Chapter 430: Three-Level Demonic Bird

A blue light flew from the distant horizon and came to a halt outside Qinglian Villa. The blue light was Wang Qingqing, who was riding a blue shuttle, a top-grade flying artifact. With her third-layer Foundation Establishment cultivation, controlling a top-grade flying artifact was somewhat strenuous for her.

Looking at the archway at the foot of the mountain, Wang Qingqing let out a long sigh of relief. Upon closer inspection, she was holding a second-tier Wood Escape Talisman in her hand. Her brow furrowed slightly as she looked behind her and said coldly, "You've been following me for so long; it's time to show yourself!" She had long sensed someone tracking her, but since the person maintained a certain distance and didn't seem malicious, she hadn't paid it much mind. Now at her doorstep, she naturally had no fear.

As soon as she finished speaking, a white light flew out from the distant ground; it was Zhao Zheng. "Fellow Daoist Zhao, what is the meaning of this?" Wang Qingqing asked with a frown. "Fairy Wang, please don't misunderstand. I have no ill intentions. I heard that rogue cultivators have been active recently, and seeing you leave the market alone, I worried about your safety, which is why I followed you," Zhao Zheng hastily explained, his expression tense. Hearing this explanation, Wang Qingqing's expression softened, and she asked curiously, "So, when I went home last time, you were following us then too?" Zhao Zheng nodded, blushing, clutching the corners of his clothes nervously. "Thank you for your concern, but please don't follow me anymore in the future, lest I misunderstand." Zhao Zheng hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said, "Fairy Wang, could you spare a moment? There's something I wish to tell you." "My Uncle Grandfather's lifespan is short; I've returned for his funeral. Whatever it is, let's discuss it back in Qingyue Market! Be careful on your way." After saying this, Wang Qingqing performed a hand seal, and the blue shuttle slowly descended.

Wang Qingqing took out a blue token, waved it towards the mountain, and the thick white fog on the mountain rolled, revealing a passage. Wang Qingqing quickened her pace and walked in. Zhao Zheng sighed and turned to fly back the way he came.

Wang Qingqing had just arrived at Wang Changxing's residence, and before she could even enter, a mournful wailing sound came from inside. She sighed, realizing she had, after all, arrived too late.

Three months after Wang Changxing's death, Wang Mingsen, Wang Mingyan, Wang Changyu, Li Qiwen, and Wang Changjing also passed away one after another, plunging the entire Wang family into grief. Few members of the 'Ming' generation remained, and not many of the 'Chang' generation either. The 'Qing' generation was now the backbone of the Wang family, and the 'Qiu' generation represented its future. With family members passing away one after another, Wang Qingqing's mood was somewhat somber. After attending the family funerals, Wang Qingqing and Wang Changhuan, along with Wang Qiuxin and others, left Qinglian Villa and headed for Qingyue Market.

The South Sea, Coral Sea region.

A red flying boat rapidly swept across the sea, with Wang Changsheng and seven others standing on it. The South Sea was rich in demonic beast resources, but these beasts usually stayed underwater and rarely showed themselves, making it truly difficult to track where they had recently appeared. Wang Changsheng and the others had been searching for over a year. Apart from their success in hunting crystal shrimp, they had found no other gains. During this time, they did discover traces of a demonic crab, set traps, and waited for over half a month, but the crab never appeared, so they had to leave.

"Oh, someone's coming, be careful," Wang Changsheng warned, his brows furrowing slightly. A green escape light appeared on the horizon ahead, flying rapidly towards them. The most terrifying thing in the South Sea was not the demonic beasts, but other cultivators. Ye Lang and the others had expressions of full vigilance, while Wang Changsheng's expression remained calm. His divine sense had long detected that the approaching person was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Before long, the escape light arrived in front of them, revealing a beautiful young girl in a green dress, whose clothes bore a pattern of a blue pavilion, seemingly signifying something. The girl in the green dress had a pale face, some brown bloodstains at the corner of her mouth, and her aura was weak, suggesting she was injured. Behind her were hundreds of bizarre-looking demonic birds. These creatures had bird-like beaks and fish-like bodies, no feathers at all, and a pair of fleshy wings that spread about ten feet wide. One of these demonic birds was five or six zhang (approximately 16-20 meters) in size, clearly a third-tier low-grade demonic bird.

