There are over a hundred thousand elite human soldiers stationed in Weijiang City. Among the commanding generals, there are many Xuanmen experts at the Mingqiao and Daodan realms, all of whom are true disciples or even Dharma-protecting elders of the Taiwei Sect. Weijiang City is an absolutely forbidden place for the Qing Fox Clan to set foot in.

Heading south from Weijiang City, passing through the winding great canyon and entering deep into the Taiwei Mountains, atop the perilous peaks shrouded in clouds and mist, on a day of clear skies stretching for thousands of miles, one can vaguely see a complex of majestic palaces and courtyards, scattered gracefully above the sea of clouds.

That is where the mountain gate of the Taiwei Sect is located, appearing from afar like a celestial paradise among the clouds.

As the foremost Xuanmen sect in all the counties west of the river, the Taiwei Sect not only commands the Wuwei Army, which has repeatedly achieved great feats in resisting the southern invasions of the demon barbarians—most of the main generals hail from the Taiwei Sect—but also, the most elite Dao Yamen soldiers of the Wuwei Army are almost entirely composed of grassroots disciples from the Taiwei Sect.

This young fox had just cultivated to the Tongxuan realm, far from attaining the power to take human form. Although it wished to enter a human Xuanxiu sect to cultivate, for it at this moment, that was still a distant and unattainable dream.

And passing through the great canyon to enter the southern foothills of the Taiwei Mountains, one would reach the heartland of the counties west of the river, which is also the western frontier of the Great Yan Empire...

...

A piercing eagle cry split the sky.

A black shadow swept out from Weijiang City. The young fox soon saw the endless blue sky, where a small patch of dark clouds gathered and churned out of nowhere, with flickering lightning dancing along the edges of the clouds...

The black shadow moved with extreme speed. Once out of Weijiang City, it flew straight toward Qiyun Ridge, and that small patch of thunderclouds followed the shadow rapidly.

A trace of fear flashed in the young fox’s demon eyes.

Although the Qing Fox Clan are spirit beasts from the depths of the desert and have few natural enemies, the Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle is one of the rare natural enemies of the Qing Fox Clan in the desert and near the Taiwei Mountains. Although the young fox had never left Fox Hill before, it had heard the elders of the clan describe the appearance and ferocity of the Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle.

Scales and feathers like armor, a cry that gathers thunder—these are the most distinctive features of the Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle. Moreover, this was a demon bird that had cultivated to the Mingqiao stage, capable of triggering the resonance of heaven and earth’s thunderous energies.

The young fox darted into the dense forest, as swift as a streak of blue lightning, but once inside, it dared not make another move, its aura instantly restrained to the point of being undetectable; a roe deer dashed past right in front of it, yet failed to notice its presence at all.

The Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle was flying straight toward the rocky cliff where it hid.

Having cultivated to the Mingqiao realm, its consciousness had evolved into spiritual awareness, making its perception of its surroundings extremely acute. The young fox feared that even the slightest leak of its aura would doom it beyond redemption.

Through the gaps in the leaves, the young fox soon saw the Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle, with its massive wings spanning eleven or twelve meters, sweep past the towering cliff. In the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, it had already flown above the forest. The thundercloud above the eagle’s head grew even denser, lightning flickering, ready to strike down as a bolt of thunder from a clear sky at any moment.

“Edward York is despicable and shameless! He tricked Lily into escorting him up the mountain to gather herbs, but once in the mountains, he tried to take advantage of her. In the struggle, he fell off the cliff—he brought it upon himself! How can anyone blame Lily for this?”

An indignant girl’s voice came from the back of the Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle. Although the young fox had only cultivated to the most basic Tongxuan realm, as a spirit species born with all five senses open, it could hear even the faintest sounds from miles away. Only then did it realize that this demon bird, cultivated to the Mingqiao stage, was actually the mount of a human Xuanmen expert.

Several people were indeed riding the Azure-scaled Thunder Eagle, flying above the forest.

The young fox held its breath, not daring to exhale even the slightest wisp of air.

“Hmph,” another anxious and dissatisfied snort came from the eagle’s back. “I don’t blame Lily for Eddie accidentally falling off the cliff, but why didn’t Lily save him?”

“Edward York had the Azure Cloud Armor you gave him for protection, Father. How could anything happen to him from falling off a cliff? Lily was bullied by him—how could she dare approach that shameless scoundrel? She ran out of the mountains in a panic, and didn’t she tell you right away?” the little girl retorted, aggrieved yet stubborn.

“Edward York has a vile character, unfit for the Yao clan, exiled to Hexi. Out of kindness, Father let him stay in the Taiwei Sect to cultivate, but he failed to restrain himself, ruining his own reputation—everyone despises him. He even spoke nonsense to Evelyn. If something really happened to him, I don’t think it would be a bad thing. At least it would prevent him from causing greater trouble in the future and dragging Father and the The Brooks Family down with him...” A young man’s voice came from the eagle’s back, mercilessly listing someone’s misdeeds.

“That’s enough. Eddie suffered a major setback at a young age, so it’s only natural that he’s become dispirited. If something really happened to him, how could I face his parents, who have vanished without a trace?” The middle-aged man’s voice was filled with helplessness and anxiety, as he urged the Thunder Eagle to fly deeper into Qiyun Ridge.

...

“Where is this?”

Henry Brooks woke up, his whole body feeling as if it had fallen apart. Any slight movement brought nerve-wracking pain. He found himself lying in a deep valley, the ground beneath him covered in dead leaves, surrounded by jagged rocks slick with moss. Thick, milky-white mist hung in the air, completely obscuring the mouth of the valley above, making it impossible to see what lay outside.

What’s going on? I’m not dead? Shouldn’t I be in a hospital being rescued? How am I lying out here in the wilderness?