Chapter 314: Zhao Wuji

"Fellow Daoist, hurry! We can't hold out much longer." Wang Mingjiang urged loudly.

The middle-aged scholar showed gratitude. He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Thank you, three fellow Daoists, for helping me. If I, Xiao, were to escape now, I would surely put you three in danger. I, Xiao Tianzheng, am no saint, but neither am I a coward. Since you three have come to my aid, I am willing to advance and retreat with you."

His decision wasn't impulsive. Wang Changsheng was at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, possessed a high-grade magical artifact, and had over a dozen second-tier puppet beasts. Repelling this flock of fire crows, let alone annihilating them, wouldn't be a major issue.

Xiao Tianzheng's words earned the goodwill of Wang Changsheng and the two others. They realized they hadn't saved the wrong person; his character alone made him worth their assistance.

"Fellow Daoist Xiao," Wang Changsheng said, "to catch bandits, first catch their leader. If we injure that second-tier high-grade Fire Crow King, the fire crows will definitely disperse." Wang Changsheng activated his magic, and the white flood dragon let out a strange roar. It charged through the flock of fire crows, knocking several away, and headed directly for the Fire Crow King.

Xiao Tianzheng activated his magic, and the giant golden bell erupted with dazzling golden light. A heavy chime rang out, and a wave of golden sound swept forth, causing some low-tier red fire crows to fall from the sky.

Seeing the white flood dragon pounce, the Fire Crow King showed no fear. It flapped its wings, sending out a large shower of crimson feathers, and simultaneously opened its mouth to unleash a thick crimson flame, striking at the white flood dragon. Other red fire crows also launched crimson fireballs, pelting the white flood dragon. For a moment, explosions echoed continuously. The sheer number of fire crows, combined with their agility, made it impossible for the white flood dragon to get close to the Fire Crow King.

The Fire Crow King let out a strange cry, and the flock of fire crows split in two. Most of them charged towards Wang Changsheng and his two companions, while the Fire Crow King led a smaller group towards Xiao Tianzheng. As hundreds of fire crows attacked, the expressions of Wang Changsheng and his two companions tightened.

A chorus of strange caws erupted as hundreds of red fire crows released crimson fireballs, pelting Wang Changsheng and his two companions. There were hundreds of these fireballs, and this round of attack possessed power comparable to a second-tier fire-element spell. Wang Changsheng dared not delay. He opened his mouth, and the Black Flood Dragon Flag flew out. With a spin, a large number of blue light points appeared, forming a glass-like blue water curtain that enveloped the three of them.

Hundreds of crimson fireballs successively struck the blue water curtain, turning into rolling flames that engulfed it. Wang Mingjiang and Wang Changfeng quickly summoned their magical artifacts and attacked the fire crows.

Meanwhile, Xiao Tianzheng found it incredibly difficult to face the combined attacks of the Fire Crow King and dozens of other fire crows. He activated two Hundred Swords Talismans, which transformed into hundreds of golden flying swords that slashed towards the flock of fire crows. The fire crows were agile; most managed to dodge, but over a dozen were unlucky enough to be pierced by the golden flying swords, plummeting from the sky.

The Fire Crow King let out a strange cry and spewed a crimson flame as thick as an adult's arm, striking the golden light enveloping Xiao Tianzheng. Waves of heat billowed from it. Even through the golden light, Xiao Tianzheng felt an unbearable heat wave. He quickly summoned a blue short ruler. With a gentle shake, a thick blue light curtain appeared out of nowhere, enclosing him.

The Fire Crow King swooped in, its massive talons grasping at the golden light. A dull clang of metal echoed, and the golden light flickered. Under the Fire Crow King's relentless assault, metallic clanging sounds rang out continuously. In less than five breaths, the golden light shattered. The giant golden bell floated in the air, its surface marred by a fine crack.

The Fire Crow King opened its mouth and spewed a thick crimson flame, engulfing the blue light curtain. With a flap of its wings, its talons plunged directly into the sea of fire. The Fire Crow King was a second-tier high-grade demonic beast, far more powerful than other fire crows. Its talons alone were comparable to high-grade magical artifacts.

