58: Chapter 58 Battle Against the Red-Clad Bird

Inside the tent, there was a deathly silence.

Everyone stared straight at Gu Xiao, doubting if something was wrong with their ears.

Gu Xiao felt his scalp tingle from the stares, not knowing where to put his hands. He coughed awkwardly, "I'm really not making this up. Whoever lies deserves a horrible death."

This statement was clearly very offensive. Everyone present was a person of status and reputation. To translate that sentiment into simpler terms, it was practically an homage to a line from a classic film in the 1990s: "I'm not targeting anyone specifically; I'm just saying that everyone here is trash."

The expressions on everyone's faces changed rapidly, cycling through various shades of green, red, and white. They had just suffered a major setback with heavy casualties, and now, being looked down upon by a beast like that, they naturally felt very unhappy.

But then again, what other choice did they have?

Fang Jingxuan looked at Gu Xiao silently, his eyes filled with complex meaning. It meant: even if you didn't exaggerate, that was still incredibly insulting. Couldn't you have polished it a little and been more tactful?

Gu Xiao guiltily looked away. He realized then that he really should have modified it a bit, or at least been more polite.

"After all, it is a Desolate Rank Rising Beings. If it has full confidence, then we can do as it says."

Fang Jingxuan took a deep breath, breaking the silence and simultaneously suppressing the fire of dissatisfaction in everyone's hearts.

"Our primary mission is indeed to save those students first. Old Gu, ask it what we need to do."

As the decision-maker, Fang Jingxuan did not get hung up on the arrogant attitude of a flood dragon, displaying immense professional competence.

Gu Xiao closed his eyes again, connecting with Li Xiuyuan, and quickly brought back news.

"Those students are not deep within Shouyue Mountain, so as long as we act quickly, we can rescue them. At the same time, it will take the initiative to fight that Red-clothed Bird, and we just need to take advantage of that gap to rescue the people."

The tactic was simple and brutal: one side distracts, the other rescues.

This was indeed the most feasible method for now, but what still needed to be considered was how to remain unaffected after entering the realm.

Just then, Lu Xingyun stepped forward.

"I can use the Lingbao Heaven Talisman to cover you."

As a sect derived from the three major talisman schools, the Donghua Sect possessed a secret technique called the Lingbao Heaven Talisman in addition to the Soul-Dispatching Talisman.

Its function was to construct a Spiritual Sense barrier for the recipients within a short period, isolating them from external Spiritual Sense interference.

This thing had been lost for many years. During the years before spiritual energy recovered, besides being recorded in ancient books, no one had ever seen it. It was only after the recovery of spiritual energy that several knowledgeable seniors of the Donghua Sect researched it together.

Precisely because of this, the talisman currently had a drawback: all damage received by the Spiritual Sense barrier would be borne by the person who drew the talisman.

Furthermore, the more people there were in the barrier, the greater the backlash and damage the talisman-drawer would suffer.

There were many students inside, and quite a few were already unconscious, having lost awareness. At least twenty or thirty people would need to be sent in to bring all the students out.

In this way, there would be at least sixty people inside the barrier.

For Lu Xingyun, this was a severe test involving his life. If the group acted sluggishly and failed to withdraw in time, Lu Xingyun would very likely lose his life due to Spiritual Sense overload.

After hearing about the effects and dangers of the Lingbao Heaven Talisman, Fang Jingxuan pondered for a moment, then looked at Lu Xingyun with a firm gaze.

"Then that's what we'll do."

There was no better way now; waiting even one more second meant one more layer of danger for the students inside.

No one was hesitant. Everyone quickly gathered to listen to Fang Jingxuan's final tactical deployment.

...

Meanwhile, on the other side, Li Xiuyuan was already in a standoff with that Red-clothed Bird.

It wasn't that Li Xiuyuan went to find it, but rather that this large bird had taken the initiative to find Li Xiuyuan.

