"Chirp..." The Birdman merged back into the Sui Ren (Shattered Blade) as one, furiously beating his wings to scatter countless feathers around him, while he himself grinned and closed in on Ping Yunji. Ping Yunji was momentarily caught off guard; she hadn't expected the Birdman's speed to have increased so inexplicably.

In a flash of lightning and flint, the Birdman charged at Ping Yunji head-on. At that moment, his head seemed to momentarily fuse with the eagle's head of the Sui Ren, creating an illusory blend. The eagle's beak stabbed downward; he intended to take her life with this maneuver. Unexpectedly, Ping Yunji also began to spin her body at high velocity. All the bats hidden beneath her skirt surged out, forming a violent vortex before her.

The Birdman's eyes blurred instantly, and his arms were scored with multiple bloody gashes from the vortex. However, the feathers he had scattered earlier instantly transformed into sharp daggers, which recklessly bombarded the whirlwind.

"Clang, clang, clang, clang." The feather-blades sparked as they struck the bats surrounding Ping Yunji. Just as the Birdman was about to forcefully pierce Ping Yunji’s body with the eagle beak, another swarm of bats rushed forward, shielding her once more with their bodies.

"Ugh..." A small, shallow bloody trace was cut into Ping Yunji's abdomen by the Sui Ren. Every bat on that line of blood was utterly annihilated. Ping Yunji's eyes widened. She unleashed a close-range Thunderlight Blade strike that sent the Birdman flying back, while she herself flapped her arms and retreated backward.

The Birdman’s arms were already covered in scars. Knocked off balance by Ping Yunji’s close-quarters blow, the remaining bats screamed as if avenging their comrades, rushing toward him. Hovering in the sky, the Birdman attempted to form a shield with his wings to resist, but with a mere flick of one hand, he felt all strength abandon him. He could only allow the beasts to sweep past his body, slamming him once more against the mountain wall.

"You killed my darlings, you will pay the price!" Ping Yunji stabilized her posture, enraged and humiliated. "Today, I will ensure you leave no remains! Myriad Thunders of the Netherworld!"

The Birdman braced himself. At this moment, Ping Yunji's body was enveloped by descending lightning bolts, each one crackling with "chirp, chirp" sparks. Ping Yunji dropped one hand, and that row of lightning roared toward the Birdman.

The Birdman's Heavenly Eye flashed, allowing him to clearly see the attack pattern of the lightning row. However, Ping Yunji’s cultivation was too high; he feared his feathers alone would be insufficient to stop the onslaught. In this critical moment, he was forced to reveal the feathers connected by iron chains within his body once more.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh..." Those tiny feathers pierced out of the Birdman's body, attempting to penetrate the narrow gaps between the row of lightning bolts to strike Ping Yunji. But the lightning possessed magnetic properties, and his metal-plated feathers could not pass through the electric discharge. The lightning was already upon him. The Birdman felt a shock spread across his entire body, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.

"Hahahaha, hahahaha!" Seeing the Birdman struggling fruitlessly, Ping Yunji amplified her attack. Another wave of thunder descended from above, determined to claim the Birdman's life.

Faced with ten thousand bolts of lightning, even the light from his Heavenly Eye was suppressed. He never expected to be defeated by one of the Five Marquises of the Netherworld—and to lose his life because of it. Just then, an eagle's cry suddenly pierced the air. Amidst that long call, the Sui Ren, the Birdman's spirit beast, flew out on its own. Its form grew immense, and after successfully traversing the myriad bolts of thunder, its entire silhouette began to emit wisps of ghostly blue light. Now, it was like an arrow loosed from a bowstring, charging forward, aiming to take Ping Yunji’s head in the blink of an eye.

"This..." The Birdman watched Sui Ren in awe. This spirit beast, which had cultivated alongside him since childhood, possessed such formidable power. Just as his own life was about to end, his spirit beast stepped forward to display its might.

"This is not just an eagle!" Ping Yunji hovered in the air, stunned. Only she knew what had just occurred. The moment the Sui Ren Spirit Eagle approached her, it transformed into a Vermilion Bird (Fire Phoenix). She had hidden herself among the mountains, keeping the Phantom Bats as companions, never knowing such a divine beast existed in the mortal realm. All the bats surrounding her instantly turned to ash. She felt a sudden lack of power and slowly began to descend.

"Caw... caw..." The Sui Ren Spirit Eagle flew back obediently before the Birdman. Its gaze was resolute, and its cries seemed to convey, "We won! I will protect you."

The Birdman stretched out a hand to stroke Sui Ren's feathers. Covered in wounds, even his smile was tinged with pain. "What just happened? You have saved me more than once now."

The Spirit Eagle circled proudly by the Birdman’s side. As Ping Yunji’s magical power dissipated, the surrounding environment reverted to its original state: a dark, pitch-black mountain cave, the breeding ground of the Phantom Bats.

"Yaaaah!" At this moment, Ping Yunji let out a heart-wrenching scream. Her body dissolved into a mass of dense blackness during its fall. A dazzling radiance emerged from that darkness, and a black five-pointed star ascended into the sky—this was the Ksitigarbha Sarira that sealed Ping Yunji, the Marquis of the Western Underworld Peak.

"Hoo..." The Birdman closed his eyes and slowly drifted to the ground. He could no longer stand and knelt down. His gaze was heavy as he looked at the Spirit Eagle before him, questioning, "What secrets does the Sun-Blind Clan's Spirit Eagle hold? Can you tell me? If only you could speak."

The Spirit Eagle turned slightly with an innocent expression, using its wing to gently touch the Birdman's wounds. Its gaze was benevolent, completely lacking the sharpness it displayed moments before.

"Heh. I recall rescuing you from a flock of vicious vultures back then. You accompanied me as I cultivated and grew, yet I never knew just how strong you truly were, or perhaps, what your original form looked like," the Birdman murmured, feeling a touch of self-reproach. He had indeed heard tales that some Sun-Blind Clan experts possessed spirit beasts transformed from ancient divine beasts, but he had never witnessed Sui Ren’s true power. It could instantly slay one of the Five Marquises of the Netherworld, yet he couldn't discern the cultivation it used. It remained a complete mystery.

"Hey, Birdman, you're not dead yet?" Just then, Old Liu appeared at the cave entrance with Ming Luosheng. His injuries hadn't fully healed, but that couldn't conceal his demeanor. "Looks like you finished the fight."

Ming Luosheng pointed to the black five-pointed star suspended above. "Marquis of the Western Underworld Peak, Ping Yunji. A pity I couldn't see your final moments. The strength of your friend here speaks volumes."

The Birdman looked somewhat dejected. He turned back to Old Liu. "Looks like you completed your mission too. Who is this person?"

"Ming Luosheng, the Blood Master of the Netherworld!" Old Liu introduced him with a touch of pride. "In fact, he also holds the title of the First Ancestor of my Ancient Strange Blood Path."

The Birdman nodded, dismissing the details. He dragged his weary body toward the depths of the cavern. "Ye Xiu and Chang Kong need our help; we must hurry."

"Agreed. Let's go," Old Liu followed, hobbling along.

"Among the Five Netherworld Marquises, the Eastern Marquis of Fire, Guan Siyan, and the Southern Marquis of Water, Xian Tianhe, possess the strength to contend with the Four Masters. Especially the Marquis of the Four Realms, Wu Leijun, whose strength even surpasses that of the Four Masters!" Ming Luosheng said gravely, showing deep concern for the remaining three individuals.