"Screee!"
Another sharp cry rang out. The streak of emerald light grew even faster, shooting straight toward Jiang Jue, who stood between Lang Ya and Yu Tao.
In the Emerald Demon Bird's blood-red eyes flashed both ferocity and cunning. Its long, sharp beak glowed with green light, reflecting a chilling gleam.Most of its offensive power was concentrated in that beak.
A master of blitz attacks—it had never once failed since the day it was born!
"Still too slow," Jiang Jue murmured softly.
A brilliant gold gleam flickered in his eyes, and suddenly everything around him slowed—the wind, the trees, and even the Emerald Demon Bird itself.
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
His heartbeat thundered like a battle drum.Threads of scarlet blood energy burst from his body, condensing into thick blood serpents that coiled around his hands.
"Immaculate Golden Body — Reconstruction and Reversion!"
"Boom!"
Soil exploded beneath his feet as Jiang Jue shot forward like a crimson streak of light. His right hand clenched into a fist, veins bulging, his body surging with boiling blood energy that rippled through the air.
Around him, the trees trembled, and their leaves rustled violently.
What? The enemy isn't running—he's charging me?A flicker of confusion flashed through the bird's small eyes, but it had no reason to reject a meal that had come to it willingly.
And this human before it was precisely its true target—the one emanating a scent it found intoxicating.It could feel that devouring this human's brain would bring it unimaginable benefits.
"Clang!"
A sharp metallic crack rang out as Jiang Jue's blood-wreathed fist collided violently with the creature's razor-sharp beak.Sparks burst forth, the clash ringing out like metal on metal.
"Screee!"
The next moment, the Emerald Demon Bird screamed in agony. Its supposedly unbreakable beak—one that could pierce even a dragon's skull—had failed to penetrate Jiang Jue's defense.
Worse, the beak—the source of its pride—had been bent askew!It was now… a crooked-beaked bird.
This target is too dangerous! Retreat!
Instantly, the bird beat its wings frantically, borrowing the rebound from Jiang Jue's punch to hurl itself backward and flee at breakneck speed. Its flight speed suddenly doubled.
"Since you've come this far," Jiang Jue said coldly, "why leave in such a hurry?"
The fleeing bird looked back—and froze.That human, the one it had just left behind, was now right in front of it, smiling pleasantly.
In that instant, terror filled its heart. It had never seen such a terrifying human. Normally, even a careless Soul Sage would die instantly to its ambush.But this boy's strength was monstrous, completely beyond logic.
"Second brother! That bird's getting away—should we help?" Yu Tao shouted, muscles tensing, his right arm itching for battle.
"No need. It won't get away," Lang Ya said calmly, shaking his head. Then, mysteriously, he added:
"After all, flying without a helmet isn't exactly safe."
The next moment—Bang!
The Emerald Demon Bird had just turned its head when it felt itself crash into what felt like a wall of solid metal.That same human it had just fled from was now standing before it.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
Before it could even react, a blood-tinged hand reached out and grabbed it.The moment its feathers touched that dark-red aura, the bird's entire body went weak—its spirit power completely suppressed.
It could no longer move. It could no longer fight.
Then came the sound—"Rip!"
The surging blood energy dissipated, and with it, the bird's heartbeat faded into silence.
Its corpse dropped to the ground, a single black spirit ring rising from the body.The trembling leaves around them slowly stilled.
"Clean and precise—definitely an expert's technique," Lang Ya murmured, a glint of surprise in his eyes. Watching Jiang Jue's faintly smiling face, he felt a strange realization.
I might have misjudged him.
At the first meeting held by Du Busi regarding Jiang Jue, he had firmly told Elder Jin that Jiang Jue was a kind-hearted young man.Now… that seemed just a bit off.
"No wonder the Immaculate Golden Body is so renowned," Jiang Jue said softly, examining his right hand. It was only slightly flushed red, the skin unbroken."Such terrifying defense."
To know just how impressive that was—one must understand that the Emerald Demon Bird's beak was legendarily hard, feared throughout the spirit beast world.They fed on the brains of other creatures, even daring to hunt dragons.
But because one Emerald Demon Bird King once devoured a true dragon's brain, the dragon race had unleashed brutal vengeance upon them—nearly driving the entire species to extinction.
Who would have thought Jiang Jue would encounter one today?
"Hey hey! It dropped a spirit bone! That's some crazy luck!" Yu Tao shouted excitedly, pointing at the corpse on the ground. His priorities were clearly elsewhere.
Jiang Jue nodded slightly, but did not move to pick it up. Instead, he raised his hand, and a plume of black mist surged forth.The Soul Refining Banner appeared in his grasp.
A strange suction force emanated from it, and the bewildered spirit of the Emerald Demon Bird was instantly pulled inside—becoming one more member of Jiang Jue's "peaceful and loving family."
Lang Ya and Yu Tao showed no reaction to this scene—they already knew Jiang Jue's first martial soul had mutated. Jin Peng had told them privately.
But what neither of them noticed was a faint glimmer of green that quietly dropped from the banner onto the ground…
"A head spirit bone," Jiang Jue murmured, raising an eyebrow.
A burst of icy energy flowed from his hand, freezing the bird's corpse solid. With a flick, the ice shattered—cleanly removing all blood and residue.
A small emerald-green spirit bone rose into the air, glowing faintly, before landing softly in Jiang Jue's palm.
"Seems those two aren't bad after all," he thought, watching Lang Ya and Yu Tao carefully through his spiritual sense.They looked surprised, yes—but there was no trace of greed in their eyes. He nodded in quiet approval.
"Jiang Jue, don't rush to absorb that spirit bone," Lang Ya advised after a brief hesitation. "There are better ones waiting for you back at the sect."
"Of course I know that," Jiang Jue replied calmly, brushing the dust from his robe.
After all, inside his Soul Refining Banner lay three hundred-thousand-year spirit bones—his so-called "psychological comfort prizes."There was no way he would bother with this mere twenty-thousand-year one.
"Alright then, let's continue searching for your suitable spirit beast," Lang Ya said, sighing softly. "The Sunset Forest used to be a great gathering place for powerful beasts… Now it feels almost barren."
Jiang Jue's eyes gleamed faintly. Without a word, he pocketed the Emerald Demon Bird's spirit bone, and the trio continued forward.
After walking several dozen steps, Jiang Jue suddenly stopped.
Lang Ya and Yu Tao halted as well, exchanging puzzled looks.
"What's wrong? Why'd you stop all of a sudden?" Yu Tao asked.
"Because," Jiang Jue said softly, a faint smile curling his lips, "it's time for you two… to sleep."
"Huh? It's still daytime," Yu Tao said blankly, scratching his head and glancing up at the sunlight filtering through the trees. "Why would we sleep now?"
"Not good!" Lang Ya's expression changed instantly—his hair standing on end, a chill racing down his spine.
But before he could react, his body went limp—and he collapsed to the ground.
"Second brother!" Yu Tao exclaimed, his brain barely processing what was happening before a cold shiver ran through him.His eyes rolled back, and he fell right on top of Lang Ya.
And just like that—The two entered a deep, infant-like sleep.
Jiang Jue looked down at them, the faintest smirk on his lips."How's that? When this Emperor acts… there's never anything to worry about."
(End of Chapter)