Mutual Destruction

The falcon was about half a zhang long. Although its silvery-white feathers were stained with thick patches of dried blood and matted into a dull, messy tangle, they still retained a magnificent luster under the morning sun. A delicate ring of bright yellow feathers encircled its chest, resembling a full moon.

The python was similarly covered in gruesome, gaping wounds, yet its scales still burned like flickering flames—intertwined red and gold, blazing with brilliant radiance. A fierce, domineering light glinted in its eyes as it coiled its body to face the falcon, flicking its tongue with a low hiss.

“The Moon-Embracing Kite-Falcon and the Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python!”

Although Shi Yu had never seen these two species of spirit beasts before, their distinct physical traits and the overwhelming pressure radiating from their bodies instantly made their identities clear.

They were the two lord-level spirit beasts that had triggered the spirit beast riot in the Fulong Mountain Range; rumor had it their strength was near the Golden Core Realm.

“It really is a Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python...” As her eyes settled on the creature, Shi Yu immediately recalled the conversation she had overheard in the tavern earlier.

The Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python was a powerful spirit beast unique to the Desert Region of the North Continent. Tens of thousands of miles separated the North Continent from the East Continent. How had it crossed that distance and arrived here in the East Continent without making a sound?

But now was hardly the time to dwell on such questions.

Pinned to the ground by the terrifying pressure, Shi Yu could barely move.

She took a deep breath and forced herself up, desperate to leave this dangerous place.

She finally understood why there had been no sound here other than the wind and the rustling leaves.

With a bitter smile, Shi Yu cursed her bad luck mentally. The Spirit Wandering Talisman actually teleported me right into the battle territory of two rival lords.

Other spirit beasts were far more sensitive to such absolute pressure and would have instinctively fled as far as possible. None would dare show their faces here.

Yet hadn't the beast riot already ended earlier?

The cultivators in the market town had guessed that the two lord beasts had settled their conflict, allowing the weaker beasts affected by their presence to return to their original habitats.

Looking at the situation now, that wasn't the case at all.

The two beasts had neither reached a victor nor agreed to coexist; after a brief lull, they had simply resumed their fight.

Judging by their injuries, this was a battle to the death. A territorial struggle would only end when one of them was dead.

Shi Yu held her breath, keeping her presence as low as possible. Suppressing the dread that the terrifying aura inflicted upon her soul, she staggered away with heavy steps.

Before two spirit beasts approaching the Golden Core Realm, she was like an ant that had stumbled into a brawl between two elephants, liable to be crushed at any second.

Naturally, the Moon-Embracing Kite-Falcon and the Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python had sensed the weak human nearby long ago. Yet they had no time—and no care—to spare her even a glance, locked in their ferocious struggle.

After a brief standoff on the ground, both launched themselves at each other simultaneously, kicking up clouds of churning dust.

Their collision shook the heaven and earth with a deafening boom, sending shockwaves of spiritual energy crashing in all directions like a tidal wave.

Shi Yu felt as though she had been cast into the end of the world, struggling even to breathe.

The ground trembled and cracked beneath her. Hit by powerful shockwaves and flying debris, her head spun, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.

“The pressure is too overwhelming...” Hastily steadying herself, Shi Yu struggled to channel spiritual energy to activate several protective spirit talismans. She planted the Hidden Hatred Flute into the ground as a crutch, dragging herself forward step by agonizing step.

After months of confrontation, the falcon and python had traded wins and losses, but neither had been able to deliver a fatal blow.

The falcon's plumage had lost its luster, and blood dripped onto the ground from its talons. The python's underbelly had been gouged by the falcon's sharp beak mid-flight, exposing bone and spilling portions of its internal organs.

Both beasts were at the absolute end of their tether. Shi Yu realized this.

Even so, squishing her would still be as easy as flipping a hand.

