"Interesting. I never expected that in a place where not even birds bother to shit, someone would actually possess a Spirit World Master from the Asura Spirit World — and one at only the eighth level of Xuan Martial, no less." The black-robed elder swept his gaze over Egg Egg and Chu Feng, speaking in a calm, unhurried tone.
At that moment, Chu Feng was inwardly startled. He had used the power of two different lightning affinities to elevate his cultivation to the first level of Heaven Martial, yet this elder had seen straight through to his true level — the eighth level of Xuan Martial.
On top of that, the unprecedented sense of danger Chu Feng felt from this elder, combined with cultivation so deep it was utterly unfathomable, led him to a single conclusion: this black-robed elder was an extraordinary powerhouse, quite possibly a Martial Lord–level expert.
"Let me see what's so special about you, boy." Without warning, the elder's gaze shifted, and he began walking toward Chu Feng.
"You filthy old bastard — get lost, or don't blame this queen for being impolite!" Egg Egg's expression darkened the moment she saw this. She let out a thunderous shout, and at the same time, a torrent of black energy erupted from within her. As soon as the black aura surged outward, the air filled with wailing and howling — a truly terrifying sight.
Yet the black-robed elder didn't so much as flinch at this horrifying black energy. He merely smiled and said, "Not bad. This level of combat power marks a noble bloodline among Asura Spirit World Masters. Truly rare indeed."
As he spoke, a layer of golden light suddenly expanded from within his body. It not only blocked Egg Egg's black energy but actually forced it to retreat at a rapid pace. Then the golden glow coalesced into a massive net, and in the blink of an eye, it drove the black energy all the way back into Egg Egg's body.
Golden light bound Egg Egg in place, rendering her immobile. No matter how fiercely she launched her attacks, she couldn't budge the golden radiance in the slightest.
"The power of a golden barrier? You're a Gold-Robed Spirit World Master?!" Chu Feng was stunned, because he had already recognized that golden luminescence as the power of a golden barrier — something only a Gold-Robed Spirit World Master could wield.
A Purple-Robed Spirit World Master was already considered a living legend on the Nine Provinces Continent. A Gold-Robed Spirit World Master was a legend beyond all legends. If this man was truly a Gold-Robed Spirit World Master, it most likely meant he wasn't from the Nine Provinces Continent — and that he was, without question, a peerless powerhouse.
"Not bad. You've got a sharp eye." Suddenly, the elder's voice rang out from directly behind Chu Feng's ear. In that same instant, Chu Feng realized with shock that the black-robed elder, who had been standing some distance away, had vanished without a trace.
"Whoa—!"
By the time Chu Feng spun around, a massive hand was already bearing down on him, slamming flat against his chest.
"Ngh—!!!"
The elder's speed was simply too fast. By the time Chu Feng even saw the hand, it had already clamped down hard on his chest. At the same time, waves of eerie energy surged into his body, darting wildly through his insides as though searching for something.
He was searching Chu Feng's body — looking for whatever was special about him.
"Hmm?" However, the moment that strange energy attempted to enter Chu Feng's Dantian, the black-robed elder's expression changed dramatically. He hastily released his grip on Chu Feng's chest and stepped back.
His gaze as he looked at Chu Feng had become extraordinarily complicated. He murmured to himself, "Who would've thought… who would've thought that in a place where not even birds bother to shit, such an unusual boy would turn up."
"Forget it, forget it. A place like this producing someone like you — that's rare enough as it is. I'll spare your life today."
With that, the black-robed elder flicked his wide sleeve. The surrounding flames began to die out at an astonishing rate, and in the span of a single breath, the vast sea of fire that had engulfed several mountain peaks extinguished completely, replaced by billowing columns of dark smoke. In the same moment, the black-robed elder vanished.
"Is this what a Gold-Robed Spirit World Master can do?" Chu Feng stared at the scorched, smoking earth before him, his heart shaken to its core.
"Chu Feng, come look at this!" But just then, Egg Egg cried out in alarm.
Chu Feng turned to look and was stunned to discover an enormous figure in the distance — a giant bird.
The creature was colossal, its body rivaling the size of a small mountain. Every one of its feathers was a shimmering gold, glittering so brightly they were almost blinding.
But for all its stunning beauty, every part of this bird was a weapon. Its gaping maw was lined with razor-sharp teeth, and even each individual feather was an unbreakable blade.
Yet as terrifying as this giant bird looked, it was already lifeless. Even so, horrifying flames still writhed across its massive body, leaping and darting in every direction.
These flames were identical to the sea of fire from before — which meant the fire hadn't been caused by the black-robed elder at all. It had been radiating from this terrifying giant bird.
"Ha ha! Amazing! This is a demon beast with a genuinely special bloodline — a truly powerful demon beast, born from the very start to be king among demon beasts!"
"What are the Five Great Demon Kings of Ten Thousand Monster Mountain compared to this? Even that big brother of yours, the little monkey, is nothing next to this beast!" Egg Egg was practically vibrating with excitement, hopping and bounding toward the giant bird.
Chu Feng hurried after her, worried that something unexpected might happen and Egg Egg could end up in danger.
When he finally drew close to the terrifying giant bird, he felt himself shrink to nothing. Standing before it, Chu Feng was no larger than an ant. What loomed before him didn't feel like a demon beast — it felt like a small mountain.
"Dammit! Dammit! The Origin has been absorbed — completely drained clean! If I could have this demon beast's Origin, my cultivation would soar. I could break through multiple realms in a row! Dammit! DAMMIT!!!" Suddenly, Egg Egg began shouting, her voice thick with resentment.
Chu Feng saw now that the giant bird's Origin had indeed been consumed down to the very last wisp — not a shred remained.
He didn't need to guess who had done this. It could only be the black-robed elder from moments ago.
The man was a Gold-Robed Spirit World Master — he had surely formed contracts with multiple powerful spirits. For all Chu Feng knew, this giant bird had been killed by the elder himself. And the reason was simple: to devour its Origin.
"Oh my god… a bird this big actually exists?!"
Just then, Zhang Tianyi, Jiang Hengyuan, Qi Fengyang, Gao Qizhi, and Zi Ling — having seen the sea of fire die down — returned to the scene. They arrived before the giant bird with looks of utter astonishment and began examining it closely. Not a single one of them had ever seen such a massive demon beast before.
"Chu Feng, what exactly happened here? Did you put out that sea of fire?" Jiang Hengyuan approached Chu Feng, his face full of wonder.
Chu Feng considered for a moment. In the end, he decided against telling the truth. Instead, he shook his head with a look of feigned bewilderment and said:
"It wasn't me. The fire went out on its own. This giant bird was probably still alive before — the flames were bound to it, burning as one. Now that it's dead, the sea of fire went out too."