Chapter 30: Black Peng Part 2

Xiang Xian nodded. A Huang had always been his best helper—sharp-eyed, fast, able to scout from the sky. No monster could hide its movements at night. But since Xiao Kun arrived, A Huang had often wandered off independently, perhaps feeling that with Xiao Kun around, they could handle more emergencies, and Xiang Xian would not get into trouble without constant supervision.

“No way to summon it?” Xiao Kun confirmed again.

“He’s the master.” Xiang Xian laughed. “A Huang does not care about anything. Compared to scheming humans, he prefers playing with other birds.”

Xiao Kun had no choice but to take out an item. Xiang Xian said, “If you had a way, say so earlier.”

“Lend me some fire,” Xiao Kun said.

Xiang Xian snapped his fingers, and a flame flickered at his fingertip. Xiao Kun waved the item to ignite it—a small piece of agarwood. He then produced an Incense Burner and placed the agarwood inside.

“Not much left,” Xiao Kun said. “Must use it sparingly.”

Fragrant mist rose from the burner, condensing into a smoke trail that began to quiver slowly. Xiang Xian knew this was likely a tracking magic treasure.

Sure enough, the incense trail swirled and extended toward the depths of the river channel. Xiao Kun explained, “This incense is called Absolute Shadow Wind Trace. It points to nearby demons but cannot detect fiends. Wind outdoors interferes, so…”

As he spoke, the Absolute Shadow Wind Trace split into two streams, one curling toward Xiao Kun himself.

“…rarely used,” Xiao Kun finished.

Xiang Xian understood. Xiao Kun was half-demon himself and still minded his heritage; he did not want to mention it in front of Xiang Xian.

“Let’s go,” Xiang Xian said.

The underground river channel seemed endlessly deep. As they drew closer, the portion of smoke clinging to Xiao Kun grew fainter, while the part drifting toward the end thickened.

“Where are we now?” Xiao Kun asked. “Got a map?”

Xiang Xian took out a small Si Nan and said, “Current position: northeast of the city.”

Xiao Kun: “Light.”

Xiang Xian released a Fire Feather, illuminating the surroundings. This was a vast empty space in the underground river channel, covered in centuries-old silt that reeked. In the center of the silt, hundreds of bones were piled up like a massive demon beast’s nest, though the occupant was absent.

The two immediately adopted back-to-back stances, hands on their weapons.

“The monster is not home,” Xiang Xian said.

Xiao Kun relaxed his guard. Xiang Xian stepped forward, his black boots leaving prints in the muddy, bloodstained ground. He bent down and picked up a black feather from the edge of the nest.

“What bird hides underground…”

“Watch out!” Xiao Kun suddenly roared. Xiang Xian instinctively dodged. A black shadow burst out silently. At the critical moment, Xiao Kun shot forward. His Tang Dao had no time to draw, but he blocked the claw that nearly gutted Xiang Xian.

Xiang Xian spun around. Xiao Kun’s left Senluo Blade clashed with the massive black shadow. The Tang Dao flew from his hand as he switched to his right Wanxiang, crossing the blade. Xiang Xian erupted in fierce flames and leaped into the air, planting one foot hard on Xiao Kun’s scabbard. Xiao Kun pushed with all his strength.

Xiang Xian burst into blazing flames and punched down at the demon in the darkness. The black shadow retreated abruptly. In the erupting firelight, they saw the demon’s full form.

It was a Black-Winged Great Peng Bird several zhang tall. When its wings spread, they blanketed the entire underground space. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun seemed like tiny moths before it.

Xiang Xian’s punch, wreathed in flames, collided with the demon peng’s left wing, exploding into a fiery wind wheel. The gust hurled him aside, buying a moment. Xiao Kun charged in, crossing two styles of Tang Dao in a diagonal slash that became whistling crossed saber qi, slicing into its wing!

Black feathers exploded, causing subsidence and collapse in the ancient river channel ruins. Amid the chaos, Xiao Kun realized they were in an enclosed space—if they did not control the fight, they would be buried alive!

“Do not draw your sword yet!” Xiao Kun shouted amid the frenzy.

“Got it!” Xiang Xian became a blazing meteor, chasing the black demon peng in spiraling flight. But the beast was enormous, and anything that large was incredibly tough.

Xiao Kun raised his hand and summoned the Tang Dao dropped nearby.

Xiang Xian pursued the demon peng, darting and crashing in the air. Xiao Kun shouted again, “Xiang Xian!”

Xiang Xian instantly understood the unspoken cue: lure the beast over for Xiao Kun’s killing blow.

An earthquake struck Chang’an Prefecture. In the marketplace, Chaosheng, who was treating civilians, sensed something wrong. The crowd grew tense and scattered in panic.

“Come out to the streets!” Wu Yingzong decisively shouted to the crowd, grabbing Chaosheng’s hand and pulling him outside.

A rumbling came from underground, shaking the entire city before suddenly falling silent.

People, crouching or prostrate, exchanged glances and began to rise when a deafening roar erupted from the Daming Palace in the northeast!

Before the Daming Palace ruins, the parade ground burst open, bricks and stones flying as the Black-Winged Great Peng Bird shot out!

“Xiao Kun—!”

Xiao Kun had nailed his Tang Dao into the Black-Winged Great Peng’s back and was carried skyward by the beast breaking through the earth. Xiang Xian strained to pursue, but the Black-Winged Great Peng shot into the clouds before diving at him at high speed.