Chapter 555

Before Lu Qing could respond to the old man Qiao’s question, the usually quiet middle-aged man suddenly spoke up.

“My cultivation is shallow. I don’t have the ability to cross the Gale Plains on my own. I’d better return with everyone else.”

Lu Qing also chimed in softly, “I’m the same. That monster just now—it was clearly a Golden Core–level Wind Beast. I’m no match for it.”

“In that case, let’s return together. We can look out for one another on the way.”

Hearing this, Old Man Qiao smiled faintly.

If it were just him alone, he wouldn't fear the Gale Plains much.

But now that he was traveling with two children, he had more to consider.

Crossing the Gale Plains recklessly was not an option.

With the middle-aged man and Lu Qing choosing to return, it meant at least two more Golden Core cultivators to watch each other’s backs.

On the other side, the armored man noticed the departure of the skinny youth and the woman in red. Although displeased, he could do nothing about it.

After all, those Golden Core cultivators weren’t officially hired by the Fortune Bearers Merchant Guild.

If they wanted to leave, he couldn’t stop them.

Thankfully, Old Man Qiao, Lu Qing, and the other man ultimately chose to return with the caravan.

Otherwise, he really wouldn't have had the confidence to escort everyone safely back to the canyon.

Just seeing that Golden Core–level Wind Beast earlier had already convinced the armored man that something extraordinary was happening within the Gale Plains.

Otherwise, such a beast wouldn’t appear in the outskirts like this.

Moreover, he’d had a nagging feeling that something within the endless wind and sand was watching their caravan.

So even though they’d chosen to return, his heart remained on edge.

He had a premonition—the way back would not be smooth.

As he was deep in thought, a sudden chill surged through him. His head snapped up.

Ahead, three monstrous Wind Beasts were forming and lunging toward them.

The sudden attack sent cries of alarm through the group.

Each of these three Wind Beasts was of Golden Core level, and each stood over ten zhang tall.

The three of them charged as one, bringing with them an almost tangible aura of killing intent.

The weaker cultivators were instantly overwhelmed—souls chilled, bodies frozen, unable to move.

“Mere Wind Beasts dare act so wildly? Formation—now!”

The armored man’s eyes went cold. With a flick of his hand, the spear-shaped artifact in his grip transformed into a roaring wild dragon, surging toward one of the beasts.

At the same time, a fellow Golden Core cultivator beside him unleashed a golden blade aura from his treasured saber, slicing toward another Wind Beast.

The remaining guards of the Merchant Guild quickly formed a mystical battle formation. Working in unison, they conjured a giant bear of magical energy that pounced at the third Wind Beast.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The wild dragon and golden blade struck hard, blasting apart two of the Wind Beasts on the spot.

The final Wind Beast, under the onslaught of the magical bear, held on for only a few seconds before also exploding into a cloud of wind and sand.

In an instant, the three Wind Beasts—who had just moments ago seemed as savage as ancient fiends—were scattered to the wind.

But before anyone could rejoice, the wind and sand swirled again.

The three Wind Beasts that had just been destroyed began to reform, charging at them once more.

“I don’t care how many times you come back to life—I'll kill you all the same!”

The armored man’s gaze remained steely, as if he had expected this. Forming hand seals swiftly, he sent the dragon-shaped spear artifact roaring once again into the fray, blasting apart another Wind Beast.

His saber-wielding comrade and the guards also resumed their attacks, intercepting the remaining two.

But just then, two more roars echoed from behind the caravan.

Two equally massive Wind Beasts emerged, lunging toward them from the rear.

“Why are so many Golden Core–level Wind Beasts showing up here?”

The armored man’s expression darkened.

It had already been strange that one such beast appeared on the outskirts.

Now there were five at once—an alarming thought crept into his mind.

Could these Wind Beasts be under someone’s control?

Otherwise, why would such low-intelligence creatures attack so methodically, coordinating from front and back?

They even understood combined assault tactics.

But how could that be possible?

Though Wind Beasts had low intelligence, their ferocity was unmatched.

What kind of being could suppress their wild nature and make them obey?

