Free Web NovelChapter 319: Encountering the Wind Eagle in the Flowing Cloud Plain
The silver light shuttle broke through the final layer of thick, toxic miasma, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.
The oppressive, gloomy swamp scenery vanished instantly, replaced by a vast, boundless, and lush plain. The sky was as blue as if washed clean, sunlight spilled down, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, while the Spiritual Qi also became noticeably purer and denser. Compared to the deathly, cold atmosphere of the Yin Sha Swamp, this place felt like an entirely different world.
"Flowing Cloud Plain... finally arrived." Standing inside the silver light shuttle, Fang Hao looked at the open landscape before him, and he couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief. Transmigration through the Yin Sha Swamp, although not long in duration, had been nerve-wracking at every step. First, he encountered a robbery by demonic Cultivators, then fell into the dangerous Ghost Cry Forest, faced the dual threat of the red-robed elder and that unknown terrifying entity, and finally fought a head-on battle with the Bone-Rotting Crocodile King; it could be described as a brush with death. Now that he had finally escaped danger and arrived in this relatively safe area, his tightly strung nerves could finally relax a little.
He maneuvered the silver light shuttle to slowly lower its altitude, flying close to the dense grass on the plain. According to map records, the Flowing Cloud Plain was a relatively prosperous and peaceful region in the Western Region, rich in Spiritual Qi and abundant in resources. It was home to many small and medium-sized Sects and cultivation Families, and even several large marketplaces and gathering places for Cultivators. Although this place was still far from the Myriad Laws Immortal City, at least it was away from those chaotic areas plagued by desolate mountains, evil waters, and entrenched evil Cultivators, significantly lowering the danger.
"I’ll find a place to rest first, repair the silver light shuttle, and then inquire about the route to the Myriad Laws Immortal City." Fang Hao calculated in his heart. The silver light shuttle had sustained significant wear during the previous desperate flight and needed to be nurtured and repaired. Moreover, the Flowing Cloud Plain was vast, and he needed to confirm his specific location and the best route to the Myriad Laws Immortal City.
He piloted the flying shuttle and flew toward the depths of the plain, preparing to find a relatively secluded place with decent Spiritual Qi to settle down. Occasionally, some scattered villages and farmlands could be seen on the plain, but the aura of Cultivators was rarely seen. Clearly, Mortals lived here, while Cultivators were mostly concentrated in those Sects or marketplaces.
After flying for about half an hour, a series of continuous low hills appeared ahead. The hills were covered in lush trees, and the Spiritual Qi was noticeably denser. Fang Hao scanned with his Divine Sense, and not finding the aura of any other Cultivators, he decided to settle down here.
He controlled the silver light shuttle to descend toward a relatively secluded valley within the hills. The valley was not large, but it had lush vegetation and a small stream trickling through, making the environment quite serene.
However, just as the silver light shuttle was about to land above the valley, a sudden change occurred!
Screech—!!! A sharp, ear-piercing cry that could pierce metal and crack stone came from the high sky without warning! Immediately following, a violent, fierce, and Demonic Qi-laden pressure descended from the sky like a landslide or a tsunami!
Fang Hao’s expression changed abruptly, and he looked up violently!
He saw a huge black shadow diving down like lightning from the clouds in the high sky! It was a giant eagle with a massive physique, a wingspan exceeding ten zhang, covered in blue-black feathers, and eyes as red as blood! The giant eagle’s claws were like hooks, flashing with cold light, and its sharp beak was like a curved blade. With a shriek that tore through the air, it swooped toward the silver light shuttle at an astonishing speed!
"A Fourth-Rank Demonic Beast?!" Fang Hao’s pupils constricted, and he felt horrified in his heart! The Demonic Qi emitted by this giant eagle had actually reached the Early Stage of the Fourth Rank, equivalent to an Early Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator! Moreover, this was a flying Demon Beast, with extremely fast speed and fierce attacks!
