Chapter 76: The Golden Demon Bird That Eats Human Brains

Du Weilun stood in the center of the clearing, eyes narrowed. Around him, the corpses of several evil soul masters were scattered, faces twisted in agony. Each one had a small hole in the forehead—clean, surgical.

Their brains were gone.

He crouched to inspect one. "Clean puncture. No struggle. No blood trail... it killed them instantly."

He straightened, scanning the trees.

"Could it be... the Golden Demon Bird?"

He didn't speak further. The thought alone made him uneasy. He spread his wings and turned back.

"We regroup."

He'd return later to deal with the bodies—after the students were safe.

But as he moved, golden light flickered above.

Something was watching.

---

The team was just finishing a short rest when Huo Yuhao suddenly stiffened.

"Director Du, behind you!"

A flash of gold streaked through the forest, silent and lethal.

Du Weilun barely had time to turn as a sharp beak came flying for the back of his head. He flared his Red Feather Golden Eagle wings, dodging just enough to avoid a fatal blow.

The attack still grazed him—blood splashed from his wrist.

The golden figure circled back mid-air.

"What the hell—" Zhao Gang braced to strike.

But Chen Junting was already moving.

His Seven Killing Sword clashed with the golden beak, sparks flying. The soul beast shrieked, recoiling.

Huo Yuhao's voice was tight. "It's the Golden Demon Bird. It must've killed those soul masters."

"Fast little bastard," muttered Du Weilun, clutching his arm.

Zhao Gang stepped forward. "Gravity Compression!"

A wave of pressure crashed down. The bird screeched, its speed cut in half.

Du Weilun struck next, a palm flashing with soul power—boom! The bird slammed into the ground, dazed.

"It's down," Chen Junting said. "Let's not waste this."

---

Minutes later, the unconscious bird was bound under Zhao Gang's soul skill. Chen Junting sat down before it, sword on his lap.

The ten-thousand-year soul ring hovered overhead, dark and pulsing.

"I'll begin the absorption," he said quietly.

"Be careful," Du Weilun warned. "Soul shock at ten thousand years is no joke."

Chen Junting nodded, exhaled, and closed his eyes. The soul ring dropped.

A wave of power slammed into him. His muscles clenched. Resentful energy surged toward his mind, trying to drown him in fear and pain.

But his spiritual power locked it in place, breaking it down.

The Seven Killing Sword pulsed. A black star etched itself on the blade.

Minutes passed.

Then half an hour.

Finally, the soul ring merged fully.

Chen Junting opened his eyes. Four rings floated around him—yellow, purple, purple, black.

Level 42. Soul Ancestor.

He stood slowly, brushing sweat from his brow.

"It's done."

---

Beibei let out a low whistle. "You just took down a golden demon bird and hit Soul Ancestor in one day. Not bad."

Zhao Gang glanced at the unconscious bird, still under pressure.

"Strange though," he muttered. "For a speed-type, that thing was strong."

Du Weilun nodded. "It probably hunted the evil soul masters after they attacked it. Picked them off mid-air, one by one. There were no tracks. It flew the whole time."

Chen Junting looked at the ground. "Sixty, seventy percent chance it was the killer."

Everyone fell silent.

Then Wu Feng stepped forward. "What now?"

Chen Junting sheathed his sword. "Now we help the others get their soul rings."

Du Weilun turned toward the deeper forest.

"Let's move. We still have the dark gold terror claw bear, and that psychedelic butterfly Yuhao wanted."

The team gathered their gear.

Above them, the forest watched in silence.

---

(End of Chapter 77)

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the chapter keep getting worse,it become more messy so I have to sort it out a bit