into her as well.
Its violent energy no longer sought to destroy.
Instead—
it peacefully merged with her flesh.
With her blood.
With every corner of her body.
The transformation...
Had begun.
Lizarius remained perfectly still.
Watching.
Calculating.
Waiting to see...
Whether the fox had truly crossed the final threshold.
Time quietly passed.
The gathering spiritual qi gradually dispersed.
Silence returned to the shattered valley.
At the center of the enormous crater—
the fox's body slowly began to change.
Her massive form steadily shrank.
Several metres...
Became two.
Then one.
Until she had completely returned to her ordinary size.
The terrifying wounds covering her body healed at a visible pace.
Burned flesh regenerated.
Scorched fur gradually recovered its original colour.
Even the countless fractures hidden throughout her body quietly disappeared.
Yet—
she never opened her eyes.
She remained completely motionless.
Deep in unconsciousness.
---
Lizarius silently watched.
His golden gaze carefully examined her body.
His vision pierced through flesh and bone.
Stopping at her dantian.
There—
the Beast Core no longer existed.
In its place—
a perfectly formed Golden Core quietly revolved.
Its aura was stable.
Its spiritual energy flowed without obstruction.
*...Successful.*
His thoughts remained calm.
*She crossed the final step.*
Only—
the tribulation had consumed everything she possessed.
Her body had instinctively entered a deep state of unconscious recovery.
Without another thought—
gravity quietly enveloped the fox.
Her unconscious body slowly floated into the air.
Lizarius leaped lightly onto her back.
The surrounding space rippled.
His concealment spread outward once more.
It wrapped around both himself...
And the fox.
Their figures quietly vanished.
Leaving behind—
only the ruined crater.
And the countless scars carved into the earth by the heavenly tribulation.
---
Some time later—
the invisible pair returned to the hidden valley.
The familiar waterfall continued cascading peacefully.
Nothing appeared unusual.
Lizarius descended toward the concealed entrance.
Then—
he suddenly stopped.
His pupils narrowed ever so slightly.
Silence.
Without making the slightest sound—
he altered his direction.
He plunged directly into the earth.
The surrounding stone offered no resistance.
His body passed through it as though it had become water.
Several moments later—
he emerged within the underground cavern.
Still invisible.
Silence.
The cave...
Was empty.
His golden gaze slowly swept across the surroundings.
The pile of spirit stones—
gone.
The scattered belongings—
gone.
At the center of the cavern—
where the Crimson Vein Blood Tree had once stood rooted—
only a massive pit remained.
The tree...
Had been uprooted completely.
Not even a fragment remained.
Nothing.
Silence filled the cavern.
Lizarius remained perfectly still.
*...Someone found it.*
His thoughts remained calm.
There was no anger.
Only analysis.
*The tribulation.*
*The heavenly lightning attracted attention.*
It had been unavoidable.
Even though the fox had remained concealed throughout most of the journey—
the location where the tribulation ultimately descended had still been exposed.
His glowing eyes slowly swept across the cavern once more.
Everything of value had been taken.
Everything ordinary had been erased.
But...
Not everything.
His pupils emitted a faint golden radiance.
The world before him subtly changed.
Countless invisible traces gradually emerged.
Residual auras.
Lingering scents.
Fragments so faint that ordinary cultivators would never have perceived them.
One belonged to the Crimson Vein Blood Tree itself.
Its lingering life aura still clung to the shattered earth.
The remaining traces...
Belonged to two different individuals.
Lizarius slowly lowered his head.
His nostrils flared once.
He silently memorized both scents.
Every subtle distinction.
Every lingering fluctuation.
Without overlooking a single detail.
The cavern fell silent once more.
His golden eyes remained fixed upon the faint trails leading away from the chamber.
*...Two.*
*Not one.*
His gaze slowly shifted toward the tunnel through which those lingering scents disappeared into the distance.
He now knew...
Exactly what he would be hunting next.
Lizarius remained motionless for several long breaths.
His glowing eyes quietly examined every remaining trace.
*...This place is no longer safe.*
The conclusion came naturally.
The cave had already been exposed.
Returning here again would only invite unnecessary danger.
Without another glance—
he turned away.
The unconscious fox remained suspended beneath him by the pull of gravity.
His invisible figure slipped silently back into the earth.
The surrounding stone flowed around them without the slightest resistance.
