122: Life-or-death crisis, the Celestial Bird evolves

After several wrong turns, Lan Yu gave up struggling and let the Heavenly Star Bird fly wherever it wanted.

“Strange, I clearly didn't remember it wrong. This is the route,” she summarized solemnly.

Heavenly Star Bird: “...”

At that moment, a stream of deep purple liquid shot up from below. The Heavenly Star Bird let out a cry and narrowly avoided it.

“Who is it?!”

A Silver Level 1 Venomous Flying Python rushed from the ground into the high sky. It was about ten meters long and two meters wide, covered in emerald green. On its head sat a Middle-aged Man with two small mustaches, a shifty face, and a scimitar at his waist.

“Who are you?” Lan Yu looked at the other party warily. The Heavenly Star Bird flew twenty meters away, not approaching.

“Oh, it's actually a pure student. What a pity. It would have been better if you weren't in this Secret Realm.” The Middle-aged Man stroked his mustache, his murky gaze scanning her up and down. He then turned his eyes to the bulging backpack beside Lan Yu and smiled, “Looks like you've had a good harvest. It all belongs to me now.”

Hearing this, Lan Yu understood the other party's goal and immediately said, “In your dreams!”

The Heavenly Star Bird gave a cry, flapped its wings, and flew into the distance.

“Hahaha~ You think you can escape? Leave the things behind for me obediently.” The Middle-aged Man laughed loudly. The Venomous Flying Python beneath him flapped its wings and chased after the Heavenly Star Bird, constantly spitting venom to hinder its escape.

“Vile fellow!” Sitting on the Heavenly Star Bird's back, Lan Yu drew her bow and swiftly fired three arrows.

The arrows pierced through the air. The Venomous Flying Python moved left and right to avoid two arrows, then climbed higher to block the third.

“Quite stubborn, aren't you? Then don't blame me for being impolite.” After the Middle-aged Man finished speaking, he gave an order, and the flying python's speed surged, quickly approaching the Heavenly Star Bird.

When he reached Lan Yu's side, the Middle-aged Man reached out to grab the backpack, but Lan Yu stabbed him in the shoulder with an arrow, creating a bloody wound.

“I won't give it to you!” Lan Yu held the arrow with a stubborn look, maintaining a defensive posture, while the Heavenly Star Bird beneath her feet struggled to widen the distance.

The Heavenly Star Bird had only flown ten meters when the Venomous Flying Python's tail lashed out, sending feathers and blood flying.

“Tian Xing!” Lan Yu cried out.

“Chirp!” Tian Xing responded. Enduring the pain, it unleashed a Star Storm that swept toward the Venomous Flying Python, while it carried Lan Yu and quickly dove toward the ground.

Looking at the wound on his arm, the Middle-aged Man's face darkened as he chased again. “You reckless brat. If it weren't for being in the Houtu Secret Realm, I would have dealt with you properly. A mere student dares to wound me! Flying Python, chase them!”

The Venomous Flying Python hissed and flapped its wings to give chase.

In the pursuit, both sides sometimes flew high and sometimes landed. One side wanted to rob, while the other resolutely refused to give in.

In less than half an hour, the Heavenly Star Bird reached its limit. Its wingbeats grew slower and slower until, with a final glide, it crashed to the ground with a 'bang.' Lan Yu was thrown off by the momentum, rolling over ten meters on the ground and getting covered in mud and sand.

“Hiss—” Lan Yu gritted her teeth and stood up, still deathly protective of her backpack. She dragged the backpack and stumbled toward the Heavenly Star Bird's position.

“Tian Xing, how are you?” Lan Yu asked with concern.

In that half hour, the Heavenly Star Bird had been struck by the snake's tail four times. Each blow had torn its flesh, and blood had already stained half its body.

Seeing the Heavenly Star Bird's injuries, Lan Yu didn't dare delay. She hurriedly fumbled several potion bottles out of her backpack. Just as she was about to spray them, she felt a sudden pain in her head, and the potions fell to the ground.

The Middle-aged Man grabbed Lan Yu's hair with one hand and pulled her up from the ground, looking at her pained expression with a sinister face.

