The ice qilin finally fell, and everyone in the grand hall breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Luo's move was too fast, too sudden. Chu Tianshu and the others hadn't even had time to help before the threat was eliminated.
Bai Mu Tianjun let out a long sigh of relief, finally free from the crisis. He tidied up his wounds, took an eighth-grade regenerative pill, and felt the missing bone in his shoulder slowly grow back. He shot a displeased glance at You Meng Mo Shi before turning his gaze to Su Luo.
"Come here," he commanded.
But Su Luo ignored Bai Mu Tianjun, as if she hadn't heard him, standing still.
Sima Kun quickly shouted, "My lord is calling you. Are your ears deaf? Hurry up and go!"
Su Luo inwardly sneered, then put on a dazed expression, turned, and walked towards Bai Mu Tianjun. Her face was expressionless throughout, as if she were a mere puppet devoid of consciousness.
Sima Kun scurried to Bai Mu Tianjun's side, bowing and scraping, "My lord, this woman consumed my subordinate's Black Worm Pill. Due to the mother worm, she only obeys my commands, which is why she acted towards you… Please forgive her, my lord."
Bai Mu Tianjun was well aware of the Black Worm Pill's effects. He waved his hand and scrutinized the young woman before him. After a long moment, he sighed, "This seat will not blame her. It is simply a pity that someone with such great fortune and outstanding cultivation has lost her senses. In her normal state, her power would undoubtedly be even greater. Alas…"
For the first time, he felt a desire to take a disciple. Such a promising talent, wasted if not taken as an heir.
But this woman had become a cripple and wouldn't live much longer.
"Bai Mu, you are truly blessed, not having wasted my strength in saving you," You Meng Mo Shi said sarcastically from the side. "There are eight more statues here. Since your puppet is so powerful, why don't you take them all on yourself?"
"If this seat takes them all, what need is there for you?"
Bai Mu Tianjun was also annoyed. You Meng Mo Shi had stood by and watched when he was in danger earlier, so he was no longer pretending to be polite. "Each person takes one. My people killed that beast. Now it's your turn. What, are you afraid? Are all your subordinates good-for-nothings?"
You Meng Mo Shi was cornered by his words and could only grunt. His gaze fell upon the other eight beast statues.
Throughout the grand hall, eight statues were scattered haphazardly.
Each one was lifelike and majestic, as if they could come alive at any moment.
"Black Skull, you take your men and test them. See which ones revive, and don't hold back. Try to finish them off the moment they revive," You Meng Mo Shi said, scanning the eight statues with a grave tone.
He had lost many men as well, with about eighty-odd remaining. He had to be careful.
"Yes, my lord."
A man whose sleeves and hem were embroidered with a black skull pattern stepped forward. A flame pattern adorned his brow. He waved his hand, and six subordinates cautiously approached the eight statues, not daring to be careless.
Su Luo looked at a sculpture poised for flight. The second one to revive was the Xuan Bird.
A short man, his nerves taut, had just gotten within a丈 or so of the Xuan Bird statue when a gleam flashed across the feathers on its head and quickly spread throughout its entire plumage, shimmering with an incredible, mystical radiance.
He trembled and stopped abruptly, shouting, "It's this one… it's about to revive!"
A high-pitched bird cry echoed through the hall. A golden figure with a long, trailing tail appeared. A beautiful and majestic Xuan Bird circled the hall, drawing everyone's attention.
The Xuan Bird was far more beautiful than the ice qilin. Its golden feathers, with a multicolored tail, and its two black-gem-like eyes, clear and lively, exuded an ethereal aura. It didn't seem like a statue that had just revived.
The oppressive aura it exuded was even more shocking, making it impossible to look directly at it.
Before anyone could admire its beauty, a killing intent flashed in the Xuan Bird's eyes. It opened its mouth and spat a stream of flames downward.