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

But with the two rear Wind Beasts closing in, there was no time to dwell.

He shouted, “Old Man Qiao, the rear is yours!”

The back of the caravan was still protected by the light of the Wind-Stabilizing Lantern,

but it wouldn’t hold against two Golden Core Wind Beasts.

Unable to split himself further, the armored man had to call on Lu Qing and the others.

“Fellow Daoists, it seems we must also lend our strength!”

Old Man Qiao did not hesitate. He immediately summoned his iron ruler artifact, which expanded with a flash of spiritual light and struck one of the Wind Beasts with crushing force.

Lu Qing and the silent middle-aged man also moved quickly, summoning their artifacts to meet the other beast.

The middle-aged man’s artifact was a black iron staff, which transformed into a raging black flood dragon, striking fiercely.

Lu Qing’s was a flying sword.

With a flicker, the sword’s light split into countless arcs. With immense power, they shredded one of the Wind Beast’s arms—and half its body.

“This young man’s swordsmanship is remarkable... could he be a Sword Cultivator?”

Old Man Qiao, despite being engaged in combat himself, took note.

Seeing Lu Qing’s sword disperse half a Wind Beast’s body in a single strike, he was surprised.

Lu Qing’s cultivation was only that of a first-transformation lower-grade Golden Core.

Yet the Wind Beasts were at least second or third transformation.

To do such damage in one blow—only Sword Cultivators could manage that level of offense.

The middle-aged man was also taken aback.

He had underestimated Lu Qing, the lowest-ranked among them.

But now, Lu Qing had revealed a lethal strength.

The man refocused immediately. Seeing an opening in the Wind Beast’s defense,

his black iron staff—now a raging flood dragon—struck with renewed might and smashed the other half of the beast’s body.

“Haha! Excellent!”

At the front of the caravan, the armored man sensed this and was reinvigorated.

He had worried that Old Man Qiao’s group wouldn’t be able to hold the rear.

If they were overwhelmed, the entire caravan could be annihilated from both ends.

But now that they were holding the line, there was still hope.

Without delay, he barked orders: “Move! Head for the canyon! Everyone, keep up—fall behind and you’re dead!”

Then he shouted again, “Old Man Qiao, hold the rear! These Wind Beasts can’t leave the Gale Plains. Once we reach the canyon, we’re safe!”

With that, he activated the Wind-Stabilizing Lantern hanging at the front of the caravan.

It cut through the gales ahead, guiding the way forward.

The smaller merchant group quickly followed, terrified of falling even a step behind and being torn apart by the Wind Beasts or swallowed by the endless storm.

The entire caravan began moving again, inching slowly toward the canyon.

All the while, the five Wind Beasts relentlessly assaulted them, over and over again.

No matter how many times they were blasted apart, they would simply reform and charge again, their strength undiminished.

That eerie, undying persistence struck terror into every heart.

Fortunately, the wind and sand had only spawned five of them.

If even one more had appeared, they might truly have perished here.

Boom!

As the Wind Beast was once again blasted apart, only to recondense in mere seconds, Lu Qing frowned deeply.

“Old Man Qiao, this can’t go on.”

“These Wind Beasts just won’t die. If they keep attacking like this, we might run out of spiritual power before we ever reach the canyon.”

“You’re well-traveled and knowledgeable—don’t you know how we could destroy them completely?”

“You can’t kill Wind Beasts.”

Old Man Qiao shook his head as he swung his iron ruler, smashing a Wind Beast’s head to pieces.

“The power of Wind Beasts comes from the Gale Plains themselves. They are born from the Netherwind Cave deep within.”

“Even if you destroy them completely, they will reemerge from that cave in time.”

“That’s why the Gale Plains have remained unchanged for so long.”

“If they could truly be slain, some sect would’ve already wiped this place clean.”

“You can’t kill them, but you can destroy them temporarily and force them to be reborn in the Netherwind Cave?” Lu Qing caught the key point at once. “Then how can we fully destroy one?”

“That’s extremely difficult.”

Old Man Qiao sighed. “Each Wind Beast contains a Wind Pearl—its core.”

