"Has your divine ability reached Great Accomplishment?"
Lu Qingxue wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, her voice slightly dry.
Although Xu Deling had the enhancement of her bloodline, Lu Qingxue's constitution was also special. She possessed innate sword bones, which were enough to increase the power of her Sword Dao by thirty percent.
Moreover, she was wielding a high-grade magic treasure.
It was absolutely impossible for a Golden Core cultivator to possess a top-tier magic treasure. Even if the sect had one, they would not bestow it upon her.
Because that would simply be a waste.
A top-tier magic treasure was absolutely not something a Golden Core stage cultivator could fully unleash the power of.
And a sword cultivator's attack power, logically speaking, should be even stronger.
Then the only gap between them lay in the aspect of divine abilities.
Unlike cultivation realms, the progress of a divine ability could not be accelerated with medicinal pills.
It relied entirely on one's own comprehension.
Compatible connate spirit objects could speed up the comprehension of a divine ability.
However, no sect would allow a newly advanced Golden Core cultivator to use connate spirit objects to aid their comprehension.
After all, for a hegemon like the Azure Cloud Sect, there were more than fifty or sixty Golden Core cultivators. Genius Golden Cores were not rare. If they all applied for connate spirit objects, the sect's reserves would not be nearly enough.
Therefore, even a hegemon-level Nascent Soul power would only bestow connate spirit objects at critical moments.
For example, when one was trapped at the bottleneck of divine ability perfection.
As long as one could still comprehend it on their own, they were expected to rely on their own cultivation and understanding as much as possible.
"That is correct," Xu Deling declared proudly.
Those who could comprehend a divine ability to Great Accomplishment shortly after stepping into the mid-stage Golden Core realm were as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Lu Qingxue had reached Minor Success in her Sword Dao divine ability a few years ago.
To reach Great Accomplishment relying purely on herself, she would need at least another ten years or so.
"How did you comprehend it so quickly?!" she exclaimed.
"No comment."
Xu Deling smiled faintly.
The reason was naturally the feather of the ancient true spirit Fire Phoenix she had obtained in the Prodigy Grotto-heaven, along with the trace of true spirit blood carried on that feather.
She felt that once she stepped into the late-stage Golden Core realm, her bloodline might advance and reach the sixth-grade level.
That was a bloodline that only Nascent Soul cultivators could slowly mutate and develop.
"By the way, Lu Qingxue, how about you and I travel together?" Xu Deling proposed. "There should be some Golden Core experts with Divine Ability Perfection entering this time, and likely some Nascent Soul stage cultivators as well.
It can be said to be fraught with danger."
"Nascent Soul stage cultivators won't go so far as to attack us; that would inevitably trigger a massive war between Nascent Soul cultivators. Most of them are just spectators, watching us fight to the death.
But as for experts at Divine Ability Perfection, it is hard to say."
Lu Qingxue fell silent for a moment before lifting her head. "Alright, let us travel together then."
"The spoils will be split seventy-thirty. Seventy for me, thirty for you."
"Why?"
"Because I am stronger than you, and my Xu Family cannot compare to the immense wealth and estate of your Azure Cloud Sect."
Lu Qingxue cursed inwardly, 'So these days, whoever is poorer gets to make the rules, right?!'
"How old are you now?"
"Seventy-eight."
"About the same as my nephew. Why don't I call you Little Sister Qingxue?"
Dark lines formed on Lu Qingxue's face, and she began to somewhat regret traveling with Xu Deling.
For Xu Deling, the Xu Family's future path would not be easy to walk. Befriending a peerless prodigy from a hegemon-level Nascent Soul sect could provide valuable assistance in the future.
Before long.
The two encountered Zhang Xuanzhi, who was being hunted down.
Xu Deling intervened to rescue him.
Firstly, the ancestor of the Profound Moon Sect seemed to be on good terms with her grandfather. Secondly, her fifth uncle, Xu Mingxian, was considered his senior brother. Thus, since they ran into him, she had to help.
Then, the duo became a trio.
The distribution of spoils shifted to a five-three-two split.
Zhang Xuanzhi also held a high-grade magic treasure, but he was only at the early-stage Golden Core realm. He could at most unleash forty to fifty percent of its power, which was significantly less than Lu Qingxue's seventy to eighty percent.