“I didn't expect to be injured by a little girl like you. How unlucky!” After the Middle-aged Man finished speaking, he reached out to grab the backpack in her hand. To his surprise, though Lan Yu's face was distorted with pain, she gripped the backpack tightly and wouldn't let go, making him furious.

“Let go, you brat! Or I'll finish you!”

The suddenly increased force made Lan Yu's scalp sting with pain, but she gritted her teeth without making a sound. Her hands held the backpack in a death grip, and she struggled to kick the potions toward the Heavenly Star Bird with her foot.

Slap! Slap!

“Will you let go?” The Middle-aged Man slapped Lan Yu several times in a row, shouting with displeasure.

Lan Yu's mouth was bleeding, but she glared at him deathly, refusing to let go.

A sense of persistence in her heart made it so she couldn't hand over these inner elixirs no matter what.

Seeing this, the Middle-aged Man grew even more irritated. He no longer cared about the rules of the Houtu Secret Realm and drew a knife from his waist. “Won't let go, huh? Then you won't be needing these hands anymore.”

With those words, he swung the knife down fiercely.

Puchi!

Blood spurted out, splashing onto Lan Yu's face. She let out a muffled groan, drenched in sweat. When she opened her eyes, she saw the Heavenly Star Bird blocking her, blood flowing down its back.

There was no fear in its eyes, only persistence and the determination to protect.

“Tian Xing...”

“Chirp!”

The Heavenly Star Bird gave a low cry and turned around, looking down at the Middle-aged Man. With a flap of its wings, it sent the Middle-aged Man flying. Then, it let out a sharp, piercing cry, and its body size rapidly surged.

At this critical moment, it had activated its potential.

“Damn feathered beast! Get it! I want to eat it!” The Middle-aged Man scrambled up from the ground. The Venomous Flying Python flew behind him and, as he pointed his hand, charged at the Heavenly Star Bird.

The Heavenly Star Bird gave a cry and met the attack. As its wings flapped, it whipped up a fierce Star Storm, which had grown significantly compared to before.

One bird and one python, two flying Demon Tamers Beasts fought together. On the ground, the Middle-aged Man also raised his knife and slashed at Lan Yu.

Initially, he just wanted to rob her of resources. In the end, he failed to get the resources and even had his hand injured. Perhaps feeling that his dignity as a strong person had been offended, he completely ignored the rules and only wanted to make her pay the price.

Seeing this, Lan Yu did not hesitate. She shouldered her backpack and quickly ran away.

The two on the ground chased each other, and the two beasts in the air also moved with their figures. However, whether in the sky or on the ground, Lan Yu's side had no advantage.

Soon, the energy from activating its potential was exhausted. Coupled with the toxins, the Heavenly Star Bird fell into exhaustion again and was coiled by the Venomous Flying Python, while Lan Yu was also stepped on the ground again.

“Ever since becoming a Silver Demon Tamer, it's been a long time since I've been this angry. Little girl, you're the first one to annoy me in years, so...”

The Middle-aged Man pointed his large knife at Lan Yu. At the end, his hands tightened, and he raised the knife high, shouting, “Die!”

However, just as the blade was about to fall, an unprecedented bird cry rang out. It was ethereal and pleasant, shaking one's heart.

“Chirp——”

The two of them looked toward the source of the sound together.

The Heavenly Star Bird's body erupted with a burst of white light. Within the white light, points of starlight shimmered and flickered, looking incredibly beautiful.

The light forced open the Venomous Flying Python's coils, and its Aura was surging.

“The... light of evolution!” the Middle-aged Man shouted in shock.

Lan Yu was excited, then she thought of the several potion bottles she had hurriedly taken out earlier.

It seemed that the two evolution potions he gave her were among them.

At this moment, the white light streaked through space with a 'whoosh,' knocking the Middle-aged Man away. It picked up Lan Yu and flew toward the distance at an even faster speed.

“Damn it! You won't escape!”

The Middle-aged Man roared, sitting on the head of the Venomous Flying Python and chasing closely behind.