Dozens of zhang away, the Moon-Embracing Kite-Falcon beat its tattered wings, its eyes gleaming with destructive spiritual power. It opened its beak and unleashed a piercing shriek, hurling a near-solid wave of sound straight at the python.

Not to be outdone, the Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python writhed its massive body forward to meet the assault. Its thick, flaming tail tightly entangled the falcon's wings while a tsunami of fire burst from its gaping jaws.

“Damn it!” Shi Yu gritted her teeth, forcing her body along.

She was too close. Caught in the lingering wake of their clash, she was helpless as a leaf in a tempest. The pressure rooted her to the spot, making even the idea of escape feel like a pipe dream.

“Ngh... cough!” Coughing up two more mouthfuls of blood, Shi Yu gasped for air, her vision turning blurry. No, if this continues, I'll definitely die here.

She had no more Spirit Wandering Talismans left, and circulating her spiritual energy was becoming nearly impossible...

Just when she thought her life would end today, a flare of crimson suddenly ignited deep within her bloodline.

The instant that crimson light sparked, the crushing pressure of the two spirit beasts vanished into thin air.

Her sluggish spiritual energy surged freely once more. Stunned for a brief moment, Shi Yu didn't hesitate to execute 《Lesser Swallow Steps》 and bolt into the distance, stopping only after she had put several miles between herself and the beasts.

She was now at a safe distance from the two lord beasts, and with no other spirit beasts around, the area was relatively secure.

She checked her internal condition, but the spark of crimson was nowhere to be found. Was that... bloodline power?

Back in the game, Shi Yu's character panel had possessed the "Ancient Clan Descendant" trait. After transmigrating here, that trait had carried over, awakening at the critical moment and saving her life.

She swallowed a few pills to regulate her breathing and recover, then looked back in the direction of the battle.

...

As the setting sun bathed the forest canopy in a golden glow, the battle finally drew to its conclusion.

Both the falcon and the python were covered in brutal wounds, their breathing growing faint. Their spiritual energy completely exhausted, they could no longer use their innate divine abilities and were left to bite, claw, and slam into each other in the most primal manner.

Shi Yu knew that in just a few more exchanges, the fight would reach its ultimate resolution.

Sure enough, the Moon-Embracing Kite-Falcon and the Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python launched their final, simultaneous strikes. After uttering horrific screams, their giant bodies crashed heavily to the ground.

“It's over.”

Witnessing a battle between two lord-level spirit beasts of the mountain range was undeniably awe-inspiring.

Her heart pounded with excitement. Perched on a thick tree branch, she gazed into the distance, eager to see who would ultimately stand up to claim dominion over the entire range.

But she waited for a long time, and no sound came.

The dense forest was eerily silent.

She murmured softly under her breath, “Could it be... that they wiped each other out?”

At that thought, Shi Yu snapped upright, her eyes flashing brightly.

If one had survived, she certainly wouldn't dare provoke it; even if heavily injured and on the brink of death, a lord beast could kill her with ease.

But if both were dead—

Two spirit beasts with power approaching the Golden Core Realm were practically treasure troves from head to tail.

Their feathers, bones, scales, and teeth were top-tier spiritual materials of immense value, perfectly suited for crafting artifacts, pills, spirit talismans, or array formations.

If she could claim them for herself, it would be a monumental stroke of fortune.

Furthermore, the formidable pressure and terrifying aura still lingered for miles around, keeping all other spirit beasts at bay. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Hesitating no longer, Shi Yu leaped off the branch and dashed forward.

Her body was tense, her gaze intensely focused as her feet lightly stepped across branches and underbrush.

Moments later, she arrived at the battleground. Looking at the scene before her, her heart beat furiously.

“Mutual destruction. They both died.”

Her gaze sharpened. Pushing off the ground, she jumped onto the massive corpse of the Scarlet Flame Void-Cleaving Python. With an effort, she extended her divine sense across its entire body and stowed it into the Yin-Yang Fate-Tapping Bell.