“That won’t do! I strike now! These beautiful wings have started moult after several consecutive days of flying. Who’s to blame! I’m still so young… and I already face early aging!” exclaimed Da Hong Niao, tired and worn after flying for many days and entering a complete slump, deciding on a work protest.
“Just fed you a spiritual herb, but forget about ingratitude! Prepare and you’ll be next – a fiery red bird braised with some mushrooms from the wildlands! Authentic countryside delicacy!” warned Little Rascal.
“Goooo right along already! Dead birds hundredfold by now! Spare me more of this miserable struggle! If he must cook then let the fire blaze. What’s more, feathers shall grow back… feathers surely sprout again…”Da Hong Niao declared with an insistent determination. Its reasoning? It knew the merciless brat wouldn’t yet feast on its flesh so soon and definitely still needed to ride it!
“Absolutely not pulling away yet? Don’t make me gnash these chompers and pluck you bare!” Little Rascal snarled menacingly, and started tearing feathers from Da Hong Niao furiously. A vivid scene emerged as scarlet plumage danced like a crimson monsoon.
A bloodcurdling wail escaped big Redbird’s beak though a firm stance kept steady in spirit: “The downy soft shall bloom again…” chanting under its breath.
“CLACK!” went Little Rascal, producing golden bone clippers from the shadows. Summoning the true form of its weapon that resembled a creature with serpent-laden jaws, he bit sharply at Da Hong’s neck.
“Now resist another heartbeat – I won’t miss! You won’t stop squawking, huh!”
“Devouring people now huhhh! He’s going savage – HEEELLPPP! The ruthless little tyrant hung his death decree upon poor little old meeee!”
The outburst startled Da Hong in fear – it mistook clasper jaws on its own flesh as being directly torn apart by Little Rascal’s fangs. Startling reflexes sent it soaring vertically skyward with fierce flurry and panic.
“Search forth ahead!” commanded the impishly stern young boy.
Devoid of cheer, the once proud crimson feathered avian slouched, despondently trailing the Rain Clan these past dreary days with no success. That bunch disappeared without a whisper, leaving neither sign nor ghost of themselves. Despite moving, Fire Cloudsparrow remained lethargically obstinate. Observations of such half-heartedness caused little chum’s teeth gnashing all over more at a loss when their foe might ever appear.
Yet something itched within him like premonition… Could this sudden evasiveness stem from some mysterious Rain-clan schemes? That possibility warranted close attention.
“You remember the words of a tutor I mentioned?” resorted our small youth at tempting again.
“Ha! Spare my thoughts for any such fledgling – barely larger than my claw, hah. I serve nobody called ‘Red’! No, NOT ever!” Da Hong puffed out pride again, clearly still sore.
“Words to cherish come judgment day – weep rivers at how your pleas echo back then!” cautioned Little Rascal, confident smirk curling lip.
“Pah! I fear nothing of false fledgling dreams!” squawked Da Hong, eyes rolled in sarcastic mock. “Whom here listens foolishly to infantile nonsense, hmm?”
“Demand earnest reconsideration,” implored the child with a pointed stare of silent challenge.
“Nay! I reject this fate! Not even oceans’ grief could drag me begging for that little bratty tutor bird!” he squawked, defiant and bold, offering only back of his head contemptuously.
Silent now stood little tempter, but in quiet resolve pulled forth a stone box from his pockets. With hushed ceremony, fingers danced across the box like an enchantment. Then a click of lid unlocked mystery within and aroma poured through the opening…
“Curse strange fragrance!” squawked stunned Hongniáo, whipping head around to glare upon mysterious stone casing.
In hushed awe of the box’s vermilion radiance glowing faintly and dancing in flickers, a subtle but powerful essence coursed through, evading full comprehension yet stirring dread deep within all creature’s beings.
And this was no ordinary stir; avian sensitivity flared, primal instinct trembled, body quaked involuntarily to this strange force exuded in a gentle flame aura. A primal force akin to standing in presence divine… of a Fire Monarch looming against an endless backdrop of divine fire in endless skies.
Watching the stunned display, calm reigned as Rascal carefully produced with deliberate flair a radiant crimson plumage from beneath those glowing veils, pinching between fingers and turning feather in light admiring.
Eyes widened, jaw dropped – speech abandoned. This feather – vivid crimson blood-like, aether of ancient flame essence whispering through its vanes as the vision formed of fire sovereign overseeing the realms from atop a pyre in endless skies.
Alting upon nearby peak and guiding Rascal down from skyward perch, he wasted not another flutter before landing.
