Tian Kui the dragon hesitated, his eyes glimmering with unease as Wu Tian pressed him for an answer. The air between them was heavy, as though the very silence carried the weight of secrets too dangerous to speak aloud. Wu Tian’s voice cut through the stillness, sharp and demanding, “Do you already know what kind of dark creature I’ve brought into existence, Tian Kui? Why haven’t you told me?” The dragon’s scales shimmered faintly under the dim glow of Nirvana Bodhisattva’s ethereal skies, his tone low and conflicted. “I have known of this dark being for a long time, Wu Tian. But only through Angel’s words did I realize it was you who created it—though unintentionally, before you became a cultivator.” Wu Tian’s breath caught, his chest tightening as if the world itself had constricted around him. The air smelled faintly of burning incense drifting from unseen temples, mingling with the metallic tang of tension. “So you knew all along, Tian Kui? Why did you allow this creature to e

Wu Tian felt an extraordinary transformation coursing through his body. After enduring agony so severe it had nearly dragged him to the brink of death, he rose again, his form more imposing and radiant than ever before. His skin shimmered with a luminous glow, and strangely, every wound, every trace of blood that had once marred him vanished as though they had never existed. He stood renewed, his figure gleaming with an aura of power, his presence strikingly handsome, like a warrior reborn from the ashes. “Angel,” Wu Tian asked, his voice tinged with awe as he gazed at his glowing body, “will my form always shine like this?” Angel’s wings flickered faintly, her tone calm yet reassuring. “No, Wu Tian. This brilliance will fade soon, but the essence of the Martial Genius will remain alive within you. The light is only a manifestation of your awakening.” Wu Tian closed his eyes briefly, overwhelmed by the flood of knowledge rushing into his mind. “I can already sense the techniques

“Are you certain you still want to hunt Spirit Beasts?” Tian Kui asked Wu Tian, his voice resonant like a drumbeat rolling across the forested mountains. Wu Tian tilted his head, curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Why not? What’s the problem?” The dragon’s gaze glowed faintly, his scales shimmering under the daylight. “Spirit Beasts only reveal themselves at night, when their bodies shine with radiant light. In the brightness of day, they remain hidden.” Wu Tian’s brows furrowed, his tone thoughtful. “So we’ll need to spend the night in the Kun Lun Forest?” “Exactly,” Tian Kui replied, his voice steady. “They appear at midnight. If the light is too strong, they vanish into the shadows.” Wu Tian’s stomach growled faintly, reminding him of his hunger. He laughed softly. “Then for now, let’s hunt Energy Beasts. We’ll need food and strength to endure the night.” The Kun Lun Forest stretched before them, lush and vibrant beneath the sun. The air was crisp, filled with the fragr

“Ah! The meat of the Energy Beast is delicious… no wonder cultivators crave it. My body feels refreshed, stronger, Tian Kui!” Wu Tian exclaimed, his voice carrying a note of satisfaction as he wiped his mouth with the back aroma of roasted flesh lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy scent of moss and damp soil. The crackling fire cast flickering shadows across their faces, painting the night with warmth and light. Wu Tian, Tian Kui, and Angel sat together, savoring the spoils of their hunt. The forest around them hummed with nocturnal life—the chirping of crickets, the distant hoot of owls, and the rustle of unseen creatures moving through the undergrowth. The stars above shimmered like scattered diamonds, their brilliance reflected in the calm pools of water nearby. Tian Kui’s voice rumbled, deep and amused. “Two Energy Beasts would have been enough for the three of us, Wu Tian. Yet you felled five with a single strike.” His eyes glowed faintly, reflecting the firelight.

“Let us end this hunt for the Spirit voice carrying a weary edge as the night deepened around them. Wu Tian turned to her, his eyes shadowed with fatigue. “Angel, can the Spirit Beast truly help me overcome this exhaustion I feel now?” His voice was heavy, his body trembling from the strain of releasing Ka earlier. Angel’s wings shimmered faintly in the moonlight, her tone calm but resolute. “If you are protected by a Spirit Beast, this weakness will not plague you. The Spirit Beast’s bond shields its chosen one from the draining effects of Ka.” Unable to transform into her dragon form, Angel pressed close to Wu Tian, her palm glowing faintly as she channeled her fairy energy into him. The warmth spread through his body, mingling with the cool night air, filling him with a fragile strength. The scent of damp leaves and distant streams surrounded them, the forest alive with whispers of unseen creatures. Wu Tian’s voice rang with determination. “Then I will not stop, Angel. This