Riding the Gale Eagle, Teng Qingshan was enveloped on all sides by a crushing blanket of blackness as countless winged creatures veered sharply away from him and the eagle, fleeing swiftly.

"CawCaw"

Calls rose and fell in endless succession, echoing across the firmament.

"These Serpent-Swallowing Birds, according to the records, feed exclusively on venomous snakes. And Yunmeng Marsh is teeming with such snakes; this flock of Serpent-Swallowing Birds shouldn't be migrating," Teng Qingshan mused, slightly perplexed. The sheer density of the flock ahead was so immense that he couldn't see anything beyond the black mass before him.

"Hiss~~"

A sound, akin to the neighing of a spirited warhorse yet also like the roar of a dragon, rolled in from the distant horizon. Instantly, the Serpent-Swallowing Birds flapped their wings with even greater desperation, accelerating their escape. Soon, Teng Qingshan and the Gale Eagle reached the very end of the colossal flock.

With the Serpent-Swallowing Birds gone, a vast expanse opened before Teng Qingshan.

"What is that?" Teng Qingshan gazed into the distance, spotting a massive, jet-black steed galloping across the void on all four legs.

Its hooves churned as if striking solid earth beneath the open air. Its inky mane streamed behind it like a banner, and though its speed was not excessive—comparable only to the migrating flock—it constantly raced forward, occasionally issuing a sky-piercing cry, joyfully following in the wake of the Serpent-Swallowing Birds.

"No wings, yet it flies across the air... This, this must be the King of Yunmeng Marsh, the Divine Beast, the 'Black Steed' (Wuzhuima)?" Teng Qingshan drew a sharp, sudden breath.

A beast capable of traversing the air without wings was undoubtedly a demon beast at the Great Accomplishment stage of the Void Realm!

The Black Steed galloped through the heavens and earth. The endless flock of Serpent-Swallowing Birds ahead scattered as if confronted by the most terrifying natural predator, fleeing for their lives.

The Black Steed suddenly turned its head, its deep, pitch-black eyes fixing on Teng Qingshan.

"This is..." Teng Qingshan felt a strange, potent energy radiating from the Black Steed's gaze, like an icy flood rushing over him. His mind swam instantly, and he swayed on the Gale Eagle's back, his face paling.

One, the Divine Beast 'Black Steed' running on air; the other, a human mounted on the Gale Eagle. Their brief exchange of glances ended when the Black Steed perceived Teng Qingshan’s sudden pallor. It let out a proud neigh, sounding almost like a dragon's roar, before turning to chase after the fleeing multitude once more.

Watching the Black Steed gradually vanish into the horizon, Teng Qingshan’s heart refused to settle.

"As expected of the Black Steed, the mount of the supreme expert, Duanmu Yu!" Teng Qingshan marveled internally.

Teng Qingshan had a distinct feeling...

This Black Steed could likely dispatch him with a single casual move!

"This perilous Yunmeng Marsh poses no danger to me, yet for this Black Steed, it is merely its backyard. It is the true King of Yunmeng Marsh," Teng Qingshan sighed inwardly. To capture a Great Accomplishment Void Realm demon beast would allow one to walk across the Nine Provinces unimpeded.

However, with his current strength, that was merely a pipe dream.

"I must continue searching for the Cloud Dream White Fruit. Once found, not only will there be hope of letting Father stand again, but I will also obtain the six stone carvings necessary to step into the Void Realm." Teng Qingshan continued to stand upon the Gale Eagle, meticulously surveying the vast, rolling expanse of Yunmeng Marsh below.

The eighteenth night since entering Yunmeng Marsh.

"Whoosh~~" The Gale Eagle plunged down from high altitude, landing on a hillock that seemed only a few dozen zhang high. To be precise, this feature, only dozens of zhang tall, barely qualified as a hill; it was little more than a knoll.

The moon was incredibly bright tonight, nearly full, suspended in the sky like a jade plate.

Night had settled over the entirety of Yunmeng Marsh. The area surrounding Teng Qingshan was a continuous stretch of rolling hills and low mounds, interspersed with numerous lakes and marshes. Under the moonlight, the ethereal mist winding above the water surfaces was clearly visible, lending the entire marsh a dreamlike, illusory quality.

"Xiao Hui, rest well." Teng Qingshan patted the Gale Eagle’s feathers, then placed a bird nearly half his height onto the ground. He had caught this large bird casually during their journey.

This was dinner for Teng Qingshan and the Gale Eagle!

Teng Qingshan pulled up a tree as thick as his thigh, and as easily as kneading clay, he severed the trunk into sections. Fire erupted from his hands, easily igniting the wood to construct a large bonfire.

"Sizzle~~"

He plucked the feathers and gutted the large bird. Using the flow of his Water-Attribute Gang Qi, he cleansed it thoroughly before placing it on the spit to roast slowly. A few seasonings brought from the ancient city of Yunmeng rendered the wild bird incredibly savory.

"Screee~~" The Gale Eagle circled the fire, its eyes fixed intently on the roasting bird.

"Xiao Hui, patience." When it was nearly done, Teng Qingshan tore off a small piece to taste, nodding in satisfaction. "Ah, it's ready." He then tore off a large leg—at least seven or eight jin of meat—for himself, placing the rest before the Gale Eagle.

Man and beast dined heartily!

