Chapter Ninety-Two: The Eagle's Beak Heavenly Peak

“Captain, where are we headed now?” Yi Kuang was the first to break the silence, asking Yi Tian, while Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and the others by Yi Tian’s side all cast curious looks his way.

Yi Tian walked unhurriedly through the sky, each step allowing him to sense the connection between the spiritual apertures within his body and the world around him, as if countless indestructible threads anchored him, enabling him to traverse the void itself. Still, with every passing moment, he could feel the significant loss of vital energy required to maintain this state.

“This is my first time leaving the territory of Black Dragon City as well. Why don’t we visit the imperial capital of the Heavenly Wind Kingdom? In that prosperous place, I’m sure we’ll find the information and resources we seek!” After pondering for a moment, Yi Tian decided they would head to the imperial capital of the Heavenly Wind Kingdom.

Only the grand stage of the capital could allow them to truly display their talents. As for Jingmu County, it was simply too small, with just a handful of Human Rank experts in residence. It held little interest for them, let alone treasures that could stir their hearts.

“That’s wonderful!” Yi Feng could not help but grin widely.

For those who had never before set foot outside the bounds of Black Dragon City, the chance to journey to the imperial capital was thrilling, promising a world far more vibrant and diverse. The others, too, were faintly excited and restless with anticipation.

“Let’s rest down below tonight,” Yi Tian decided as dusk fell, after traveling for three or four hours without pause. There was no need to hurry.

They descended upon a small mountain, where a campfire was soon crackling atop the slope.

Yi Tian and his companions took out dried beast meat from their storage pouches and roasted it for a meal. Afterwards, they each sat cross-legged upon the summit, beginning their cultivation. Yet, even while training, they remained vigilant, ready to end their meditation at a moment’s notice should any disturbance arise.

The next day, they emerged from their cultivation and pressed onward toward the imperial capital. Along the way, they passed one grand city after another, countless towns and villages, covering thousands of miles each day.

Had they been traveling on foot, the journey would have taken several times longer, the time consumed even more substantial.

Three days after departing from the Yi clan, they had already traversed over sixty thousand miles. But on this day, they were stunned by the sight before them: a colossal mountain towering into the clouds, its height beyond ten thousand yards.

Moreover, the shape of this mountain resembled a great eagle’s beak, thrusting toward the heavens. Beneath the “beak,” a mighty river surged by.

“Could this be Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak?” Yi Tian, well-read in history and geography, was familiar with the great mountains and spiritual lands of the Heavenly Wind Kingdom. He deduced that this must be the fabled Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak.

The other members of the Reincarnation Squad were equally taken aback.

They, too, had heard of Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak—a place notorious for harboring bands of the most heinous criminals, a refuge for many warriors wanted by the kingdom. Rumor had it that even formidable Human Rank bandit chiefs resided on the peak, their infamy well deserved.

Those bandits and old vultures had fortified Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak into a veritable stronghold, its countless tunnels forming a labyrinthine maze. Once they dove into those caves, it was nearly impossible to find them.

The kingdom itself had dispatched forces to eradicate them, but each attempt had ended in failure.

“Perhaps we should take a detour,” Yi Hong suggested to Yi Tian and the others.

Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak was not to be trifled with. With Human Rank bandit chiefs entrenched there, provoking them would only bring endless trouble.

“Why should we avoid them? The people of Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak may be strong, but we are not to be underestimated. If they seek battle, then battle it shall be!” Yi Shan bristled with defiance.

How could such a place frighten him? Having just ascended to the Human Rank, he was eager to test his newfound strength in a resounding clash.

Yi Tian weighed the situation. For ordinary warriors, circumventing the mountain might take four or five days. For Human Rank experts like themselves, bypassing the peak would cost less than half an hour.

Of course, Yi Tian would not flee at the mere mention of the bandits’ notorious reputation. Otherwise, what was the point of venturing into the outside world for knowledge and experience?

Yet, to brazenly provoke Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak would be unwise. The dangers could be considerable.

“This is our first journey into the world. Though Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak is formidable, we will not shrink back. There is no need to take a detour—let us cross straight over. If they provoke us, we’ll meet them head-on. Naturally, if things turn dire, we’ll withdraw at once,” Yi Tian told the Reincarnation Squad.

Yi Feng and Yi Kuang exchanged smiles—this was the captain they respected, always prepared for both advance and retreat.

“Excellent! Let’s storm Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak and make a name for the Reincarnation Squad!” Yi Shan shouted, wild with excitement.

Yi Li, too, felt his fighting spirit ignite, blood surging with readiness for battle.

Only the steady Yi Hong hesitated, but seeing his companions, he could not help but join them in braving this dragon’s lair.

Having made their decision, they set off toward Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak.

Though the peak stood just ahead, the actual distance was still several hundred miles.

When they were within fifty miles, they suddenly spotted a massive fortress on the plain below, embroiled in a fierce melee. Shouts and cries of combat pierced the air, sword and blade energies shooting skyward.

“What’s happening there?”

Yi Tian and his companions hurried toward the fortress, traversing dozens or even a hundred yards with each step, appearing almost otherworldly.

As they drew closer, the scene became clearer. The fortress was vast, nearly a fifth the size of Black Dragon City, with walls over a hundred yards high. Inside and outside the fortress, tens of thousands clashed in bloody combat.

The attackers were a motley crew of men in various garb, all vicious and brutal, their slaughter frenzied and merciless. Opposing them were guards clad in the livery of a particular noble family, fighting desperately to defend their own.

Simultaneously, many attackers had broken into the fortress, wantonly murdering the families and children within, sparing neither the elderly nor the young, their actions punctuated by wild, gleeful laughter.

From within the fortress, a column of smoke rose high, visible from miles away.

Witnessing this massacre, Yi Tian and his party were inflamed with righteous fury.

If it had been a battle between warriors, they might not have been so enraged. After all, martial training inevitably led to conflict and life-or-death struggles. But when innocent women, children, and the elderly were involved, it was an outrage that could not be tolerated.

“Kill!” Yi Tian uttered a single word.

Yi Shan, Yi Feng, Yi Kuang, and the others, unable to contain themselves, instantly charged into the fray.

They tore through the attackers like wolves among sheep, each strike reaping a dozen lives, blood and flesh scattering in their wake.

Yi Tian descended from the heavens, his fingers unleashing beams of light like divine swords, slicing through the air to execute those engaged in the massacre below.

He focused especially on eliminating the high-ranking bandit leaders.

Even those at the peak of the Ninth Rank were destroyed in a single casual blow from Yi Tian.

Such was the power of a Human Rank expert.

Below Human Rank, they were as helpless as chickens and dogs, with only a rare few posing any threat to their might.

“Who are you? We serve the Serpent King of Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak! Can you withstand the wrath of the Serpent King?” One of the bandit leaders, seeing his men decimated, shouted at Yi Tian.

“Die!” Yi Tian pointed a finger, unleashing a concentrated burst of true energy like a ribbon of fire. It pierced the leader instantly, reducing him to ashes.

Yi Tian had no intention of showing mercy to these murderers and bandits. Only by utterly eradicating them could he vent the rage in his heart.

With the aid of several Human Rank experts, the defenders of the fortress soon saw the tide turn. The invaders from Eagle’s Beak Sky Peak suffered heavy casualties, and the defenders began their counterattack.