Killing Dao Fruit
Chapter 182 - 179 Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, Gathering All Divine Generals

Chapter 182: Chapter 179 Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, Gathering All Divine Generals

The sky had completely darkened.

The Xue family mansion, once as magnificent as paradise, had turned into hell, with corpses strewn everywhere and blood flowing like rivers.

Ten Iron Claw Sparrows flew ahead, checking each of the many bodies on the ground for any signs of life.

If anyone was still breathing, even without a liver due to their particularly strong life force, they would conveniently claw them to put them out of their misery.

Clearly, this was out of humanitarian concern, not some baseless venting of frustration or kicking someone when they were down.

Leading the charge, Wang Yuan intentionally held back, keeping the pace of the entire team moderate.

They needed to clear out all members of the Xue family before encountering the "Weird" to ensure their hands remained unbloodied.

The task was not difficult; they only needed to help the "Weird" break the Xue family temple, allowing them a feast once more.

There’s no fear in lack of good deeds, but in the lack of good people!

At this time, a tiny ghost baby avatar sat on a corner of the temple’s eaves, coldly watching the battle inside.

From the Xue family’s "fratricide" until now, only five people were left alive, while there were still thirteen "Demon Birds."

They circled the temple, screeching sharply, continuously testing their approach to rush inside. However, as soon as they attempted to cross the threshold, a layer of golden light repelled them back.

Their bodies emitted a foul burnt scent as they screamed in agony.

Inside the temple, Mrs. Xue Xiao Lanling, holding a white jade bone flute adorned with a hundred birds motif, played an inspiring tune.

Accompanied by the strong scent of incense, the temple’s hundred golden armored soldiers transformed into giant golden birds, soared into the sky, and shielded the entire temple with their wings.

Among them were peacocks, cranes, mynas, magpies, bald-crowned birds, pheasants, doves, partridges, kingfishers, swans, wild geese...

All appearing as if made from gold, they dazzled brilliantly and emanated a majestic presence.

Seeing this, Wang Yuan recalled what Xue Yan had once said:

"Before my family’s Prime Minister, even the Military Leaders from the Nine Borders who have cultivated the fourth realm of ’Military Dao Dharma Image’ must humbly call themselves ’Door Dogs.’

Humbly submitting and presenting their Military Souls regularly to receive their Military Pay."

These divine warriors and generals, nourished by handed-down incense, obviously stemmed from the souls of soldiers who died in battle at the border towns.

Since the Xue family’s inherited military skill was the "Hundred Birds Battle Formation," these donated souls were all from the Feather Forest Guards serving in various border towns.

This was the top scout infantry in all border towns, an air force version of Daoist Soldiers.

Moreover, intentionally selected, exactly one hundred and eight divine generals all distinct from each other had been gathered.

That white jade bone flute in the lady’s hand was the "Daoist Soldier Tiger Talisman" for this elite force!

"Damn it all! The villain who led my family to this catastrophe, and the same one who secretly harmed Donglou, must be the same person!

What grievance have we done for such ruthless harm to befall my Xue family?

I wish I could eat your flesh, drink your blood!"

This inexplicable disaster had nearly driven the entire Xue family to the verge of extinction.

Xue Jieshan, the highest authority in the temple, was heartbroken seeing those transformed into demons and "Weird," who had effortlessly slaughtered the backbone of the Xue family.

Clamping his teeth tightly, he struggled to suppress the urge to vomit fresh blood.

Yet, he completely forgot the ancestral teaching learned in his youth: "A family that amasses good deeds will ultimately have good fortune; a family that amasses evil will inevitably suffer disaster."

Wang Yuan and they indeed had no personal grudge, yet there was... public outrage!

As the keeper of the "Small Book of Life and Death," he was entitled to declare he acted on "heaven’s behalf."

It wasn’t until his gaze fell on the swirling golden birds that Xue Jieshan’s expression eased slightly:

"If someone in our family awakened the innate divine ability ’Phoenix Transformation.’

This ’Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Formation,’ ranked in the top three of the ’Thirty-Six Martial Arts Books,’ wouldn’t have been so rigid.

Combined with the familial energy within the temple, it would have already annihilated all the ’Weird.’

Even if the primary controller of the formation, Lanling, only awakened the innate divine ability ’Peacock Transformation,’ it’s barely sufficient to mobilize the hundred birds.

However, even if the formation is incomplete, holding out until tomorrow is not a problem at all.

Then, even if the martial readiness of our mansion slackens, various government offices and garrisons could come to support."

Prime Minister Xue, using his immense authority, forced the border army to present their Military Souls.

After carefully selecting one hundred and eight types of birds, according to the "Hundred Birds Battle Formation," almost the complete ’Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Formation’ was ready.

But the most powerful innate divine skill for leading the formation, ’Phoenix Transformation,’ was encountered once in a hundred years.

This led to the outcome that, although each attempt by the "Demon Birds" to dive into the temple saw them scalded by the golden birds into continuing screams, the formation obviously lacked flexibility.

It was defensively abundant but offensively inadequate.

Wang Yuan, having witnessed all this, how could he possibly let them get away with it? He chuckled coldly:

"If I hadn’t come, perhaps you really might have slipped through.

But unfortunately, there are no ’ifs’!"

