Chapter 4 Ji Yichuan's Fury

Flames swirled around the tail feathers of the Cyan Flame Bird as it soared through the clouds, shrieking as it chased the scaled, bone-winged serpent ahead.

On the back of the Cyan Flame Bird crouched two figures—Ji Yichuan and the black-robed woman. The black-robed woman stared at the winged serpent fleeing at high speed ahead. “Yichuan, this winged serpent is a late-stage Xiantian great demon, far stronger than my Cyan Bird. Even though the Cyan Bird is adept at flying, it will struggle to catch up.”

“Leave it to me, Aunt Hua.” Ji Yichuan’s face was icy cold. A silver great bow suddenly appeared in his hand, and an arrow appeared in his right.

Whoosh—

The bow was drawn to a full moon as Ji Yichuan coldly stared at the winged serpent fleeing ahead.

“Swish!” The arrow instantly turned into a streak of light shooting toward the fleeing winged serpent. At such a short distance, with the terrifying speed of Ji Yichuan’s arrow and the serpent’s massive size, how could it possibly dodge?

In terms of archery skill alone, Ji Yichuan might be inferior to Meng Yu.

But most men of the Ji clan practiced archery, and Ji Yichuan’s arrows—in speed and power—far surpassed Meng Yu’s!

“Boom!”

The arrow struck the serpent’s body and exploded, creating a huge bloody hole. A deep, bone-deep wound appeared on the serpent’s body, as if another arrow could sever it. In truth, Ji Yichuan’s arrow had been aimed at the bone wing. But the winged serpent knew well—if its scaled bone wing was injured, it would have no escape. So it chose to use its body to block the arrow.

“Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle~~~” The serpent’s muscles contracted, and blood stopped flowing.

The winged serpent fled in a frenzy.

“Ji Yichuan, your Ji clan killed my son. Do you think I wouldn’t seek revenge?” the winged serpent roared back.

“Wretch, accept your death quietly, and I’ll give you a quick end. Otherwise, you’ll regret it bitterly.” Ji Yichuan, crouching on the back of the Cyan Flame Bird, drew the silver great bow again.

The winged serpent desperately dodged.

Boom!

Another arrow blasted a huge hole in the serpent’s body, causing it to howl in agony. Its heart was frantic: “Ji Yichuan is the strongest expert of the Ji clan’s Western Mansion, but how can he be this strong? Earlier, a sword light flew two li and heavily wounded me. Now every casual arrow injures me. Even a Xiantian Perfection great demon could at most suppress me, not toy with me like this!”

The winged serpent’s courage had been completely shattered by that earlier sword light.

A sword light flying two li could heavily wound it.

If a close-range sword strike came, wouldn’t it kill in one blow?

“Swish!” “Swish!” “Swish!” Ji Yichuan shot arrow after arrow. The winged serpent, gnashing its teeth, could only use its body to block. Fortunately, it was several hundred meters long. Despite over a dozen holes in its massive body, its formidable vitality allowed it to keep flying at high speed.

After a while, a vast lake appeared on the broad land below.

“Whoosh!” The winged serpent immediately dove down.

“It’s Winged Serpent Lake.” Ji Yichuan and the black-robed woman’s expressions changed.

Winged Serpent Lake, a hundred li wide, stretched endlessly—the lair of the winged serpent.

Splash~~~

The huge winged serpent dove from high altitude straight into the lake, raising only a few ripples before vanishing.

The Cyan Flame Bird hovered above Winged Serpent Lake.

“Yichuan, what now?” the black-robed woman asked.

“Flee?” Ji Yichuan stood on the bird’s back, gazing down at the vast lake. Coldly, he said, “Hiding underwater, thinking I can’t deal with him? Aunt Hua, lend me the Cyan Flame Bird for now. Please return to the Western Mansion at once and have my spirit serpent come here.”

“Alright.” The black-robed woman nodded.

Swish!

The black-robed woman tapped lightly, streaking across the lake’s surface like a flowing light, soon disappearing into the distance.

…

At the bottom of Winged Serpent Lake.

The huge winged serpent coiled there, occasionally licking the massive wounds on its body. Its powerful vitality and regenerative ability caused the wounds to shrink rapidly, muscles twisting and growing at a visible rate.

“Ji Yichuan.” The serpent’s vertical pupils were filled with resentment. “How can he be this strong? Ji Lie is the second strongest of the Western Mansion. When he fought me years ago, he only had the upper hand. But Ji Yichuan—if he gets close, one sword strike could kill me. How can the gap be so huge?”

The winged serpent had been confident in its escape. In its view, even against a Xiantian Perfection existence, it would at most be at a disadvantage and still have a chance to flee. As long as it wasn’t surrounded by a group of Xiantian beings, it would be fine.

But Ji Yichuan’s single sword strike had terrified it.

“Roar~~”

“Caw!”

The demons in Winged Serpent Lake let out shrill cries. The sounds reached the serpent underwater, startling it. It could understand the cries of its underlings.

“A great demon has come?” The serpent was alarmed. “Right, among the tamed great demons of the Ji clan’s Western Mansion, one is a water tribe great demon.”

Some demons were birds, adept at flying.

