The Lesser Venom Wyrm awoke from her slumber, changed and filled with energy.

  Sun Yuying felt the effects were even more noticeable than her periods of growth after her hibernation when she was a Common krait.

  She felt the expansion of her Spirit Core; she could manipulate more energy, and her reserves were deeper.

  Are these the effects of advancing my cultivation? It sure is addictive!

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm flexed, feeling that the enhancement of her core was not the only thing; her size and physical attributes had increased once again.

  And in doing so, her traits and her all-around strength improved, as traits scaled with her foundations, such as her current species being vastly superior to a Common krait if they both shared a trait of a similar grade, though the quality and grade of the trait still mattered, as a lesser species with higher cultivation and traits will still be stronger even with the inherent advantages she had.

  Additionally, it might mean the difference against another Spirit Beast of similar strength, or allow her to match up against a superior bloodline.

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm began to sliver outside of her shelter, feeling the effects of growth; her body length must have been over 32 feet by now, and her body has grown even more robust, the thickest part of her serpentine body broadening by another foot.

  I should check my status.

  ‘Status’, Sun Yuying thought mentally.

  Name: Sun Yuying

  Species: Lesser Venom Wyrm

  Cultivation: Intermediate First Realm Refinement

  Spiritual Energy: 750/3000

  Spirit Qi Attunement: Venom Qi

  Traits: Venomous, Tough Skin, Adaptive Camouflage, Robust Jaws, Lesser Dragon Blood, Constrictor, Robust Physique, Venom Resistance

  Age: 1 year, 84 days

  Has a month passed?

  Sun Yuying did not realise that Spirit Beasts usually take decades to accumulate Spirit Energy per breakthrough, and that this accumulation gave them time to grow. In contrast, she had been growing rapidly since birth, unnaturally so.

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm decided to return to the crocodile waters; she wanted to acquire the Steel Bones trait by first taking the lesser trait, Iron Bones.

  Slithering back, she found the murky waters unperturbed, yet wait, wasn’t it too quiet?

  Craning her serpentine neck on the muddy bank near the waters, she failed to identify anything until her senses narrowly picked it up.

  Above!

  Looking up, the dive of a ginormous Hawk was barely registered as gleaming talons reached for her head.

  The dense vegetation by the river began to wrap and constrain her, as she barely moved to protect her vitals from the outstretched claws of the vicious avian.

  Sun Yuying felt deep agonising pain as the sharp talons raked and dug into her flesh, her thick scales preventing severe damage.

  She wanted to respond immediately and attack the Giant Hawk, yet the Razorwind Chlorohawk's deep green eyes locked with hers as it utilised its momentum to avoid her response swiftly.

  You believe you can hunt us! Take us down one by one without consequences! We have waited for you to return!

  A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  Its voice shrieked in her mind, and Sun Yuying grasped at how naive she had been.

  I have devoured half the Spirit Beasts and have spent months in hibernation; of course, they will notice!

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm turned sharply as she prepared for the Hawk to return for another attack, yet, as she tensed, she realised the giant avian was merely circling before leaving.

  It left?

  Sun Yuying's concern and wariness grew, yet, upon finding the Spirit Beast failing to return after an extended period, she felt the need for haste.

  I came here for a reason. I need to do this swiftly, then leave. I have a feeling I know where that giant bird is going.

  Prowling near the riverbank, she noticed the crocodiles remained wary of her, yet even their caution could not prevent them from snapping at her when she intentionally provoked their prey instincts.

  At this point, she withdrew her aura completely and managed to bait some crocodiles near her.

  As a Spirit Beast, though the crocodiles were both large and powerful, the disparity between them was enormous. She utilised her Spirit Qi to push a poisonous cloud into the murky waters, feeling her poison seep into the bodies of numerous crocodiles.

  Shortly, dead crocodiles began floating on the murky waters, each resembling a smaller, light grey coloured version of the Crushing Steel-Bone Crocodile, most reaching 20 feet.