---
Some time later—
deep beneath another mountain range—
Lizarius emerged within a different underground cavern.
Unlike the previous one—
this cave was much smaller.
A quiet underground pond occupied one side of the chamber.
Its water remained perfectly still.
Not a single ripple disturbed its glass-like surface.
There were no visible entrances.
No tunnels.
Nothing.
The surrounding rock had already fused back together.
Completely sealing the chamber from the outside world.
Only Lizarius himself retained a path through the earth.
He slowly lowered the unconscious fox onto a broad, flat stone beside the pond.
She remained asleep.
Her breathing had become slow and steady.
Within her dantian—
the newly formed Golden Core revolved peacefully.
Its aura remained stable.
Her injuries continued healing on their own.
Lizarius silently observed her for a brief moment.
*...This will do.*
Without another thought—
he stepped directly into the cave wall.
His body disappeared into solid stone.
---
An hour later—
far away—
the original hidden valley suddenly trembled.
Then—
the earth collapsed.
The mountain exploded from within.
Stone shattered.
The surrounding cliffs folded inward.
Countless tons of rock crashed downward.
The exposed cavern disappeared beneath the avalanche.
The waterfall vanished beneath the collapse.
The valley itself was transformed beyond recognition.
Nothing remained to suggest that a hidden cavern had ever existed there.
Only an enormous landslide remained.
Silent beneath the evening sky.
---
Night quietly descended.
The moon hung high above the mountains.
Silver moonlight blanketed the endless forests below.
Lizarius flew soundlessly through the darkness.
Still concealed.
Not even the faintest ripple betrayed his presence.
His senses remained fixed upon the two lingering scents he had memorized.
They stretched continuously through forests.
Across rivers.
Over mountain ranges.
Like two invisible threads—
guiding him steadily onward.
Hours quietly passed.
The landscape beneath him changed again and again.
Towering peaks gave way to rolling hills.
Dense forests gradually thinned.
Signs of human activity became increasingly common.
Well-travelled roads.
Abandoned campsites.
Small villages nestled between the mountains.
Yet—
Lizarius never slowed.
His attention remained wholly focused upon the lingering scents.
Every so often—
he paused.
Hovering silently above the wilderness.
His golden eyes would sweep across the land below.
Confirming the direction.
Confirming the strength of the trails.
Then—
he continued.
Neither scent had faded.
Neither had attempted to conceal itself after leaving the valley.
Whoever had taken the Crimson Vein Blood Tree...
Clearly hadn't expected anyone to follow.
Or perhaps—
they simply believed no one could.
His expression remained unchanged.
His thoughts calm.
*...Careless.*
Silence.
The night wind drifted through the forests below.
Branches swayed gently beneath the moonlight.
Only Lizarius continued moving through the darkness.
Invisible.
Soundless.
Patient.
Time continued to pass.
Eventually—
lights appeared upon the distant horizon.
Faint at first.
Like scattered stars resting upon the earth.
Then—
they gradually became clearer.
Walls.
Watchtowers.
Countless buildings.
Lanterns illuminated broad streets.
Voices drifted faintly through the cool night air.
A city.
Lizarius finally slowed.
Hovering silently beyond the outer walls.
His glowing golden eyes calmly swept across the bustling settlement below.
Despite the late hour—
the city remained lively.
Merchants continued calling out from brightly lit market stalls.
Spirit beasts pulled heavily laden carriages through the wide streets.
Cultivators came and went without pause.
Some travelled alone.
Others moved in small groups.
Occasionally—
armoured guards patrolled the walls.
Their vigilant gazes swept across the darkness beyond the city.
Completely unaware—
that an invisible predator already overlooked them.
Lizarius remained motionless.
His senses quietly expanded.
The lingering scents...
Had not disappeared.
Instead—
they became even clearer.
One entered through the eastern gate.
The other—
had followed shortly behind.
Neither remained outside.
His pupils narrowed slightly.
The scents continued winding through the streets.
Crossing district after district.
Before finally converging...
At the very heart of the city.
Silence.
Lizarius quietly observed the bustling settlement for several moments.
His expression remained unreadable.
*...They're still inside.*
His gaze lingered upon the countless lanterns illuminating the city below.
*...Good.*
Without another sound—
his invisible figure slowly descended toward the towering walls.
The night remained peaceful.
Unaware—
that another hunt...
Was about to begin.