"This is bad! It's a third-tier Hawkbeak Fish Demon! Run!" Ye Lang exclaimed, his face changing. He quickly performed a hand seal, causing the red flying boat to immediately change direction and fly into the distance. The girl in the green dress seemed to do it on purpose, flying towards Ye Lang and his group. After slapping a green talisman on herself, her speed more than doubled, and she quickly bypassed them. Clearly, she hoped Ye Lang and the others would block the third-tier demonic beast for her. The third-tier demonic bird was extremely fast; in less than five breaths, it was less than a hundred li (approximately 50 km) away from them.

The third-tier Hawkbeak Fish Demon spat out hundreds of black water swords, overwhelmingly striking Wang Changsheng and the seven others. "The Hawkbeak Fish Demon's attacks are highly venomous; do not let them touch your skin! Everyone, run for your lives!" Ye Lang warned, crushing a blue talisman that transformed into a blue water barrier over ten feet tall, blocking in front of him. With loud "hissing" sounds, the blue water barrier was shattered. Seizing this opportunity, six of Ye Lang's group fled in different directions. When encountering a third-tier demonic bird, this was their only option; if unlucky enough to be targeted, there would be no escape.

Wang Changsheng had no flying magical treasure, so outrunning a third-tier demonic bird would truly not be an easy feat. A third-tier low-grade demonic bird was equivalent to a cultivator below the third layer of Core Formation.

A flash of brilliance appeared in Wang Changsheng's eyes, and an astonishing aura erupted from his body. Thunderous sounds roared around him as a large expanse of blue electric arcs appeared, transforming into hundreds of blue lightning spears, striking towards the Hawkbeak Fish Demon. He raised his right hand, and his Vajra Bracelet flew out, blurring into hundreds of Vajra Bracelets that overwhelmingly struck the third-tier Hawkbeak Fish Demon. The Hawkbeak Fish Demon powerfully flapped its wings, and a large expanse of violent wind burst forth. The violent wind collided with the blue lightning spears, creating a huge roar. The hundreds of Vajra Bracelets shot forth, striking the Hawkbeak Fish Demon, but they failed to destroy it, and not even a scratch was visible on its body.

"Boom!" A huge thunderous sound erupted as dozens of blue lightning orbs shot forth, smashing into its body and engulfing it in a vast expanse of blue electric arcs. A painful shriek came from within the blue lightning, but soon, the Hawkbeak Fish Demon flew out of the blue lightning and charged directly at Wang Changsheng. "Wife, retreat quickly," Wang Changsheng transmitted a message. He cultivated both cultivation methods and physical cultivation, so his physical body was already powerful. Coupled with the body-strengthening effect of Gengjin Tiangang, he also wanted to test his own strength. Hearing this, Wang Ruyan flew backward without hesitation. She couldn't help with a battle of this caliber.

The third-tier Hawkbeak Fish Demon was incredibly fast; in less than two breaths, it was in front of Wang Changsheng, its claws reaching for him. Wang Changsheng's figure flickered, splitting into nine. Each of the nine Wang Changshengs adopted a stance as if to unleash a punch. The Hawkbeak Fish Demon tore one of the Wang Changshengs to shreds, and the body disintegrated into specks of spiritual light, vanishing. "Bang." Wang Changsheng's punch struck the Hawkbeak Fish Demon, sending it flying backward. Before it could regain its balance, over a dozen blue lightning bolts shot forth, striking its body. Lightning-attribute spells were renowned for their destructive power. The Hawkbeak Fish Demon let out a piercing shriek; it seemed to realize that Wang Changsheng was not to be trifled with and turned to flee.

Just as Wang Changsheng was about to attack the third-tier Hawkbeak Fish Demon, hundreds of other Hawkbeak Fish Demons swarmed towards him. His brow furrowed slightly. He performed a hand seal, and his Vajra Bracelet multiplied into a hundred, striking the charging Hawkbeak Fish Demons. These Hawkbeak Fish Demons were, at most, second-tier high-grade, naturally no match for Wang Changsheng. They let out a series of agonizing shrieks, fell from high in the sky, and plunged into the sea. Seizing this opportunity, the third-tier Hawkbeak Fish Demon also fled far away, more than ten li distant. At Wang Changsheng's escape speed, it would be difficult to catch it.

Just then, a man's angry shout rang out: "Vile beast, don't you dare run!" As soon as his voice fell, several piercing whooshing sounds filled the air as three long blue rainbows flew from the distant horizon, striking directly at the Hawkbeak Fish Demon. The blue rainbows were slightly faster than the Hawkbeak Fish Demon. Wang Changsheng's brow furrowed. He flew back to Wang Ruyan's side, put away his Vajra Bracelet, and took no further action.