It was a gigantic avian creature, its wingspan stretching nearly five zhang across the heavens. This colossus possessed eyes as sharp as knives, covered in obsidian-black steel feathers that gleamed brightly. Its hook-like talons trembled slightly, suggesting it could dive down from the sky at any moment.

"This is actually a Saint Beast War Eagle?" Jin Zhanyi exclaimed in disbelief.

In truth, as the war eagle drew closer, they could already sense the immense aura emanating from it. Once this power was perceived, no one could mistake the monstrous bird for an ordinary flying spirit beast.

Yet, the group exchanged glances, their hearts filled with astonishment.

As far as they knew, even within the Divine Hall, there was only a single War Eagle that had achieved the rank of Saint Beast.

Under no circumstances should such a powerful bird appear here, as such a formidable creature would never be bestowed upon a newly ascended expert of the Divine Hall. But here they were, witnessing the Saint Beast War Eagle with their own eyes.

"Brother Li, has the Western Divine Hall truly manifested a second Saint Beast War Eagle?" Jin Zhanyi asked, his voice laced with doubt.

Li Jiangfeng shook his head without hesitation. "That is absolutely impossible."

The difficulty for a spirit beast to advance to the Saint Beast level far exceeded the progression for humans. Even among the Totem Clans, despite their mysterious innate companion techniques, the chance for a spirit beast to break through remained infinitesimally small.

The mere existence of one Saint Beast War Eagle in the Western Divine Hall was a stroke of immense fortune; the suggestion of a second would be met with utter disbelief.

He Yiming cradled the Precious Pig, tilting his head back to stare at the strutting Saint Beast War Eagle. He spoke in a deep voice, "Could it be that a significant figure from the Western Divine Hall has arrived here, prompting them to dispatch the Saint Beast War Eagle?"

Jin Zhanyi and the others simultaneously shook their heads. Li Jiangfeng even chuckled, "Brother He, you jest. The rivalry between East and West has spanned millennia. It is an established rule passed down through generations that no previous Venerable master may appear at the site of combat; that is strictly forbidden."

Hearing his firm assurance, He Yiming nodded slightly, but a faint, unpleasant premonition began to stir in his heart.

He looked back subtly, noting the relentless swirling undercurrents in the sea.

If entry proved this difficult, wouldn't exiting be equally arduous?

A terrifying thought suddenly surfaced: while these naturally occurring whirlpools might serve to test their strength, if the Western Venerables were orchestrating something here, escaping would become exponentially harder.

His brow furrowed slightly, and after a moment of hesitation, He Yiming voiced his growing concern.

The expressions of Jin Zhanyi and the others shifted subtly, but after staring at each other for a long moment, they could only manage wry smiles and shakes of the head.

Regardless of any ill intent, having arrived at this juncture, there was no turning back. To retreat based merely on suspicion would cause the reputations of the Eastern experts to plummet, potentially dragging down the sects and clans behind them.

Another cry echoed from above, as if the Saint Beast War Eagle were urging them forward.

Li Jiangfeng looked up. With a sharp cry, his own shout resonated like thunder, completely drowning out the eagle’s call.

The Saint Beast War Eagle abruptly wheeled in the air, opening its razor-sharp beak and unleashing a streak of white light that shot downward, aimed directly at Li Jiangfeng.

Li Jiangfeng snorted disdainfully, sweeping his hand. His massive Wolf Fang Mace materialized, smashing the incoming white light to pieces.

The War Eagle circled again. It seemed wary of the crowd below, unwilling to descend into close combat. However, its beak continued to open, raining down streaks of white light like lightning—over a hundred blasts unleashed in mere moments.

Li Jiangfeng swung his mace, enveloping his body in a curtain of crimson light. Every streak of white light that touched this glowing, high-temperature aura immediately dissipated without a trace.

But Li Jiangfeng’s expression was grim. The Saint Beast War Eagle remained high in the sky, attacking solely with its breath. It was akin to facing a Five-Qi Grand Venerable who could fly and attack from a distance; the eagle struck, while no one below could touch it.

He Yiming shook his head slightly. Flying Saint Beasts possessed an overwhelming advantage, even more pronounced than that enjoyed by aquatic Saint Beasts in the ocean.

Seeing the unconcealed frustration on the faces of Li Jiangfeng and his daughter, He Yiming felt a shift in his intent. He gently patted the head of the Precious Pig nestled in his arms.

The Precious Pig immediately understood his meaning, grinning excitedly. Then, four distinct clouds of black vapor began to rise from beneath its hooves, lifting the pig into the sky.

The Precious Pig’s ascent immediately seized everyone’s attention, filling the Eastern experts with elation.

The Western Divine Hall had the Saint Beast War Eagle, but they, too, possessed the renowned Northwest Precious Pig.