However, with the three of them joining forces, they could even put up a fight against someone at Divine Ability Perfection.
The three of them slew several Golden Core demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region, as well as some Tier 3 demonic beasts.
The next day, under the thin morning light.
As Xu Deling, Lu Qingxue, and Zhang Xuanzhi were passing through the ruins of a marketplace.
Fierce spiritual power collisions and angry roars suddenly echoed from ahead.
The fluctuations were extremely violent, clearly indicating a clash between top-tier Golden Core experts.
The three exchanged glances and quietly approached.
About half a kilometer away, an intense battle was raging over a relatively open section of the ruins.
A young man with icy-blue hair was struggling to hold his ground.
In his hands, the Profound Ice Soul-Slaying Sword clashed against the halberd of a burly, ferocious-looking man.
That young man was none other than True Lord Bingqian of the Azure Dragon Alliance. The ferocious man radiating monstrous demonic energy was also someone Xu Deling recognized—True Lord Heavenly Wolf of the Greedy Wolf Prefecture.
The magic treasures in both of their hands were at the high-grade magic treasure tier.
At this moment, True Lord Heavenly Wolf wielded the Heavenly Wolf Halberd. Every swing was accompanied by the howling of wolves, unleashing terrifying, peerless power.
He shattered True Lord Bingqian's ice walls layer by layer, forcing him to retreat continuously, with a trace of blood already seeping from the corner of his mouth.
On the ground further away lay a figure with a withered aura.
It was Yang Qi, the other Golden Core elder from the Azure Dragon Prefecture who had entered the Land of Imprisonment this time.
He had a hideous wound on his chest, deep enough to expose bone, with violent demonic energy lingering around it. He was clearly severely injured and had lost all combat capability.
"I know both of these people. Help me stall that demonic cultivator while I go check on Elder Yang Qi," Xu Deling instructed.
Lu Qingxue's cold eyes swept over the battlefield, and she gave a slight nod.
Zhang Xuanzhi also nodded in agreement.
The two figures instantly transformed into streaks of light and charged into the fray.
"Two more here to throw away their lives!"
Sensing the intervention, True Lord Heavenly Wolf laughed maniacally. His offensive momentum only increased. Sweeping the Heavenly Wolf Halberd horizontally, he forced True Lord Bingqian back by over ten meters.
He then split off a fierce halberd phantom and blasted it toward Lu Qingxue and Zhang Xuanzhi.
Lu Qingxue snorted coldly. The Azure Lang Sword left its sheath, its cyan sword gleam surging wildly as it slashed toward the halberd phantom.
Zhang Xuanzhi, on the other hand, flourished a horsetail whisk.
Combining their strength, they barely managed to block the attack, but their qi and blood churned violently, leaving them utterly astounded.
Such terrifying strength this man possessed!
With the two joining to share the pressure, True Lord Bingqian finally caught his breath.
But even with the three of them fighting together, they could only barely hold him off.
On the other side, Xu Deling had already flashed to Yang Qi's side.
She crouched down and quickly swept her divine sense over his injuries, her brows furrowing tightly. "A violently shaken divine soul, multiple severed meridians, damaged internal organs, and erosion from overbearing demonic energy. These injuries are truly severe."
Without hesitation, she took out a medicinal pill the size of a longan.
This pill was named the Nine Revolutions Rejuvenation Pill. It was of high-grade quality, completely emerald-green, and emanated a dense aura of vitality.
In addition to this, there was a high-grade Spirit-Nourishing Pill.
Although the latter was only a Tier 2 medicinal pill and ineffective for increasing a Golden Core cultivator's divine sense, it was exactly what was needed right now to nourish and stabilize Yang Qi's divine soul, which was on the verge of collapsing.
She fed him the pills.
A short while later.
Yang Qi regained consciousness.
His eyes were initially dazed, but upon recognizing the person in front of him, he asked weakly, "Phoenix Plume Fairy, why are you here?"
Suddenly remembering something, his expression grew agitated. He struggled to sit up. "Run! That scoundrel True Lord Heavenly Wolf has already reached Divine Ability Perfection!
Unless the First Elder comes, it will be impossible to keep him in check!
You are no match for him!"
"Elder Yang, you should focus on recovering first," Xu Deling said, pressing him down with a calm tone. "I still need to go over there and lend a hand."
