A gigantic bird, engulfed in flames, let out a long and piercing cry that echoed for miles.
It circled high above Salt Mountain, its eerie eyes fixated on the direction of the ancient town.
WHOOSH!
Cultivators kept rushing over, unleashing powerful attacks, Divine Weapons... trying to subdue this Spiritual Beast.
But the big bird simply flapped its wings, its fierce flames raining down below as screams filled the air, their bodies falling to the ground like fiery raindrops.
"Senior Sister, this is not a Spiritual Beast," observed Yu Chang'an, noticing something was amiss.
Spiritual Beasts were not so violent.
When a Spiritual Beast harnessed its power, what manifested was not demonic power, but Spiritual Power.
Unfortunately, it had been so long since a Spiritual Beast had appeared in Stone Country that people had almost forgotten what they actually looked like.
Chen Shixian glanced behind her before raising her head, "I know."
An upper-tier Demon Beast with an extraordinary lineage flowing within its veins.
If it could be tamed, that was also a good option.
Not far away, Shi Yi held the same thought. Without much hesitation, he charged forth with a third-tier weapon in hand.
But compared to the power of others, his level was too low.
Getting close to the large bird was a problem; he was repelled by the layer of fierce flames, retreating to his original position, gasping for air.
Chen Shixian spoke, "You all guard this place, and don't let anyone get near me. I'm going to subdue this big bird."
BANG!
A gleam emerged behind her, one after another, eventually forming an image.
Above the sea, the water rippled.
A bright moon slowly rose, hanging high in the sky above her sea, rendering it solemn and divine.
This was a vision of the Divine Body.
Many cultivators stopped in their tracks...
Chen Shixian swiftly dashed forward, a green Longsword appearing in her hand—it was a Divine Weapon of King Tao, and moreover, the vision above her head was expanding.
Rising Moon Above the Sea.
Shi Yi opened his mouth slightly, "A vision of the Divine Body!"
Such a terrifying vision, with such explosive power—could he ever defeat the Divine Body in this lifetime?
「In the direction of the ancient town.」
The Earth Chicken trembled, wanting to leave but not daring to, afraid of both the large bird and exposing its identity. If the multitude of heroes came for it, not even Chen Pingping could save it.
Chen Pingping glanced over, "Did you steal someone else's eggs?"
The Earth Chicken: "..."
In an instant, the Rising Moon Above the Sea grew larger, like a small world descending, tendrils of the Power of Laws entwining within it, enveloping the large bird's body.
The fierce flames emanating from it were suppressed back into its body.
The cultivators were astonished.
Is this the Divine Body? It's too frightening, isn't it?
Within the vision of the Divine Body, everything was restrained, even the large bird couldn't move. Its rage turned into horror as it transmitted, "Human Race Divine Body, I meant no offense, please do not kill me."
Chen Shixian replied as well, "You've been staring in the direction of the ancient town this whole time. Why?"
"Someone stole my egg," the large bird said angrily.
"Who?"
"That Earth Chicken."
"Is it a Spiritual Beast?"
"Impossible. A Spiritual Beast wouldn't steal my egg." It secretly ground its teeth, although it didn't have any...
How could that Earth Chicken possibly be a Spiritual Beast? It reeked of sleaziness, shamelessness, vulgarity, altogether not the same thing as the sacred and bright Spiritual Beast.
Chen Shixian was taken aback. It wasn't a Spiritual Beast?
She asked again, "Have you ever seen a real Spiritual Beast?"
The large bird shook its head, "No."
Chen Shixian declared, "From now on, you follow me. I am the Human Race Divine Body, and following me, you'll be no worse off."
It hesitated.
An upper-tier Demon Beast meant it had extraordinary lineage, its ancestors once mighty.
If it were lucky, perhaps it could awaken its ancestral bloodline.
It's understandable that as an upper-tier Demon Beast, it has great potential for future growth.
Not only that, upper-tier Demon Beasts are more likely to develop advanced Spiritual Intelligence, and even become great demons and the like.
