Chapter 63: Speaking with Human Words, the Golden-Winged Roc

A rough, thunderous voice resounded, thick with anger. Under the weight of its immense presence, the earth trembled and fierce winds swept across the land.

Lu Yuan, hearing the voice, turned his head. Not far away, a gigantic brown bear—standing dozens of meters tall—towered amidst the trees. Its eyes glowed a blood-red hue, fur bristling like steel needles, each strand standing on end. Simply by standing there, it exuded an overwhelming aura; its mountainous body made anyone who faced it feel minuscule.

This was a beast king of the Lock-Breaking Realm, and an extraordinary one at that—it could speak human language. Lu Yuan knew that any beast capable of human speech was either immensely powerful or possessed of a formidable bloodline. Such beings were destined for greatness, not only able to converse with humans, but capable of human-like thought.

Clearly, this beast king had been drawn here by the battle just now. Discovering the Tiger-Leopard King dead, and seeing Lu Yuan feasting on the flesh, it swiftly deduced the cause and effect. At this moment, its eyes burned with fury and killing intent, halos of energy emanating from its body—anything touched by them was instantly pulverized. This was a special ability unique to beast kings, much like the flames projected by the Tiger-Leopard King.

“You can speak human language?” Lu Yuan’s eyes lit up at the sight of this beast king. He had just been thinking about finding a guide to save time, and now one had appeared on its own. What good fortune.

The Brown Bear King, seeing no reaction from Lu Yuan, revealed a cruelly human expression tinged with arrogance. It was a beast king, after all, and had encountered humans before. Without exception, every one of them had quaked with fear, unable to speak, then had been slaughtered and eaten with ease. So in the bear’s eyes, Lu Yuan might be stronger than most, but so what? The Tiger-Leopard King had been its equal, and now was dead. The bear would make sure this human paid the price.

But soon, the Brown Bear King's eyes widened in shock—for in that instant, Lu Yuan took the initiative and attacked.

With a furious roar, the bear bellowed; as one of the top three beast kings in the region, it could not believe someone would dare stand unafraid before it. Such audacity was an unbearable humiliation. Without hesitation, it thrust forward both massive forepaws, layered with shimmering halos, and brought them down like mountains.

This strike contained all its strength. In terms of destructive power, it could topple a skyscraper in a human city. Yet it noticed that Lu Yuan showed not the slightest intention of retreating. Instead, he clenched his right fist and struck directly at the descending paw.

“Courting death,” the Brown Bear King thought, its gaze turning even more savage. Judging purely by strength, this puny human could not possibly withstand such force.

Yet in the very next moment, as their blows met, the bear’s expression changed. A surge of immense power flooded its paw—like striking an ancient, immovable mountain.

A thunderous boom exploded across the land. Grass and trees splintered in all directions, winds howled in a storm, and the ground split open, unable to bear the force—earth and stones flying skyward.

In the next instant, the bear’s towering body was hurled backward, crashing to the ground and triggering a small earthquake.

“Not bad,” Lu Yuan commented with a faint smile. “That’s enough strength to loosen up my muscles.”

He bent his knees and leapt high into the air—like a god descending from the heavens—and plummeted from above.

Not good! The Brown Bear King was terrified. It could sense the boundless power contained within the human’s body. If it were struck, shattered bones would be the least of its worries—its very life was in danger.

What kind of monster was this? This couldn’t possibly be a human!

The bear rolled desperately, putting a hundred meters between them.

With a crash, Lu Yuan landed like a meteor, the ground erupting and collapsing beneath the force. But he did not pause; he chased after the bear at lightning speed, appearing instantly overhead and raising a palm.

Bang!

The bear’s head reeled, dizziness overwhelming it as it crashed to the ground. It tried to rise, but could not—Lu Yuan stood on its chest, arms crossed, blood surging through his veins like tidal waves.

Behind him, an eleven-tiered blood-red pagoda materialized, towering and oppressive.

Crushed—utterly, without question.

“I’ll give you a chance to live, for now,” Lu Yuan said calmly. “I need to find a flying beast, fast—one at least as strong as you, if not stronger. I require a mount worthy of the task; anything less is useless.”