“Accept! Have her take me on as Disciple? Plead!!”
“Hmm didn’t someone scoff in rejection, swore to death they’d not beg?” Rascal smirked now atop a comfortable boulder, mocking surprise.
“Well, no final last breath given as fate’s verdict – thus I must be taken as follower!! Beg, entreat me as student, master of all fire!” pleaded, thick shamelessly flaring plumage in hopes.
“Now let us recite… ‘That flighty tiny fledgling—'” goading more jabs came teasingly sweet.
“My mistake!! That holy paragon! My reverence reborn – I vow reformation…” blubbered Da Hong now tearful in exaggerated contrition.
“As prophesized… here goes nasal weeping! Witness, it fulfilled true!!” giggled young tormentor with mirth.
Red’s cheeks, if anything could burn deeper crimson, flushed as indignation boiled anew beneath feathery plumage, albeit defiantly still.
“Redemption blooms ever fresh after a misstep! I who embody repentant return – true phoenix in feathered form!!”
“Moral redemption?! Pffffah – You jest me?” retorted Little.
“Merely expressing my truth, Master.” He shrugged off insult with practiced flair while clapped winged shoulder lightly onto red.
“Now… say… ‘Master.’ Go on!” grinned young riddler, changing tones slyly as red feathered eyes narrowed into sharp disbelief.
The two resumed a trail of tension that hung thick with anticipation, moving onward as their next steps led closer across golden sea dunes that glistened with a near mirroring sheen, dry hot, the light reflecting sharp, piercing and burning into the eyes.
In hushed contrast were distant lakes and lush rivers snaking through hills, a distant oasis mirage, contrasting the desert harsh.
But this place was different – a strange, intangible tremor danced through sands.
“Divine treasures… must be divinely crafted artifact!” Da Hong chirped, practically ecstatic.
The two ventured into desert depths – despite lack of Rain Clan water attunements, a subtle anomaly hummed through arid landscape.
“I sense… the pulse!! That must be it!”
They split the tasks: bird flew high while the youth scoured below for their prey.
Only to shock him, Hong’s resistance had vanished! No longer stubbornly reluctant as earlier but now stuck inseparable as the ever clinging dog skin bandage. The reversal? Once compelled out of fear of reprimand now transformed with a fresh, newfound tenacity in proximity – he couldn’t even budge it back a yard!
“You have duties to uphold toward your guide!” Da Hong lectured indignantly.
“Yeah, yeah. Keep walking…” grunted Rascal while giving an instinctive shove backward just as wings reversed and twisted into an impossible midair loop to return, landing back beside.
“Hmm… Fragrence of precious essence nearby!”
Before the youth could respond:
“Definitely precious medicine! A fine treasure!” he agreed.
A lush green shimmer drew attention – an oasis teeming with spiked cacti among which glimmered silver white flowers blooming amidst the sand, fragrance thick, iridescence glitterating like shimmering mist upon the horizon.
“Dessert silverbloom, a treasure among elixir herbs! Beyond mere Spirit Plants!” Da Hong’s eyes gleamed.
Little’s pulse quickened as his gaze caught the silhouette of silvery youth kneeling close to begin careful harvest… far too late to interrupt!
And circling like living sentinels beneath the flower were giant Scorpions – massive beings akin to stone mill discs gleaming with ghostlike metallic luster crawling and lurking.
Clearly guardians summoned to feast on petals in bloom… yet now lifeless and slain.
“It’s him.” Rascal muttered dark thoughts, not unfamiliar with the young Silvery figure – the infamous Xiao Tian of Xiao Clans, known prodigal scion to be dubbed first-rate genius among recruits, recipient of past ‘love taps’.
“Uwaaaah, he’s consuming it – the treasure!” Da Hong wails as frustration boiled in impotence.
Then came bloodthirstily: “No issue there: my solution: digesting both treasure AND him! Efficiency regained!!”
Impulsively our young hero considered revisiting old habits – a sneak attack to wallop that cranium, delivering a signature love-tap again like earlier lessons but retracted resolve from impetuous urge recalling the risks.
Xiao Tian began to assimilate energies as he sat, aura surging outward, the telltale signs heralding imminent transformation of higher tier. This meant transcendence and awakening eighth Heavenly Vault.
“A truly rare genius!” Da Hong marveled.
Among Manfolk only opening seventh vault would label a paragon.
But Eighth… nearly unthinkable; rare as phoenix.
Xiao Tian’s aura blazed in seventh glow around his sacred body as ethereal eighth halo shimmered near crystallization into existence – each vault uniquely shaped within the cultivator’s form.