  Without hesitation, she began to devour the remains, feeling the notifications come in.

  You have consumed Crushing Iron-Bone Crocodile, gaining +4 Spiritual Energy…

  Compatible trait detected. Current progress: 5/5 in assimilating the trait Iron Bones from Crushing Iron-Bone Crocodile.

  Would you like to receive the trait Iron Bones? Yes/No.

  Before she could accept, another familiar trait showed up.

  You are currently in the process of acquiring a superior trait, the Earth Ranked, Steel Bones. Would you like to conjoin and assimilate a lower, mortal ranked Iron Bones to form a low Earth Rank Steel Bones by merging with the current Steel Bone progress with Iron Bones?

  Sun Yuying found this was exactly what she wanted; she wanted to accept, yet once again needed to find somewhere secure, especially with the remaining Spirit Beasts of the Forest now both aware of her and likely intent on hunting her down.

  With the urgency to leave, the Lesser Venom Wyrm longingly eyed the beautiful lotuses before she left.

  She decided to leave them as she had a feeling they were related to the Steel Bones trait, similar to Death Chameleons.

  She had a prediction that Spirit Beasts usually protect beneficial Spirit Plants as their primary trait, and it felt the crocodiles, who all shared similar characteristics, would do the same. Yet, it would be a waste to consume them before she assimilated the trait.

  Slithering away, Sun Yuying once again found a secure hideaway to assimilate the trait and accepted the notification.

  Feeling a warm burning sensation, she awoke to a lesser, yet transformative state.

  Steel Bones, though inferior to the Crushing Steel-Bone Crocodile, was a fundamental change for her; it encompassed her bones, meaning her fangs' hardness, durability, and penetration had enhanced significantly.

  Her body was also even stronger; on a fundamental level, she was structurally more resistant to damage, and her fangs and even the horn on her serpentine head noticeably changed colour, adapting to a gleaming, metallic appearance.

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm was pleased by the trait and already had revenge on her mind.

  I have a hawk to hunt.

  Slithering away from her hideout, she began moving through the Forest, nearing the unexplored regions of the Forest, attempting to search and discover the location of its territory.

  Whilst doing so, however, she saw a peculiar sight.

  Snakes?

  Sun Yuying saw the pitiful sight of Snakes being bullied by smaller versions of the Giant Hawk she encountered.

  Similar to most non-spirit beasts, they smelled unappetizing, with hardly any Spiritual Energy, yet how can Sun Yuying let them harass her kin!

  Is that Hawk trying to provoke me?

  Sun Yuying did not realise that the Lesser Wyrm's absence meant the Snakes were no longer restricted to its territory and began wandering the Forest floors again, yet in doing so had become prey to their natural enemies, Hawks!

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm was a serpent after all, even with her Dragon Blood, she even felt a natural hatred of Hawks, primarily because of the Giant Hawks' ambush.

  Approaching the Snakes being picked apart, Sun Yuying did not even let the Hawks flee in fear as she spat venom at the birds, sending them burning, tumbling to the Forest floor in a heap.

  Suddenly, the Lesser Venom Wyrm saw the rescued snakes of varying species slither around her, hissing in contentment, and Sun Yuying felt another of the Lesser Venom Wyrm’s natural abilities, one to command and manipulate snakes.

  Though all Spirit Beasts can command and direct mortal animals to an extent, it was more effective with a similar species, and a Lesser Venom Wyrm held a commanding presence among snake species.

  Seeing a snake near her, one that resembled an Amazon Coral Snake, Sun Yuying stared into its small black eyes and had a sudden curious feeling whether it would taste anywhere near as good as the Lesser Wyrm.

  The Amazon Coral Snake seemed to shiver for a moment as if sensing her intentions, yet the Lesser Venom Wyrm was already shaking her head, her mind set on having a bird for the next meal.