Versatile Mage c1-2021, page 808
Little Moon Moth Phoenix was not to be outdone, either. Her voice might be soft, but it still managed to reach the top of the clouds!
The deep thunderous rumbling descended from the clouds once again, delivering instructions to the winged beasts.
The unfriendly winged beasts suddenly stopped approaching the humans. The murderous looks in their eyes vanished, too.
Little Moon Moth Phoenix soon returned to the group. Mo Fan could only look confused. He had no idea what the Little Moon Moth Phoenix had done to nullify the winged beasts' hostility.
"Little Moon Moth Phoenix said we are here to participate in the ceremony with her. The fight with the Winged Patrol Beasts is only a personal conflict with the Mountain Crusher Ruler. It has nothing to do with the rest of the winged beasts," Yu Shishi explained.
"Oh, right, we are here for the ceremony. I have wings, too!" Zhao Manyan immediately Summoned out his fancy wings.
The truth was, his Magical Wings were considered high-quality when he first bought them, but the golden wings were nothing worth mentioning now, since any of the Commander-level winged beasts could easily outmatch him.
"They were negotiating with a higher-level winged beast above the clouds. The winged beast stated that since the ceremony is about to take place, whoever secures a higher status between the Little Moon Moth Phoenix and the Mountain Crusher Ruler will decide the fate of us outsiders," Yu Shishi said.
"What now!? We didn't agree to bet our lives on it!" Zhao Manyan yelled.
'We did kill many of the Winged Patrol Beasts. The Mountain Crusher Ruler won't let us go easily, so unless we can help Little Moon Moth Phoenix secure a higher status among the winged beasts..." Zhang Xiaohou said.
"Are you out of your mind? Why did you kill the Winged Patrol Beasts? Don't you know you should stay as far away from them as possible!?" Jiang Shaoxu swore at Mo Fan.
"The person who was so keen to save you is the one who was out of his mind." Mo Fan glanced at Li Dexin.
Li Dexin did not dare to speak, standing at the side with a grim face. He did not expect the Winged Patrol Beasts to be led by such a powerful Ruler-level creature!
"Damn it, we are supposed to be looking for the Tree of Vows! Why are we wasting our time fooling around with these winged beasts in a competition? There are at least ten thousand of them. Are you telling me we are all going to die if Little Moon Moth Phoenix loses?" Zhao Manyan said.
"Little Moon Moth Phoenix doesn't have to win the competition. She only needs to beat the Mountain Crusher Ruler to guarantee our safety. Besides, the Tree of Vows must be higher than we imagined. Isn't it in our favor if Little Moon Moth Phoenix can bring us up there!?" Yu Shishi said.
"Mm, the Little Moon Moth Phoenix isn't weak! I doubt she will lose to the Mountain Crusher Ruler!" Bai Hongfei said.
"It's hard to say for now. At least from what I can tell, that creature is still stronger than little Moon Moth Phoenix. Didn't you see its steel feathers? It's a sign that they have been refined by the Wind of Sorrow for many years. It clearly has adapted better to the environment than Little Moon Moth Phoenix. If it's a showdown between them, I don't think the Little Moon Moth Phoenix is going to stand a chance against the Mountain Crusher Ruler." Apas poured a bucket of cold water on everyone's head.
Apas was merely stating the facts. The Little Moon Moth Phoenix was still too young compared to the old Mountain Crusher Ruler.
Gusts of strong wind suddenly blew from all directions while the group was feeling troubled. The wind gathered at Mount Baiba and began to form a rising airflow, soaring into the clouds!
"It's the Wind of Sorrow, the ceremony is about to begin!" Jiang Shaoxu exclaimed in joy.
Different cries echoed across the sky. The winged beasts spread their wings as their feathers rose, like they had just received an order. Even the feathers on their crowns were following the direction of the airflow.
The winged beasts in the sky beat their wings and rode the rising wind to fly into the sky. Their colorful feathers formed a spectacular sight as the gales they produced from beating their wings clashed!
The Mountain Crusher Ruler had missed its chance to ride the initial rising wind due to the interlude involving the humans. It had no intention of wasting its time on humans when it saw the rest of the winged beasts soaring into the sky. It quickly beat its wings and gathered the Wind of Sorrow to launch itself around five hundred meters into the sky.
