"Li—"
As if sensing Chen Xiao's provocation, the Nether Phoenix's cry became even sharper and more piercing.
It swooped down towards Chen Xiao, its massive body carving a streak of ethereal blue light in the darkness.
"Kirin Fire, Sky-Breaking Sword!"
Chen Xiao held nothing back, channeling all his vital energy into this single sword strike!
He slashed his sword at the Nether Phoenix, a world-destroying aura instantly unfurling!
A red and blue dual-colored aura, condensed as if tangible, struck the Nether Phoenix.
Shua—
The sword energy sliced across the Nether Phoenix's body!
"Li!!!"
The Nether Phoenix let out a tragic cry. Clearly, Chen Xiao's sword had wounded it.
It was wounded, but not severely. Moreover, it had thoroughly enraged the creature.
Chen Xiao felt his scalp tingle. How could this damned thing be so powerful?
The Nether Phoenix opened its great maw and began to spew Netherfire at Chen Xiao relentlessly.
All Chen Xiao could do was flee frantically.
His strongest attack could barely scratch the creature's hide, and he had no idea what else he could do.
Chen Xiao ran desperately, the Nether Phoenix pursued him fiercely, spitting Netherfire at him as if it were phlegm.
Several times, the flames nearly hit Chen Xiao, but fortunately, Chen Xiao had a significant speed advantage.
Furthermore, the Nether Phoenix was enormous, making Chen Xiao appear even more agile.
Chen Xiao leaped from branch to branch of the Wutong tree, while the Nether Phoenix's flames landed on the branches with each spew.
Dry wood met intense fire, igniting with a whoosh.
If it continued to burn like this, no matter how thick and tall the Wutong tree was, it would eventually be consumed.
However, Chen Xiao could no longer afford to care. He was struggling to survive, how could he spare a thought for a dead tree?
Moreover, this Wutong tree was the Nether Phoenix's lair. If the creature itself didn't care, Chen Xiao had no reason to.
Gradually, Chen Xiao became less panicked than he was at the start. Although this great bird was fierce and powerful, its intelligence was rather low. Chen Xiao could even toy with it now.
As the Wutong tree burned more intensely, Chen Xiao's position grew deeper.
He could even see the bottom of the abyss, where a swift, dark river flowed, its origin and destination unknown.
And the Wutong tree had actually grown out of this dark river.
Chen Xiao accelerated his descent, continuing to jump down. No matter what, he would first dive into the river. Perhaps there was something else down there.
As the distance closed, Chen Xiao discovered that the turbulent water of the dark river was the same as the water from the Phoenix Spring.
Three words immediately flashed in Chen Xiao's mind: "I'm rich!"
If he could absorb the Phoenix Spring, he could naturally absorb this dark river as well. Moreover, this dark river was flowing water. Perhaps after absorbing it all, he could even break through to the seventh level of the Nine Revolutions Azure Wave Art.
With this thought, Chen Xiao increased his speed again. When he was about a hundred meters from the dark river, he leaped, diving in headfirst.
Plop—
Chen Xiao surfaced from the dark river, shook the water droplets from his hair, and looked up at the Nether Phoenix with a defiant expression.
"Dead bird, you can't do anything to me now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the Nether Phoenix spewed a mouthful of thick phlegm… no, a mouthful of Netherfire.
Chen Xiao sneered, not taking it seriously at all.
Only when the Netherfire was about to hit his head did he dive back into the water!
He thought to himself, "I've gone underwater, what can you do to me!"
However, the next moment, Chen Xiao was stunned.
Because when the Netherfire hit the water's surface, the entire dark river ignited like gasoline, bursting into flames.
The flames burned fiercely, and the once turbulent dark river instantly transformed into a sea of fire…
…
Meanwhile, on the ground, Chu Qingluan was the first to notice that the hurricane had stopped.
Riding her Qingluan, she looked into the distance and saw that the area had become calm. She then called out for everyone to hurry over.
Upon hearing Chu Qingluan's words, everyone rushed towards that direction.
For a time, it was as if the Eight Immortals crossed the sea, each displaying their divine powers. Various rare and exotic beasts were summoned.
Of course, these rare and exotic beasts were merely their mounts.
Martial artists from the secular world had no mounts and could only rely on their legs to rush over.
But as they walked, they noticed that the mounts of the ancient martial sects had all stopped.
No matter how their masters commanded or scolded them, they dared not take a single step forward.
Even the flying mounts dared not fly in the sky; they all landed on the ground, their bodies curled up and prostrate. The once majestic giant eagles and great vultures were now like quails.
"What's going on? Why have all these beasts stopped?"
"Could it be that there's some danger in the abyss?"
"Don't be ridiculous. My Chuanhai Owl is a demonic beast nearing the transformation stage. What could possibly make it so afraid in that abyss?"
"You say that as if no one else's mount is at the transformation stage!"
Everyone was in an uproar, but they couldn't figure out the reason.
However, not all mounts remained still. Chu Qingluan's Qingluan and Chu He's Fire Phoenix were still flying forward in the sky.
Although everyone was puzzled, seeing the father and daughter flying further and further away, the crowd, unwilling to fall behind, abandoned their mounts and followed.
At this moment, Little Hongchan tugged on Ye Santong's sleeve and said, "Grandpa, Hongchan doesn't want to go there."
"What's wrong, Little Hongchan? Why don't you want to go? Don't you want to know how your big brother is doing?" Ye Santong asked curiously.
"Big brother, big brother he…"
Little Hongchan seemed hesitant. She bit her lip, her heart seemingly struggling violently.
Finally, she gritted her teeth, her eyes suddenly becoming incredibly firm. She said resolutely, "Big brother will definitely be alright. Grandpa, Hongchan is not afraid anymore. Hongchan wants to go with Grandpa!"
"Good, then let's hurry, or we'll be left behind by everyone." Ye Santong smiled and patted Little Hongchan's head, but his heart was filled with unease.
"Little Hongchan's reaction today is very unusual. Could it be that Chen Xiao has already met with misfortune?" Ye Santong remained impassive, continuing to follow the crowd.
These were, after all, powerful martial artists. Even without mounts, their speed was not slow. Before long, they arrived beside the abyss.
Although it was calm now, the area was already in ruins due to the recent hurricane.
What was most unacceptable was that the once magnificent and majestic God Slaying Hall had now been razed to the ground. The thousands of disciples of the God Slaying Hall were now homeless.
The disciples of the God Slaying Hall wore sorrowful expressions, but their Hall Master, Chu He, couldn't afford to worry about that. His only concern now was Chen Xiao's safety.
Just as he was about to descend into the abyss to investigate, a voice like a thunderclap suddenly sounded from the horizon.
"You scoundrel Chu He, I, Huangfu Xiao, along with three hundred disciples from the Lingxiao Hall, have come to the God Slaying Hall to demand an explanation. Hurry and come to see me!"