After getting injured, the little white fox found it difficult to fight two Myriad Manifestation Realm Level 9 demonic beasts alone.
Once the two beasts clashed, her chance would come.
But suddenly, as if sensing danger, both beasts turned to look at the sky and let out fierce roars, warning off intruders.
The fox looked in the direction where the beasts bared their fangs. A black light flashed into view.
In an instant, the black light that had been far off approached the forest.
She then saw it was a black-robed warrior. Noticing the beasts by the lake, he stopped and hovered mid-air.
The Azurescale Dragon Python and Ebonwing Cloud Leopard sensed the approaching danger. Spiritual energy glowed around them as they prepared to fight the black-robed warrior to the death.
"Two Myriad Manifestation Realm Level 9 beasts. Well, though they're beasts, their strength is sufficient—勉强 (barely) worthy for blood sacrifice."
The black-robed warrior muttered, waving his hand. Two black lights struck the python and leopard like lightning.
The beasts resisted with their innate magical powers, but they were no match for the warrior. Their powers were instantly shattered.
The black lights pierced their bodies, severing their life force.
The python and leopard twitched before collapsing before the fox.
The warrior descended, stored the beasts in his Sumeru Ring, and glanced toward the fox's hiding spot as if aware of her spying.
He didn't attack, though, and vanished into the sky.
"What a terrifying human warrior—at least Void Transformation Realm Level 1. He killed those two beasts like chickens. Lucky I have a treasure to hide my cultivation, or I'd have been caught!"
After the warrior left, the fox collapsed against the tree, gasping. It had been a brush with death; she could hardly believe there had been two Myriad Manifestation Realm beasts there.
"But what's this 'blood sacrifice' he mentioned? Are they using Spirit Mountain's beasts to sacrifice, begging the Demon Ancestor for blessings?"
The fox pondered the warrior's words, confused.
The Five Great Saint Clans of Manggu Continent also hunted beasts for blood sacrifices, but having betrayed the demon race and mixed with human blood, they weren't favored by demons.
Thus, they sacrificed to the founding ancestors of their respective Sacred Mountains, who occasionally woke from slumber to respond.
Lucky sacrificers would receive blessings and baptisms, boosting their cultivation, bones, and potential.
"Oh right, the lotus flowers...!"
The fox remembered the lakeside lotuses and jumped up excitedly.
Why the warrior had left the treasures behind was a mystery, but with no beasts in the way, all the lotuses were hers.
She pounced to the shore, plucked the lotus seedpods with her furry paws, and peeled the seeds, gobbling them like melon seeds until none were left.
Then she stretched and fell asleep under the lotuses.
As she slept, wisps of frost energy emerged from her body, cocooning her like a silkworm before freezing her into a large block of ice.
Crack!
Days later, a faint sound came from the ice, followed by a spiderweb of cracks.
In an instant, the ice shattered, revealing a beautiful girl in a white dress curled up, a faint smile on her lips as if in a sweet dream.
She opened her eyes, stretched, and sat up lazily. "That was a good sleep!"
When she first transformed on the altar, the fox-girl looked childish, about fourteen. Now she was a stunning young woman in her early twenties, her beauty blooming.
In just days, she had undergone a drastic change, and her cultivation had soared—now only a step away from Void Transformation Realm.
One more opportunity might push her over the edge.
Lin Yu was also hunting Myriad Manifestation Realm Level 9 beasts in Spirit Mountain, feeding them to Lord Cauldron.
The cauldron devoured not just beasts but also heavenly materials, earthly treasures, spiritual herbs, and immortal fruits, refining them to feed Lin Yu with a steady stream of spiritual energy.
His strength grew steadily; he would soon break through to Void Transformation Realm.
"Kid, there's something good up ahead in that river valley. Go check it out."
As Lin Yu reached a dry riverbed, Lord Cauldron—busy devouring beasts and treasures—spoke up.
He approached the valley. If Lord Cauldron called it "good," it must be a rare treasure.
The dry riverbed was full of rubble; nothing seemed unusual at first.
"See that round stone ahead? Split it open."
Lord Cauldron directed him to a smooth, naturally formed rock.
Lin Yu nodded and slashed it with a sword qi.
Crack!
The rock split, but only the upper half—something inside had blocked the qi.
Realizing this must be the treasure, Lin Yu struck again, shattering the rock to reveal a fist-sized black stone.
It shimmered with golden specks in the sun, its surface covered in fine pores. The stone seemed to "breathe," inhaling spiritual energy and exhaling golden light.
"Lord Cauldron, what is this?"
Lin Yu asked curiously.
"Wind Spirit Meteor Gold—a celestial iron from outer space. With this, I can help you recast the Wind Control Sword. You're about to enter Void Transformation Realm, after all—Myriad Manifestation Realm weapons no longer suit you."
Lord Cauldron chuckled, urging Lin Yu to take the stone.
The moment Lin Yu stored the meteor gold, he frowned and looked behind him.
A black light was streaking toward him through the sky.