A giant bird, over ten feet tall and its body aflame with blinding fire, appeared seemingly from the sky and stood before the crowd.

The Vermilion Bird!

Although it was the first time everyone had seen such a creature, it did not stop them from recognizing the creature for what it was!

The other members of the Heavenly Sword Sect felt as though they'd been plunged into an icy abyss, their bodies chilled, their breaths… hasty and ragged.

The sight of the Vermilion Bird filled them with fear.

"Vermilion...Vermilion Bird...it's impossible! There is no such creature in this world!" As the leader of the Heavenly Sword Sect stared at this giant bird, its body blazing with the heat of a lava flow, his mind grew blank. Whispering, he said: "It's... It's an illusion... it must be… kill it!"

The Sect leader ordered the elder next to him, "Kill it!"

This elder was the same one who had previously attacked Chu Mo. Hearing the Sect leader's orders, the elder hesitated on the spot.

Even though they were from the Azure Dragon Continent, and their totemic beast was the Azure Dragon, this did not mean they held no reverence for the totemic beasts of other continents.

The debate whether the four great mythical creatures truly existed has persisted for countless years!

Some believed they must have existed; otherwise, how would the four continents be named?

Those with opposing views thought that these four mythical beasts were purely imagined and fabricated by people, creations of secular royalties to stabilize their rule! Otherwise, why had no one ever seen them?

Both factions have argued for thousands of years, each refusing to accept the other's views.

Normally, this debate would continue without resolution.

But today marked an inflection point!

Because the actual Vermilion Bird appeared before their eyes, in the flesh, and it was assisting a mere mortal…

The few members of the Heavenly Sword Sect felt as though they were dreaming.

The Sect leader commanded the elder, "As the leader, I order you...kill this deceptive creature immediately!"

Grinding his teeth, the elder lashed out at the bird, roaring, "Deceptive creature…die!"

Boom!

An enormous fireball shot out directly from the Vermilion Bird, headed straight for the elder.

Smack!

The elder, in mid-air and at the Understanding Heart Realm, was completely enveloped by the fireball. In less than a tenth of a breath, he was reduced to ashes!

The scene fell into deathly silence!

Filled with cold, proud, and oppressive power, the voice of the Vermilion Bird echoed, "Dare to offend me, die!"

Chu Mo felt his escorts, Xiao Yiyue and Guo Yixiao, their hands that steadied him tremble. They were clearly terrified by the sudden appearance of the Vermilion Bird.

The few members from the Heavenly Sword Sect were even more terrified.

They stared dumbfounded at the gradually dissipating fire in the void, attempting to trace the elder.

But they couldn't even see a trace of his ashes.

The Sect leader spoke in a trembling voice, "Being a mythical creature...Being a mythical creature of the Vermilion Bird Continent...Why...Why would you meddle in the affairs of the Azure Dragon Continent…"

"Ridiculous!" The Vermilion Bird's authoritative voice interrupted the Sect leader, "Underneath the heavens...is there anywhere I should not go? And what is called meddling? I am the guardian of this young man!"

Guardian!

These three words, like three sharp swords, stabbed into the hearts of the few people from the Heavenly Sword Sect, nearly scaring them to death!

The mythical Vermilion Bird species of the Vermilion Bird Continent... was actually the guardian of a mortal teenager from the Azure Dragon Continent?

Who would believe this story if it got out?

But if not, who dares to refute?

Under their watchful eyes, an elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect was directly burned into ash. None of the others had the courage to take further action.

"Young master...I have come late, please forgive me!" An old voice sounded, and a silver-haired elder stepped out from the void and directly appeared. Upon seeing Chu Mo, he promptly bowed in salute.

This elder was indeed that day's...

"Who are you?" Chu Mo was slightly stunned.

He had never met Mr. Qi before, so, he was very unfamiliar with this silver-haired elder and did not understand why he saluted him.

"I apologize, I am Qi Shan, I once received guidance from your master and was to become your guardian. Now that I have finally broken through in realm, I rushed here." Mr. Qi again saluted Chu Mo.

Chu Mo quickly returned the salute, "You're too kind."

"It's what I should do." Qi Shan's attitude in front of Chu Mo was extremely humble, which made the few people from the Heavenly Sword Sect stunned.

Unlike Mr. Tantai and Mr. Weichi, Qi Shan, also known as Mr. Qi, was quite renowned throughout the Azure Dragon Continent.

Although his reputation was not due to his realm, his network of relationships was remarkably strong!

And, Qi Shan was perpetually stuck in the Stone Essence Realm, unable to break through. Yet, upon seeing him now, they noticed Qi Shan calmly weaving through the sky, a sign he's entered the Understanding Heart Realm!

Even if Qi Shan was only at the Stone Essence Realm, the Heavenly Sword Sect did not want to provoke him, let alone now that he's already entered the Understanding Heart Realm.

"Mr. Qi...long time no see." The Sect leader gave a somewhat awkwardly smile and bowed to Mr. Qi, this salute...was evidently the one a junior gives when meeting a senior!

This surprised everyone else.

"Zhu, you have done wrong in this matter!" Ignoring the surprised and puzzled gazes of the others, Mr. Qi directly addressed the Sect leader, "Withdraw. Forget about this matter."

"This…" The Sect leader appeared bitter and troubled.

They had arrived full of hope and ambition, desiring to obtain the inheritance of Piaomiao Palace for themselves.

But now, they had suffered heavy losses, two elders at the Understanding Heart Realm fallen, causing great damage to the Heavenly Sword Sect. As the Sect leader, he bore a huge responsibility for this!

Upon returning, the reprimands of the older generation would leave his position as Sect leader hanging by a thread.

But given the current situation, if a fight ensues, it's likely that the remaining five from the Heavenly Sword Sect would all fall here!

Leaving aside everything else, they simply could not handle even just the Vermilion Bird.

Not to mention, Mr. Qi, who had not only given him guidance but also saved him once during his training!

As Mr. Tantai had said, grudges must be repaid, but so must favors...!

Furthermore, from a certain perspective, Mr. Qi's appearance at this time was equivalent to saving him for the second time!

Didn't he see the icy glint in the eyes of the fiery Vermilion Bird?

The Sect leader knew then that their Heavenly Sword Sect had fallen on this day.

Grinding his teeth, he said, "I owe a great debt to Mr. Qi. How could I not heed Mr. Qi's words? I...I will leave now!"

At this moment, the Vermilion Bird coldly said, "Did I allow you to leave?" (To be continued. If you like this work, please vote or leave a comment at qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please visit m.qidian.com to read. )

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