Chapter 8: Struggle
Hong Sword had already arrived at the eastern part of the base, standing amidst the murky sewage while staring at the screen before him. On the screen was a Mutated Eagle, hovering high above the eastern sky, its cold golden eyes locked onto Golden Hill Base, ready to strike at any moment.
“It has grown…”
Far beyond the eastern outskirts of Golden Hill Base, Wang Jie followed the direction of the eagle’s previous screech. Before long, he spotted a massive nest hidden within the ruins of a collapsed skyscraper—Mutated Eagle’s Nest.
Constructed with intertwining branches, the nest was enormous. Wang Jie rushed forward, gripping a thick branch to climb inside.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of air being torn apart reached his ears!
He slammed his palm against a branch, using the rebound force to retreat swiftly. As he pivoted mid-air, his left foot stepped on his right, shifting his weight to grab another branch. A black shadow flashed past his original position, slicing through the branch he had just been holding.
He turned to look—countless black figures fluttered in the air, surging toward him.
Mutated Hummingbirds.
They were small in size but frighteningly fast, capable of tearing a person to shreds in an instant.
Wang Jie stopped climbing and let himself freefall. The hummingbirds chased after him, diving down at terrifying speeds.
Despite falling, Wang Jie remained agile, effortlessly maneuvering mid-air to dodge the swarm. This scene astonished Lian Fei, who was watching from below.
As the daughter of Lian Qin, one of the Five Extremes, Lian Fei had seen many top-tier fighters. But few could evade a swarm of Mutated Hummingbirds in mid-air so effortlessly. In fact, she had never seen it before.
[Who is this man?]
The Mutated Eagle’s Nest blocked the moonlight, casting a deep darkness over the surroundings.
At first, Wang Jie hadn’t noticed anyone else nearby. It was only when some of the hummingbirds shifted their attention toward Lian Fei’s group that he saw them—more than ten people hiding beneath the ruins.
Among them, one figure caught his eye—it was a young man from the Southern Base Hunting Team. [So, they came here too.]
Shadows flickered continuously as the hummingbirds darted around, gleaming dangerously under the dim light.
Wang Jie landed swiftly and sprinted in another direction without hesitation. Since he was alone, he presented a much smaller target. His speed was also remarkably fast, making the hummingbirds abandon him and target the larger group instead.
“Brother, wait! Let’s join forces to deal with these hummingbirds!” someone shouted.
Wang Jie didn’t stop, disappearing in an instant.
“Damn it! He has no intention of working together!”
“These hummingbirds are a pain—let’s deal with them first.”
“What about the Young Mutated Eagles in the nest? That guy might steal them!”
Lian Fei’s cold gaze followed Wang Jie’s disappearing figure. “Hold off the hummingbirds. I’ll go after him.”
“No, Young Miss, that man is strong!” someone tried to stop her.
Lian Fei leaped out. “Senior Sister will be here soon. Tell her to go directly into the nest. I’ll stall him.” With that, she chased after Wang Jie. The hummingbirds that tried to pursue her were intercepted by her team.
Now that the group was keeping the hummingbirds busy, Wang Jie no longer had to worry about them.
Looking up, he saw the swarm redirecting toward them. There were still so many of them—it would take significant effort to exterminate them all. But he had no time to waste.
The Mutated Eagle had undergone another transformation, becoming immensely powerful. If Hong Sword couldn’t hold it off, Golden Hill Base would be doomed. However, Wang Jie had an idea—perhaps he could disrupt the Mutated Eagle in some way. There was no time to delay.
Climbing rapidly, he soon reached the top of the Mutated Eagle’s Nest. Looking down, his eyes gleamed in realization.
[No wonder that Mutated Eagle is clearing its territory.]
Inside the nest were three Young Mutated Eagles.
Though called “young,” each was still larger than a human. The disturbance caused by the Mutated Hummingbirds had awakened them. They opened their beaks, chirping hungrily.
Wang Jie hesitated.
[Should I just kill them?]
If he did, the Mutated Eagle would go berserk.
