Amidst towering trees, a terrifying aura emanated, causing weaker creatures to flee. Roars echoed as ancient trees, thousands of feet tall, were snapped, leaving the surroundings in disarray.
Tuoba Tao and his companions floated in the air, their bodies filled with rage and killing intent. They were like explosive barrels, ready to ignite at the slightest touch. Having been toyed with by Li Xiaotian, their proud hearts were deeply wounded. To vent their anger, they had even joined forces to severely injure a Kui Snake earlier.
They felt utterly stifled, having never experienced such a humiliating situation. In the center of the scene, Yang Xuan's long hair cascaded down, his demeanor like a madman as he repeatedly muttered, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Among those present, Yang Xuan had suffered the most significant losses, to the point of being completely ruined. His spatial ring was snatched by Li Xiaotian, his younger brother was killed by Li Xiaotian, and his millennia of accumulated wealth vanished. Such a blow had shaken his mindset, even as an invincible intermediate-level expert.
Perhaps for comparison, Tuoba Tao felt a sense of relief upon seeing Yang Xuan's miserable state, considering themselves fortunate. At least they hadn't lost anything, nor had they lost a brother with the potential to reach a high level.
The potential for high-level advancement was something everyone now understood. The unusual phenomenon when Yang Chen, Yang Xuan's brother, was breaking through was likely orchestrated by that human. If not for the inappropriate timing, Tuoba Tao and the others might have felt an urge to laugh.
The cultivators from the Lieyang World present, though also filled with anger, harbored a hint of mockery and amusement in their gazes towards Yang Xuan. Recalling their recent experiences, they felt a peculiar mix of emotions. At the time, they had all believed Yang Chen's talent to be heaven-defying and that he might change the situation in the Lieyang World, causing them great concern. But who would have thought it was all a misunderstanding?
Yang Xuan's mood was mirrored by the Sunbird. It cried out mournfully, feeling incredibly wronged. Firstly, one of its wings had been stolen, leaving it in an unsightly state for flight. Secondly, it had invested a drop of its ancestral blood essence to aid Yang Chen, resulting in a significant loss.
"Everyone, let's keep this buried. We've wasted too much time; we must reach the location of the Great Dao Tree as soon as possible." Tuoba Tao spoke, determined to pursue the opportunity regardless of his inner fury.
"Indeed, the main business is important. As for that trash, I believe he will also head towards the Great Dao Tree. When the time comes, we will join forces with others to hunt him down!" Gu Kun stated.
"Revenge! We must have revenge! If I don't kill him, I, Yang Xuan, vow never to return to Lieyang!" Yang Xuan declared, his eyes red, too ashamed to go back.
The others' eyes flickered at his words, some showing sympathy for Yang Xuan. Tuoba Tao instinctively touched his nose, feeling a pang of regret. It had all originated with him. He was thankful he hadn't insisted on seeking revenge on that human alone but had instead found allies. Otherwise, he might be in an even worse predicament now.
The roars of the Kui Snake echoed from the distance once more. Tuoba Tao and the others frowned, a flash of anger in their eyes, before reluctantly taking their leave. Being pursued by two Kui Snakes made them feel somewhat disheveled. The constant pursuit seemed to serve as a reminder of what that human had done to them, leaving them unsettled and resentful.
Meanwhile, in a picturesque valley, Li Xiaotian sat by a stream, leisurely roasting a chicken wing as large as three trucks. No, it should be a Sunbird wing. The aroma was intoxicating. The golden wing dripped with essence, making Li Xiaotian's stomach rumble with anticipation. At his level of strength, he rarely needed to eat. However, recalling Gu Kuangdao's description of the Sunbird's delicious meat, he was filled with eagerness. Thus, while escaping earlier, he had snatched a wing from the Sunbird, intending to satisfy his craving and taste its novelty. If possible, he wouldn't mind capturing the Sunbird itself.
"It's ready!" Li Xiaotian's eyes glinted. He tore off a piece of the golden meat, which steamed and radiated with colorful light.
"Whoa!" Li Xiaotian's eyes widened in shock and delight. The meat was tender and melted in his mouth, a truly exquisite delicacy. More importantly, it was the flesh of an invincible being, not only delicious but also highly nutritious.
"Excellent! Truly a supreme delicacy!" Li Xiaotian exclaimed, taking another large bite. Golden light and fragrance filled his mouth, making him feel as if he were floating on clouds. It was simply too divine.
"Rumble!" Just then, trees collapsed in the distance, and a massive head appeared in the valley. Li Xiaotian tensed, his gaze fixed on the uninvited guest. It was a Kui Snake!
However, Li Xiaotian soon relaxed. It wasn't one of the two older ones but a smaller one. It exuded only the aura of a first-tier invincible being. Although it had been attacked by Tuoba Tao and his group earlier, it had not actually died.
"Hiss!" The young Kui Snake flicked its tongue, its gaze fiercely fixed on Li Xiaotian. Despite being a juvenile, its size was still considerable, stretching a thousand meters long and as thick as a truck.
"Hmph!" Li Xiaotian snorted, unleashing his terrifying aura. The young Kui Snake immediately cowered on the ground, its eyes filled with fear. Li Xiaotian was now a fifth-tier invincible expert, immensely powerful to the young Kui Snake, which dared not resist.
The young Kui Snake was terrified and wanted to flee. However, the aroma of the Sunbird meat was too enticing, making it pause. Its gaze lingered on the chicken wing in Li Xiaotian's hand, drool forming at its mouth.
"Fine, considering your family helped me immensely, I'll give you some to eat." Li Xiaotian sighed, his heart proving to be too soft. If not for those two older Kui Snakes, he would never have obtained the nine strange fruits, nor would he have broken through, let alone have Sunbird meat to eat.
Li Xiaotian tore his chicken wing in half, tossing one portion to the young Kui Snake. He could tell that even though it had survived, it was severely injured and needed nourishment. The young Kui Snake darted forward, devouring the half wing in one gulp. Golden light shimmered around its body, and its aura gradually strengthened. Its eyes glowed; this mouthful of meat was more delicious than any flesh it had ever consumed.
"Hiss!" The young Kui Snake looked at Li Xiaotian. Perhaps sensing no killing intent from him, it cautiously moved a little closer, then continued to stare at the chicken wing in Li Xiaotian's hand.
"You greedy little thing, one bite should be enough," Li Xiaotian raised an eyebrow. What he had obtained with his life, giving it a bite was already incredibly generous. Li Xiaotian turned his back to the young Kui Snake and continued to eat.
Unexpectedly, a rumbling sound echoed, and the young Kui Snake circled back to face Li Xiaotian, its gaze still fixed on the chicken wing. It glanced at Li Xiaotian, its eyes conveying a mix of pity and grievance.