Chapter 222: One Wanted to Flee, the Other Didn't Want to Fight
Inside the Blood Fiend Scarlet Sun Formation.
The nine Quasi–third-rank Fire-devouring Demon Spirits condensed by the formation let out sharp screeches.
Under the onslaught of Master Li’s magical artifact, they were continuously shattered and reformed.
Faintly, the nine Quasi–third-rank Fire-devouring Demon Spirits even began to merge, and a terrifying aura began to spread.
"Formation, let Li break this crutch of yours!"
Master Li shouted coldly, showing a look of impatience at the endlessly regenerating Fire-devouring Demon Spirits.
With a raise of his hand, three talismans appeared in his palm.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an’s expression changed.
"Quasi–third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans!"
"At least you’ve got good eyes!" Master Li sneered. As for Third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans, those were rare treasures—not to mention him, even Golden Core Cultivators might not easily obtain one.
But these Quasi–third-rank ones—though unlikely to destroy the grand formation outright—could very well open a breach or severely damage it.
That would drastically weaken the formation's power, something still within his capability.
However, at that moment, a corpse’s roar suddenly echoed from afar, and the composure on Master Li’s face instantly vanished, replaced by shock and fury.
"You’re playing dirty!"
It turned out that the Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse had used a water-attribute magical artifact to lure the Wind-Chirp Bird as prey.
Who would’ve thought that just as the Wind-Chirp Bird, panicking, seemed about to be captured, a cunning gleam flashed through its eyes.
In that instant, its beak opened wide, spewing a surge of blazing flames skyward. With the protection of the water-attribute magical artifact, the Copper-armored Corpse was naturally fearless and lunged forward with bloodthirsty roars and bared fangs.
But hidden within that sea of flames, a baleful blood-red sword suddenly appeared.
At such close range, and with the element of surprise—
It was unavoidable. Though weakened, the Blood Fiend Sword—still a mid-grade magical artifact—struck hard at the bead, which was only of low-grade magical artifact quality.
The collision between the two artifacts rang with a harsh screech. The water-attribute bead was covered in cracks, blasted away by the Blood Fiend Sword, and its spiritual glow dimmed.
"Roar!"
The residual force of the Blood Fiend Sword didn't stop—it pierced directly through the mouth of the Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse.
It was this sudden turn of events that caused Master Li’s expression to shift drastically.
"He Yan, you dare use a hidden artifact to play dirty…"
Master Li cursed furiously, while Lin Chang’an, seeing the plot succeed, sneered coldly:
"Fellow Daoist, this time, you're staying!"
Forcing his spiritual power, a terrifying sword light suddenly swept toward him. But Master Li, caught off guard, had no mind to fight Lin Chang’an.
His Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse was on the brink of destruction!
In the distance, the Copper-armored Corpse, having lost its protective water-attribute artifact, was completely countered by the Wind-Chirp Bird.
First, the Blood Fiend Sword entered through its mouth and exited through the back of its head, pinning it to the ground with a loud crash. The Wind-Chirp Bird followed with a shrill cry, swooping in close.
Its sharp claws gripped the Copper-armored Corpse’s arms, and in the next moment, its beak opened to unleash terrifying flames.
The Copper-armored Corpse let out a tragic corpse roar as the flames blasted straight into its gaping mouth.
In an instant, its body was engulfed in flames. The terrifying corpse aura clashed violently with the fire, creating bursts of sizzling noise.
"Beast!"
Seeing his Copper-armored Corpse being ravaged like this, Master Li roared in fury. With a raise of his hand, a large earthen-yellow seal shot toward the Wind-Chirp Bird.
But the Wind-Chirp Bird was cunning. As the magical artifact approached, instead of dodging, it grabbed the Copper-armored Corpse with its claws and hurled it toward the incoming artifact.
At that moment, a dangerous aura suddenly erupted behind him—it was Lin Chang’an, holding a golden talisman between his fingers.
A blood-colored sword shadow gathered, coalescing into a sword identical to the one wielded by the Wind-Chirp Bird.
"Talisman Treasure!"
In that moment, Master Li finally realized—it had all been a trap.
The Wind-Chirp Bird attacked the Copper-armored Corpse, drawing his focus.
Taking advantage of him using his magical artifacts, a coordinated sneak attack from front and back.
Not to mention the Fire-devouring Demon Spirits also attacking.
"Despicable!"
Master Li cursed furiously and hurriedly summoned his magical artifact to protect himself.
Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an was also probing—testing whether Master Li had a third magical artifact or any hidden trump cards.
As expected, for a False Core Cultivator to possess even one magical artifact was already impressive. Having two meant he was quite wealthy.
But a third one? Unlikely.
"He Yan, if you dare kill me, Five Dragon Island won’t spare you!"
Pfft!
Master Li’s eyes widened, bloodshot and full of fury.
"Beast! How dare you!"
The Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse—famed for its copper-skin iron-bone body as hard as magical artifacts—was now riddled with wounds from the flames. Then, with a peck, the Wind-Chirp Bird plucked out its Corpse Core.
Being spiritually linked with the Copper-armored Corpse, Master Li immediately sensed it the moment the Corpse Core was forcibly extracted, and let out a skyward howl.
"Stay right here!"
Seeing this scene, Lin Chang’an sneered coldly.
"Want to kill me? In your dreams!"
The Restriction-Breaking Talisman was activated. Master Li’s eyes bulged in rage as the earthen-yellow seal spun madly before him in defense.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an’s gaze flickered. Forcing a False Core Cultivator to stay—if he really went all out or chose to self-destruct, Lin Chang’an wouldn't escape unscathed.
A decision flashed across his mind in an instant. Lin Chang’an formed a hand seal, and the formation shattered open a breach under the attack of the Restriction-Breaking Talisman.
"He Yan, from now on, Five Dragon Island will never rest until you’re dead!"
Master Li dared not linger, immediately trying to flee while hurling threats.
Yet sword lights, Fire-devouring Demon Spirits, and the Wind-Chirp Bird came at him all at once.
Gritting his teeth, Master Li roared, and his aura exploded.
Boom! A deafening explosion.
Having broken free of the formation, Master Li didn’t pause for a second. He immediately activated a secret technique, burning his blood essence to flee in desperation.
"This isn’t over!"
Fleeing frantically, Master Li was filled with fury and fear.
So close! He had nearly been defeated by a dirty trap.
"My Copper-armored Corpse…!"
The greatest loss this time was that corpse. Losing such a vital asset was no different than severing an arm.
Meanwhile, on the original island, Lin Chang’an didn’t hesitate either.
He swiftly withdrew the formation and, along with the Wind-Chirp Bird and their spoils, fled in another direction.
"Hurry!"
This time, Lin Chang’an couldn't afford to be flashy. He leapt onto the Wind-Chirp Bird’s back and streaked away as a golden light.
If he forced the formation to keep Master Li behind, that wouldn’t be a problem.
But he couldn’t guarantee his own safety. If he were heavily injured, he’d be the one at a loss.
Besides, this place was too close to Five Dragon Island. If reinforcements came, he’d have no escape.
After all, his False Core cultivation was barely legitimate.
Likewise, Master Li fled in panic, worried about being surrounded.
He had to face a fellow False Core Cultivator and a Third-rank fierce bird—he couldn’t gamble on how long he could hold out.
One wanted to flee, the other didn’t want to fight to the death—and that led to the current result.
Both sides retreated.
……
Lin Chang’an didn’t stop for over a month.
Along the way, he hid his presence, stored away the Wind-Chirp Bird, and finally found a desolate island within the Fog Sea of Tongtian to lay low temporarily.
But what he didn’t know was that half an hour after he escaped, two streaks of escape light descended upon the original island.
"Brother Long, this is the place. My Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse was ruined by that cultivator thief—along with my magical artifact!"
Master Li, who had brought reinforcements, pointed sorrowfully at the traces of battle still remaining on the island and lamented how much he had lost this time for Five Dragon Island.
The early-stage Golden Core Cultivator furrowed his brows and examined the surroundings, indeed sensing terrifying fire-attribute spiritual energy and corpse aura.
"Fellow Daoist Li, can you still sense the other party?"
"I..."
Master Li looked aggrieved—how could he possibly sense anything?
The Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse was gone, and he hadn’t cultivated any tracking secret techniques. How could he sense anything?
The other party had probably escaped to who knows where by now.
"This shouldn’t be!"
The Golden Core Cultivator surnamed Long frowned and muttered to himself:
"Logically speaking, with a Third-rank formation, a Third-rank spirit pet, and only False Core cultivation, how could this person possibly escape from Fellow Daoist Li’s three Quasi–third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans…"
As if realizing something, this Golden Core Cultivator surnamed Long gave Master Li a sidelong glance and said indifferently:
"Fellow Daoist Li, perhaps this person feared those from our Five Dragon Island. You should have held him off."
Though reasonable, Master Li’s face flushed red then turned pale, appearing as though humiliated by ridicule, yet inside he was cursing up a storm.
Hold him off? Sure, maybe he could have kept the other party from escaping—but what about him?
What if he was killed before reinforcements arrived?
A life only comes once, and it was his own.
It was true he served as a guest elder for Five Dragon Island, but he hadn’t sold them his life.
"Fellow Daoist Long, you must uphold justice for me. I did all this for Five Dragon Island!"
Master Li tried desperately to explain himself, as if covering up his shameful panic and disgraceful retreat.
However, the Golden Core Cultivator surnamed Long inwardly looked down on him—what a useless waste.
And while Master Li outwardly appeared timid and regretful over his losses, inside he was seething with regret.
All these years, he must have been blind with lard on the brain—why provoke a fellow cultivator of the same level?
