Chapter 419: A Whole Family

In other words, the strongest of the golden rocs was reaching the apex of a peak-grade lifeform: that was the level of strength a sura king possessed.

"It sounds like there are quite a number of golden rocs around, then!"

"As far as I know, there are five such rocs in total, and they're all from one big family. You killed the family head's daughter! These last few years, the golden rocs have killed quite a number of our kin while hunting in the vicinity. The crag eagles used to have four high-level fighters, but two fell to the golden rocs.

"The rocs' family head—the strongest of the golden rocs—hasn't been seen for quite some time, but the rocs have been going out hunting more and more often. I believe that he might be undergoing a breakthrough."

Zhang Lie thought for a moment as the appearance of a frightening lifeform appeared in his mind—the blazing roc!

In his past life, there had been a wave of evolution in which a number of peak-grade lifeforms almost simultaneously evolved into disaster-grade, causing a huge mess in the second realm and almost resulting in catastrophe. However, this was only something that Zhang Lie had heard, not witnessed for himself. Allegedly, all the hunters who had seen the blazing roc for themselves had died almost immediately.

The presence of a disaster-grade lifeform could easily portend doom. Once the blazing roc emerged, it had destroyed the nearby city of Ming, hurting and killing innumerable hunters.

"These golden rocs treat us crag eagles like nothing more than food, and quite a number of our kin have been consumed by them. In order for our clan to survive, we must kill off all the rocs. Help us do so, and we'll hand you the starcloud fruit in compensation."

"What's your plan?"

"Waiting for them to attack us is like waiting for death. The moment the strongest golden roc breaks through, we're all doomed. We have to take the initiative and attack them instead! Our clan has sacrificed countless scouts in order to find the rocs' nest. We'll launch a sneak attack and destroy their entire family!"

"Very well. I'll accompany you, but I need you to give me the fruit beforehand. Furthermore, if unforeseen circumstances cause us to deviate from this plan, or if the foe is clearly too strong for us to best, I have the right to choose to leave."

Zhang Lie had no intention of getting himself killed just for a spiritual herb, rare though it might be.

The elder hesitated for a moment before replying resolutely, "I accept! Let's cooperate."

They headed back down the mountain and found the rock giant at its base. The rock giant was kneeling on the ground, curled up into a ball.

Zhang Lie flew over. "Not bad, you stayed still like you were supposed to!"

The rock giant hurriedly stood up. "How were the negotiations, lord?"

"The crag eagles weren't as stubborn as your tribe was. If I'm willing to help them slaughter the golden rocs, they'll hand me the starcloud fruit."

"Congratulations on a successful negotiation!"

Zhang Lie asked, "Did you rock spirits eat up a vein of rock from the foot of this mountain?"

"Probably. As you know, we rock spirits roamed around the land and devoured all the rock in our vicinity."

To be honest, over ten millennia of roaming the land, they had probably dug up around half the second realm by now.

Zhang Lie groaned. "Did you know that it was because you did that around the foot of this mountain that Mt. Wanren ended up slanted?"

The rock giant scratched its head. "Is that so?"

Zhang Lie clutched his face, speechless.

Instead of continuing to berate the rock giant, however, Zhang Lie just turned aside and retrieved the golden roc's carcass from his potbellied-toad pouch.

He pulled out the necessary kitchenware, spices, condiments, a large pot, and two racks on which to roast meat. As he boiled a pot of water, he dissected the roc's carcass, stripping its feathers in the hot water. Its two wings ended up on the two racks, one of which was seasoned to be slightly spicy, and the other to be ridiculously spicy.

As the scent of roast meat spread up the mountain, the crag eagles' salivating faces popped out from the mountainside.

When the meat was ready, Zhang Lie sliced off a chunk of the roast meat and bit down, making a pleased hum of satisfaction as he did so. The exterior was fragrant and crispy, the interior soft and tender. Upon biting down, a medley of meat juices and a pleasant aroma filled his mouth.

[For consuming the meat of a peak-grade golden roc, you received 1 peak gene fragment.]

[For consuming the meat of a peak-grade golden roc, you received 1 peak gene fragment.]

He took the lid off the pot and allowed the concentrated steam and aroma to rise before scooping up a spoonful of soup.

.

[For consuming the meat of a peak-grade golden roc, you received 1 peak gene fragment.]

Zhang Lie: a peak-grade lifeform

Framework: Foundation, Lv. MAX, Ninecarp Transformation, Fifth Form: Qilin

Techniques: Rippling Walk (pinnacle), Three-Wave Crescendo (pinnacle), Calm Waters (pinnacle), Fists of the Silent Sea (pinnacle), The Boundless Blade (pinnacle), Eclipse (pinnacle), One Punch (novice), Ninesoul Dragonblade (novice), Syzygy (novice)

Genes: Basic, 160; Mutated, 150; Superior, 150; Peak, 50

Soulshards: White Grub (superior), Galewolf (mutated), Blood Ant (superior), Potbellied Toad (mutated), Venombane Scorpion (superior), Eternalspring Cocoon (superior), Forest Wolfman (superior), Flamewing (superior), Runic Salamander (superior), Moonlight Wyrm (peak)

The rock spirit seemed very envious of Zhang Lie as he dug in with gusto, but it was only able to consume rocks, minerals, and gems. It sat by one side of the mountain as it nibbled silently on a rock.

Yu Huantian suddenly walked by and sliced off a chunk of meat from the rack as Zhang Lie watched on. After gulping the meat down, he said coldly, "Thank you for saving my father."

Are you here to thank me or to steal my food? Don't use your father as an excuse!?Instead of sending him away, however, Zhang Lie beckoned to the crag eagles whose heads he could make out from the mountain side. "Why don't you all come over and have some meat? I can't finish it all myself!"

Yu Huantian's eyes brightened as he sat down. "Thanks!"

He cut off a huge chunk of meat and gobbled it down so quickly that it startled even Zhang Lie.

The crag eagles glanced at each other before flapping their wings and heading over. They hardly had a choice; Zhang Lie's meal was so fragrant that none of them could stand missing out.

One golden roc carcass was hardly enough to feed the clan; they devoured the meat quickly and rubbed their stomachs as they looked for more.

Zhang Lie laughed. "Tomorrow, I'll kill all the rest of the rocs and we can have a large feast."