Chapter 869: Shadow Vulture

Nie Yan also put the Phantom Dragon into his pet space. This was his second dragon mount for aerial riding!

Dragon mounts were quite difficult to obtain. The entire Bull Tribe had gone through a long period of time to acquire only a few of them. Dragon pets, on the other hand, were relatively easier. Based on some clues he remembered from his past life, Nie Yan could probably acquire a couple of dragon pets.

Recalling, Nie Yan realized that the task he was unable to complete in his previous life was now feasible.

In his past life, he had completed half of that task but couldn’t proceed further. Later, another rogue completed the task and received the final reward—a dragon egg. That incident had become one of Nie Yan’s regrets, although the experiences along the way remained unforgettable memories in his heart.

A warm and peaceful feeling stirred in Nie Yan’s heart. If not for the events of this life, he would never have known everything Xie Yao had done for him in her previous life.

“Let’s go,” Nie Yan said, looking at Xie Yao.

“Okay,” Xie Yao nodded.

After bidding farewell to Colinson, Nie Yan and Xie Yao left the pet store together.

The two utilized the teleportation array in Carol City to travel to Oaklen City.

After Nie Yan revived the Darkwing Dragon, the doubts about him on the forums immediately ceased. To their astonishment, the Darkwing Dragon had returned and still occupied the top spot among flying mounts. Thus, the Bull Tribe now had two level-eight flying mounts.

Soon, players began to speculate that Nie Yan must have used something like a Revival Crystal or a Wish Gem. For Reckless Nie Yan to resurrect the Darkwing Dragon in such a short time was no small feat!

Besides the Darkwing Dragon, players also noticed a new dragon mount in the aerial ranks called the Phantom Dragon. They were curious about which guild possessed this high-level flying mount.

For a time, the Darkwing Dragon and the Phantom Dragon became hot topics of discussion.

The war between the Bull Tribe and Angel Dominion, along with Century Financial Group, would first be decided in aerial combat. Previously, players thought Angel Dominion had won this round. However, the situation had now turned, and it seemed Angel Dominion had suffered greater losses, even enabling the Phoenix to evolve. The aerial forces of Angel Dominion might as well collectively go hit their heads against a wall.

Angew wing quickly received news of the Darkwing Dragon’s revival. He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and was overwhelmed with anger and frustration. This time, they had truly lost both their investment and their forces, suffering heavy casualties without managing to eliminate the Darkwing Dragon. Instead, the Bull Tribe gained another level-eight flying mount. This outcome was simply not worth it.

Angel Dominion had dispatched a large number of flying mounts toward Oaklen City, gaining a significant advantage in aerial power. However, repeated defeats meant they gained no benefits and lost many low-level flying mounts, which particularly frustrated Angew Wing.

The war around Oaklen City temporarily entered a lull. Although the Angel Dominion forces had not withdrawn, they would not launch any attacks in the near term. On the Sater Empire front, the Bull Tribe had seized nine fortresses and used them as strongholds to establish a defensive line, temporarily alleviating the pressure. Both sides entered a brief period of rest and reorganization. Given that this war would not conclude within a month or two, they temporarily set aside minor gains and losses, focusing instead on strategic planning and self-strengthening.

Nie Yan’s Darkwing Dragon temporarily lacked combat capability. After Xie Yao’s Phoenix level increased, it would take about a month for its strength to reach level-eight standards.

For the time being, there would be no major incidents in Oak City. Even if something were to occur, Guo Huai would be on-site to take command, backed by a two-hundred-member advisory team. Nie Yan could maintain constant communication with them, so there wouldn’t be any problems. First, he needed to help Xie Yao acquire the final piece of her set.

Assisting Xie Yao in completing her set was of immense significance. A Saint-level Mage like her held undeniable importance within the guild. If she were to equip a formidable legendary set, she would undoubtedly become a nightmare for Angel Dominion!

Nie Yan decided to go first.

“Xie Yao, tell me about your task. I’ll go with you to get the final component,” Nie Yan said.

“Okay, I can complete the first half of the task on my own. Only the final part is too difficult. I can go through the initial stages in about an hour. I’ve just never found a solution for the last part,” Xie Yao replied. Hearing that Nie Yan wanted to accompany her on the task, she felt happy because it had been so long since they last did a task or leveled up together. However, she also understood that Nie Yan’s profession was more suited for solo play. Accompanying him on tasks would only slow him down, so most of the time, she was reluctant to interfere with his progress.

“Just leave the final part to me,” Nie Yan said. After completing so many high-difficulty tasks, he was confident in himself.

