Chapter Forty-Six: Sixth-Rank Avian Demonic Beast

On the path ahead, I only saw two individuals. One was Xia Cangshu of the Wuling Sect from Mount Xiaxi, the other a wandering cultivator whom I do not know, both at the late Foundation Establishment stage," the male cultivator answered, voice trembling.

Liu Junhuai exchanged a glance with Mo Sitong. With a swift motion, Mo Sitong brought down her blade, ending the man's life.

Mo Sitong looked gratefully at Liu Junhuai. "Thank you for your warning, junior brother. If not for you, I might have fallen victim to his schemes. Here, take this storage ring," she said, handing over the ring taken from the dead cultivator.

Liu Junhuai waved it away. "You keep it. I did nothing of note. In fact, even without my warning, he wouldn't have succeeded. Your cultivation is on par with any late Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Not at all. I only managed because he was already injured," Mo Sitong insisted, offering him the ring again. "You should have it. I'll keep the Youth-retaining Grass. Even if I hadn't killed him, someone would have blamed me for this anyway." Perhaps fearing he would refuse, she quickly changed the subject.

Liu Junhuai possessed a trove of treasures; a mere storage ring meant nothing to him. "Don't be modest, senior sister. Without you, I never would have found the entrance to the eighth level."

Seeing he would not argue further, Mo Sitong kept the Youth-retaining Grass, her fondness for Liu Junhuai growing ever deeper. They continued on their journey.

Mountain paths always drain one's strength.

After a night of traversing ridges, the two alternated between cultivating to restore their spiritual energy. Unknowingly, dawn arrived. They encountered a few low-level demon beasts along the way, but found no more valuable herbs.

The map indicated the entrance lay at the mountain's foot, so they quickened their pace. As they reached the base, Liu Junhuai's spiritual sense detected the entrance to the eighth level.

He seemed to glimpse a figure slipping inside—likely one of the two cultivators mentioned earlier.

"Senior sister, when we descend the steps, let's go together. If the resistance becomes too great, don't force your energy. You know, no one has ever entered this level before," Liu Junhuai advised.

"Of course! If you can't go on, just shout for me," Mo Sitong replied with good cheer.

At last, they reached the entrance.

They composed themselves, ensuring body and mind were ready. Liu Junhuai reached to take Mo Sitong's hand.

She hesitated for a moment, then let him.

No sooner had they stepped to the threshold than a tremendous force surged against them, laced with razor-sharp spatial wind blades.

Spiritual energy already circulating at full speed, Liu Junhuai led Mo Sitong with utmost caution as they took the first step.

A wind blade sliced through Mo Sitong's protective aura, grazing her side. She cried out in alarm, and Liu Junhuai quickly wrapped his arm around her waist.

Brandishing the Five Elements Chaos Blade, he cleared the way as they reached the second step.

The pressure mounted. Liu Junhuai could feel Mo Sitong trembling. He glanced at her; her eyes signaled she could still endure.

He swung his blade again, advancing another step with its arc.

An even greater force pressed down; Liu Junhuai's legs began to tremble, movement nearly impossible.

Mo Sitong looked to him, questioning if they should continue. He gave a slight shake of his head, gritted his teeth, and activated the Primordial Shield Cauldron. Instantly, a golden radiance enveloped them.

Mo Sitong could not see the golden glow, but felt the pressure before her abruptly lighten.

As the light covered them, the cauldron responded to the onslaught, shooting a golden beam forward, tearing open a gap in the barrier. Prepared, Liu Junhuai held Mo Sitong close and quickly descended three more steps through the breach.

As the gap closed, the cauldron unleashed a second strike, opening another rift—they hurried down two more steps.

The cauldron's third strike dissipated after only a short distance, and at once, their spiritual shields shattered. Pain from the slicing wind blades tore at them.

Without time to think, Liu Junhuai channeled golden energy into his Chaos Blade, dragging Mo Sitong with him as they forced their way down another two steps.

Blood now oozed from their wounds. Despair flickered in Mo Sitong's eyes.

In that perilous moment, Liu Junhuai summoned the Godslayer Spear. Its fierce radiance rent open a massive breach.

With a desperate cry from deep within, Liu Junhuai clutched Mo Sitong and hurled himself through the last few steps.

Suddenly, all resistance vanished. They collapsed heavily onto the ground.

It was some time before their senses returned. Looking at each other in silent disbelief, they simultaneously burst into laughter.

After a while, tears welled up in Mo Sitong's eyes. She gazed at Liu Junhuai's youthful face, puckered her lips, and planted a gentle kiss on his forehead, then lowered her blushing face.

A wave of dizziness swept through Liu Junhuai's heart.

