Above the sea of clouds, fierce winds howled.
Big Red spread his wings over a hundred feet wide and glided steadily through the clouds. Crimson radiance flowed over his fiery feathers, staining the surrounding mist red.
Shi Hao sat cross-legged on the Fire Cloud Sparrow's back and let out a long breath.
His little hand rummaged in his pocket and pulled out two stalks of spirit medicine he had just lifted from the Rain Clan prodigies. He stuffed them straight into his mouth and chewed them raw.
The pure medicinal power turned into a warm current. He closed his eyes and guided his blood qi to repair several horrifying wounds that pierced clean through his body.
Beside him, Shi Hou lay flat on his back, his remarkably rhythmic snoring suddenly stopping.
His dark eyelids twitched twice, then his eyes snapped open.
Shi Hou rolled upright, his gaze still clouded with the confusion of waking.
He raised a hand and rubbed the back of his head.
The skin was unbroken, but an indescribable chill lingered there.
"Who? Who just stabbed the back of my head with an ice pick?"
Shi Hou rubbed his head and muttered, but before he finished, his nostrils suddenly twitched twice.
"Huh? Where's that rich smell of roasted poultry coming from?"
His gaze followed the scent straight to the Fire Cloud Sparrow's enormous head.
The Fire Cloud Sparrow had been flying perfectly well when he suddenly felt an intensely predatory gaze on his back.
He jolted all over and gave a thunderous shudder. His massive body plunged through the air, nearly pitching headfirst into the sea of clouds below.
Big Red hastily steadied himself and turned his head in fury.
Shi Hou froze.
A bright red bird's head was thrust right in front of his eyes.
His