With those words, her figure blurred, transforming into a streak of crimson-gold light that dashed toward the battlefield half a kilometer away.
Seeing Xu Deling charging over, fierce light surged in True Lord Heavenly Wolf's eyes, and he burst into manic laughter. "Xu Deling! Your Xu Family actually came in after all!
Perfect! I'll kill you and make that bastard Withered Glory feel the pain of a broken heart!"
"You want to kill me? Let's see you try!"
Xu Deling's eyes were as cold as ten-thousand-year glacial ice. She transmitted her voice to the other three, "Elder Bingqian, Little Sister Qingxue, Daoist Friend Zhang, attack with all your might. Leave the defense to me!"
Before her words had even settled, she flicked her sleeve, sending a solid crimson-gold shield spinning out to hover above her head.
"A high-grade defensive magic treasure?!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf's pupils shrank slightly before he gave a cold snort. "If your grandfather hadn't possessed that Azure Dragon Treasure Umbrella back then, how could he have ever been a match for this True Lord!"
"What's the matter? You didn't dare seek out my grandfather, so you resort to bullying those weaker than you?" Xu Deling retorted sarcastically, showing no sign of weakness.
"Sharp-tongued wench!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf roared in anger, the demonic light from his Heavenly Wolf Halberd flaring as he prepared to strike.
But Xu Deling beat him to the punch.
Crimson-gold flames erupted violently around her, and the massive projection of a Fire Phoenix reappeared behind her. A clear, resonant phoenix cry echoed across the battlefield as it dove straight for True Lord Heavenly Wolf.
At the same time, True Lord Bingqian took a deep breath, suppressing his injuries, and formed hand seals.
The Qianlan Ice Flame frantically condensed, forming into an ice lotus that shot toward True Lord Heavenly Wolf from the left!
One ice and one fire, one left and one right.
Both were full-power strikes from those who had achieved Great Accomplishment in their divine abilities, unleashing heaven-shaking might!
Lu Qingxue and Zhang Xuanzhi were not idle either.
The Azure Lang Sword transformed into a cyan sword rainbow refined to its absolute limit, stabbing directly toward the back of True Lord Heavenly Wolf's heart.
The speed of the blade was as fast as a roaring thunderbolt!
Zhang Xuanzhi activated his horsetail whisk, transforming its three thousand silken threads into sharp spears that pierced toward his opponent's chest.
The four of them coordinated seamlessly. Despite it being their first time fighting together, their teamwork was extraordinarily tacit.
Naturally, True Lord Heavenly Wolf also possessed a defensive magic treasure, but it was only of the mid-grade tier.
Under the combined assault of the four.
The magic treasure's light barrier emitted a groaning crack under the unbearable weight, its glow dimming rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, it completely collapsed.
"Scram!"
He bellowed furiously, no longer holding back as his terrifying demonic might of Divine Ability Perfection completely erupted!
The black and red demonic energy around him morphed into the phantom of a giant wolf howling at the sky. He swung the Heavenly Wolf Halberd wildly, its shadows stacking like a mountain to forcefully repel the attacks coming from all sides!
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The four were instantly sent flying backward by the shockwaves.
Brandishing the Heavenly Wolf Halberd, True Lord Heavenly Wolf immediately lunged at Zhang Xuanzhi, intending to strike down the weakest among them first.
"Go!"
Xu Deling had long been prepared. She hurled her crimson-gold shield forward.
A screen of crimson-gold light blocked the halberd's path.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf was forced several steps back by the recoil, but with a backhanded swing, he swept his weapon horizontally toward Lu Qingxue.
Lu Qingxue raised the Azure Lang Sword to defend.
Clang!
The Azure Lang Sword absorbed the majority of the halberd's impact, and her mana barrier shielded her from the rest. She only suffered minor injuries, but she was still blasted violently away.
Seizing this brief window, Xu Deling and True Lord Bingqian launched another assault.
The Fire Phoenix and the ice-blue sword light struck from the left and right simultaneously.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf hurriedly swung his halberd to block, but under the impact of the two astounding divine abilities...
The Heavenly Wolf Halberd only managed to negate a portion of their power.
The residual force slammed into his body.
True Lord Heavenly Wolf's body trembled violently as he was forced back over a dozen paces. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth; he had clearly sustained considerable internal injuries.
With the four working together, their combined might was enough to actually injure him.
