From Swamp Dog to Crocodile Ancestor

Soon after, only hissing sounds and wisps of white smoke remained in the corner of the cavity, and then everything was purified by the spiritual spring located there.

Looking at the fox cubs, now reduced to ashes, Li Yi's brownish-yellow pupils revealed an extreme indifference befitting a beast.

It looked at the gurgling spring, walked forward, placed its long kiss on the water, and took a deep breath of the clear, sparkling spiritual water.

In an instant, Li Yi felt a refreshing and comfortable aura surge into his body, circulating around and slightly strengthening the moonlight within him.

Then, Li Yi turned and headed out of the cave, diving down and manipulating the nearby silt to flow in wisps, covering up all traces of the place.

Before long, the place returned to its ordinary state, and even the skeleton of the brown fox was sunk to the bottom of the swamp by Li Yi in an instant.

His brownish-yellow eyes slowly closed, and Li Yi lay motionless near the entrance of the Spirit Spring Cave.

These beings, who call themselves the Flame Breath Fox Clan, have been frequently roaming into their own territory lately, which is already a bit strange.

Something must have happened.

Li Yi closed his eyes beneath the swamp's silt, recalling past memories in his mind, trying to find some clues.

But in the end, it could only recall the last scene of itself escaping the Dragon Shadow Tribulation Grounds several years ago.

High above the swamp, in the clouds, a huge vine twisted and turned, barely visible, yet exuding a sense of oppressive power.

It appears to be confronting something in other directions.

This was also a crucial opportunity for Li Yi to realize that some powerful individuals were hidden within the swamp.

Flame Breath Fox Clan...

Li Yi remained silent, recalling what the white python had once told him: that the Flame Breath Fox Clan, once their cultivation reached a certain level, could all speak human language.

Perhaps we can catch one or two and get some information from them.

And so, another day passed.

Beneath some black silt, Li Yi lay lurking, his powerful long tail plunging diagonally into the depths of the silt, his entire body suspended within it.

Its two eyes were closed, just a hair's breadth away from emerging from the mud, and its senses were constantly being released.

As a hunter, Li Yi was extremely patient, and he waited for the brown foxes that might still exist.

The source of the spiritual spring may have already been exposed; it must wait and see if it can eliminate all living beings that know about the spring.

In the blink of an eye, another three days have passed.

The swamp was eerily quiet; even the occasional croaking of frogs had disappeared. Only at night could one hear the hoarse hissing of some strange and ferocious poisonous insects.

This is an abnormal situation to begin with.

That night, the moonlight was bright, but it wasn't a full moon; the crescent moon hung languidly in the sky.

A ray of bright moonlight shone on the swampy mud that was constantly flowing slowly.

Suddenly, a pair of brownish-yellow eyes opened, coldly shooting out two obscure gazes that swept in a certain direction.

A rustling sound arose, becoming increasingly blurry and invisible through the yellow poisonous barrier, yet Li Yi managed to catch something.

That was... the sound of a heartbeat and the sound of frantic fleeing.

Li Yi's instincts were instantly activated, and his body, which had been motionless for three or four days, was instantly brought back under control, slowly tensing up.

The commotion was getting closer and closer.

Just moments later, another sharp, dense sound of air being torn apart came from that direction, easily ripping through the curtain-like poisonous barrier of the swamp.

Suddenly, a cluster of purple, mottled flames lit up ahead, shooting diagonally towards them, while the surrounding poisonous barriers also burned, leaving a long trail of flame, like a shooting star.

boom!

The ball of flame struck a spot about ten feet away from Li Yi, expanded for a moment, and then exploded, splashing up countless clumps of mud.

A large crater quickly appeared on the spot, which was healing, and a thick white smoke burst out from it. Li Yi clearly felt the smell of spiritual flames, but did not make any move.

The next moment, a charred figure shot out of the pit with a whoosh, moving so fast that it was impossible to see clearly. Its fluffy tail was burned off, leaving only a thin stalk.

The figure, billowing smoke, seemed to have lost its balance. It leaped to a spot not far from Li Yi, briefly scanned the area, and then abruptly turned and left.

In that instant, Li Yi saw the other person clearly.

This is another brown-furred fox, a member of the Flame Breath Fox Clan. Its cultivation level is even higher, reaching the eighth level of the Qi Refining stage, the same realm as the White Python.

It was incredibly fast; it only paused here for a moment before darting off in another direction.

Li Yi could sense the decline of its aura. That wisp of purple, mottled flame was clearly some kind of spell that overdraws power; casting it once would cause considerable loss.

This is a life-saving weapon.

What is it running away from?

The answer soon appeared in the direction it came from.

Blade-like leaves flew in, slicing into the mud with a hissing sound. Then, in the hazy yellow-white light, a tall, menacing black shadow appeared.

The demon tree does not roar; it remains silent. Yet, its undulating, twisting branches reveal the madness within it.

Its roots twisted densely and rapidly, supporting its massive body as it moved forward through the mud.

On its canopy, there were still specks of purple flames about to die out, the burning leaves fell down, and several patches of bark were charred and blackened.

Clearly, the demon tree was enraged.

However, Li Yi hid himself well enough, only opening his eyes to check after the hideous black shadow disappeared.

Soon, the place quieted down again, and Li Yi remained motionless.

In the brief moment the fox looked in this direction, Li Yi understood something from its sinister eyes.

It must have known what was there, or perhaps a companion, otherwise it wouldn't have made a sharp turn, instantly slowing itself down and avoiding the area.

However, if it comes directly here, Li Yi will only do two things.

The first thing to do is to completely pollute the sacred spring inside.

The second thing was to turn around and run away.

This was something it had planned long ago.

As for tree-like creatures like the Demon Tree, which defy common sense, Li Yi couldn't be sure what changes would occur to it after obtaining the Spirit Spring.

If it finds a spring and takes root here, that would be a real problem.

At that point, it might even have to abandon the big willow tree and leave with the white python.

Fortunately, things didn't turn out the worst that Li Yi had anticipated.

Not long after, Li Yi slowly closed his eyes again, began to gather his strength, and prepared to launch a fatal attack.

Now, all you have to do is wait.

If that fox doesn't die, it will most likely return here. If the demon tree can't kill it, then I will have to kill it myself.

It is too much of a threat.