Ever since Lin Feng had helped the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane in the snowy valley—saving its life by all accounts—the crane's attitude toward him had noticeably warmed. In the following days, Lin Feng had given it extra portions, feeding it over a dozen additional top-grade Grade 2 and Grade 3 pills daily. Combined with the Frostfire Fruits it had consumed that day, these resources allowed the Thunder Crane to advance to Grade 3, Rank 7 far faster than expected. Without them, the breakthrough would have taken at least another year.
Over the next month, Lin Feng continued his preferential treatment, deepening their bond. Ten days prior, sensing an imminent breakthrough, Lin Feng ventured into the deeper mountains hoping to temper himself through combat. On a whim, he asked the Thunder Crane to accompany him—and to his surprise, it agreed.
With the crane guarding him, Lin Feng hunted numerous Grade 2 demonic beasts that day. They even joined forces to slay a Grade 3, Rank 7 beast. The battle was fraught with peril, but it pushed Lin Feng past his limits, allowing him to break through to Foundation Establishment Stage 4.
Emboldened by the gains, Lin Feng began "inviting" the Thunder Crane on regular expeditions: hunting beasts and gathering spirit herbs deeper in the mountains. The crane, however, wasn't easily coaxed. Including the first trip, it had only agreed three times. Nor was it easily fooled; it demanded the lion's share of their spoils. Grade 3 demonic cores, for instance, never made it to Lin Feng. Yet, the crane often "yielded" high-level spirit herbs it didn't particularly favor—usually demanding generous compensation in top-grade pills.
Today marked their fourth excursion. The "Cloudfire Ganoderma" Lin Feng coveted had been spotted during their last venture—guarded by two formidable Grade 3, Rank 6 beasts. The Thunder Crane had refused to engage then, leaving Lin Feng no choice but to retreat. He'd schemed ever since, finally convincing the crane to return for another attempt.
Lin Feng had grown adept at riding the crane. Once its flight stabilized, he sat upright and channeled his true essence. A diamond-shaped barrier of spiritual energy shimmered into existence before him, deflecting the fierce winds to either side. He still dared not stand—the drag had nearly flung him off during an earlier, ill-advised attempt at looking "heroic."
The crane's speed was staggering. Within moments, they'd covered dozens of li, streaking toward their target deep within the primordial wilderness.
Meanwhile, deep within the dense forest below...
A party of cultivators hacked their way through the undergrowth. All six appeared in their twenties and wore the uniform of the Lingyue Sect—four men and two women. Leading them was Di Xuan, the top disciple of the South Compound. Beside him walked Xue Ziqi, flanked by two other South Compound male disciples. Of the women, one had a softly rounded face and a quiet demeanor; the other was strikingly beautiful—tall, with a figure that even the sect's loose robes couldn't conceal: a slender waist, generous hips, and a bust so pronounced it strained the fabric of her outer robe.
Subtle glances from all four male disciples continually drifted toward the tall woman. She seemed not only accustomed to the attention but to relish it, her lips often curving into a faint, alluring smile.
"Feiyuan, be cautious from here on out. Grade 2 Late Stage beasts roam this area," Di Xuan warned protectively, stepping closer to her as he sliced through a thicket with his three-foot silver sword.
Xie Feiyuan scanned the surroundings dismissively. "We've walked half a day and only met two or three weak beasts. We haven't even reached the true depths. What's there to fear from a Grade 2 Late Stage beast or two? Anything short of Grade 3 is harmless."
Her confidence wasn't unfounded. Xue Ziqi, the weakest among them, had only recently broken through to Foundation Establishment Stage 4. The other two men were at Stage 6, the quieter woman at Stage 8, while she and Di Xuan stood at Stage 9. Against any threat short of a Grade 3 beast or a large pack of Grade 2 Late Stages, they were formidable.
"Caution never hurts," Di Xuan replied with practiced gravitas. He turned to the others. "We must push deeper for richer herbs. Remember: we turn back before dusk. We—"
Whoosh!!
A sudden, sharp ripping sound tore through the air overhead. Heads snapped upward just in time to see a streak of purple vanish into the distance.
"...Was that the Vice Sect Leader's Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane?" someone breathed.
Relief washed over the group—until the quieter woman gasped, "Wait! Did anyone else see... someone riding it?"
The shorter man beside Xue Ziqi nodded vigorously. "Yes! There was definitely a rider! Could it be the Vice Sect Leader himself?"
"Someone on the crane?" Di Xuan frowned, having missed the detail. "Why would the Vice Sect Leader be here? Isn't he secluded in preparation for the Lingxu Ruins expedition?"
"Perhaps he emerged early," Xie Feiyuan suggested offhandedly, already turning away. "Who else could command that crane? Let's not waste time. Move on."
The group resumed their trek, the incident largely forgotten. Only Xue Ziqi lingered, squinting at the vanished silhouette, a frown creasing his brow.
"That rider... felt strangely familiar. How odd..."
Unaware he'd just been mistaken for the Vice Sect Leader, Lin Feng soared onward. The crane's blistering speed made scanning the terrain below impossible. Besides, his mind was preoccupied with tactics for dealing with the two Fireback Toads guarding the Cloudfire Ganoderma. Di Xuan's party went entirely unnoticed.
Half an hour later, the Thunder Crane descended beside a colossal fissure splitting the earth—a scar kilometers long, hundreds of meters deep, and up to four hundred meters wide in places.
"Qiu! Qiu!!"
Xiaoqiu, nestled in Lin Feng's robes, perked up instantly. Standing on his shoulder, it tugged his hair excitedly, pointing a tiny claw toward the southern end of the chasm.
"You sense it too?" Lin Feng grinned. "That's where the Grade 3 Cloudfire Ganoderma is. But patience. Those two Grade 3, Rank 6 Fireback Toads are serious trouble; even Old Crane here couldn't beat them outright last time. We need a plan."
"Shriiieekkk!!" The Thunder Crane let out an indignant screech, twisting its neck to jab Lin Feng sharply in the back with its beak.
"Ow! Damn it, Old Crane! Don't be so touchy!" Lin Feng stumbled, nearly pitching headfirst into the abyss. He rubbed his neck. "Fine, fine! I misspoke! You could take them... just not without getting hurt before the Lingxu Ruins trip. I wouldn't dare risk you getting injured for this. We outsmart them, not outmuscle them. If it looks bad, we bail. Deal?"
He stared intently at the distant site of the spirit herb, lost in thought for a long moment. Then his eyes gleamed.
"Alright! Got it! Listen up, Old Crane, Xiaoqiu... here's what we do..."
KA-BOOM!!
About twenty minutes later, an earth-shaking explosion rocked the southern end of the chasm. A massive fireball erupted from its depths, trembling the very ground.
Seconds later, a figure scrambled frantically up the cliff face, coated in soot and dust. He sprinted wildly across the plateau, arms flailing wildly as he shrieked:
"OLD CRANE! SAVE MEEEE!!!"