Wu Yuan staggered out of the latrine, his legs slightly shaky.

Despite the physical weakness, his eyes shone with a crystal-clear, refreshed light.

“Strengthening the stomach first… that was absolutely the optimal choice.”

He took a deep breath, feeling the changes within.

“I am currently a spirit creature. I lack cultivation techniques, I lack Pills, and I lack heritage knowledge. In fact, I lack everything—except for raw spiritual materials.”

He glanced back at the cave, his gaze piercing.

“My only path is to eat. Now that my digestion and absorption capabilities have been enhanced by the new spirit patterns, my Demon Power and physical body can advance side by side. My cultivation speed has just jumped to a whole new level.”

Wu Yuan raised his hand, rubbing his sharp claws together.

Sching.

A cold, metallic glint flashed along the edges of his nails. With a casual swipe, he unleashed streaks of Demon Power that tore through the air.

Crack!

The hunk of [Spirit Copper] on the ground split open, deep fissures running through the incredibly hard ore.

“My claws are definitely becoming a major weapon. My teeth are stronger, sure, but they aren’t exactly convenient for combat.”

He clenched his fist. The sensation of power radiating from his reinforced bones gave him a profound sense of stability.

It was a feeling of security that arose spontaneously from the marrow outwards—the conviction that nothing could easily break this body.

Wu Yuan shook his head, a self-deprecating smile touching his lips. “Getting inflated again. It’s just the illusion of power that comes from improving too quickly.”

Ever since that strange spirit rune had etched itself onto his stomach, the trajectory of his life had quietly shifted.

Every day, aside from his routine cultivation, he found himself immersed in the mysteries of spirit runes, unable to extricate himself.

His two innate spells—[Great Black] and [Bibo]—had become precious research subjects.

He dissected them, savoring their complexity, analyzing how the intricate patterns guided the flow of power to manifest the spell.

“The innate spells of Demon Beasts are complex, but they are closer to the true essence of magic,” he mused.

“Most spells recorded in human jade slips are merely simplified modifications of these innate abilities. They are easier to learn, yes, but they are also rigid and devoid of spirituality.”

Wu Yuan had also spent time studying the formations on Bibo’s Magical Artifact. Those runes were obscure, ancient, and incredibly difficult to decipher.

But Wu Yuan was patient. When he couldn’t comprehend a rune, he would meticulously copy it down, preserving it for the future.

He had even crafted a thick tome, which he used to record every spirit rune he encountered—whether seen, heard, or comprehended.

He categorized them with the precision of a scholar.

Lacking a master to guide him, he relied on his own intuition to sort them: Characteristic Runes, Attribute Runes, and Spell Runes.

Under ‘Characteristic Runes’, he listed effects like [Sharpness] or the abyss-like [Qi Gathering].

Under ‘Attribute Runes’, he noted the heaviness of Earth and the vibrant vitality of Wood.

As for ‘Spell Runes’, these were the circuit boards of magic—the pathways that allowed Spiritual Qi to circulate and amplify within a Magical Artifact.

He named this manuscript the [Book of Spirit Runes].

“In the future,” he thought, a spark of ambition lighting up his mind, “if I can record enough truths in this book, it might one day evolve into a true Book of Heavenly Dao.”

Just as Wu Yuan was drifting deep into his conceptual world, a hurried figure approached.

It was Bibo.

“Great King, I have important matters to discuss.”

Wu Yuan closed the [Book of Spirit Runes] and looked at his subordinate. There was no blame in his gaze for the interruption.

Bibo was steady, reliable. If he was rushing, the problem was thorny.

“You’ve been stationed at the bamboo forest recently,” Wu Yuan said calmly. “That hummingbird has started attacking you again?”

“Great King’s foresight is divine,” Bibo replied, bowing respectfully.

“Ever since that hummingbird failed to ambush me last time, it had been lying low. I assumed it had moved on. I didn’t expect it to suddenly reappear today.”

Bibo’s expression darkened. “It is faster than before. Much faster. I am already at my wit’s end.”

Wu Yuan narrowed his eyes.

The hummingbird was the original master of the bamboo forest. After the night of the Heavenly Nectar, it had vanished. Wu Yuan had assumed it met with misfortune and had sent Bibo to occupy the territory.

Not long after the occupation began, the bird had returned and ambushed Bibo.

Back then, its cultivation was shallow—only thirty or so strands of Demon Power. Bibo had easily blocked it, and the bird had fled.

“So, its strength has improved significantly,” Wu Yuan muttered.

“Yes. It is becoming difficult to handle.”

“Then let’s go take a look together,” Wu Yuan decided, standing up. “The other rat demons lack the cultivation to deal with such a threat.”

This time, Wu Yuan did not skulk through the underground tunnels. He walked openly into the bamboo forest.

His goal was simple: bait the enemy.

The hummingbird was small and possessed extreme velocity. Catching it in a chase was impossible; they had to lure it into attacking.

Wu Yuan walked side-by-side with Bibo, his senses dialed to the maximum.

His ears twitched, catching the rustle of leaves. His eyes scanned the canopy. His nose filtered the air, separating scents.

He stood back-to-back with Bibo, covering the blind spots.

Simultaneously, he activated the spirit runes he had extracted from Bibo’s innate spell, [Water Flow Manipulation].

Bibo’s talent allowed him to sense the flow of water currents. Wu Yuan had adapted that logic, applying it to the air. He felt the wind moving through the bamboo forest like a river.

The wind brought tremors. It brought information.

Buzz.

A faint sound, like the rapid beating of insect wings, vibrated at the edge of his hearing.

“And the scent of bamboo sap,” Wu Yuan thought, his heart tightening. “It’s the hummingbird.”

“Its position is erratic… jumping from point to point… very fast.”

He deepened his connection to the wind. “Getting closer. It’s right around us!”

Wu Yuan’s claws twitched slightly, a subtle signal.

Bibo, who had been watching his King’s hands closely, immediately understood. Enemy incoming.

Swish!

A streak of cyan light erupted from the greenery, stabbing straight toward Bibo’s eyes.

It was a blur of motion, a living arrow.

Bibo, warned in advance, roared and circulated his Demon Power, forming a protective barrier over his face just as the light struck.

Clang!

The impact forced Bibo back a step.

“That was close!” Bibo gasped, sweat forming on his brow. “How did it get even faster?!”

“I couldn’t sense its presence nearby at all until it struck!”

Beside him, Wu Yuan’s pupils contracted into needle-thin slits.

He had sensed the attack coming through the wind, but his body… his body hadn’t been able to keep up.

“Too fast. I couldn’t react physically,” Wu Yuan analyzed grimly. “Luckily it targeted Bibo. If it had gone for my throat, I would have suffered.”

The cyan light flickered away, disappearing into the dense bamboo leaves as quickly as it had appeared.

The situation was awkward.

Bibo was tough enough to tank the hits but couldn’t see the enemy.

Wu Yuan could see the enemy but was too slow to hit back.

The bamboo forest fell silent again, save for the light, ethereal sound of wingbeats that seemed to echo from everywhere at once.

“This is my territory,” a sharp, high-pitched voice drifted from all directions. “Leave the bamboo forest, and I will spare you!”

“Great King, what should we do?” Bibo asked, his voice laced with anxiety.

Wu Yuan remained calm, his gaze sweeping the swaying stalks.

“Let’s try exchanging blows with it again,” he said firmly.