The Birdman soared through endless mountains, the towering peaks rising endlessly around him. His plumage was rich, and he darted back and forth without the slightest hint of fatigue; yet, he had crisscrossed these cloud-scraping summits countless times without sighting the West Nether Marquis, Ping Yunjī.

Suddenly, a surge of mist rushed up from beneath the peaks, and the Birdman began to sense that something was deeply wrong. His Heavenly Eye snapped open, bathing the land in golden light. To his shock, the very mountains beneath him began to grow wildly, like colossal tree trunks, piercing through the clouds with unstoppable momentum.

Strange? Mountains should convey majesty, but why did the roots of this range feel so cramped and carry a scent of blood and gore? The Birdman’s Heavenly Eye had its limits and could only perceive this much. He felt trapped within a labyrinth constructed of innumerable peaks, unable to fly free.

"Thump... thump..." A massive sound suddenly resonated through the sky. The mountains had grown so high that they were pressing against the uppermost cloud layer. How could this be? Had they somehow anchored the sky itself, or perhaps, he wasn't even airborne? The Birdman instantly flared his wings, the feathers, sharp as flashing blades, pulling taut in different directions, as if scrutinizing every detail of his surroundings.

"Whoosh..." At that instant, a streak of black-red light shot up from below. A creature shrieked grotesquely and slammed directly into the Birdman's wing. The Birdman sought to seize the opportunity to grab it, but the thing was incredibly agile, vanishing instantly in the wrong direction.

The Birdman's Heavenly Eye tracked the incoming trajectory. Upon closer inspection, the creature had small wings and a rat-like body—what else could it be but a bat? However, the altitude he maintained was far beyond the reach of any common bat. Could this be a divine pet raised by the West Nether Marquis, rather than an ordinary bat?

"Squeak... squeak..." At that moment, sounds resembling the squeaks of rats echoed from the hidden recesses of the mountainside. Moments later, a dense, inky swarm of bats fluttered their wings, all rushing upward towards the sky.

"Feather Blade!" The Birdman watched the approaching bats coldly. They all had bloodshot eyes and gaping maws, their razor-sharp teeth fully exposed. This species was what people commonly called vampire bats. But how could bats fly as high as a goshawk? He hastily unleashed the power of his millennia-old feathers, forming sharp blades to strike the swarm. Yet, the bats were maddeningly versatile; no matter how fast the blades moved, they managed to evade every single one, sustaining no injury.

"Hahaha, I apologize for startling you, noble sir." As she spoke, a woman materialized from the mountain peaks. She spread her hands, summoning a cluster of bats that followed her, settling beneath her, elegantly supporting her graceful form as she ascended slowly into the high atmosphere.

The Birdman finally noticed the woman’s rather fashionable attire. Her dark gown was as striking as a contemporary evening dress, and the neckline dipped slightly, revealing a bosom of surging beauty—a sight that would surely draw blood from Old Liu's nose. He steadied himself and asked quietly, "Are you the West Nether Marquis, Ping Yunjī?"

The woman smiled, her deep crimson lips parting slightly. Her voice was piercing, like the cry of a bat: "Ping Yunjī of the Five Netherland Marquises greets you, Elder Brother Eagle. What is it? Do you wish to fly together in blissful union, or would you prefer to perish by my hand?"

"The West Nether Marquis, Ping Yunjī. Traversing the mountain ranges, I didn't expect to find a woman consorting with grotesque bats. Though the name certainly has a delicate ring to it." The Birdman held his wings defensively before him and hissed, "I am merely curious about those vampire bats accompanying you—by what right can they fly to such an altitude?"

Ping Yunjī gently extended a hand into the air, and a group of bats flowed along her body, wrapping from her feet to her waist before flying back to rest in her palm. "Who told you they were bats? These are the Phantom Spirits, spiritual beasts I have meticulously cultivated. They merely resemble those common bats; their abilities far surpass those of ordinary bloodsuckers."

"Hmph!" The Birdman smiled confidently, casually flexing his wings. "Since you are so forthright, then Ping Yunjī, make your move. Do not waste my time."

"As you wish." Ping Yunjī half-closed her eyes and delicately twitched her fingers. All the bats she called Phantoms, which were draped over her body, scattered instantly, startling every bird and creature in the surrounding forest into fleeing. The swarm of bats flew out, converged in the air once more, and with a single, shrill cry, they cascaded down like a waterfall, assaulting the Birdman.

This was the Birdman’s first confrontation with animalistic foes, so he dared not be careless. He maneuvered in the air, his entire body of feathers dispersing into the atmosphere. These feathers sliced back and forth at high velocity, instantly forming an impenetrable wall of bronze and iron. He assumed this would repel the bat swarm’s attack, but those beasts proved truly nimble; as soon as the barrier solidified, they dispersed at high speed, regrouping on the Birdman's other side before diving again. Left with no choice, the Birdman spun his body, causing his surrounding feathers to rotate rapidly, emitting sword-qi power to form yet another protective barrier—which the bat swarm once again effortlessly evaded.

The Birdman remained composed. It was clear that creatures like bats relied on echolocation to navigate; ordinary killing moves would never harm them. Furthermore, these beings called Phantoms, living in constant proximity to Ping Yunjī, must have absorbed a degree of mystical cultivation through subtle influence. This made them nine times harder to deal with.

"It seems, Elder Brother Eagle, you cannot harm them," Ping Yunjī said, covering her mouth with one hand as she chuckled sharply. "Then it is time for me to enter the fray."

Without waiting for her to finish speaking, the Birdman ripped two feathers from his own arm. The feathers were incredibly tough, and he grasped them in both hands, forming two razor-sharp daggers. He used the daggers to parry the bat attacks, sweeping them around his back. At that precise moment, his entire body shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, slamming toward Ping Yunjī. Aiming for her abdomen, he unleashed a flurry of feather-spikes, intending a preemptive strike. Unexpectedly, a new swarm of bats appeared from nowhere, instantly crawling all over Ping Yunjī’s body. With two sharp "Chirp! Chirp!" sounds, the swarm took the Birdman’s blow for Ping Yunjī, falling to the ground.

"What?" The Birdman managed only a sound of alarm before looking up to see Ping Yunjī looking down at him, a sinister smile curving her lips.

"Hiss..." Before the Birdman could react, Ping Yunjī’s claw-like arm stabbed deep into his abdomen. His wings had failed to form a shield in time, and a gush of thick, hot blood immediately sprayed forth.

"Ah." The Birdman knew things had taken a bad turn, but he had prepared for contingencies. With one hand, he used his dagger to pin down Ping Yunjī’s arm, and with the other, he thrust the dagger before her. At that moment, the feathers on his hand rose spontaneously, spinning violently, directly severing Ping Yunjī's arm.