121: Golden-winged Cloud Roc

Looking Back Reef was much simpler than Mysterious Ice City on Black Coral Island, consisting only of a few rows of wooden houses and stalls built against the reef, and the Cultivators were mostly Loose Cultivators at the Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment Stages.

Lin Feng activated the hidden star pendant, disguising himself as a Qi Refinement Stage Loose Cultivator, and sat down at a tea stall in the corner of the Market, ordering a pot of Spiritual Tea.

Intermittent discussions entered his ears:

"Did you hear? Something big happened near Black Coral Island."

"The Four Seas Association's Dragon Hunt Assembly... completely annihilated."

"It wasn't just annihilation, it was a massacre. Hundreds of people went, and those who returned alive can be counted on ten fingers."

"They were all people from the Four Seas Association itself. Not a single person from the other Sects or us Loose Cultivators came out."

"Even Elder Zhao, who led the team... is said to have perished inside."

"The Four Seas Association is acting like madmen now, checking survivors everywhere, claiming they want to find out the truth..."

A burly man who had just arrived from the dock lowered his voice and told his companion: "When I was unloading goods this morning, I saw the Four Seas Association's 'Black Fiend Boat' patrolling the nearby sea, questioning passing Cultivators one by one, and taking away anyone slightly suspicious."

Lin Feng held the ceramic bowl and took a sip of water. His knuckles tightened slightly, causing a subtle crack to appear on the rim of the bowl.

He put down a Spirit Stone, stood up, and merged into the flow of people. As he passed the stall of an old Cultivator selling Sea Charts, he stopped, pretending to examine a chart, and whispered, "Elder, the north isn't peaceful. Is there a quieter place?"

The old Cultivator raised his eyes and glanced at him, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes. His withered finger pointed to an area marked "White Dew Sea" on the chart: "Young man, when the wind and waves are strong, even small fish and shrimp know to hide in deep water."

He paused, lowering his voice further, "Recently, the Four Seas Association's ships rarely go there..."

Lin Feng understood, paid a few extra Spirit Stones, picked up the Sea Chart marked with the White Dew Sea route, and turned to leave.

Seeing the White Dew Sea getting closer, he recalled the last time at the Fire Abyss Sea Eye, facing that terrifying Tier 6 Thunder Dragon, he could only flee in panic, unable even to collect a decent Yao Beast Inner Core.

This time heading north to the White Dew Sea, besides avoiding trouble, he secretly decided to hunt more Yao Beasts and accumulate enough resources.

He selected an island named "Little Turtle Island" on the Sea Chart. This island was far from the main shipping lanes, covered in towering strange rocks and sparse vegetation, truly as desolate as rumored.

After landing on the island, Lin Feng spent half a day surveying the entire island and found no large Yao Beast dens, but Yao Beasts in the surrounding waters regularly came ashore to rest. This was an ideal hunting spot.

He opened up a simple Immortal Cave in a sheltered spot, and then spent two months observing the Yao Beasts' activity patterns. Whenever it was the night of the full moon and the tide rose, a few Tier 4 Sea Beasts would climb ashore to rest.

Dusk fell, and the sea breeze swept across the reefs of Little Turtle Island. Lin Feng lay hidden behind a massive Basalt Rock, his gaze fixed on a Tier 4 Yao Beast, the "Azure Scale Water Lizard," absorbing moonlight on the nearby beach.

He held his breath and concentrated, his left hand silently gathering a trace of Extreme Cold Qi. The moment the Water Lizard relaxed its guard, a faint blue Ice Soul Divine Light shot out silently. With a “crack” sound, a sheet of thin ice quickly spread, instantly trapping the lower half of the Water Lizard's body.

Lin Feng only lured out one at a time, utilizing the island's rocky terrain and using the Ice Soul Divine Light to temporarily freeze the Yao Beast, gradually exhausting its physical strength before delivering a lethal blow with a Sword Art.

