103: Windwing Clan

The next morning, Linn rode Little Qing alone, embarking on the journey to the Northern Highland Plateau.

He brought no retinue; facing a flock of griffins with a Fifth-Order existence, ordinary people would only be a burden.

After a day of arduous travel, Linn reached the edge of the Northern Highland Plateau.

The scenery here was completely different from the southern part of the Star Sea Territory. Towering rock walls exposed grayish-white stone, sparse vegetation stubbornly pushed through the cracks, and the air was filled with a crisp and primitive Aura. Looking up, the Sky seemed exceptionally vast, with a few solitary clouds slowly drifting across the azure firmament.

Linn did not conceal his Aura, nor did he deliberately flaunt it. He chose the eastern cliff direction, where the griffin nests were most concentrated according to Clay’s report, and Advanced unhurriedly.

Before long, the first sharp cry broke the silence of the plateau.

It was a warning.

Linn stopped and looked up in the direction of the sound. Three black dots rapidly enlarged from the distant cliff, reaching him in the blink of an eye. Three magnificent griffins circled a hundred meters in the Sky, their sharp golden eyes locked onto the unwelcome guest on the ground.

Their size was even larger than Linn had imagined. Over five meters long, with a lion's body and an eagle's head, their forelimbs were strong, powerful talons, covered in golden-brown interwoven feathers that shone with a metallic luster in the sunlight. Especially the one in the middle, its Wind Wing edges had a dark red tinge, and its Aura was clearly much stronger than the other two, having already reached Fourth-Order Peak.

“Human, leave here.” A deep, majestic voice directly entered Linn’s mind! This was the unique Mental Energy communication ability of Advanced Demonic Beasts. “This is the territory of the Windwing Clan; outsiders are not welcome.”

Linn smiled slightly, responding with Mental Energy: “I mean no harm; I merely wish to speak with your leader.”

“Arrogant!” The slightly smaller griffin on the left let out an angry cry, and with a flap of its wings, a powerful current of Qi swept towards Linn, strong enough to send an ordinary warrior flying dozens of meters.

Linn stood still, unmoving. The current of Qi, upon approaching within three feet of him, seemed to hit an invisible wall and quietly dissipated.

A look of vigilance flashed simultaneously in the eyes of the three griffins.

“My name is Lin En Star Sea, the Lord of the Star Sea Territory,” Linn said calmly, simultaneously releasing a portion of his Aura.

At first, it was just a gentle breeze, but soon, centered around him, a magical Aura, as steady as a mountain and as vast as the sea, began to spread. The gravel beneath his feet trembled slightly, the surrounding air seemed to become viscous, and the light subtly twisted around him.

The pressure of a Earth-Grade Peak was revealed without reservation before these Sky overlords.

The three griffins simultaneously let out a short cry of alarm, involuntarily rising higher in their circles. The dark-red-feathered griffin in the middle stared intently at Linn, its eyes filled with disbelief: “Earth Rank... Peak? This is impossible; how can such a level of human exist on Shattered Star Island!”

“Now, can we talk?” Linn’s voice remained calm, but the power it contained made the very air vibrate. “Or would you prefer I visit your nest personally?”

The dark-red-feathered griffin hesitated for a moment, then let out a long cry that pierced the clouds. Soon, more dark figures soared from the cliff nests.

Ten, twenty, thirty... Over thirty adult griffins assembled in the Sky. They formed a loose combat formation, almost obscuring half the Sky. Each radiated a powerful Aura, with at least twelve reaching Fourth-Order Peak, and the rest at Fourth-Order Advanced. This was a force capable of striking fear into any human army.

However, facing the solitary human figure below, the entire griffin flock displayed unusual caution. None dared to attack rashly; they merely circled and intimidated in the Sky, scrutinizing this powerful being, who instinctively threatened them, with sharp gazes.

Linn looked up at this magnificent sight, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He took a step forward.

With just one step, an even more powerful Aura soared into the Sky. It wasn't a targeted attack, but a declaration—a declaration of his existence, a declaration of his strength, a declaration of his right to stand here.

A commotion broke out among the griffin flock in the Sky. Several younger griffins flapped their wings uneasily, retreating some distance. Even the Fourth-Order Peak griffins showed solemnity in their eyes.

“Human, you are strong.” A voice even deeper and more ancient than any griffin before came from the depths of the cliff. The pressure contained in this voice made the air across the entire plateau momentarily still.

Linn’s expression subtly sharpened as he looked towards the source of the voice.

A colossal beast, nearly half again as large as the other griffins, slowly emerged from the highest cliff cave. Its feathers were an interwoven mix of dark gold and deep brown, and a natural silvery-white pattern adorned its forehead, like a crown. Most striking were its eyes, which were not the common golden of ordinary griffins, but a profound dark gold, as if containing endless wisdom and the accumulation of ages.

The Fifth-Order Griffin King.

It did not immediately fly up, but stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down at Linn. Even from hundreds of meters away, Linn could clearly feel the oppressive sensation belonging to a Earth-Grade existence, although the Griffin King’s Aura was somewhat strange, fluctuating between strong and weak, seemingly in some special state.

“Powerful Lord, what brings you to the territory of the Windwing Clan?” The Griffin King’s Mental Energy fluctuations were steady and profound, betraying no emotion.

Linn bowed slightly, a gesture of respect to a peer of equal strength: “I come for peace, and for the future.”

“Peace? Future?” The Griffin King let out a low growl, which seemed to be their laughter. “Humans always package their desires with beautiful words. Speak directly what you wish to say.”

“I hope the Windwing Clan will join the Star Sea Territory, submit to me, and build glory together,” Linn said directly.

A chorus of angry cries erupted in the Sky. Several hot-tempered griffins made to pounce, but were forcibly restrained by a single glance from the Griffin King.

“Interesting.” A flicker of light passed through the Griffin King’s dark golden eyes. “Give me a reason. Why should the proud Windwing Clan submit to a human lord?”

“Submission means I will shelter your race,” Linn said. “Shattered Star Island is changing; the entire island is gradually becoming exposed to the eyes of continental powerhouses, which you should be able to sense. But this change also means that more powerful existences will be attracted in the future. The Windwing Clan alone might be able to defend this plateau, but can it defend the entire island?”

He paused, allowing the griffins to digest these words, then continued: “The Star Sea Territory is rising. I need an aerial force to guard this land, and what you need is a stable rear and a broader future. As allies, the Star Sea Territory will provide the Windwing Clan with safe habitats, ample food, and... opportunities for evolution.”