96: Pre-joining training

"Hiss, hiss, hiss~"

Although the Black-patterned Python had not yet become a Magical Beast, its beastly sensitivity to the crisis of death was not low.

It instinctively twisted its huge, serpentine body, trying to dodge Bai Ze's fatal strike.

But unfortunately, it was facing Bai Ze, whose bloodline was at the King level and whose strength was equivalent to Bronze Tier 4.

In the gloomy space, sharp black claws flashed with a ray of keen light like lightning.

Swish!

The next second, the sound of flesh tearing rang out, and the Black-patterned Python's massive body, as thick as a cloud-piercing tree, was instantly severed into two.

With a 'splat' sound, deep Red blood from within its flesh sprayed violently in all directions.

The taut body that had been coiled around the tree trunk lost its strength and plummeted toward the ground below, and within a breath, it slammed heavily onto the ground with a 'thud'.

After struggling only twice, it lay limp on the ground, without a sound.

"Awooo~"

Standing on a thick branch, Bai Ze let out an unhappy cry as it watched this scene, clearly dissatisfied that the Black-patterned Python hadn't let it have its fill of fun.

However, in the next second, the excited cries of the other three little ones, filled with admiration and praise, made it look pleased and proud.

Seeing this, Lister, who was riding over slowly on his horse, curled the corners of his mouth.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the big tree, Spartacus immediately dismounted and took the initiative to shoulder the corpse of the Black-patterned Python.

Red shook his head almost imperceptibly, sighing to himself in his heart.

'Kid, you're still too young.'

The next moment, he leapt suddenly from the horse's back, kicking the tree trunk a few times to propel himself toward the top.

Although his armor was extremely heavy, his movements appeared light and agile, and like a cloud-climbing maneuver, he quickly retrieved the nest containing the Magic Cloud Eagle hatchlings.

Sitting steadily back on his horse, he presented the nest to Lister with both hands and congratulated him with a look of pleasant surprise:

"Congratulations, Lord Lister, there are actually five Magic Cloud Eagle hatchlings! Now our Ironthorn Territory has its own messenger birds."

Hearing this, Lister, who also wore a happy expression, took the nest and began to examine the five Magic Cloud Eagle hatchlings inside.

Their overall appearance was largely the same, with their bodies covered in a mix of blue and white, similar to the sky and clouds.

This color could help them blend in well with the sky when delivering messages, allowing them to hide and avoid attacks from hostile forces.

After all, the strength of the Magic Cloud Eagle's messaging ability was well known to all races, so they would be prime targets during wartime.

Compared to ordinary eagles, the Magic Cloud Eagle's wings were broader and longer.

Even though they were still in their hatchling phase, the length of their wings when fully spread was about one meter.

This wing characteristic allowed them to fly faster and with less effort.

At the same time, it could also obscure the prey's vision during hunting, and combined with their sharp, slender black claws, it could greatly improve the efficiency of a fatal strike during a hunt.

"Chirp, chirp, chirp~"

Looking at Lister, who was staring at them, the five little Magic Cloud Eagle hatchlings cried out in fear.

According to their perception, their mother had not returned since leaving at noon.

Moreover, due to the profound connection of their Magical Beast bloodline, they had some sense of their mother's death.

Coupled with the Black-patterned Python's intense killing intent earlier, their keen senses as semi-Magical Beasts had been triggered.

Now, naturally, they felt afraid of the suddenly appearing group led by Lister, whose intentions were unknown.

Seeing this, Lister took out some small pieces of Magical Beast Meat that he had long stored in his storage ring and fed them.

They did not eat it immediately, but carefully sniffed it, possessing a very strong sense of vigilance.

After realizing there was no strange smell, they still did not eat it immediately, but continued to hesitate.

Lister wore a gentle smile, made no other movements, and maintained the feeding posture.

A moment later, because they hadn't eaten for over a day, the Magic Cloud Eagle hatchlings were truly famished.

Unable to resist the desire for food any longer, they suddenly bit down hard on the Magical Beast Meat in Lister's hand and began to devour it ravenously.

With a light smile, he continued to take out more Magical Beast Meat, placed it into the nest, and then turned his head to signal for Bai Ze, who was still showing off, to come over.

Although it was a bit carried away, Bai Ze dared not disobey its boss's serious words.

It exerted strength in its legs and jumped onto the broad back of the warhorse Lister was riding.

Seeing this, the two Pixies, Lianna and the other, also flew over quickly, leaving only the Small Fire Bull, Lihuo, calling out anxiously beside the horse's legs.

"Bai Ze, from now on they are your new companions. You should know what to do, right?"

Hearing Lister's ambiguous words, Bai Ze braced its hind legs, patted its chest with its right front paw, and let out an 'awoo', indicating that it would handle it.

Then, it began a session of 'proper' pre-joining education for the Magic Cloud Eagle hatchlings, who were busy devouring their food.

At this moment, Spartacus, who was standing on the muddy ground carrying the Black-patterned Python's corpse, watched the humans and beasts busy before him.

He felt like a clown; he had originally thought Lister's goal was the Black-patterned Python, but who would have known that Lister's true goal was the Magic Cloud Eagle.

No wonder Red hadn't made a move before him earlier; it turned out he had already seen through the essence of the matter.

At this moment, looking at Red's calm and indifferent expression, he sighed slightly in his heart, feeling that there was still much he needed to learn.

Soon, Bai Ze's pre-joining education ended, and it had once again accepted five loyal little lackeys.

Looking at Bai Ze, which was asking for credit, Lister nodded and casually tossed it a piece of Magical Beast Meat, as an affirmation of its work methods.

After putting all the Magic Cloud Eagles into a bag on the side of the horse, he glanced at the heavy rain still pouring down from the sky and said loudly: "It is getting late, and the Hengduan Mountains are too dangerous after dark. Let's head back as soon as possible."

Red and Spartacus scanned the gloomy surroundings and nodded in agreement: "Yes, Lord Lister."

Then, Spartacus asked: "Lord Lister, do you still want this Black-patterned Python?"

"As you wish," Lister said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Spartacus took one look at it, then threw the Black-patterned Python's corpse directly onto the ground, and immediately leapt up, neatly seating himself on the horse's back.

Just as the three of them were turning their horses around to prepare to return, the ground suddenly shook violently, and the frightened warhorses' bodies also began to sway intensely.

The next moment, a black fissure several dozen centimeters wide spread rapidly toward the three of them.

Lister's expression changed in alarm: "Not good, get out of the way!"

After speaking, the three of them immediately urged their horses to leap, dodging the fissure spreading from the ground, but the warhorses' bodies continued to shake incessantly.

Spartacus frowned and said: "Could it be that the rain is too heavy, causing a landslide?"

"No, a landslide shouldn't look like this." Red tightened the reins and squeezed his legs to steady his warhorse, saying: "In my opinion, this should be a geothermal eruption caused by the rage of the Earth God. Lord Lister, we must leave quickly now."

Although Lister felt that it was a normal, sudden earthquake, he did not completely disbelieve Red's claim; after all, this world was not an ordinary one.

Following his order, the three of them rode their horses and galloped toward the outskirts of the mountains.