Primordial remnant

Deep within the mountain range, a terrifying aura sent shivers through the Great Wilderness. This was a world-shaking battle rarely seen.

At that moment, many giant beasts and savage creatures were fleeing, distancing themselves from the heart of the battlefield for fear of becoming restless ghosts.

Of course, even more trembled like chaff in a sieve, paralyzed by that terrifying pressure. Their fear sprang from instinct; they quaked, too terrified even to raise their heads, unable to take a step.

The effects of a battle between primordial remnants were far-reaching indeed.

Even if only a small portion of the giant beasts and savage creatures could overcome their overwhelming fear and flee, their numbers were still beyond reckoning. They formed an enormous beast tide, triggering a second immense upheaval.

"Awooo..."

An exceptionally large beast charged out of the forest. It was a full twenty meters long, like a small mountain, its strength seemingly unmatched. As it fled, who knew how many fierce beasts it trampled to death or how many great trees it "uprooted" as effortlessly as smashing rotten wood.

Yet when this enormous beast collided head-on with Di Yi, who was moving "against the current," it went flying like a kite with its string cut. Before its horrified, fear-stricken eyes, the world turned upside down. Even as it died, it never understood what had killed it.

Boom!

The exceptionally large beast slammed into a nearby mountain, sending dust billowing into the sky as though a hard boulder had struck it. In an instant, the earth shook and the mountain trembled, enormous fragments of rock scattering like dust.

Immediately afterward, a shrill cry rang out from within the exposed mountainside. A creature covered in scales charged out, its body looking slender compared with that exceptionally large beast.

Its back was now soaked in blood, with numerous cracks running across it.

Clearly, this was another giant beast frightened into flight by the battle between the primordial remnants. It was simply as unlucky as the exceptionally large beast. It had intended to burrow through the mountain to escape, only for a calamity falling from the sky to cripple it.

Of course, in a sense, it was also fortunate. At least it had not lost its life.

Scenes like these played out now and then along Di Yi's path against the current. Some were caused unintentionally by him, while others came about because frightened giant beasts and savage creatures lost their heads and went looking for trouble.

Whatever the case, it amounted to blood spilling everywhere, albeit in a roundabout way.

Had anyone been there, they might well have embellished his deeds with extra oil and vinegar, painting him as a terrifying fiend who slaughtered beasts without blinking.

"So that's a ruler of these mountains, a primordial remnant?" Having passed through the beast tide, Di Yi stood atop a hill not far from the two primordial remnants' battlefield and watched the surging waves of battle.

The first thing to catch his eye was a small, delicately built creature, only five or six meters long. In these wild mountains, it could practically be called "underdeveloped."

Yet this seemingly "underdeveloped" creature possessed astonishing strength. It had shattered no small number of mountains in the battle, displaying an exquisite beauty utterly at odds with its size.

Brilliant golden radiance flowed around it, its savage aura blazing fiercely, bathing the battlefield in gold as though gold had sprouted everywhere. Even in battle, it seemed determined to display its nobility.

Of course, that was merely Di Yi's impression. In truth, this was the primordial remnant's precious technique, its innate divine skill. It bolstered itself with this power as though clad in divine golden armor, hardening its body to a terrifying degree.

Clang!

Fighting this primordial remnant was a Carved Bear, its black fur glossy and gleaming. Just as its name suggested, it possessed the characteristics of both a bear and an eagle.

More importantly, its fighting habits resembled those of a human. Its four limbs had clearly distinct roles, much like arms and legs.

Likewise, compared with the creatures commonly found in the Great Wilderness, this Carved Bear was also "underdeveloped"-even more so than the primordial remnant radiating golden light.

It stood only a little over two meters tall.

Yet despite being smaller, it seemed to contain even greater strength than the golden primordial remnant.

Mountain rocks were fragile in its hands, and a single stamp of its foot could split the earth in all directions. "Roar..."

Like a thunderclap exploding, the golden primordial remnant's radiance flared around its entire body. As the light spread, it silently pulverized everything, turning rock, soil, and vegetation into dust that scattered on the wind.

Its savage might surged to the heavens!

At this, the Carved Bear met it head-on. Its roar shook the mountains into a frenzy of trembling, even condensing into tangible waves that swept through the entire forest like a hurricane, shattering ancient trees and sending huge boulders flying.

They fought from the mountain slopes to the peaks, from the peaks to a great river, and from the river into the high heavens. Their small bodies contained immense destructive power. Who knew how many Fierce Birds and fierce beasts were reduced to ashes in the calamity, unable even to scream.

"It really isn't easy for the people of Stone Village to survive in a place like this. No wonder they need to offer sacrifices and worship a sacrificial spirit." Watching the battle between the two primordial remnants, Di Yi finally gained some understanding of their hardship.

As the destructive power of the two primordial remnants' battle mounted, the entire area boiled over. The noise shook heaven and earth, rocking the Great Wilderness. The mountains split apart, as though the apocalypse had arrived and the earth itself was collapsing.

Splat!

Di Yi watched with great enthusiasm, savoring the visual spectacle. For a while, he actually forgot why he had come, putting his goal of gauging his own limits out of his mind.

But every battle had to end. After a succession of clashes, the Carved Bear was the first to show signs of faltering.

Although it possessed an eagle's traits and could fly swiftly through the sky, it was not a true eagle after all, nor did its body possess all an eagle's qualities. At the crucial instant when it swept sideways through the air again, the golden primordial remnant seized an opening and knocked it down.

With a thud, the golden primordial remnant pressed its advantage. A hoof that looked cast from gold landed squarely, driving the Carved Bear's body down and splitting the earth beneath it.

"Awooo..."

An earth-shaking roar came from the mountains. The Carved Bear's abdomen had been stomped clean through, and blood gushed out, driving it into a pain-crazed frenzy.

Despite having its abdomen pierced, its vitality was tenacious. The instant the pain struck, it counterattacked, swinging a powerful bear fist.

Unfortunately, the punch failed to find its target. The golden primordial remnant possessed astonishing intelligence and knew the price of greedily pursuing its advantage. In a flash, it shifted several hundred meters sideways, taking up a position of absolute safety.

With a boom, the Carved Bear leaped out of the sunken crater. Though furious, it could still judge the situation. Clearly, it too possessed exceptional intelligence.

It began to think of retreating.

Naturally, the Carved Bear did not reveal its intentions outright. With its exceptional intelligence, it knew that exposing its desire to retreat too soon would invite a punishing pursuit from its opponent.

Rumble!

The Carved Bear spread its wings, shaking loose countless rocks. Numerous symbols manifested across its body. Then, with a vicious gleam in its eyes, it fixed its gaze on its opponent and suddenly attacked.

"Roar!"

The golden primordial remnant responded. Light surged all over its body as though it were bathing in an illusory ocean, and two thick beams of light shot from its eyes.