’A Spirit Beast breeding valley?’
’Multiple types of Spirit Beasts?’
Yang Qi was astonished.
The system often abstracted modern things into cultivation concepts, but its judgments were rarely wrong.
This valley, which appeared so dangerous, was likely a special, hidden ecological sanctuary.
’Have they adapted to the miasma and mutated? Or... are they ancient remnant species to begin with?’
As he was pondering...
[Detected an untamed "Sky-Covering Lark." The host can bring it back to the sect for contribution points.]
’Sky-Covering Lark?’
Yang Qi raised an eyebrow, following the system’s sense to look ahead and to his right.
A small bird was perched on the top of a dead old tree.
It wasn’t large, about the length of his palm, and its feathers were a pure, milky white. It almost blended in completely against the backdrop of the gray-white miasma.
Its slender beak and claws were a pale pink. At that moment, it was tilting its small head, its black-bean-like eyes curiously sizing up Yang Qi.
’A little white bird? No... it’s not naturally white.’
Yang Qi observed it closely and noticed that the bird’s white feathers lacked the luster of a naturally white-plumed bird. Instead, they had a paleness that suggested a lack of pigmentation.
He quickly searched his memory, comparing it to the bird guides and data he had once read.
A moment later, a name popped into his head—
’An Immortal Eight-Color Thrush?!’
Yang Qi found it hard to believe.
The Immortal Eight-Color Thrush, a Class II nationally protected animal, was named for its feathers that could display eight different colors under the sun: violet, blue, green, yellow, chestnut, brown, black, and white. It was an extremely beautiful and precious bird.
They usually lived in the evergreen broadleaf forests of low mountains and hills, had strict environmental requirements, and were few in number.
But the one before him...
Although its size and silhouette indeed resembled an Immortal Eight-Color Thrush, it didn’t have a single speck of color on it!
’An Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush?’
Unbelievable.
Just any random bird that popped up was a protected species, and a rare albino one at that!
Yang Qi marveled internally but didn’t approach rashly. He just observed it from a distance for a few moments before continuing deeper into the valley.
The Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush seemed very interested in this "outsider," Yang Qi. It flapped its wings, left the branch, and followed behind him, keeping a certain distance.
The deeper Yang Qi went into the valley, the more vibrant the environment became.
The initial dead silence was broken as all sorts of sounds began to reach his ears.
Crisp insect chirps came from the grass, melodious bird calls echoed among the treetops, and the gurgling of flowing water grew clearer. Occasionally, he could even hear the low growls or short cries of unknown beasts.
The wind rustled through the leaves and blades of grass.
The entire valley seemed to awaken from a deep slumber, revealing its burgeoning vitality.
Yang Qi looked around as he walked.
He discovered that the plants here were also somewhat unusual.
The leaves of many trees were a pale color; some even appeared a faint gold or silvery-white, emitting a soft glow in the miasma.
After walking for about two hundred meters, a small river, approximately three meters wide, appeared ahead.
The river water was exceptionally clear, glowing with a faint turquoise hue in the dim light. Up close, he could smell a sweet, mineral-like scent from the water.
Fish swam in the river. Most of them were pale and nearly transparent, allowing one to see the outlines of their bones and internal organs.
And on a flat rock by the riverbank, a stout figure was lying prone.
[Detected an untamed "Ancient Devouring Primordial Crocodile." The host can bring it back to the sect for contribution points.]
’An Ancient Devouring Primordial Crocodile?’
Yang Qi’s gaze sharpened as he looked at the figure.
It was about one and a half meters long, its back covered in thick, horny scales. It had short, thick limbs, a strong, powerful tail, and a relatively short, blunt snout...
This was clearly a crocodile!
But unlike the dark brown or grayish-black camouflage of a typical crocodile, this one’s body was a pale grayish-white. The edges of its scales even had a faint pearlescent sheen.
"A Yangtze River alligator?"
After a careful look, Yang Qi exclaimed in astonishment once more.
The Yangtze River alligator, a Class I nationally protected animal, is one of the oldest crocodilian species in the world, known as a "living fossil."
Wild Yangtze River alligators are extremely rare, mainly found in a few wetland reserves in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.
And the one before him was not only a pure wild Yangtze River alligator, but also an albino!
’This valley... could there be a whole colony of Yangtze River alligators here?’
Yang Qi scanned the riverbanks and, sure enough, spotted several more pale figures of various sizes in the reed beds and on the muddy flats farther away.
Most of them lay quietly in wait, only their eyes moving occasionally.
Yang Qi couldn’t help but click his tongue in amazement.
The unique geographical environment—the miasma, the strong magnetic field, the isolation from the outside world—had caused the animals here to undergo a specific albinistic mutation.
The entire valley was very likely an extremely rare "albino animal sanctuary!"
If the outside world of biology were to find out about this, it would absolutely cause a sensation.
After all, albino animals have an extremely low survival rate in the wild. They lack camouflage, have vision problems, and are often rejected by their own kind. A concentrated population of albinos that could reproduce normally like this was practically unheard of.
Of course, ordinary people couldn’t get in here at all.
Just the layer of poisonous miasma at the entrance was enough to cause someone to fall unconscious after a few breaths, let alone explore deeper.
Only a "non-human" existence like Yang Qi, who possessed Cultivation and could hold his breath and use internal circulation, could enter as if it were uninhabited.
A nearby albino Yangtze River alligator seemed to notice Yang Qi as well. It raised its head, its pale golden pupils looking over, but it didn’t quickly dive into the water or assume an attack posture like a normal alligator. Instead, it also seemed curious, observing him from a distance.
Yang Qi gave it a wave as a greeting, then turned and continued along the riverbank.
Just then, he felt a weight settle on his shoulder...
The Albino Immortal Eight-Color Thrush had landed there. It stood on his shoulder and even gave his collar a curious, gentle peck with its beak.