"A Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane?!"
Lin Feng's heart lurched violently. Though the sound had been faint, a sense of familiarity nagged at him. Concentrating, he realized it did resemble the distinctive cry of the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane!
"That cry sounded frantic… Is it in danger?!"
Lin Feng frowned, hesitating only for a moment before decisively changing direction. He sprinted towards the source of the sound.
After all, the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane was currently under his 'care'. If anything truly happened to it, even if it had absolutely nothing to do with him, the Lingyue Sect would likely hold him responsible. He couldn't just stand by.
"SKREEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
Another piercing shriek echoed from ahead, much clearer this time. Lin Feng's suspicion was confirmed – it was definitely the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane!
Moreover, the cry was saturated with fury and panic, leaving no doubt that the crane was facing a serious threat.
"That crane is Tier Three, Rank Six… and it can fly! What could possibly threaten it?"
Alarm surged through Lin Feng as he pushed his speed even harder. His fingers tightened around the top-grade treasure artifact, the Radiant Light Shield, ready to activate its protective barrier. Simultaneously, he drew his flying sword, the Crimson Soul, its blade humming faintly with energy.
"SKREEE!!!" "ROOOAAAR!!!" "BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!..."
About ten minutes later, another crane shriek, followed by a bestial roar and a series of thunderous impacts, erupted from behind a hundred-meter-tall peak directly ahead. Simultaneously, Lin Feng sensed two powerful, savage auras clashing violently. The surrounding spiritual energy grew thick and wildly turbulent. His expression tightened. Instinctively slowing his pace, he cautiously scaled the peak and peered down the other side…
...
"A snowfield?!"
Lin Feng froze in disbelief at the sight before him. The landscape on the other side of the mountain was utterly alien. Below lay a valley, but this valley was a frozen wasteland – a stark contrast to the surrounding forests!
His gaze snapped towards the source of the commotion, about a hundred meters to his right, within the frost-covered expanse. Two colossal figures were locked in combat.
One was a spiritual crane, roughly three to four meters tall. Its entire body crackled with violet light, seemingly enveloped in a cloak of purple lightning – unmistakably the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane he knew!
Facing the crane was a bizarre, white-furred beast resembling a monstrous kangaroo, easily seven to eight meters tall. Its most striking features were its disproportionately massive forelimbs, ending in enormous, webbed paws that resembled duck feet or crude fans. These formidable paws swept through the air, conjuring countless beams of white light that coalesced into razor-sharp, icy blades. A relentless barrage of these frozen projectiles surged towards the beleaguered crane.
Lin Feng didn't recognize this kangaroo-like beast, but its aura radiated power comparable to the crane's – likely also Tier Three, Rank Six, and possibly nearing a breakthrough to Rank Seven.
Even if slightly stronger, it shouldn't have the crane at such a disadvantage… Lin Feng scrutinized the crane more closely. His eyes widened. The Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane's left wing was encased in a thick layer of ice, completely immobilized! Grounded and forced to fight only with its right wing, the crane was being ruthlessly suppressed.
How did it get its wing frozen?
Questions flooded Lin Feng's mind, but there was no time for speculation. The crane's situation was dire. If he didn't intervene immediately, it would likely be turned into an icy statue and shattered.
The most potent solution would be to unleash the White Tiger Soul Rending Talisman. If successful, it might obliterate the ice beast instantly. However, the immense energy cost and the gamble involved made it too risky. Lin Feng discarded the idea. Instead, he flicked his right wrist, sending the Crimson Soul flying sword streaking forth.
"SHIIIIING!!!"
A clear, resonant sword cry pierced the frigid air. The Crimson Soul traced a searing, fiery path through the pervasive cold, aimed directly at the ice beast's flank.
"ROAR?!" The beast, wholly focused on its assault on the crane, visibly startled. Yet, its reflexes were astonishingly quick. It shrieked, its massive paws whipping sideways. Two enormous ice blades materialized and shot out parallel, intercepting the flying sword with uncanny precision.
"CRAAASH!" A shower of shattered ice exploded outwards. The Crimson Soul's charge was violently halted.
This brief distraction, however, was all the crane needed. With a powerful flap of its good right wing, it shot backwards dozens of meters, breaking free from the beast's relentless assault.
A flicker of surprise crossed the crane's eyes as it instinctively looked towards the source of the unexpected aid. Spotting Lin Feng crouched on the hillside, it blinked, seemingly stunned by his presence.
