Chapter 821: Sacrificing Life and Death

At this moment, the water bubbles burst, and the water elemental puppets, previously trapped within, awakened. Sensing the presence of living beings, they charged forward. Even from a distance, their strong resentment could be felt emanating from them, causing those with lower cultivation levels to involuntarily shiver.

"Everyone, take your positions! Archers, prepare to fire a volley! Scout team, get the traps ready! The rest, prepare for close combat..." Although Bi Linglong's face was a little pale, she maintained a resolute expression and issued her commands methodically. Her calm voice instilled confidence in others, and the formation, which had been somewhat chaotic, stabilized.

*Whizz, whizz, whizz!* A dense volley of arrows was unleashed. Each glowed with a white light, thanks to the ice elemental runes carved onto them by rune masters, allowing them to draw vital energy and convert it into ice elements. This mission was part of the Crown Prince's Imperial Examination, so the royal family had provided ample preparations. The Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon could devour other fierce beasts and refine their souls into water elemental puppets, which was why ice elemental enchanted arrows had been specifically prepared to counter them.

The archers were all elite members from various noble families. Soon, many ice elemental enchanted arrows found their marks, causing patches of ice to appear on the bodies of the water elemental puppets. If these had merely been the expected rank-6 fierce beast puppets, after being struck by so many special enchanted arrows, they would likely have been frozen solid into ice sculptures. Unfortunately, these were previously rank-7 fierce beasts. Although the ice arrows formed icy patches on their bodies, it was not enough to freeze them completely. Their residual battle consciousness made them furious about their injuries. They roared and charged towards the group, and at such close proximity, there was no time for a second volley of arrows.

At this moment, the scout team Bi Linglong had just mentioned had already set up traps along their inevitable path. Various lights flashed as the trap mechanisms were triggered. The four water elemental puppets trembled all over, as if letting out silent screams. Their forms even became dim and faded. However, they ultimately broke through the trap zone and directly charged into the formation.

At this point, the warriors from various families, who had already prepared themselves, charged forward. Following their established strategy, they split up to surround and attack their respective targets. Bi Linglong did not move; instead, she directed from the center. She would dispatch personnel from other areas to support wherever a side was struggling, while simultaneously issuing various attack and defense commands.

Warriors constantly screamed in pain, suffering injuries or even losing their lives. However, under Bi Linglong's command, the overall formation did not collapse. On the contrary, everyone was inspired by her determination, fighting bravely and fearlessly against the enemy. Some had their intestines gored out by the two sharp horns of the Golden Savage Ox. Yet, they still used their last ounce of strength to repeatedly thrust their weapons into the Golden Savage Ox's neck, trying to deplete its water elemental power as much as possible. Others were struck in the waist by the thick tail of the Sky-Questioning Thunder Devouring Tiger, their bodies instantly severed in half. Still, their upper bodies clung desperately to the beast's hind leg, attempting to slow it down. Some were pierced by the sharp quills of the Boar with Spines, their bodies mangled and bloody. Seeing no hope of survival, they simply lunged onto its body, using themselves as shields for their teammates. Some witnessed their teammates being effortlessly torn in half by the Frost Giant Bear. Instead of retreating, they charged forward with bloodshot eyes, one after another.

Because of this unwavering spirit, what should have been an overwhelming victory for the four rank-7 puppets was instead fought to a standstill by these people. Zu An felt immense respect for these individuals. Previously, seeing those young masters from aristocratic families, he had inevitably held a slight disdain for these so-called experts from prominent clans. But at this moment, he understood. No wonder these individuals could pass the selections of their respective families, and no wonder the Emperor trusted them to accompany the Crown Prince on this mission; these people were truly the elites of their respective clans.

He did not make a move. His true enemy was not these water elemental puppets, but the tens-of-meters-long rank-9 Flood Dragon hovering in mid-air. Soon after the engagement began, the Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon locked onto his aura. Clearly, with the intelligence of a rank-9 fierce beast, it immediately realized who posed the greatest threat to it among the group.

