C4 A Sneak Attack on the Way!

Flying from Xuanhu Cliff to Fallen Mountain City requires passing through the Misty Forest, a vast expanse teeming with countless fierce beasts. Normally, as long as humans don't provoke them, there's no danger. However, during a beast tide, these creatures attack on sight.

"Brother, can we really make it through safely with so many beasts below?" Su Cheng asked anxiously, his brow furrowed. It was his first time encountering such a sight, and a sense of fear crept in.

"Don't worry, we'll be fine," Su Changyi reassured him with a confident smile.

Su Changyi skillfully maneuvered the kite, guiding it higher to avoid the Misty Forest, moving swiftly along their path.

Su Qianxun relished the sensation of flying. Despite having flown countless times before, this unique experience of soaring above the earth and feeling the breeze was unmatched.

Suddenly, a series of sharp bird cries pierced the air. Out of nowhere, a massive, jet-black bird swooped down. Su Changyi deftly tilted the kite to dodge, but the bird's claws raked across its surface. "Sister, take control of the kite and go ahead. I'll cover the rear," Su Changyi said, his expression unusually serious.

Su Rou said, "Yes."

With that, Su Changyi moved to the tail of the kite. The bird's sharp cry was deafening, its talons like two sharp hooks, and its curved beak was equally sharp.

As it dove, Su Changyi thrust his sword, and the bird's claws clamped onto it with force. Using his other hand, Su Changyi performed an earth spike technique, driving it fiercely into the bird's eye. The bird released its grip with a pained cry, allowing Su Changyi to leap onto its back.

The bird darted wildly through the air, and Su Changyi clung to its neck, not daring to let go. The bird was in a frenzied state, and any lapse in concentration could be fatal.

Su Changyi waited for the perfect moment to strike as the bird swooped downward.

The opportunity came, and Su Changyi thought to himself, "Now's the time."

He drove his sword down hard. The bird struggled a few times before succumbing to its fate.

Seeing this, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close," Su Cheng remarked.

By now, Su Changyi had landed on the ground, and a peculiar scent from the beast's lure filled the air. During the battle, his entire focus had been on fighting, but now that it was over, the aroma emerged.

Su Changyi opened the bird's innards and held a small core in his hand, about the size of a bead. He glanced around as a streak of blue flashed by.

"Who?" Su Changyi shouted, catching only the last glimpse of light and the trail of dust—a sign of an Earth Tracking Talisman.

Within the entire Su family estate in Fallen Mountain City, besides the Su family, a renowned clan of cultivators, there were five other smaller families. A Talisman Master was a rare figure, and only the prestigious Su family had a second-level Talisman Master. The talisman papers crafted daily were among the most coveted items within the family.

An Earth Tracking Talisman, a first-level one, could only track a distance of about 328 feet. Su Changyi thought, this definitely wasn't a second-level Earth Tracking Talisman, so they could certainly catch up.

Without wasting a moment, he called out, "Junior Sister, lower the kite! I found some clues, hurry!"

Su Rou didn't hesitate and immediately brought the kite down. Once Su Changyi was on, he took control of it. "Everyone, keep an eye out for anything suspicious."

"Yes," Su Qianxun and the others replied in unison, starting to scan their surroundings.

The recent attack by the oversized bird left everyone except Su Changyi a bit shaken. The bird was only at the second level of cultivation, and with Su Changyi already at the sixth level of the Qi Refining Stage, dealing with such a beast was no challenge. He could have easily defeated it in one move. However, the Su family had been focusing on developing their disciples' combat skills, training them to defeat enemies without relying on spells, which is why it took longer this time.

"Hey, we're almost in town. Do you think the suspicious person you mentioned has already slipped away?" Su Rou asked softly.

Su Changyi frowned, "If that's the case, then let's drop it, but this matter..."

"Look, that person..." Su Qingxue interrupted Su Changyi, her voice calm.

Everyone followed her gaze. Su Changyi recalled the person he had seen earlier, "That's him. Let's go."

As they approached, the man seemed to sense them and launched an attack. A thin wooden stick shot from his palm with such speed that it was impossible to dodge, splitting the kite in two.

Su Changyi and Su Rou each held onto me and Su Qingxue, landing safely on the ground, while Su Cheng took a hard fall, grumbling all the way down.

The five of them surrounded the man. "Who are you? Did you lure that beast here?" Su Changyi demanded sharply.

The middle-aged man smirked, tugging at his mustache. "Young man, you should pretend you didn't see anything. That way, you won't have to meet your maker. Hahaha..." he sneered, then sprang into action.

Suddenly, various vines burst from his palm. Su Changyi's sword sliced through the air, each strike landing with the force of steel, pushing the vines back step by step.

Su Rou's sword, though seemingly delicate, pulsed with vibrant energy. In a clear voice, she commanded, "Ice Condensation!" Her sword transformed into a massive blade of ice, radiating intense cold that instantly froze the vines, even those that had first emerged.

However, Su Rou's strength was limited, allowing her to perform the "Ice Condensation" only once before she was left completely drained.

"Good, good, good. This is just a warm-up. The real challenge is yet to come," the middle-aged man said, his mustache twitching with each word, adding a sinister air to his demeanor.

"Thousand Vines Pierce the Heart!" With a commanding shout, countless vines surged forth, seemingly endless. Their sheer number was daunting, but even more terrifying was their rapid growth. As they attacked, they thickened, becoming as massive as ancient trees in mere moments. The five of us were ensnared, the vines tightening relentlessly, as if intent on suffocating us.

Su Qianxun frowned deeply. This can't go on. If it does, we're all doomed, he thought, anxiety gnawing at him.

Just then, "The Eight Desolations" flashed in Qianxun's mind: "The Flame of Life, sever and renew, a single spark can become an ocean."

These words kept echoing in her mind. Suddenly, it was as if she had been transported to another world. A towering, dark, and cold building loomed before her, with a spark at its peak that seemed to hold endless power.

Her eyes snapped open, and the red orb within her radiated intense energy. Her hands felt charged with strength, and from deep within, a surge of power erupted. In her palm, a small flame sprang to life. As she channeled the energy, the vines retreated, and the flame transformed into a fiery serpent, striking with precision.

In the depths of Qianxun's eyes, a flicker of flame danced, casting a fierce and untouchable aura around her. The middle-aged man quickly withdrew his vines and summoned a protective shield. The fiery serpent collided with it, resulting in a resounding "bang."

"Ugh..." Qianxun's body was thrown back by the force, collapsing to the ground, blood spilling from her lips as she lay barely conscious.

"Qianxun..."

"Junior Sister Qianxun..."

Voices called out as they saw Qianxun lose consciousness. The anger of the four companions turned toward the sinister middle-aged man. Compared to Qianxun, he had only staggered back a few steps and coughed up some blood, his injuries far less severe.

"How dare you harm my sister! You'll pay for this!" Su Changyi glared furiously at the middle-aged man.

The middle-aged man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Hmph, fine, then I'll send you all to meet your maker..."

Just as he was about to make his move, a commanding voice stopped him. "Who dares to harm a member of the Su family here?"