Some were water tribe, stronger in water.

Non-water tribe demons would have their strength drastically reduced in water. For instance, Ji Yichuan—in water, his speed would be less than a tenth of his land speed. But the winged serpent was faster in water than on land. Even Ji Yichuan’s sword techniques would be weakened by water resistance.

Of course, even weakened, Ji Yichuan’s sword could kill the serpent. But in water, he could never catch up, and the most powerful sword technique would be useless.

…

“Brother Black, find the winged serpent.” Ji Yichuan stood on the lake’s surface without sinking. “It’s stronger than you, but it’s heavily wounded. Just find it and hold it down—don’t let it escape. I’ll come immediately to kill it.”

“Leave it to me.” The winding black serpent raised its head from the lake, then sank entirely, beginning its sweep of Winged Serpent Lake.

The lesser demons in the lake scattered in panic, shrieking in terror.

“Cyan Flame Bird.” Ji Yichuan looked up. “Watch from above. If the winged serpent tries to escape the lake, pursue it immediately.”

“Alright.” The Cyan Flame Bird’s soft voice replied as it rose higher.

Ji Yichuan, his face stern, walked across the lake holding a cyan longsword. The water was like solid ground to him; each step left a faint ripple. His cold gaze swept the surroundings as if he could see through the water to the bottom.

…

Ji Clan’s Western Mansion.

Night had fallen. The clamor caused by the winged serpent’s attack had quieted down.

“Father.” Ji Wuyu, with dozens of braids, knelt and drank from a beast-head wine cup. “The winged serpent great demon has fled back to its lair. Winged Serpent Lake is vast and deep. With only a black serpent chasing it, if it hides deliberately, Ji Yichuan may find it hard to kill it, despite his strength.”

Ji Lie nodded, but his brows were furrowed. The food and wine before him remained untouched—clearly, something troubled him.

“Father?” Ji Wuyu looked at him in confusion.

Ji Lie frowned and sighed deeply. “A sword light flying two li could still heavily wound the winged serpent. That strike’s power nearly surpasses the limit of what a Xiantian being can achieve.”

“Father, you mean…” Ji Wuyu was startled. “A Zifu cultivator?”

Ji Lie shook his head. “Hard to say. If Ji Yichuan had opened his Zifu, he could fly with a magic treasure and wouldn’t have let the serpent that nearly killed his son escape. But if he hasn’t opened his Zifu, that sword strike’s power is absurdly high. That’s why I’m puzzled.”

“Also,”

“I saw Ji Ning with a broken arm earlier. But in the blink of an eye, when the dust settled and we arrived, Ji Ning was unharmed.” Ji Lie frowned.

Many Xiantian beings had seen Ji Ning standing in the ruins with a broken arm.

“Ji Yichuan’s son, Ji Ning, must have cultivated a divine body tempering technique,” Ji Wuyu nodded. “And reached a very high level to reattach his arm. But what puzzles me more is how Ji Ning survived the winged serpent’s attack on Dragon Castle.”

“I don’t understand either,” Ji Lie sighed. “Lucky for him.”

How did Ji Ning survive?

Perhaps the winged serpent knew Ji Ning’s identity and dared not kill him.

Perhaps Ji Ning’s divine body gave him strong vitality, and he survived by luck.

Perhaps Ji Ning had a life-saving treasure from his parents.

The experts of the Western Mansion could only guess, but none imagined that the ten-year-old Ji Ning had already achieved “Unity of Heaven and Man” in his movement technique.

…

Ji Ning was practicing the Wind Shadow Step in his training ground. Blurred afterimages moved at high speed across the several-hundred-meter-wide field, then suddenly—swish! swish! swish!—dozens of Ji Nings appeared…

“Ning’er.” A voice came.

Ji Ning stopped abruptly.

“Mother.” Ji Ning hurried over to greet her.

Yuchi Snow walked over, beaming at her son. After the winged serpent attack, the day had been spent in cremation and memorial rites for the fallen clansmen and Black Armor Guards. Ji Ning had quietly told his mother that he had achieved Unity of Heaven and Man in his movement technique—and only her.

At just ten years old, achieving Unity of Heaven and Man in movement was rare even for Yuchi Snow, who had traveled widely across the Grand Xia Dynasty. In truth, Ji Ning had been visualizing the “Nuwa Painting” since birth, strengthening his soul. After years of hard practice in the Wind Shadow Step, he had reached the Subtle realm two years ago. In the face of life and death, sensing heaven and earth, reaching Unity of Heaven and Man was a natural progression.

“Ning’er,” Yuchi Snow said, looking at her son, “you’ve achieved Unity of Heaven and Man in movement. The next step is Unity of Heaven and Man in swordsmanship. Do not slacken.”

“Yes, Mother.” Ji Ning nodded.

Unity of Heaven and Man in movement is the unity of man and heaven and earth.

Unity of Heaven and Man in swordsmanship is the unity of man, sword, and heaven and earth—naturally more difficult.

“Mother,” Ji Ning pressed, “when will Father return?”

“Your father went to slay the great demon. Once he kills the winged serpent, he’ll return,” Yuchi Snow said.