"Whoosh!"
Shi Zhao was just about to turn and leave when a fierce gust suddenly hurtled straight toward her throat.
A cold gleam flashed. It was a long, thick iron arrow, capable of piercing even a Dragon-Horned Elephant's armored scales. An arrow loosed from hiding in these dense mountain forests was all but impossible to guard against.
The next instant, a slender, pale hand abruptly seized the arrow.
Only then did its piercing whistle reach her-the sound of its shaft tearing through the sky. But a thunderous boom followed immediately as she hurled the arrow back even faster.
"Boom!"
The iron arrow sank into a distant boulder, which exploded with a deafening crash, exposing a boy holding a bow. He looked fourteen or fifteen, and the malice and fury in his eyes instantly gave way to fear.
Shi Zhao shook her head. She had originally intended to kill only the chief culprit without involving ordinary people. After all, she was no indiscriminate killer.
Without its Sacrificial Spirit, Bei Village could only tuck its tail between its legs and behave. Besides, disaster would soon erupt in the Great Wilderness, leaving blood flowing for a hundred thousand li. There was even less reason to dirty her own hands.
She had not expected someone to come seeking death of his own accord. Naturally, she would show him no mercy.
"You... it's you? Why did you kill our clan's Sacrificial Spirit?!" Bei Feng's face flushed crimson with agitation, his eyes filled with fury.
He recognized this girl. She had passed through Bei Village several months ago, and he had immediately been struck by her heavenly beauty.
"My surname is Shi," Shi Zhao said mildly.
Bei Feng felt as though lightning had struck him. He instantly understood why, then let out a low growl and frantically drew his bow.
Unfortunately, the gap in their strength was too vast. All his efforts were futile.
"Commendable courage." Shi Zhao pointed a finger and ended his life.
Only then did she remember that the Old Warg seemed to have refined a Treasure Artifact. Though it was not particularly useful, it would have been nice to take it back for little Shi to play with. Instead, she had destroyed it outright.
"Since I'm already here, I shouldn't go home empty-handed. I might as well see how that old Suanni is doing," she murmured, her large eyes shifting toward the depths of the mountains.
With a step, she vanished from the spot, her figure as light as a peacock dancing through the air.
Deep in the mountain range, an aged Suanni roared and struggled from time to time.
It was a terrifying Primordial Remnant. Even if it could not truly claim kingship, it was close. Yet it was indeed very old, its lifespan nearly exhausted. It no longer even had the strength to muster one last desperate effort at a breakthrough.
It slowly emerged from the mountain ranges deep within the Great Wilderness, seeking a place to bury itself.
Shi Zhao stood atop a mountain peak, flecks of starlight twinkling in her large eyes as she watched the old Suanni from afar. Its entire body shone with a golden luster.
It resembled a divine lion, over six meters long, with golden dragon horns on its head and golden scales covering its forehead. Its whole body glittered, its fur brighter than golden silk.
Though it was not pure-blooded, it still ruled a territory deep within the mountains.
"Beyond the Spirit Transformation Realm. It really is about to die of old age." Shi Zhao only glanced at it from a distance. This old Suanni still had strength to spare; there was no need to confront it now.
Her cultivation was still somewhat low, after all. Even with a Treasure Artifact, she could unleash only so much power.
On her way back, she unexpectedly encountered a leopard beast resembling a hou. It was surprisingly powerful, and she had to use the Bian Technique to kill it.
Since she was already there, she also casually borrowed some beast milk from a few ferocious beasts that could not sleep at night. Above all, she would not return empty-handed.
In the blink of an eye, another half month and more passed. Stone Village remained peaceful. Having lost the protection of its Sacrificial Spirit, neighboring Bei Village no longer dared provoke it.
The depths of the mountain range, however, were far from peaceful. Beast roars shook the heavens from time to time, making the mountains tremble and affecting even the outer regions.
The villagers no longer needed to risk their lives hunting deep in the mountains and vast marshes. A casual stroll through the hills would often yield the carcass of some enormous beast that had died a gruesome death.
