The Demonized Feathered Serpentfolk

"It's a demonized Vassal on this planet—the Feathered Serpentfolk!"

"But why is it so huge?"

As the massive figure burst forth, the mountains shook and the earth split. Black miasma billowed out, and everyone got a clear look at its appearance.

It was a Feathered Serpentfolk, more than two zhang tall, covered in fleshy growths and bone spikes, and severely corrupted by demonic energy.

"It devoured all the remaining demonized Feathered Serpentfolk! And it looks like it swallowed quite a few Spirit Stones, too!"

Liang Ji and the others saw that the enormous, fearsome demonized Feathered Serpentfolk held the corpses of demonized Feathered Serpentfolk in one hand and Spirit Stones in the other.

The huge demonized Feathered Serpentfolk roared and bellowed as it stuffed the corpses and Spirit Stones into its mouth and chewed.

"This must be a trap left behind by the Demon Cultivators who invaded this planet!"

"Didn't the school say they'd already cleared out the trial planet?"

Someone spoke gravely.

"I think they deliberately left it behind."

Fang Xiaohan wore a bitter smile as she spoke from nearby.

"The City Education Bureau and the school want to laugh at us and teach us a lesson we won't forget!"

Even without her saying so, many of those present had already figured it out.

During this trial, when they met here, no one had thought to scout ahead and deal with the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk in the core area. Instead, they'd gone straight for each other's throats, fighting one another with brutal ferocity.

As a result, they'd allowed the demon-corrupted, mutated Feathered Serpentfolk to grow into the greatest threat.

There was no doubt about it: everyone present had already lost a great deal of credit for their performance in this trial.

Zhang Liangpu, Xia Yuanqiu, Yun Lai, and the other Star Lord students who had hoped to distinguish themselves before the school and the City Education Bureau all looked grim.

"Everyone!" Zhang Liangpu called out to the group. "We've made enough of a spectacle of ourselves. Let's not give those old-timers outside any more of a show."

"Let's join forces and kill this demonized Feathered Serpentfolk. Afterward, we'll divide the treasures and Spirit Stones according to each side's contribution in battle."

"Agreed!"

"No problem!"

Everyone readily assented.

Hiss... Roar!

By now, the enormous demonized Feathered Serpentfolk had charged into the battlefield, roaring as it launched its attack.

Its wings were huge and grotesque, nearly all their feathers shed, with fleshy growths and bone spikes covering them. It could no longer take flight, but it could swing them down like two giant fans, raising gusts strong enough to knock large numbers of Vassals off their feet.

Its huge, thick tail was covered in bone spikes and fleshy growths, like a giant spiked club. It rolled, swept, and smashed down, and no Vassal squad could withstand it.

The Black Iron Serpentfolk had the strongest defenses. Their Rune Artifact shields and Rune Armor could withstand the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk's fearsome tail slamming down, but they lacked the strength to hold their ground. Wherever its tail swept, swathes of Black Iron Serpentfolk were knocked flat.

When Liang Ji's Half-Dragonfolk squad faced the sweeping, grotesque tail, their combined strength was enough to resist it, but their defenses were not. The tail's vicious bone spikes kept breaking through their shields and armor, killing them on the spot.

The other Ice Soul Serpentfolk, Crimson Serpentfolk, Shadow Serpentfolk, Qianji Serpentfolk, Cloud Lightning Serpentfolk, Tidal Serpentfolk, and the rest couldn't resist it either. A mere glancing blow wounded them; a direct hit killed them.

The enormous demonized Feathered Serpentfolk was like an armored vehicle barreling through the battlefield. It rampaged and crushed the Vassals of one Star Lord after another, sweeping them aside and trampling them into the ground, then repeatedly reaching down to grab the badly wounded and the dead and stuff them into its mouth.

They even noticed that as it chewed through the Vassals of the various Houses, the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk's huge, fearsome body continued to grow, little by little!

And despite being unable to fly, its wings still stirred up fierce gusts that let it move at tremendous speed.

It was extremely difficult for their Vassal squads to keep their distance and attack from afar.

"This can't go on!"

"Someone's Vassal squad needs to engage it at close range, hold it back, and stop it from moving!"

"Only then can the other squads attack from a distance."

Yun Lai called out. He turned to Liang Ji and asked loudly:

"What's your name, classmate?"

"Me?" Liang Ji asked, surprised. Then he said, "I'm Liang Ji, from Second High School."

Until now, he'd been with Fang Xiaohan and Peng Yue, and everyone's attention had been on Peng Yue. A few might have recognized Fang Xiaohan, but no one had paid attention to who he was. No one had even asked his name.

"Classmate Liang." Yun Lai pointed to the Half-Dragonfolk Vassals. "Your Vassals are strong. They can withstand the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk's blows. What they lack is equipment and defense!"

"Here..." He turned to the others nearby. "Tie Muxiong, Jin Yuelian, give some of your Vassals' Rune Artifact shields to Classmate Liang's Vassals."

Tie Muxiong and Jin Yuelian both had Black Iron Serpentfolk Vassals, all equipped with Rune Artifact shields that provided formidable defense.

"Sure!"

"No problem!"

Tie Muxiong and Jin Yuelian both nodded.

"Classmate Liang," Yun Lai said, turning back to him. "With the shields, can your Vassals hold off the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk?"

"No problem!"

Liang Ji answered without hesitation.

"Good! Make the handoff, quickly!"

"The rest of you, get your long-range attacks ready. Once Classmate Liang's Vassals have it tied down, attack with everything you've got and kill it as fast as possible!"

Yun Lai called out, naturally taking command of the battlefield.

Liang Ji's Half-Dragonfolk squad now numbered just over two hundred. The earlier skirmishes, their clash with the Crimson Serpentfolk, and the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk's attacks had cost him nearly two hundred more.

His Half-Dragonfolk squad had suffered terrible losses in this trial, and holding the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk back would likely cost them many more lives.

But it was all worth it. He'd seen his Vassals' strengths and weaknesses, and understood the gap between them and the top Star Lord students in Xiushe City. He also knew what direction to take their future training and development.

"The Heavenly Emperor is watching over us!"

"Brothers! Follow me!"

Now armed with Rune Artifact shields, the Half-Dragonfolk squad charged the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk, more than two zhang tall, under Chi the Sixth's command and rallying cry.

Clang! Thud! Crack...

This time, the Half-Dragonfolk managed to withstand the gusts from the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk's wings and the sweeps of its tail, preventing them from cutting through the ranks.

The Half-Dragonfolk's brute strength and the Rune Artifact shields' protection formed a solid defensive line. The line wavered under the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk's attacks, but still held fast, keeping it pinned in place.

"Quick! Attack! Now!"

The other Vassals—Ice Soul Serpentfolk, Crimson Serpentfolk, Green Bamboo Serpentfolk, Wood Vine Serpentfolk, Entwining Tree Serpentfolk, Black Iron Serpentfolk, Qianji Serpentfolk, Cloud Lightning Serpentfolk, Tidal Serpentfolk, and the rest—were mostly equipped with bows, javelins, and other weapons. They launched long-range attacks, raining shots down on the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk.

Even the Shadow Serpentfolk belonging to Fang Xiaohan and Hu Dayong revealed themselves, firing hand crossbows and blow darts at the demonized Feathered Serpentfolk.