Lin Xuan crouched silently on a high ledge, his gaze fixed on the brutal clash unfolding below.
Thunder cracked through the air as the Lightning-Scaled Serpent lashed out with crimson arcs of energy, striking the Horned Earth Bear again and again. The serpent's cultivation was clearly higher—3rd Layer of the Profound Heavenly Realm—yet it fought as if shackled by unseen limits.
> "Strange…" Lin Xuan muttered under his breath. "Why is it holding back?"
Then he saw it.
Behind the serpent, partially hidden beneath thick roots and stones, was a dark cavern. The serpent coiled itself protectively before the entrance, taking heavy blows but refusing to retreat.
> "It's not just fighting the bear… it's guarding something."
The bear roared again, lifting its massive body and slamming its fists into the ground. The serpent's coils tightened in response, red lightning flickering across its body—but it was noticeably dimmer than before.
A final strike landed—a thunderous clash of brute force and fading power.
The serpent let out a low, piercing hiss as it recoiled, blood pouring from several deep wounds. The glow in its eyes began to fade. Its red lightning, once so fierce, crackled weakly, sputtering out like a dying flame.
Lin Xuan narrowed his eyes.
> "It's over…"
The Horned Earth Bear swayed where it stood. Though victorious, its chest heaved with labored breaths. Deep claw marks and charred fur covered its massive frame. It stumbled forward one last time—and collapsed, the impact shaking the forest floor.
Silence returned to the Mist Forest.
The two titans of this hidden battlefield… were gone.
After several cautious moments, Lin Xuan descended. His movements were quiet, fluid—his spiritual sense fully extended. He approached the fallen serpent first. Its once-flickering scales were now dull, but its massive body still radiated residual pressure.
He bowed slightly in respect before retrieving its demonic core, a condensed orb of power pulsing faintly with crimson light.
> "So much power… and yet it chose to protect rather than escape," Lin Xuan murmured. "What's inside that cave?"
Next, he walked to the Horned Earth Bear. Its breathing had completely stopped. He reached in with practiced calm, extracting its core as well—a much heavier orb, dense with earthy qi and raw physical strength.
Holding both cores in his hands, Lin Xuan could feel his own cultivation stir slightly, his body reacting to the pure energy within.
But his eyes soon returned to the cave behind the serpent's body.
> "Whatever it protected… might be even more valuable than these two cores."
Without hesitation, Lin Xuan stepped toward the dark opening.
His body tensed, spirit alert. There were no signs of traps or lingering beasts, but the air was thick with ancient qi—something dormant, something hidden.
And it was waiting for him.
---