Combo Skill —— Ice Cold

Li Mo and his two companions emerged from the camp of the garrison troops, traveling over a hundred miles through the dark night before finally setting foot on Treasure Vase Mountain.

As for why they went to the military camp—

First, to clarify the frequent locations where the Roc Demon appeared.

Second, to "amicably" take out a hammer and remind Commander Qi that he would be back, hoping Fu Yingzi's family would remain unharmed by then.

Otherwise, within three days...

Under the night sky, towering trees loomed like woven nets, with the occasional chirps of insects and birds piercing the silence.

Huang Donglai darted through the shadows like the wind, his nose twitching as he moved.

While searching for traces of the Roc Demon, he casually plucked herbs along the way.

"Brother Huang, your movement technique..."

Li Mo couldn't help but marvel.

Murong Xiao watched with envy, wondering when he himself would make it onto the Hidden Dragon Ranking:

"No wonder they call you 'Flying Poison Two-Faced Turtle.'"

Huang Donglai stiffened mid-step, nearly crashing into a tree.

"Brother Huang, have you found where the Roc Demon has been nesting recently?"

Li Mo looked up and asked.

"This is indeed one of the places it frequents," Huang Donglai nodded, then added with a hint of reluctant admiration,

"But it’s likely wary of ambushes—like a cunning rabbit with three burrows, this is probably just a decoy."

"Then where is its real lair?"

"Don’t worry, Brother Li, I’ll find it!"

Huang Donglai picked up a clump of soil and carefully tasted it.

"Reliable!"

Li Mo gave a thumbs-up.

Bringing Huang Donglai along had been an exceptionally wise decision. Not only did he help avoid many troubles, but he also served as a living map of the Southern Border—even equipped with built-in tracking.

Before long,

At the mountain peak, near a sheer cliff,

Huang Donglai took another bite of the soil and nodded toward a nearby cave:

"This should be the Roc Demon’s true nest."

"But it hasn’t returned for about two or three days—likely because of Fairy Ying."

"Then it’ll probably come back here eventually."

Li Mo pinched his nose, blocking out the foul stench from the nest, and frowned:

"Brother Huang, shouldn’t we prepare something?"

The Roc Demon’s flight speed was terrifyingly fast.

Speed happened to be Young Li’s current weakness. Even with a top-tier movement technique and Cloud-Treading Boots, he couldn’t hope to match the innate speed of a winged demonic beast with extraordinary bloodline.

Huang Donglai, on the other hand, could keep up in speed. With the Cloud-Treading Boots, he’d definitely catch it.

But he might not be able to take it down alone.

As for Murong Xiao...

At the Internal Breath realm, he barely counted as half a combatant.

"Traps for avian demonic beasts..."

Huang Donglai pondered.

But before he could settle on the safest approach,

Young Li’s quick-witted brain had already sparked an idea!

"Hey, Brother Huang, you can catch up but might not win, right?"

"Correct."

"I can’t catch up, but I can definitely win, yes?"

"Naturally."

Huang Donglai was puzzled.

Their strengths couldn’t just merge like that.

Then he saw Li Mo grin and say:

"In that case, why don’t I just ride on you?"

Huang Donglai: "??"

Li Mo then turned to Murong Xiao:

"Brother Murong, you have the Bloodline of the Howling Serpent, right? And the Howling Serpents and the Roc Clan are mortal enemies?"

"Mm, my family’s letters warned me to avoid Roc territory at all costs."

Murong Xiao snapped back to reality—he had indeed told Li Mo this.

Li Mo clapped his hands together, grinning:

"Then it’s settled! Brother Murong, you’ll be the bait! I’ll teach you some tricks to provoke it. Once it charges at you in rage, throw the Muscle-Softening Powder."

"Eh?"

Murong Xiao pointed at himself: "Me?"

Li Mo declared confidently:

"Once it’s fixated on you, I’ll ride Brother Huang and ambush it—how will the Roc possibly counter that?"

"Our chances of annihilating it will be a thousand percent!!"

This strategy fused the essence of brawling mastery, his own combat prowess, and Huang Donglai’s speed!

It was absolutely flawless!

"!!!"

Murong Xiao leaned back in tactical shock. Huang Donglai sucked in a sharp breath.

He had faced countless foes, but never had he encountered such an unorthodox approach.

