Chapter 554: Capturing the Human-Headed Bird

"You?"

The strange bird froze. Then came a loud *crack*—its human head was yanked out a full meter!

When Lei Yuan said he'd act, he acted; when he said he'd pull the head off, he pulled the head off. But this strange bird's neck was far too resilient—even with all his might, he couldn't snap it!

Ah!

The strange bird shrieked in fury, every wrinkle on its face bunching together: "How dare you be rude to me!"

"I'll rip your head off."

Smoke poured off Lei Yuan as he stomped it to the ground with one foot, straining—

Another yank. This time, he swapped in the Rift Sea Mysterious Whale Hammer and the Dragon Tiger Nourishing Furnace!

A surge of tremendous force sent that human head flying two meters into the air.

"Still not snapped?"

Lei Yuan was somewhat shocked. What was this strange bird made of? With one pull like this, he could tear even a divine weapon in two. Though the bird screamed in agony, there wasn't the slightest sign of its neck breaking!

"Infuriating me!"

Flames shot from the strange bird's eyes. With a *boom*, it transformed into a plume of black smoke and shot into the air.

"Despicable challenger, you've made Bird Master angry!"

With a whoosh, Lei Yuan shadowed it like its own reflection. His great hand spread wide and seized it once more. The rules of the Dao Weapon Tower still held—no matter how overwhelmingly strong this strange bird's true form was, it could now only match his realm!

"Boom."

The strange bird turned into black mist again, impossible to grab. Its hoarse voice was pure rage: "Want to catch Bird Master? You think you're the Origin Divine Son? A mere challenger…"

Ah.

The strange bird's voice cut off short, its shriek interrupted. The third time he caught it in his hand, Lei Yuan swept it into the Soldier Palm Space without a second thought!

Even though he hadn't seen the glint of a weapon, as a fellow Door-Sitting Puppet, that Dong Dong Ershisan was treated as a weapon—this strange bird would be no exception.

Just as he'd expected, the strange bird struggled a few times before being—

—drawn into the Soldier Palm Space.

"Seems like something is resisting the Soldier Palm Seal?"

Though it was only a momentary hesitation, Lei Yuan keenly detected it. Was it this Dao Weapon Tower?

Or the Eight Directions Temple?

Fortunately, the Ancestor was still reliable!

His thoughts turning, the partial information of this strange bird finally surfaced in his eyes: Door-Sitting Puppet, eleventh-tier.

【A spirit puppet born in the "Lei Chi Sea." Because it brushed against various True Form Diagrams at birth, it has a human face and bird body… Due to damage, its grade has fallen and its spiritual intelligence is fading!】

【Control requirements: Refining Art fourth layer, Puppet Heart, Dao Weapon Token.】

【Control effect: fifteenth-tier, opens Dao Weapon Tower fourteenth-tier, Kun Bird Form】

Both Door-Sitting Puppets, both damaged, but compared to that Dong Dong Ershisan, the degree of damage seemed much milder—at least the latter could still communicate!

"Fifteenth-tier. At its peak, this bird was one tier lower than Dong Dong Ershisan…"

Lei Yuan understood in his heart—no wonder this bird was so wary of Dong Dong Ershisan!

That one-tier gap was likely far greater than he'd imagined!

However…

Lei Yuan looked all around!

After this strange bird was taken by him, the stone stele that should normally appear after clearing the floor didn't appear. Instead, the black mist that had originally dispersed surged once more!

One after another, Dao Weapons walked out from within…

"105? This is still the thirty-fifth floor! Without this strange bird, I can't enter higher floors, and there's no reward!"

Lei Yuan frowned, roughly guessing the use of these Door-Sitting Puppets. Dong Dong Ershisan was to guide challengers into the Eastern Realm; this strange bird was to guard the Dao Weapon Tower!

However, though he had guesses in his heart, Lei Yuan didn't immediately release it. Instead, he slowly retreated, backing out of the encirclement of these Dao Weapons!

