Chapter 1869: Return to Feiling

Layers of light instantly unfurled from the formation flags, spinning to form a gigantic spherical light barrier that enveloped all the Feathered Spirits within it. Its defensive capability appeared quite formidable.

However, despite the barrier, the young Feathered Spirits inside it still turned pale as they watched the howling storm approaching from behind.

Even though their defensive formation was impressive, it could not possibly withstand the renowned "Silver Tide" for long. This fact had been confirmed countless times by many who had perished in this natural disaster while venturing into the sea.

Once engulfed by the Silver Tide, anyone below the Soul Transformation stage was doomed. Even those at the Soul Transformation stage could barely protect themselves, and their survival would depend entirely on divine blessing. To save so many of them, it would require an expert at the peak of the late Void Refinement stage or at the Body Integration stage.

Having ventured so deep into the sea, it was highly improbable that they would coincidentally encounter any senior experts from their clan passing through.

The two Feathered Spirits leading the group, a man and a woman both at the late Nascent Soul stage, hurriedly discussed the situation. However, their expressions were extremely grim, clearly indicating they were still at a loss.

As the hurricane, only twenty to thirty li away, threatened to engulf them in moments, one of the Feathered Spirits suddenly cried out in surprise and joy:

"Look! There seems to be someone in the Silver Tide!"

Startled by their companion's words, the other Feathered Spirits quickly looked in the direction he was pointing.

Not far away, within the surging Silver Tide, a patch of green light was indeed flickering, truly appearing as if someone was manipulating an escape light. However, the chaotic spiritual energy within the Silver Tide prevented the Feathered Spirits from discerning, with their spiritual sense, who was inside the escape light.

Yet, the green light remained as steady as a mountain within the Silver Tide, moving from one end to the other as if completely oblivious to the lightning and hail within the storm. This sight made the Feathered Spirits feel as if they had seen a savior!

Immediately, after the two Nascent Soul stage Feathered Spirits exchanged a glance of joyous surprise, they both simultaneously let out a long howl. One howl was powerful and masculine, the other soft and feminine. Their combined sound, a fusion of yin and yang, surprisingly drowned out the roaring Silver Tide, piercing through the heavens. The varying pitch and intensity of the howls were not random; they formed a specific distress signal used by the Feathered Spirit race.

As long as the person within the Silver Tide wasn't deaf, they surely couldn't fail to notice their group in imminent danger.

Indeed, the green escape light, which had been surging through the Silver Tide, paused for a moment just as the howls began. If one were close to the escape light, they would have seen a figure inside turn its head to look in the direction of the howls, seemingly a bit surprised.

"Which Feathered Spirit clan do you belong to? And why are you here?"

An unfamiliar male voice suddenly resounded within the spherical light barrier, echoing back and forth, allowing everyone to hear it clearly.

"We are disciples from the Five-Color, White Jade, and Heavenly Peng clans. We came here for a trial and never imagined we would encounter the once-in-a-millennium Silver Tide. We humbly implore senior to have mercy and spare our lives."

Overjoyed, the Nascent Soul stage man immediately replied loudly without hesitation.

However, after hearing the reply, the unfamiliar man fell silent and did not transmit any more messages for quite some time. This caused the Feathered Spirits' hearts to sink once more. If the other party felt they couldn't confidently ensure their safety within the Silver Tide, they naturally wouldn't risk coming to their rescue. Fortunately, the green escape light did not fly away in the distance, appearing somewhat hesitant, which gave them a sliver of hope.

In just a moment, the storm, carrying countless electric arcs and hailstones, had already engulfed all of them. Instantly, thunderous roars and howling winds erupted deafeningly outside the spherical barrier, causing the seemingly solid shield to shake violently, as if it could shatter at any moment. Seeing this, the Feathered Spirits naturally turned pale with fright.

Under the stern shouts of the two Nascent Soul stage leaders, various spiritual lights flickered wildly on everyone's bodies as they gripped their formation flags tightly, frantically pouring their full spiritual power into them as if their lives depended on it. The barrier, which had been on the verge of collapsing, solidified once more with a surge of light.

However, with such a massive expenditure of spiritual power, these Feathered Spirits clearly couldn't last much longer. Their hope for survival naturally still rested on the distant individual who might offer assistance.

"Since there are Heavenly Peng clan youngsters here, I can't truly stand by and do nothing. I'll take you out of here!"

Finally, the unfamiliar man's voice faintly drifted over once more!

The Feathered Spirits were naturally ecstatic, but before they could send a message to express their gratitude, they suddenly heard a deafening thunderclap from above the light barrier! Bolts of lightning, as thick as a bowl's mouth, flashed wildly, appearing one after another, and briefly intertwining to surprisingly form a thunder-and-lightning formation over ten *zhang* in diameter.

At the center of the lightning formation, a man in a green robe with crystalline feathered wings on his back flashed into existence. After a cold glance downwards, he wordlessly formed a hand seal with one hand. Instantly, with a flap of his wings, thunder roared loudly, and the massive formation composed of silver electric arcs immediately descended downwards.

The barrier, which had been desperately held up, tore apart like paper the moment it made contact with the lightning formation. All the Feathered Spirits were greatly alarmed, seeing only a blinding silver-white light before their eyes as they were completely engulfed by the electric light. They felt a dizzying sensation and then instantly vanished from the lightning formation amidst the roaring sound.

