Sixty-two Golden Scale Birds soared high into the sky in unison. The warriors riding them sat steadily and skillfully, their breathing synchronized to the same rhythm and frequency. In midair, they formed a neat V-shaped formation, heading toward the distance like an arrow in flight.
"Riding the wind and soaring through the skies, traversing the world—this feeling is truly wondrous. It's as if one's chest opens wider, the heart becoming more expansive,"murmured Huang Chengyan, standing atop the Wind God Winged Dragon King, gazing out into the distance.
Before him stretched an endless wilderness—vast, treacherous, yet breathtakingly beautiful. Endless forests, towering peaks, rivers and streams winding like silver snakes—it was even more primal than the ancient primordial age. The colossal trees, some hundreds of feet tall, were commonplace here, and vegetation flourished at an astounding pace. The wild land pulsed with natural beauty.
Yet hidden within that beauty was grave danger.
Countless ferocious beasts and birds lurked unseen. Just a single ancient tree could house swarms of savage avian creatures, nesting and reproducing in large numbers.
Though the Hunter Hall had been established in Xuanhuang City, most bounty hunters dared not venture deep into the wilds. They only explored the fringes. To go further was to flirt with death. This danger wasn't an exaggeration—it was real and omnipresent.
And it wasn't just the forests that were dangerous—the skies were deadly too.
Flying beasts were especially territorial. If another bird dared invade their airspace, they'd charge with deadly fury. This instinct was etched into their very nature. Only the presence of a power vastly superior to theirs could make them hesitate.
Today, the Golden Roc and Wind God Winged Dragon King led the flight, their aura of a second-tier king-class beast suppressing all resistance. Where they passed, even the fiercest of sky predators cowered, tucking their heads in submission, not daring to chirp or move—lest they draw unwanted death upon themselves.
The aura of a king was simply too overwhelming.
In the world of beasts, hierarchy was everything.
"This wilderness hides too many perils. For humans, most of it remains a death zone. No one knows what kind of monstrous threats lie hidden here,"said Yi Tianxing, gazing at the boundless land ahead, his voice brimming with confidence."But one day, we shall conquer it. The alien races will tremble before the might of the human race."
He exuded a charisma that stirred unwavering belief.
With the Golden Roc leading the way, the journey was smooth. Even when strong beast auras were sensed ahead, aerial maneuverability allowed easy avoidance. This was the power of having an airborne cavalry.
Thanks to a detailed map with prominent landmarks—and Zhang Fei personally confirming the path—they soon left Xuanhuang City's jurisdiction and entered unclaimed wilderness. Along the way, they saw many human villages and towns, scattered across the wildlands, frequently attacked by ferocious beasts or alien races.
Some scenes were brutal—humans slaughtered, torn apart before their eyes.
But Yi Tianxing gave no order to intervene. It wasn't that he didn't care or couldn't help. But there were too many such scenes. Saving one wouldn't change the fate of the others. Only by growing stronger, by leading humanity to true power, could these tragedies end at their root. Only then would the human race no longer be bullied.
"Accelerate. Let's reach our destination quickly,"Yi Tianxing commanded, his eyes firm.
"Understood!"Zhang Fei nodded, leading the way forward.
Just then, Yi Tianxing glanced downward—and what he saw made his eyes narrow.
A village below was under siege. Humans fought desperately against a horde of green-skinned monsters, grotesque and savage. Male villagers had their heads smashed open by wooden clubs, their skulls shattered. Women were being pinned down, screaming, as the monsters committed vile atrocities.
It was a blood-soaked, horrifying scene.
Among them, a girl of about fifteen or sixteen stood frozen in terror. A grinning green monster lunged at her with perverse hunger. His face showed exactly what he intended.
"No! If I survive this, I'll kill every last one of you monsters!"the girl screamed, face pale but eyes blazing with hatred.
Yi Tianxing's gaze grew icy.
Suddenly, nine Yin-Yang Locks burst through the air, transforming into glowing black-and-white Yin-Yang Rings, each radiating divine light. They descended swiftly upon the village.
SMASH!
Just as despair overtook the girl, a Yin-Yang Ring crashed into the monster's head, shattering it in a spray of brain matter. The ring's divine light flared—and from the monster's body, a soul exactly like it was yanked out and sealed within the ring, vanishing instantly.
One after another, green monsters were struck down, their souls harvested.
The massacre was like mowing grass. The surviving villagers stared in awe.
The Yin-Yang Rings darted across the battlefield, unstoppable. The monsters were terrified. Their natural cowardice surged. One screamed and fled—and just like that, the tide turned. The rest of the horde fled in panic, scattering into the wilderness.
They were born cowards—bold only when bullying the weak. When facing power, they'd collapse without a fight.
"Who saved us?"
"Was it a human powerhouse?"
"Look! Golden birds in the sky! And... people riding them?"
The villagers peered upward, spotting the flying figures—but it was too late to beg for help. The birds and their riders were already distant.
"I'll grow stronger. I'll repay this debt one day,"the girl muttered, her voice trembling but determined.
"You can save one, but not all. This kind of tragedy is everywhere,"said Jia Xu, shaking his head."In the end, it's because our human race is still too weak."
It was a passing episode—no one lingered on it.
Time passed. Suddenly, Zhang Fei said:
"My lord, if I remember correctly, we're almost at the site of that academy I discovered years ago. See those two mountains ahead? One tall, one short—they look like a mother and child. I remember them clearly. The valley should be beneath them."
His voice was resolute.
"Yes. The map confirms we're close,"said Yi Tianxing, examining the landmarks.
The twin peaks were prominent—hard to miss.
"Strange… I don't see the valley. There's a dense fog covering the mountain base."
As they drew closer, they realized the entire area was shrouded in thick, multicolored mist—blocking all view.
"That valley is down there. It's just hidden by this fog,"Zhang Fei said, frowning.
"This fog is unnatural. It's not just mist—it's a kind of miasma. That academy likely faced disaster,"Yi Tianxing said grimly.
This was no natural phenomenon. Someone—or something—had created it.
Suddenly, a voice echoed through the mist:
"The Master said: To learn and practice what one has learned—is this not a joy? To have friends visit from afar—is this not delight? To remain unperturbed when others do not understand you—is this not the mark of a gentleman?"
Then another voice:
"If words can change behavior—keep them. If not—discard them. To keep them without effect is empty talk,"quoted Zi Mozi.
"If you strive for righteousness but cannot reach it—blame not the path. Like a carpenter missing his mark—blame not the chalk line,"another passage followed.
From within the fog, golden light flared.Sage words echoed again and again, suffused with Daoist resonance.
The mist churned and rolled as countless voices of students reading aloud filled the air.