It was almost noon. Sunlight broke through the clouds, casting massive pillars of light across the sky. Tiny particles drifted through the air, flowing slowly like countless rivers of stars—just like the miniature galaxies shown in geography class.
But this was not an illusion.
In this era of Spiritual Energy Resurgence, colorful, dreamlike Spiritual Energy filled the atmosphere. Anyone with heightened perception could sense its flow—or even see it directly.
As a Tier-1 creature, Yu Zi Yu naturally possessed this ability.
Gazing upward, he found himself entranced by the sky's shifting, fantastical colors.
"How mesmerizing." Yu Zi Yu smiled, then turned his attention back toward the canyon.
At the moment, the entire gorge was drowned in thick, rolling mist. It erupted from deep underground, rising like a tide before drifting far into the distance.
"In a few days, these mountains will be my domain."His voice held unconcealed anticipation. Yu Zi Yu was alone here—king of the canyon. Everything else, from beasts to wandering spirits, was beneath him.
And no one else could understand his joy.
The mist was his second pair of eyes.
Through it, Yu Zi Yu's perception had undergone a remarkable transformation. He still couldn't catch every tiny detail, but he could detect major movements clearly—enough to feel completely at ease.
Unless humans launched medium-range or intercontinental missiles, he was safe. He had all the time he needed to grow.
Yu Zi Yu's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a deep, echoing howl.
Raising his gaze, he saw the Gray Wolves trapped in their tree-cage prisons begin to stand one after another.
Aooo~, Aooo~, Aooo~…Their howls overlapped, their green eyes glowing with feral hunger.
Wolves were pack creatures. Out in the wild mountains or quiet forests, a single howl was enough to stir the whole pack—an eerie chorus that sent chills down one's spine.
Now, even in captivity, the wolves bared their sharp teeth and licked their blood-red tongues, their gazes locked onto the carcass of the Giant Golden Eagle nearby.
"Hungry?" Yu Zi Yu muttered, puzzled.
He slowly extended a branch.
The branch twisted through the air and slipped into one of the cages.
Aooo~!The wolf tensed, hind legs bent and ready to spring, eyes burning as it stared at the incoming branch.
"You want to try it?"Yu Zi Yu smirked. The wolf couldn't understand his words, but actions spoke clearly.
He curled the tip of his branch like a human finger, wagging it back and forth mockingly.
Aooo~!The wolf howled again, stepping back warily. It had seen the Tree Demon's power. Instinct warned it. Fear ran deep.
But…
Grrr…Its stomach growled. Hunger overwhelmed caution.
With a sudden leap, the wolf launched itself forward, jaws wide open, breath thick and pungent.
Snap!A crisp crack rang out.
Yu Zi Yu intentionally thinned the surrounding mist, letting the other animals witness what happened.
One wolf cowered in the corner of its cage, trembling violently, a deep wound slashed across its body. Blood dripped slowly as it whimpered, terror filling its eyes.
The branch approached again.
inch by inch… until it nearly touched the wolf.
Instinctively, the wolf bared its fangs.
Whip!The branch lashed forward, striking it in an instant.
Another bone-deep wound opened across its body.
"Still want more?" Yu Zi Yu's voice was cold as he extended the branch again.
But this time, the wolf had broken.
It buried its head, shaking uncontrollably, no longer daring to resist.
"You made the right choice."Yu Zi Yu shifted his gaze to the other beasts—the White Crane, the quiet wolves, the Wild Buffalo, the Golden Monkey, the Honey Badger.
"Beating the dog before the lion… this method really works."His patience was thinning. It was time to begin taming them, and this strategy was clearly effective.
Smiling faintly, Yu Zi Yu snapped off the tip of his branch.
A bead of clear, shimmering essence leaked out.
The moment it appeared, the atmosphere shifted.
All the beasts opened their eyes wide.
The Wild Buffalo rose, scraping its hooves against the ground.The Golden Monkey leapt excitedly from branch to branch.The Honey Badger poked its head from a deep pit, licking its lips in anticipation.
The essence had awakened their instincts.