"Consider yourselves ruthless!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf glared venomously at Xu Deling. "Don't let this True Lord ever run into you alone!"
"You should be the one to watch your back," she retorted.
Xu Deling didn't back down an inch, meeting his gaze point against point. "If you hunt down the elders of my Azure Dragon Alliance again...
...I will send word to my grandfather to hunt you down to the ends of the earth.
We'll see if a True Lord at Divine Ability Perfection is as hard to kill as a Nascent Soul True Lord!"
True Lord Heavenly Wolf's expression contorted wildly.
With a cold snort, his demonic energy surged, wrapping him in a streak of pitch-black light as he fled into the distance without looking back.
As their powerful foe retreated, the four collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
True Lord Bingqian hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his fists respectfully toward Xu Deling. "Many thanks to Phoenix Plume Fairy for lending a hand. Otherwise, Elder Yang and this old man would have been doomed."
"You are too polite, Elder Bingqian. As members of the same alliance, it is only right to assist each other." Xu Deling returned the gesture before adding, "You should escort Elder Yang Qi back to the outpost first.
Request my grandfather's intervention. With his methods, Elder Yang will be completely healed within a day or two."
True Lord Bingqian nodded upon hearing this, not refusing her offer.
"Then, please be careful."
After saying this, he gathered Yang Qi, turned into a streak of ice-blue light, and departed.
Only Xu Deling, Lu Qingxue, and Zhang Xuanzhi were left amidst the ruins.
"Are you two alright?" Xu Deling asked, looking at Lu Qingxue and Zhang Xuanzhi.
"I'm fine, just expended quite a bit of mana. Thanks to you bringing out that high-grade defensive magic treasure in time, Phoenix Plume Fairy. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to withstand that halberd strike."
Zhang Xuanzhi shook his head with a bitter smile.
Lu Qingxue's face, meanwhile, was slightly pale.
However, after taking out and swallowing a high-grade Wound-Healing Pill, her complexion rapidly improved.
"Let's rest and recover our strength here for a moment,"
Xu Deling proposed.
Lu Qingxue and Zhang Xuanzhi exchanged a glance and did not refuse. They each found a relatively clean spot, sat cross-legged, and began to meditate.
A moment later.
Lu Qingxue opened her eyes and looked at Xu Deling.
A trace of curiosity flashed in her cold eyes. She hesitated briefly before asking, "By the way, Daoist Friend Xu, what did you mean by what you said earlier?
Did your grandfather truly kill a Nascent Soul True Lord?"
She found it incredibly hard to believe.
Xu Deling was just about to explain when Zhang Xuanzhi beside them chimed in first.
"Fairy Lu, I actually know a thing or two about this matter.
The predecessor of the Azure Dragon Prefecture was the Heavenly Azure Prefecture, which was controlled by the Heavenly Azure Sect. Their Grand Elder was the Nascent Soul True Lord, Xi Daoyun.
It's rumored that the Xu Family Head, who is also True Lord Withered Glory, teamed up with a Tier 4 Flood Dragon great demon to lay siege to Xi Daoyun, ultimately slaying him.
Not long after this incident, the Xu Family Head consolidated the Heavenly Azure Prefecture and established the Azure Dragon Alliance.
And the Heavenly Azure Prefecture was consequently renamed to the Azure Dragon Prefecture."
"Your grandfather is at the Nascent Soul stage?" Lu Qingxue was even more shocked.
Xu Deling wanted to correct her, but Zhang Xuanzhi continued, "No, he isn't.
In terms of seniority in the cultivation world, True Lord Withered Glory might actually be of the same generation as us.
According to the information gathered by my Profound Moon Sect, it seems he also only reached Core Formation shortly after the Prodigy Grand Assembly.
Calculating the timeframe, he probably reached it just a year or two earlier than the both of you."
"Do I need you to tell me when my grandfather reached Core Formation?!"
Xu Deling rolled her eyes at Zhang Xuanzhi in exasperation.
"Haha, I spoke out of turn. Please forgive my impudence," Zhang Xuanzhi chuckled awkwardly.
"That's impossible!"
Hearing this, Lu Qingxue instantly revealed a look of utter disbelief. "Then he could be at most at the mid-stage Golden Core realm.
How could he possibly dare to participate in laying siege to a Nascent Soul expert?