The next moment, high above a sea surface thousands of miles away, where the Silver Tide had not yet arrived, amidst a peal of thunder, the same lightning formation tore through the void and appeared. The group of Feathered Spirits who had just been trapped by the Silver Tide surged out from the center of the lightning formation, having been directly teleported to this location.

They had escaped certain death in mere moments. First, they looked around in astonishment. Upon realizing they were truly in a safe place, their excitement was immense, and they couldn't help but cheer loudly.

"Many thanks, Senior, for saving us! Are you perhaps the elder from the Heavenly Peng clan?"

However, the Nascent Soul stage man leading the group immediately spotted the green-robed figure floating motionlessly above. With his cultivation level, he couldn't discern the slightest depth of the other's power. His heart instantly tensed, and he hurriedly bowed deeply as he spoke. At this point, the others also discovered their "savior" above and respectfully paid their deepest respects.

"Heavenly Peng clan? Heh, no, of course not. However, I have some past connection with the Heavenly Peng clan. Since there are Heavenly Peng clan members among you, I couldn't just stand by and watch you perish." The green-robed man, who appeared to be only in his twenties, smiled slightly upon hearing the Feathered Spirit man's words, revealing a full set of white teeth.

This person was, of course, Han Li, who had spent over eighty years to finally arrive near the Feathered Spirit race's territory. With his current divine abilities, comparable to those of a peak late Body Integration stage cultivator, he hadn't encountered any true dangers along the way, but he had faced numerous other troubles. In particular, he had to spend over ten years to bypass several perilous areas that even he found daunting, before finally arriving safely at this location.

"No matter what, Senior, we will never forget your life-saving kindness. We hope you can grant us your name. Once we return, we will certainly inform the clan elders and express our profound gratitude!" Although these Feathered Spirits' cultivation levels weren't high, they all seemed to be individuals of some standing within their clans. The other Nascent Soul stage Feathered Spirit woman, who had five-colored wings on her back, evidently a member of the Five-Light clan, respectfully said to Han Li.

"Forget it. Saving you was merely a small effort on my part; there's no need for any grand thanks. However, I've been cultivating in the Barren World and am a bit unfamiliar with the current situation of the various clans. Why don't you tell me a thing or two about what has happened in the last few centuries?" Han Li's eyes flashed as he said faintly.

"Since Senior has questions, I shall naturally answer truthfully and without reservation. Indeed, in recent centuries, many major events have occurred for our Feathered Spirit race. However, the most famous event, of course, is the sudden disappearance of several great Demon Kings from the Abyssal Region, and how the entire Abyssal Region was eventually conquered by the combined forces of our various clans." The Five-Light clan woman thought for a moment before replying honestly.

"The Abyssal Region was conquered. This is indeed a significant matter. Please tell me more in detail." Han Li was inwardly startled, but he spoke slowly, without showing any change in expression.

"Yes, Senior. This is a long story; it originally began with the Saint Son's trial several centuries ago..." The Five-Light clan woman naturally obeyed and began to narrate slowly.

Not long after, a green light enveloped Han Li's body, transforming him into a streak of green rainbow light. He departed from the Feathered Spirits and, after a few flashes, disappeared into the distant horizon.

"Junior Sister Xuan," the Nascent Soul stage man suddenly asked with a slight frown after Han Li had completely vanished, "won't it be a problem that you just told that person so many things about our clan?"

"What do you mean by that, Senior Brother Mian?" The Five-Light clan woman was startled and couldn't help but ask in return.

"Nothing much," the Nascent Soul stage man said hesitantly after a moment of consideration, speaking words that startled everyone else, "it's just that this senior never told us his name, and his face is so unfamiliar. He might not necessarily be from our clan."

"Impossible!" others immediately exclaimed loudly. "This senior clearly also has a pair of spiritual wings, and he appeared in this sea region! If not a Feathered Spirit, what other clan could he be from?"

"Indeed, this senior claimed to have some connection with the Heavenly Peng clan, and his wings can wield lightning. This is a unique divine ability of the Heavenly Peng and a few other clans; outsiders absolutely cannot imitate it. Furthermore, if he were truly an outsider impersonating someone to infiltrate our Feathered Spirit race, why would he bother saving us? Or, before he left, he could have easily silenced us. Senior Brother Mian, you are truly being overly suspicious!" The Five-Light clan woman chuckled lightly, completely disbelieving him.

"Perhaps I truly am being overly suspicious!" The Nascent Soul stage man's expression fluctuated for a while before he reluctantly smiled and nodded.

"Senior Brother Mian, relax! Even if this person truly is an outsider, what I just told him are all things known to everyone in the clan; they're not secrets at all. The most important thing for us now is to leave this sea region immediately. If we're caught by the Silver Tide again, we'll truly lose our lives," the Five-Light clan woman finally said with a solemn expression.

"You're right, this is still a dangerous place. It's best to leave quickly!"

"Junior Sister Xuan's words are true," another said. "The cultivation of the person who just saved us is unfathomable. Even if he truly is an outsider, we are no match for him. It's still more important to escape."

Other members of the group also spoke up, some even looking around in panic once more.