The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting golden rays across the dense canopy of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. After a full day of rest and relaxation, Xiao Feng stood atop a jagged cliff, wind tousling his white robes and carrying the faint scent of charred falcon meat from his earlier meal.
His gaze swept the skies.
> "Enough leisure. It's time to sharpen the blade again."
His Wind and Thunder Wings unfolded with a soft hum of power, and with a burst of wind, he took flight—soaring toward the deeper skies of the Inner Region.
---
Not long into his flight, a sharp screech pierced the air. Xiao Feng's eyes snapped toward the source—a flash of movement above the tree line. A massive avian silhouette descended with speed nearly equal to his own.
It was a Stormsky Raptor, a peak Rank 4 beast, cloaked in black and blue feathers that crackled faintly with wind-element energy. Its wings spanned over fifteen meters, and its beak glinted like polished steel. Its aura pulsed fiercely, equivalent to a 9-Star Dou Ling.
> "Perfect warm-up."
Xiao Feng drew his new Windpiercer Blade, its edge humming with wind essence, and surged upward to meet the beast in midair.
The two clashed in a blur of motion—talons against sword, gusts against force.
The Stormsky Raptor moved like lightning, darting with sudden bursts of speed, forcing Xiao Feng to push his Wind Spirit Body to its limit. Each strike of its claws sent waves of pressure outward. But Xiao Feng's Gale Bloom, the second form of his sword technique, created a spiral of cutting winds that slashed back at the beast every time it got close.
> "You're fast, but I'm faster."
With a sudden feint and sidestep in the air, Xiao Feng used Triple Gale Cut, catching the raptor's flank. Blood spurted midair as the beast screeched in pain. It spun and retaliated with a sonic gust, forcing him to throw up his Wind Wall Slash—blades of compressed air forming a dome around him and absorbing most of the shockwave.
The aerial battle raged on for nearly ten minutes—each second a blur of movement, wind, and raw instinct. Finally, with a sharp cry, the Stormsky Raptor dove once more. Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes and unleashed his strongest form—
> "Silent Tempest Break!"
A flash of silver and wind exploded through the air. The raptor shrieked as the attack cleaved through its defenses. It fell from the sky like a meteor, crashing into the forest below, sending up clouds of dust and debris.
Xiao Feng hovered above the ruined treetops, panting slightly, blade dripping with blood.
> "Tough one."
He descended to confirm the kill and store the carcass. But just as he approached, a bone-chilling shriek echoed through the skies, more piercing and thunderous than before.
Xiao Feng froze.
From the horizon, an even larger figure approached at terrifying speed. Feathers of deep storm-gray shimmered under the fading sunlight, and its aura bore down like a mountain.
> "Another Stormsky Raptor... no—stronger."
As the beast came into full view, Xiao Feng's eyes narrowed.
This one was far larger, its wings nearly twice the span of the previous, eyes glowing crimson.
> Rank 5 Stormsky Raptor – Mid Dou Wang Equivalent.
Its bloodthirsty gaze fell on the corpse of its kin. Then it turned to Xiao Feng.
> "So… you're angry."
The beast's screech was deafening, shaking the forest below. A visible ripple tore through the air as it charged forward, wind howling like a cyclone behind it.
> "This… won't be easy."
Xiao Feng raised his sword and activated his Dou Qi Armor, his expression calm despite the intensity of the pressure.
> "Good. I needed a challenge."