Even with a high-grade defensive magic treasure, it wouldn't mean anything in the face of a Nascent Soul True Lord!"
"I don't wish to speak further on matters concerning my grandfather,"
Xu Deling stated flatly.
She would not detail Xu Chuan's true strength and trump cards to outsiders.
"Little Sister Qingxue, you just need to regard him as a monstrous genius. There is no need to judge him by common sense.
If you wish to pay him a visit, I can bring you to see him in a few days.
He should be quite happy to acquaint himself with a prodigy like you."
Seeing that Xu Deling was unwilling to explain further, Lu Qingxue tactfully dropped the subject despite the curiosity burning within her.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded slightly. "If the rumors are true, such an extraordinary individual is well worth a formal visit."
As for Xu Mingshu, she also had her own encounters.
Over the course of two days, she experienced several battles.
However, she regrettably only managed to slay one early-stage Tier 3 demonic beast.
The rest of those she encountered were late-stage Tier 3 demonic beasts and late-stage Golden Core demonic cultivators.
Relying on Xu Ying, the Black Dragon Flag, and her spirit insects, she was only barely able to fight them to a draw.
Whenever she realized she couldn't win, she simply mounted Xu Ying and flew away.
Even ordinary Golden Core Perfection cultivators couldn't catch up to her.
Thus, she hadn't faced any significant danger up until now.
However.
On the third day.
She encountered the very demon the Xu Family had been obsessively yearning to slay.
Its wingspan exceeded sixty meters. Its feathers were as black as ink, with dark red firelight flowing along their edges, and it bore two heads.
"It's the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow!"
Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingshu had all seen its appearance in the memory fragments Xu Chuan had extracted from Ren Xiaoyao.
"And on the other side is..."
From over a dozen kilometers away, Xu Mingshu observed the person fighting against the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow.
It was a middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties or fifties. He had a lean, clear face with three long wisps of beard, and wore a bamboo crown on his head.
He was dressed in a loose, dark green Daoist robe embroidered with a myriad of beasts and cloud patterns. His wide sleeves billowed in the wind, giving him a distinct air of antiquity.
He hovered in mid-air, his expression serene and his gaze sharp as lightning, his hands rapidly forming seals as if preparing to unleash a powerful divine ability.
"The fluctuations of his spiritual power are vast and pure, and his Dao Rhyme flows harmoniously. It seems he's an expert at the Golden Core Perfection stage."
This middle-aged man remained on the periphery, channeling his magic treasures and divine abilities to bombard the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow.
Meanwhile, close to the demon sparrow, a colossus was engaging it in brutal melee combat.
It was a dragon crocodile measuring over sixty meters in length!
Its entire body was covered in emerald-green, diamond-shaped scales the size of bowls, their edges glinting with a cold, metallic luster. A row of bone spikes lined its spine, each several feet long and gleaming with an eerie blue chill.
The sharp teeth in its maw were like short swords, and it constantly spewed foul-smelling, dark green toxic mist.
Its four limbs were as thick as palace pillars, and its claws were as sharp as steel hooks.
"An Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile. A water-attribute demonic beast equipped with highly venomous attacks. Judging by its aura, it should be at the late Tier 3 stage, and it isn't far from reaching peak Tier 3 either."
It was roughly equivalent to a human immortal cultivator at the ninth layer of the Golden Core realm.
Xu Mingshu observed quietly.
The Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile had a bulky frame. Although all late Tier 3 beasts could fly, its agility and dodging speed were far inferior to those of the peak Tier 3 Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow.
However, the dragon crocodile's defense was astonishing.
Even when struck by the black flame attacks and sharp claws of the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow, it managed to endure them all.
Because of this, it consistently employed a tactic of countering motion with stillness.
In a typical one-on-one battle, the Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile would surely be suppressed, but it had the support of a Golden Core Perfection expert who appeared to possess a divine ability at Great Accomplishment.
Consequently, even the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow was completely unable to gain the upper hand.
'This person's strength is extraordinary. In my Xu Family, likely only Father could defeat him right now,'
Xu Mingshu thought to herself.
However, her arrival had long been noticed by the middle-aged cultivator and the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow.
It was just that both sides were deeply immersed in their fierce battle and couldn't be bothered with her.
"Sever!"
