In the open space of the canyon, several tree-woven cages of varying sizes surrounded a massive Willow Tree. Most of the beasts inside were docile—lying flat against the ground, trembling lightly beneath Yu Zi Yu's silent pressure.
Except for one.
Inside a cage of thick, interlocking roots, a Honey Badger with a streak of white hair across its head was furiously digging at the earth with sharp claws, as if it intended to tunnel through the world itself.
"How stubborn…"Yu Zi Yu sighed helplessly and simply ignored the little demon.
With the resurgence of Spiritual Energy, the intelligence of beasts had risen sharply. The Golden Monkey proved it well. The moment Yu Zi Yu released it from the branch, it obediently scampered to his side. Though its eyes darted restlessly, the submission in its posture was real.
The Wild Buffalo, with its crescent-shaped black horns, also lay quietly at the base of Yu Zi Yu's trunk, breathing steadily like a loyal guardian.
But the Honey Badger was different.
The most untamable creature in nature was now demonstrating exactly why it had earned that reputation.
The moment Yu Zi Yu loosened the branch holding it, the creature shot off like an arrow. Yu Zi Yu snapped a whip-like root at it in irritation, but the creature refused to yield. It would sooner be beaten to death than stop running madly.
Even now—locked inside a cage woven from roots as strong as steel—it continued its relentless digging.
"At least you are obedient," Yu Zi Yu murmured with a faint smile, shifting his gaze to the well-behaved beasts in the other cages.
Other than the Honey Badger, the animals truly exceeded his expectations—especially the Wild Buffalo.
Race: Mutant Wild Buffalo
Life: 4/30 YearsRank: Tier-0, Level 2Innate Talent:Crescent Bull Horns – Its razor-sharp horns are terrifying weapons capable of tearing enemies apart in an instant.Unique Ability:Earth Stamp – By raising its forelimbs and slamming down with force, it can shake the very ground.
Though merely Tier-0 Level 2, this Wild Buffalo possessed astonishing potential.Even the Red Fox only had a Unique Ability, while the Peregrine Falcons each had an Innate Talent.This Wild Buffalo had both—a rare combination.
Yu Zi Yu could not help but feel anticipation growing within him.
Innate Talents were natural-born gifts that grew stronger as their owners grew stronger—limitless in potential. For example, the Peregrine Falcon's "Bullet Dive" would only become deadlier, perhaps even allowing future falcons to pierce foes like lightning.
Unique Abilities, however, were acquired skills. If not practiced, they stagnated.
Red Fox, Peregrine Falcons, Wild Buffalo… and this little guy.As Yu Zi Yu gently stroked the Golden Monkey perched on one of his branches, he began forming his training priorities.
As for the White Crane, the Wolves… and especially the Honey Badger?
Untamed beasts were not worth the effort.
His patience had limits. If they refused obedience even after starvation, Yu Zi Yu didn't mind killing them for Evolution Points.
After all, he urgently needed Evolution Points.Many abilities awaited advancement—others waited to be awakened. Once those were fully digested, he would still need far more to break through to the terrifying Tier-2 realm.
The mere thought excited him.
If he was already this powerful at Tier-1, how fearsome would he be at Tier-2?
Yu Zi Yu's own transformation was remarkable. His Willow Tree form now stood 32 meters tall, with a trunk one to two meters thick. His growth rate was accelerating every day.
Perhaps it was due to awakening his Innate Talent—Super Regeneration.He could feel vitality surging continuously through him.
If he didn't consume that vitality for abilities or healing, it would be redirected toward growth—expanding him endlessly until he one day truly covered the sky and blotted out the sun.
His bark had hardened to the toughness of steel—or perhaps even stronger. His roots were tougher still.
"Right now, I should be able to withstand a full artillery salvo."
The thought filled Yu Zi Yu with confidence.If he couldn't withstand ordinary artillery, he might as well surrender to humans. Artillery shells were commonplace human weapons.
The true terrors were far worse.
Biological weapons. Genetic weapons. And the most devastating—nuclear and hydrogen bombs.
Until he gained the strength to survive even those, Yu Zi Yu would never expose himself.
He had no intention of dying because of human fear.
As a former human, he understood one truth well:
Beings different from humans could never be trusted by humans.
And another truth:
If humans felt their supremacy threatened, extremists among them would not hesitate to unleash nuclear fire.
So Yu Zi Yu would lie low.
Grow.
And one day, when his roots pierced mountains and his branches brushed the heavens—
No weapon on Earth would dare challenge him.