The forest had gone completely still.
No wind.
No sound.
Only the faint ripple of spiritual energy drifting across the surface of the lake.
High above, hidden among the branches—
The fox stood motionless.
Invisible.
Watching.
And on her head—
The lizard's golden eyes remained fixed forward.
Unblinking.
Locked onto the massive figure coiled at the center of the lake.
*What kind of beast is that?*
His thought was quiet.
Precise.
A brief silence—
Then—
**[Identifying target…]**
**[Species: Black Sky Devouring Python]**
The name settled heavily in his mind.
Cold.
Ancient.
**[Classification: Demonic Beast — Foundation Establishment (8th Layer)]**
A faint pause—
**[Bloodline: Spirit Grade]**
The lizard's eyes flickered slightly.
The system continued.
**[Description: The Black Sky Devouring Python possesses the ability to devour spiritual substances—herbs, stones, and energy-rich entities—absorbing and converting them directly into cultivation.]**
**[Behavioral Trait: Territorial — Draws surrounding entities through resource concentration.]**
Silence returned.
—
"…That's a Spiritual Devouring Python."
The fox's voice slipped in at the same time, low and steady through transmission.
Her eyes never left the lake.
"…That explains a lot."
Her tail swayed once behind her.
"Anything with spiritual value…"
"…it eats."
The lizard didn't respond.
Didn't move.
Both of them simply watched.
Below—
The python shifted slightly.
Slow.
Massive coils tightening almost imperceptibly as spiritual energy pulsed along its scales like a heartbeat.
It wasn't hunting.
It didn't need to.
Everything came to it.
The fox's eyes narrowed just a fraction.
"…So that's why."
Her voice softened.
Not in fear—
But in understanding.
"Late-stage beasts…"
"…all gathered here."
Her gaze swept the edges of the lake.
Hidden in the shadows—
Watching.
Waiting.
None dared approach.
None dared challenge.
But none left either.
Because something here—
Was worth staying for.
The fox's voice came again.
Sharper now.
"White."
A brief pause.
"…Look."
The lizard's gaze shifted slightly.
Following her focus.
To the center.
To what the python was coiled around.
At first—
It looked like nothing.
Just a small patch of land rising slightly above the water.
But then—
He saw it.
A plant.
Growing at the very center.
Its stem dark—
Almost black—
But its leaves—
Deep crimson.
Veined faintly with a glow that pulsed like blood.
And at its peak—
A single bud.
Closed.
But alive.
Breathing.
Each pulse released a faint wave of spiritual energy that spread across the lake—
Feeding everything around it.
The lizard's eyes narrowed slightly.
The fox's voice dropped to a near whisper.
"…That's what they're all waiting for."
Her tail stilled.
"…And what that python is guarding."
Silence settled between them.
Heavy.
Focused.
Because now—
This wasn't just territory.
This was—
A resource.
A prize.
A reason—
For everything gathered here.
The fox's eyes didn't leave the plant.
They sharpened.
Brightened.
"…That…"
Her voice was low, but something had changed.
Not calm.
Not casual.
"…is a Blood Vein Herb."
Her tail stilled completely.
"It's spirit grade."
A faint pulse of energy rippled from the crimson plant below, as if responding to her words.
"…It refines bloodlines."
"Enhances them."
"Purifies them."
A small pause—
Then, quieter—
"For any demonic beast below spirit grade…"
Her eyes gleamed.
"…that's a life-changing opportunity."
Below, the python shifted slightly, its massive coils tightening just a fraction around the small patch of land—
Guarding.
Claiming.
Owning.
The fox's lips slowly curved into a smile.
Sharp.
Hungry.
"And for someone like me…"
Her voice dropped.
"…with a common bloodline…"
Her tail gave a slow, deliberate sway.
"…that's not just useful."
Her eyes burned now.
Focused.
Certain.
"…it's necessary."
Silence hung in the air for a moment.
Heavy.
Intentional.
Then—
A quiet breath left her.
"…I need that."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Her gaze never wavered from the Blood Vein Herb.
The faint glow of its crimson veins reflected in her turquoise eyes.
"…No matter what."
—
The fox waited.
Watched.
Measured.
Time passed—
But nothing changed.
The Blood Vein Herb pulsed steadily.
Not yet complete.
Not yet ready.
And around the lake—
The hidden presences remained still.
Patient.
Waiting.
Watching.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…So that's how it is."
Her voice slipped through the transmission, calm—but edged.
"They're waiting for it to fully mature."
A faint pause.
"…The moment it blooms…"
Her tail flicked once.
"…everyone moves."
Her lips curved slowly.
Sharp.
Predatory.
"…Greedy."
Her eyes gleamed.
"…Desperate."
Silence lingered—
Then—
She exhaled softly.
"…I don't have that kind of patience."
Her gaze hardened.
Locked onto the herb.
"The moment I laid eyes on it…"
Her voice dropped.
Cold.
Certain.
"…it was already mine."
A faint pulse of spiritual energy flickered around her.
"No one else—"
Her smile widened.
"—is touching it."
A pause.
Then—
"White."
Her voice cut through.
"Move."
"Drop it."
No hesitation.
No doubt.
—
The lizard didn't respond.
He didn't need to.
His small form lifted silently from her head—
Still invisible—
Drifting upward.
And in the next instant—
The invisibility shattered.
—
The fox appeared.
Clear.
Unhidden.
Her presence erupted outward—
**Fifth layer.**
At the same time—
Two more presences flared beside her.
One—
**Fifth layer.**
The other—
**Seventh layer.**
The corpse puppets.
—
The entire area reacted.
Instantly.
From the shadows—
Demonic beasts froze.
Eyes snapped toward her.
Shock.
Recognition.
And at the center—
The python's eyes opened fully.
Wide.
Sharp.
Cold.
—
Too late.
—
The fox moved.
No warning.
No restraint.
She shot forward from the branch—
A blur of motion—
Her two puppets following instantly.
The seventh-layer puppet led—
Crashing toward the python with overwhelming force.
The fifth-layer close behind.
At the same time—
Her paw flicked.
The **Ghost Banner** burst into the air.
Runes blazing.
Souls screamed out from within—
The Mind Ripper.
The lynx.
The ursine.
All released at once.
A swarm.
A storm.
—
"Kill it."
Her voice was calm.
Absolute.
—
The attack descended together.
From all directions.
—
The python reacted.
Its massive body shifted violently as its coils loosened—
A roar—
Deep—
Shaking the lake itself—
Its body surged upward, spiritual energy erupting like a tidal wave—
Dark.
Heavy.
Devouring.
The water exploded outward as it moved—
Meeting the incoming assault head-on.
—
Impact.
—
The seventh-layer puppet struck first—
Colliding with the python's body—
The force alone sent shockwaves across the lake.
The souls followed—
Phasing in—
Attacking its mind—
Its body—
Its essence.
The fifth-layer puppet closed in—
Striking from the side.
—
And above it all—
The fox descended.
Eyes locked.
Smile sharp.
Focused on one thing—
—
The herb.
—
Because in her mind—
This wasn't a battle.
This was—
**Taking what was already hers.**