"RROOOAAAARRR!!!" An enraged bellow shook the valley. The ice beast had also discovered the 'ambusher'. Its eyes blazed with murderous intent. It suddenly crouched low, then propelled itself forward with a tremendous kick from its powerful hind legs. Like a cannonball fired from a siege engine, it hurtled towards Lin Feng's position with terrifying speed!
"I'll be damned!!" Lin Feng's face drained of color. He hadn't anticipated the beast's reaction to be so swift. There was no time to recall the Crimson Soul for defense. He threw himself sideways with desperate force, simultaneously pouring energy into the Radiant Light Shield. A shimmering golden dome of light flared around him.
The beast's trajectory was a blur. One moment it was across the valley; the next, its grotesque, snarling face filled Lin Feng's vision, its enormous fan-like paw slamming down. The hastily erected Radiant Light Shield buckled instantly under the impact, shattering like glass with a soundless pop!
Lin Feng barely managed to cross his arms in front of his chest as the paw connected. "WHUMPH!" The force was colossal. He was hurled backward like a ragdoll.
Yet, even as he flew through the air, Lin Feng snapped his right arm forward. A fist-sized sphere of deep crimson fire, radiating intense heat, shot towards the beast's face.
The beast's eyes widened slightly, sensing profound danger. Its pursuit halted abruptly. Its right paw instinctively lashed out to swat the incoming projectile.
"FWOMP." The small fireball seemed to dissipate harmlessly against the thick webbing of its paw. But then… The scattered embers didn't fade. Instead, they clung to the beast's fur and skin, adhering like burning pitch!
"SKREEEEEEEEEK!!!"
An agonized, unearthly shriek ripped from the beast's throat. It frantically shook its right forelimb, trying to dislodge the flames. Instead of falling away, the clinging fire suddenly flared, engulfing the entire paw in roaring crimson and orange flames – Molten Lava Fire!
Lin Feng crashed to the ground fifteen meters away, tumbling before scrambling to his feet. Wincing as he shook his numb, throbbing arms, he watched the beast flailing its own blazing limb. Relief washed over him; if the creature had pressed its attack, he'd have been in grave danger. That fireball hadn't been ordinary flame at all.
...
Caught off guard and now engulfed in the terrifying Molten Lava Fire, the beast panicked. Excruciating pain seared through its right paw. Thoughts of pursuing Lin Feng vanished. It channeled all its innate energy into its right arm. A blinding eruption of ice-white light burst from its limb.
"WHUMPF!" The clinging Molten Lava Fire was violently blasted away by the sheer force of the surge. The beast, its right paw now a blackened, smoking ruin of charred flesh, scrambled backwards in terror, putting dozens of meters between itself and the scattered, still burning fiercely patches of crimson flame on the ground.
Impressed and slightly unnerved by how quickly the beast had shed the Molten Lava Fire, Lin Feng focused his will. The scattered flames responded, flowing like liquid back towards him, coalescing into a hovering orb of intense heat above his palm. Simultaneously, the Crimson Soul sword whistled back to hover protectively beside him.
"GRRRROOOOAAARRR!!"
The giant kangaroo-like beast fixed Lin Feng with a gaze brimming with fury and pain. It bellowed again, its body flaring with icy radiance. Both its massive forelimbs swept forward violently. Two torrential waves of pure white, freezing energy, like frozen tidal waves, surged towards Lin Feng.
"SWOOSH! SWOOSH!"
Before the icy onslaught could reach Lin Feng, two thick bolts of crackling purple lightning descended from above like divine wrath, intercepting the white waves head-on.
"KRA-KA-BOOOOOOM!!!"
A cataclysmic explosion erupted ten meters in front of Lin Feng, filling the air with blinding light and a shockwave of displaced snow and frigid air.
Lin Feng's eyes lit up with relief. He looked skyward. Circling above, wings beating powerfully, was a majestic purple silhouette. With each flap, it unleashed further bolts of devastating purple lightning, hammering the position of the ice beast below.
The Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane had used the precious moments Lin Feng bought it! It had shattered the ice encasing its left wing and taken to the air. Now, from its vantage point, it was unleashing a furious counterattack!
"Whew…"
A heavy sigh escaped Lin Feng's lips. This was the outcome he'd desperately needed. With the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane airborne once more, regaining its mobility and aerial dominance, dealing with the grounded ice beast shouldn't pose any major problem…