Without this strange bird's urging, these Dao Weapons didn't attack proactively either, but waited on the spot!

"Kun Peng True Form Diagram!"

Sitting cross-legged on the scorched earth, Lei Yuan took out a thick stack of beast-hide. After fighting his way to the thirty-fifth floor in one go, he'd obtained thirty-four incomplete True Form Diagrams, and a rough outline was already emerging!

Kun Peng True Form Diagram (eleventh-tier)

【Dive into the abyss, silent sea; soar to the heavens, ninefold skies. A True Form Diagram handwritten by a cultivator who cultivated the Kun Peng True Form. A cultivator who has cultivated a Xiu Cheng Shen Jing spiritual image may study it to comprehend the mysteries of the spiritual image, and may hope to derive the Kun Peng True Form from within…!】

Control requirements: Heaven-tier spiritual image, Water Altar Xiu Cheng Shen Jing

Control effect: eleventh-tier (Mystic): Kun True Form, Peng True Form. Note: This True Form Diagram is incomplete (1)(2)

The True Form Diagrams rewarded by the Dao Weapon Tower were indeed good stuff!

Lei Yuan sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, took out these beast-hides and pieced most of them together. Gazing intently, he felt light and shadow interweave before his eyes!

In a trance, he seemed to see an incomprehensibly vast great fish leap from the dark, silent sea—in the next instant, it was already above the clouds, transformed into a great bird whose spread wings could blot out the sun!

"Kun Peng."

Lei Yuan sat quietly in observation. The medicinal power of the Longhu Longhu Dadan spread within his body, nourishing his physique and purging his injuries!

That final strike earlier—even though he'd switched his control in time and ten armors clad his body—he'd still taken no light an injury. Fortunately, his sinews and bones were robust, and before long, the injury had healed!

"Missing parts one and two, even I can't derive anything from it!"

Lei Yuan put away the incomplete diagrams, glanced at the group of Dao Weapons waiting in the distance for him to come forward. This was the normal tower-clearing process—not going mad and perishing together with them!

"Huu."

Closing his eyes, Lei Yuan entered the Soldier Palm Space!

On the dim Dingxin Dingxin Shitai, the strange bird didn't move at all, like a lifeless wooden stump. Lei Yuan sized it up a few times, then took down the Mysterious Whale Hammer!

With a thought, he'd already dragged this strange bird into the Mysterious Whale Mi Jing!

"Ah."

At the peak of the Inverted Mountain, a scream tore through the clouds!

The bizarre bird with a human head flapped its wings and took flight, its eyes full of horror: "Y-you actually managed to grab Lord Bird?"

"How did you do it?"

The human-headed bizarre bird was utterly shocked — it itself couldn't get out of the Dao Weapon Pagoda, yet this challenger who hadn't even entered the temple possessed such ability?

"Have a talk?"

Li Yuan bared his teeth in a grin!

The conditions to control this bizarre bird were ones he couldn't fully meet, but since he could interact with it, there were other ways to trade for what he needed!

The ones who stayed silent like that Dong Dong Ershisan — those were the troublesome ones!

"Talk about what?"

The bizarre bird was very wary, twisting its neck with a series of cracking sounds — it hadn't forgotten that scene of this challenger trying to rip its head off!

"Cooperate!"

Li Yuan didn't even blink: "For instance, a Spirit Puppet Heart!"

"You're willing to give me one?"

The bizarre bird didn't believe it at all — if it were in his place, it would never choose itself over Dong Dong Ershisan!

"This one won't do, but surely the Spirit Puppet Heart isn't limited to just one, is it?"

Li Yuan was still trying to fish for information!

This Eight Directions Temple had no guidance whatsoever — figuring everything out on his own was far too slow!

"Of course there's more than one Spirit Puppet Heart, but for you to obtain even one is already heaven-defying luck — you absolutely cannot get another!"

The bizarre bird wasn't easy to fool. It tried to connect with the Dao Weapon Pagoda, and to its shock, it couldn't sense the pagoda's existence at all — an indescribable aura had severed its perception!

