Chapter Twenty: The Divine Bird, Azure Luan

At that moment, a series of piercing cries suddenly rang out from the distance. The shrill, ear-splitting sound drew closer and closer until it reached Li Sibai. The ancient tree spirit frowned, hastily giving orders to the other tree spirits in a language Li Sibai could not understand, but soon enough, he realized what was happening.

"Something has happened to Caiyao! That divine bird, the Azure Luan, has come again to kill her!"

Li Sibai’s face darkened in distress. Why had the divine bird returned? Hadn’t it fallen off the cliff? Could it really have survived? But then, he reasoned, a divine bird would not be so easily killed—if it could die so simply, it would hardly deserve the name.

Steadying his emotions, Li Sibai turned to the ancient tree spirit and asked, "How can we help Caiyao?"

The old tree spirit looked at Li Sibai, nodded, and replied, "I will lure them here shortly, but I cannot confront the Azure Luan directly. Doing so would endanger my people. I can only aid you from the shadows—you must face him yourself. Do you dare bear this responsibility?"

Li Sibai nodded, his face composed and resolute. He declared loudly, "Caiyao is my sister and once saved my life. Even if it costs me everything today, I will rescue her!"

"Good. Prepare yourself here. I will bring them to you," the tree spirit said, and with that, closed his eyes. His features faded until he was indistinguishable from any ordinary great tree.

The sounds of pursuit drew ever closer, the Azure Luan’s shrill cries echoing through the forest, accompanied by flashes of white light. Li Sibai channeled his Xuantian energy, blending it with his innate true qi, and infused it into his Xuantian Sword, silently awaiting the divine bird’s arrival.

Just then, Caiyao appeared before Li Sibai. Spotting him at once, she saw the pitch-black sword in his hand. Apart from the golden radiance along its blade, there was nothing outwardly remarkable about it.

"Brother, run! The Azure Luan is incredibly powerful—you are no match for him!" Caiyao cried out desperately. She could not bear for her brother to risk his life for her. She had already resolved that if she could not escape today, she would face death alone, unwilling to implicate anyone else.

Li Sibai smiled at her. "Come stand behind me. Today, your brother will protect you! I won’t let him harm you again!"

With a swift movement, Li Sibai shielded Caiyao behind him, but before he could finish, the Azure Luan swooped down before them.

Seeing Li Sibai guarding Caiyao and noting the black sword in his hand, the Luan braked sharply, wanting to determine who this young man was.

"Who are you, and why do you protect her?" the Azure Luan asked, lifting its head with a look of utter disdain. Last time, although he had captured Li Sibai, events had unfolded so chaotically that he hadn’t gotten a good look at the boy’s face. Now, seeing him again, he failed to recognize him.

"You are the divine Azure Luan, I presume? I am Li Sibai, a disciple of the Xuantian Sword Sect on Jade Void Peak. This Rainbow Bird, Caiyao, is my sworn sister. May I ask why you pursue her so relentlessly? Perhaps I can help mediate between you."

Li Sibai had no wish to resort to violence. Although he had now reached the fifth level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm, he had little confidence in facing the Azure Luan directly. Even with the ancient tree spirit’s covert aid, he doubted his chances of victory. If mediation could resolve the conflict, so much the better; if not, then he would fight to the death before allowing harm to come to his sister.

"Hmph! A mere sword sect disciple dares question me?" The Azure Luan sneered in disdain as soon as it heard Li Sibai’s introduction. He looked down on the young man, paying no mind to the strange black sword in Li Sibai’s hand.

Li Sibai took no offense—he had neither the standing nor the desire for indignation. All he wished was to resolve the matter.

Li Sibai tried once more to reason with the Azure Luan, but before he could speak, the divine bird’s patience snapped. The Azure Luan had no intention of talking—he wanted to end things quickly and eliminate Caiyao, ensuring she would never return to the Jade Pool. If she escaped and told the others what had happened, how would the other spirit beasts—who respected him—view him then? The very thought left the Azure Luan uneasy. Without further hesitation, he launched his attack on Li Sibai.

The bird turned slightly, elegantly sweeping its azure wings, and a bolt of lightning shot forth, streaking straight toward Li Sibai.

Li Sibai dared not be careless. He raised the Xuantian Sword before his chest, reciting the sword art’s incantation as he channeled his qi into the blade. Sensing its master’s intent, the sword flared with golden light, then a sudden surge of crimson. Meeting the incoming lightning head-on, it unleashed a golden beam. With a thunderous “bang!” the two forces collided in midair and vanished without a trace.

The Azure Luan was stunned. He hadn’t expected this boy of only eleven or twelve to withstand such an attack. Even though he hadn’t used his full strength, the blow carried eighty percent of his power—yet the boy had dispelled it with ease. Had he misjudged this youth? Was he actually some formidable figure? If so, things could become tricky.

Li Sibai was equally astonished. When the lightning shot toward him, his instincts told him not to dodge—Caiyao was behind him, and evasion would solve nothing. He had to take the blow head-on. Yet the Xuantian Sword’s power surpassed his expectations. This was a divine beast, after all, and the sword had not only blocked its strike but neutralized it perfectly—an outcome he had never dared imagine.

Frustrated by his failed assault, the Azure Luan lashed his body from side to side, each wing unleashing a bolt of lightning. This time, he did not hold back.

Li Sibai raised the Xuantian Sword once more, repeating the incantation and channeling his qi. But the first clash had already drained much of his strength; now, the golden glow was dimmer than before. He managed to unleash one golden beam, which collided with one of the lightning bolts and canceled it out, but the other streaked straight for Li Sibai!