"This is a good thing, but it also means the deep mountains are growing more dangerous. It must have something to do with that old Suanni," a clan elder said.
"If we could obtain its remains, extract its true blood, and even copy the Primordial Treasure Talismans on its bones, it would be like unlocking a treasure trove!"
The villagers' eyes burned with desire. They wished they could head out immediately and claim that great treasure.
"We must not act rashly. We can only wait patiently," the clan chief warned solemnly, his gaze instinctively turning toward the girl seated cross-legged beneath the charred willow.
A gentle breeze stirred the ends of her hair. The willow's lone branch swayed with it, resting just upon her shoulder.
"Eeya, big sister is glowing!" Little Shi said in bewilderment, blinking his large eyes.
Shi Zhao had held no lessons for the past two days because she was preparing to break through.
She had long since accumulated enough. Opening her seventh Cave Heaven was merely a matter of water flowing into a ready-made channel.
That night, starlight spilled down, rosy radiance rose at the village entrance, and auspicious colors shimmered in waves. Shi Zhao broke through smoothly, without any mishap, opening her seventh Cave Heaven.
"Magma" churned within the volcanic crater, flowing down and pouring into her body.
"She's only ten, isn't she? And she's already opened seven Cave Heavens?!" Clan Chief Shi Yunfeng gaped, learning the true extent of this girl's strength for the first time.
Even setting her age aside, seven Cave Heavens alone were an extraordinary achievement.
"Are seven Cave Heavens really that impressive?" Little Shi asked, tilting his head.
"Of course they are." The clan chief sighed softly. "You should know that ordinary people can begin preparing to break through to the next major realm after opening four or five Cave Heavens."
"Those who can open six Cave Heavens already rank among the best in this realm. Anyone who opens seven is undoubtedly a rare genius. Those who open eight are as scarce as phoenix feathers and qilin horns, while nine Cave Heavens are merely a legend recorded in ancient texts!"
Shi Yunfeng had not intended to discuss these things with little Shi Hao so early. But watching the girl break through right before his eyes, he could not help voicing a few thoughts.
"Huh? There seem to be things hidden inside those caves?" Little Shi had keen eyesight. As he stared at the Cave Heavens floating around his big sister, he really did discern something unusual.
"Why is there a big gray tortoise? Oh, it's a tortoise shell!"
"And there's a big purple hammer. Anyone hit by that would be bruised blue and purple all over!"
"The beast milk cooked in that silver cauldron tastes especially good!" As the little fellow spoke, drool nearly spilled from the corner of his mouth.
He remembered the beast milk his big sister had brought back last time as vividly as ever!
These were all the Treasure Artifacts Shi Zhao possessed. The gray tortoise shell was a Black Tortoise Shield bestowed by her clan for protection. The large purple hammer looked somewhat out of place; it was actually Fourth Grandfather's weapon. The silver cauldron was naturally the Royal Family's Treasure Artifact.
There were also Treasure Artifacts hidden in two other Cave Heavens, but he could not see them clearly. He could only vaguely make out what seemed to be a peng bird and a large golden tiger, flickering in and out of sight.
"Never tell anyone what you saw. These are your big sister's
"trump cards." The old clan chief's expression shifted slightly, and he repeatedly cautioned little Shi.
"Mm-hmm!" Little Shi covered his mouth and nodded very seriously.
Just then, Shi Zhao opened her eyes. Like two beams of starlight illuminating the night, they filled the entire village entrance with dazzling brilliance.
The seven Cave Heavens gradually withdrew, concealing themselves within the void. The fluctuations emanating from her body also receded like the tide, slowly settling until her presence became gentle and approachable.
Shi Zhao rose, her starry eyes clear, peaceful, and serene. With a faint smile, she said, "Treasure Artifacts are useful, but these aren't my trump cards. There's no need to be nervous."
She glanced discreetly at her left palm. The seven tiny red moles seemed to have undergone some change. Only now had they begun to reveal their extraordinary nature.
Before you continue