"Not bad, not bad."
The result made Su Heng's eyes light up.
This peregrine falcon had only just entered the Awakening Tier, yet it could already unleash such terrifying destructive power in an instant.
After some more time, once these peregrine falcons' vitality reached the limit of the First Life Level, the destructive force they unleashed in a full-speed dive would likely be comparable to some small-caliber firearms.
"Looking at it this way, the cost of raising them is low, but the rewards are plentiful. They can also cover a wide area and serve as sentries for security. These peregrine falcons are indeed quite valuable."
But the problem was that the Willow Template was still in a weakened state.
Even if he used the Enlightenment talent at any cost, he could only enlighten one more of them at most.
As for the remaining peregrine falcons, they would probably starve to death here alive.
Su Heng had considered catching some small prey to feed them, but this valley was remote and had few animals. Moreover, the Willow Tree's current range of movement was very limited.
Sigh...
Just as Su Heng inwardly lamented the pity of it.
Whoosh!
A sharp rush of wind sounded.
The peregrine falcon that had just been enlightened by the Willow Tree glanced at its siblings, then gently tapped the trunk with its beak.
It immediately spread its wings and soared into the sky, disappearing into the deep forest beyond the valley.
No way...
The peregrine falcon's sudden action gave Su Heng a small shock.
A guess arose in his mind, but it seemed too unbelievable. Newly awakened mutant beasts possessed little rationality, and most of their actions were driven by instinct.
Once the peregrine falcon left, it was gone for three whole hours.
It was not until dusk arrived and the sun was about to vanish that the peregrine falcon flew back from outside the valley.
Its entire body was dusty, and even its flight was somewhat distorted. Traces of blood stained its beautiful gray-and-white feathers.
Its claws also carried half a pheasant carcass, bloody and looking very fresh.
In myths and legends, mandarin ducks were often used to symbolize faithfulness in love.
But in truth, peregrine falcons were the genuinely monogamous ones. Unless one of the pair died, they generally stayed together for life.
Peregrine falcons were also highly responsible toward their families. During breeding season, they became exceptionally aggressive.
Even against creatures invading their territory, no matter how large the intruder was—even an eagle—they would fight without fear.
And now, after the peregrine falcons' parents had most likely met with misfortune.
This elder peregrine falcon, the largest in its family and the one that had received the Willow Tree's blessing, voluntarily took on the responsibility of feeding its younger siblings.
It landed on the trunk and tore apart the carcass in its claws.
Piece by piece, it stuffed meat into the open, chirping mouths of its hungry siblings. Before long, half of the pheasant carcass had been completely divided among them.
Having eaten their fill, the little ones stopped calling out and quietly curled up together in the nest.
Not long after.
Everything was shrouded in darkness.
The peregrine falcon that had been injured during the day did not choose to rest. Instead, it stood high in the valley, looking down over all directions and vigilantly observing its surroundings.
Sometimes, animals are far simpler and purer than humans.
Seeing this, Su Heng fell silent before softly sighing to himself.
That day.
The time he had spent intermittently logged into the Willow Tree had already approached twelve hours. After confirming that there was currently no danger, Su Heng logged out of his second template.
As usual, he kept some time in reserve in case of emergencies.
Moon Country.
Xuanming Temple.
Within the enormous, ancient Buddhist temple, pagodas stood in rows and Buddha statues were weathered and mottled. Beneath the dim golden light of the setting sun, a faint Buddhist radiance seemed to flow through the air.
At the center of this temple was not the Grand Hall of the Great Hero, Buddhism's most imposing structure.
Instead, there stood an enormous mountain hundreds of meters tall.
Passing through a dark and deep passageway and entering the mountain's interior revealed an entirely different world within.
The mountain, hundreds of meters high, had been completely hollowed out and carved with Buddhist bodhisattvas, arhats, and yakshas. Some were kind and benevolent, while others looked fierce and terrifying. They took on countless forms, yet all were incredibly lifelike, as though they might step out of myth at any moment.
At the center of the mountain was a massive mural.
The mural depicted the Bodhi Tree beneath which the Buddha had descended into the world. A monk sat below it chanting scriptures, while a giant python guarded it. Golden lotuses surged forth, wind and rain lashed down, and rolling black clouds covered half the sky.
Countless bright lamps illuminated the entire interior of the mountain.
At the center of the hall, several hundred monks in kasayas wore solemn expressions as they chanted scriptures, their voices grand and resonant.
Master Ren Guang, with white silk wrapped around his head, stood among the monks as well.
However, he was not chanting. Instead, he stared blankly at the enormous mural before him.
Looking at the Golden Serpent guarding the Buddha, he could not help recalling the scene he had witnessed in the forest that day.
"Amitabha!"
Suddenly, a Buddhist invocation sounded beside him.
Master Ren Guang snapped out of his daze and turned around, only to find a white-browed monk with a kindly face standing behind him.
"Greetings, Martial Uncle."
This was Master Taihang. He and Master Ren Guang's master had come from the same lineage, and he had always treated Master Ren Guang well.
"Though Senior Brother Tai Yi's passing was sorrowful, he died for a worthy cause. You need not dwell on it too much."
Seeing Master Ren Guang standing there in a daze, Master Taihang assumed he was unable to let go of his master's death and had come specifically to console him.
"No."
Hearing his martial uncle's words.
Master Ren Guang immediately felt somewhat ashamed. He lowered his head, his face slightly flushed, but he did not lie to his martial uncle.
"This disciple was not thinking about Master. I was thinking about the giant serpent that appeared near Shenjian Mountain."
"Is that so?"
The expected rebuke never came. Master Taihang merely let out a long sigh and said no more.
"I wonder, Martial Uncle, what do you think of that giant serpent?"
Gathering his courage, Master Ren Guang asked another question.
"All things in this world are but dreams and illusions..." Master Taihang said with his palms pressed together. "Rather than asking how we view that great serpent, it would be better to ask how that serpent views us."
The old monk gave a bitter smile. "Whether it is the Hundred-Foot Centipede or that giant serpent, neither is an opponent we can face."
"The era in which humanity dominated the world ended more than three hundred years ago, when the Red Moon first appeared. Since we live in a new era, we must adapt to the rules of the new era."
"I understand!"
Master Ren Guang's eyes gradually brightened.
Ever since returning to the Suspended Temple, he had been pondering these matters.
He had believed that the people in the temple would certainly be unable to accept his thoughts, and that he might even be punished. But after speaking with his martial uncle...
He discovered that the elders of the temple were actually far more radical than he was.
Master Ren Guang opened his mouth, feeling as though he had found a kindred spirit. He still had many ideas he wished to discuss further with his martial uncle.
However, at that moment.
Their conversation was interrupted by a shrill, urgent cry for help.
Turning around, they saw a young monk running in from outside, bloodstains covering his body and terror written across his face.
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