Xia Chan paid no attention to Luo Xiu's angry curses. In a life-and-death situation, who would care about such things?

She had originally planned to follow the trail left by Yingxiao to secretly track Luo Xiu's group of five. However, just as she climbed out of the crevice on the cliff, she was found by that bird-like monster. Faced with the terrifying creature, she could only change her plan on the spot and lead the monster directly to Luo Xiu, hoping they could join forces to fight it.

"My dear two-legged sheep, welcome to this lord's Mount Luwu!"

Suddenly, a somewhat sharp voice, impossible to identify as male or female, echoed between heaven and earth. Immediately after, a fierce wind arose, sending the Exotic Beasts in the forest fleeing in a panic. The towering, ancient trees were torn apart and shattered in the gale.

"Get down!"

Seeing this, Luo Xiu knew there was no escape. He quickly found cover and dropped to the ground to avoid the bizarre, violent wind. A short while later, when everything had returned to calm, Luo Xiu found that the dense forest for several hundred meters around them had been completely leveled.

Without the cover of the giant trees, the intense daylight that shone down was exceptionally glaring.

Luo Xiu stood up and looked at the massive shadow hovering in mid-air, his expression gradually growing solemn.

The massive shadow was like a bird, but not quite. Its body was covered in gray feathers, and it resembled an eagle, but with horns on its head. Its drooping talons were like curved blades, flashing with a cold light, poised to strike!

Luo Xiu suddenly recognized the creature and murmured, "This should be one of the Exotic Beasts from the *Classic of Mountains and Seas*—the Gu Diao."

Unexpectedly, the Gu Diao had excellent hearing and caught his words, letting out a strange laugh. "Well, well. You're a knowledgeable one, kid, to actually recognize this lord."

With a neutral expression, Luo Xiu cupped his fists and said, "We are merely passing through your esteemed territory with no intention of giving offense. We hope that Senior will grant us safe passage."

"Impossible!" the Gu Diao flatly rejected. It folded its wings and landed on a massive boulder jutting out from the cliff face before them. Its sharp eyes were filled with contempt as it gazed down at the ants on the ground below.

As light swirled around it, the massive body began to shrink, transforming into a burly, bald man. The bald man wore only a beast-skin skirt around his waist. Though he was in human form, he still looked incomplete, as if caught between a human and an Exotic Beast. He had feathers in many places on his body, and his hands and feet remained talons.

"This lord is the one who carved out that crevice on the cliff leading to the outside world. The purpose was to let the two-legged sheep from beyond find it and enter this place."

Upon hearing this, Tuof cursed under his breath inside the Soul Imprisonment Mark.

"This lord has already undergone five tribulations. All that remains is the final 'Cannibalism Tribulation.' Once this lord passes it, I will be able to attain a complete human form, lead my people to greater heights, and become an all-new clan of Great Demons!"

"Hahahaha, but what this lord didn't expect is that this time, a few human Cultivators who've reached the Mahayana Realm would be delivered right to my doorstep! They're far more suitable for this lord than that non-human two-legged sheep who came last time!"

At that moment, Tuof's voice rang in Luo Xiu's mind. My Lord, the non-human he mentioned... that was likely me.

Lin Tong then said, "I'm afraid this Gu Diao's strength is above the Mahayana Realm but still below that of an Earth Immortal. If you were to compare it to an Evil Spirit, it would be at least a level seven or eight."

"Big Brother, if you weren't afflicted by the Blood Ban Technique, you could destroy a minor demon like this with a wave of your hand. But now... it seems we'll truly have to join forces with Xia Chan's group to even have a chance."

Luo Xiu took a deep breath, looked up at the Gu Diao, and asked, "So, Senior, is that a definite no on letting us pass?"

The Gu Diao laughed heartily. "A delicacy is right before my eyes. This lord will not let you pass. What are you going to do about it?"

Luo Xiu's expression was blank as he said, "Since you won't, I'll just have to kill you."

"Hahahaha..." The Gu Diao couldn't help but roar with laughter. "Mere ants! Such arrogance!"

"Eh... What's this?"

The Gu Diao abruptly stopped laughing. A puzzled sound escaped him, as if he had made a new discovery. His sharp eyes locked onto Su Shenyun, who was standing beside Luo Xiu.

"This stench of fox... it really gets under this lord's skin... Are you a descendant of the Nine-Tailed Fox?"

Su Shenyun felt her scalp tingle under the Gu Diao's gaze and instinctively hid behind Luo Xiu.

"Hahahaha!" The Gu Diao threw his head back and laughed, utterly thrilled. "To think I'd actually encounter a descendant of a Great Demon in this day and age! And with such a pure Bloodline! This lord has decided on today's meal!"

"Go to hell, you bald creep!"

Dou Dou, unable to stand it any longer, suddenly shouted and hurled a nearby rock at the Gu Diao's head. With her hands on her hips, she puffed out her cheeks angrily. "Miss Su is a very important person! What right do you have to eat her? If you want to eat Miss Su, Dou Dou won't let you!"

No sooner had she spoken than she flew into the air, clutching her black umbrella and charging straight for the Gu Diao. "Just you wait! Dou Dou is coming to kill you right now!"

"Hahahaha... You ignorant little wench, bring it on! You damn brat, you dare challenge this lord? Today, this lord will teach you a lesson!"

"You smelly baldy! How dare you curse! Dou Dou is angry now!"

Once Dou Dou lost her temper, no one could hold her back. She flew up and began trading blows with the Gu Diao! The air was instantly filled with flashes of light and the roar of thunder!

However, after just a few exchanges, Dou Dou was slapped out of the air by one of the Gu Diao's talons.

"AARGH!"

Dou Dou screamed as she was sent flying, followed moments later by a deafening CRASH. She smashed a huge crater into the ground, sending up a thick cloud of dust.

The Gu Diao let out a shrill laugh and reverted to its original form. It circled in the sky several times to build momentum, then dove straight for Su Shenyun, swift as an arrow released from a bowstring!

Luo Xiu hastily pulled Su Shenyun behind him. A dark aura erupted from his body, and the sleeve of his right arm burst apart, revealing an arm completely covered in the Reaper's Charm Script.

Sensing that deadly aura, the Gu Diao's heart sank. Not daring to be careless, it came to an abrupt halt, folding its wings and putting distance between itself and Luo Xiu.

Luo Xiu glanced at Chi Sha and Mu Xueyan and said, "Hold him off for a while."

The two women exchanged a look and, without another word, shot into the sky to attack the Gu Diao.

「At the same time」

On the other side, Xia Chan saw Luo Xiu's side take action, and she prepared to join the fray.

Yang Zhilu, however, said, "Miss Chu, it looks like that Gu Diao has its sights on that vixen Su Shenyun. Why don't we use this chance to slip away?"

Xia Chan shook her head. "We agreed to join forces, so we must keep our word. Besides, we are in an unfamiliar land. What if the Gu Diao finishes them off and then comes after us?"

Xue Xiao looked at Xia Chan with admiration and nodded. "Miss Chu has a point."

Yang Zhilu grimaced but said no more.

Just then, a surge of black energy roiled ahead of them.

Xia Chan looked up, her eyes widening in shock. A Sect Follower was kneeling before Luo Xiu, screaming and struggling as an eerie Aura of the Dead coalesced into what looked like mud, covering his body and gradually transforming him into the likeness of Fei Xiao.

Xue Xiao couldn't help but exclaim, "That brat Chen Shuisheng resurrected Fei Xiao?!"

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.