The warm sunlight bathed his body, making his limbs and even his hair feel cozy. After much difficulty, he finally emerged from the central area to the outskirts, arriving at this grassy lakeside. The clear lake surface reflected the entire sky, creating a mesmerizing blend of the sky above and below, giving a refreshing feeling.
Han Zhiyuan lay on the grass, marveling at his luck for not encountering any beasts and acknowledging that Black Egg was not entirely useless, at least for leading the way. Black Egg mimicked Han Zhiyuan, sprawled out on the grass in a comically cute manner that made Han Zhiyuan chuckle.
Meanwhile, the Bird King neither lay down nor sat; he stood steadily at a distance. Han Zhiyuan glanced at him sideways. At this moment, the Peacock King slightly tilted his exquisite head, revealing his fair neck and the Adam’s apple that was more delicate than Han Zhiyuan’s. Facing the sun, his eyes slightly closed, he appeared to be enjoying himself immensely.
Han Zhiyuan suddenly thought of the chickens his grandmother kept in the countryside. Back then, when his grandmother was still alive, he wasn’t alone. During the holidays, he would go back. Those chickens would bask in the midday sun, fluffing their feathers and dozing lazily, nodding off, only to wake and continue basking.
So, birds like to sunbathe? Wait, are chickens considered birds?
Comfortably tempted to reveal his true form and spread his beautiful feathers, the Peacock King had no idea he was being compared to a domesticated chicken by a human.
“Hey,” Han Zhiyuan suddenly put his hands behind his head and looked at the Peacock King, “Do you have a name? I can’t keep calling you Peacock King everywhere we go, can I?”
The Peacock King’s eyelashes trembled, a faint light flashed in his reddish eyes. He seemed surprised by Han Zhiyuan’s lack of basic respect, but he said nothing. After all, this person was abnormal.
A flash of confusion crossed the Peacock King’s eyes. His name hadn’t been used since he became a demon king seven hundred years ago, so long that even he had forgotten it.
After a while, just when Han Zhiyuan thought he was being ignored again, the Peacock King softly uttered, “Feng Yu.”
“Nice name,” Han Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow. It sounded a bit feminine, but he didn’t dare say that. Han Zhiyuan had seen peacocks in the zoo and found them genuinely beautiful, especially the white peacocks, stunning when they spread their tails.
There is a legend that peacocks are descendants of phoenixes. Feng Yu? Thinking of the Peacock King’s real form when he spread his tail, the name seemed fitting.
Feng Yu, momentarily stunned by the unexpected compliment, continued enjoying the sunlight.
“Feng Yu, are we really going to that Holy Site?”
On their way out of the central area of the Huangduan Mountain Range, they learned of a recently appeared Holy Site. Saints, those who broke through the Martial Emperor realm and survived the tribulation, could live for tens of thousands of years. A Holy Site, a place where a saint had passed away, contained valuable artifacts, high-level cultivation techniques, and profound insights.
Most importantly, everyone’s power would be restricted to the Grandmaster level in the Huangduan Mountain Range, giving many people a chance. That’s why they hadn’t encountered anyone on their way out.
Considering his weak cultivation, Han Zhiyuan didn’t want to go there to die, but he needed to increase his strength. In a world where the strong are revered, he had to become strong. However, such a place full of powerful beings would have many casualties.
“You can wait here if you don’t dare to go,” Feng Yu said calmly.
Was that a taunt or blatant disdain? Han Zhiyuan, with a black face, touched his nose, knowing it was probably the latter. They had just discussed the mysterious restriction on Feng Yu’s soul. Han Zhiyuan explained that he was forced to help lift the restriction but had no ill intentions and didn’t know the exact person who sent him, only that they were powerful and arrogant.
Feng Yu, despite his doubts, knew better than anyone how strong the restriction on his soul was. Han Zhiyuan, as peculiar as he was, couldn’t be associated with someone that powerful, so he stopped asking. Besides, Han Zhiyuan had a remarkable fortune, a mysterious quality that might help break the restriction, making Feng Yu somewhat hopeful.