A dark Water Virtue Flood Snake had long been hidden among the Qilin auspices above the Xue family.

Now, secretly mobilizing the resources of a nation, meticulously working to construct the ’Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix Formation,’ this legendary skill that even Jiang Feipeng’s "Heavenly Bird Sect" had never completed.

Dragon and Phoenix Harmony, disobedience was clearly revealed.

"Merit Golden Wheel! Open!"

Three days had passed, bolstered by the incense fire vow power of over a million commoners and the continuous supply of provisions from the "Deceit Market."

His "Merit Golden Wheel" had already undergone a qualitative transformation.

Not to mention the remaining clan energy in the "family temple."

Even a complete Xue family temple or Dengzhou City God Temple, places known for the strongest "Dragon Qi Prohibition," could no longer stop Wang Yuan’s progress.

"Dragon Qi Prohibition" was originally the last line of defense for the powerful against Magicians, and it had never failed for thousands of years.

Who would have thought that it would meet someone as exceptional as Wang Yuan, truly bad luck.

At this moment.

The "Merit Golden Wheel" behind the Ghost Baby, invisible to the eyes of mortals, suddenly expanded to a size larger than a house, shimmering like a golden sun.

Huang Wu, dressed in a colorful phoenix-embroidered golden red palace dress, camouflaged her figure and casually sat on Wang Yuan’s "Merit Golden Wheel," swinging her small crescent-moon-like bare feet.

The "Yin Yang Heart Bell" on her ankle suddenly rang out a pleasant chime.

Ring, ring, ring...

The bell sound penetrated the clan energy barrier above the family temple effortlessly, striking Mrs. Xue Xiao Lanling.

A mere "Daoist Soldier," her mind went blank instantly after receiving the soul attack.

Simultaneously, the scripture from the "Earth Que Golden Book" on the Ghost Baby’s body disappeared, leaving only a radiant "Five Ghosts Moving Mountains."

Then he gently reached out for the "Daoist Soldier Tiger Talisman," which resembled a bone flute in Mrs. Xue’s hand.

Whoosh!

The military formation was incomplete with too many flaws. In the blink of an eye, the "Daoist Soldier Tiger Talisman" fell into his hands.

"Xiao Yuan, let me play with it," she said.

"Okay, Sister, please," he responded.

But just as Huang Wu touched the "Daoist Soldier Tiger Talisman" offered by Wang Yuan.

A clear phoenix call suddenly resonated within her body.

Then, the golden birds that had been swirling endlessly around the Xue family temple instantaneously changed direction, sweeping towards Huang Wu like a raging torrent.

Circling the girl, they plucked their most beautiful feathers and presented them to Huang Wu, eventually transforming into a resplendent "Hundred Birds Dress."

This adorned her like a true, small phoenix.

For a moment, fairy music floated around the girl, fragrant breezes wafted, auspicious energy surged, and myriad glows illuminated the dome constructed from "Smoke-Locked Pond Willows."

At this moment, the "Vermilion Bird Riding the Wind" seemed finally to have gained wings.

The aura around Huang Wu climbed progressively, and she unexpectedly awoke her innate divine ability— "Phoenix Transformation"—without ever having cultivated the "Hundred Birds Battle Formation"!

With a leap, she transformed into a stunning golden-red phoenix, her eyes emitting a silver glow, signifying she was a "Netherworld Phoenix."

The birds circled her three times, then transformed into a whirlwind and forcefully plunged into the "Merit Golden Wheel."

These divine generals, now reduced to mere tools, willingly brought their provisions and flocked to their new master.

As these divine weapons and generals, the Xue family’s last resorts, were absorbed by the "Merit Golden Wheel" and Huang Wu.

Wang Yuan needed to do nothing more, as the Xue family temple, already drained of its last bit of primordial qi, could no longer block the group of eagerly watching "Demon Birds."

Chirp, chirp, chirp...

"Ah! No!"

With only these last five members of the Xue family left, what chance did they stand against so many "Weird" creatures?

But escape was impossible, and in the blink of an eye, three more were devoured.

Only the strongest, Second Master Xue Xue Jieshan and Mrs. Xue Xiao Lanling, were still desperately holding on, but their flesh was being torn from their bodies at a blistering pace by the "Bird Demons."

In an instant, they began to falter, their vision gradually blurring.

Just then.

Suddenly, a loud shout reached their ears:

"Halt! The Imperial Dragon Guard is here! How dare these ’Weird’ creatures run amok?

Lord Xue, Mrs. Xue, please hold on for three more breaths!"

Realizing that help had finally arrived, a strong desire to survive burst forth in their eyes.

"Save us!"

They instinctively reached out their hands to the twenty Imperial Dragon Guard Colonels, who were rushing towards them as if turning into faint shadows.

But not to mention three breaths.

In just a moment, Second Master Xue’s neck was bitten through, and Mrs. Xue had her voluptuous chest torn open by the "Demon Birds," collapsing to the ground in despair.

This beautiful legitimate wife of Xue Donglou, with eyes wide open, stared intensely at the Colonel who had timed their arrival, and with her last strength, she cursed:

"Imperial... Dragon... Guard!"

"You... you useless... could you come... a bit later... a bit?"

With that, her white legs kicked violently, and she breathed her last.

She died with her eyes open, a deeply unrestful end.