The Golden-Winged Roc Shows His Might, the Fire Kingdom's Capital

The group walked out of the cave.

At that moment, the Golden-Winged Roc and the Heaven Mending Pavilion's spirit beast, White Phoenix, were nestled together, looking very affectionate.

Shi Teng coughed twice, and the two birds immediately sprang apart.

Shi Teng said, "These two birds seem quite fated for each other. Why not arrange a marriage for them? They might even produce a powerful offspring!"

Xia Youyu nodded gently.

Her mind was already filled with images of Shi Teng, so naturally, she would not object to anything he said.

Bai Yun, however, spoke up again. "This is our Heaven Mending Pavilion's spirit pet! How could we marry it off to this scruffy bird?"

Hearing that, the Golden-Winged Roc grew angry too.

He was a dignified Ancient Spirit Beast, yet someone had actually called him a scruffy bird.

"Roar!"

He spread his enormous body, spanning dozens of yards, and the flecks of gold on his brow radiated waves of domineering power.

A savage gleam shot from his eyes as he lunged straight at Bai Yun.

Bai Yun paid the Golden-Winged Roc no heed at all. She gave a disdainful snort. "Hmph, courting death!"

She gathered magical power in her right hand and sent it piercing toward the Golden-Winged Roc.

The Golden-Winged Roc gave a low cry. A golden light flared on his brow and instantly met the attack.

The two streams of spiritual power collided, and Bai Yun's attack was shattered in an instant.

The powerful backlash immediately forced her several steps backward.

The Golden-Winged Roc beat his wings and rose, his enormous body speeding through the air.

A faint smile crept onto Shi Teng's lips. "That's right. You're a Golden-Winged Roc. There's no reason you shouldn't be able to handle one woman. Beat this girl, and I'll go to the Heaven Mending Pavilion to arrange your marriage!"

At those words, the Golden-Winged Roc's eyes lit up.

His enormous body rolled through the air before shooting straight at Bai Yun.

A murderous look appeared on Bai Yun's face. "Courting death!"

A long blue-green sword appeared in her right hand. She leaped into the air and slashed at the Golden-Winged Roc.

The Golden-Winged Roc did not take her seriously at all.

He simply let her sword strike his body, sending showers of sparks flying.

His enormous body slammed straight into Bai Yun, knocking her flying.

Seeing this, Xia Youyu darted forward and caught the hurtling Bai Yun with one hand.

The Golden-Winged Roc let out another roar at the sight, glaring at Xia Youyu.

Shi Teng said, "Little Gold, what's gotten into you? I told you to deal with that woman. Why are you glaring at Senior Sister Xia like that?"

The Golden-Winged Roc gave a low growl before finally landing.

Shi Teng glared at him. "Usually, whenever trouble comes, you run faster than anyone. I never thought you had some real ability!

"Sure enough, you're no good bird either. You forget loyalty at the sight of a pretty face!"

The Golden-Winged Roc made a series of "lo-lo-lo" sounds, as though chuckling repeatedly.

Bai Yun steadied herself, her face deathly pale and filled with resentment.

She said furiously, "Senior Sister, even this big bird is bullying me! Kill him for me!"

Xia Youyu could no longer bear it. She snapped, "Shut your mouth! You were the one who started this. Keep behaving like this, and you won't be coming out with me again!"

Bai Yun lowered her head, feeling wronged.

But a woman like her did not deserve pity.

Shi Teng stepped forward and said, "A scruffy bird? This is an Ancient Spirit Bird, a Golden-Winged Roc. He's only a juvenile now. Once he grows up, he'll rival a Venerable Realm expert.

"By comparison, your White Phoenix is nothing more than an ordinary White-Feathered Spirit Bird."

A Golden-Winged Roc!

Hearing Shi Teng's words, Xia Youyu and the others were shocked once again.

Just who was this boy? His extraordinary talent, peerless cultivation techniques, and Divine Sword were already enough, but even his mount was an ancient ferocious beast, a Golden-Winged Roc!

Bai Yun's cheeks burned. She instantly felt as though she had been slapped across the face again and again.

A blush also appeared on Xia Youyu's face. "Sigh, how embarrassing. I'll never dare bring her out again!"

Shi Teng continued, "All right, no banquet under heaven lasts forever. Let's part ways here!"

Xia Youyu nodded gently, still looking reluctant to part.

Shi Teng seemed to have noticed her feelings too, but his ambitions lay elsewhere.

Women would only slow the speed of his sword draw.

"Goodbye!"

The Golden-Winged Roc beat his wings and soared away, turning his head to look at White Phoenix.

White Phoenix also gazed tenderly at the Golden-Winged Roc, making it seem as though Shi Teng had deliberately torn them apart.

Shi Teng patted the Golden-Winged Roc's body. "All right, stop looking. When I have time, I'll go to the Heaven Mending Pavilion and arrange your betrothal!"

"Roar!"

The Golden-Winged Roc let out a roar that could pierce metal and split stone, soaring straight through the clouds.

White Phoenix also gave a low cry.

The two calls mingled and faded into the horizon.

As they continued onward, a small city came into view, with travelers already visible coming and going nearby.

From time to time, they also saw cultivators riding spirit birds through the sky.

The Desolate Region was home to humans as well as ancient mixed-blood and pure-blood creatures.

Thus, seeing a few pure-blood creatures with tiger heads or bird heads atop human bodies in a capital was nothing unusual.

These pure-blood creatures, however, were born with exceptional gifts and formidable strength.

From birth, they were already much stronger than ordinary cultivators.

Unlike humans, who could only increase their strength through cultivation.

As a result, these pure-blood creatures enjoyed extremely high status in the capital.

Shi Teng checked the map and flew onward for a while longer before finally stopping.

"Wow, big brother! There are so many people here, and the city walls are so tall!"

Shi Teng nodded. "Yes, this should be the Fire Kingdom's capital, Vermilion Bird City!"

Shi Teng patted the Golden-Winged Roc, who immediately swooped down toward Vermilion Bird City.

His enormous body instantly drew the eyes of countless townspeople.

The nearby townspeople hurriedly cleared an open space for the Golden-Winged Roc to land.

Shi Teng, Shi Hao, and the Fire Qilin leaped down.

Shi Teng said, "Little Gold, go find yourself something to eat. We'll take a look around Vermilion Bird City!"

The Golden-Winged Roc nodded and beat his wings, soaring into the air once more.

By comparison, the Fire Qilin was much smaller, but it still drew countless gazes.

Even the nearby cultivators cast envious looks their way.

"I wonder which lord's sons they are. They even ride a qilin when they go out!"

"But their clothes look so rustic!"

"Yes, they're actually wearing animal hides. Could this be the latest fashion among the nobles?"

Discussion immediately broke out all around them.

Shi Teng could not be bothered with them. The two brothers hopped onto the Fire Qilin and headed into the city.

Every single passerby turned to look. They certainly cut a striking figure.

Here and there, they saw cultivators or nobles riding spirit beasts through the city.

But compared with Shi Teng's Fire Qilin, those mounts were hopelessly behind the times.

Shi Teng held his head high, feeling rather pleased with himself.

Looking at the bright red candied hawthorn skewers in the distance, Shi Hao could not help licking his lips.

"Big brother, I'm hungry. We haven't eaten in so long!"

Shi Teng nodded. This was their first visit to the city. As the grand capital of the Fire Kingdom, it ought to have a few good restaurants.

"All right! I'll take you to get something tasty!"

"Little Lin, speed up!"

Flames surged around the Fire Qilin, and its speed increased considerably.