Rolling flames cascaded like a waterfall. The cold grand hall was instantly filled with intense heat. Countless people fled in panic, while some unlucky ones fell into the sea of flames, screaming and rolling, a horrifying sight.
"It's a Xuan Bird! A Xuan Bird with divine beast bloodline!" You Meng Mo Shi's face darkened.
He hadn't expected the second revived creature to be a beast with fire-elemental attacks. Although the Xuan Bird wasn't a true divine beast, it was far more terrifying than a ninth-tier demonic beast. Even he would have to be extremely cautious when facing it.
He roared, "Kill it, give me the order to kill it!"
He then turned and bellowed at Bai Mu Tianjun, "Bai Mu, don't just stand there. This Xuan Bird is much more powerful than the last beast. Hurry up and help, or we'll all be finished!"
Bai Mu Tianjun, however, leisurely crossed his arms, standing in a corner of the hall, not flustered at all. "Old ghost You Meng, you stood by and watched when this seat asked for your help earlier. Now you're asking for my help? Fine, then beg me!"
You Meng Mo Shi was furious, "You…"
Before he could say more, the Xuan Bird spat out another fire dragon, forcing his subordinates to scatter and flee.
Some tried to fight back valiantly, but they couldn't penetrate the Xuan Bird's defenses. Demonic disciples who understood elemental counteraction attempted to launch water arrows and ice blades at the Xuan Bird. However, their power was too weak; they turned into mist before they could even get close.
You Meng Mo Shi was enraged and had to take action himself.
The small snakes writhing on his head suddenly swelled, all standing three feet tall. They opened their scarlet mouths and simultaneously spat streams of green poison darts at the Xuan Bird.
The poison darts shot out like lightning. When they encountered the flames surrounding the Xuan Bird, they turned into puffs of green mist – snake venom.
The Xuan Bird let out a mournful cry. Its golden feathers were stained with a layer of sickly green; it was poisoned.
Standing behind Bai Mu Tianjun, Su Luo's eyes sharpened. Such potent poison.
Even the Xuan Bird couldn't withstand it!
You Meng Mo Shi was indeed powerful. With him dealing with the Xuan Bird, this semi-divine beast was bound to be defeated. Once the Xuan Bird died, You Meng Mo Shi would obtain that mysterious power and uncover her breakthrough secret.
She absolutely could not let You Meng Mo Shi benefit.
Su Luo immediately transmitted a message to Shang Xie Shao Qing, "Shang Xie, act now and kill the Xuan Bird!"
He also possessed the power of fire. As long as he was careful, the Xuan Bird wouldn't be able to harm him. This was why Su Luo asked Shang Xie Shao Qing to act.
Shang Xie Shao Qing had been itching for a fight. Without any hesitation, he turned into a white blur and rushed out. He didn't use his signature fan but twisted his body in mid-air, drawing in a flame towards the Xuan Bird.
This was the flame emitted by the Xuan Bird, capable of melting iron into liquid.
However, Shang Xie Shao Qing's fire power had already reached the second stage of Spirit King. While he felt the flame had some power, it wasn't enough to overwhelm him.
"Kill, hurry!"
In her mind, Su Luo's voice was urgent, urging him again.
Shang Xie Shao Qing saw that the Xuan Bird was already half-covered in snake venom. His intervention had further drawn the Xuan Bird's attention, and You Meng Mo Shi was about to strike again. If he didn't act quickly, it would be too late. Although he didn't know why Su Luo was urging him, he still quickly targeted the Xuan Bird's head and unleashed a fierce punch.
At that instant, Su Luo also activated the Feng Shen Jue.
The Xuan Bird froze in mid-air, its flames also ceasing to move.
Shang Xie Shao Qing's punch arrived, and with a resounding crash, it pulverized the Xuan Bird's head, scattering flames and feathers.
The Xuan Bird didn't even have time to cry out before it fell from mid-air, its flames gradually extinguishing. The moment of stillness was imperceptible to anyone, so fast it was as if it had never existed.