Yu Su didn't sense particularly dense spiritual energy in the Black Flame Valley, unlike in the Deer God Mountain.
[Wherever there are spirit beasts, the spiritual energy tends to be especially dense. Here, the spiritual energy is average. Even if that black python has gained intelligence, it would still be considered a demon beast.]
There's a distinction between demon beasts and spirit beasts. Spirit beasts, marked by the character "spirit," not only have higher intelligence but also refrain from indiscriminately devouring the essence of flesh and blood. They usually rely on breathing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, consuming spiritual herbs and fruits, etc., to enhance their cultivation. Hence, they are more favored by the spiritual energy of the world, making the environment more spiritually dense.
On the other hand, demon beasts, aside from breathing in spiritual energy, often devour the essence of flesh and blood to enhance their cultivation. They are wild, difficult to tame, have fierce personalities, and are often covered in blood. Naturally, they aren't favored by the spiritual energy of the world.
"They say Salt Village uses living people as sacrifices for the black python. It must have devoured a lot of flesh and blood."
[I don't know how many it has devoured. The more people it devours, the higher its cultivation. Be cautious.]
"Understood, just don't let me down."
[I won't.]
As Yu Su walked into the valley, he conversed with the all-encompassing spirit.
Liu Yan followed by his side, vigilantly observing the surroundings.
After walking for a while in the dense valley, Yu Su smelled the unique scent of snakes.
Both Yu Su and Liu Yan stopped in their tracks. They knew they were approaching the nest of the black python.
Yu Su asked the all-encompassing spirit, "Have you found the Guardian Grass?"
The Guardian Grass was the final herb in the prescription. Qingze had informed him that it should be found in the Black Flame Valley.
[Not yet found.]
Having circled the area already, they had to continue further inside.
However, just as they were about to proceed, there was sudden movement in the center of the valley.
It sounded like a battle.
Yu Su and Liu Yan exchanged glances, then both ran towards a nearby large tree, swiftly climbing to the top to observe the center of the valley. Several trees had fallen in the center, and dust filled the air.
Following that, two golden large birds took flight. Their wings spanned over two meters, and their golden feathers glittered in the sunlight, clearly not ordinary birds.
They were engaged in a fierce battle with a giant python. The python was entwined around a large tree, raising its upper body high, opening its large bloody mouth to attack the two golden birds. Strangely, the back of the python also had a pair of flesh wings, allowing it to fly.
[Winged Serpent!] The all-encompassing spirit exclaimed in Yu Su's mind.
Yu Su frowned. A Winged Serpent?
He vaguely remembered reading about it in the library. According to the classification of demon beasts, the Winged Serpent belonged to the high-rank demon beasts.
In an instant, Yu Su wanted to curse. Who the hell told him it was just a black python? How could a python and a Winged Serpent be the same?!
Almost immediately, Yu Su decided to leave.
As a newbie who had just reached the Qi Cultivation stage, he was no match for a Winged Serpent. However, just at that moment, the situation in the fight ahead changed.
The two golden birds firmly held onto the flesh wings behind the Winged Serpent, fiercely pecking at its head, creating several holes in its back. The Winged Serpent immediately went berserk, and the terrifying aura of a demon beast immobilized both Yu Su and Liu Yan on the treetop.
Cold sweat broke out on Yu Su's back as he bit down hard on his teeth, careful not to release any breath.
Liu Yan, with his beast-like intuition, also sensed that they must not make any noise at this moment. Both remained motionless.
[Those two golden birds seem to be Flame Birds!] The all-encompassing spirit said in Yu Su's mind.
"Flame Birds? Aren't they spirit birds?" Yu Su recalled reading about Flame Birds in the library. It was rumored to be a spirit bird that appeared during the primitive era but vanished in the later stages.
[Yes, and the Flame Birds have a trace of the Golden Crow bloodline. Their lineage is quite noble.]
"So, why are they fighting the Winged Serpent?"
[I don't know, but both sides are not easy to deal with.]
Could Yu Su not know this? He was silently cursing inside, "Is there any way for us not to attract their attention and quietly leave?"
[I'm afraid it's difficult; both sides are at the level of Great Demons.]
"..."
While Yu Su was conversing with the all-encompassing spirit, the berserk Winged Serpent threw the two Flame Birds off, grabbed one of the birds' necks with its bloody mouth, and splattered fresh blood.
Yu Su inwardly exclaimed, "This is bad." Flame Birds were spirit birds, and even if they noticed him, they might not harm him. However, if the Winged Serpent survived, he and Liu Yan might not be able to escape the Black Flame Valley.
At this moment, the other Flame Bird screeched, attacking the Winged Serpent and fiercely grabbing its eyes, blinding one of them!
The Winged Serpent threw off the Flame Bird, whose neck had been bitten, and began a frenzied attack on the other Flame Bird.
It was a life-and-death battle, and the same was true for Yu Su and Liu Yan.
With only a brief hesitation, Yu Su quickly made a decision. "Little Full, is there any way you can help the Flame Bird? If that Winged Serpent survives, we're all dead."
[You have Qingze's mark on you. Perhaps you can help the Flame Bird.]
"I got it. Remember to calculate the best route for me later."
[Okay.]
Liu Yan, seeing that Yu Su was about to go down, grabbed his arm, staring at him sternly. "Don't move."
Yu Su patted his arm. "I'm going to help the Flame Bird. Otherwise, we'll both die."
Liu Yan looked at the ongoing fight, then back at Yu Su, determined. "Together."