C103 Raging Bull Canyon

"Is that the Purple Lightning Bird?"

"It looks like it flew out from the direction of the Dragon Slaying Marquis Mansion!"

"I've heard the Dragon Slaying Marquis does indeed have a Purple Lightning Bird as a demonic pet, but it's supposed to be in its juvenile stage. The one we just saw was moving too fast to be that young."

"Let's not argue. The person riding on its back is the Dragon Slaying Marquis himself. I trust my eyesight."

At a window-side table in a tavern, several Grand Battle Masters caught a glimpse of Ning Qi riding the Purple Lightning Bird as it zipped past the window.

Not only them, but the Fifth Rank Purple Lightning Bird also caught the attention of numerous factions.

...

A furtive figure appeared at the side entrance of the Champion Marquis' Mansion. Shortly after, the door opened and Yuan peeked out.

"What's going on?"

Yuan asked, her brow furrowed.

The shadowy figure was a teenager, about 15 or 16 years old. He whispered, "The Dragon Slaying Marquis has left Jing City."

Yuan's expression shifted from shock to a hint of delight. "Are you absolutely certain?"

"I heard it straight from Zhao Er, so it's likely true."

The youth nodded in confirmation.

Yuan pulled a porcelain bottle from her pocket and tossed it to the young man. "Here's the Qi Gathering Pill I promised you. It's a low-grade Yellow Rank. Now go, and make sure you're not seen."

A flicker of ecstatic joy passed through the youth's eyes. He carefully stowed the bottle in his chest and quickly departed.

Yuan then entered Nangong Yuer's chamber, where she sat before a bronze mirror, trying on new garments with the assistance of two maids.

Dismissing the maids with a wave, Yuan noted a flash of annoyance in Nangong Yuer's eyes. "What's the matter?"

Yuan leaned in close and whispered, "I've just received word that Ning Qi may have left Jing City!"

Nangong Yuer's eyes sparkled with interest. She rose to her feet and declared, "We must go to the Nangong family at once!"

Soon after, she met with Nangong Qixing. Once she shared the news, they set off, following the address provided by Qiu Wanli to track him down.

Qiu Wanli had been in Jing City for some time, awaiting news with bated breath.

Aboard a decorated pleasure boat, Nangong Yuer and Nangong Qixing stumbled upon Qiu Wanli, who was in the midst of seducing a bevy of seven or eight beauties on a grand bed. Rising to his feet, his body bare, he commanded, "All of you, leave now."

"Master," one of the women purred.

With a swift slap, Qiu Wanli silenced her coquettish tone. She clutched her face in shock, staring at him in disbelief.

"Didn't you understand me? Withdraw," Qiu Wanli demanded, his voice icy.

"Yes, we're going," they acquiesced.

An older courtesan quickly took the lead, ushering the stunned woman out of the room.

While Nangong Qixing remained unfazed by the display, Nangong Yuer couldn't hide her revulsion. She averted her gaze, unwilling to look upon Qiu Wanli's repulsive form.

Once the women had departed, Nangong Qixing stepped forward, bowing respectfully. "Senior, Ning Qi has left Jing City."

A smirk curled the edges of Qiu Wanli's lips. "Finally, he's decided to leave Jing City..."

...

Shortly after Ning Qi took flight on the Purple Lightning Bird, a shadowy figure soared from a nearby courtyard within the Dragon Slaying Marquis Mansion, hot on Ning Qi's trail.

...

At the Divine Martial Duke's Mansion, a Battle Spirit knelt before Huangfu Fei, reporting with deference, "Head Chief, Ning Qi was seen departing Jing City on a Purple Lightning Bird, heading in the direction of Tianfeng Forest."

"Purple Lightning Bird?" Huangfu Fei mused, then rose with a sneer. "What does it matter if it's a juvenile Fifth Rank Mid-grade Demon Beast? It won't save him. Dragon Slaying Marquis, it's time for our paths to cross."

...

In the depths of Tianfeng Forest, Ning Qi, who hadn't hunted monsters to level up in over half a year, was eager to resume the hunt. He dispatched any Demonic Beast he encountered with a single palm strike, his experience points soaring with each kill.

He also realized that if the beasts were slain by Purple, he wouldn't gain any experience. So, he decided to let Purple simply observe from the sidelines.

His attributes had recently undergone some subtle changes.

Host: Ning Qi.

Rank: Three-Star Grand Battle Master.

Experience Points: 90,800 / 200,000.

Cultivation Technique: Dragon-shape Prajna Arts, Third Level, 384 / 10,000.

Martial Skill: Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms, Fourth Level, 1,248 / 100,000.

HP: 12,500.

Alchemy: Third Rank Alchemist, Proficiency 82,000 / 100,000.

Dragon Slaying Coins: 500.

"To level up requires 200,000 experience points; we might as well bypass these isolated Demonic Beasts."

After some thought, Ning Qi pulled out a sheepskin map from his pocket. He had specifically requested this map from Lvh Liu. It detailed the perilous areas of Tianfeng Forest, marking them as forbidden zones. However, for Ning Qi, it was akin to a game map, with these forbidden zones serving as his leveling grounds.

"Raging Bull Canyon is teeming with Third Rank raging bulls and Fourth Rank king of raging bulls. It's closer to us; that's our destination."

Having made his choice, Ning Qi leapt onto Purple's back and set off toward Raging Bull Canyon. About four hours into their flight, the canyon came into view.

Perched on Purple's back, Ning Qi circled above Raging Bull Canyon.

Below, the raging bulls were massive, sporting green fur and horns as sharp as Battle Weapons. Renowned for their brute strength, they were a formidable match for any Grand Battle Master of equal rank. With their volatile tempers, they would ferociously band together to repel any Demonic Beast that trespassed into their territory, relentlessly attacking until the intruder perished.

In the absence of threats, they would sporadically clash among themselves over food and mates.

At that moment, dozens of raging bulls were locked in combat, blood drenching the earth.

Atop the highest point of the canyon, a Demonic Beast twice the size of a normal raging bull lay sprawled out, lazily grazing on the grass. It suddenly lifted its head, spotting Ning Qi and the Purple Lightning Bird. With a roar unlike any bovine, it commanded the attention of every raging bull in the canyon, who ceased their battles and turned their gaze skyward.

Upon spotting Ning Qi, the raging bulls kicked their hooves in a frenzy. Powerless to reach him in the sky, they could only vent their fury on the earth, their hooves sending stones flying and the ground trembling.

"Even as a Battle King, facing the onslaught of these hundreds of raging bulls, I'd have to make a strategic retreat," Ning Qi mused aloud. He then gently patted the Purple Lightning Bird's neck, signaling it was time to depart.

With Ning Qi and the Purple Lightning Bird vanished from sight, a hush fell once more over Raging Bull Canyon.

Ning Qi touched down in a secluded nook of a distant hill. "Purple, head back to the Pet Space for now," he instructed.

Purple hesitated, but after swallowing the Spiritual Nourishment Pill, it contentedly allowed Ning Qi to send it into the Pet Space. Ning Qi then stealthily made his way back toward Raging Bull Canyon.

Before long, Ning Qi had found a remarkably strategic vantage point from which to watch the herd of raging bulls.

In just over half an hour, he had thoroughly discerned the nuances of the raging bull group.