"CHIRP, CHIRP..."
The Flame Eagle sensed the impending crisis. She tried to flap her wings, but no less than five Giant Crossbows were embedded in them. The tremendous weight, combined with her severe injuries, made even the slightest movement incredibly difficult. Yet, relying on astonishing perseverance, she raised a wing at the critical moment and swatted it toward Old Ma.
Old Ma’s expression shifted. Not daring to be careless, he hurriedly swung his sword to defend himself. Although he managed to block the strike, the immense force sent him flying. He stumbled back a full fifty meters before finally steadying his body. A Level Four Beast still possessed tremendous power, even when pushed to the brink.
"You beast, you’re courting death!" Old Ma snorted coldly. Just as he raised his sword and prepared to launch another attack, a bizarre, eerie laughter suddenly echoed out.
"HEHEHE..."
This laughter sent shivers down everyone’s spines and chilled them to the bone. Ning Zheseng and Old Ma’s expressions instantly turned grave. Old Ma immediately rushed back to Ning Zheseng’s side, watching their surroundings on high alert.
"Who is it? Come out!"
No one answered; there was only that hair-raising laughter.
"HEHEHE..."
"Who exactly are you? Stop playing tricks!" Old Ma shouted again. However, he was still met with silence.
Suddenly, someone cried out in alarm, "The ground, look at the ground!"
Everyone focused their gazes and was instantly startled. At this moment, with the Flame Eagle at the center, the ground had turned a deep blood-red. In the blink of an eye, the previously lush grass turned scorched and black, as if it had spontaneously combusted. In just a few breaths, the grass within a fifty-meter radius vanished completely, leaving behind nothing but ashes.
"Oh no, the Hidden Green Grass!" Ye Xuan’s expression changed drastically as he quickly looked toward where the Hidden Green Grass had been located.
A moment later, he breathed a sigh of relief. Even though all the ordinary weeds had been reduced to ashes, a few stalks of green grass were still perfectly intact. A faint fiery glow emanated from these blades of grass. These were the stalks of Hidden Green Grass!
Before he could carefully ponder what was happening, the bizarre laughter grew louder.
"HEHEHE..."
"It’s underground! The laughter is coming from underground!" someone exclaimed.
The moment the cry fell, cracks appeared on the ground. They spread rapidly in all directions like a spiderweb. Soon, a ball of fiery light burst out from the earth. The surrounding temperature instantly skyrocketed, leaving those with weaker cultivation bases sweating profusely.
"HEHE..."
The laughter rang out again. It was coming from this ball of fiery light.
Ye Xuan stared intently, his entire body trembling with shock. This was a Fire Attribute Treasure of Heaven and Earth—the Fire Spirit Ginseng. When a Fire Spirit Ginseng absorbed blood, it would rapidly mature and eventually break out of the soil.
"A Fire Spirit Ginseng! It’s a Fire Spirit Ginseng! It seems my information was correct; a Fire Attribute Treasure of Heaven and Earth really is unearthing in the Asura Forest!" Ning Zheseng was thrilled. "Hahaha, it’s mine! It’s all mine!"
He never expected to reap such a massive reward from this trip to the Asura Forest.
CRACK, CRACK.
Following the unearthing of the Fire Spirit Ginseng, the sound of eggshells shattering echoed out. The Flame Eagle endured her injuries and stood up. Beneath her body, the heads of two baby eagles were revealed. The Little Flame Eagles had finally hatched.
On their foreheads, sparkling flame marks appeared. They opened their beaks, and wisps of flame emerged from within. Although the flames were small, no more than tiny sparks, they brought great comfort to the adult Flame Eagle. She shifted her neck and affectionately nuzzled the Little Flame Eagles’ heads.
At this moment, everyone understood why the Flame Eagle had chosen such an open, exposed area to give birth. It was because a Fire Attribute Treasure of Heaven and Earth was unearthing here. She wanted to use the power of the Fire Attribute Treasure of Heaven and Earth to stimulate the power of the Flame Eagle bloodline in her young. This mother was truly great.
"SCREECH!"
