Suspicions

Chen Jun Tian's heart was extremely restless as he dashed through the vast forest alongside his other two teammates so he took out a small trinket out of his space ring and immediately tapped on the red gem encrusted into the metal object. Soon, a short beeping sound could be heard, indicating that the tracking device was functional and activated. His Chen family might not be able to afford weather control artefacts but they could still get their hands on simple devices such as this one. Jun Tian knew that the enemy whom they will have to face is undoubtedly stronger than them so he deliberately sent his location to his friend, young master Hu who will call the Elders for help.

Jun Tian carefully analysed his surroundings as he went deeper into the forest. The green trees quickly turned into dead chunk of woods as the three young men ran and an eerie white mist soon blanketed their views. Ao Xia Ming gestured for everyone to stop since they could not see much in front of them except for the tall decaying trees looming above their heads.

The small blue bird Xiao Lan who was flying a few moments ago was now perching on Fei Qing Niao's shoulders, whispering inaudible words to its master whose face became paler by the seconds as he subconsciously tightened his grip on his golden whip. He has regarded Bai Ye Hua as a friend even though he had just met her a day prior so he was willing to help her when he heard that she was attacked by a high ranked demonic beast. At first, he thought that it was just some lowly ghouls so he did not think much when running all the way from the campsite to this deserted place but he did not expect that his familiar was actually telling him the truth!

Qing Niao knew that Xiao Lan is mischievous and likes to joke with him but now that it was actually serious, this young master really felt as if he was cheated into something way out of his league. What fighting against a high ranked demonic beast? He only knows how to make potions and pills! Moreover, this beast is actually a Qiongqi? Oh dear, Qing Niao suddenly felt that death is rapidly approaching him!

"Lin Han Xin!" Xia Ming called out when he noticed a tall figure appearing by his sides but Qing Niao immediately covered the former's mouth. This robust man must only have muscles but no brain! His scream could have exposed their presence to the creature!

"Keep your mouth shut." The newcomer relayed a telepathic message to the group. "And don't let your guards down."

Young master Lin was still cursing at himself for being an idiot a while ago but then he received a coded message from her through his familiar, which made him feel even more stupid for doing something so rash and unknowingly endangered her. Therefore, he immediately sets out for her without a second thought despite the protest of the little green snake hiding inside of his sleeves.

As the four of them cautiously stood on their guards, Jun Tian was still wondering who could have resurrected this creature which turned out to be a Qiongqi according to Qing Niao's familiar. Demonic beasts were thoroughly eradicated alongside their masters decades ago so how could one of them suddenly appeared out of nowhere? The crooked path of demonic cultivation was long abolished so how could someone be able to summon these vile creatures back? There was only one explanation for this eventful situation... The dark arts which everyone thought was long extinguished was never fully destroyed in the first place! One of the great clans must have secretly kept a copy of those ancient textbooks for evil purposes or maybe there was a survivor from the extermination of the demon clan!

Jun Tian felt his head ached terribly as he thought about it but he was not the only one who thought of such thing. The rest of his crew were also speculating their own suspicions yet no one was sure what is actually going on behind the scenes. Their main focus was still on the malevolent creature which was probably hiding inside of the thick mist, waiting for its chance to sink its razorblades claws on their vulnerable human flesh.

"We should disperse." Han Xin claimed monotonously as his electric blue eyes scanned through the area for any strange movements. "It will be attracted to the most righteous person here so try to distract him as much as possible."

"Righteous?" Qing Niao trembled in fear. "It's definitely not me!"

"How can the rest kill it?" Xia Ming looked at young master Lin confusingly. "We don't know much about this thing!"

"We can only banish it to the unknown realm." Han Xin spoke calmly even though he was not so sure himself. "These creatures are usually summoned by dark magic users with a spell to consume and kill off their enemies so we can try to cast a spell to send it back to its original dwelling."

"I can try to cast it!" Jun Tian volunteered. He was trained in spells and curses since young age so naturally, his father thought him of such spell but he would need to draw a special array and the creature needed to step into it. He can do it but only if he was not the one being targeted by the beast.

"It's all settled then." Xia Ming nodded as he transformed his golden handcuffs into a pair of giant blades.

"Qing Niao, take out the weather control artefact." Jun Tian exchanged a few glances at the youth whose cheerful face has now lost all its colours.

Young master Fei nodded and hurriedly took out the metal box from his space ring, passing it to his good friend. Jun Tian carefully held the artefact as he took in a deep breath then proceeded to chant a strange spell which made the mist around them progressively dispersing into nothingness and there, the four men could clearly see a large beast resembling an ox with hedgehog's spikes as fur, sickle-like nails and a pair of wings sprouting from its back, staring at them with its crimson eyes full of malicious threats.

"Oh boy..." Qing Niao felt his blood draining at the sight of such a disgusting thing. He has seen drawings of this demonic beast inside of a mythical creatures' encyclopaedia but seeing a living one with his own eyes was surely something else. He couldn't help but want to curse at the person who summoned this thing along with that person's entire family of nine generations.