The middle-aged cultivator erupted with full power, channeling a high-grade flying sword magic treasure empowered by the true intent of a Great Accomplishment divine ability, piercing straight through the wing of the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow.
"Screech!"
The Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow shrieked in pain as countless feathers burning with black flames rained down.
The Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile, mentally connected to the middle-aged cultivator, reacted the very instant the demon sparrow was struck. It transformed into a flash of green light, opening its massive jaws to snap down viciously.
If those jaws clamped down, even the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow would be critically injured.
It might even perish on the spot.
However, the demon sparrow proved just a fraction faster, dodging the fatal bite.
It instantly retreated over a hundred kilometers away, glaring venomously at the middle-aged cultivator. "You from the Spirit Taming Sect, remember this! Sooner or later, I will settle this score with you."
With those parting words, it cast a sidelong glance in Xu Mingshu's direction before immediately flapping its wings and flying away.
Even though it was injured, its speed was still beyond the reach of an ordinary Golden Core Perfection cultivator.
"The Daoist friend in the distance, you've been watching for quite a while. Why not come over for a chat?"
Hearing this, Xu Mingshu considered for a moment before having Xu Ying fly closer. However, she stopped over a kilometer away, not daring to approach too closely.
The disparity in strength between them was simply too vast.
Even though she could summon Xu Chuan, she estimated that she would be severely injured or even killed before he could arrive.
"I am Yu Guihong, from the Yu Family of the Spirit Taming Sect. May I ask how to address you, Fairy?"
"Xue Ji."
"Ah, so it's Fairy Xue. Seeing the spirit beast you ride, it seems you are also well-versed in the Dao of Beast Taming."
Yu Guihong assessed Xu Ying, his eyes glinting as he mused, "The spirit beast beneath you appears to possess the bloodlines of both a Cyan Fire Hawk and a Purple-Lightning Thunder Hawk."
"Neither species naturally possesses Tier 3 potential, yet it has managed to reach the mid-stage of Tier 3."
"It seems to possess extraordinary innate talent."
"Usually, the offspring of demonic beasts only inherit the bloodline of one parent. To inherit both, fuse them perfectly, and experience such a leap in potential is incredibly rare."
Xu Mingshu was slightly startled. She hadn't expected the other party to see through some of Xu Ying's background after merely observing for a short while.
However, he had only guessed half right.
Xu Ying's Purple-Lightning Thunder Hawk bloodline wasn't inherited, but was instead the result of a mutation.
"Senior Yu, is there something you need? If not, I will be taking my leave," Xu Mingshu said.
"May I ask if Fairy Xue has a master? If not, I would like to invite you to join our Spirit Taming Sect. It is not boasting when I say that in the entire Heavenly South, our Spirit Taming Sect ranks first in the Dao of Beast Taming."
"If you wish to deepen your understanding of the Dao of Beast Taming, you might want to consider it."
"Invite me to join the Spirit Taming Sect?" Xu Mingshu paused, asking in surprise, "Why?"
"To be able to control a mid-stage Tier 3 demonic beast while only at the early-stage Golden Core realm—even within my Spirit Taming Sect, only a few of our top-ranking prodigies are capable of doing so."
"This requires immense talent."
"It's not as simple as placing a restriction on a demonic beast and expecting to truly master it."
"The bond between a beast tamer and a demonic beast is much more of a partnership. If you cannot make it submit willingly and wholeheartedly, you'll never be able to unleash its true strength."
"Furthermore, the Dao of Beast Taming is exceedingly profound. When the mental connection reaches a certain level, you can utilize secret techniques to borrow the power of your spirit beast."
"For example, like this."
Yu Guihong immediately formed hand seals and executed a mysterious secret technique. Following this, both he and the Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile radiated bursts of emerald-green light.
Moments later.
A layer of emerald-green armor materialized over Yu Guihong's body, surprisingly identical to the scales of the Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile.
"This is the Beast Armor Secret Technique. There is also the Spiritual Connection Secret Technique, which allows you to borrow the innate divine abilities of your spirit beast, the Insect Armor Secret Technique, and so forth."
Xu Mingshu found herself somewhat envious, but this was a significant matter.
It wasn't something she could decide on her own.
"What does Fairy Xue think? If you are willing, I can have my Yu Family's ancestor, a Nascent Soul Grand Elder of the Spirit Taming Sect, take you in as a personal disciple."
