Anos grasped the Firestorm Nugget firmly, his eyes locked onto the Flameborn Lion outside. The beast, oblivious to the impending threat, focused solely on killing Anos, its fiery roar echoing through the cave.
Anos waited for the perfect moment to strike, his heart racing with anticipation. He knew that if the Firestorm Nugget didn't explode precisely on the lion's leg and instead bounced back, he would be the one blown to smithereens. The risk was too great, but he had no other choice.
Seizing the opportunity, Anos hurled the Firestorm Nugget with all his might. The small, glowing object soared through the air, homing in on its target.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion rocked the outside, sending shockwaves that knocked Anos off his feet even from over ten meters away. Stunned, he stumbled backward, his ears ringing from the blast. The ground trembled beneath him as the cave began to collapse.
Anos's luck held, and his position remained relatively safe, with only small stones falling around him. However, the entrances were sealed, trapping him inside. The sound of rubble and dust filled the air, and Anos coughed, covering his mouth.
...
"Ding... You have attacked the Flameborn Lion..."
"Ding..."
"Ding... Your realm has increased to 6 stars of the Elemental Foundation Realm."
"Ding... Your realm has increased to 7 stars of the Elemental Foundation Realm."
"Ding..."
"Ding... Your realm has increased to 9 stars of the Elemental Foundation Realm!"
Anos slowly stood up, dusting himself off. The barrage of system prompts left him stunned. He felt an intense energy coursing through his body.
"9 stars of the Elemental Foundation Realm!" Anos was inwardly astonished. The implications were clear: the Flameborn Lion outside had been obliterated.
The Firestorm Nugget's devastating power had not only killed the beast but also propelled Anos's cultivation to unprecedented heights. His spirits soared as he realized the true extent of his growth.
The Firestorm Nugget's devastating power still lingered in his mind. "Isn't it too fierce?" Anos wondered. Initially, the aftermath had left his body screaming in agony.
However, his upgraded realm had brought an unexpected benefit - his physique had strengthened significantly. The lingering pain was now barely noticeable.
Anos's eyes widened in awe. "This is insane!" His body's resilience had increased exponentially, rendering the previous torment almost negligible.
...
Anos stood up, his surroundings eerily silent. The collapse had sealed everything in front of him, engulfing the area in an impenetrable veil of dust and debris.
With a deep breath, Anos focused his energy. "Stellar Smash!" he roared, unleashing a full-strength punch that shattered the debris before him. The ground trembled beneath his feet as his fist connected, releasing a burst of elemental force.
"Stellar Smash!" "Stellar Smash!" Anos repeatedly pounded the rubble, each blow fueled by his intensified elemental energy. The air reverberated with the force of his strikes, sending shockwaves through the earth. After twenty thunderous strikes, Anos finally broke through the collapsed area.
As the dust settled, the scene before him left Anos breathless. The pit stretched twenty meters deep, with the lowest point reaching five meters. The sheer scale of the destruction stunned him. Yet, the Flameborn Lion's corpse was nowhere to be seen – it was as if the beast had been vaporized, erased from existence.
Anos's eyes widened in awe, grasping the true extent of the Firestorm Nugget's destructive power. The Flameborn Lion, once a formidable foe, had been reduced to nothing. The realization sent shivers down his spine, humbling him before his newfound abilities.
...
Anos took a deep breath, settling into a meditative pose to assess his current Power.
Curiosity piqued, Anos approached the pit cautiously, his senses on high alert. The air still reverberated with residual energy from the explosion. What could have survived the devastating impact of the Firestorm Nugget ? He leaned forward, his heart racing with anticipation.
...
As Anos peered into the pit's depths, his eyes locking onto a faint, electric purple glow. The ground seemed to have been blown open, revealing a vacuum below. Something was emitting an intense, pulsating light.
Curiosity drove Anos to investigate further. He hurled a Energy Fusion Blast into the abyss, unleashing a concentrated burst of energy.
"Boom!" The ground shuddered, sending dust swirling upward. When the dust settled, Anos's eyes widened in astonishment.
The bottom of the pit was blown open, revealing an empty cavity. At its center, the purple light pulsed brighter than ever. But this wasn't ordinary light – it was thunder, crackling with electricity.
As Anos stood above, his scalp tingled, his hair standing on end. He sensed the electricity emanating from below, an otherworldly energy that defied explanation. It was a familiar sensation, like static electricity before a storm, but amplified to an unsettling degree.
The hairs on his arms rose, drawn to the energy like iron filings to a magnet. Anos's skin prickled with anticipation, his senses heightened. Half his hair stood upright, responding to the electrifying force.
"Unbelievable!" Anos thought, his eyes fixed on the purple lightning. "A thunder-type spiritual treasure is hidden underground!" Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasures were the stuff of legend, only attainable through sheer luck. Yet, here one was, right before him.
But Anos's excitement was tempered by fear. Even from afar, he could feel the treasure's terrifying power coursing through his veins. The thought of descending into the pit made his heart quail. One misstep, and he'd be annihilated.
Frustration gnawed at him. He'd stumbled upon a priceless treasure, yet dared not claim it. And if he hesitated, others would surely discover it, snatching the prize from his grasp.
Just as Anos's anxiety peaked, a deafening roar shook the air, sending shivers down his spine. The sound was primal, like the thunderous growl of a beast awakening from a deep slumber.
"Impossible!" Anos thought, his mind racing. "Could it be that after provoking the smaller one, the larger one has arrived?" The thought sent a chill down his spine. If so, his fate was sealed.
He located the source of the sound – behind him. Anos's heart skipped a beat as he slowly turned around, his movements stiff with tension. The cave he had just hammered out was now the focal point of his anxiety.
How could a demonic beast appear silently behind him? Anos swallowed hard, his senses on high alert.
As he turned, his expectation of fear gave way to confusion. Before him stood a demonic beast, but it was... tiny. Only 30 centimeters tall, with a snow-white coat and large, lively eyes reminiscent of a human's.
Anos's fear dissipated, replaced by curiosity. The creature's adorable features and energetic demeanor made it hard to take seriously. Its small tail wagged enthusiastically as it tilted its head, scrutinizing Anos with an unmistakable air of curiosity.
....
Anos's eyes widened as he beheld the miniature demonic beast. Its features stirred a familiarity, reminiscent of mythical creatures from Earth's legends. Intrigued, he focused his Spiritual Eye to uncover the truth.
[Snow Qilin?]
Realm: ???
Rank: ???
Attributes: ???
Introduction: Matching appearance data suggests this creature may be a Snow Qilin from the Qilin Clan's esteemed bloodline.
Anos's jaw dropped. "Snow... Snow Qilin?" he stammered, incredulous. The implications swirled in his mind. On Horizon Down, as on Earth, qilins symbolized nobility, ranking among the most revered mythological creatures. The Snow Qilin's bloodline was particularly distinguished, renowned for its purity and power.
But could this tiny creature truly be a qilin? Anos's mind reeled. How did it end up so close to human settlements? And why was it so... adorable? Its miniature size and playful demeanor belied the majesty of its heritage.
.....