Sword Wings Soar

Over the following week, Chen Yuan kept watch on the cliff with Chen Xin and saw many avian Spirit Beasts.

There were different species and different cultivation ages. Some of those avian Spirit Beasts were suitable in both type and age, and could grant Chen Yuan a Flight Ability.

But Chen Xin did not make a move to hunt them, because they were not as powerful as the Golden Feather Divine Eagle. Since they had come all this way, they naturally could not casually kill just any Spirit Beast.

Finally, after a week, they found a Golden Feather Divine Eagle of the right age.

"Screech!"

After an exceptionally piercing eagle cry, an eagle-type Spirit Beast radiating golden light descended from the clouds. It was the Golden Feather Divine Eagle.

Its sharp beak, keen talons, and even its golden feathers all carried a cutting edge, as though they could slice through gold and jade like blades.

On a distant cliff, Chen Xin studied it carefully before nodding and saying, "Its body is nearly three meters long, its wingspan nearly eight meters, and judging by the richness of its golden feathers, it is at least a five-thousand-year Golden Feather Divine Eagle. Normally, only a Spirit Master at level forty could possibly absorb its Spirit Ring. But your situation is special, so absorbing its Spirit Ring should not be a problem. In that case, I'll bring it down first."

Chen Yuan gazed at the Golden Feather Divine Eagle, his eyes shining. Without his teacher by his side, he could never have absorbed the Spirit Ring of a Spirit Beast that ruled the skies. He said gratefully, "Thank you for going to so much trouble, Teacher."

Chen Xin gave a grunt, then summoned his Martial Soul. He stretched out a hand, and a mass of white light gathered in his palm, spreading an intense sharpness. The white light then transformed into an ancient longsword—the Seven Kill Sword.

One Spirit Ring after another rose beneath his feet: two yellow, two purple, and five black. The nine Spirit Rings seemed to freeze the very air. Killing intent filled Chen Xin's chest, and his aura surged a hundredfold, utterly unlike when he sparred with Chen Yuan.

Chen Xin said loudly, "Yuan'er, watch carefully. This is Sword Flight—my Third Soul Skill, Sword Wings Soar!"

As his words fell, his Third Spirit Ring lit up. The Seven Kill Sword gave a clear metallic hum, trembled slightly, and flew straight into the sky.

Chen Xin had not exerted any force. He had not thrown it—the Seven Kill Sword was flying on its own.

Leaving a streak of sword light through the sky, the Seven Kill Sword shot toward the Golden Feather Divine Eagle. Sensing the sudden killing intent, the Golden Feather Divine Eagle's feathers bristled, each one standing on end. Its wings beat, and it shot upward in an instant.

The Seven Kill Sword missed, but immediately changed direction. Its blade angled upward as it continued its pursuit of the Golden Feather Divine Eagle.

The Golden Feather Divine Eagle was enraged and let out a shrill cry. The sudden attack had startled it, but that did not mean it was afraid.

It immediately folded its wings and dived toward the Seven Kill Sword, like a golden divine sword itself. As it descended, its speed continued to increase, causing eagle and sword to collide almost instantly.

White and golden light crashed together, erupting with an ear-piercing sound. The Golden Feather Divine Eagle tried to shatter the Seven Kill Sword with its talons, but the sword's edge was no less sharp than its claws—if anything, it was sharper. It gradually gained the upper hand, leaving wound after wound on the eagle's talons.

Wracked with pain, the Golden Feather Divine Eagle beat its wings and used its immense speed to widen the distance again. Its eagle eyes now held far more wariness. Its invincible talons had encountered an opponent whose sharpness was even more terrifying.

On the distant cliff, Chen Xin feared that delay might bring unexpected changes. He stopped tangling with the Golden Feather Divine Eagle, raised his Sword Finger, and his aura surged once more. As his Sword Finger turned, the Seven Kill Sword turned with it.

It spun faster and faster, producing dense afterimages. In the end, it resembled a full moon, stirring the air and releasing strands of incomparably sharp force. The Golden Feather Divine Eagle, exceptionally sensitive to danger, immediately became wary of this unsettling full moon.

But it was proud. It disdained turning and fleeing. Instead, it folded its wings again and dived toward the full moon.

At that moment, Chen Xin flicked his finger. The full moon formed by the Seven Kill Sword sliced toward the Golden Feather Divine Eagle, and soon they crossed paths...

"Screech!"

The Golden Feather Divine Eagle let out a miserable shriek. One of its wings had been severed, blood scattering across the sky in a gruesome sight. With only one wing remaining, it could no longer maintain its balance and fell toward the bottom of the cliff.

Chen Xin had expected this, so he was not surprised. Instead, he immediately summoned the Seven Kill Sword back, grabbed Chen Yuan's shoulder with one hand, leaped into the air, and landed atop the sword.

Chen Xin quickly said, "Yuan'er, let's go. We need to prepare for you to absorb your Spirit Ring!"

Chen Yuan stood on Chen Xin's Seven Kill Sword, unsteady at first. But Chen Xin kept hold of his shoulder, preventing him from falling.

Chen Yuan quickly adapted. At the same time, he was surprised to discover that their flying speed while riding the sword was even faster than Chen Xin's usual speed. Or rather, Sword Wings Soar also provided a boost in speed.

With such speed, they soon reached the bottom of the cliff. Following his senses, Chen Xin found the Golden Feather Divine Eagle, whose aura was faint.

After falling from such a height, the Golden Feather Divine Eagle was not yet dead, though its aura was weak. This showed that its five-thousand-year cultivation was indeed formidable.

After landing, Chen Xin recalled the Seven Kill Sword and released a Soul Power pressure that suppressed the Golden Feather Divine Eagle, preventing it from suddenly lashing out with any strength it had left.

Then he nudged Chen Yuan and said, "Go. Kill it, then absorb the Spirit Ring."

Chen Yuan nodded and reached out. White light blossomed as his Seven Kill Sword appeared in his hand. Two Spirit Rings rose beneath his feet, one yellow and one purple, and he strode toward the Golden Feather Divine Eagle.

The Golden Feather Divine Eagle raised its head slightly. Chen Xin and Chen Yuan's figures were reflected in its eagle eyes. At last, it knew who had been opposing it. Because of that, it was unwilling—unwilling to become the Third Spirit Ring of a weak human.

"Screech!"

Using all its strength, it let out a threatening cry, trying to intimidate Chen Xin and Chen Yuan.

But with Chen Xin standing behind him, Chen Yuan had no fear at all. He continued forward, and once he drew close, he thrust his sword through one of its eyes, twisting the blade to destroy its brain.

The Golden Feather Divine Eagle soon lost its breath. Yet before its consciousness finally faded, it mobilized its origin power and gathered all the energy in its body, leaving a "surprise" for the human before it within the Spirit Ring that was about to form.

Even in death, it wanted to drag this human down with it.

Soon, with its death, milky-white currents of air spread from its body and finally condensed into a purple Spirit Ring—brilliant, magnificent, and supremely noble, containing immense energy.