He never expected that in this Flowing Cloud Plain, a region that should have been relatively safe, he would suddenly encounter an attack from a Fourth-Rank flying Demon Beast! Furthermore, this giant eagle had clearly been lurking in the high sky, waiting for an opportunity, and only struck suddenly when he relaxed his vigilance and prepared to land!
"Damn it!" Fang Hao cursed inwardly, but his reaction was not slow at all. His thoughts turned rapidly, and he instantly judged that with the speed of the silver light shuttle, it was impossible to escape the giant eagle’s pursuit! Moreover, this place was a plain, with no cover or obstacles. Once entangled, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"golden puppet!" Fang Hao shouted sharply. The golden puppet instantly appeared in front of the silver light shuttle, its dark golden body erupting with brilliant light. Its fists, carrying a shriek that tore through the air, met the diving giant eagle head-on!
At the same time, Fang Hao controlled the silver light shuttle to sink sharply, attempting to land on the ground and use the terrain to maneuver. Fighting a flying Demon Beast in the air made him too passive!
However, the giant eagle’s speed was simply too fast! Before the golden puppet’s fist could hit, the giant eagle’s claws had already viciously grabbed onto the silver light shuttle’s protective spiritual light!
Rrrrip—!!! A harsh tearing sound rang out! The silver light shuttle’s protective spiritual light fluctuated violently and was instantly torn open with several huge gaps! The flying shuttle itself trembled violently, emitting an ear-grinding groan, as if it might disintegrate at any moment!
Fang Hao felt a terrifying force transmit through the flying shuttle, his blood churned, and he almost spat out blood! He forcibly stabilized his body, poured all his spiritual power into the shuttle’s core, and simultaneously controlled the golden puppet to smash a fist fiercely toward the giant eagle’s abdomen!
Boom—!!! The golden puppet’s fist landed solidly on the giant eagle, emitting a muffled sound! The giant eagle let out a painful hiss, its massive body was knocked tumbling upward for several zhang, feathers flew, and it had clearly suffered some injuries. But it was, after all, a Fourth-Rank Demonic Beast with a tough Physical Body. This blow did not cause serious damage, but instead, it incited its ferocity even more!
Screech—!!! The giant eagle stabilized its body, its blood-red eyes locked tightly onto Fang Hao and the golden puppet. It flapped its wings violently, and countless blue-black wind blades poured down like a rainstorm, instantly covering the entire area!
"Not good!" Fang Hao’s expression changed again. This giant eagle was not only fast and had fierce attacks, but it actually knew long-range Spells! Each of these wind blades contained terrifying cutting power, enough to easily tear through the protective spiritual light of a Golden Core Cultivator!
He dared not delay and immediately controlled the silver light shuttle to plummet toward the ground, while the golden puppet crossed its arms, its dark golden light surging, blocking directly above the flying shuttle!
Clang clang clang—!!! The dense wind blades slashed onto the golden puppet like raindrops, producing ear-piercing friction sounds! The golden puppet’s body trembled violently, and white marks were actually slashed onto its dark golden shell! Although it failed to break the defense, the terrifying impact force still caused the golden puppet’s body to sink continuously!
Fang Hao took the opportunity to control the silver light shuttle and finally landed on the ground. He immediately put away the flying shuttle, flashed, and landed behind the golden puppet, his expression extremely grave.
"An Early Stage Fourth-Rank ’Green-Winged Wind Eagle’, extremely fast, skilled in wind-type Spells, and ferocious by nature; it’s extremely difficult to deal with." Fang Hao instantly recognized the origin of this Demon Beast. The Green-Winged Wind Eagle was a relatively rare flying Demon Beast in the Flowing Cloud Plain, usually inhabiting deep mountains and very rarely actively attacking Cultivators. Today, he didn’t know why it had ambushed him here!
