Rot-Winged Eagles

Passing by Quheng Island, Qin Sang chose not to enter, flying straight toward the southern, even more chaotic reaches of the Liefeng Archipelago. Several years had passed, and the repercussions of Old Demon Yin's Nascent Soul being captured alive seemed to have blown over. Qin Sang arrived unusually smoothly near Spirit Tortoise Island, Senior Qingzhu's former dao venue. Qin Sang suspected that Old Demon Yin's downfall might also be related to Senior Qingzhu. If the Demon Master intended to investigate the matter, he would surely send people to watch the cultivators on the surrounding islands. To be safe, Qin Sang bypassed Bamen Island and continued southward. Along the way, he frequently assumed aliases to inquire about the state of affairs in the Liefeng Archipelago. He discovered that although the archipelago was turbulent, it operated by its own set of rules. Factions of various sizes dotted the region, and there was no shortage of Nascent Soul-level figures among them. He had no desire to be dragged into further disputes. Yet unless one pledged allegiance to those factions, finding a safe cave dwelling to cultivate quietly was no simple task. Several months later. In a rather desolate area of the Liefeng Archipelago, a figure swept across several deserted islands in succession. After flying at full tilt for a few hours, he came to a halt before a small island. The island spanned barely a dozen-odd li across, with several hills that were not very high. A multicolored mist rose from the center of the island, lingering continuously among the vegetation upon the hills. Any cultivator who came here would immediately recognize the mist as a form of poisonous miasma. However, the greatest danger was not the poisonous miasma itself, but the nests scattered across the hills. "So this is the Poison Island those people spoke of?" The person who had arrived was none other than Qin Sang. He had reached the fringes of the Liefeng Archipelago's lawless region, keeping a low profile as he gathered intelligence and searched for a cave dwelling. The few locations he had found earlier had not been entirely satisfactory. A few days ago, upon arriving in the nearby waters, he had heard from other cultivators that a Poison Island lay here, claimed as a monster nest by a flock of rot-winged eagles. Greatly intrigued, he had promptly rushed over to investigate. The rot-winged eagle was a notorious venomous beast. Not only could it spew clouds of poison, but its feathers and talons were also steeped in virulent toxins. Once wounded by a rot-winged eagle, the poison would enter the body and invade the internal organs in a matter of breaths. Perhaps from their constant exposure to such virulent poison, the rot-winged eagles were also corroded by it, rendering their appearance utterly gruesome. Their bodies were pitch-black, their feathers looking as though they had been charred and giving off a foul stench. Their flesh and plumage were tattered and torn, with bone exposed in several places, resembling rotting carcasses. Their wings were especially horrifying to behold, which had earned them the name "rot-winged eagle." Mortals feared these venomous beasts intensely, viewing them as incarnations of Yanwang arriving to claim lives. Rot-winged eagles gave cultivators terrible headaches as well. Furthermore, they usually appeared in large flocks, so no one dared provoke them lightly. Consequently, no cultivators resided on this Poison Island; the flock of rot-winged eagles was its undisputed master. As the rot-winged eagles multiplied and grew in number, cultivators dared approach even less. Concealing his presence, Qin Sang observed the Poison Island from a short distance away. The poisonous miasma drifted through the hills, occasionally sending out ripples of fluctuation accompanied by bizarre eagle shrieks. From the hill peaks, dark silhouettes periodically darted into the miasma to inhale and exhale the venomous vapors. Even from where he stood, he could sense that the island's spiritual energy was quite dense; there was definitely a spirit vein beneath it. The poisonous miasma was no great trouble. By setting up some restrictions and spirit formations, he could completely isolate it and carve out a cave dwelling. What was more, the pervasive miasma would serve as a natural disguise and barrier, warding off blind, petty troublemakers. Qin Sang had come seeking peace and stability, and the more he looked at the island, the more pleased he became. *As long as the spirit vein on this island can support my cultivation, I'll stay here,* Qin Sang thought to himself. The surrounding