Heaven and Hell

After the two left the cave, they were greeted by a colorful coral forest, filled with corals of every kind. Many Soul Beasts roamed the ground, though they were only Ten-Year Soul Beasts and Hundred-Year Soul Beasts. The corals here were rather strange as well, growing exceptionally tall. The ground was extremely uneven, covered in all kinds of rugged terrain.

"This place is so beautiful," Mo Ying exclaimed.

Qian Yuling nodded as well. "It really is."

Qian Yuling looked up. "Mo Ying, look at the sky."

Mo Ying raised his head. The sky was shrouded in a hazy blue. "Let's not worry about that yet. We should explore first."

Neither of them was familiar with this place. Leaving it was simply impossible for now.

After walking for a while, Mo Ying seemed to notice something. As he drew closer, he said, "Yu Ling, this is Coral Plateau."

Qian Yuling moved closer as well. A stone stele stood before them, bearing five words: Coral Plateau.

Qian Yuling pondered for a moment. "I've never heard of this place before. Why did the Wind Drifter Dragon bring us here?" Her brows furrowed. She could not guess the Wind Drifter Dragon's intentions at all.

The two shifted their gazes away from the stele and discovered that the path ahead had changed. Enormous coral platforms towered before them, with far fewer places where they could set foot.

Qian Yuling looked down and could only see miasma slowly billowing up from below. As for the ground, it was completely obscured.

The two proceeded with great caution. With their current strength, crossing this coral platform would not be much of a problem.

As Qian Yuling and Mo Ying continued onward, a Soul Beast quietly approached them.

Mo Ying suddenly sensed something. Turning his head to the side, he spotted a Soul Beast not far away watching them like a tiger eyeing its prey.

This Soul Beast was a small dinosaur-like monster. Its purple body and twisted, curved bluish-purple horns were its defining features. Its ruff curled like a lizard's ears and could flash with light.

"That's a Dazzling Bird. Be careful of the wing-like things on both sides of its head," Qian Yuling warned.

The Dazzling Bird was a navy-blue, mid-sized bird wyvern. It possessed long, powerful hind legs, while its muscular forelimbs used three claws to seize prey. Perhaps its most distinctive feature was the pair of retractable frills on either side of its head, bright and vivid in appearance. A line of short spines ran down its back, and its feet were broad and sturdy.

The Dazzling Bird could emit brilliant flashes from the fins on either side of its head. It used them to disorient attackers and prey, allowing it to gain the upper hand in battle. Its powerful hind legs could also deliver forceful kicks during combat.

Clearly, this Dazzling Bird had taken Qian Yuling and Mo Ying for prey.

Soul Power circulated through Mo Ying. A red greatsword and a slender blue sword appeared in his hands, while one yellow and two purple Soul Rings rose beneath his feet.

Mo Ying intended to fight the Dazzling Bird head-on.

Qian Yuling rubbed her forehead, then grabbed Mo Ying and ran into the distance, shouting, "That's a Ten Thousand Year Soul Beast! Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

But the Dazzling Bird obviously had no intention of letting them go. It suddenly charged in the direction Qian Yuling and Mo Ying were fleeing.

Qian Yuling lacked combat strength to begin with, and her physical condition was poor. Naturally, she could not run very fast.

Mo Ying made a snap decision. He hurriedly picked Qian Yuling up and sprinted at full speed, even using his movement technique. Only then did he barely manage to shake off the Dazzling Bird.

Mo Ying panted heavily. This escape had consumed a great deal of his Soul Power, but they had finally escaped the Dazzling Bird. It had all been worth it.

Qian Yuling looked at Mo Ying. "Mo Ying, I didn't know you could run so fast."

Mo Ying rolled his eyes at Qian Yuling. If I couldn't run fast, we'd both be inside that Dazzling Bird's stomach.

Seeing the look in Mo Ying's eyes, Qian Yuling could not help but laugh.

Meanwhile, at the Wind Drifter Dragon's dwelling.

The Wind Drifter Dragon was still sleeping soundly when a white figure quietly appeared before it.

Lightning crackled continuously around the white figure.

It looked at the sleeping Wind Drifter Dragon and directly hurled a bolt of lightning at it.

The Wind Drifter Dragon woke at once, sprang to its feet, and let out a roar.

"What are you roaring for? Did you complete the mission?" the white figure asked.

Only then did the Wind Drifter Dragon notice the figure before it. "So it's you, sir. Don't worry. I completed every task you gave me."

The white figure nodded. "Well done."

"But..."

"But what?"

"I think I brought back one extra person."

"What?!" The white figure flew into a rage and struck the Wind Drifter Dragon with another bolt of lightning.

The Wind Drifter Dragon bared its teeth in pain.

"Don't you know that outsiders are not allowed into Coral Plateau? This is one of the last pure lands Ancestor Dragon left for us. If those so-called gods discover this place, countless lives will suffer again," the white figure berated it.

The Wind Drifter Dragon said weakly, "Please calm down, sir. I'll take him back immediately."

The white figure said, "Then hurry up. Remember not to let him learn the route here."

"Yes, sir." With that, the Wind Drifter Dragon flew away.

The white figure released a wave of energy toward Qian Yuling and Mo Ying in the distance.

The white figure murmured, "Because of that fool Wind Drifter Dragon, I can only ask you to stay in Miasma Valley for a while. Find that fellow and make him your fourth Soul Ring."

Qian Yuling and Mo Ying explored for a while but found nothing. They were both getting hungry. Qian Yuling took out some food from her Soul Tool, and the two began eating where they stood to replenish their strength before continuing their exploration.

Just then, the energy wave released by the white figure entered Qian Yuling and Mo Ying's field of vision. However, it was far too fast for them to react, and it struck them.

Mo Ying and Qian Yuling immediately lost consciousness. A few seconds later, the Wind Drifter Dragon appeared again and directly seized Mo Ying. It also released an aura that enveloped Qian Yuling, forming a protective shield around her. Then, the Wind Drifter Dragon threw Qian Yuling beneath Coral Plateau. Afterward, it took Mo Ying out of the area and headed for Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Some time later.

Qian Yuling woke up and discovered that she was in another unfamiliar place. She was utterly confused. She looked around but did not see Mo Ying, which worried her. However, her own situation was not much better. If Coral Plateau had been like heaven, then this place was like hell.

"Who was it?! Sob... Grandpa, Sister, someone is bullying me..." The more Qian Yuling thought about it, the angrier she became, until she burst into tears.

After crying for a while, Qian Yuling looked up.

She discovered that this seemed to be beneath Coral Plateau. Qian Yuling wiped away her tears, summoned Little Fire Dragon Fleet, and rode Fleet into the sky.

However, halfway up, something like a Barrier blocked Fleet from flying any farther.

Helpless, Qian Yuling could only return to the ground and dismiss Fleet.

After eating some food, Qian Yuling walked forward. But before she had gone far, the sight before her made her turn pale with shock.