"Soul Returning Demon Fruit!"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's eyes widened, his breathing quickening.
Yin Li smiled and handed the Soul Returning Demon Fruit to Xiong Zhuangzhuang, joking, "Senior Brother, I snatched this from a demon beast's mouth. Take good care of it."
"Junior Sister Yin, thank you."
Xiong Zhuangzhuang received it solemnly, carefully placing it into his storage bag. The heavy stone on his heart was finally lifted.
"So the beast riot was for the Soul Returning Demon Fruit."
Xu Yi recalled the scene filled with demonic energy, a hint of admiration growing for Yin Li.
To snatch a Soul Returning Demon Fruit amidst a swarm of demons, her methods and temperament far surpassed ordinary people.
Considering Xiong Zhuangzhuang's extraordinary physical strength, Xu Yi couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The five great sects of the Kyushu Continent possessed profound foundations and hidden talents.
And the Kunlun Academy, situated above the five great sects, must be even more powerful.
As Xu Yi lost herself in thought, Xiong Zhuangzhuang pulled Yin Li aside, sternly admonishing her against such dangerous actions in the future.
Xiong Da was his contracted demon beast, his companion.
Yin Li, from the same sect, was his junior sister, his kin. He didn't want Yin Li to trade her life for Xiong Da's.
Yin Li enjoyed her senior brother's concern, her expression joyful, showing no displeasure.
However, Xiong Zhuangzhuang's next words gradually made the smile on her lips fade.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang brought up Xu Yi again.
He recounted the crisis he had faced and how Xu Yi had repeatedly saved him, his words filled with gratitude.
Yin Li, knowing that Xu Yi was the savior of her senior brother and fellow disciples, felt a pang of jealousy towards the life-and-death bond she had forged with him, her mind a mess.
"Yangshen Trench is just ahead," Lu Zaiye said.
"Finally, we can leave from here." Xu Yi came back to herself, looking towards the front, a look of relief on her face.
On demonic territory, she trod on thin ice, daring not to breathe too loudly.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang agreed, "Yes, it's too dangerous here."
He still felt lingering fear.
The Divine Flying Boat drew closer to the Yangshen Trench. Xu Yi could even see the general outline of the Ten Thousand Demon Ridge on the other side.
Just as they all thought they would leave smoothly, Lu Zaiye's expression suddenly changed.
"Careful, the demon beasts are here!"
Xu Yi quickly jumped to the bow to control the formation, calling out, "In which direction!"
Lu Zaiye said grimly, "It's too late."
Xu Yi was startled, her divine sense expanding, and instantly, her scalp tingled.
In the sky, a dense, innumerable flock of birds, coming from all directions, surrounded them, blocking every possible escape route.
Xu Yi immediately realized these birds were summoned by the Black-Footed Crow, their objective naturally being revenge.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yin Li also sensed the anomaly, their expressions solemn, taking out their respective magical treasures.
Xu Yi turned to ask them, "Do you have any way to disperse these birds?"
"There are too many," Xiong Zhuangzhuang shook his head. "The medicine from the Beast Taming Sect can only drive away a small portion of the birds. Compared to the flock, it's like a drop in the bucket."
Moreover, many of these birds had cultivation bases at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages, so the medicine had little effect on them.
"Damn Black-Footed Crow, don't let me encounter you again," Xiong Zhuangzhuang cursed.
Xu Yi said calmly, "It's come to this, there's only one way."
"What way?" Xiong Zhuangzhuang asked.
"Ram through!"
"Ram through?"
"Yes." Xu Yi sat down cross-legged, her eyes flashing with fierce fighting spirit.
After becoming an Out-of-Body cultivator, she could control the Divine Flying Boat more adeptly and unleash greater power.
"Hold on tight."
Xu Yi gave a warning, and the next moment, she immersed her divine sense into the formation of the Divine Flying Boat, forming hand seals and pressing them down.
