Just as they backed up, the entire roof gave way and collapsed in a thunderous crash, dust and stone exploding outward as a massive black falcon forced its way through.

It shrieked the moment it emerged, the sound so sharp that it nearly made everyone’s ears bleed, while at the same time a smaller brown falcon streaked through the cave and landed near the nest, clearly the mother.

Lin Xiao Tian and the others retreated instinctively until their backs nearly met the cave walls, weapons already drawn as their focus sharpened. He glanced through the system briefly. Peak Core Formation... both of them, not impossible, but troublesome in this terrain.

Before they could adjust, the black falcon vanished from sight, and in the next instant it reappeared with a violent gust right in front of them. Yan Feng and Xiaoshan reacted instantly, their attacks converging, but the falcon twisted mid-air and changed direction abruptly.

In a flash, it grabbed Miao-Miao and shot upward.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian only sighed, his expression turning strange. It really chose the worst possible target.

The falcon had barely risen when its body suddenly froze mid-air, its movements halting completely as a faint pink glow appeared in both its eyes and Miao-Miao’s. Slowly, as if under complete control, it released her from its claws and gently shifted her onto its back.

For a moment, the cave fell silent before the disciples let out relieved laughs, shaking their heads at the sheer stupidity of the beast. Lin Xiao Tian sighed again, his gaze calm. Of all people... it had to pick the one who will become a beast empress.

The female falcon stared in shock, letting out a sharp, confused shriek toward its partner, but the male falcon ignored it completely, its body still under control. A few disciples showed faint traces of pity at the sight.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian raised a brow slightly, his tone turning flat. "Do you think these beasts would hesitate to kill us if we were weaker," he said calmly. "They would not, so remember this well, there is no place for sympathy or pity in this world."

As he spoke, Lin Xiao Tian suddenly stepped forward and blocked the mother falcon’s sharp dive toward one of the disciples, his palm striking aside the incoming force just in time. The falcon pulled back for a split second, hovering in mid-air as her gaze flickered between her chicks and the strange fruits in the nest.

Then, without hesitation, she made her choice as she understood there was no way she could win. With a piercing cry, she surged forward again at terrifying speed, but instead of aiming for them, her claws tore through her own chicks in a single brutal sweep.

Blood scattered across the nest as she moved to destroy the fruits as well, her intent clear, she would rather erase everything than leave behind anything for her enemies.

Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes sharpened instantly as he moved.

In the same moment, a spear shot forward, its tip tearing straight through her wing even as she tried to twist away. Before she could recover, Yan Feng’s sword pinned down her other wing with precise force, locking her movement completely.

Without any pause Tianhe stepped in the next instant, his strike clean and decisive as he severed her head and tore through her body, extracting the golden core and talons without delay.

The cave fell silent.

At the same time, Miao-Miao dropped down lightly, holding the talons and core of the male falcon, her expression carrying a faint pout. She tossed them forward casually. "A pity, Master, that falcon was quite a good ride, but it was far too stubborn to be tamed," she said.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian gave a faint, warm smile and spoke in a reassuring tone. "Do not worry, Miao-Miao, there are far better beasts waiting in our sect, and perhaps after this expedition we might even hatch something far more interesting," he said, his eyes carrying a hint of anticipation.

As he spoke, he stepped forward and carefully collected all ten fruits from the glowing vines, their surface firm and faintly metallic as if forged rather than grown. Activating the system, he scanned them briefly, and a satisfied glint appeared in his eyes. Iron-bone fruits... rare, and perfect for third-grade bone tempering pills. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

He stored them away without hesitation, his thoughts already moving ahead. With the Heaven-grade bone tempering art, these will finally push their bodies further, they have been stuck relying only on blessings and the Celestial Genesis Ichor for far too long.

As he put them in, he told everyone to rest and wait till morning to hunt again and everyone will take turn’s guarding the cave.

The cave slowly settled into a calm silence, but it was not so for the whole secret realm.

----- --------------- ----------------------- -------------------------------------

Beneath the dense canopy of a massive ancient tree, bodies lay scattered across the ground, each one bearing the insignia of the royal family upon their robes, yet now reduced to lifeless husks. Their forms looked unnaturally shriveled, as if something had drained them dry, leaving behind nothing but hollow remains.

A faint sound of whimpering broke the stillness as a handsome man stood amidst the corpses, gripping a young maiden by her throat, her body trembling as she struggled to breathe. "Where is the prize, tell me," he said coldly, his voice carrying no patience.

Hearing this, the girl broke down completely, her voice shaking as she cried out. "I... I do not know," she said, her words barely forming through fear.

The man’s expression twisted slightly before a low, unsettling laugh escaped him. In the next instant, writhing tentacles erupted from his arm, piercing through her mouth and body as her cries turned into choked, broken sounds.

The life drained from her rapidly as her once vibrant form withered before his eyes, her body collapsing into a worn-out husk as the last traces of her voice faded into silence. Without a second glance, he threw her aside like worthless debris.

He lifted one of the bloodied tendrils and slowly licked along its surface, his gaze turning distant and cold. "How long will you run, Prince," he murmured. "The sin of a father is to be carried by the son."

A faint smirk appeared on his lips. "It is all your father’s mistake for interrupting my tribulation."

As his words faded, his figure slowly dissolved into the darkness, leaving behind nothing but massacre, silence, and the lingering stench of death.