BANG!
The sound of a vase shattering echoed from within the cave. A group of pretty young maidens ran out of the Cave Mansion, covering their faces. Their heads were bowed, their faces streaked with tearsâa truly pitiful sight.
Inside Celestial Unity Cave at Celestial Water Lake, Yu Fuchen had already lost count of how many beloved antiques he had smashed.
In the center of the Cave Mansion, Yu Fuchenâs expression was so dark it could drip ink, the fury in his eyes like a water snake flicking its tongue.
âFailure again!â
âThe plan to use disposable pawns to kill him has failed!â
âAfter getting my hopes up for the third time, itâs failed again!â
âAll my hidden pawns are dead!â
âFirst it was the three Outer Sect disciples from Heavenly Red Peak, and now itâs Zheng Bing!â
"Young Emperor Jin is a useless piece of trash, too. I thought that as one of the six great Punishment Masters of the Celestial Punishment Hall, heâd have some real skill. But to think he couldnât even handle a Martial Artist at the Martial Arts Eighth Layer Heaven! What a waste of all that hype from those other good-for-nothings!"
At this point, Yu Fuchen was beginning to feel some regret.
It wasnât that he regretted going after Qin Feng, but that he regretted not demanding more from Zhu Jian!
âThis wonât do. This Qin Feng is getting harder and harder to deal with. I must come up with a foolproof plan to kill him in a single blow. I canât give this brat another chance to grow stronger!â
âOtherwise, heâll surely become a formidable enemy in the future!â
Yu Fuchen lowered his head in thought, a glint flashing in his eyes.
âThatâs right! Spirit Sword Peak is about to open! Its opening is a massive opportunity, a chance for Creation, for all the new students of the four great academies. A guy like Qin Feng definitely wonât pass it up. Heâs sure to go to Spirit Sword Peak!â
A cold smile touched the corners of Yu Fuchenâs lips. An idea had quickly formed in his mind.
What Yu Fuchen excelled at most was not direct assassination. He had never been fond of killing people head-on, as it was not only dangerous but also created too many unpredictable consequences, regardless of success or failure.
What Yu Fuchen most enjoyed, and what he was best at, was killing with a borrowed knife.
Using someone elseâs blade to eliminate his own enemies!
...
Amidst a Sea of Clouds, Qin Feng stood on the back of a White Sparrow, his black hair whipping in the fierce wind.
"Junior Brother Qin Feng, why donât you get a different mount? This White Sparrow is the lowest grade of Fierce Beast among birds. Itâs not only slower than other fierce birds, but it also has practically no combat ability!"
Baiyun flew using Wind Control, looking like a Goddess from the Nine Heavens amidst the Sea of Clouds.
Qin Feng glanced at Baiyun with envy. As a Martial Artist who had reached Great Success with the Wind Attribute, she could fly using Wind Control after breaking through to the Condensing Vein Realm.
Among all the Attributes, only Martial Artists who cultivated Wind Attribute True Power could fly at the Condensing Vein Realm!
Not far off in the Sea of Clouds, a streak of black light shot toward them like a lightning bolt, breaking through the clouds to appear before them. It was Yun Mo, using Sword Flight.
That was the sign of the Fourth Realm of Sword Dao!
The girl in the black dress was actually an expert who had reached the Sword Daoâs Fourth Realm!
"Senior Sister Baiyun, havenât you figured it out yet? Our dear Master Qin here is a complete pauper! He canât afford a high-grade fierce bird!"
The black-clad girl giggled, looking exceptionally pleased with herself.
COO! COO!
As if sensing it was being looked down upon, the Silly Bird let out a displeased cry.
The Silly Bird looked even more magnificent than it had two months ago. Its broad wings spanned several meters, and its soft, flawless white feathers emitted a faint chill.
Qin Feng gently stroked the feather tuft on the Silly Birdâs head and glanced at the girl in black. "Donât mind her. Once you evolve into a White Jade Ice Sparrow, you can beat her so hard sheâll be searching for her teeth on the ground!"
Yun Mo sneered. "That thing? Even if it evolved into a Tier Two Ice and Snow Three-tailed Sparrow King, I could still beat it so badly it wouldnât even recognize you, its master!"
"I think you should just get a new mount already!"
COO! COO!
