Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest

After slaying the Asura King, Yan Yu and Ye Jun had a brief chat, when suddenly they felt the world spinning round and round.

When they came to, they were no longer in the same place but had automatically been transported to the next challenge's realm.

This place was a valley filled with dense forests and the gentle babbling of rivers, an environment far better than the previous level's blood-red sky and earth.

Yan Yu was surveying his surroundings when he suddenly sensed something amiss. Looking down, he saw his chest covered with fine bird feathers.

Huh? How did I turn into a swallow?

After scanning himself from head to toe with Divine Sense, Yan Yu confirmed that this was not an illusion but a very orthodox Taoist transformation technique... The specific principle was unclear since transformation techniques were both rare and difficult to master.

Take Sun Wukong, who had to become the disciple of the renowned Patriarch Bodhi to be eligible to learn those seventy-two transformations. You would know that this thing is a top-notch super spell, which can even be used to cunningly avoid heavenly tribulations once mastered.

If someone casts a transformation spell on you during a duel, turning you into a pig or a sheep, for instance, you can't even muster a Sword Technique or a Spell. That would leave you utterly at the mercy of others.

But Yan Yu knew that his bird transformation was definitely a Mysterious Realm mechanism, so as long as he completed the challenge, he would be restored to human form; therefore, he wasn't in any rush and began to flap his wings to take off.

No sooner had he flown out of the thicket than he saw a lark flying towards him not far away.

The lark's call was melodious and pleasant to the ear, but although Yan Yu was a swallow, he didn't understand the language of birds, so he had no idea what she was chirping. He could only transmit a message to ask,

"Ye Jun?"

"Ah!" Finally, the lark realized and quickly replied with Sound Transmission Technique, "So, the Sound Transmission Technique can be used, huh? Yan Yu, why have we all turned into birds, do you have any clue?"

"It should be the Mysterious Realm mechanism," Yan Yu replied, "It'll be fine once we pass the challenge."

"After turning into birds, we've also lost our clothes," Ye Jun flapped her wings and said, "I don't know if the camera can still function."

"Whether it can or not, just act as if we still have the camera and continue to look for a way to pass the level," Yan Yu said.

"That makes sense," Ye Jun replied, "So, how do we find the way to complete the challenge?"

"Now that we've turned into birds, although we still have True Yuan and can use Divine Sense, Sword techniques, Spells, and Taoism Methods that require hand seals are all unusable due to the lack of hands," Yan Yu pondered carefully, "Thus, this challenge certainly isn't about combat."

"Indeed so," Ye Jun added.

"We only have one option before us, which is to explore the environment everywhere," Yan Yu analyzed.

"It's obvious," Ye Jun said.

"The risk is that this place might not just have us two 'animals'," Yan Yu continued, "We have to watch out for predators of birds, like felines, serpents, and naturally, carnivorous hawks and falcons."

"We do need to be careful," Ye Jun agreed.

"Why are you echoing me again?" Yan Yu interrupted, "We're discussing how to find the method to pass the challenge, not performing a comedy routine."

"No, I really have no idea," Ye Jun flew around Yan Yu, "My head is full of chirp and chatter, and I feel like singing."

"Instincts of a bird, eh?" Yan Yu mused, "Why don't I feel something similar?"

"Swallows, compared to larks, aren't that vocal, I guess," Ye Jun remarked.

"I'm not sure," Yan Yu decided to observe first, "You fly with me for now. Remember to use your Divine Sense to scan around on the way, and don't let your guard down—the swallow and the lark are pretty low in the bird food chain."

"Then let's be careful and off we go," Ye Jun seemed somewhat excited, soaring up and down around Yan Yu, unclear if she took the words to heart.

She followed Yan Yu as they flew forward. Although she managed to hold back on chirping, she couldn't stop transmitting messages:

"Yan Yu, did you know that as a child, the animal I most wanted to become was a bird?"

"Oh."
Enjoy new adventures from My Virtual Library Empire

"Because birds can fly, you know? Just fly wherever you want to go, how cool is that."

"Hmm."

"I know I talk a lot, but I'm just excited that a dream came true. Hey! Do you think that in the later stages of the Spiritual Energy Resurgence, there will be a spell to transform into a bird?"

"I don't know if there is a spell to turn into a bird, but I do know one to shut you up." Yan Yu said.

"Hahaha, I'll stop talking, I'll zip it." Flying Sword replied.

The two birds, feeling somewhat tired from flying, scanned the area with their Divine Sense to ensure there were no carnivorous animals around before descending to rest on the treetops below.

Yan Yu raised his wings and started to comb the feathers that had been ruffled by the wind with his beak.

It wasn't that he had a bird's consciousness, but rather that having his feathers ruffled was quite uncomfortable—much like the feeling of messy hair upon waking up that simply needed to be tidied to feel right.

Ye Jun glanced around for a moment, then suddenly hopped along the branch towards Yan Yu and began to use her beak to help him straighten his feathers.

"Hey, what are you doing!" Yan Yu was startled.

"I'm helping you comb your feathers," Ye Jun said with a chuckle, "Wow, your feathers are so soft~"

"That's enough, mind your own business." Yan Yu flapped a wing to push her away.

This lady from Jinmen usually seemed quite serious, so how come she turned into such a lively bird once transformed? Could it be that some bird-loving gene from her ancestral Pingjing bloodline had awakened?

Ye Jun was about to say something else when her tone suddenly became tense:

"An animal is coming."

Yan Yu also released his Divine Sense and detected a white-furred fox and a spotted leopard cat climbing a hill far away, looking in their direction.

Despite the trees obscuring the view between them, it was clear that the creatures were focusing on them—Yan Yu knew then that these two were also cultivators capable of scanning with Divine Sense.

"Who's there?" He quickly sent a telepathic message.

The response came back with a surprised delight:

"Captain?"

————————

Liu Longtao and Xie Ruoxi climbed up the hillside and noticed that the pack of wild dogs had regrouped and were peering at them from about ten meters away.

"They're still following us?" After Liu Longtao scanned the area with his Divine Sense and didn't find any enemy aside from the wild dogs, he telepathically asked Xie Ruoxi again.

"Yes," Xie Ruoxi replied, "They're behind us, just past the gorge we just crossed."

"Your Divine Sense can reach that far?" Liu Longtao was immediately astonished.

"Ah?" Xie Ruoxi seemed puzzled. "Can't you?"

Her simple four-word reply was like a heavy hammer smashing down on Lord Master's head, who always prided himself on his exceptional talents. It left him nearly seeing stars, and he almost fainted before barely steadying his mind and replying:

"Let's not talk about this now. So they're still keeping their distance, right?"

"Right," Xie Ruoxi said, "It looks like they're waiting for something."

"In that case, let's do the opposite of what they expect," Liu Longtao pondered for a moment before saying coldly, "Let's hit them back!"

"Ah, are we going to confront them?" Xie Ruoxi tensed up again.

"What else?" Liu Longtao retorted. "Right now, what they're waiting for is either for that pack of wild dogs to attack us again, or for some other kind of trap for us to step into. If we don't take the initiative now, the situation will only get worse as time drags on!"

"Oh, I see," said Xie Ruoxi, still feeling helpless, "but what exactly should we do...?"

"Follow me!" Liu Longtao suddenly turned, his body enveloped in the glow of his sword, and boldly charged back down the path they had come from.

Sword Control slash!

Xie Ruoxi was startled and quickly activated her Shifting Technique, following the swift Ying Long Sword's light, heading straight towards the gorge where the Onmyoji were hidden.