High above the endless canopy of the Azure Root Forest, cold wind currents surged violently through the night sky.
Seven Golden Core cultivators remained scattered across the heavens, their divine senses sweeping endlessly through the forest below in relentless search patterns.
Then—
Lizarius's thoughts moved quietly.
*What are their cultivation levels?*
The cold, mechanical voice of the system answered instantly within his mind.
**[Analysis Complete]**
**[Detected Cultivation Levels:]**
**2 — Early Golden Core (Peak Early Stage)**
**1 — Mid Golden Core (Early Mid Stage)**
**2 — Mid Golden Core (Middle Mid Stage)**
**1 — Mid Golden Core (Late Mid Stage)**
**1 — Late Golden Core Stage**
Lizarius's golden eyes narrowed faintly.
His gaze shifted toward the strongest aura among them.
Sect Leader Yuan.
Stable. Heavy. Dangerous.
*Late-stage Golden Core.*
The strongest present.
Then his gaze slowly drifted toward another elder farther away from the group—one of the weaker ones.
*Kill the weaker ones first.*
Simple. Efficient.
The black spike-scales along the tip of Lizarius's tail slowly retracted. The storage ring wrapped around it loosened slightly—
then slipped free.
Far below, the ring began falling silently through the night sky.
One of the nearby Golden Core elders immediately noticed.
His eyes narrowed sharply.
"…Hm?"
A ring?
Why was there suddenly—
Then—
**CLANG!!**
A deafening metallic explosion erupted across the heavens.
The sound detonated through the clouds like thunder.
Every elder instantly snapped toward the source.
Too late.
Farther away, space itself distorted violently.
And there—
Lizarius appeared in his true form.
Massive.
Moon-white scales gleamed beneath the cold night sky as terrifying spiritual pressure exploded outward across the heavens.
His jaws were already clamped around one of the Golden Core elders.
The elder's protective barrier flared brilliantly around him, desperately resisting the bite.
Shock flooded his expression.
Because the creature had appeared completely without warning.
No spiritual fluctuation.
No killing intent.
Nothing.
Just sudden death.
The elder's eyes widened as he stared directly into those gleaming golden eyes.
Then—
Crack.
His protective barrier fractured.
The elder's expression shifted instantly into panic.
"How—?!"
**CRACK!!**
The barrier shattered completely.
The elder immediately attempted to retreat—
but his body suddenly froze.
His pupils contracted violently.
He couldn't move.
Not even slightly.
Then he saw it.
Lizarius's tail.
Already beside his face.
Crackling violently with blinding blue lightning.
A second defensive barrier exploded outward around the elder instinctively.
**BOOM!!**
The lightning-covered tail slammed into it with such force that the surrounding air distorted.
Blood immediately poured from the elder's nose.
The barrier groaned violently under the pressure.
The lightning intensified.
Grinding. Pressing. Crushing.
Then—
**FLASH!!**
The barrier shattered into a storm of spiritual fragments.
And in the very next instant—
the black spike-covered tail pierced straight through the elder's skull.
Silence.
For half a breath, the heavens themselves seemed to freeze.
Then the remaining Golden Core cultivators arrived.
And stopped.
Frozen.
The elder's corpse hung suspended in the air—
impaled through the head by the white creature's crackling tail.
Blood dripped slowly through the night sky.
Lizarius stared at them calmly.
Golden eyes gleaming beneath the moonlight.
Unblinking.
Watching.
Waiting.
Cold wind swept through the heavens while the corpse slowly slid down his lightning-wreathed tail.
Far below, the endless Azure Root Forest stretched beneath the fading darkness of night.
And beyond the distant horizon, the first faint traces of dawn began to appear.
Golden light crept upward along the edge of the world.
The white lizard hovered motionless in the sky.
Massive wings spread wide.
Moon-pale scales reflecting faintly beneath the growing dawnlight.
Then—
his golden eyes narrowed slightly.
His gaze shifted downward toward his own chest.
There—
a strange crimson symbol had appeared.
It pulsed faintly.
Like flowing blood carved directly into his scales.
Lizarius stared at it silently.
All while keeping his attention partially locked on the remaining cultivators.
*What is this?*
The system answered immediately.
**[Crimson Soul Pursuit Seal Detected]**
Lizarius's eyes narrowed further.
**[A linked tracking-type talisman.]**
**[Created by binding fragments of spiritual essence together.]**
**[Upon the death of a marked individual, the seal automatically transfers onto the killer.]**
**[The primary and secondary talisman fragments remain capable of sensing one another regardless of distance, concealment methods, or spiritual interference.]**
Silence.