The Silly Bird was furious. It let out a powerful, long cry, crisp and clear, that echoed through the heavens. It sounded almost like the cry of a phoenix!
âThis hateful woman actually looks down on me!â
âSheâs even trying to get Master to abandon me!â
âWhat a horrible woman!â
A dense wave of cold energy surged from the Silly Birdâs body like boiling water. It spread its wings wide, and its normally foolish, dazed-looking eyes now held the unique ferocity of a high-level predator.
"Oh? This Silly Bird actually has a temper?"
A trace of surprise appeared on Yun Moâs pretty face as she found herself the target of the Silly Birdâs ferocious gaze.
Although birds like the White Sparrow were classified as Fierce Beasts, they were known for their docile nature. It was surprising to see one with such a look in its eyes.
Following the long cry, the cold energy around the Silly Bird grew denser, enveloping its body as its aura swelled in power!
âIs it... a breakthrough?â
âIts bloodline is awakening? Is it evolving?â
As its master, standing on its back, Qin Feng was the first to sense the change. However, the Silly Bird seemed to be desperately suppressing the cold energy it was emitting.
âItâs protecting its master!â
âItâs afraid the cold energy will harm me!â
Baiyun and Yun Mo also saw the increasingly dense cold energy surging from the White Sparrow!
âThis White Sparrow is actually evolving at a time like this?â
The two girlsâ expressions changed slightly. They exchanged a glance and saw the same surprise in each otherâs eyes.
Fierce birds like the White Sparrow, along with its relatives the Red Fire Sparrow and Yellow Rock Sparrow, were numerous in the Barbaric Wilderness and considered one of the most unremarkable types of birds.
This species of bird was extremely difficult to evolve.
The chance of evolution was one in a million!
Qin Feng instantly understood the birdâs intentions. A smile touched his lips as he sent a telepathic message.
"Go on and evolve. Donât suppress it!"
With Qin Fengâs approval, the Silly Bird no longer held back. A tangible First Layer of cold energy erupted from its body, with fine wisps of frost condensing on every feather.
It flapped its wings, and a blast of icy wind howled out. The surrounding clouds slowly darkened, and a light rain began to fall.
An extremely cold and pure energy erupted with the Silly Bird at its center. It wrapped its wings around its body, forming something like a spherical cocoon.
Qin Feng leaped away from the Silly Birdâs back. The moment he was airborne, he immediately began to plummet downward.
From a short distance away, Baiyunâs eyes darted. Her figure flashed, and a moment later she was there, gently supporting Qin Feng with one hand. The two of them stood steady in the air, held aloft by the wind.
Nearby, Yun Moâs shoulders twitched, but she quickly relaxed. Her gaze flickered as she glanced at the man and woman now standing so close together, then she looked away.
A slight blush appeared on Baiyunâs face; it was the first time she had ever been so close to a man.
Qin Feng didnât notice the two girlsâ reactions. His gaze was fixed on the curled-up Silly Bird.
Although the Silly Bird was merely a low-level White Sparrow, its bloodline had always been exceptionally pure. And for the past two months, it had enjoyed all sorts of benefits following Qin Feng around.
He had provided it with a limitless supply of the Ice Attribute Spiritual Object, Cold Soul Spirit Water, not to mention all the Spirit Fruits and rare medicinal herbs from Heavenly Red Peak.
Those Spirit Fruits and herbs were of little help to Qin Feng, but to the Silly Bird, they were like a Celestial Paradise.
The benefits this Silly Bird received from ingesting those Spirit Fruits and Exotic Grass were unimaginable.
Day by day, its feathers had grown more beautiful and sleek, its form gradually becoming more magnificent.
Today, that quantitative accumulation had finally led to a qualitative transformation! It had begun to evolve!
An hour later, a dense cloud of cold energy erupted!
Accompanied by a long, clear cry, a snow-white Spiritual Sparrow appeared before Qin Fengâs eyes.
It was an ice sparrow. Its snow-white feathers radiated wisps of tangible cold energy, and its once stumpy tail feathers had become long and elegant.
Like the tail of a phoenix.
Its body seemed to have slimmed down and shrunk, but its wings were even more magnificent. When it spread them to fly, its speed was several times faster than before.
But the biggest change was its aura, which was now no less imposing than that of a Condensing Vein Realm expert!