“Why should I obey a mere human?” the Brown Bear King roared, pounding the earth and making the forest quake. But no matter how it struggled, it could not rise, as though the entire Qinling Mountains weighed upon it.

“You have no choice,” Lu Yuan replied with a smile, pressing down with his foot.

A sickening crack sounded—the breaking of bone, dangerously close to the heart. Any lower, and the bear would die.

This creature had only broken through five gene locks—far beneath Lu Yuan’s own level. If he used all his power, he could even challenge those at the Golden Body Realm.

“I agree, I agree! Let’s talk this out!” The bear, feeling death near, surrendered immediately, its massive eyes brimming with terror. It could hardly believe the power possessed by this insignificant human. Its own bones, comparable to human alloys, had been crushed as if they were nothing. Terrifying.

“I do know of such a beast—a raptor, kin to me, with a powerful bloodline. Travel a thousand miles north and you’ll find it.”

The Brown Bear King spoke honestly, having completely forgotten its earlier desire for vengeance. Survival was all that mattered now.

“That’s a long way. For now, you’ll serve as my mount,” Lu Yuan mused aloud.

“I—a grand beast king—” Crack! Another bone shattered.

“I—a grand beast king—should serve as your mount, as I ought,” the bear quickly amended. Dissent was not an option.

Thus, Lu Yuan stood upon the beast king’s head as the Brown Bear King carried him northward. Its speed was impressive, yet steady—the bear was careful not to provoke Lu Yuan’s displeasure.

Indeed, the Brown Bear King was among the top three powers in this territory. Along their route, no other beast dared approach; all stepped aside to give way.

While Lu Yuan rode in search of a suitable mount, inside the Shenzhou Academy’s conference room, the projection was now introducing the ninth beast king. The data named it the Brown Bear King, renowned for its unmatched strength and body. In a brief span, it could destroy a skyscraper, making it unfit for direct confrontation and nearly impossible to kill. If it appeared, multiple missiles would be required to suppress it with overwhelming firepower.

Director Zheng and the others sat in silence, as they had before. The crisis facing Chang’an City this time might well be the greatest since the emergence of the mutant beasts.

“There is still a tenth beast king—a giant white python called the White King. There’s little information, only that it’s said to be the most powerful beast king of all in the region, and likely the organizer of this beast tide. The other nine kings are said to serve it,” summarized Commander Xu of the Defense Army. “The disaster we face may be unprecedented.”

“But we have no choice. The population inside Chang’an continues to grow. If the city falls, countless lives will be lost,” he continued. “No matter how difficult this trial, we must hold the city—even at the cost of our lives.”

The meaning was clear: Perhaps only five supercities would remain in all of China’s future. These were the last bastions for the people. Should they fail, the consequences would be catastrophic.

“We understand,” the others responded, rising solemnly. This beast tide would be a disaster for Chang’an, but there was no retreat. They had to hold out. Success would inspire hope, for many such calamities would come—the conflict between humans and beasts was natural and inevitable. Only a being of unimaginable power could change the course of fate alone. But such a human did not yet exist.

At last, under Commander Xu’s orders, all awakened individuals within the city were summoned, support was requested, missile launch bases were set up, and fortifications were built with all possible haste. There was still some time left—to make every preparation possible.

The meeting dispersed, and most began to act. Everyone knew that soon, a great battle would erupt.

Director Zheng, however, still stared at the screen, thinking of the vanished Tiger-Leopard King. “Commander Xu, I still don’t understand—how did the Tiger-Leopard King suddenly disappear? Could it be dead?”

“It’s a beast king. That’s extremely unlikely. Perhaps our instruments malfunctioned and failed to detect it,” Commander Xu replied. After all, how could a beast king simply die? He blamed the new, untested detection equipment.

“Perhaps,” Zheng said, disappointed. If the Tiger-Leopard King really was dead, it would be good news for them—but as the commander said, it seemed unlikely.

“There’s something else,” Commander Xu continued, his tone grave. “Not long ago, we detected a special life force in the Qinling Mountains. It’s not one of the ten kings, but it’s very strong. If it appears, things will be even more complicated.” He had not mentioned this at the meeting to avoid adding to their burden, but he could not keep it from Zheng.