Although he had recovered thirty percent of his energy with Jinlong’s help, his soul was severely damaged. He needed spiritual herbs and treasures to heal. Given the power restrictions in the Huangduan Mountain Range, he had a chance and had to go.
Moreover, Feng Yu thought, this man’s luck was extraordinary. They had traveled through the dangerous central area without trouble, and his strange warmth had helped hatch a millennium-old egg. His presence even aided in Feng Yu’s soul recovery. Luck often reflects a person’s potential, and someone with great luck would have incredible opportunities.
Han Zhiyuan had no idea what Feng Yu was thinking. Since the Bird King wanted to go, he had to follow. However, he was conflicted, wondering how to make this Bird King fall for him. Given Feng Yu’s indifferent demeanor, it seemed a daunting task.
The road ahead was long. Han Zhiyuan stood up, walked to the lakeside, and looked at his reflection. “Let me drink some water before we leave. I feel weak from the sun.” Black Egg mimicked Han Zhiyuan, stretching out its paws to splash water on its face, “Daddy, daddy…” Han Zhiyuan laughed.
Feng Yu was drawn by their laughter. Suddenly, he shouted, “Back off!”
“Boom!” The previously calm lake surface exploded like a bomb had been dropped into it, sending water ten meters high. Han Zhiyuan felt temporarily blinded and deafened. Then, a massive blood-red mouth shot out of the water, lunging at him.
“Shit!” Han Zhiyuan was shocked. In an instant, he drew his Qingxuan Sword and swung it. However, the sword energy had no effect on the massive mouth. Han Zhiyuan was terrified and tried to run, but his legs felt like they weren’t his own. Just as the mouth was about to swallow him, a powerful energy beam struck one of its fangs, breaking it. The mouth closed in pain, revealing its massive green eyes before diving back into the water. Han Zhiyuan realized it was a huge snake.
“Run!” Han Zhiyuan turned and saw Feng Yu clutching his chest in pain. Without thinking, he started running, Black Egg already far ahead with its incredible speed.
“Ugh!” Han Zhiyuan suddenly felt a pain in his stomach, then he couldn’t breathe and felt like he was going to explode. The giant snake had wrapped around him, tightening its grip. Han Zhiyuan struggled but couldn’t move, his vision going white.
“Boom!” Another loud noise. Han Zhiyuan saw Feng Yu attacking the snake, but with his power restricted, he couldn’t harm it. Black Egg was crying out in panic. Feeling helpless and about to die, Han Zhiyuan cursed the demon king’s ancestors in his heart. Just as he was about to lose consciousness, he felt the snake loosen its grip. Instinctively, he stabbed his sword into it, determined to kill the beast.
In his confusion, Han Zhiyuan didn’t realize the snake had been terrified by the red light flashing in his eyes. The snake tried to escape, but Han Zhiyuan clung to it, stabbing wildly.
Feng Yu, weak from overexerting his energy, and Black Egg watched in shock as Han Zhiyuan hacked the seven-meter snake into pieces, becoming a bloody mess himself.
Feng Yu’s usually calm eyes showed surprise. Black Egg was stunned. Han Zhiyuan, soaked in blood, stumbled out of the water, muttering curses. The snake had disappeared into the lake.
“Are you alright?” Feng Yu asked hesitantly.
“I’m fine,” Han Zhiyuan replied, feeling unbearably hot. Whether the snake’s blood was poisonous or not, he didn’t know. He pulled a shiny object from the snake, an inner core, and instinctively put it in his mouth.
“Stop!” Feng Yu shouted. Han Zhiyuan, confused, found the Bird King incredibly attractive and felt even hotter.
His body acted on its own, pouncing on Feng Yu, kissing him passionately.
“Daddy, Mommy, don’t fight!” Black Egg cried out.
Han Zhiyuan:…