[If I don’t, how can I disrupt it? These mutated beasts are incredibly hard to tame, especially eagles. In peacetime, some people could train birds of prey, but in this post-apocalyptic era? Who could tame such a creature? Even the Five Extremes couldn’t do it.]
He glanced toward the west, where Golden Hill Base was engulfed in battle. The Mutated Eagle had yet to make a move.
His eyes flickered. [Wait.]
[Let it engage Hong Sword first.]
If he acted now, the Mutated Eagle would immediately return, and he would have to fight it himself. That wasn’t an option.
A noise from nearby caught his attention. Turning, he saw a woman climbing up. In the moonlight, her cold and stunning face looked even paler, her sharp eyes locked onto him.
Instinctively, Wang Jie pulled a black cloth over his face.
“Who are you?” Lian Fei demanded. “Hiding your face—I’ve never heard of a movement technique master like you in Golden Hill Base.”
Suppressing his voice, Wang Jie replied, “Without protection, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
Lian Fei smirked. “Your movement skills are impressive, evading Mutated Hummingbirds mid-air. But that doesn’t mean your combat strength is high. No one in the Low Extreme Hunting Team is easily frightened.”
Wang Jie raised an eyebrow. Low Extreme Hunting Team?
[No wonder she’s so arrogant.]
Among all the Hunting Teams in Hua Xia, the Low Extreme Hunting Team was among the best. It recruited only the most talented young fighters of recent years, including many descendants of the Three Gods and Five Extremes. Anyone even slightly older was rejected.
Their leader was Bai Xiao, daughter of Bai Yuan, one of the Three Gods.
With Bai Yuan backing her, along with her own talent and beauty, Bai Xiao had gathered nearly all of Hua Xia’s promising young experts. The Low Extreme Hunting Team’s motto was simple—”The Future of Hua Xia.”
Its meaning was clear: The present may belong to the Three Gods and Five Extremes, but the future would be ruled by the Low Extreme Hunting Team.
To join the Low Extreme Hunting Team, one’s strength must be exceptional, regardless of background.
Wang Jie remained motionless, seemingly in a standoff with Lian Fei, yet his gaze was fixed on the distant horizon. As long as the Mutated Eagle and Hong Sword clashed, he could make his move.
Lian Fei frowned, staring at Wang Jie. “Who exactly are you? You look young. I can introduce you to the Low Extreme Hunting Team.”
Wang Jie did not respond.
Lian Fei continued, using both threats and enticements, yet he remained unmoved. Suddenly, she fell silent.
Wang Jie’s gaze sharpened. [This girl is stalling for time.] It was impossible for the Southern Base to send people after Hu Guan without at least one Six-Seal expert. With this in mind, he suddenly lunged at Lian Fei.
Her eyes widened in shock. She lifted her arm, launching a concealed sleeve arrow, but Wang Jie dodged it. She immediately drew a white straight ruler, Seal Power surging through her, causing the weapon to radiate with a pale glow as she slashed at him.
Wang Jie stepped right, but his body appeared on the left instead. He took another step left, and in the blink of an eye, he was behind her. Lian Fei, stunned, stared blankly at the empty space ahead. [What kind of movement technique is this?]
With a dull thud, she collapsed.
Retracting his hand, Wang Jie had merely knocked her unconscious. He turned his gaze back toward Golden Hill Base.
A brilliant white blade light arced upward like an inverted meteor—Hong Sword had made his move.
A piercing screech echoed as the Mutated Eagle dove, its talons tearing through the blade light, charging toward Golden Hill Base.
Wang Jie exhaled. [It’s time.] He approached three Young Mutated Eagles, their talons still clutching half-eaten human remains. These creatures feasted on human flesh.
Stepping into the pool of blood, he grabbed one of the eagles’ feathers and yanked it hard.
A shrill cry rang out, echoing into the distance.
Beneath the Mutated Eagle’s Nest, a swarm of Mutated Hummingbirds grew restless, abandoning their previous targets and flying toward the nest instead. The remaining humans, worried for Lian Fei, did everything they could to stall them.
Wang Jie continued pulling out the Young Mutated Eagle’s feathers one by one. Its screams grew increasingly mournful.