The birth of her children gave the mother immense strength. The Flame Eagle suddenly tilted her head back and let out a massive roar. The terrifying aura she released kicked up clouds of dust and debris. It turned out she had been holding back during the earlier battle, afraid that her own power might harm her unborn children. This was the true pressure and strength a Level Four Beast should possess!
The Flame Eagle forcefully spread her wings. Although they were dripping with blood, they exuded an indescribable nobility. In the next moment, she swung her right wing and struck her left wing—or more accurately, the Giant Crossbows impaled in her left wing. After being driven straight through her wing, the Giant Crossbows shot out toward the crowd as deadly projectiles.
RUMBLE!
Wherever the projectiles passed, blood sprayed into the air. Not a single Martial Artist could withstand such overwhelming power. A patriarch of an affiliated family perished on the spot, exploding into a rain of blood.
"Don’t let her knock the Crossbow Arrows down! Otherwise, she’ll fly away. Keep attacking!" Ning Zheseng bellowed deeply, his eyes burning with madness. Whether it was the Fire Spirit Ginseng or the Flame Eagle and her cubs, he wanted them all! How could he let this prize slip through his fingers?
Just as Ning Zheseng’s voice faded, another steel Giant Crossbow was swatted away by the Flame Eagle, flying straight toward him. Watching the Giant Crossbow rapidly enlarge in his pupils, Ning Zheseng was completely stunned. He felt as if he were hovering between heaven and hell.
The next moment, his body was forcefully shoved aside, and he crashed heavily onto the ground. Snapping back to his senses, Ning Zheseng belatedly glanced behind him.
"No! Old Ma!"
Where he had just been standing lay a corpse with only half its head remaining. It was none other than Old Ma. Moments ago, Old Ma had directly channeled his Beast Soul Power, trying to fend off the Giant Crossbow while simultaneously pushing Ning Zheseng to safety. However, while he had saved Ning Zheseng, the Giant Crossbow had shredded his own head.
GASP!
Everyone around them drew in sharp breaths of cold air at the sight. Old Ma was the strongest fighter present; with his death, they had lost their main pillar.
Ultimately, it was Niu Tong who broke the silence. "What are you all standing around for? Are you going to let the Flame Eagle break free from all her restraints? Attack quickly!"
Only then did the crowd snap out of their daze.
SWISH, SWISH, SWISH.
The Giant Crossbows were fired once more. The Flame Eagle no longer had the time to clear the remaining projectiles from her wings and could only passively defend herself. But the more she defended, the more injuries she sustained!
"Young Master Ning, are you alright?" Niu Tong finally found a moment to check on Ning Zheseng. His face was filled with panic. If anything happened to Young Master Ning, how could he possibly face the wrath of the Ning Family?
"I’m fine!" Ning Zheseng finally caught his breath. He stood up, his expression turning cold and sinister. "Shoot that beast to death and avenge Old Ma! Niu Tong, take this opportunity to retrieve the Fire Spirit Ginseng for me."
Following its unearthing, the Flame Power surrounding the Fire Spirit Ginseng had begun to recede. Now was the perfect time to harvest it.
"Understood." Niu Tong nodded. With the Flame Eagle forced on the defensive, it was indeed the ideal moment to snatch the Fire Spirit Ginseng. But just as he moved, he abruptly halted his steps.
"Why aren’t you going? What are you waiting for?"
"Young Master Ning, someone is already taking it!"
Ning Zheseng focused his gaze, and sure enough, someone had already reached the Fire Spirit Ginseng. This person was none other than Ye Xuan.
Ye Xuan was wearing a mask to conceal his appearance. He knew that this was the absolute best chance to seize the Fire Spirit Ginseng. The covetous gleam in his eyes rivaled even that of Ning Zheseng’s. He was determined to get this treasure. As long as his Spiritual Qi gained a Fire Attribute, he could become an Alchemy Master.
"Who is this person?" Ning Zheseng demanded of Niu Tong.
Niu Tong shook his head and said, "He has his back to me, so I can’t see his face. But don’t worry, Young Master. Maybe he’s harvesting it for you to claim credit in your presence."