The First Day in the Secret Realm: Demonic Beasts in the Sky

Everyone agreed with Su Ye's suggestion.

"Right!"

Xia Zhiqiu was the first to nod in support.

"Let's get rid of these 'burden' tasks first, so we don't drag A'Su down later."

"Proceed step by step, from the outside in."

Zhang Xuan also agreed.

"This is the safest approach. Clear the outer perimeter first, then advance step by step. This way, we'll have a backup plan in case of unforeseen circumstances."

"Then it's settled."

Su Ye made the final decision.

Having decided on their strategy, the group didn't delay any longer. After confirming their direction, they all took to the air and flew towards the Southeast region where monsters frequently appeared.

Flying between mountains is far more difficult than imagined.

These mountains are close together with narrow gaps, so when you fly up, it feels like you're traveling through a towering Stone Forest.

After flying a certain distance, we had to adjust our direction, go around protruding rock walls, and pass through narrow gaps.

The group sometimes flew high, sometimes skimmed low, sometimes made sharp turns, and sometimes hovered.

The flight was intermittent, stopping and starting intermittently.

Su Ye was at the forefront, his Divine Sense spreading out in all directions like an invisible net, meticulously investigating every movement around him.

He could detect any unusual aura or any abnormal fluctuation.

Xia Zhiqiu flew for a while, then couldn't hold back any longer. She moved closer to Zhang Xuan and couldn't help but ask curiously.

"Hey, Old Zhang, there's something I don't understand."

"You say."

"We'll fly like this..."

Xia Zhiqiu gestured.

"Fly a bit, then turn a corner, then fly a bit more, then turn another corner. Isn't this just going around in circles?"

Isn't this just a waste of time?

"Besides, these mountains are blocking our view. Why don't we just fly into the air and rush straight ahead from above? Or, if all else fails, we can go underground and pass through; isn't that also a straight line?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuan gave a helpless, bitter smile.

"Lao Xia, oh Lao Xia..."

Zhang Xuan shook his head helplessly.

"Hearing that, I know you definitely haven't studied the walkthrough for the Hurricane Secret Realm carefully."

Xia Zhiqiu blushed and scratched his head sheepishly.

"Well... I was just thinking that with you guys here, everything would be fine. Why would I need to worry about this?"

"Besides, if I knew everything, what would I need you as my Strategist?"

Zhang Xuan was about to explain...

"Get out of the way!"

Su Ye's voice suddenly rang in everyone's ears, and it even carried a hint of urgency.

Before Xia Zhiqiu could react, she felt a powerful divine Divine Power envelop her entire body. The next moment, she was swept away by that Divine Power and plummeted downwards.

Zhang Xuan, Xiao Qiyue, and Shen Mo also fell at the same time.

Several figures were swept up by Su Ye's Divine Power and rushed towards a bend in the mountain below with lightning speed.

Su Ye had already investigated this matter.

There was a semi-enclosed hole hidden at that corner.

He led the group in single file through a narrow opening that could only accommodate one person at a time.

After the last person went in, Su Ye waved his hand, and a powerful Divine Power surged out, firmly sealing the entrance to the hole.

Inside the cave, it was pitch black.

Only a few slivers of light pierced through the depths of the hole, barely illuminating a few blurry human figures.

Xia Zhiqiu finally caught her breath and spoke, still shaken.

"What... what happened? What's going on?"

Su Ye did not answer.

He simply raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet, and then... pointed lightly in the direction of the grotto.

Look outside.

Everyone held their breath and crowded around the crack in the hole to look out.

Upon seeing this, everyone gasped in shock.

The sky outside had darkened without anyone noticing.

It's not that it's dark.

Instead...

Above their heads, there were countless Flying Demonic Beasts.

Those monsters were dark gray in color, resembling giant bats, with a pair of fleshy wings that were over ten feet wide when spread out, and the wing membranes were covered with strange patterns.

On their heads are a pair of huge, constantly opening and closing ear flaps, as if they were specifically designed to capture sound waves.

Sonic Bat.

Su Night God sense, and his heart sank.

Each one is God Level.

Moreover, the quantity... is so large it's terrifying.

That dark mass, blotting out the sky, was like a living dark cloud, swirling, surging, and shrieking in the air between the mountains.

"Hiss..."

Xia Zhiqiu swallowed hard, her voice trembling with fear.

"This... this is terrifying! What if we get caught..."

"Wouldn't that mean there would be no trace of their remains?"

He hadn't finished speaking...

Just then, several figures hurriedly flew past in mid-air.

Xia Zhiqiu recognized him at a glance.

"Those... those people..."

His voice even changed.

"They're also Martial Artists here to take the Examination. I saw them on the Flying Ship before!"

Those figures flew extremely fast, rushing forward with all their might, but the expressions on their faces betrayed their anxiety and panic.

They wanted to escape.

But they couldn't escape.

The swarm of Sonic Bats, like sharks that have smelled blood, instantly rushed after the figures.

"Ah..."

The last person flying at the end let out a piercing scream.

He frantically waved his arms, trying to resist and defend himself.

