The faintest shift entered his tone.
"I really want to see how I fare against a Golden Core demonic beast now."
There was no arrogance in his voice.
No boasting.
Just curiosity.
And certainty.
The fox stared at him.
Then, slowly—
a grin spread across her face.
Wide.
Sharp.
Alive.
"Good."
For the first time in days, the cave felt too small again.
Because now—
they had chosen something far more dangerous than cultivation.
They had chosen war.
The fox's grin lingered.
Sharp.
Satisfied.
"Alright."
Her voice carried a new edge now.
Alive with purpose.
"Then let's not waste any more time."
She turned toward the mouth of the cave, already thinking ahead.
"We'll be hunting in a Demon King's territory."
There was no hesitation.
No fear.
Only intent.
The lizard moved first.
With a light push, he leapt.
Landing between her ears, he settled into place as naturally as if he had always belonged there.
Silent.
Ready.
The fox turned, her gaze falling to the Crimson Veinblood Tree.
Its roots had spread even farther now, veining through the cave floor, feeding, growing.
A faint smile touched her lips.
"Looks like you won't get to dig in much deeper."
There was no regret in her tone.
Only fact.
"We're leaving."
Her divine sense spread outward.
Smooth.
Precise.
It sank into the ground, tracing every root, every branch, every thread of essence.
Then—
she pulled.
The earth trembled softly.
Stone cracked.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
The tree rose slowly, its roots tearing free from the cave floor, still pulsing faintly with stolen life.
There was no damage.
No loss.
It was perfectly preserved.
Another storage pouch appeared, specially lined for preservation.
She guided the tree inside with care, folding the roots in gently while the fruit remained wrapped in silk.
The pouch pulsed once.
Then stilled.
She tucked it away, placing it securely within her main storage pouch.
Nothing was left behind.
The cave looked emptier now.
Colder.
The fox glanced around one last time, confirming.
Then she smiled.
"Let's go."
The lizard did not answer.
He did not need to.
Instead—
he faded.
His body blurred, vanishing from sight.
Then the effect spread.
Across her fur.
Her wings.
Her presence.
Until the fox disappeared too.
No aura.
No scent.
No trace.
The cave stood empty.
Silent.
And in the next moment—
they were gone.
Slipping back into the wilds once more.
Toward the territory of a Golden Core Demon King.
The forest blurred around them, trees rushing past in streaks of shadow and moonlight.
The fox moved swiftly, silent even beneath the veil of invisibility.
Every step was clean.
Every breath measured.
The deeper they went, the heavier the air became.
Not from pressure—
but from spiritual energy.
The kind that lingered near powerful territories.
The fox's voice sounded in the lizard's mind.
Clear.
Direct.
*Once we enter the Demon King's territory…*
Her pace never slowed.
*We gather information first.*
A faint pause.
*On the target.*
The lizard remained still atop her head, hidden alongside her, watching the forest flow past in silence.
Then her tone shifted slightly.
Less certain.
*Actually…*
A beat.
*I don't really know anything about her.*
Silence followed for a breath.
Then—
*What?*
Flat.
Immediate.
The fox let out a soft huff, almost amused by how dry he sounded.
*I know she exists.*
*I know she serves him.*
*That's enough to know she's dangerous.*
The lizard's voice came again.
*Who?*
The fox's eyes narrowed slightly as she leapt across a jagged rocky ledge.
*The White Bone Tiger King.*
The name alone seemed to thicken the night.
Even the wind felt quieter.
The lizard was silent for a moment.
Then—
*The one you said was the strongest?*
The fox's ears flicked once.
*Yeah.*
No hesitation.
No denial.
*That's why this is really dangerous.*
A brief pause.
Then her voice lowered.
Sharper now.
*The White Bone Tiger King isn't just strong.*
*He rules because nothing in these mountains can challenge him.*
*Even the other Demon Kings avoid provoking him.*
The trees thinned slightly as the terrain rose.
The fox's gaze stayed fixed ahead.
Focused.
*If we make one mistake in his territory…*
Her tone was calm.
Too calm.
*We die.*
There was no drama in her words.
No fear.
Just truth.
The lizard did not reply immediately.
He simply watched the darkness ahead—
the territory they were about to enter.
Then, quietly—
*Okay.*
The fox blinked.
A faint grin touched her lips.
Of course.
That was exactly the answer she expected.
They crossed the boundary in silence, slipping deeper into the White Bone Tiger King's territory.
The forest changed.
The trees grew taller.
Older.
Their roots were thicker than stone.
The air carried pressure now—
subtle, but constant.
This was not merely land.
It was claimed.
The fox slowed slightly, her voice brushing the lizard's mind.
*We need information.*
A pause.
*Someone who knows this territory.*
The lizard did not respond.
He did not need to.
His golden eyes were already scanning.
It did not take long.
They found one.
A demonic beast.
Fourth Layer Foundation Establishment.
A broad-backed horned stag—
massive, with muscle rippling beneath dark hide.
Strong by most standards.
Nothing here.
It never saw them.
Still hidden beneath invisibility, the fox remained perfectly still.
The lizard's eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
the pressure fell.
Invisible.
Crushing.
Absolute.
The stag's body froze.
Its legs buckled.
Bone cracked.
And then—
it collapsed.
Driven into the earth beneath an unseen force.
The ground caved under its weight.
Its ribs snapped inward.
Its organs ruptured instantly.
There was no scream.
Only death.
The fox watched calmly.
"Efficient."
The Ghost Banner appeared beside her, dark and waiting.
She stepped forward.
Still unseen.
And drove it down into the corpse.
The air shifted.
The pull began.
The soul tore free—
distorted, struggling—
then vanished into the banner.
The fox withdrew it smoothly.
The corpse followed, stored away without waste.
The forest returned to silence.
Invisible.
Untouched.
They stood there.
The banner hovered before her, pulsing faintly.
The soul within refined quickly.
A Fourth Layer beast had enough awareness.
Enough structure.