Deep beneath the valley, silence once again filled the hidden cave.
At the center of the cavern stood the Crimson Vein Blood Tree, motionless and imposing. Dark crimson roots spread across the stone floor like living veins, while faint pulses of blood-red light traveled slowly through its trunk before fading into the surrounding darkness.
The spiritual aura within the cave remained dense.
Heavy.
Far richer than the energy of the outside world.
In the far corner, the fox remained curled up in deep cultivation.
Dozens of dimmed spirit stones surrounded her body, many already drained completely of spiritual energy. Soft streams of spiritual qi flowed continuously around her dark brown fur, while faint light flickered beneath her skin with every completed circulation cycle.
She had not moved in years.
Near the cave entrance, the air shimmered faintly.
Then—
a small white figure slowly emerged from invisibility.
The lizard.
His concealment faded seamlessly as his body became fully visible beneath the cave's dim crimson glow.
For a brief moment, he remained perfectly still.
Golden eyes swept calmly across the cavern.
Checking.
Observing.
The Crimson Vein Blood Tree.
The spiritual fluctuations.
The fox.
Everything remained undisturbed.
Good.
The lizard drifted silently across the cave floor before landing gently beside the sleeping fox.
No sound.
No wasted movement.
The jade spatial ring slipped from his maw first, landing softly against the stone beside her.
Then he removed the two storage pouches hanging around his neck, placing them beside the ring.
The pouch belonging to the disciple he had killed before the battle had truly begun was already gone—consumed along with the man's remains after he finished dealing with Elder Han.
His golden eyes lingered quietly on the fox afterward.
She remained immersed in cultivation, completely unaware of his return.
The lizard watched her for a moment longer.
Then he calmly turned away.
His small body rose gently into the air, floating soundlessly toward a darker corner of the cave.
There, he lowered himself onto the stone floor and curled inward.
Tail wrapping around his body.
Eyes slowly closing.
At the same time, dense spiritual energy began leaking from beneath his scales.
Not unstable.
Not violent.
Heavy.
Pure.
The energy refined from Elder Han's Golden Core continued circulating through his body in slow, powerful waves. Silver-gold traces occasionally flickered beneath his white scales before vanishing once more into the dense aura surrounding him.
The cave's spiritual energy thickened even further.
Even the Crimson Vein Blood Tree reacted faintly.
Its branches trembled ever so slightly, as though sensing the immense concentration of refined Golden Core essence spreading throughout the cavern.
The lizard remained motionless afterward.
Deep in refinement.
His breathing gradually slowed.
Time passed quietly within the hidden cave.
Hours.
Days.
Far beyond the mountains, the outside world continued moving as usual, while within the cavern—
nothing changed.
Four days passed.
The cave remained dim beneath the Blood Tree's crimson glow.
Dense spiritual energy drifted slowly through the cavern like mist.
The exhausted spirit stones surrounding the fox had dulled even further over the passing days. Many were now completely gray and lifeless after being drained dry through continuous cultivation.
Nothing disturbed the stillness.
Then—
the white lizard's eyes opened.
Golden pupils gleamed softly within the darkness.
The dense layers of spiritual energy surrounding his curled body rippled outward as consciousness fully returned.
For several moments, he remained motionless.
Then his body gradually uncoiled.
Silver-gold spiritual essence flowed beneath his white scales in smooth currents, while faint traces of dark blue lightning crackled softly around him before fading once more.
The lizard opened his jaws in a slow, silent yawn.
Then stretched.
Tiny claws pressed against the stone floor as spiritual pressure rolled subtly outward from his body.
Not explosively.
Controlled.
Yet far heavier than before.
The cave's spiritual energy stirred instinctively around him.
Even the Crimson Vein Blood Tree pulsed once in response.
The lizard narrowed his golden eyes slightly.
Inwardly, a thought surfaced.
What level am I now?
The familiar system voice answered immediately.
[Host cultivation level: Late Early-Stage Golden Core Realm.]
The lizard remained still for a brief moment after hearing the response.
Late Early-Stage.
Fast.
Far faster than ordinary cultivation.
Elder Han's Golden Core essence had refined efficiently.
Very efficiently.
A faintly thoughtful look appeared in his golden eyes.
If I consume a few more Golden Core cultivators...
...reaching Peak Golden Core won't take long.
And after that—
the next realm.
The thought settled quietly within his mind.
Not excitement.
Calculation.
Possibility.
His tail swept lightly across the stone floor.
Then another thought surfaced.
Points.
The system responded instantly.
[Current Evolution Points: 476,746]
The lizard's golden eyes flickered faintly.
Just a little more.
Compared to before, the number had already become enormous.
Yet for the next stage—
it still wasn't enough.
Not nearly enough.
The cave fell silent once more.
Slowly, the lizard turned his head.
Golden eyes drifted toward the fox across the cavern.
She remained curled up quietly in cultivation.
Her dark brown fur rose and fell steadily with each breath while spiritual currents circulated around her body in smooth, rhythmic waves.
The jade spatial ring and storage pouches still rested untouched beside her.
She still had not awakened.
The lizard observed her silently for a moment.
Then—
he calmly turned away.
No expression.
No visible emotion.
Only quiet thoughtfulness lingered briefly within his golden gaze before fading once more.
Silence reclaimed the cave.
Deep beneath the valley—
while the outside world remained completely unaware—
something within the darkness continued growing stronger.