Chapter 258
Soon, the Eagle-men grew restless, erupting into cheers that crashed like ocean waves. They began to gather in organized ranks, retreating toward the depths of the island. Some monsters attempted to pursue them, but Ouyang Yining and the Black Army quickly cut them off. Ouyang Yining was a Blood Ancestor—a realm that could not withstand a single exchange with Lin Hui, yet against these monsters, her power was overwhelming.
Lin Hui waited until most of the Eagle-men had evacuated. Only then did he grip the Ruyi sword, draw it gently, and prepare to make his move.
Suddenly, from the thick Mist above Eagle-man Island, a massive bird's head the size of a Ferris wheel plunged through the cloud cover. It possessed dark red feathers and eyes like burning rubies. Opening its beak toward the island below, it unleashed a tremendous, ear-splitting screech.
"Not good—it's a Giant Phoenix!" Ouyang Yining's expression changed drastically as she looked up at the enormous creature.
A Giant Phoenix? During this period, Lin Hui had made a thorough study of the monsters surrounding Black Cloud City. He had a keen grasp of the powerful entities that had survived the sweeping purges of the Mistborn and the Mist God pantheons. The Giant Phoenix was one of them.
This enormous avian monster, resembling a phoenix, bore eternally inextinguishable flames. Its terrifying vitality was comparable to an ordinary Mistborn; no known power could deal it a fatal blow. Once, after a Mistborn had ground it to death by sheer force, the Giant Phoenix instantly revived from its ashes. After it resurrected dozens of times in succession, no one attempted such futility again. Because of this regenerative ability, it had been named the Giant Phoenix. In reality, however, the beast was a man-eater—one especially fond of preying on stronger Called Ones.
Seeing a monster comparable to a top-tier Blood Ancestor suddenly appear, despair rippled through the Eagle-men.
At that moment, Lin Hui flew forward, leveling his Ruyi sword.
"Do not fear. So long as I am here, I will not allow it to harm you."