A dangerous aura suddenly came from behind Ling Xiao.
It was Bai Feifei!
This foolish woman, not understanding the situation, wanted to make a move here?
“Yu Ling, Zhao Zhi, you two go ahead, I’ll play with Senior Sister Bai!”
Just as he spoke, Ling Xiao’s expression changed, and he darted forward using Cloud Dragon Divine Movement, grabbing Zhao Zhi and Dai Yuling.
His sudden dash stunned everyone.
As the crowd stood puzzled, a massive python emerged from the churning river waters, its gaping maw snapping at the spot where Ling Xiao had just stood.
“Run! Giant python!”
By now, many had noticed the python.
It wasn’t particularly strong, only about a fifth-level beast, manageable for a fifth-level Mortal Realm martial artist.
But its enormous size and sudden attack caused panic, and the martial artists, caught off guard, didn’t think to fight back.
As a result, seven or eight more disciples were swallowed, declared dead, and teleported out of the Moonlight Pagoda.
“Fifty participants in the tower-climbing ceremony, twelve failed, thirty-eight remain!”
The cold voice rang out again, making the young martial artists’ hearts sink.
They hadn’t even passed the first stage, and only thirty-eight remained. The cold voice implied it would only get harder. What were they to do?
Many lost confidence in themselves.
In the chaos, everyone rushed toward the other side of the rope bridge, but due to crowding and targeting each other, another disciple was pushed off, falling into the raging river below.
“Thirty-seven survivors.”
As if to increase pressure on the participants, the cold voice announced every failure.
“Thank you, Brother Ling.”
Zhao Zhi, still shaken at the bridgehead, knew that without Ling Xiao’s quick reaction, he’d likely be dead.
“No need, just a small effort.”
Ling Xiao’s stance was clear: he’d help when he could, but if he was overwhelmed, he wouldn’t meddle.
“Ling Xiao, you wretched fool, why didn’t you warn everyone about the danger?”
Shen Tianlin, arriving at the bridgehead, roared in fury.
“Ridiculous. As a true disciple, are you inferior to me? Why didn’t you warn everyone?”
Ling Xiao sneered.
“You!”
Shen Tianlin’s face flushed red, speechless.
Admitting he didn’t sense the danger would mean he was lesser than Ling Xiao.
But claiming he did would be slapping his own face.
He was stuck either way.
“Listen up, everyone. Beyond the rope bridge, there may be even greater dangers. I don’t know what they are, but be cautious.”
Ling Xiao sensed that, past the bridge, a more terrifying aura than the python’s was locked onto them.
But what it was, he couldn’t yet tell.
The Moonlight Pagoda was too mysterious; without the threat appearing, even Ling Xiao could only sense a faint trace.
“Kraa!”
Just as he finished speaking, a piercing cry echoed from the sky.
Then, a terrifying aura drew closer.
“Kraa—!”
The sound came again, from the pitch-black sky, but nothing was visible. The oppressive, terrifying feeling was unbearable.
“What’s going on?”
Even Bai Feifei forgot about targeting Ling Xiao.
Her attempt to deal with him nearly got her ambushed, so she’d learned her lesson.
What was it?
That was everyone’s question.
Ling Xiao looked skyward.
His black pupils turned golden, and in that moment, his expression changed. He grabbed Zhao Zhi and Dai Yuling and fled forward.
Beyond the rope bridge was a dense forest, pitch-black, nearly impossible to see.
But for Mortal Realm martial artists, they could still see somewhat, though not as clearly as in daylight.
Bai Feifei, Tantai Lingzi, and Shen Tianlin saw only a dark shadow.
Only Ling Xiao saw it clearly: it was not something to confront. Escape was the best choice.
“Brother Ling, let us down. If we keep relying on you, we’ll miss our chance to grow,” Zhao Zhi suggested.
“Fool, this is a place for seeking opportunities, not training. Outside, I won’t interfere, but here, we help each other when we can. I have some strength now, but when greater dangers come and I’m overwhelmed, don’t expect me to lift a finger.”
Ling Xiao dashed forward, speaking coldly.
The smartest among them were Tantai Lingzi and Leng Hao.
Seeing Ling Xiao run, they followed without hesitation.
Shangguan Lei, purely out of trust in Ling Xiao, also ran.
Others followed instinctively.
Bai Feifei, that foolish woman, didn’t run.
Ming Tian didn’t either.
Shen Tianlin stood still.
It was close!
Now visible!
From the sky, a massive roc bird swooped down, its enormous wings spread wide.
The roc’s wings spanned over twenty metres, and a single flap stirred a fierce wind, striking fear into all.
“Black-Winged Great Roc! How is such a terrifying beast here? It’s a peak eighth-level beast, even ninth-level Mortal Realm martial artists would fear it!”
Shen Tianlin’s brows furrowed as he turned to leave.
“Who cares about a Black-Winged Great Roc? Kill it!”
Bai Feifei refused to run.
The python caught her off guard, so she fled.
But now, she wouldn’t.
A half-step Heavenly Lord, afraid of a peak eighth-level beast?
Whoosh!
She shot upward.
“Sister, no!”
Shen Tianlin shouted, but it was too late.
“Boom!”
Bai Feifei collided with the Black-Winged Great Roc.
But things didn’t go as she expected.
She thought she could kill the bird with one punch, but instead, she was swatted away, crashing into the ground. The roc merely swayed, pausing briefly.
“How is this possible!”
Bai Feifei couldn’t believe the outcome.
“Sister, let’s go! The Black-Winged Great Roc seems to have a special array enhancing its strength. Even the Moonlight Pagoda is aiding it. Fighting it is a losing battle.”
Shen Tianlin ran over and said.
“Damn it, another array. I hate arrays.”
Reluctantly, Bai Feifei fled forward.
She didn’t want to admit it, but strength alone wouldn’t secure opportunities here.