"He is at the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul realm, a powerhouse well on his way to becoming a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator!"
"This is a major decision, and I need time to think it over carefully. If the opportunity arises, I will definitely pay a visit to the Spirit Taming Sect."
Without further words, Xu Mingshu immediately turned and left.
And the direction she departed in was the exact direction the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow had fled.
"Is it a coincidence?" Yu Guihong muttered in a low voice as he watched Xu Mingshu disappear into the distance. "Well, if she can survive this war between the two domains, it will only prove her potential is even more exceptional."
Pausing briefly, he lowered his head in thought. "Her aura suggests she hasn't been in the Golden Core stage for long, which means she must have controlled this Purple-Azure Thunder Hawk while still in the Foundation Establishment stage."
"Just what kind of innate talent does she possess?"
It was precisely because of this speculation that Yu Guihong had stepped forward to extend the invitation immediately.
Even in the Spirit Taming Sect, it was difficult to produce such a beast-taming prodigy in two or three hundred years.
"Master."
At this moment, the voice of the Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile echoed in his sea of consciousness.
"What is it?"
"That female fairy smells wonderful. There's a natural instinct that makes us from the demonic beast race want to get close to her."
"What?! She can even influence you?!"
Yu Guihong was shaken. The Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile was a notoriously savage and brutal demonic beast. If he hadn't tamed it, its natural disposition was incredibly cruel.
It wouldn't hesitate to fight even a peak Tier 3 demonic beast to the death.
'Could this girl possess the Myriad Spirits Affinity talent? That's a talent barely seen once in a millennium! Commanding spirit beasts would almost never be hindered by the race of the demonic beast.
'And the level of compatibility would always be extraordinarily high.
'She has the potential to nurture a late Tier 4 great demon.'
'Wait, she wouldn't be trying to provoke that Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow, would she? Even if it's injured, it's completely out of her league. However, if I intervene and save her when her life is on the line...
'...her wariness toward our Spirit Taming Sect should drastically diminish.'
With this thought in mind.
Yu Guihong immediately trailed after her.
Meanwhile, Xu Mingshu contacted Xu Chuan.
"Father, your daughter has found the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow. It is currently injured."
"Oh? Who managed to injure it?"
"A member of the Spirit Taming Sect named Yu Guihong. He possesses an Azure-Scaled Dragon Crocodile nearing peak Tier 3, and he himself is an expert at Golden Core Perfection with a Great Accomplishment divine ability.
He also wields a high-grade magic treasure."
"Yu Guihong? Surnamed Yu? Could his Yu Family happen to have a Nascent Soul stage ancestor?"
"Eh? Father, how did you know? Do you know him? He mentioned his family's ancestor is a Grand Elder of the Spirit Taming Sect with Mid-Stage Nascent Soul strength."
Xu Chuan smiled upon hearing this. "Karma works in mysterious ways. I once had a brief encounter with that Yu Qi. We can't be considered enemies, but we aren't friends either."
"I see. That Yu Guihong previously invited me to join the Spirit Taming Sect, claiming he could have his family's ancestor take me in as a personal disciple.
Given the mysterious secret techniques of the Spirit Taming Sect, I was actually planning to give it some thought.
But now, I think I'll drop the idea."
"There's no need to rush. We'll see if you manage to obtain any beast-taming inheritances in the Ancient Battlefield after this matter is resolved. If not, and you wish to advance further in the Dao of Beast Taming...
...then the Spirit Taming Sect is indeed the best option."
"But isn't that Yu Family..."
"The Spirit Taming Sect is incredibly vast, with numerous factions. The Yu Family has a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Grand Elder, making their influence quite strong, but there is still a Grand Cultivator above him.
If you're going to take a master, naturally, you should choose the strongest one. That way, your backing will be the most formidable.
Even if they later discover you are from the Yunxi Xu Family of the Azure Dragon Prefecture, they won't casually cross us."
Xu Mingshu fell deep in thought.
"There is no urgency to this. We can slowly plan it out."
"Yes, Father. I will listen to you," Xu Mingshu replied with a smile. "What about the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow..."
"Give me its general location. I will personally track it down and capture it. As for you... since Yu Guihong recognized your exceptional talent in beast taming...
...he will likely trail you, waiting for a chance to get on your good side.