The Law Power was continuously unleashed, along with various Divine Artifacts, which were thrown out as if they were free.

But faced with that overwhelming Beast Tide, his little resistance was like a pebble thrown into a vast ocean, not even causing a ripple.

The next moment...

Fresh Blood was splattered everywhere.

That person was actually torn to pieces by the swarm of Sonic Bats.

Among the group, one of them, his eyes reddened, wanted to turn back to save the person, but was held back tightly by the people next to him and dragged away at high speed.

In just a few breaths, a life was lost in the sky above this Hurricane Secret Realm.

Inside the cave, all was deathly silent.

Xia Zhiqiu's face was deathly pale.

He recognized that person.

Just recently, on the Flying Ship, that person was full of anticipation, looking forward to this Star-Ranked Blood Bounty Examination.

He even treated Xia Zhiqiu to a cup of Divine Brew, saying with a smile, "Brother, see you in the Secret Realm."

Who would have thought...

He had barely entered the Hurricane Secret Realm, and before he could even stand firmly on the ground, he... died.

Zhang Xuan reached out and gently patted Xia Zhiqiu's shoulder.

"In each Star-Ranked Blood Bounty Examination, there is a mortality rate of at least 10%."

His voice was deep and calm.

"He... should be ready too."

Xia Zhiqiu took a deep breath and took a while to calm down her surging emotions.

Then, he looked up at Zhang Xuan and asked the question that had been on his mind.

"Old Zhang... is this what you were saying earlier, why we can't fly into the sky?"

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Um."

"These Sonic Bats are a type of Flying Demonic Beast unique to the Hurricane Secret Realm. They prefer to travel in groups, and their individual strength isn't particularly strong."

"But once Beast Tide forms... its destructive power is extremely terrifying."

"Even A'Su would probably find something like this troublesome."

"That small team just now, luckily they had a Middle God in their ranks, otherwise..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

Completely annihilated.

"These monsters not only move in groups, but they also fly at extremely high speeds."

Zhang Xuan continued.

"When they chase people, they're as fast as lightning; most people simply can't escape."

"However... this kind of monster also has a weakness."

What are the shortcomings?

Xia Zhiqiu quickly asked.

"If you fly too fast, your maneuverability will suffer."

Zhang Xuan said.

"They are not agile when turning, especially in places like this with dense mountains and narrow spaces; they are quite cumbersome."

Therefore, these Sonic Bats generally only fly in the air between mountains and rarely venture into narrow crevices.

"Therefore, the best and safest way to enter the Hurricane Secret Realm is to travel at low altitude between the mountains."

"This way, we can minimize the chances of colliding with these Flying Demonic Beasts; and if we do encounter them, we can find a nearby hole to hide in."

Xia Zhiqiu listened and nodded silently.

His feelings were complicated at that moment.

It was unusually heavy.

He had underestimated the simplistic nature of the Star-Ranked Blood Bounty Examination.

Even though I knew there were risks, I kept thinking about it...

With Su Ye around, and with Su Ye acting alongside us, there's nothing to be afraid of.

Because of this confidence, Zhang Xuan repeatedly told everyone to read the strategy guide in advance, but he didn't read it carefully.

Now I'm watching someone die right before my eyes...

Xia Zhiqiu felt an indescribable sense of regret.

"It's my problem."

He said in a low voice.

"I was too presumptuous."

I... I deserve to die.

How could I be so careless?

"Alright."

Zhang Xuan patted him on the shoulder.

It's not too late to know now.

Xia Zhiqiu silently pulled out the strategy guide and began to read it carefully.

Just like Zhang Xuan said, it's not too late to know now.

Soon, Xia Zhiqiu flipped through a section of the strategy guide and suddenly understood.

No wonder, no wonder A'Su led them around the mountains without sending any teleportation signals.

It turns out there's a hidden secret underneath.

In this Hurricane Secret Realm, besides the Sonic Bats flying in the sky, there is another kind of monstrous beast lurking beneath...

This kind of monster likes to sleep underground.

Its combat power is extremely strong, comparable to the Peak Middle God.

However, they will not attack people unless provoked.

But what if you're asleep and someone wakes you up...?

He'll go crazy.

Moreover, when these demonic beasts are asleep, they conceal their aura extremely well, making them very difficult to detect in advance.

Therefore, if you travel underground, you might bump into one of these sleeping monsters.

If you wake it up... the consequences will be unimaginable.

"Well."

Xia Zhiqiu sighed.

"That's why the guide specifically reminds you... when traversing the outer perimeter of the Hurricane Secret Realm, it's best to be in the middle of the mountain, that is, at low altitude."

"There's Beast Tide Sonic Bats in the sky."

"Underground, a Fierce Beast slumbers."

"Only the middle level is a relatively safe passage."

Xia Zhiqiu was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly raised her hand and slapped herself.

This left everyone stunned.

Xia Zhiqiu looked up, her expression becoming more serious.

"This time, Xia Zhiqiu was wrong. A'Su, Old Zhang, and Wanrou, if I ever do anything like this again, you can all slap me across the face!"