“Sir…” The swallow perched on a nearby branch.0

“What is it?”0

“When I found this Qingtong Forest earlier, I thought I saw a figure in the mist and clouds. I’m not sure if it was just the movement of the miasma or if I was dizzy from inhaling it,” the swallow said, its bright black eyes darting left and right, uncertainty etched into its tone. “I didn’t see it clearly.”0

“Did it look like the divine bird?”0

“Probably... not.”0

“I see.”0

Song You, seated cross-legged on a felt mat, glanced toward the distant forest and finally said, “This place is rich in spiritual energy, with a mysterious spiritual resonance and undisturbed by humans. It’s natural for living beings here to gain sentience and become demons.”0

He cast a brief look at the swallow, suspecting that whatever it had seen might not have been a minor demon or monster.0

“Even the presence of a great demon would be unsurprising.”0

“Yes…”0

The swallow fell silent, lifting its gaze toward the distant horizon.0

By now, the sky was growing darker.0

True to its nature, the swallow chose the tallest tree it could find, one unobstructed by other foliage, and perched on a branch. Tucking in its neck, it gazed out over the vast Qingtong Fores...0