Chapter 0463: The Golden Roc’s Offspring

"If we're going to head out, there's no need to rush," Xue Jin said. "According to the Winged Men, all surrounding alien races are being summoned. All the major factions will surely send their elites, but they may not have teleportation arrays like ours. Their arrival will take time. We still have time to fully prepare. Let's make sure our expeditionary force is armed to the teeth and well supplied."

"Armies move on their stomachs." The old saying still held true.

"Count me in," said Fu Hongxue, who had been silent in the hall until now. He stood there like a statue, holding his warblade. "My path of the blade has reached a bottleneck. I need to break through it in battle."

Clearly, this matter had piqued his interest.

For a cultivator—especially one like Fu Hongxue who walked the solitary Path of the Blade—battle was nourishment, a shortcut to growth. And with the possibility of facing off against multiple foreign races, this was a rare opportunity. To miss it would be a shame.

Yi Tianxing glanced at Fu Hongxue and nodded to himself. Fu's cultivation had already reached astonishing heights—at least the Eighth or Ninth Realm of the Divine Sea Stage. With his mastery of the blade, few in the Life Aperture Realm could rival him. There were even rumors that a month ago, during a thunderstorm near Xuanhuang City, Fu Hongxue had been traveling outside...

"Very well," Yi Tianxing nodded. "You're in."

"Count me in too. I've been idle too long. My Qimen Dunjia has made some breakthroughs—this is the perfect time to test it against the bugs." Ye Zhiqiu didn't hesitate to volunteer. "Besides, it wouldn't be as lively without me."

"I want to go too! This emperor must spread the prestige of my Dog Clan among the alien races!"

At that moment, a flash of green light shot through the air. The Green Emperor had appeared in the hall, shouting boldly. Its belly was now covered in sprouting green fur, clearly the result of drinking beast soul liquid from the Five-Colored Beast Soul Pool to strengthen its bloodline. It believed that with time and persistence, it would transform into a dashing, irresistible, green-furred dog, a breed unto itself.

"You'd better stay home and guard the city," Yi Tianxing sighed with a headache. Bringing Green Emperor along would be asking for trouble. Memories of it biting everyone at the martial arts tournament still gave him shivers.

"If you don't let me go, I'll stay in the city and sing every day. I need to vent my melancholy! Only singing can soothe my sorrow!"

Green Emperor tossed its head dramatically and walked toward the hall doors.

Singing?

Everyone in the hall—including Fu Hongxue—went pale.

"Wait!!" Huang Chengyan quickly called out. "My lord, I believe bringing Green Emperor may not be such a bad idea. It could serve as a powerful psychological deterrent. The enemy doesn't know what it's capable of—it might catch them off guard."

"I agree," said Jia Xu seriously. "Unexpected outcomes are possible."

"I second that!"

Wu Yong, Zhang Yue, and others immediately voiced their agreement, though their expressions were... peculiar.

"Fine. You're coming too, Green Emperor."

Yi Tianxing nodded, though inwardly suspicious. Something must have happened while I was in seclusion. Singing? With that broken gong of a voice, it's more terrifying than any divine power. Could it have really done that in the city?

Looking around, everyone had expressions of fear and trauma. He suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. Green Emperor's mouth was bad enough—now singing?

"Wonderful! My lord, I'm so happy I could sing! Let your loyal and brave Green Emperor perform a ballad for you!"

The dog's eyes lit up with joy.

"No! Don't let it sing, my lord—stop it at once!!"

Everyone in the hall turned pale and cried out in unison.

"Green Emperor, shut up! If you sing, you're staying behind!"

Yi Tianxing acted immediately. The golden collar on the dog's neck lit up with mysterious runes. It tightened around Green Emperor's throat, cutting off its song right at the source.

No hesitation. No mercy. This menace would not be allowed to sing.

"Barbaric! Savage!" Green Emperor choked out. "Fine! I'm going to find my Flower Girl. I'll never let that pervert Liu take her from me!"

With a screech, it dashed out of the hall.

"Alright then. Da Hu, Yan Ping—go make preparations. The rest of you, get the logistics in order. Guard Xuanhuang City while we're away. We set out soon."

Yi Tianxing ignored the dog's drama and issued orders.

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone exhaled deeply once Green Emperor was gone, visibly relieved. That was close—far too close. They'd nearly been subjected to its demonic voice.

A high-pitched cry echoed from above.

"It's the Golden Roc," Yi Tianxing said, smiling.

He stepped out of the hall and looked up. In the sky, a golden figure soared majestically, radiating a kingly aura.

The Golden Roc had grown larger—it clearly hadn't been idle during Yi's seclusion. With its high-tier bloodline, Tier 2 was never going to be its limit. As long as it had enough resources, it would keep growing.

It spotted Yi Tianxing and let out an excited screech.

Yi Tianxing smiled and soared up, landing on its back. The Roc turned and shot toward the horizon—its destination was the peak it shared with the Wind God Winged Dragon King.

It arrived in moments.

The peak had a wide, flat platform, as if it had been sheared by a blade. Nearby was a massive cave—their nest.

What surprised Yi Tianxing was what stood on the platform.

A group of strange birds.

They had golden downy feathers, but their wings were covered in golden scales instead of feathers. Their forms strongly resembled the Golden Roc's, but those scales shimmered in the sun, giving off dazzling light.

Though still young, they exuded a noble aura—the inheritance of supreme bloodlines.

"These are your children with the Wind God Winged Dragon?" Yi Tianxing asked.

He was genuinely pleased. These little ones had inherited the best of both lineages. Their potential was immeasurable. A new species might have just been born—such things often came about by accident.

"They were born a month ago," the Roc sent via spiritual message. "But they were too weak then. I couldn't leave them. I didn't get the chance to greet you after you emerged from seclusion."

"Children come first," Yi Tianxing said. "By the way, how's the soldier I stationed here? Once these little ones mature, I want to train them into an airborne cavalry—a force that rules the skies."

He looked at the chicks with satisfaction. They had a regal bearing, destined to be skyborn rulers. With their natural offensive and defensive strength, they would be a key to victory on the battlefield—a true secret weapon.

From the start, he had envisioned this plan.

He'd dispatched soldiers here not only to protect the nest, but to build bonds with the young beasts from birth, allowing them to one day form powerful, synchronized teams.

"I'll need more time. When they're older, I'll let those soldiers interact with them more. If any form a bond, we can begin training together."

The Roc responded calmly.

Its children would not partner with the mediocre.