Hiss, hiss~~

Hiss, hiss~~

Very faint sounds arose from the surroundings. Teng Qingshan glanced over and spotted numerous black-green snakes slowly slithering closer from the tall grasses nearby. Teng Qingshan shook his head slightly; he was accustomed to this. Lighting a bonfire at night in Yunmeng Marsh inevitably attracted all manner of venomous insects and water beasts. Moreover, the aroma of roasting meat drew them in. However, Teng Qingshan had long since prepared countermeasures.

"Xiao Hui," Teng Qingshan called out.

"Screee~~" The Gale Eagle let out a sharp, piercing cry, releasing the aura of a Primordial Flying Demon Beast. The menacing black-green snakes immediately recoiled in fear and wisely retreated to a safe distance.

"Roar~~" A hoarse, unpleasant roar echoed from a short distance ahead.

The Gale Eagle responded with fury, unleashing an even louder, higher-pitched shriek.

"Roar~~" The unknown monster also seemed enraged. This entire hundred-li radius was its domain; it was the king of this area, and it could not tolerate another demon beast flaunting its presence with such loud calls. Clearly, the unknown beast perceived the Gale Eagle’s cry as a direct provocation.

Teng Qingshan took a large bite of the roasted leg, then set it aside. The grease vanished instantly, wiped clean by a pulse of his Gang Qi. Clutching the Samsara Spear, he leaped out: "Xiao Hui, you stay here, I'll go check!"

The Gale Eagle happily nodded several times.

While the Gale Eagle was a Primordial Demon Beast, it was only at the initial stage. Normally, it wouldn't dare behave so arrogantly toward other monsters.

But following Teng Qingshan, it could afford to be arrogant! It was precisely because of this arrogance that it provoked resentment from other beasts, eliciting angry roars. This way, Teng Qingshan could locate the demon beasts purely by sound—this was his method for finding them!

...

"Bringing Xiao Hui along was truly a wise choice. Finding demon beasts is much easier now." Over eighteen days in the marsh, Teng Qingshan had encountered over thirty beasts, more than half of which were found only after the Gale Eagle's boastful cries at night provoked a response.

Wielding the Samsara Spear, Teng Qingshan walked across the surface of the lake, treading through the mist.

Splash~~ Splash~~

Each step sent ripples spreading across the water. Poisonous snakes occasionally surfaced, along with strange fish-like beasts nearly two zhang long. Teng Qingshan’s gaze swept over them, ignoring these creatures as he swiftly approached the low hillock from which the roar had originated.

"Snap~~" A ferocious, crocodile-like grey fish suddenly leaped out, lunging at Teng Qingshan with several rows of interlocking, razor-sharp, minute teeth bared.

The water-blue battle armor covering Teng Qingshan's body suddenly rippled outward.

The grey fish was violently flung backward, tumbling several times in mid-air before crashing back into the water, sending countless splashes upward.

Teng Qingshan abruptly sprang upward, landing on a low mountain—this one perhaps a hundred zhang high. The slopes were dark-green stone, overgrown with water weeds, thickets, and trailing vines.

"So many snakes?" Teng Qingshan frowned. Snakes in the water were common, but finding the slopes completely covered in dense masses of them was rare even for Yunmeng Marsh.

"Snake Mountain? Snake Den?" Teng Qingshan pondered, walking purposefully across the terrain.

There were simply too many snakes on this mountain.

"Hiss!" Teng Qingshan crushed two snakes underfoot. Nearby, many others hissed and even leaped up to bite him. Teng Qingshan paid them no mind, continuing his rapid advance. Any snake attacking him was instantly blasted away or killed by his sharp Gang Qi, or simply crushed under his boot.

In just ten breaths, Teng Qingshan located the source of the disturbance.

"Truly a giant!"

Teng Qingshan looked at a snake tail protruding from a cave entrance. The tail, thick as a water vat and covered in purplish-black scales, sent a tremor straight to his core.

"This place is indeed a snake den; everything here is a snake, and this giant must be a serpentine demon beast." Teng Qingshan stamped his foot suddenly!

Rumble~~~

The entire mountain shuddered, sending rocks tumbling down to crush numerous snakes.

"Roar~~" An enraged bellow echoed from inside the cave as the snake tail thrashed.

Teng Qingshan looked up.

A snake head, larger than a cartwheel, emerged from the summit, peering down at Teng Qingshan below. Immediately following it, another equally massive snake head rose above the peak.

"Two demon beasts?" Teng Qingshan was startled.

Hiss, hiss~~

The two great serpents slid down the slope, and soon Teng Qingshan was staring in astonishment: "It’s not two beasts, but... a Two-Headed Purple-Ringed Giant Snake!" As he observed the creature with a single, elongated body terminating in two monstrous heads, the description from ancient texts sprang clearly into his mind.

Purple-Ringed Snake: Possesses purple, ring-like markings on its abdomen. An adult Purple-Ringed Snake, about ten zhang long, is a Primordial Demon Beast. Upon metamorphosis, when it grows a second head to become a Two-Headed Purple-Ringed Snake, its body lengthens to about fifteen zhang, making it a Primordial Golden Core Demon Beast. It can spit venom capable of dissolving metal and melting stone.

"Tsk, tsk. It’s been eighteen days in Yunmeng Marsh, and I’ve encountered over thirty demon beasts. Including this one, I've only seen three Primordial Golden Core beasts," Teng Qingshan said, surprised but pleased rather than alarmed.

"A Primordial Golden Core beast—if its lair holds medicinal herbs or spirit fruits, those will surely be treasures of the highest order." The two Golden Core beasts he had encountered previously in Yunmeng Marsh had yielded him tremendous gains.