Because he had been continuously establishing a connection with Gu Xiao, no matter how stealthy Li Xiuyuan was, it was difficult not to be detected while on the other party's turf.

However, Li Xiuyuan had long been mentally prepared for this aspect.

The giant bird landed on a withered branch in a mountain ravine, its massive body causing the branch to sink slightly.

It tilted its neck, its cloudy red eyes staring fixedly at Li Xiuyuan.

"You are indeed impressive. Were those resentments I gathered eaten by you? How did they taste?"

Li Xiuyuan didn't feel a shred of nervousness. He flicked his tail and said indifferently, "Terrible."

"Oh?"

The Red-clothed Bird was stunned, then immediately let out a harsh, cackling laugh.

This laughter echoed in the mountain ravine, sounding extremely unpleasant, like metal scraping against glass.

"You beast really says one thing while meaning another. It clearly could bring you a significant boost, yet you insist on saying it tastes terrible."

"However, your cultivation progress is quite fast. You've actually already become a flood dragon. If you are allowed to travel the rivers and enter the sea, wouldn't you become a True Dragon?"

The Red-clothed Bird asked, its tone carrying a hint of inquiry.

The other party's tone and attitude were very arrogant, giving a sense of looking down from above, but it did not show any hostility toward Li Xiuyuan.

Or perhaps, was it disdain?

The giant bird seemed very confident, believing that Shouyue Mountain was its territory and that Li Xiuyuan would not be its match.

Without waiting for Li Xiuyuan to respond, the giant bird spoke again, talking to itself,

"But even if you have become a flood dragon, you are still associating with those ignorant humans."

"A thousand years ago, some beasts acted this way, and a thousand years later, it is still the same."

"A dog cannot change its habit of eating excrement."

The giant bird's eyes were low, revealing a hint of coldness.

"You know about things from a thousand years ago?" Li Xiuyuan asked.

The giant bird looked at him but didn't speak, instead issuing an invitation to Li Xiuyuan: "Be my companion."

"You little Loach want to travel the rivers, enter the sea, and transform into a True Dragon? I can help you."

"You should have been to that golden waterway, right? It's also called the Yangtze River by the people of today. Deep in that river sleeps a Lord River God, a supreme existence. As long as you bow to him, the Lord River God will help you transform into a dragon."

By the end, the giant bird's tone became increasingly excited, like a fanatical believer.

"The Lord River God is omnipotent; do not have any doubts. Besides, even if it's not possible now, it will definitely succeed during the period of spiritual energy turbulence in fifty years!"

"That will be the beginning of the glorious and brilliant era for us Rising Beingss, and it will also be the day we begin to rule this land!"

Li Xiuyuan watched him quietly, appreciating the giant bird's one-man show.

At the same time, he also obtained some additional information.

A Lord River God was sleeping in the Yangtze River, also a Rising Beings, and this Red-clothed Bird seemed to have already bowed down in submission to it.

After the Red-clothed Bird finished delivering its impassioned speech, it looked at Li Xiuyuan again, its eyes burning.

"Now, make your choice."

Li Xiuyuan was slightly silent.

The mountain ravine also fell into a deathly silence.

After a while, Li Xiuyuan spoke, asking in a teasing tone, "What did you just say? The wind was too strong and I didn't hear it clearly. Can you repeat it?"

The giant bird was slightly stunned, then immediately sneered.

"A beast is just a beast. It's true that only after being beaten half to death can you understand words."

As soon as the words fell, the giant bird instantly spread its wings, bringing a sea of fire.

Li Xiuyuan had long been prepared, using the ability of the Sovereign of Heavens Water to pull over a thick cloud. The moment the fire spread, a torrential downpour followed!

"Pulling wind and thunder, manipulating the rain? You have some skill! But thinking you can extinguish fire with water? Keep dreaming!"

The giant bird laughed wildly. The torrential rain did not extinguish the flames at all; instead, it was like adding oil to the fire, making the fire even more vigorous, instantly swallowing Li Xiuyuan!