As expected, the three massive sabertooths slowly approached. Any creature that had not fled into the forest—whether the tusked wild boars, the vibrantly patterned leopards, the horned, formidable rhinoceroses, or even the scattered packs of hyenas, zebras, and deer—now sank to their knees, heads bowed in submission.
They dared not move an inch, flattening themselves against the soft sand, trembling with every fiber of their being, awaiting the verdict of fate.
Even the monstrous crocodiles, lying in wait along the riverbank for unsuspecting prey, froze as if their very lifeblood had been stolen; for a moment, they seemed no more than dark, inert logs.
The sabertooths strode across the beach with deliberate calm, ignoring the prostrate animals entirely. Their movements betrayed no hunger, no desire to hunt—merely the quiet assertion of dominance.
Yet one of the sabertooths at the edge of the group seemed to take an interest in the river's lurking killer crocodiles. A sudden whoosh of air filled Chen Xu's ears, followed by five blinding silver arcs, flashing like lightning. In an instant, a crocodile over five meters long was cleaved into four massive pieces.
With a casual flick of its paw, the sabertooth lifted a segment of the carcass, tossing it into the air before snapping it into its jaws with precise, fluid motion. It chewed thoughtfully, then spat out the remainder, the wrinkled, furry face contorting into what seemed almost a comical expression of dissatisfaction.
In the next fleeting minute, several more unlucky creatures became the objects of the sabertooths' brief, selective predation. Yet it was clear—they were not hungry. These acts were mere instinct; most victims were torn at randomly before being abandoned.
As the three titans continued their measured patrol, Chen Xu's sharp eyes caught something intriguing at the far edge of the forest—a cluster of crude stone cores scattered among the undergrowth. His heart stirred. Slowly, he circulated his inner qi, infusing it into his eyes, sharpening his vision beyond mortal limits.
A cool clarity washed over him. What had been at the extreme edge of his sight now advanced several meters closer. Through the dense underbrush, obscured by leaves and shadows, Chen Xu detected a patch of dark, coarse hair—exactly the same type of hair that adorned the bodies of his own tribe. Another group of humanoids—another band of early humans—lurking in the forest.
"So this territory isn't home to just my small tribe," Chen Xu mused silently. "No wonder these hominids could evolve into intelligent beings… their population base is far larger than I imagined."
By carefully studying the subtle pressure patterns of the hidden apes, Chen Xu deduced at least eight individuals, though there could very well be more. Their presence sparked an idea, a plan forming in his mind.
"Did they anticipate the sabertooths' arrival, hoping to scavenge the leftovers? Or is this merely coincidence?" he thought. "Either way, I cannot ignore them. With my current qi cultivation, reaching the mid-second tier may take an age—but with that mysterious crystal… everything could accelerate. And in this era, numbers are power. A larger tribe means greater freedom to act. If I can locate copper ore and forge bronze weapons, even these three beasts would not pose a threat."
As he weighed the possibilities, he maintained stillness, suppressing his breathing and aura to avoid drawing attention from the sabertooths.
Yet instinct betrayed him. One of the sabertooths abruptly turned its massive head toward his direction. Chen Xu's eyes met the predator's. In that instant, time seemed to pause.
A jolt of alarm surged through him as he read the expression in the tiger's gaze. Though he could not fully comprehend it, he sensed a mixture of astonishment, curiosity, excitement, and amusement.
Chen Xu's mind instantly recalled his childhood, the gleeful, almost feverish look when receiving a coveted toy. The resemblance was uncanny—the same wide-eyed fervor mirrored in this apex predator, only magnified by its immense presence.
He realized, with a sinking certainty, that the sabertooth had noticed him. There was no denying it. Its mental acuity, attuned to the faintest traces of dominance and power, had detected his inner qi.
And why had it been so easily spotted? Because Chen Xu had failed to conceal his strength. By channeling inner energy into his eyes to extend his perception, he had amplified his already formidable spiritual presence, rendering him an undeniable beacon in the predator's keen awareness.
For a creature of such power, the signal was impossible to ignore. Chen Xu's spiritual force, normally subtle as a firefly in darkness, had become, to this apex hunter, a glaring presence impossible to overlook.