Desperate cries echoed through the valley. A dozen or so surviving Rogue Cultivators rushed toward the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle like moths flying into a flame, frantically waving their magic artifacts and releasing feeble spells in an attempt to draw the fearsome beast's attention.
A flash of fury glinted in the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle's emerald eyes as it took offense at being challenged by ants!
"Keer!"
It let out a piercing shriek that split metal and stone, then beat its enormous golden wings!
In an instant, a gale erupted, sending sand and rocks flying!
Dozens of razor-sharp, visible blue-green wind blades appeared out of thin air, sweeping toward the charging Rogue Cultivators like a rain of death!
"No—!"
"Help!"
Their screams cut off abruptly.
Qi Refining cultivators were utterly powerless before the furious strike of this peak Foundation Establishment Late Stage beast. Wherever the wind blades passed, flesh and blood flew, and severed limbs scattered. In the blink of an eye, seven or eight Rogue Cultivators had been torn to shreds!
The few who remained were scared out of their wits and turned to flee.
But the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle was faster!
It became a bolt of golden lightning. Its talons hooked like claws, and every dive snatched up a Rogue Cultivator, effortlessly tearing them in two or crushing them into a cloud of blood!
A massacre! This was a massacre without the slightest suspense!
Amid the crowd, Li Qingshan let himself be "grazed" by a wind blade the instant it came at him. He cried out and fell to the ground, cleverly using a corpse to cover most of his body.
He pushed the Lesser Heaven-Veiling Secret Art to its utmost. Not only did he completely conceal his cultivation aura, but his life force also dwindled like a guttering candle, barely perceptible and perfectly blended with the surrounding aura of death and stench of blood.
He even controlled his muscles to turn his face deathly pale, letting a trickle of blood seep from the corner of his mouth. He looked no different from the corpses around him.
The Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle's spiritual sense was keen, but it was in a fit of rage, focused mostly on the "bugs" still moving and fleeing.
Its divine sense swept over the ground, sensing only life forces fading rapidly. It paid little attention to Li Qingshan's "corpse."
In just a short while, nearly all the Rogue Cultivators driven here had perished, save for Li Qingshan, who was still playing dead!
But a few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators remained. They mounted their flying swords and fled frantically in every direction.
The Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle stood proudly amid the mountain of corpses and sea of blood, giving a triumphant cry. Specks of blood stained its golden feathers, making it look even more ferocious.
Fierce light flickered in its eyes. It shot into the sky, about to pursue the few late-stage Qi Refining cultivators!
Now!
Li Qingshan had been closely watching the battle with his divine sense, as well as the movements of the three Yin Luo Sect demonic cultivators. He seized the fleeting opportunity!
Seeing the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle soar after the fleeing cannon fodder, the three demonic cultivators took their chance and quietly crept toward the pool!
A cold smile touched Li Qingshan's lips. Beneath the cover of the corpses, his finger moved ever so slightly. A seemingly ordinary Fire Explosion Talisman, emanating a faint and obscure fluctuation, shot precisely toward a spot ahead of the three demonic cultivators' path—closer to the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle's nest.
Explode!
Li Qingshan silently activated the Top-Grade Fire Explosion Talisman, which had been enhanced by the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd!
BOOM!!!
An explosion far more violent than an ordinary Fire Explosion Talisman's rang out!
Frenzied fire-attribute spiritual power erupted like a volcano. A scorching shockwave instantly spread, destroying every plant and rock in the area. It even shook the entire valley!
The commotion was enormous!
The Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle, which had been about to pursue the cannon fodder, whipped around. Its emerald pupils contracted, filled with incredulous rage!
What did it see?
Three sneaky black-clad bugs had actually crept near its nest! And they had dared to cause such a huge explosion?!
This was a challenge to its dignity! Worse, it threatened its nest and spiritual spring!
"Keer!!!"
This cry brimmed with murderous intent and a fury at being toyed with! It locked onto the three Yin Luo Sect cultivators, who stood gaping in shock!
The three demonic cultivators were deathly pale, both shocked and furious!
"What happened?! Who did that?!"
"Damn it! Which useless piece of trash isn't dead yet?"
"Not good! That featherless beast has its sights on us!"
They never imagined that a surviving piece of cannon fodder had sabotaged them. They assumed one of their companions had accidentally triggered some lingering restriction, or that a dying Rogue Cultivator had made a last-ditch counterattack.
But by then, there was no point explaining.
The enraged Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle had become a destructive streak of golden light, swooping toward them with terrifying force that threatened to tear everything apart!
"Form up! Hold it off!" the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage senior brother shouted in alarm. The three hurriedly summoned their magic artifacts, unleashed their demonic arts, and braced themselves for battle.
A fierce battle between a peak Foundation Establishment Late Stage beast and three Foundation Establishment Realm demonic cultivators erupted in an instant!
The Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle was as fast as lightning. Its talons and beak rivaled spiritual artifacts, and each flap of its wings unleashed howling wind blades of immense power.
The three demonic cultivators unleashed everything they had. The Soul-Shadow Banner rolled with black mist, the White Bone Shield blocked attacks, and all manner of sinister spells battered the golden eagle.
Rumbles, explosions, the eagle's shrieks, and the demonic cultivators' furious roars rang through the valley.
Li Qingshan remained motionless, still playing dead as he watched coldly.
He noticed that the three demonic cultivators worked well together and fought viciously. They really had some skill, but faced with the gap in their raw power, they soon fell to the back foot, barely holding on as danger closed in from every side.
The Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle was brutally fierce. Not only was it incredibly fast and armed with talons that rivaled spiritual artifacts, but its emerald eyes could also unleash lightning. The three demonic cultivators were struck until they howled for their mothers and fathers, and before long, all had suffered serious injuries.
"Damn featherless beast!"
The Foundation Establishment Middle Stage senior brother gritted his teeth, his face twisted with pain, then abruptly brought out a black talisman etched with a hideous ghost's head!
"A Talisman Treasure! It's the Ten Thousand Ghost Soul-Devouring Talisman bestowed by the Elder, senior brother!" the other two cried, a trace of delight in their voices.
"We have no choice! Once we kill this beast, we'll make up for the loss with its blood essence and demonic soul!" The Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator was heartbroken, but there was no other way. Without using the Talisman Treasure, they would all die.
He frantically poured his magic power into activating the Talisman Treasure.
At once, wails of ghosts and howls of wolves filled the air. The Talisman Treasure transformed into a dense black cloud, and countless hideous ghostly figures surged from within, savagely tearing at the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle. They could partially bypass physical defenses and directly erode its demonic soul!
The Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle let out a pained shriek, its movements slowing considerably. Its golden feathers also lost much of their luster.
Seizing the chance, the three demonic cultivators rained attacks down on the golden eagle, leaving wound after wound across its body.
At last, after paying a heavy price, the Jade-Eyed Golden Eagle gave an unwilling cry and crashed to the ground. Its golden blood stained the edge of the pool red.
"Cough, cough... We finally... killed that beast..."
The Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator panted heavily, his face pale. As he looked at the lifeless remains of the Talisman Treasure, his heart ached so badly he could barely breathe.
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