Several months passed, and Lin Feng's Storage Pouch contained more than a dozen Tier 4 Yao Beast Inner Cores. His cultivation became increasingly refined through practical combat. He gradually grew accustomed to this life of maneuvering against Sea Beasts, always striving for stability in every hunt, never being greedy or rash.

Startled, the Water Lizard let out a roar and struggled violently, causing the ice surface to shatter. Lin Feng was not eager to launch a strong attack; his figure darted among the reefs, always maintaining a safe distance from the Yao Beast.

He continuously pointed his fingers, and streams of Ice Soul Divine Light shot out one after another, blocking its retreat. The beach gradually became covered with patches of Ice Crystals.

The Water Lizard's fury was completely ignited. It chased the elusive figure, continuously crashing into the reefs, its physical strength rapidly depleting amid rage and cold.

After fighting for the duration of an incense stick, the Water Lizard's movements clearly slowed down, and it began to gasp heavily.

Lin Feng seized the opportunity, swung the Long Sword in his hand, and stabbed into the Water Lizard's gaping mouth—opened due to gasping—penetrating straight through to its brain. The Water Lizard's massive body suddenly stiffened and crashed to the ground.

Similar scenes played out repeatedly on Little Turtle Island during the full moon nights. Over several months, the Tier 4 Yao Beast Inner Cores of various attributes in Lin Feng's black jade bracelet gradually increased to more than ten. His application of the Ice Soul Divine Light became increasingly refined, and his understanding of Yao Beast habits became more precise.

On this day, as dusk approached, the sky above Little Turtle Island was stained a magnificent yet eerie orange-red.

Lin Feng had just finished a hunt and was sitting cross-legged inside his Immortal Cave Adjusting Breath when suddenly, a dull booming sound rolled in, coming closer from afar.

Following that were continuous, violent explosions. The entire Little Turtle Island trembled slightly, and rubble rustled down from the cave walls.

His heart tightened. He swept to the back of the highest reef on the island, hiding himself in a narrow Rock Crevice.

Looking out, he saw the clouds stirring where the sea and sky met in the distance, gradually forming a huge Vortex. In the center of the Vortex, a golden speck was expanding at an incredible speed.

It turned out to be a Massive Bird. Its wings, when spread, covered the sky and obscured the sun, and every flap stirred up monstrous waves. The Oppressive Pressure it emitted made Lin Feng feel waves of trepidation, even from such a distance.

"Tier 7 Yao Beast... Golden-Winged Cloud Peng." Records from the Sect's Ancient Texts flashed through Lin Feng's mind, leaving him horrified. Such an existence was already a Hegemon at the peak of the North Nether Sea. Why would it appear in this relatively remote sea area?

What shocked him even more was that the Golden-Winged Cloud Peng had not come alone. Ahead of it, a streak of Azure Escaping Light was desperately fleeing. Although fast, it was firmly locked onto by the Roc.

Inside that Escaping Light was a refined-looking middle-aged Cultivator. Judging by his Spiritual Power Fluctuations, he was clearly at the Mid-stage Core Formation of cultivation. But at this moment, his robes were torn, and blood was leaking from the corner of his mouth; he was clearly at the End of his Rope.

"Golden-Winged Cloud Peng! Your Sect and mine have always kept to ourselves, why must you pursue me to the death today!" the Qingyun Sect Cultivator demanded sternly.

The Golden-Winged Cloud Peng let out a Sharp Cry that made Lin Feng's eardrums ache: "Hmph! Junior of the Qingyun Sect, if you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being ignorant of current affairs.

"Heavenly Star Palace has already promised a Great Reward. Taking your life is merely a matter of convenience. Hand over the 'white emperor fragmentary map,' and This Venerable One might grant you a quick death."

Heavenly Star Palace? white emperor fragmentary map? Lin Feng held his breath, a storm raging in his heart.

He remembered his Revered Master saying that the Sect Master had already discussed forming an alliance with the Qingyun Sect to jointly resist the Demonic Path.

An Influential Force capable of rivaling the Qingyun Sect, the "Heavenly Star Palace," could actually command a Tier 7 Yao Beast to act.

And what exactly was the "white emperor fragmentary map" they were after?