"Qing'er, has anything major happened among the humans lately?"
The atmosphere had grown a little awkward, and Yu Ziyu could only shift the topic with a helpless sigh.
"Something major, hmm?"
Resting her exquisitely shaped chin on Yu Ziyu's thick tree trunk, Qing'er seemed lost in thought for a moment. Then, as if something came to mind, her eyes sparkled slightly.
"In the northwest, a natural spirit stone mine was recently discovered. It's caused quite a stir, with over a dozen spiritual power research institutes fiercely competing for it."
"Uh…"
Stunned, Yu Ziyu took a moment to process her words.
A spirit stone mine??
Perhaps sensing his confusion, Qing'er elaborated:
"Spirit stones are special minerals rich in spirit energy. The energy in these stones is incredibly pure and can apparently be absorbed directly. Right now, they're one of the few known resources that can directly accelerate cultivation."
"In fact, some experts believe the discovery of spirit stone mines could help humans catch up to other transcendent beings in terms of evolution."
As she spoke, the branches on Yu Ziyu's body couldn't help but tremble.
Inwardly, it felt like a stampede of ten thousand wild horses was thundering across his thoughts.
"Emmmm… Damn. Really? We're playing like this now?"
"So basically, the biggest advantage that transcendent creatures have… is gone?"
He had considered that humans might one day find a way to catch up with other transcendent species, but actually hearing it now still left him stunned.
It came way too suddenly.
So suddenly, in fact, that Yu Ziyu felt caught completely off guard.
He had just been planning to reach Tier Three Transcendence and show off a bit in front of humanity.
But now Qing'er had blindsided him with a cold, hard truth—humans had found a way to rapidly evolve and catch up.
"Damn it. This is big."
Cursing silently, Yu Ziyu exhaled deeply.
But just then, noticing his tension, Qing'er comforted him gently:
"Master, these are just expert opinions. They might not be reliable."
"I feel like they're probably dead-on."
Responding casually, Yu Ziyu grew increasingly convinced.
If his own roots could absorb energy from underground spirit rivers, how could humans not harness the purified energy within spirit stones?
The whole thing reminded him of ancient cultivation legends.
In those stories, humans—despite lacking the natural gifts of other races—rose to dominance by relying on resources like spirit stones.
Now, history seemed to be repeating itself.
Once again, humans were the less naturally gifted species.
Once again, they had discovered a powerful external source of spirit energy.
"Crap… this whole situation's unraveling."
Unable to stop himself from muttering again, Yu Ziyu forcefully calmed the rising agitation in his heart.
Some things couldn't be rushed.
All he could do now was wait.
Of course, while he waited, he needed to start preparing.
The best response to change was unwavering strength.
And to remain unchanged… he needed to grow stronger.
With that thought, Yu Ziyu lifted his gaze to the sky.
"Caw, caw, caw…"
One by one, eight streaks of light shot toward him like arrows.
They halted midair all at once.
Only then did their true forms come into view: eight peregrine falcons, each no larger than a fist.
A-Da, A-Er, A-San…
Yu Ziyu's eight personal pets.
Unlike other mutated beasts, whose size increased with strength, these little guys grew smaller the stronger they became.
"Concentrated essence," Yu Ziyu chuckled inwardly.
Still, regardless of their size, they were terrifying.
Now, all eight had reached Tier Seven.
Their sleek black wings gleamed with an eerie shine, slicing through the falling snow with a single flap.
Even more astonishing was their diving technique: tilting one wing, they turned into black bolts of lightning.
"Sizzle—"
In an instant, they streaked past the edge of a cliff like razor blades, leaving behind deep, terrifying gouges.
"These little guys are really starting to live up to their title as sky dominators."
Murmuring softly, Yu Ziyu's eyes flashed with anticipation.
These peregrine falcons were his eyes in the sky—and currently his only means of asserting dominance in the air.
With their strength, plus the support of his Tier Six white crane, they truly ruled the skies over the Fogveil Mountains.
So far, no other flying beast in the mist-covered mountains dared challenge them.
That might have been satisfying before.
But now, with news that humans could use spirit stone mines to accelerate their evolution, Yu Ziyu could no longer sit still.
"Phew…"
Exhaling deeply, Yu Ziyu's gaze lingered on the falcons streaking through the sky before shifting downward.
In a moment, a serene lake came into view.
This lake, which Yu Ziyu had created earlier, significantly boosted the cultivation of the mutated beasts under his command.
At its center stood a graceful white crane, dipping its beak into the water.
It spread its wings, lifted its neck high, and sprayed out graceful arcs of water.
Ripples danced across the calm surface, mirroring its pristine reflection.
This was Yu Ziyu's most fastidious and elegant pet—the white crane.
[Species: Mutated White Crane]
Tier: Six
Innate Talent: Crane Cry—A piercing screech that can shatter metal and rip through the skies.
Special Ability: White Crane Spread Wings—Its wings are as sharp as blades, able to cut through most materials…
Another solid fighter.
But when it came to real combat, even if it fought with all it had, it wouldn't stand a chance against the peregrine falcons.
As apex predators, the falcons had taught the crane some harsh life lessons—more than once.
That was why the white crane had obediently sought Yu Ziyu's protection.
"It's time to send them out on a hunt."
With a thought, Yu Ziyu extended his branches, transmitting a series of instructions directly into their minds.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]