environment was also favorable. Due to the scarcity of resources, high-level cultivators rarely visited, which suited him perfectly. The only trouble was the island's original masters: having occupied it for years, this flock of rot-winged eagles had likely produced an eagle king at the Demon Core stage. Just as Qin Sang was deep in thought, a rustling sound came from the bug basket at his waist. The fat silkworm was begging for food again. Two days ago, the fat silkworm had awakened and demanded purple crystals, but Qin Sang had refused it. To deal with the rot-winged eagles, he still needed its help to coat him in poison-warding armor. Otherwise, facing the virulent poison of a Demon Core stage rot-winged eagle, Qin Sang would also have to tread with extreme caution. Once that creature fell asleep, nothing could wake it up. Having had its rations withheld for two days, the fat silkworm was thoroughly displeased, throwing a tantrum in the bug basket every so often by scratching at the walls and rolling around. Qin Sang suspected the little thing was cursing him. If not for how useless it was in combat, it probably would have dared to rob him outright. "Help me deal with these rot-winged eagles, and I'll give you a purple crystal." Qin Sang pinched the fat silkworm and lifted it from the bug basket. The fat silkworm squirmed its head and tail, hissing twice to vent its frustration. It then opened its mouth and spat out a seven-colored halo of light that settled over Qin Sang and the two-headed hou. Afterward, together with the Heavenly Eye Butterfly, it perched on Qin Sang's shoulders—one on the left, one on the right—ready to watch the show. Qin Sang nodded to the two-headed hou and flashed onto the island. To be safe, Qin Sang first retrieved the Ten Directions Yanluo Banner, then unleashed his ebony sword. The rot-winged eagles on the island were indeed numerous. As soon as Qin Sang set foot on the island, he encountered a flock. Spotting an intruder, they let out piercing screeches and wildly spewed clouds of poison. This group of rot-winged eagles was only at the Mortal Demon stage, but the poison clouds spewed by the entire flock merged together, yielding power far exceeding their cultivation realm. Yet under the fat silkworm's poison-warding armor, these poison clouds could not harm Qin Sang in the slightest. The other rot-winged eagles were alerted. Pandemonium broke out across the Poison Island as shrill screeches rose and fell in grating discord, grating on the ears. In the blink of an eye, the poisonous miasma around Qin Sang was scattered by countless rot-winged eagles, presenting a dense, black mass before his eyes, accompanied by an overwhelming stench. Paying no heed to the poison clouds, Qin Sang drove his ebony sword and began a slaughter. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly was also in high spirits. From time to time, it flapped its wings and discharged lightning, clearing out a swathe in one strike before fluttering smugly before the fat silkworm. Seeing the Heavenly Eye Butterfly display such might, the fat silkworm's beady little eyes rolled around. It turned its head away disdainfully, yet its gaze was unmistakably envious. It had half a mind to revoke the poison-warding armor on the butterfly to see how long it could stay smug, but feared Qin Sang would beat it, feeling thoroughly aggrieved. Of course, the Heavenly Eye Butterfly's greatest role was still helping Qin Sang scout enemy movements. Flock after flock of rot-winged eagles was slaughtered, and fear finally began to take hold. Right then, an enraged screech rang out from the island's center, accompanied by the surge of a powerful fluctuation. "The eagle kings are coming out—there are actually two of them..." The Heavenly Eye Butterfly detected their movements. Qin Sang's expression darkened, and with a fierce wave of his arm, a stream of Nine Nether demonic fire shot forth, easily tearing a wide opening through the flock of rot-winged eagles and slamming violently into a massive dark shadow. *Skre-e-ek!* With a wretched cry, half of that eagle king's wing was pierced through. It staggered and was knocked backward. Before it could regain its footing, Qin Sang and the two-headed hou closed in from the left and right. Wind blades shot from the two-headed hou's eyes, their power even greater than before, joining the Nine Nether demonic fire to strangle the eagle king. The eagle king wildly spewed multicolored poison clouds, only to discover in terror that its opponent was completely unfazed by its trump card. Before it could put up any decent resistance, it was slain.