“But this Wind Pearl is formed from the Laws of Wind—formless and ever-shifting.”

“When a Wind Beast is scattered, the pearl disperses with it.”

“Only in the fleeting instant when the beast is destroyed and the Wind Pearl hasn’t yet scattered…”

“If you concentrate enough power and annihilate the pearl, you might destroy the beast for good.”

“Without its Wind Pearl, even if a trace of its spirit returns to the Netherwind Cave, it must first reform a new pearl before it can take shape again.”

“But even just dispersing their bodies is already hard for us.”

“To seize that fleeting moment and destroy a pearl forged by wind’s laws—it’s nearly impossible.”

“Only someone with a Superior Golden Core could possibly do it.”

Hearing this, the middle-aged man silently shook his head.

A late-stage Golden Core cultivator with a Superior Core—that was someone they could only look up to.

There was no way any of them could pull it off.

But Lu Qing seemed thoughtful after hearing all this.

Old Man Qiao kept a close eye on Lu Qing’s expression.

He had always sensed something mysterious about this young cultivator.

Seeing Lu Qing’s look, he couldn’t help but ask, “Fellow Daoist, could it be you have a method?”

“I do have an idea,” Lu Qing said without hiding it. After blasting apart another Wind Beast, he explained, “I have a sword technique with considerable power.”

“Once I’ve prepared it, Old Man Qiao, I’ll need you to fully shatter one of the Wind Beasts.”

“I’ll try to seize that moment and see if I can temporarily destroy one.”

“You truly think you can do it?” Old Man Qiao’s body jolted, voice filled with urgency.

The middle-aged man also looked at Lu Qing in astonishment.

“We have to try something. At this rate, with our current pace, we’ll be drained of spiritual power before we reach the canyon.”

Old Man Qiao fell silent.

He knew Lu Qing was right.

They had entered the Gale Plains when the winds were briefly calm.

The speed they moved then was nothing like their current pace.

So now, returning to the canyon would take far longer.

With these Wind Beasts harassing them non-stop, their spiritual power wouldn’t last.

“All right!”

Having thought it through, Old Man Qiao gritted his teeth and nodded.

“If you’re confident, then this old man will cooperate with all he’s got!”

“Fellow Daoist Shi, I’ll need time to build up sword intent. You’ll have to hold off the Wind Beast alone for now,” Lu Qing said to the middle-aged man.

“Don’t worry. I may not be its match, but I can keep it occupied,” the man chuckled.

Gone was the silent gloom—his face now bore a trace of anticipation.

Seeing this, Lu Qing didn’t hesitate. He leapt atop a wagon, summoned back his flying sword, and began to gather sword intent before him.

Meanwhile, Old Man Qiao and the middle-aged man continued holding off the two Wind Beasts.

Especially the latter—his black rod artifact had transformed into a swirling black flood dragon. It no longer attacked, but coiled into a defensive stance.

The black dragon spun around, entangling the Wind Beast, blocking its advance toward the caravan.

Even while fending off the Wind Beasts, both men kept a sliver of attention on Lu Qing’s actions.

And soon, they saw that as Lu Qing’s momentum gathered…

The flying sword before him began to emit sword gleams—sharp, flickering light.

More than that, the sword intent radiating from it made everyone nearby feel like they were being stabbed in the back. A chill swept through their hearts.

“This sword intent!”

Old Man Qiao and the middle-aged man’s eyes flew wide open.

Even they, seasoned Golden Core cultivators, felt their skin crawl under the pressure of that sword intent.

It meant that Lu Qing’s sword carried a power that could threaten their lives.

Just as the two were still reeling from the shock, Lu Qing abruptly opened his eyes. “Old Man Qiao!”

Without hesitation, Qiao channeled all his spiritual power. His iron ruler artifact blazed with light, its might surging.

With a single mighty swing, he exploded a Wind Beast into shreds.

And at that very moment—when the Wind Beast had scattered but not yet dispersed—

Lu Qing’s flying sword shot forth.

At unimaginable speed, it pierced straight toward a point within the beast’s broken form!