The sun set, casting the mountain forest into an eerie darkness as pairs of glowing eyes watched from the shadows. The scent of blood attracted fierce beasts, though fortunately, they were only in the outer regions, where no particularly terrifying creatures lurked.
“Aooo—” A striped tiger-worm lunged forward, its patterned body resembling a giant, dyed silkworm, stretching five to six meters long, with a tiger’s head—ferocious and grotesque. Drawn by the scent of ancient true blood, it sought to take a bite of the slain Lion-Dragon’s precious corpse.
*Thud!*
Little Rascal hurled an iron spear, burying it deep into the creature’s skull. A shriek tore through the air as blood sprayed, the writhing beast soon lying lifeless on the ground.
Silent as a shadow, a winged serpent as thick as a bucket plummeted from a cliff, its flapping wings stirring a foul wind. As it neared, its maw gaped wide, ready to strike.
*Clang!*
Facing such a monstrous serpent, Little Rascal didn’t dare underestimate it. He summoned a silver moon, its radiant arc slashing through the air, splitting the beast in two as blood rained down.
In merely a short time, Shi Hao had slain six or seven monsters, steadfastly guarding the Azure-Scaled Eagle. But if this continued, fiercer beasts from the deeper mountains would surely come.
*Will Grandpa and the others not hear the eagle’s cry?* Little Rascal worried. He could flee, but he couldn’t abandon the Azure-Scaled Eagle.
Suddenly, a flock of startled birds took flight. Little Rascal jerked his head up—just in time to see a deadly volley of iron arrows raining down upon him like a storm. The killing intent was palpable, shredding leaves as the arrows struck with pinpoint accuracy. Even a massive dragon-horned elephant would have been turned into a sieve.
Little Rascal exhaled sharply, his breath condensing into vital essence as his body glowed with interwoven runes. The silver moon materialized before him like a blade, deflecting the arrows in a clash of steel.
*Clatter!* The broken arrowheads piled at his feet, their cold metallic glint a stark testament to the danger.
“People of Bei Village, don’t push me!” Little Rascal’s eyes burned red—some arrows had struck the Azure-Scaled Eagle’s wounds.
The arrowstorm ceased. Over a hundred men emerged, encircling him at a distance, their breaths heavy with greed as they stared at the Lion-Dragon’s corpse and the blazing horn.
“Child, this Lion-Dragon’s remains are too precious for you to keep. Leave now, and we won’t harm you,” an elder said with feigned kindness.
Little Rascal clenched his tiny fists. “You’re too cruel!”
“Life in the wasteland is harsh. If we’re not ruthless to others, we suffer instead,” the Bei Village chief sighed. “Just go.”
Little Rascal glared in silence, waiting for reinforcements from Shi Village.
“Hmm, how surprising—a true Azure-Scaled Eagle! I thought it was just a Spotted-Linnet. Astonishing that such an aerial tyrant would submit to Shi Village.” The Bei elder’s astonishment was genuine. “A pity it’s poisoned and dying.”
Shi Hao’s eyes welled with tears. He could see the eagle weakening.
“Let us ease its suffering,” the Bei chief sneered, raising a hand. “Archers, kill the eagle first!”
The volley resumed, arrows honing in on the Azure-Scaled Eagle’s wounds. Little Rascal fought desperately, his silver moon a blur as he shielded the ancient raptor’s kin. Yet the eagle was massive—too many wounds to defend.
*Thud! Thud!*
Arrows buried deep, blood gushing. The eagle convulsed in agony, its eyes filled with fury and sorrow.
“Uncle Eagle!” Little Rascal cried, tears streaking his cheeks.
*Whoosh!*
A hidden arrow nearly pierced his heart. He twisted aside, but it still tore through his arm.
“Ah!” Pain seared through him—his first true injury.
From the bushes, Bei Shan smirked, nocking another arrow aimed at the child’s throat.
The battle raged on.
Finally, Shi Village reinforcements arrived—arrows and spears rained upon Bei forces as Old Chief Shi Yunfeng, Shi Linhu, and others charged in.
“Bei Liqing, you dishonorable cur!” Shi Yunfeng roared.
The three fledgling eagles—Da Peng, Xiao Qing, Zi Yun—rushed to their mother, shielding her wounds with their own bodies. Arrows clanged against their scales, drawing blood.
“Slaughter every last Bei dog!” Shi Linhu bellowed.
Chaos erupted—spears flew, swords flashed.
“Grandpa Chief!” Little Rascal cried as Shi villagers tended to his wounds.
“I’m fine—save Uncle Eagle!” He wiped his tears and lunged back into the fray.
The silver moon danced, severing limbs, staining the earth crimson.
Bei Liqing’s eyes gleamed. “Our totem is ascending—it needs true blood!”
Shi Yunfeng’s eyes narrowed. *Their totem is breaking through?*
Suddenly, a barrage of radiant streaks shot from the bushes—a hidden youth, Bei Feng, wielded a beast-tooth bracelet, its deadly light piercing Shi villagers.
“You think you’re the only one with artifacts?” Bei Feng sneered.
Little Rascal’s face hardened. “I regret sparing you last time. Today, I won’t make the same mistake.”
The battlefield became a storm of blood and steel.
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