Chapter Forty: The Foolish Bird Returns

Following the broken cliff downward, the Thunderclap Bird finally landed before a massive cavern entrance.

The walls within the cave were inlaid with countless spirit stones of various sizes, infusing the air with abundant mystical energy that relaxed every pore of the body. Under the gentle glow of these myriad stones, the cave shone as bright as day.

Su Li clicked her tongue in admiration. “Wealth—true wealth!”

The Tiger Spirit nodded in agreement.

Su Li sighed with regret. “If only Ah Hua wasn’t asleep. If she were here to pry these out, we could make a fortune.”

The Tiger Spirit snorted in discontent. “I’m quite powerful, you know. Let me out, and not only could I have these stones, but I could easily reduce that group of demonic cultivators inside to ash.”

Su Li replied absent-mindedly, “Yes, yes, you’re very powerful.”

Feeling underestimated, the Tiger Spirit sulked in a corner. What was so special about that demon flower and silly bird? It was obviously far more formidable, so why was it always confined to the stone talisman? What was that saying again? Such a waste of a great tiger’s talents!

After some thought, it clicked its tongue, deciding only storybooks could soothe its wounded pride. Without further guilt, it began reading “The Young Lord of Qingqiu’s Mortal Tale,” a poignant novel about the entanglements and rivalries between two male foxes.

At the far end of the cave stood a stone door, slightly ajar, with no intricate mechanisms upon it.

Shen Fengling frowned and cautioned, “Everyone, be careful. If we encounter demonic cultivators we can’t defeat, we retreat.”

The group nodded in agreement. This place was so hidden, it was likely the true lair of the demonic cultivators.

After a brief discussion, Shen Fengling took the lead, with Shen Luo and Gu Hongshang in the middle, while Shen Hao and Shen Sinan brought up the rear.

The stone door wasn’t locked and opened with a push. The room behind was sparsely furnished: a plain wooden table, two benches, and on the table, two half-drunk cups of cold tea. This must have been the guardroom for the demonic cultivators; they’d likely left in a hurry, as one bench lay toppled on the floor.

Room after room was deserted. Just as they thought there was nothing to find, the sounds of an intense battle erupted ahead.

This aura…

Su Li’s eyes lit up. Her claws gripped Shen Luo’s shoulder as she leapt forward.

Shen Luo followed closely. Nearing the source, he sensed the contract with the Azure Bird and felt a surge of joy.

“A Luo?” Shen Hao called, puzzled.

As he ran, Shen Luo replied, “Fengxi is just ahead!”

The others exchanged glances and hurried after him.

Even from afar, the main hall rang with the roars of battle, the clamor of shouts and crashes making for a chaotic scene.

“Quick, kill that fat bird!”

“It’s behind you!”

…

The demonic cultivators scrambled to besiege the Azure Bird, cursing their luck. Whose bizarre mutant beast was this, only here to slap them in the face? They were left charred and battered, desperate for an end to their misery.

Suddenly, a white shadow flashed before their eyes. Before they could react, sharp claws slit their throats.

Screams echoed one after another.

The Azure Bird, recognizing a familiar beast, grew wildly excited and charged ahead—only to be swatted aside by Su Li’s paw.

The Azure Bird crashed into a wall, its body embedded deep within.

So… so fierce!

None of the onlookers had time to react before the Azure Bird burst free, shook the dust from its feathers, and fluttered over to the white beast, fawning, “Sister Tuan, I missed you so much.”

Su Li gently patted its head.

Sensing the beast’s even stronger power, the Azure Bird’s eyes went wide in awe: Sister Tuan was truly remarkable—she’d grown even stronger in just half a month!

The demonic cultivators: …

The Shen family: …

The hall fell silent as the grave.

The demonic cultivators stared, unable to believe that the savage, ruthless beast just now could possibly be this plump, naive creature before them.

The three from the Shen family couldn’t help but lament: Hey, where’s your dignity as a descendant of the twelfth-rank Vermillion Bird?

Gu Hongshang gazed at the white beast, her beautiful eyes shining. She knew from the start this was no ordinary creature.

Only Shen Luo felt a mix of joy, relief, and faint melancholy. He rejoiced at the reunion, was comforted by the two beasts’ obvious affection, yet saddened that Fengxi seemed to have forgotten its master.

Su Li caught his forlorn look and, with a flick of her paw, tossed the silly bird straight into Shen Luo’s arms. The boy looked over, and she lifted her chin haughtily.

Shen Luo’s lips curved in a faint smile.

“A Luo, thank goodness you’re safe.” A familiar voice called Shen Luo back to himself.

He turned to the newcomer, his delight plain. “Uncle Ke.”

Shen Fengling and the others, recalling Shen Luo’s earlier ordeal, all looked to Ke Rongzi with surprise.

Truly worthy of being an elder from the continent’s foremost sect—he exuded a rare and refined elegance.

Ke Rongzi, in turn, studied the three, silently approving: straightforward brows, an air of righteousness—he could finally set his mind at ease. In his heart, this youth was an honest, warm-hearted child, not easily deceived.

Had Shen Fengling and the rest known his thoughts, they would have snorted in disbelief.

Shen Luo quickly introduced them. “Uncle Ke, these three are elders and uncles from the Shen family, and this lady cultivator is a disciple of the Xuantian Sect.”

He had barely finished when the three Shen elders sensed a subtle disapproval in Ke Rongzi’s gaze. Sure enough, he spoke: “Thank you for looking after A Luo all these years. Now that you’re here, I’ll be frank—when this matter is settled, I’ll take A Luo to pay his respects to the Sect Master at Nine Heavens Mingyu myself.”

Such an honor was unimaginable!

Everyone gasped, their heated gazes nearly piercing the boy through. Even as they fended off the demonic cultivators, their minds raced: Could you not save the pleasantries until after the fight?

The three from the Shen family were both stunned and delighted, though their brows soon furrowed with worry.

Yet the youth’s response put their minds at ease. He said, “Uncle Ke, thank you for your kind offer, but I must report to the clan leader before I can give you an answer.”

On the path of cultivation, one rarely walked far alone—family was the strongest support, sparing one much unnecessary hardship.

Ke Rongzi’s expression grew complicated, but he finally sighed, “You’re a good child.” Inwardly, he nodded: even after such treatment by his family, the youth still put them first—truly a responsible, upright young man.

Unwittingly, Shen Luo had once again left a deep impression of loyalty and virtue.

He then suggested, “This isn’t the place for conversation. Why don’t we deal with these demonic cultivators first?”

Everyone agreed at once. Especially the exhausted cultivators, who were moved to tears.

Su Li, seeing this, flicked her tail to hide her eyes.

With just a few words, they’d all fallen under the protagonist’s aura—these cultivators were far too easy to fool.

With Shen Fengling and the others joining the fray, the remaining demonic cultivators were swiftly dealt with.

More importantly, the white feline beast and fat bird coordinated with uncanny precision—one feigned, the other struck ruthlessly, their attacks swift and bloody. Add to that the Thunderclap Bird, which specialized in shocking the demonic cultivators’ nether regions, and every onlooker instinctively pressed their legs together.

In the end, all they could do was watch, helpless.

The beasts weren’t just intelligent—they were practically defying the heavens!

Astonished, the cultivators also felt a pang of shame. As humans, it seemed they were of little use at all.