Feeling his spiritual power utterly depleted, he forced himself to set aside the tender moment.

He brushed Mo Sitong's arm lightly. She shivered, realizing her own reaction was a bit much, her cheeks flushing deeper.

"Let's find a place to recover our strength," Liu Junhuai said with a smile.

Mo Sitong, catching his smile, felt a tremor in her heart, and quickly masked it. "Yes, senior sister has no strength left. Help me up."

He reached out and pulled her to her feet, and together they left the entrance.

The eighth level spread before them as an endless swamp, empty and desolate, thick with tangled aquatic plants and deep mud.

Under the harsh sunlight, Mo Sitong seemed to realize something; glancing down at herself, the flush that had just faded rushed back to her cheeks.

Liu Junhuai noticed her unease, looked at her, and burst into hearty laughter.

Mo Sitong's clothes had been shredded by the spatial blades, leaving only her silver inner armor covering her torso; her limbs, smooth and fair, were streaked with blood, bestowing a wild beauty that made Liu Junhuai's lips go dry.

Mo Sitong pinched his arm hard, her rosy lips gesturing toward him. Liu Junhuai looked down and, seeing his own tattered state, quickly turned and squatted, hugging himself.

He was in even worse shape—his shirt barely more than tatters, a trouser leg torn from hip to calf.

Mo Sitong doubled over with laughter, tears streaming down her face.

Liu Junhuai could only join in, sheepishly at first, then with true mirth.

Unwittingly, the two had grown very close.

When their laughter finally subsided, they found a hidden, dry spot.

Liu Junhuai began setting up a time array and a spirit-gathering array.

Watching him form seals and chant incantations, Mo Sitong's eyes filled with surprise. "So my little brother is an array master, too?" She had unconsciously shifted from calling him junior brother to simply brother, her tone gentle.

"Indeed, your brother is more than just an array master," Liu Junhuai replied, placing a pile of spirit stones in position.

"Then tell your sister all about it, won't you?" Mo Sitong, seeing the array nearly complete, stepped inside.

"Are you sure you don't want to change your clothes first?" Liu Junhuai teased, pausing in his work.

Mo Sitong shot him a look, her words sharp. "You little rascal, always thinking of nonsense. Enough chatter—tell me now."

Liu Junhuai feigned injury. "I'm just concerned for you, can't you see? Truly, you do me wrong."

"Do you mean to say I judge you with a petty heart?" Mo Sitong asked, puzzled.

"Exactly! You suspect a nobleman of base motives."

"What a fine phrase! Where did you learn that?"

If only I could tell you it's from another planet, Liu Junhuai brooded silently.

Their banter continued as the array was completed.

Time flew by. After six hours in the array, their spiritual energy was fully restored.

Chatting as they went, they traversed most of the swamp.

Night was falling, thick mist rising from the marsh.

The damp ground and enveloping gray haze filled Liu Junhuai with unease.

"Sister, I have a bad feeling. Hold my hand—I can mask our presence," he whispered, taking her offered hand.

He sealed their auras with his spiritual sense, standing motionless to observe the surroundings.

Gradually, a flapping sound caught his attention. Looking up, he saw a vast black shadow looming in the fog some thirty yards above.

The shadow swooped toward them, closing the distance in a breath.

It was a grayish-brown, sixth-rank avian demon beast, over thirty yards long, its wings spread wide to blot out the sky as it descended.

The beast hovered above them, wings beating as its sharp gaze fixed on them, a hint of confusion in its eyes. It seemed to sense the vibrant life force had turned lifeless up close.

Feeling Mo Sitong's tension through her hand, Liu Junhuai gave her a reassuring squeeze, signaling her not to move.

After a long moment, the beast grew impatient. With a thunderous roar, its massive body swooped down, bringing hurricane-force winds and an overwhelming pressure.

Liu Junhuai mentally prepared the Godslayer Spear, gripping Mo Sitong's trembling hand tightly.

Within a few yards, the beast suddenly contracted its body and slashed at Liu Junhuai with talons curved like moonlit hooks, their lethal gleam chilling.

Liu Junhuai's narrowed eyes flashed coldly. With a spark from his gaze, the Godslayer Spear shot from his mind like lightning toward the beast.

A piercing shriek rang out as the Godslayer Spear burst through its breast. The beast tumbled and fled the way it had come, leaving only a few bright plumes drifting down.

Mo Sitong was just beginning to rejoice when she saw Liu Junhuai readying his Chaos Blade, his eyes cold and fixed on the sky above.

A shrill cry sounded again. The demon bird, its eyes now bloodshot with rage, dove toward them in a gale, its gaze fierce and venomous.