Suddenly silver shadows stirred in ground… new monstrous scorpion figures emerging stealthily from sands like phantoms with claws primed, scything pincers ready to strike the vulnerable meditator from shadows…
“Move out now!” called Rascal with decisive action.
“Bide, then harvest!” chirped Da Hong with excitement at pouncing advantage.
“Not exploiting chaos. Help him out.” Rascal corrected as a golden glimmer zipped out—the bone clippers flew like an executioner. The Scorpion beasts dropped, lifeless.
Interrupted briefly mid-transmutation, but ultimately eighth halo formed successfully!
The newly evolved adept now recognized the turn – although he was sure the Scythes would’ve yielded to him, a warm gratitude bloomed in spirit; thus offering sincere gesture acknowledging Rascal’s rescue.
“Your mastery over Heaven’s path truly knows no parallel… To have formed an eighth heavenly vault at your age, that deserves acclaim.” came admiration laced compliment.
“You glow with celestial light of predestiny, one who’s destined rise like phoenix into boundless firmaments,” chimed Da Hong with overzealous praise.
Xiao listened… His stance halted mid-step. Hatred surged internally as if burned raw at “celestial ascent” description.
He recalled crowds praising forehead lumps with those hated words – ignominiously labeled with comparisons toward growing horns… an agony that never faded.
Little’s grin tugged lips as hidden laughter struggled restraint while feigning correction of over-exaggerations by berating Hongbird fiercely.
“Beware the words, Da Hong. ‘Destiny-blessed’ isn’t born that way. Real growth stems within effort and self-birth. Those who claim ‘celestial ascent’ at birth insult true perseverance!” scolded dramatically.
In that instant Xiao came on the brink breaking to uncontrollable tears. “A kindred soul has appeared!” His hatred for the cursed term had found a mirror of understanding in his newfound comrade.
“Meeting one’s destined brother amidst the shifting sands… Your words resonate deeply with this humble soul.” Xiao Tian gushed emotional gratitude.
Conversation blossomed effortlessly — beast fables to desert spirits, geography and myths, wild and wondrous they exchanged tales into comfort.
At every remark, Xiao found alignment between thoughts and the boy, as if finding missing pieces in an old puzzle.
Gratitude blooming stronger in Xiao Tian’s countenance, he declared:
“Your brave gesture deserves recognition… I extend an opportunity… Travel with Xiao Tian and experience a fate-bonding fortune,” he said inviting warmly.
“Great fortune you say?”
“Supplemental… ‘Ta Yi Verdant Water’ – divine essence liquid so prized that ancient spirits crafted weapons steeped within. Worth more than countless gold mountains! A resource kingdoms wage battles over to obtain a drop!” exclaimed Da Hong, awe filling whispers.
“I have inherited ancestral whispers of this discovery’s path,” Xiao shared, admitting risks. The divine fluid lived as near-intelligent. It warded away seekers, and formed glyphs in response to detection.
“One must never miss such chance or divine punishment rains forth!” declared imp.
Both erupted in laughter, growing in understanding.
“I suspect others are already here – forces who’ve entered before. The road may be filled with obstacles,” Xiao warned warily.
“But what are obstacles but steps to greatness? Why not walk shadows of those first steps rather than lead – seize opportunities to strike when foes weaken!” added clever insight.
They traveled thus, exchanging words heart-to-heart; Xiao’s appreciation of his new companion soared as every word rang familiar comfort. The small warrior pledged alliance against all odds – sharing every danger that loomed upon horizons.
The elder admitted:
“There exists among others, a particularly dangerous youth—never crossed swords, but his might looms dark. A wish burns… someday to finally strike my hammer down and teach this brat lessons.”
“Who?” eyes gleaming with feined astonishment. Little imp in perfect act leaned back feign innocent wonder.
“A vile holy horror. Long for our paths to meet,” clenched fists shaking in frustration. He’d awaited reencounter too long.
“Then let that child’s enemy be your very own as well! Our two hands swing in vengeance! That wicked terror will soon understand true justice.” cried Rascal with heroic flourish.
Xiao exhaled deep, content in this unexpected kinship.
Da Hong chirped and danced behind joyfully – he still counted upon their deal for the promised connection with his new teacher.
The group no longer flew overhead though nearing conclusion point. Stealth reigned as silent movement over sand now key for discovery without interference… so forward they trekked through endless dunes of golden dust with companions bound ever close through sand and shadow by the threads of shared stories.
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