If roles were reversed, even he would likely fall victim to this combo.

Thank the heavens he and Brother Li were on good terms!

---

The next evening,

Outside Treasure Vase Mountain, the shadow of a massive avian creature soared across the sky. Its passage stirred violent wind pressure, scattering birds and beasts in terror.

As a powerful Roc on the verge of reaching the sixth rank, it preferred independence over clan life.

Now, the entire Treasure Vase Mountain was its domain—what could be better?

The setting sun gleamed on its head, reflecting dazzling light, though its mood was far from bright.

"Little Qing won’t even see me anymore."

"It’s all that human woman’s fault!"

The Roc Demon cursed mid-flight, its tone a mix of fury and fear.

Of course it feared her.

The Azure Phoenix Clan had once thrived during the era of Great Shang, standing as one of the mightiest lineages.

Back then, they had joined Great Shang’s elite in guarding the Southern Border.

Later, when the border armies and experts withdrew to the imperial capital, the Azure Phoenixes remained.

And after the fall of Great Shang’s capital, they had quietly recuperated in the Southern Border ever since.

"That woman actually managed to enter the Qingluan Clan's territory as a mere human."

"And she even received such special treatment..."

Muttering to itself, it flew toward the cliffside.

After circling a few times, it still refused to land.

Something was off.

Something was very off—that scent...

With its keen vision, it narrowed its pupils and spotted... a bald figure sitting right in front of its nest.

A monk?!

What kind of monk dares to be this bold?!

Wait, no—it wasn’t just a monk.

The Roc Demon flew closer, recognizing the scales on the man’s neck and those claw-like hands.

That revolting stench—it was a Mingjiao!

The Roc Demon already despised monks, let alone one with Mingjiao blood. And right now, it was furious enough to swallow the guy whole.

But it still had some restraint left and didn’t recklessly charge in.

"Bald bird!"

Murong Xiao suddenly shouted, pointing at it.

Roc Demon: "?"

Do you even know how handsome I was before I went bald?!

Before it could react—

Murong Xiao silently chanted Amitabha in his heart before yelling:

"I still can’t forget the feeling of French-kissing your mom."

"?"

"Those duck tongues in the hotpot last time? Absolutely delicious."

"My mom’s not a duck, you bastard—I’LL DEVOUR YOU!"

The Roc Demon’s bald head practically glowed red with rage.

Already seething, it was now utterly incensed.

It threw caution to the wind and dove straight down, ready to gulp down this foul-mouthed bloodline rival in one bite.

But before it could close in—

Several jars were suddenly hurled by Murong Xiao, smashing against the ground and filling the air with dust.

"A trap?!"

The Roc Demon recognized the scent immediately—a numbing weakness spread through its limbs. But as a veteran of mountain forests, used to outwitting beasts and demons alike, it halted mid-air.

With a powerful flap of its wings, it summoned a gale to scatter the dust.

"This Seven Wonders Soft-Bone Powder is better than nothing, I guess."

A voice rang out nearby—Huang Donglai, who had been lying in wait.

"Let’s take it down first."

Another figure burst from the dust, wielding a hammer.

"Pfft, you think this is enough to defeat me?"

The Roc Demon soared back into the sky.

Though its opponents were weaker in cultivation, they’d clearly prepared.

The poison had already taken some effect—a direct fight might not end well. And who knew if more ambushes lurked nearby? Tactical retreat it was.

Humans couldn’t fly unless they reached the Inner Scenery realm, and even then, they’d never match its speed.

So...

"Eat my droppings, fools!"

The Roc Demon decided to leave them with one last insult.

But the next moment—

It witnessed something it would never forget.

"Brother Huang! Combo move!"

Li Mo shouted.

"On it!"

Huang Donglai, now wearing Cloud-Treading Boots, bent forward.

For some reason, Li Mo’s yell inexplicably fired him up.

A weight settled on his back—

Li Mo, hammer in hand, leaped onto Huang Donglai’s back as the latter unleashed his full movement technique.

And so—

Li Mo rode Huang Donglai as they shot toward the sky, swift and menacing!

Combo Skill—Double Trouble!

Even in this life-or-death moment, the Roc Demon couldn’t help but feel its scalp tingle.

"What the hell is this?!"

......

If only I could see you all supporting me in my dreams—that’d be true bliss. OrZ.