Meanwhile, at Golden Hill Base, Hong Sword leaped high, meeting the Mutated Eagle head-on with a single strike—Eight Wind-Breaking Slashes. Violent gales howled around him, lifting him higher as his blade clashed with the Mutated Eagle’s talons. The shockwave from the impact sent a white energy ripple cascading downward.
Hong Sword gritted his teeth, his hands trembling from the force, blood seeping from his grip. Summoning his strength, seven surging Seal Power currents transformed into seven raging storms, propelling him toward the Mutated Eagle once more.
Just as the Mutated Eagle prepared to counterattack, its golden eyes suddenly shifted eastward, reacting to something it heard.
Seizing the opportunity, Hong Sword’s blade cleaved into the Mutated Eagle’s leg, severing it mid-air. Blood rained down.
The Mutated Eagle thrashed wildly, flapping its wings in a desperate retreat eastward. But Hong Sword did not relent. His blade whirled, the gales intensifying as he slashed again. This strike spanned a hundred meters, slicing into the Mutated Eagle’s body and shattering its wing.
Once the Eight Wind-Breaking Slashes were unleashed, they would not cease unless the wielder willed it.
Slash after slash, using the wind to amplify his blade, Hong Sword pursued his foe like a wildfire consuming a forest.
From Golden Hill Base, countless cultivators looked on in awe as Hong Sword’s relentless strikes fell upon the Mutated Eagle, forcing agonized shrieks from the beast. Yet, even in its suffering, its golden eyes remained fixed on the east. Then, the eighth strike fell—severing its head from its body.
Blood splattered across the sky.
Drained of strength, Hong Sword plummeted toward the Rat Tide below.
Iron hooks shot out from the city walls, one latching onto him and pulling him back toward Golden Hill Base just in time.
With the Mutated Eagle slain, the Beast Tide hesitated briefly before many mutated creatures scattered in retreat.
Meanwhile, back at the Mutated Eagle’s Nest, Wang Jie remained unaware of the Mutated Eagle’s fate. His only goal had been to cause a distraction. Now that his task was complete, it was time to leave.
As the Mutated Hummingbirds swarmed toward him, he dodged skillfully while slaying the three Young Mutated Eagles, collecting their blood, feathers, and other Cataclysm Materials. These creatures would have grown into formidable foes.
[Hmm? What’s this?]
He noticed something beneath the Young Mutated Eagles—an egg.
Wang Jie’s eyes lit up. He scooped up the egg and left.
Shortly after his departure, members of the Southern Base Hunting Team climbed into the nest. Seeing the Young Mutated Eagles’ corpses, their expressions turned grim. Searching around, they found Lian Fei.
Only when they confirmed she was still alive did they breathe a sigh of relief.
“Carry the Young Miss! The Young Mutated Eagles are dead. If the Mutated Eagle returns, we’re all doomed!”
They carried Lian Fei away.
By this time, Wang Jie had already covered a significant distance with the egg in his arms. The Mutated Hummingbirds no longer pursued him.
He felt the egg’s warmth against his chest. [If Hong Sword fails to stop that Mutated Eagle, I’ll have no choice but to throw this egg at it.]
He hoped Golden Hill Base would hold.
To the west, back at Golden Hill Base, Hong Sword was carried into the city, completely exhausted—but victorious.
“The Beast Tide hasn’t fully retreated. We thought they would disperse after the Mutated Eagle’s death, but something still seems to be driving them forward.”
Hearing this report, Hong Sword ordered, “Bring me to the city wall.”
From atop the wall, he gazed down at the battlefield below. Tens of thousands of cultivators fought desperately against the remaining mutated beasts. Something was indeed still commanding the Beast Tide.
Hong Sword struggled to stand but found himself too weak. “Alert every cultivator inside the city! If the walls fall, no one survives! Fight to the death!”
“Understood!”
At that moment, streaks of blazing red light cut through the sky, crashing into the Beast Tide with earth-shattering force. Each explosion sent fire cascading outward, engulfing everything within dozens of meters.
Hong Sword’s expression darkened as he turned toward the source.
[Such terrifying power.]
The other cultivators also turned to look.
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