This left it horrified, yet somewhat excited!

"Why?"

Li Yuan was still fishing for information!

"The Spirit Puppet Heart — only those rated Excellent have a small chance

of obtaining one. Unless your rating skyrockets, otherwise, it's impossible to get a second one!"

The bizarre bird hesitated, but still answered!

"Rating?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred slightly: "How does one make this rating skyrocket?"

"Talent, comprehension!"

The bizarre bird landed on a stone stele!

"Like this?"

Li Yuan's thoughts began to churn!

He now simultaneously bore over two thousand forms — though the gap to ten thousand seemed vast, in reality

it wasn't far. If he could obtain one more Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing, he was confident he could gather ten thousand forms within ten years!

When that time came, with the aptitude of gods and demons, he would surely obtain a higher rating!

What about the temple-entering trial?

Li Yuan was very curious about this: "Could it be that even after entering the temple, one still can't obtain a Spirit Puppet Heart?"

"You?"

The bizarre bird glanced at him: "You haven't even cultivated a Spirit Form yet — what makes

you think you can compete with other challengers for first in the Eastern Realm?"

"Other challengers?"

Li Yuan's gaze darkened!

He naturally knew other challengers existed — on that jagged mountain peak, he was only one among many!

Even without intelligence on the other summit-reaching challengers, by gauging from himself, he could deduce how terrifying those people must be!

He himself had only obtained an Excellent rating thanks to the boost of three Daoist Tianyun Daoist Tianyun Xuanbing in the Soldier Controlling Seal — if those people had reached the summit through their own power...!

"After the Divine Dynasty's destruction, the Eight Directions Temple drifted for countless Yuanhui — did you really think you were the only challenger in the Eastern Realm?"

The bizarre bird sneered. From this challenger's complete ignorance of the temple's trials, it could be certain that the other Gate Puppets must have suffered damage far more severe than its own!

"Divine Dynasty?"

Li Yuan's heart stirred, catching the key point: "The Origin Divine

Dynasty?"

"Heh~"

The bizarre bird didn't answer, just watching him coldly!

This Eight Directions Temple...

Li Yuan's thoughts wandered as he continued asking: "The temple-entering trial — does it require facing other challengers?"

"These are questions you should be asking Lord Dong Ershisan, not me!"

The bizarre bird calmed down and no longer wished to answer: "If you want to know more, bring a Spirit Puppet Heart."

The conversation ended!

Facing the uncooperative bizarre bird, Li Yuan didn't say much more — he had never expected to convince this bizarre bird in one go!

But it didn't matter...

"There's plenty of time, take it slow!"

Li Yuan sneered, turned, and left the Profound Whale Mi Jing; he still didn't believe he couldn't tame this half-headed human-headed bird!

Hum~

On the thirty-fifth floor, Li Yuan glanced at the agitated Dao Soldiers, having no intention at all of releasing that human-headed monster bird!

This time he caught the strange bird entirely by surprise;

releasing it to catch it a second time would not be so easy!

"The Kunpeng True Form Diagram is still missing two pieces!"

Li Yuan did not hesitate; he turned and left!

He hadn't even entered the Dao yet; he wasn't that urgent about completing the True Form Diagram!

Hush~

Below Eight Directions Mountain, a gentle breeze blew!

Li Yuan stepped out of the light gate, hesitated not, and directly took out that Eight Directions Temple token!

Chatting with that strange bird, he gained much; the use of this token was one of them. This token, awarded for climbing the hundred steps, had very broad uses!

Theoretically, holding this token, he could enter all places except those requiring a summit climb for the temple trial!

And...

"Dao Soldiers Tower!"

Li Yuan silently chanted, pressing that token against the "Yuan Qing Stele"!

With a hum, a light screen appeared on the stele; within it

was reflected the outside of the Dao Soldiers Tower, before the mountain stream: a dozen people, neither near nor far, each sitting cross-legged contemplating the True Form Diagram!