This is a rare opportunity to have a free bodyguard, so you might as well put him to good use. If you manage to get your hands on some beast-taming secret techniques for free, that would be even better."
"Father is wise as always."
Midway through her journey, Xu Mingshu changed her course.
Upon noticing this, Yu Guihong muttered in confusion, "Could this old man have guessed incorrectly? She wasn't actually heading for the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow?"
'That makes sense. No matter how foolish she might be, she wouldn't try to provoke a peak Tier 3 demonic beast.
'Right now, the Land of Imprisonment is fraught with danger for her at every turn.
'I just need to be patient. I'll definitely find an opportunity.
'If I can recruit her into my Yu Family, then a few hundred years from now, our Spirit Taming Sect might just be ruled by my family!'
Fifteen minutes later.
A streak of cyan light tore across the sky like lightning.
Xu Chuan spread out his divine sense and began flying rapidly forward.
However, the chances of finding the bird through a manual search were extremely slim.
'I can't just keep flying blindly like this. Let's see what hints the Heavenly Secret Dao Derivation can provide.'
A moment later.
"To the southwest, chaos and conflict. It will yield a bountiful harvest."
'It's a bit vague, but it's enough.'
If the heavenly secrets weren't currently obscured by chaos, Xu Chuan could have pinpointed exactly when and where a specific person would appear with absolute clarity.
Though, if the person carried heavy karma, predicting their movements would naturally be much more difficult.
'Then I shall head southwest and see exactly what this chaos is about.'
Xu Chuan didn't use any divine abilities, instead maintaining a normal flying speed.
An hour later.
He began to sense chaotic spiritual power fluctuations echoing from a distance.
Every single aura was incredibly powerful; they were all at the Golden Core Perfection stage.
Demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region, cultivators from the Heavenly South, and even demonic beasts were all present.
Xu Chuan immediately accelerated.
Before long.
He arrived in the sky above a battlefield where several mountain peaks had been completely leveled. Three distinct factions were positioned in a tense triangle.
To the north stood five demonic cultivators from the Blackwater Region. To the southwest loomed three peak great demons, one of which was the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow.
And to the east were four cultivators from the Heavenly South.
No, to be precise, there were five, but one of them seemed isolated from the other four, standing several dozen meters away.
"How interesting. Four of them happen to be old friends!"
The corners of Xu Chuan's lips curled up slightly.
The five individuals from the Heavenly South were True Lord Qingxuan of the Profound Moon Sect, the Ancestor of the Lei Family, True Lord Fierce Sun, True Lord Heavenly Wolf, and another who appeared to be an elder from the Clear Void Sect in the east.
Xu Chuan had crossed paths with them briefly at the Prodigy Grand Assembly.
Unfortunately, he couldn't quite recall the man's name.
"Daoist Friend Heavenly Wolf, since the people from the Heavenly South clearly do not welcome you, why don't you join our Blackwater Region? If we kill them, we can split their magic treasures and resources.
With you on our side, butchering those three beasts wouldn't be impossible either."
On the other side stood the Tier 3 demonic beasts. Two were part of the avian race, with the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow being one of them.
The third was a four-hooved creature that resembled a lion but carried the majesty of a dragon. It sported dragon horns atop its head and possessed powerful, muscular limbs.
Its body was clad in densely layered, intricate dark gold scales. The surface of these scales naturally formed profound, complex cloud and thunder patterns.
It had a pair of dark gold eyes the size of brass bells, with pupils shaped like vertical slits.
A natural, imposing majesty radiated every time it blinked.
"Is this a Suanni?!"
This was the first time Xu Chuan had laid eyes on such a mutated dragon-kin species.
Among the three demonic beasts, the pressure it exuded ranked second in Xu Chuan's estimation, while the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow came in third.
As for the strongest, if Xu Chuan guessed correctly, it had to be the Nine Nether Sparrow.
"You humans truly love your mutual deception!" the Nine Nether Sparrow scoffed darkly. "This Monarch wouldn't mind letting the two of you settle your differences first."
"So you can swoop in and reap the spoils of the fisherman's gain, right?" Black Fiend sneered coldly.
Among the five from the Blackwater Region, two were Elder Black Fiend and Elder White Fiend of the Heavenly Fiend Sect. They had fought the Two-headed Black Flame Demon Sparrow a few days prior.
Both sides had suffered injuries.