So, following a human, it was somewhat unwilling.
But then again, this human was no ordinary member of the Human Clan but a Divine Body, and following her seemed like a good choice after all.
"Can you help me take revenge?" the big bird asked.
"Not now, that guy seems very wrong," she said, referring to Chen Pingping.
SCREECH!
The big bird let out a long cry, and all its flames were withdrawn. Its body began to shrink, and finally, it came to Chen Shixian's side.
Seeing this scene, everyone understood that the Divine Body had subdued the big bird.
「At this moment, in another direction.」
A man and a cow had witnessed the entire process.
Guang Xiaoyu couldn't believe it. How old is she? She can manifest the vision of a Divine Body to such an extent, easily suppressing an upper-tier Demon Beast. Finished! The disheartened Senior Brother is challenging her, isn't that seeking death?
"Old Cow, hurry and have a look, maybe Senior Brother is here too," Guang Xiaoyu urged.
It didn't take long for the man and cow to arrive at the ancient town, attracting many sidelong glances.
Especially that Green Wolf outside the ancient town, upon seeing Lao Huang, its legs went weak, and its large body trembled.
It wasn't that its bloodline was nobler than the big bird's, allowing it to easily sense the presence of a Spiritual Beast, but rather it was the Green Wolf's innate ability, Insight.
Chen Shixian had left as soon as she found out that the Earth Chicken was not a Spiritual Beast.
Only Prince Shi Yi of the Stone Country, clinging to the last shred of hope, kept nagging the Earth Chicken: "Anything you want if you follow me."
The Earth Chicken didn't pay him any mind.
"Fine!" Shi Yi sighed lightly and murmured to himself, "The Divine Body has obtained an upper-tier Demon Beast. It seems... this Prince will never be able to defeat her in this lifetime."
Chen Pingping was astonished, "Why?"
Shi Yi explained, "She practices a terrifying method. If aided by a powerful Demon Beast, her strength will greatly increase. As for what kind of method it is, I am not very clear; it's just something I've heard about."
"I'm asking why you want to defeat the Divine Body?" Chen Pingping looked at him.
"There's no one who doesn't want to defeat her," Shi Yi raised his head.
Just like every cultivator wants to achieve Tao Verification and become an Emperor.
In the hearts of young people, defeating the strongest among their peers is the beginning of Tao Verification.
WOOF!
The little black dog barked and then ran out.
「Outside the door.」
Guang Xiaoyu also saw it. Jumping down from Lao Huang's back, following the direction of the little black dog's gaze, she saw Chen Pingping and called out with a smile, "Senior Brother!"
Chen Pingping: "Why are you here?"
"I came to challenge the Divine Body!" Guang Xiaoyu exclaimed excitedly as she ran in.
"You agreed?"
"MM-HMM!"
"Why would you agree?"
"Didn't you say it was up to me to decide?" Guang Xiaoyu was taken aback.
"Impossible!" Chen Pingping's face darkened. "I refused the Headmaster. I never said you could decide…"
Baili Jiansan, that Old Bastard.
He gritted his teeth.
Guang Xiaoyu continued, "So, Senior Brother, you're not here to challenge the Divine Body secretly?"
I must be sick!
Chen Pingping's face was even darker.
"No matter, we're already here," Guang Xiaoyu said with a grin. "The Headmaster said that this is a covenant between the last Grand State Master and our Ancestor. If we can defeat the Divine Body, we might get a Great Opportunity."
Prince Shi Yi, listening to their conversation, was stunned. Challenge the Divine Body?
His mouth agape, he said, "You guys aren't from the Wuji Sect, are you?"
Guang Xiaoyu glanced at him sidelong, "Yes, we are!"
Shi Yi spat blood. "You have quite the nerve, daring to come for the appointment? Haven't you seen how powerful the Divine Body is? When she releases the vision, she can easily suppress upper-tier Demon Beasts! Ah... just go back!"
"No!" she shook her head. "I'm going to defeat the Divine Body."
The cultivators inside the inn all looked this way, thinking, This girl has some serious nerve!