The Winged Patrol Beasts did not leave, either. They rode the wind that the Mountain Crusher Ruler had produced and followed behind their leader like a black cloud.
"It doesn't seem to care about us. Should we run away now?" Zhao Manyan blurted out in surprise.
"That's not a smart choice. The Qinling Mountains are huge. We can't make it out in a day or two. Once the ceremony ends, the Mountain Crusher Ruler can still hunt us down, especially since the Winged Patrol Beasts are everywhere in these mountains. We are really going to become the winged beasts' public enemy if we run away now," Zhang Xiaohou said.
Chapter 1729 - The Sky Is High
Translated by XephiZ
Edited by Aelryinth
"Look, the Winged Patrol Beasts are preventing the other winged beasts from flying higher," Lingling pointed into the sky and said.
Mo Fan followed her gaze and noticed the misdeeds that the Winged Patrol Beasts were committing while they were riding the wind to soar higher into the sky. They were attacking the other winged beasts close to the Mountain Crusher Ruler fiercely to stop them from riding the Wind of Sorrow. The victims ended up spinning in circles in the Wind of Sorrow and were almost torn into pieces by it!
"What's going on? Isn't it supposed to be a fair competition?" Zhao Manyan asked with a confused face.
"Fair competition my ass! How many among the low-level creatures like the Winged Patrol Beasts do you think are going to make it to an impressive altitude? Their wings are not strong, and their attacks are weak. The Wind of Sorrow might even tear them into pieces if they accidentally flew against it. Therefore, they would rather submit to the Mountain Crusher Ruler and help it defeat its opponents, allowing the Mountain Crusher Ruler to secure a higher status. That way, the lives of these lesser winged beasts will prosper, too!" Jiang Shaoxu said.
"Damn it, that works too? I was wondering why so many lesser winged beasts are participating in the ceremony. How could they possibly compete with the powerful winged beasts when their feathers are not even fully grown? It turns out they are divided into factions to protect the powerful creatures they have submitted themselves to!" Zhao Manyan said.
"Doesn't that mean we can assist Little Moon Moth Phoenix during the competition?" Mo Fan asked.
"That's right, if those goddamned winged beasts have lackeys, we can be Little Moon Moth Phoenix's running dogs, too! We'll get rid of anything that is in her way!" Zhao Manyan declared.
"Can't you think of a better term?"
"Little Moon Moth Phoenix won't necessarily lose to the Mountain Crusher Ruler with our help!" Jiang Shaoxu promised.
Little Moon Moth Phoenix shared the same thought! Since she had just evolved, it was unlikely she would stand a chance against the Mountain Ruler Crusher. However, the outcome was yet to be decided with the humans on her side!
Little Moon Moth Phoenix lowered her body, signaling the group to climb onto her back.
"Come up here, she will give us a ride first. She will use her wings to protect us from the Wind of Sorrow, but once we reach the higher altitudes, we'll have to lend her a hand!" Yu Shishi said.
The Little Moon Moth Phoenix was not small at all. There was still plenty of space after the entire group of over ten people was on her back.
Their weight was negligible to Little Moon Moth Phoenix, so carrying them on her back did not really affect her speed.
The Wind of Sorrow was rising continuously. Little Moon Moth Phoenix made a late start, while many winged beasts had already reached the clouds. Their huge bodies were like tiny dots in the distance.
But Little Moon Moth Phoenix was extremely fast. She was not beating her wings quickly, but she was an expert at balancing herself while riding the wind. The strong winds had overcome many winged beasts, and some even tumbled from the sky after losing their balance, but Little Moon Moth Phoenix was soaring into the sky stably. The group could feel her wings beating while her body remained perfectly still.
Little Moon Moth Phoenix soon overtook the winged beasts that had a head start. The huge winged beasts with seemingly strong wings fell behind Little Moon Moth Phoenix and slowly faded into the distance!
"Quick, we must hurry, don't let the Mountain Crusher Ruler run away. Our lives are at stake!" Zhao Manyan yelled.
