Devouring the Heavens: Maiden of Ice

The forest pulsed with primal energy, a living thing filled with countless dangers. It was no longer the same place Li Jue had once feared; now, it was his hunting ground.

Standing atop the twisted roots of an ancient tree, he exhaled slowly, his breath visible in the cold night air. His muscles coiled with anticipation, his senses sharpened beyond human limits. The Void Devourer Art surged within him, a bottomless abyss hungering for more.

His next prey lurked ahead.

A Shadowfang Tiger—a mid-tier Spirit Beast known for its terrifying speed and darkness-based abilities. Its fur shimmered in the moonlight, shifting in and out of the shadows like an illusion.

Li Jue smirked. "Let's see if you can run from me."

The tiger growled, baring its fangs. Then, it vanished.

—Whoosh!—

The sound barely reached Li Jue before the beast was upon him. Claws, sharper than steel, slashed toward his throat.

—Bang!—

Li Jue twisted at the last second, narrowly avoiding decapitation. His palm shot forward, void energy swirling around his fingertips. The moment his hand made contact with the tiger's side, the beast let out a furious roar.

"Struggle all you want," Li Jue muttered, tightening his grip. "It only makes it worse."

The Void Devourer Art activated in full force.

A swirling vortex of energy erupted from Li Jue's palm, tendrils of darkness latching onto the tiger's body. The beast howled, its strength rapidly draining as its spiritual essence was siphoned into the abyss.

The once-majestic creature thrashed wildly, its golden eyes turning dull, its muscles weakening by the second. Its body convulsed, and with one final, agonized growl—

—Crack!—

Its bones snapped under the pressure, its life force fully absorbed. Li Jue exhaled, feeling the rush of power flood his meridians.

"Not enough," he murmured, licking the remnants of spiritual energy off his lips. "I need more."

A rustling in the undergrowth caught his attention.

A Flamefeather Eagle, a powerful aerial predator, had been watching from the treetops. Its crimson eyes gleamed with intelligence, realizing the threat before it.

Too late.

—Boom!—

Li Jue leaped into the air, his body moving faster than the eye could follow. He twisted mid-air, his fingers forming a claw as he reached for the eagle's throat.

The eagle screeched, flapping its wings violently. A burst of flames erupted around its body, its innate fire Qi attempting to burn him away.

Li Jue smirked. "A futile effort."

He activated Void Veil, one of the intermediate techniques of the Void Devourer Art.

—Ssssh!—

The fire was consumed before it could even touch him. The eagle's greatest defense had become meaningless.

Li Jue's clawed fingers found their mark. He grabbed the eagle's head and slammed it into the ground. The sheer force shattered the earth beneath them, forming a crater.

The eagle twitched, its wings twitching weakly.

Li Jue crouched beside it, placing a hand on its still-burning body. "Your strength belongs to me now."

The devouring began.

Fiery energy rushed into him, burning, searing—but he didn't falter. He absorbed every last ember, refining it within his meridians, strengthening his muscles, tempering his bones.

As the last drop of essence vanished, Li Jue exhaled, his breath laced with smoke.

—Crack!—

His muscles tightened, his bones hummed with power. His body was evolving with every beast he consumed.

He clenched his fists, feeling the raw strength coursing through him.

"This is still not enough," he murmured. "I must become stronger."

With that, he turned deeper into the forest.

More prey awaited.

---

The deeper Li Jue ventured into the forest, the more savage the beasts became.

His body had already absorbed the essence of multiple Spirit Beasts, but his hunger was insatiable. Every step he took, he sought more—more energy, more power, more control.

A Crimson Fang Bear, towering at over four meters, roared in the distance. The trees shook from its heavy steps, the sheer weight of its spiritual pressure pressing down like a mountain.

"Peak Spirit Beast," Li Jue muttered, eyes flashing with excitement.

This was exactly what he needed.

The bear's blood-red fur bristled as it sensed the intruder. With a deafening roar, it charged, its earth-shaking steps leaving deep craters in the ground.

—Boom!—

A massive paw swiped toward Li Jue, tearing through the trees like paper.

—Swoosh!—

Li Jue vanished.

The moment the bear's attack missed, Li Jue appeared behind it, his hands forming the Void Devourer Seal.

—Void Grip!—

Dark tendrils shot from his fingertips, latching onto the bear's massive frame. The beast howled in rage, struggling violently, but the more it fought, the more its energy drained.

—Crack!—

The bear's struggles weakened. Its once-brilliant crimson fur dulled, its immense vitality siphoned away.

A final, gurgling roar left its throat before it collapsed, lifeless.

Li Jue exhaled slowly. "Still not enough."

His body pulsed with power, his veins coursing with stolen vitality, yet he craved more.

He turned his gaze deeper into the forest, where the presence of a higher-tier beast flickered at the edges of his senses.

Then, he heard it.

A scream.

Feminine. Desperate.

His body moved before his mind could process it.

—Boom!—

Li Jue shot forward, his speed breaking past his previous limits. His surroundings blurred, trees bending from the force of his movement.

The scent of blood filled the air.

Then, he saw her.

A young woman stood in the middle of a ravaged clearing, her snow-white hair flowing like silk in the wind. Her robes, pristine and elegant, were now tattered, stained with streaks of crimson.

Her face was breathtaking—flawless skin, eyes as cold as moonlight, and lips slightly parted as she struggled to breathe.

But the true horror lay before her.

A Frostfang Serpent, a peak-tier Spirit Beast, coiled around her, its icy blue scales reflecting the moonlight. Its forked tongue flickered, sensing her weakened state, savoring its prey before the kill.

The woman's sword, a beautifully crafted artifact with intricate jade engravings, trembled in her grip. Her Qi was nearly depleted, her injuries severe.

She wouldn't last another minute.

Li Jue didn't hesitate.

—Boom!—

He attacked.

The serpent barely reacted before his fist, charged with Void Annihilation, slammed into its side.

—Crack!—

Its scales shattered, its massive body sent crashing into the trees.

The woman's eyes widened in shock, her gaze locking onto him.

Li Jue turned to her, his voice steady. "Can you still fight?"

She hesitated, then gritted her teeth. "Not much."

"Then stay behind me," Li Jue said, stepping forward.

The serpent hissed in fury, its golden eyes locking onto its new enemy.

It lunged.