Silence.
The forest became deathly still.
Leaves drifted lazily through the air.
The lower half of the cultivator's body collapsed onto the forest floor.
**Thud.**
Blood quietly spread across the earth.
Several hundred meters away—
the hidden observers froze.
None of them had seen the attack clearly.
Only—
the barrier appearing.
Shattering.
Then—
death.
One moment—
a Golden Core cultivator had been alive.
The next—
she no longer existed.
Not even a scream had escaped her lips.
---
Lizarius slowly stepped forward.
His concealment never dispersed.
Only the faint sound of his footsteps disturbed the silence.
He lowered his head.
The remaining half of the corpse still twitched faintly.
Life had already left it.
Without hesitation—
he opened his jaws.
**Crunch.**
Bone shattered.
Flesh disappeared.
Another bite.
Then another.
Within moments—
nothing recognizable remained.
The familiar mechanical voice echoed within his mind.
**[Evolution Points Acquired: 34,320.]**
The notification disappeared almost immediately.
His gaze shifted toward the fallen belongings.
A storage ring.
A storage pouch.
Several talismans.
Everything floated into the air.
One after another—
they disappeared into his storage ring.
Only scattered blood remained.
Lizarius quietly swept his gaze across the surrounding forest.
Silence.
Nothing moved.
Nothing spoke.
After several long breaths—
his invisible figure gradually vanished into the depths of the forest once more.
Leaving behind—
only silence.
And a bloodstained patch of earth where a Golden Core cultivator had vanished without a trace.
---
The fox stood at the center of yet another shattered crater.
Her breathing had become ragged.
Burn marks covered her body.
Fresh wounds continued opening beneath the relentless bombardment of heavenly lightning.
Smoke slowly rose from her singed fur.
Even so—
she remained standing.
She slowly lifted her head.
Her gaze met the endless tribulation clouds overhead.
*...Twenty-one.*
*Six more to go.*
A long breath escaped her lips.
*...I'm reaching my limit.*
Her muscles trembled.
Her spiritual qi had become increasingly unstable.
If the tribulation continued like this—
she might truly die here.
A bitter smile slowly appeared.
*...That'd be a pain.*
Her thoughts paused.
*No.*
*What am I thinking?*
*It wouldn't just be a pain.*
*It'd be damn annoying.*
Her ears twitched.
*That's exactly why I can't die.*
*Not in a million years.*
A determined light slowly appeared in her turquoise eyes.
*There's still far too much at stake.*
*I can't just leave everything behind.*
Another thought suddenly surfaced.
*...My wealth.*
Her expression immediately became serious.
*I risked my life collecting all of it.*
*If I die...*
*Someone else might claim it.*
She imagined someone rummaging through her treasured collection.
Her face immediately darkened.
*...Or worse...*
*Little White might take it.*
She fell silent.
Then slowly shook her head.
*No...*
*He'd probably ignore most of it.*
*Or simply throw it away.*
Her lips twitched.
*If he actually did that...*
*I'd probably come back as a ghost out of pure resentment.*
*And none of that sits well with me.*
A grin slowly returned despite her battered appearance.
*Because of that...*
*I absolutely can't die.*
*I'm not finished with this life of mine just yet.*
The heavens answered.
**BOOM!!**
Another bolt of heavenly lightning tore through the clouds.
It descended directly toward her.
She bared her teeth.
"...Come then."
Without retreating—
without even attempting to evade—
she faced it head-on.
The heavens roared.
The descending bolt collided directly with the fox.
A pillar of heavenly lightning swallowed her completely.
The surrounding mountains shook violently.
Countless boulders shattered beneath the overwhelming impact.
For several long breaths—
nothing could be seen.
Only the blinding pillar connecting heaven and earth.
Then—
the lightning gradually dispersed.
The fox fell from within the fading pillar.
Her body slammed into the earth.
**BOOM!!**
Another massive crater spread beneath her.
Dust and shattered stone erupted into the sky.
Silence.
Several moments passed.
Then—
a single paw slowly pressed against the ground.
The fox forced herself upright.
Her breathing had become even heavier.
Fresh blood dripped onto the cracked earth below.
One of her forelegs trembled uncontrollably.
"...Heh..."
A weak laugh escaped her.
"...That one..."
"...Actually hurt."
She spat out another mouthful of blood.
"...Five..."
"...Five more..."
She slowly raised her head once again.
The tribulation clouds showed no mercy.
They continued revolving overhead.
Layer upon layer.
The pressure descending from the heavens grew even heavier.
She could clearly feel it.
Every strike after this...
Would be stronger than the last.
Her expression gradually became serious.
*At this rate...*
*Simply enduring won't be enough.*
*I have to do something to the lightning...*
*Before it reaches me.*
She slowly circulated the remaining spiritual qi throughout her body.
Ignoring the pain.
Ignoring the countless wounds.
Ignoring the overwhelming exhaustion threatening to drag her into unconsciousness.
Her tail slowly rose behind her.
The surrounding spiritual qi surged toward her once more.
High above—
the tribulation clouds rumbled.
**BOOM—**
Another bolt of heavenly lightning began gathering.
Its pressure alone caused the surrounding air to distort.
The fox slowly lowered her body.
Her muscles tensed.
Her turquoise eyes never left the heavens.
"...Come."
The clouds answered.
Another pillar of heavenly lightning descended.
*...I've got something in mind for you.*
The thought quietly surfaced within her mind.
She didn't move.
She didn't dodge.
She simply stood there—
just as she had for the previous twenty-two bolts.
The heavens answered.
**BOOM!!**
The heavenly lightning descended.
It struck her head-on.
**"ROAAARRR—!!"**
Her entire body trembled violently.
Every muscle convulsed.
Heavenly lightning surged through every inch of her flesh.
Her eyes rolled upward.
For one terrifying instant—
they became completely white.
The heavenly lightning continued pouring into her body.
Relentless.
Violent.
As though determined to erase her existence from the world.
She endured it all.
Second after second.
Until—
the pillar gradually faded.
Silence returned.
The fox remained standing.
Perfectly motionless.
Steam continuously rose from her body.
Her jaws hung slightly open.
Tiny sparks occasionally flickered between her teeth.
She didn't move.
Not even a single breath escaped her.
Time slowly passed.
Then—
her body twitched.
Once.
Twice.
A grin slowly spread across her muzzle.
It grew wider.
And wider.
Until it became an almost ridiculous smile.
A low chuckle escaped her throat.
"...It worked..."
She couldn't help laughing.
"...It actually worked."
She slowly flexed her claws.
Feeling the changes spreading throughout every part of her body.
Instead of resisting the heavenly lightning—
she had allowed it to invade her completely.
Every strand of heavenly lightning had been deliberately guided through her flesh.
Through her bones.
Through every meridian.
Through every inch of her body.
Using its destructive power—
to temper herself.
To refine herself.
To purge the hidden impurities buried deep within her body.
As for the excess energy—
she continuously redirected it into the earth beneath her feet.
An unbelievably dangerous method.
One mistake—
and the heavenly lightning would have torn her apart from the inside.
Yet—
she had succeeded.
She lowered her gaze toward one of her forelegs.
Slowly clenching it.
The strength flowing beneath her skin felt noticeably different.
"...Hurts like hell..."
She winced.
"...But it works."
Another grin spread across her face.
"...It's even refining my physique."
Her tail swayed happily behind her.
"...I should've thought of this sooner."
She slowly lifted her head toward the heavens once more.
The smile never faded.
"...Come on."
"...Let's keep going."
Far above—
the tribulation clouds rumbled once again.
The next bolt of heavenly lightning was already gathering.