Under the spacious blue sky were magnificent mountains and countless colorful feathers densely packed together. The massive winged beasts included winged tigers and snakes, while the Colorful Demon Sparrows and Skyice Birds had graceful appearances. The Iron-Feathered Eagles and Blood-Steel Vultures had a menacing bearing, while the Hundred Feelers Butterfly and the Dark Serene Birds had a mystical aura.
It was indeed a grand ceremony of the winged beasts. A few rare species had shown up, and even Lingling, an expert about demon creatures, was having trouble identifying them.
The group on the back of the Moon Moth Phoenix could feel their blood boil as they competed with the variety of winged beasts in the sky!
Jiang Shaoxu had waited a long time for this, and was willing to risk her life for this chance. Mo Fan was also feeling excited, since he was a non-flyer and non-swimmer. He could see the tiny canyons between the mountains and the powerful winged beasts being overtaken by Little Moon Moth Phoenix. The distant clouds were now within his reach. He took a deep breath of the cold air. It was an unforgettable experience he had never had before. Perhaps this was the charm of going on adventures; he could always feel his adrenaline rushing and his heart pounding heavily!
To infinity, and beyond!
To the Ashwood Wind Layer...
The Skycloud Realm! And the legendary Sacred Waterfall!
---
Mo Fan noticed a noble creature with golden-blue wings above them as the Moon Moth Phoenix continued to gain altitude. Its white feathers formed an elegant curve from its crown to its long and beautiful tail. It was using its tail to balance itself in the strong wind while utilizing its wings to propel itself into the clouds!
"Isn't that the creature we saw before?" Zhao Manyan exclaimed when he recognized it.
"You're right, that creature is pretty fast. The Moon Moth Phoenix is struggling to catch up to it!" Yu Shishi said.
The Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk looked down and saw Little Moon Moth Phoenix and the humans that passed by its territory. Its eyes flickered with pride and disdain.
It beat its wings fiercely while waving its tail, directing the Wind of Sorrow toward the spot the Little Moon Moth Phoenix was heading to. Little Moon Moth Phoenix was caught in a strong turbulence. She began to lose her balance!
The others did not feel great when Little Moon Moth was off-balance, and the Wind of Sorrow was as deadly as a strong spell too! Their skin would crack rapidly when exposed to it, since they did not have feathers protecting them like the winged beasts!
"Damn it, that thing is trying to mess with us!" Mo Fan's head was spinning in the wind. He cursed after regaining his balance.
The turbulence had forced Moon Moth Phoenix to spin around at the same height for some time. By the time she recovered, the Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk had already gotten a huge lead. It seemed impossible to catch up to it!
"I'll lend you a hand!" Zhang Xiaohou called out, constructing a Wind Star Constellation.
White airflow appeared around Little Moon Moth Phoenix's wings, gathering into an extra pair of wings to protect her while increasing her momentum as she beat them.
Little Moon Moth Phoenix quickly adapted to the protection of Zhang Xiaohou's Wind Wings. She spread her wings and broke free from the annoying turbulence to chase after the Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk.
"Go after it, we'll give it a piece of our minds too!" Zhao Manyan yelled.
As a fan of luxurious cars and street racing, Zhao Manyan enjoyed shaking off his opponents and watching them disappear in his rear-view mirror. He had to admit that the chase in the sky was a lot more thrilling than street racing!
Little Moon Moth Phoenix was unwilling to admit defeat, too. She began to beat her lower wings rapidly while maintaining the spread of her upper wings. The boost from Zhang Xiaohou's Wind Wings sped her up significantly. She was quickly drawing closer to the Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk!
The Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk soon noticed Little Moon Moth Phoenix catching up to it. The creature seemed a little annoyed as it snapped its tail to trouble Little Moon Moth Phoenix again.
Little Moon Moth Phoenix would not fall for the same trick twice. She increased the beat of her upper wings to assert control over the Wind of Sorrow, and was able to take advantage of the gust of wind that the Blue-Golden Sparrowhawk had directed at her to rise a few dozen meters. She soon reached the same altitude as the Blue-Golden Sparrowhawk.
Little Moon Moth Phoenix glanced at the Blue-Golden Sparrowhawk before overtaking it. She did not bother wasting her time on it!
The Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk felt humiliated. It began to beat its wings at a faster pace to maintain the distance between it and the Moon Moth Phoenix, but after reaching a certain height, beating its wings was no longer the deciding factor. The Wind of Sorrow would send it tumbling if it failed to find a balance between its rhythm and the speed of the wind!
The Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk was obviously losing its patience. The harder it tried, the more it was panicking. It began to spin around in the air after losing its balance after being struck by a gust from the Wind of Sorrow.
The Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk completely lost the chance to compete with Little Moon Moth Phoenix. Even though it managed to recover its balance, it could only see Little Moon Moth Phoenix's tiny figure in the sky when it lifted its head again. It had no chance of catching up to her.
Speaking of overestimating one's own capabilities!
If the Golden-Blue Sparrowhawk had simply minded its own business, it might have been able to achieve a great result in the ceremony. However, many winged beasts that were weaker than it had now reached a higher altitude. It was unlikely it could catch up to them now!
---
"Look, it's the Mountain Crusher Ruler!How is it so fast!?" Jiang Shaoxu exclaimed.
The Mountain Crusher Ruler was surprisingly fast. They could barely see its tail. They would not even have recognized it if it weren't for the gray cloud of Winged Patrol Beasts following behind it!
"It feels it might be a little difficult to catch up to it!"
"It's fine, the sky is high!" Jiang Shaoxu proclaimed excitedly.
Chapter 1730 - The Strongest Flamebird
Translated by XephiZ
Edited by Aelryinth
A loud howling shook the sky. Jiang Shaoxu glanced in the direction of the noise and noticed many winged beasts suddenly tumbling from the sky. Some were crying out in agony as they began to fall after losing their balance!
"It's coming from the west. Little Moon Moth Phoenix, brace yourself!" Jiang Shaoxu warned her.
The wind was invisible, but they were able to identify where it was coming from by judging the winged beasts' reactions, and the wind was carrying a lot of feathers along. The colorful feathers quickly outlined the terrifying incoming wind!
Little Moon Moth Phoenix immediately altered her approach. Most of her feathers were upright to ride the rising wind, allowing her to save a lot of time. However, when this Wind of Sorrow came, Little Moon Moth Phoenix immediately changed her flying path. She followed the wind's direction and continued to rise at a slant.
The strong wind struck Little Moon Moth Phoenix's wings and pushed her east!
"Little Moon Moth Phoenix is so smart. Not only will she be able to maintain her balance, she is using it to fly higher too!" Lingling complimented her.
Many winged beasts assumed they could resist the strong Wind of Sorrow sweeping in their direction with their feathers, but they ended up getting tossed around. Meanwhile, Little Moon Moth Phoenix continued to ride the wind and use it to her advantage, allowing her to fly quicker and more effortlessly than the brainless winged beasts!
Little Moon Moth Phoenix's trick helped her to gain a huge lead over many of the winged beasts. They were getting closer to the Mountain Crusher Ruler.
The Mountain Crusher Ruler was seriously affected by the Wind of Sorrow too, forcing it to slow down. Little Moon Moth Phoenix was slowly catching up!
The Mountain Crusher Ruler shrieked as if it was holding a strong grudge against Little Moon Moth Phoenix.
The cry formed a destructive sonic wave. The group felt their heads spinning, like they were going to explode.
The feeling slightly dissipated after some time. Little Moon Moth Phoenix purposely deviated from her path to avoid the sonic wave, increasing the distance between her and the Mountain Crusher Ruler again!
"That son of a b**ch, I swear I'm going to tear its throat into pieces!" Li Dexin was extremely annoyed by the cry. He angrily clenched his fists and swore at the Mountain Crusher Ruler.
"Too bad your Great Lesser Earth Dragon can't fly. Otherwise, we could fly up there and tackle it!" Mo Fan said.
"Humph, it doesn't matter. Once this Moon Moth Phoenix overtakes it, I'll ask my Great Lesser Earth Dragon to sit right on that assh*** and smash it to death!" Li Dexin cursed.
They could only see the Mountain Crusher Ruler's displeasing tail after its lead increased. The Winged Patrol Beasts were circling it like flies around a latrine pit to reach the greater heights!
Little Moon Moth Phoenix continued to rise into the sky. The Vine Canopy Layer was now some tiny greenery in their vision. There were not many mountains and towering trees left at their current altitude.