The cold dawn wind continued to flow through the sky.
Lizarius's thoughts moved calmly.
*So… they all carried this talisman.*
The conclusion formed instantly.
Not just the dead elder.
All of them.
Prepared beforehand.
Prepared to die.
No matter which one he killed, the seal would have eventually attached itself to him.
The white lizard's golden eyes flickered faintly.
*Interesting.*
Humans were truly cautious creatures.
After suffering repeated losses, they had adapted quickly.
Even now, the remaining Golden Core cultivators did not rush forward recklessly.
Instead, their eyes remained locked onto the crimson mark glowing against Lizarius's chest.
Shock.
Relief.
Tension.
Because now—
they could finally track him.
One elder spoke quietly.
"…The seal activated."
Another slowly exhaled.
"So it worked…"
Sect Leader Yuan hovered farther away beneath the brightening sky.
His sharp gaze remained fixed on the crimson mark.
Calm—but cold.
Because the moment the mark appeared, the hunt changed completely.
No matter where the beast fled now—
they would eventually find it.
Meanwhile, Lizarius remained perfectly still.
Not fear.
Not anger.
Only thought.
Cold calculation continuing behind those gleaming golden eyes.
*So concealment alone is no longer enough.*
Interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
The crimson seal pulsed faintly against his chest beneath the growing dawnlight.
The white lizard stared at it silently for several moments.
Then—
a thought surfaced quietly.
*Or perhaps that was their intention.*
Not merely caution.
Not merely preparation.
But bait.
The formation, the spacing, the deliberate separation upon arrival—it all suddenly aligned too neatly.
They had wanted him to attack.
Wanted him to kill one of them.
To unknowingly bite down on the hook they had carefully prepared.
Interesting.
Below, cold winds swept across the endless sea of trees while the remaining Golden Core cultivators steadied themselves after witnessing Elder Luo's death.
The atmosphere had changed completely.
No hesitation remained.
Only killing intent.
Several elders began drawing out spirit treasures, talismans, and weapons.
One gripped a bronze mirror trembling faintly with spiritual light.
Another unfurled a formation banner covered in glowing runes.
Farther away—
Sect Leader Yuan slowly lowered his gaze toward Elder Luo's falling corpse.
For the briefest moment, silence lingered.
Then one elder spoke grimly.
"…Though we prepared for casualties…"
His eyes remained locked on Lizarius.
"…none of us expected Elder Luo to fall so quickly."
"…He didn't even have the chance to retaliate."
The others remained silent.
Because that was the truly terrifying part.
A Golden Core cultivator had died almost instantly.
No prolonged battle.
No exchange.
Only sudden death.
Sect Leader Yuan's expression remained calm.
But colder now.
Sharpened.
"…Elder Luo devoted over two centuries to the Azure Sky Sect."
The surrounding spiritual pressure subtly intensified.
"We will ensure his death is not in vain."
His eyes locked onto the massive white creature.
"To honor him…"
"…we will slay this beast here."
Silence followed.
Then—
Lizarius vanished.
No fluctuation.
No warning.
One moment he was there—
the next, the sky was empty.
The elders' expressions changed instantly.
"He disappeared!"
But before panic could spread—
one elder reacted.
His hand slammed forward as spiritual energy erupted violently.
"Sky-Seeking Flame Palm!"
**BOOM!!**
A massive flaming strike tore through the air toward seemingly empty space.
The heavens trembled violently.
Then—
detonation.
A colossal explosion erupted across the sky.
Fire and smoke spiraled outward in all directions as spiritual shockwaves ripped through the clouds.
The nearby elders turned sharply, watching, waiting.
Then—
something slowly emerged from within the smoke.
Large white wings unfolded slightly.
Revealing pale scales beneath.
Lizarius hovered silently at the center of the explosion.
His wings had wrapped around his body at the moment of impact.
Smoke drifted slowly around him.
Then—
a narrow opening formed between the folded wings.
And within that darkness—
golden eyes stared outward coldly.
Sharp. Focused. Calculating.
*Confirmed.*
*They can indeed track me through the talisman.*
The realization settled completely.
Concealment no longer held its former advantage.
As long as the seal remained, these humans would always know where he was.
Which meant—
there was only one path left.
The golden eyes narrowed further.
*None of them can be allowed to survive.*