Just then, a deafening dragon's roar resonated, and a long dragon tail swept out, precisely striking the Fire Crow King, sending it flying backward. "Caw! Caw!" The Fire Crow King's eyes turned blood red. That damnable flood dragon dared to ruin its plans. The white flood dragon opened its mouth and exhaled a large blast of white cold air, extinguishing the flames.

The Fire Crow King let out a strange roar and pounced on Xiao Tianzheng again. Although the white flood dragon had thick skin and flesh, it was ultimately a materialized magical artifact, not a true entity. Under the relentless assault of the Fire Crow King and other second-tier fire crows, it became overwhelmed. With a mournful cry, it transformed back into a dim white command flag, its surface marked by several small holes.

Without the white flood dragon's obstruction, the Fire Crow King, leading over a dozen second-tier fire crows, lunged at Xiao Tianzheng. A man's voice, full of killing intent, suddenly rang out: "Soul Severing Slash!"

No sooner had the words faded than a series of piercing whooshing sounds erupted. Over a dozen ten-zhang-long crimson blade energies descended from the sky, slashing towards the Fire Crow King and the other second-tier fire crows. The Fire Crow King dared not confront them directly. It spat out a crimson sound wave and fiercely flapped its wings, flying off into the distance. As soon as the crimson sound wave met the crimson blade energies, it was shattered. The Fire Crow King successfully escaped, but the other second-tier fire crows weren't so lucky. Several were struck by the crimson blade energies, turning into a shower of blood, while others had their wings or legs severed, losing their combat ability.

A strange bird cry rang out, and a green light flew in from the distance. Soon, the green light arrived directly above Xiao Tianzheng. The green light was a colossal two-headed, three-legged azure crane, and a young man in a red python robe stood on its back. In his hand, he held a ten-foot-long crimson blade, its hilt carved with a small red bird. The young man was not old, with handsome features and a tall build. A red gourd was tied to his waist. Judging by his spiritual power fluctuations, he was clearly a cultivator at the sixth level of Foundation Establishment.

"Senior Brother Zhao, you've emerged from seclusion!" Xiao Tianzheng's face lit up with joy upon seeing the red-robed youth.

"Yes, unfortunately, I didn't manage to break through to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment," replied the red-robed youth. "Why are you alone? Where are Junior Brother Li and the others?"

"Junior Brother Li just left," Xiao Tianzheng explained. "If not for these three fellow Daoists' assistance, I might have perished here today. This Fire Crow King is a mutated fire crow; it can unleash sound wave attacks."

The red-robed youth looked at Wang Changsheng and his two companions, smiling as he said, "I am Zhao Wuji. Thank you, three fellow Daoists, for your assistance. Once I've slain this Fire Crow King, we'll find a place to have some drinks as thanks for saving Junior Brother Xiao."

After speaking, he turned his gaze to the Fire Crow King, his eyes hardening, and whispered, "Junior Brother Xiao, cooperate with me to kill this demon." He slashed his crimson blade through the air, and a series of piercing whooshing sounds erupted. Over a dozen twenty-zhang-long crimson blade energies flashed out, coalescing into a colossal blade that reached the sky, striking towards the Fire Crow King.

Just as the Fire Crow King was about to evade, a deep chime suddenly rang out. Upon hearing it, the Fire Crow King felt its body go limp, unable to exert any strength, its head spinning. By the time it reacted, the sky-reaching blade was already upon it. The Fire Crow King hurriedly spat out a crimson sound wave. The sky-reaching blade struck the sound wave, and both exploded, generating a large wave of air.

Several whistling arrow sounds pierced the air as four crimson arrows flew forth. The Fire Crow King quickly dodged, but one crimson arrow still struck it, piercing its left wing and slowing its flight. Each of the second-tier flying puppet beasts then spewed out dozens of azure light swords, sending hundreds of them straight towards the Fire Crow King. With its left wing injured, the Fire Crow King's speed was significantly reduced. It was then struck on its right wing by over a dozen azure light swords, bleeding profusely. Realizing its predicament, it flapped its wings and swiftly flew into the distance.

Zhao Wuji's lips curved slightly. He took the red gourd from his waist and struck it with a magic incantation. The red gourd rapidly expanded in size, revealing a flying dagger pattern on its surface.