"Kree!"
An eagle's cry rang across the vast sky.
As a dark silhouette streaked overhead, several Rogue Cultivators riding tigers, leopards, Gray Wolves, and other Spirit Creatures looked up.
"Another messenger eagle. How many have flown past in just these few moments?"
"Yes, and it looks like a Rift-Piercing Thunder Eagle, known for its speed. With so many flying past, something big must have happened."
"Could fighting have broken out up ahead?"
"Listen to yourself. This is a battlefield. When does a day pass without fighting? Fighting is nothing unusual-not fighting would be unusual! Still, this is our Central Province's territory. If those Southern Wilds people have fought their way in, that really would be trouble."
This band of eight Rogue Cultivators consisted of rough-and-ready Grassroots hunters who usually roamed the Yi Mountain Range, making their living by prospecting for ore veins, gathering spirit medicine, and hunting low-ranking Demon Beasts. Like everyone else who had followed the war here, they were unwilling to settle for lives that were peaceful but impoverished. They all wanted to stake everything on a chance to strike it rich.
Ordinarily, even if they were willing to take risks, opportunities to explore hidden places, uncover ruins, and fight over treasures were scarce. This war had come at just the right time.
Thus, although they guessed that something major had happened up ahead, they did not keep their distance. Instead, they continued south, heading against the Thunder Eagles' flight path.
They knew they could seize this opportunity only by getting close to where things were happening.
Suddenly, another Swift Eagle flew overhead. Upon spotting them, it swooped down.
"Stop!" The leader of the Rogue Cultivators halted his companions and watched the Swift Eagle warily.
The Swift Eagle looked him in the eye, then suddenly spoke in a