Chapter 144: Heavenly Black Feather Falcon

　　In contrast with Qi Ying’s surprised reaction, Li Lin was a lot calmer. He said, “Hundreds of people die in the Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm every year. Some of their bodies completely disappear, while others appear very far into the future… Black Class disciples may be powerful, but that doesn’t mean they can’t die! I’m very lucky to have stumbled upon him as soon as I arrived in the mystic realm… Young Master Qi, what kind of treasures are inside that ring? I didn’t get a chance to look through it yet!”

　　“Just a few precious cultivation methods and pills.”

　　Qi Ying replied in a nonchalant manner.

　　Li Lin harrumphed in a low voice. What a blatant lie! He hadn’t had a chance to thoroughly check the items in there, but he knew just from a glance that there were many precious treasures within.

　　However, he couldn’t really say anything about that. After all, everything in that ring belonged to Qi Ying, and so it had nothing to do with him.

　　“Er, what are you doing?” Li Lin was confused.

　　Qi Ying was in the process of digging a hole.

　　Qi Ying ignored Li Lin and quickly dug a hole in the cave, before placing the decomposing corpse inside. He then buried and put his hands together in prayer. “Senior Chu Tian, I don’t exactly see eye to eye with your descendants, but I took your things, so I must lay you to rest. Now that you have been buried, I can take your things with a clear conscience!”

　　Li Lin found that to be hilarious. “You’re looting a corpse! Why are you trying to sound like a saint?”

　　Qi Ying strode toward the opening of the cave.

　　“Where are you going, Young Master Qi?” Li Lin hurriedly stood up.

　　Qi Ying continued onward without turning back as he replied, “More and more people from the Crimson Metal Sword Faction are going to gather on the mountain. Are we going to wait for them to find us? Besides, don’t you want to see what other treasures lie in this Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm?”

　　…

　　Morning arrived in the Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm, and the light of the rising sun illuminated every corner of the mystic realm.

　　A large group of Crimson Metal Sword Faction disciples was gathered in a mountain forest.

　　Their leader was a young man who appeared to be around twenty-one or twenty-two years of age. His aura was very powerful, reflecting his Sixth Spirit Martial Stage cultivation base, and he was the leader of the Crimson Metal Sword Faction, Chu Huayi. He was also one of the most powerful participants in the Dragon Metamorphosis Trial.

　　Chu Huayi was actually not a biological member of the Chu family. Instead, the Chu surname was bestowed upon him.

　　After taking over from the last leader of the Crimson Metal Sword Faction two years prior, he had become the Chu family’s spokesperson in the Crimson Class.

　　At that moment, everyone was staring at the three bodies on the ground with grim expressions.

　　One of the Crimson Metal Sword Faction disciples did a bit of investigating, before turning to Chu Huayi with his findings. “Chen Ranglai, Li Xuebing, Zhang Qilong; the three of them were killed by two different people! One of them fought with the trio through the forest up to that point, and he is roughly at the Third Spirit Martial Stage, using ice and wind dual-type cultivation methods. The other person… I believe is an Energy Martial Stage warrior. He appears to be using a Purple Yang type cultivation method, and his aura is scorching hot!”

　　Chu Huayi’s eyes narrowed upon hearing that. “Energy Martial Stage with a Purple Yang type cultivation method? There aren’t that many Energy Martial Stage warriors in the Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm in the first place, so this is most likely the Qi Ying that Alliance Leader Bixue wants dead!”

　　He suddenly raised his voice an octave and said, “All Crimson Metal Sword Faction disciples heed my call!”

　　“Present!”

　　“Search for Qi Ying in this area, and if you encounter him, do not engage him in battle. There could be many powerful beings accompanying him, so you must set off your flares to gather enough disciples. Also, inform the White Jade Sword Sect and the Bixue Sword Alliance disciples of this event!”

　　“Yes!”

　　Whoosh!

　　Over a hundred Crimson Metal Sword Faction disciples dispersed at once.

　　…

　　On a set of plains.

　　“Scree!”

　　A black eagle with steel-like feathers descended with a loud cry, settling among a group of people riding Fire Cloud Horses.

　　A short while later, a young man with a black eagle perched on his shoulder made his way over to Chu Bixue. “Alliance Leader, Faction Leader Huayi has discovered Qi Ying’s whereabouts, and would like our Bixue Sword Alliance to send help so they can speed up their search.”

　　“Oh?”

　　A flash of excitement shimmered in Chu Bixue’s eyes, but he quickly repressed it.

　　He thought back to what Chu You had told him, and he forced himself to calm down.

　　Finding the dragon vein was more important than killing Qi Ying.

　　He didn’t have time to deal with Qi Ying as Qi Shun of the Qi family, Yan Beigui of the Yan family, Zhao Danyang of the Zhao family, and Qin Mu of the Qin family were also searching for the dragon vein.

　　If they found the dragon vein before him, then his trip to the Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm would be a complete waste of time!

　　Chu Bixue said in a calm voice, “Just the Crimson Metal Sword Faction and White Jade Sword Sect will suffice in the search efforts. Also, you can take the Heavenly Black Feather Falcon and also join in on the search for Qi Ying. After some nurturing, the falcon has become a lot more intelligent, so it will definitely be of assistance to you.”

　　“Alright!”

　　The young man’s name was Chu Ying, and he left the Chu family’s group with the black falcon on his shoulder.

　　Chu Bixue took a deep breath as he mused to himself, “Qi Ying is nothing but trash to me! The only worthy adversaries for me are the likes of Qi Shun and Qin Mu…”

　　Thus, the Bixue Sword Alliance disciples rode on their Fire Cloud Horses and quickly continued onward.

　　Chu Bixue held the yellow piece of jade in his hand, and his eyes shimmered. “The Dragon Guidance Jade will indicate when I am close to the dragon vein. Even though the Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm is a massive place, it has become a lot faster to traverse through it after taming these Fire Cloud Horses!”

　　He was determined to be the first one to reach the dragon vein!

　　…

　　Qi Ying and Li Lin had been on the mountain for two days. They had to constantly avoid the Crimson Metal Sword Faction disciples, so they didn’t reap many rewards. They picked up some abandoned treasured tools, but most of them were damaged and worthless. There were only some spirit herbs that were rather rare outside of the mystic realm, and could probably be exchanged for about a thousand Yun Xiao Points. Those herbs were split evenly between the two of them.

　　Of course, they had also encountered some beasts, but most of the beasts found in the Dragon Metamorphosis Mystic Realm weren’t very powerful, and could be easily dealt with.

　　“Let’s get out of this place.”

　　Qi Ying said to Li Lin.

　　The two of them traveling together was a lot safer than traveling independently.

　　Furthermore, Qi Ying was very fond of one of Li Lin’s abilities.

　　His Blood Moon Wolf Battle Spirit wasn’t very useful in a battle, but it had fantastic detection and tracking abilities. It was able to sense approaching enemies in advance on many occasions, thereby preventing the two of them from being surrounded.

　　After reaching a set of grassy plains, Qi Ying said, “We have to be more careful here. This is a very open space, so it’ll be easier for enemies to notice us. “

　　Li Lin patted his chest in a display of confidence as he responded, “Don’t worry, Young Master Qi. My Battle Spirit’s detection abilities are also enhanced significantly on the grasslands, so there’s no way that any enemies on the ground will be able to approach us!”