"Roar!" The golden puppet let out a low roar, red-gold light flashing in its eyes. It threw a punch, and the dark golden fist light tore through the air, smashing all the subsequent wind blades to pieces!
The Green-Winged Wind Eagle seemed quite wary of the golden puppet and did not pursue immediately, but circled in the high sky, its blood-red eyes staring fixedly at Fang Hao and the golden puppet below, issuing threatening hisses.
Fang Hao’s thoughts raced. This Green-Winged Wind Eagle was too fast and held the aerial advantage; the difficulty of repelling or killing it was immense. Moreover, this place was a plain with no cover. Once entangled, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t attract other trouble.
"Must end this quickly, or get away as soon as possible!" A flash of resolution crossed Fang Hao’s eyes. He took a deep breath, formed seals with his hands, and the Earthly Fiend Golden Flame erupted, turning into a sea of dark golden fire, sweeping toward the high sky!
At the same time, with a thought, the golden puppet stomped the ground fiercely, its massive body shot into the sky, its fists carrying the terrifying power to tear through space, smashing toward the Green-Winged Wind Eagle!
Screech—!!! The Green-Winged Wind Eagle seemed extremely wary of the exotic fire, letting out a sharp hiss. It flapped its wings violently, its body instantly shot upward, narrowly avoiding the sea of fire and the golden puppet’s attack. But just at the moment it dodged, a gleam of light flashed in Fang Hao’s eyes, and he slammed his hands together!
"Soul-Shocking Spike!"
An intangible, invisible force that contained a terrifying Divine Soul impact crossed space like lightning and viciously pierced into the Green-Winged Wind Eagle’s Sea of Consciousness!
"Screech—!!!" The Green-Winged Wind Eagle let out a scream of extreme agony, its massive body stiffened violently, as if struck by an invisible giant hammer, and it fell straight down from the high sky!
Fang Hao’s face turned pale, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth. Forcibly activating the Soul-Shocking Spike, although it was only aimed at a Demon Beast and the opponent was unprepared, the Divine Soul backlash still caused his Sea of Consciousness to ache painfully. But a flash of joy crossed his eyes—an opportunity!
"golden puppet!" Fang Hao shouted sharply. The golden puppet instantly appeared below the falling Green-Winged Wind Eagle, throwing both fists, the dark golden fist light like two meteors, smashing viciously into the giant eagle’s chest and abdomen!
Boom—!!! A dull, extreme roar! The Green-Winged Wind Eagle’s breastbone collapsed instantly, feathers flew, and blood spilled like a rainstorm! It let out a desperate cry, and its massive body fell heavily to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust!
The golden puppet did not let up, throwing another punch, directly smashing the Green-Winged Wind Eagle’s skull!
The Early Stage Fourth-Rank Green-Winged Wind Eagle was dead!
From the moment Fang Hao launched the Soul-Shocking Spike until the golden puppet killed it, the entire process took only a few short breaths! Fang Hao endured the stinging pain in his Divine Soul, immediately stepped forward, quickly collected the Green-Winged Wind Eagle’s Demon Beast core and several valuable Materials, then flicked out the Earthly Fiend Golden Flame to incinerate the carcass.
After doing all this, he dared not linger for a moment, immediately summoned the silver light shuttle, turned into a streak of silver light, and sped toward the depths of the plain!
The commotion here was too great; it was hard to guarantee it wouldn’t attract other Cultivators or Demon Beasts, so he had to leave as soon as possible!
Inside the silver light shuttle, Fang Hao’s face was pale, he sat cross-legged, took a few Medicinal Pills to nourish his Divine Soul, and began to regulate his breath. Looking at the plain scenery rushing past outside the window, there was not much joy in his heart.
The Flowing Cloud Plain should have been a relatively safe area, yet he encountered a Fourth-Rank Demonic Beast attack... This cultivation world was indeed full of crises, and one must never lower their guard at any time.
The road ahead, it seemed, would still not be peaceful.