Hum—
A strange power slowly spread from the formation.
The Divine Flying Boat trembled violently, as fast as lightning, heading towards the Yangshen Trench.
Outside the hull, the clawing golden pillar reappeared.
The Divine Flying Boat, with an indomitable aura, rammed into the bird flock.
Boom, boom, boom!
Before the birds and beasts could get close to the golden pillar, they were scorched by the power it emanated, letting out piercing roars.
However, they seemed to have lost their minds, throwing themselves one after another onto the Divine Flying Boat.
Xu Yi could feel her soul power rapidly depleting, so she quickly swallowed a handful of pills and circulated her spiritual energy frantically.
"The birds and beasts are getting more numerous."
As Xiong Zhuangzhuang's words fell, their heads darkened, the sky above also obscured by the birds and beasts. The only source of light was the golden pillar outside the Divine Flying Boat.
Xu Yi's lips gradually lost their color; anyone could see her current state was precarious.
Lu Zaiye's brows furrowed, the seal within his body trembling slightly.
If he made a move, his identity would be exposed.
He raised his eyes to watch the increasingly frenzied bird flock, forming hand seals, preparing to break the seal, when a clear and melodious bird cry, with immense penetration, entered their ears.
Xiong Zhuangzhuang and Yin Li said in unison, "Immortal Master Hong Luan!"
Xu Yi was stunned, then her face lit up with joy.
Reinforcements had arrived.
Indeed, accompanying the bird cries, a ball of fire broke into the bird flock and erupted violently.
Black smoke billowed, and birds and beasts were engulfed by the flames, turning into smoke.
Xu Yi and the others saw the light again.
Immortal Master Chi Yu, seated on Hong Luan, shouted loudly, "Are there any disciples of my Beast Taming Sect ahead?"
"Elder Chi Yu, my Senior Brother and I are here." Yin Li's eyes flickered slightly, a smile on her lips.
Immortal Master Chi Yu moved his mind, and Hong Luan cried out long, gracefully landing in front of the Divine Flying Boat.
The birds and beasts made way, and the two parties finally met.
"Elder Chi Yu, these two are Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye, disciples of the Xuanji Sect. It is thanks to them that my Junior Sister and I are safe and sound."
After bowing to Immortal Master Chi Yu, Xiong Zhuangzhuang eagerly introduced Xu Yi and the other two.
Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye paused for a moment, then still bowed to Elder Chi Yu.
"Xu Yi?" Immortal Master Chi Yu's gaze fell on Xu Yi, a hint of hesitation appearing. "I seem to have heard this name somewhere."
Xu Yi's eyelids twitched, and she smiled, explaining, "My name is too common; perhaps Immortal Master Chi Yu has heard of someone with the same name as me."
Immortal Master Chi Yu thought Xu Yi's words made sense, so he dropped the matter and turned to ask about Zhou Cheng's situation.
"Have you two seen Zhou Cheng?"
Xiong Zhuangzhuang's gaze sharpened, "Yes."
"Oh? Where is he?"
"He's dead."
Xu Yi and Lu Zaiye had witnessed the situation at the time, so Xiong Zhuangzhuang did not avoid them and recounted the events in detail.
Upon hearing that Zhou Cheng's attempt to harm Xiong Zhuangzhuang had failed, and he had intended to fight to the death, ultimately meeting his own demise, Yin Li and Immortal Master Chi Yu's expressions turned extremely ugly.
Immortal Master Chi Yu had long suspected Zhou Cheng's impure intentions, but he had not expected him to be so audacious as to attempt murder on Xiong Zhuangzhuang, letting out a cold snort.
But thinking of Zhou Cheng's master, he couldn't help but feel a headache.
After pondering for a moment, it finally turned into a sigh.
This matter should be left to the sect leader to handle.
"Follow me."
Immortal Master Chi Yu gently stroked Hong Luan, the man and beast leading the way, and the Divine Flying Boat immediately followed.