Zu An was also looking for an opening in the opponent. A rank-9 fierce beast possessed an incredibly powerful body, various innate abilities, and combat prowess comparable to a human Grandmaster. A normal human rank-9 cultivator would have no chance of victory against it. Even someone as strong as Han Fengqiu, a peak rank-9 cultivator, would at most only be able to defend themselves. Zu An was currently at rank-9, fourth stage. Due to the various divine martial arts he practiced, his vital energy quantity and intensity far surpassed cultivators of the same realm. However, against a Grandmaster, he had little chance of outright victory, though with his endless array of skills, he was not without the ability to put up a fight. Thus, the man and the Flood Dragon stood in a standoff, silently searching for each other's weaknesses.

The Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon was also observing the battlefield. Seeing its water elemental puppets fighting to a standstill with the "despicable and weak" humans, it grew secretly enraged. It opened its large mouth again and spat out a water orb. The water orb instantly transformed into the shape of a strange bird.

"Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle!" A hint of despair flashed in Bi Linglong's voice, because it was a rank-8 fierce beast! She hadn't expected the Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon to be able to devour rank-8 fierce beasts. No wonder it could ascend to rank-9. The four rank-7 fierce beast puppets had already pushed them to their limits. How could they possibly withstand this rank-8 fierce beast?

However, she bit her lip firmly; she would not give up until the very last moment. She commanded the archers, who had just reorganized and were preparing to hunt the four previous puppet beasts, to shoot at the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle in the air. Countless arrows were unleashed in response. However, the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle spread its wings and flapped them, causing countless water elemental bubbles to surge forth. The originally formidable arrows and crossbow bolts, upon touching the bubbles, were instantly trapped within them. The ice elemental power attached to them was almost instantly melted away. Furthermore, many remaining bubbles fell among the Crown Prince's camp, instantly trapping many warriors from various families within them, as if they were sinking into a swamp. They struggled desperately, trying to break free, but like drowning individuals who couldn't swim, they only wasted their energy in vain.

Then, the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle craned its neck and let out a silent roar. It then quickly folded its wings and dove, its entire body transforming into a streak of light that crashed into their formation. Almost instantly, blood mist erupted from the chests of those who had not been enveloped by the water bubbles. Countless people had large holes ripped through their chests. The Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle's charge was terrifyingly powerful, like a flying sword wielded by a rank-9 expert. These individuals, at most rank-6, how could they possibly resist?

Zu An moved. In fact, the Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon had revealed an opening just now. However, the time it would take him to exploit that opening and take the opponent's life would likely be enough for everyone present to die ten times over. Having just witnessed the bravery of these people, he was filled with profound admiration. He simply could not bring himself to use their lives to buy himself time.

He used the Great Wind Teleportation to appear beside a stunned warrior. He pushed the warrior aside and held the Tai'a Sword horizontally across his chest. A sharp, piercing sound rang out as the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle's incredibly sharp beak, which had torn through countless chests, struck the Tai'a Sword. The immense impact caused the Tai'a Sword's blade to bend slightly.

"So noisy!" Mi Li's annoyed voice came from within the sword. Then, a terrifying aura burst forth, causing the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle to tremble and noticeably pause. How could Zu An miss such an excellent opportunity? With a flash of his sword, he sliced it directly into two halves. Given the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle's strength, while he could have won, it wouldn't have been a decisive instant kill. He hadn't expected to provoke Mi Li into taking action.

"Empress Sister, you're awake?" Zu An was both surprised and delighted, communicating with her silently.

"Stop with the idle chatter; that wretched bird isn't so easy to kill," Mi Li's cold voice responded.

Zu An looked down and saw two pools of water on the ground, constantly writhing, subtly showing a tendency to recombine. Originally, they were formed by the Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon using the souls of devoured fierce beasts as a base, then transmuted with water elements. Water is formless and shapeless, possessing powerful regenerative capabilities. Seeing this, Zu An immediately activated the Snowflake Divine Sword. He instantly froze the two writhing puddles of water into ice lumps. Then, channeling his vital energy, he stomped them into fragments. This Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle was utterly destroyed, body and soul. Simultaneously, the trapping water bubbles not far away also froze and shattered due to the intense cold, freeing all the people trapped inside.

"This King painstakingly refined an Azure Feather Eagle puppet, and you destroyed it!" the Azure Moon Sky Measuring Dragon roared furiously from the sky. "Then this King will devour you and refine you into a new puppet!"