Chapter 4: No Trace to Follow
Throughout the entire process, Yu Qiye’s expression remained utterly indifferent.
This pig demon was no weakling.
Judging by its cultivation, it must have nearly a century of experience—almost a great demon.
Yet it should not have...
It should never have shown hostility toward Yu Qiye, let alone murderous intent.
For some reason, Yu Qiye was highly sensitive to hostility and the urge to kill.
A glance from the corner of his eye caught sight of this big-eared, fat-headed pig demon.
[You have slain the pig demon. Randomly seize the talent “Boundless Strength (Purple). Merge?]
[Boundless Strength (Purple) — As a primal aberration, it possesses immense power; none of the same rank can withstand it.]
“Merge.”
Yu Qiye did not hesitate.
This was the first purple attribute he had plundered.
“No wonder this pig demon was so fierce. It had confidence because of this. If we’d fought head-on, with such overwhelming strength, who would win would be anyone’s guess.”
His heart stirred, and Yu Qiye’s body underwent a dramatic transformation.
His bones and flesh trembled rapidly.
His originally lean frame blossomed with muscle.
Yu Qiye clenched his fists tightly.
An indescribable force surged within him.
So this was the purple attribute Boundless Strength.
It had multiplied his power several times over.
“Let’s continue hunting.”
Suppressing the ripples in his heart, Yu Qiye spread his wings, transforming into a streak of black light, vanishing into the forest.
...
Passing over mountains, rivers, deep valleys, and serene pools,
Yu Qiye arrived at a vast, boundless forest.
The greenery stretched like a sea without end.
A long river meandered through the heart of the forest.
“I’ll hunt here for a while.”
This place was not far from Flower Fruit Mountain, rich with spiritual energy, nurturing countless life forms.
Though the monsters here weren’t as densely packed as on Flower Fruit Mountain,
it was safer.
After all, who knew what terrifying beings were born in places like Flower Fruit Mountain?
To say nothing more,
Yu Qiye still dared not provoke the green-bladed mantis king there.
“Caw caw...”
Amid the cries, Yu Qiye transformed into a black blood crow, perching atop a treetop.
His eyes, like blood moons, surveyed everything around him.
With the colorful attribute “Heaven’s Mandate” clouding the truth, along with the blue attribute “Forest Spirit” masking his aura and suppressing demonic energy, Yu Qiye in his blood crow form truly resembled an ordinary crow.
Even passing immortals or Buddhas would find it hard to detect him.
Then, as if sensing something, Yu Qiye’s eyes brightened.
There, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, was a small deer shimmering with tri-colored radiance.
At a glance, it was obviously extraordinary.
[Species: Tri-colored Celestial Deer.]
[Rank: Great Demon.]
[Attributes: Tri-colored Radiance (Red), Innocent Heart (Purple), Untraceable (Purple), Spirit of Flora (Blue).]
Seeing this, a look of shock crossed Yu Qiye’s face.
A red attribute.
What could this mean?
“This little deer is truly exceptional, and its lineage runs deep.”
Feeling a surge in his heart, Yu Qiye spread his wings and flew toward the tri-colored celestial deer.
No matter how extraordinary it was, it was still only a great demon.
As for lineage, Yu Qiye wasn’t afraid of any after-the-fact reckoning.
Even if his parents possessed godlike means, they couldn’t trace his existence.
Besides, fortune favors the bold.
If he could plunder the first red attribute, Tri-colored Radiance, his strength would surely skyrocket.
So...
Like an ordinary crow, he silently and stealthily approached the tri-colored deer.
Suddenly,
“Caw...”
A cry like thunder startled the deer.
Before it could react, Yu Qiye’s right claw shot out.
His right claw swelled against the wind,
whipping up a raging demonic storm.
From afar, the green demonic wind twisted into a whirlwind, enveloping more than half the deer’s body.
“Got you.”
Yu Qiye’s face brightened with joy.
But in the next moment,
“Yoo yoo...”
With a hint of panic in its cry, the tri-colored deer’s radiance suddenly flared intensely.
Its entire body seemed to teleport, instantly appearing far away.
“...”
Yu Qiye fell silent.
This must be the purple attribute Untraceable.
Related to space, it allowed teleportation?
“Yo yo, yo yo...”
The cries rose again as the tri-colored deer hopped excitedly, seemingly overjoyed.
“You think you can catch me, little blood crow?”
A childlike voice echoed in the air, causing Yu Qiye’s expression to darken.
That was the voice of the tri-colored celestial deer.
As a great demon, it had long since refined its bones and could speak human words easily.
But it was clear the deer followed the ancient path of great demons—refusing to assume a human form.
“You’ll regret saying that.”
Yu Qiye’s voice carried a chilling edge.
Spreading his wings, the fierce wind reversed, and he lunged once more at the tri-colored celestial deer.
Missed.
Again, missed...
Every time he caught a glimpse, the deer’s figure vanished in a flash.
Yet shockingly, despite having the ability to escape far away,
the tri-colored deer did not flee.
Instead, it lingered near Yu Qiye.
Was it toying with him?
“Come on, come on, you’re almost got me.”
“Faster, faster.”
“Oh, by the way...”
One sentence after another, the tri-colored deer seemed to chatter endlessly.
However,
People have moments of exhaustion.
Demons, too, have limits.
Repeatedly using his talents, even the tri-colored deer began to falter.
Its breathing grew heavy.
A trace of fatigue appeared on its face.
“I’m done playing. I’m leaving.”
With those words, the tri-colored deer lifted its hooves and dashed off into the distance.
“Hmph.”
With a sudden snort, Yu Qiye’s speed surged dramatically as he lunged at the deer.
Fast—
Very fast—
Almost like teleportation, he was upon the deer in the blink of an eye.
“How do you move so fast?”
The tri-colored deer’s face changed drastically as it stared at the incoming right claw.
“You thought you were playing with me, but I truly see you as prey.”
The voice was faint yet dripping with unmasked scorn.
A crisp cracking sound rang out as a deer’s head flew three zhang into the air.
Having realized how troublesome the tri-colored deer was, Yu Qiye had originally planned to give up hunting.
But he hadn’t expected the deer to treat him like a mere toy,
continually teasing him.
So Yu Qiye deliberately conserved his strength,
waiting for an opportunity.
At last, that moment arrived.
[Ding! You have slain the tri-colored celestial deer. Randomly plunder one attribute—Untraceable. Merge?]
[Untraceable (Purple) — Invisible and untraceable, difficult to detect. Can swap positions with any object within sight.]
Staring in disbelief, Yu Qiye’s face showed amazement.
It wasn’t the red attribute Tri-colored Radiance.
Yet this attribute seemed even more outrageous.
“Involving the mysteries of space, huh?”
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Yu Qiye merged it at once.
Crack!
A sudden crisp sound.
The space around Yu Qiye shimmered with cracks like a broken mirror.
Alongside, countless pieces of spatial information flooded his mind.
Even his body underwent inexplicable changes.
It was as if a fish had returned to the sea.
Yu Qiye seemed to harmonize more deeply with this world.
“Let’s test it out.”
Yu Qiye’s gaze swept the surroundings.
Suddenly, his eyes fixed on a swirling fallen leaf.
Boom!
A sudden roar.
Ripples appeared in space as if it were being swallowed whole.
When he reappeared,
he was exactly where the leaf had been.
As for the leaf—
it had arrived at Yu Qiye’s original spot.
“Not bad.”
A faint smile curved Yu Qiye’s lips, revealing his satisfaction.