“If necessary, we must deploy nuclear weapons,” Zheng replied earnestly. Ten beast kings were already terrifying—one more would be too much for Chang’an to bear, especially with a beast tide accompanying them.

“I agree. I’ve already notified the authorities,” Commander Xu sighed, then recalled something. “By the way, is Mr. Lu really gone? If not, he’d be a powerful ally.”

“He left two days ago. Besides, even if he hadn’t, one person’s strength alone can’t change the outcome,” Zheng replied, then suddenly remembered that Lu Yuan had left heading north. Was he going to the Qinling Mountains? Impossible—it was too dangerous, a forbidden zone for humanity.

Deep within the Qinling Mountains, the great brown bear thundered onward, four limbs pounding the earth and leaving deep prints wherever it passed. Towering ancient trees shattered before its unstoppable charge.

Atop its head stood Lu Yuan, calm and composed. Indeed, having a mount made all the difference. Though not as fast as sprinting at full strength himself, this was much more comfortable and required no effort. His desire for a flying mount only grew stronger.

“We’re almost there,” the Brown Bear King announced. “However, that raptor has a foul temper. I’d best not approach.”

Lu Yuan made no reply—clearly, he disagreed.

“Humiliation—unbearable humiliation!” the bear raged inwardly. “When we arrive, I’ll join forces with the Golden-winged Peng and crush you together. How dare a mere human make me his mount!” The bear’s heart seethed with murderous intent. Survival was one motive, but it also hoped to join with another beast king to slay Lu Yuan.

Humans were the mortal enemies of all beasts; whenever their paths crossed, violence was inevitable. This plan was sound—the human might be strong, but against both land and sky, he would surely fall.

With this in mind, the Brown Bear King pressed forward, soon reaching a barren, rocky mountain. Jagged stones and wild grass abounded, but there were no trees. In the distance, a massive boulder stood, atop which sat a nest nearly a hundred meters wide. Within, an ominous aura pulsed skyward—though its occupant remained unseen, its strength was undeniable.

Seeing this, Lu Yuan's eyes brightened.

“A Golden-winged Peng.”

Just then, the Brown Bear King roared, “Human, you dare trespass on our territory and would make the Peng your mount! Join me, Peng, and let’s kill him together!”

With that, the bear shook itself free, merging its paws and pouring all its strength into a single blow, which it swung at Lu Yuan’s crown.

But in the next instant, a sword’s clear note rang out. The Great Luo Sword Embryo appeared in Lu Yuan’s hand, and with a gentle swing at the bear’s neck—

A flash of sword light, imbued with the essence of heaven and earth, erupted. The Brown Bear King’s massive head soared into the air, blood gushing as its body convulsed and its life ebbed away. Thus perished a beast king, its eyes still wide with disbelief, unable to comprehend the chasm between them.

Lu Yuan did not even look back. He had long known the bear harbored treachery, and had been on guard. In the end, the bear had simply underestimated his strength. To him, these so-called kings fell with a single stroke.

He gazed at the vast nest before him, feeling the surging aura within.

“Who dares—to make me their mount!” A furious shout echoed out, and a golden raptor descended nearby—a Peng.

Its body was immense, eyes blazing gold, wings spanning dozens of meters. Each feather shone like a golden divine sword, radiant and dreamlike. The aura it exuded surpassed the bear’s by orders of magnitude—not just in strength, but in the sheer power of its bloodline.

Indeed, it was the bloodline—a force so vast and ancient that even Lu Yuan, for the first time, felt awe.

“Is this…the Golden-winged Roc of myth?” he murmured, astonished. He had only hoped to find a powerful raptor as a mount, one among the beast kings. He had never imagined he would encounter a true Golden-winged Roc. In legend, its might rivaled that of a true dragon.

Now, here in the Qinling Mountains—how could such a being exist? In his past life, he had never heard of such a thing.

A hundred thoughts raced through Lu Yuan’s mind, his eyes growing ever brighter. A Golden-winged Roc—such a bloodline, strong enough to grow alongside him, and possessing unparalleled speed. It was the perfect mount.

Brothers, please cast your votes. Tomorrow I’ll post more chapters!

(End of this chapter)