Among them, Yuan Qing True Person stood dazed before the stone stele in front of the tower; Dragon Dao Lord, not far away, frowned in thought about something!

"Hmm! Yuan Qing True Person!"

Li Yuan shifted his thought, activated that token; the target was precisely Yuan Qing True Person re-entering the Dao Soldiers Tower!

This token could bring people into the temple, or pull people out of the tower; it just required consuming the incense stored within!

"Thirty-fifth floor?"

Outside the Dao Soldiers Tower, feeling the strange gazes of the crowd, Yuan Qing True Person was momentarily stunned; then Yu Yu Xuanji denied it, insisting the Dao Soldiers Tower must have erred!

He had only climbed seven floors; how could he possibly have climbed to the thirty-fifth?

Regarding his explanation, everyone present still believed him; having personally experienced the intensity inside the Dao Soldiers Tower, they simply did not believe Yuan Qing True Person possessed the strength to climb to the thirty-fifth floor!

Among peers, defeating a hundred with one; such a figure has never appeared in ancient or modern times!

Nor will one ever appear in the future!

"Qin Yun."

Glancing at Yuan Qing True Person, Wan Wan Zhuliu did not believe he possessed such strength; his gaze lingered on that stone stele, eyes cold and silent: "This old fellow is indeed still alive."

Silver light flickered in his eyes; within his heart-sea echoed the low roar of the Cloud Demon: "Kill him."

Wan Wan Zhuliu did not respond; he merely looked on indifferently for a few moments, then turned and sat cross-legged beside the Qian Emperor. The Demon-Slaying Dragon God Blade lay across his knees; he had already begun contemplating that Sky-Clearing Blade True Form Diagram!

Hum~

As if present yet absent, blade light echoed!

The crowd outside the Dao Soldiers Tower felt a chill; they too each took out their own obtained True Form Diagrams and sought quiet places to begin contemplating!

Outside the Dao Soldiers Tower, the earth was level, mountains rose and fell, and the area was extremely vast!

"Thirty-fifth floor!"

Yuan Qing True Person was still somewhat dazed; everyone else was fine; only he erred?

Shifting his thought, he glanced at Long Long Yingchan and others who had already begun contemplating the True Form Diagram, then turned and walked toward the Dao Soldiers Tower!

Hum~

The instant he stepped through the tower gate, Yuan Qing True Person's brows furrowed; he sensed something amiss, but then, his eyelid twitched!

On the scorched earth, black mist churned; dozens, even hundreds of Dao Soldiers filed out, some carrying blades and swords, others holding staves and hammers.

"?"

Yuan Qing True Person's eyelids twitched wildly: "Rea... really, the thirty-fifth floor?"

Hum~

At that moment, an invisible spiritual pressure spread forth; Yuan Qing True Person vanished from his spot!

In the next instant, his brows furrowed again; he saw the familiar stone stele and Eight Directions Mountain: "Hmm?"

He was first stunned, then Yu Yu Xuanji realized something: "Li Yuan?"

"Junior Li Yuan greets True Person!"

Li Yuan bowed in greeting!

"It is you?"

Yuan Qing True Person's brows locked tightly; his tone was unfriendly!

"What do you mean by that?"

Li Yuan feigned shock!

"Dare to act but dare not admit it?"

Yuan Qing True Person's face sank like water; his "Extreme Sword True Form Diagram" had only gathered six fragmentary scrolls; if later he had to fight starting from the thirty-fifth floor...

"Junior truly does not know what you are speaking of!"

Where would Li Yuan admit it? He could only force himself to change the subject:

"Junior has been out of the temple for many days; today I return. I sought out Senior because I have a matter to request!"

"You can freely enter and exit Eight Directions Temple?"

"Yes!"

"Hmm! Really not you?"

"What are you saying?"

"Hmm, let's just say it wasn't you!"

Daoist Yuan Qing glanced at him: "What do you seek from this old man?"

"Regarding Senior Yun..."