He had been so cautious before, only ever bullying Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Now, recalling all his actions over the years, Master Li finally realized—it was just because he'd succeeded twice before against other False Core Cultivators that he had grown arrogant.
He swore that from now on, he’d only bully Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Issue a bounty. If this person is discovered in the future, he will regret it."
The Golden Core Cultivator surnamed Long shook his head and prepared to return.
"Fellow Daoist Long, what about my Third-rank Copper-armored Corpse? I was acting on behalf of the Island Lord..."
Master Li spoke in grief, though his heart bled inside.
The losses were far too great.
……
Meanwhile, after hiding for two months in the Fog Sea of Tongtian and repeatedly confirming he hadn’t been marked by any tracking traces, Lin Chang’an finally returned to Yuling Island in secret.
"Finally made it back."
Upon returning to his cave abode, Lin Chang’an quietly let out a sigh of relief.
He left the Azure-horned Bull outside and brought the Wind-Chirp Bird into the cave.
The Azure-horned Bull was left behind, wearing a face full of grievance as it looked longingly toward its master.
"This time, the harvest was enormous!"
Smiling broadly, Lin Chang’an examined the cracked water-attribute magical artifact bead. Though its quality wasn’t high, it was still a magical artifact nonetheless.
As for the Copper-armored Corpse’s body, he had already sold it off in the marketplace of the Fog Sea of Tongtian while posing as a False Core Cultivator.
Although the materials were rare, carrying it around was a liability.
"Of course, the greatest gain this time was the Wind-Chirp Bird advancing to the third rank."
Turning his gaze to the bird on his shoulder, Lin Chang’an revealed a satisfied smile.
With a Third-rank spirit pet, even hunting Third-rank demon beasts in the future would be no problem.
"Having a Third-rank spirit pet is equivalent to having a Golden Core Cultivator fully aiding in preparing for Core Formation."
"M…Master, hungry."
At that moment, the Wind-Chirp Bird on his shoulder unexpectedly spoke in a childish voice.
Lin Chang’an was surprised at first by his spirit pet speaking, but after learning more, he came to understand.
Ordinary demon beasts typically only learned to speak at Fourth-rank Nascent Soul level—known as transformation demons—so it was normal for them to speak human tongue.
While Third-rank demon beasts speaking was rare, it wasn’t unheard of.
There were even certain spirit pills or rare fruits that helped beasts dissolve the bone in their throats early, allowing them to speak sooner.
"It’s said that deep in the Sea Abyss of Beasts, there’s even a Second-rank demon beast that can speak human tongue, specifically mimicking the voices of female cultivators to lure others into traps."
Lin Chang’an nodded thoughtfully. Given the Wind-Chirp Bird’s high intelligence as an exotic beast, it wasn’t surprising it could speak.
"Master…"
The childish and clear voice echoed. Though the Wind-Chirp Bird was intelligent, this was its first time speaking, so it was still clumsy.
"Still want to eat?"
Seeing the gluttonous Wind-Chirp Bird staring straight at his storage pouch, Lin Chang’an glared in exasperation.
"Do you know how much I sacrificed to help you form your core and evolve? I gave you all my Core Formation spirit items! I even got hunted by a Golden Core Cultivator and offended Five Dragon Island because of you..."
Lin Chang’an looked utterly miserable as if he’d lost everything for its sake.
The Wind-Chirp Bird lowered its head, a trace of embarrassment in its eyes, and chirped softly:
"M…Master, then I’ll eat later."
"Don’t even think about it. That Third-rank Corpse Core is worth a fortune. I’m still planning to exchange it later for a wood-attribute Demon Core."
Lin Chang’an showed no hesitation in claiming the Wind-Chirp Bird’s spoils.
"M…Master, don’t worry. I’ll catch sea demon beasts for you to eat next time."
With a flattering look, the Wind-Chirp Bird nudged his shoulder, then flew into the cave to use its spiritual power to warm some spirit tea.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an revealed a satisfied smile.
No matter if it was a Third-rank great demon or some ancient exotic species, it still had to obey orders obediently.
This time, surviving a fiery rebirth and nearly dying had forged its loyalty.
According to its bloodline inheritance, the Wind-Chirp Bird knew that each major realm advancement required a fiery rebirth—only then could it become the Golden Flame Divine Phoenix.
Leave? Freedom?
What mattered more than staying alive? As long as it followed its master, every evolution was a lifeline.
"Still, I’ll remember the favor from Xuanyin Pavilion."
Lin Chang’an mused silently. If the opportunity arose and it wasn’t too difficult, he wouldn’t mind repaying the favor.
As for Five Dragon Island, he’d certainly remember this debt—for making him hide for so long.
"First, cultivate steadily, then head to sea again to search for Core Formation spirit items."
Lin Chang’an’s gaze flickered. With the Wind-Chirp Bird having advanced to Third-rank, his confidence had naturally grown.
Next time he ventured into the Fog Sea of Tongtian, the islands where the Third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast Kings resided would certainly hold treasures worth exploring.