Seeing a pig wobble its way into the air, the Saint Beast War Eagle clearly did not take it seriously. Indeed, given the pig’s current appearance and its seemingly moderate aura, it was understandable that the eagle could not equate it with a figure like the Holy Dragon.

However, the War Eagle soon regretted underestimating the small creature it had so readily dismissed.

The Precious Pig suddenly opened its mouth, and a beam of white light shot out, transforming mid-air into a colossal Nine-Pronged Rake.

Upon witnessing this, the Saint Beast War Eagle clearly sensed extreme danger. It instantly discarded its arrogance, spreading its wings wide, preparing to ascend higher into the heavens.

Yet, the fire dragons emanating from the Nine-Pronged Rake seemed to move as if pre-arranged, rapidly spreading across the sky at impossible speeds.

Once the nine fire dragons struck, they instantly entangled the Saint Beast War Eagle attempting to soar away. When the Precious Pig first utilized the Nine-Pronged Rake in battle, it had successfully contained two Five-Qi Grand Venerables from the West. Now, the Pig's strength had advanced significantly, so its full release caught the powerful avian behemoth completely off guard.

But this bird was worthy of being a Saint Beast nurtured by the Divine Hall. Not only was its innate talent formidable, but it also understood the art of adaptability and calculated retreat.

It tucked its wings slightly, and a peculiar collar around its neck suddenly pulsed with a brilliant white radiance. Under this light, the scattered flames in the sky found themselves utterly unable to penetrate its defense.

"A Divine Artifact..." Jin Zhanyi’s eyes brightened. "This War Eagle must be the Guardian Saint Beast of the Western Divine Hall."

He Yiming finally understood that the collar on the War Eagle was a Divine Artifact on par with his own shield—and by the artifact’s manifestation, it appeared to be a rare defensive Divine Artifact saturated with the power of Light. Although the War Eagle lacked the sentience to transform divine weapons into light itself, wearing this artifact allowed it to effortlessly invoke its power for self-protection.

Shielded by the white light of the Divine Artifact, the nine fire dragons, powerful as they were, could not pierce the robust luminous barrier.

The Precious Pig’s little snout seemed to twitch in annoyance. Its body, suspended in the air, suddenly moved. It sprinted across the void on all fours, heading directly toward the War Eagle.

The disparity in their sizes was immense; compared to the fully spread wings of the Saint Beast War Eagle, the Precious Pig was truly an insignificant speck.

Yet, for some reason, in the eyes of the observers, the Precious Pig appeared to have grown considerably larger. The small figure darting through the air accelerated rapidly, and the sheer presence radiating from it began to press down upon its massive opponent.

The Saint Beast War Eagle let out a shriek of intense rage, but then something even more astonishing occurred.

Just as everyone expected the enraged Saint Beast to engage the Pig in a desperate, fatal battle, its wings convulsed violently. It executed a sharp turn in mid-air, refusing to meet the Pig head-on. Instead, it swiftly swooped past the creature, gliding away.

Then, the War Eagle opened its beak, launching streams of white light toward the Precious Pig. At this moment, the colossal War Eagle maximized the advantage of its wings, maneuvering like a nimble sparrow. It zipped around the Pig, constantly attacking from a safe distance utilizing its superior speed.

Facing the Pig, whose physical mass was far smaller, the massive War Eagle dared not engage in direct confrontation.

The crowd below exchanged glances, astonishment etched on their faces.

This War Eagle truly lived up to its reputation. It had clearly perceived the immense power contained within the Pig’s small frame, thus avoiding direct engagement. If this stalemate continued, the Pig might not secure victory either.

He Yiming frowned, glancing toward another section of the island. For some reason, ever since the War Eagle’s appearance, his sense of unease had only deepened.

But as Jin Zhanyi and the others had stated, facing a contest that had persisted for millennia, retreat was no longer an option. The consequence of failing to fight—of simply turning back—would mean an inability to hold their heads high for the rest of their lives. For these newly ascended Venerables, bearing the reputation of the entire Eastern Continent, accepting such a dishonorable outcome was impossible.

An inexplicable wave of irritation surged through He Yiming. He roared, "Precious Pig, stop playing around!"

The hearts of the onlookers constricted. The Precious Pig was already displaying magnificent power; even the Western Divine Hall’s Guardian Saint Beast dared not clash with it head-on. Yet, judging by He Yiming’s tone, the Pig was merely toying with its opponent...

The little Precious Pig snorted a few times. It drew a deep breath, then adjusted its trajectory, aiming directly at the War Eagle circling to its side. Then, it opened its small mouth and unleashed a sound that was absolutely earth-shattering.

A visible sound wave erupted from its mouth, spreading outward in a fan shape, much like ripples on water.

This was the power of sound—a force capable of shattering everything when pushed to its absolute limit. The roar of the Divine Dragon could cleave mountains and churn seas; the roar of the Precious Pig could shake all beasts under heaven...

Ps: Five chapters today. Requesting monthly votes, thank you!