The two teleported to Oaklen City and then headed to the wilds outside the city, riding their flying mounts toward the northern mountains of Abernathy Grassland.

There were quite a few tasks related to Abernathy Grassland, which was why Oaklen City had become so prosperous. However, this was Nie Yan’s first time entering the northern mountains, as they were famously dangerous. Only those who had been here knew how terrifying this place could be.

The Phantom Dragon and the Phoenix soared through the sky, their speed like lightning, with air currents whistling past their ears.

Nie Yan, seated on the Phantom Dragon, looked down and saw endless mountains shrouded in mist, appearing mysterious and unpredictable.

Suddenly, countless black dots filled the sky ahead, surging toward them like a tsunami.

There were tens of thousands of them!

Nie Yan’s heart sank. Regardless of what flying creatures were approaching, such a massive number could overwhelm them through sheer numbers alone.

As they drew closer, it became clear they were enormous birds.

“It’s a flock of Shadow Vultures, Nie Yan! Quickly switch the Phantom Dragon to defense mode and release Dragon’s Might! No matter how close they get, do not attack first!” Xie Yao warned. She had encountered several waves of Shadow Vultures here before. Once, she had attacked a Shadow Vulture, which attracted an assault from thousands of them, nearly costing her life. After barely escaping, she had since refrained from being so reckless when encountering these creatures.

Nie Yan immediately switched the Phantom Dragon to defense mode and released Dragon’s Might.

Thousands upon thousands of Shadow Vultures surged forward, darkening the sky.

They were all level-six flying creatures!

One after another, the Shadow Vultures whistled past the Phantom Dragon. Some lingered, circling around it for a long time, their greedy eyes glaring menacingly at the Phantom Dragon and Nie Yan on its back, as if ready to attack at any moment.

Under normal circumstances, being surrounded by so many Shadow Vultures would have prompted Nie Yan to strike first. However, remembering Xie Yao’s warning, he carefully restrained himself. The Phantom Dragon let out a deep growl but did not attack.

After a while, the Shadow Vultures likely sensed that the Phantom Dragon was not an easy target and gradually lost interest, retreating one by one.

Nie Yan looked toward Xie Yao and saw that her level-eight Phoenix had also scared off many Shadow Vultures.

Contrary to expectations, no fierce battle occurred.

Xie Yao explained, “These vultures are scavengers and generally do not attack creatures that still have fighting power. However, they are social creatures. If we attack even one Shadow Vulture, they will all swarm us.”

Such information was usually not available on official websites. Typically, such conclusions came from near-death experiences. It was evident that Xie Yao had indeed faced many dangers while undertaking this task.

Nie Yan’s Phantom Dragon followed behind Xie Yao’s Phoenix, flying far away until finally breaking through the swarm of Shadow Vultures. Looking back, the vultures resembled a dark cloud receding into the distance.

Nie Yan exhaled in relief. If he had attacked first, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

Xie Yao scanned the area below for a while, as if noticing something. She turned to Nie Yan and said, “We’re here. Let’s go down.”

The Phoenix and the Phantom Dragon slowly descended through the clouds, landing on an open space.

The two dismounted their flying mounts, dismissed them, and made their way through the jungle.

Occasionally, branches blocked their path, and the ground was littered with thorns.

To move more conveniently, Xie Yao removed her cloak, letting her hair cascade over her shoulders.

Her robe exuded a holy aura, highlighting her delicate and translucent skin.

Looking at Xie Yao’s profile in the mist, Nie Yan’s heart involuntarily trembled, just like the first time he had seen her, experiencing that same heart-stirring feeling.

After spending so much time together, Nie Yan’s feelings for Xie Yao had not diminished in the slightest. Instead, they felt fresher and more profound than ever.

Accompanied by Nie Yan on this task, Xie Yao was as delighted as a little girl, chatting excitedly about her previous attempts at the task.

Adventure within the game could mature one’s mindset, enabling a person to remain calm even in the most dangerous situations. Nie Yan felt that Xie Yao had changed significantly from her high school days. It was a unique feeling he couldn’t quite put into words.

They passed through a forested area where several scattered tribes appeared, with many figures moving about.

“Don’t enter the forest near the tribes. There are traps everywhere,” Xie Yao warned. She couldn’t help but recall a previous terrifying experience. Only the small path she had brought Nie Yan along was safe; other areas were filled with danger.

“Just now, I noticed at least ten advanced traps. How did you discover this path?” Nie Yan asked.

“I stayed outside for a long time and noticed people from the tribe coming out to hunt. I followed them back to the tribe and discovered this safe path,” Xie Yao explained with a smile.