Chapter 817: Sacrificing Life and Death

At this moment, the water bubbles burst, and the water-element puppets trapped inside awakened. Sensing the aura of living beings, they rushed forward in unison.

Even from a distance, one could feel the intense malevolence emanating from them. Those with lower cultivation levels involuntarily shivered.

"Everyone, to your positions! Archers, prepare for a volley! Scouts, set up traps! Everyone else, prepare for close combat..." Although Bi Linglong's face was a little pale, she resolutely and methodically issued commands one after another. Her calm voice influenced the others, and the previously chaotic formation stabilized.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

A dense shower of arrows shot forth, each glinting with a white light. These were ice-element arrays carved onto them by Rune Masters, allowing them to draw vital energy and convert it into ice elements. As this was related to the Crown Prince's grand examination, the imperial family had prepared thoroughly for them. The Azure Sky Serpent Dragon could devour other fierce beasts and refine their souls into water-element puppets, so ice-element magic arrows were specifically prepared to counter them.

The archers were all elite members from various prominent families, and soon many ice-element magic arrows hit their targets. Patches of ice began to form on the bodies of the water-element puppets. If these were merely the expected Rank 6 fierce beast puppets, after being struck by so many specialized magic arrows, they would likely have been frozen solid into ice sculptures.

Unfortunately, these were originally Rank 7 fierce beasts. Although the ice arrows formed patches of ice on their bodies, it was not enough to freeze them solid. The residual combat awareness in their souls made them furious about their injuries, and they roared as they charged towards the group. At such close range, there was no time to unleash a second volley of arrows.

At this moment, the scout team Bi Linglong had just mentioned had already set up traps along their inevitable path. Various lights flashed, and the trap mechanisms were triggered. The four water-element puppets trembled violently, as if letting out silent screams. Even their forms became dim and lusterless. However, they ultimately broke through the trap zone and directly crashed into the formation.

At this point, the warriors from various families, who had long been prepared, rushed forward in unison, dividing and surrounding their respective targets according to the pre-determined strategy. Bi Linglong did not move, but commanded from the center, dispatching personnel from one side to support wherever another side was faltering, while simultaneously issuing various attack and defense orders.

Warriors constantly cried out as they were injured or even lost their lives, but under Bi Linglong's command, the overall formation did not collapse. On the contrary, everyone was infected by her spirit, fighting valiantly and fearlessly, risking their lives to slay the enemy.

Some were gored by the two large, sharp horns of the Golden Barbarian Ox, their intestines spilling out, yet they still used their last ounce of strength to repeatedly thrust their weapons into the Golden Barbarian Ox's neck, trying to deplete its water element power as much as possible. Some were struck in the waist by the thick tail of the Heaven's Query Thunder-Devouring Tiger, their bodies instantly severed in two. Yet, their upper body still clung tightly to the beast's hind leg, attempting to slow it down. Some were impaled by the sharp quills of the Bristly Black Boar, their bodies a bloody mess. Seeing that they wouldn't survive, they simply threw themselves onto the boar, using their bodies as shields for their teammates. Some saw their teammates easily torn in half by the Frost Giant Bear, but instead of retreating, they charged forward with bloodshot eyes, one after another.

Because of this, what should have been an overwhelming victory for the four Rank 7 puppets was unexpectedly fought to a standstill by these individuals. Zu An was filled with reverence for these people. Previously, upon seeing those scions of noble families, he had inevitably felt a sense of disdain for these so-called masters from major clans. But at this moment, he understood. It was no wonder these individuals could pass the selections of various major families. It was no wonder the Emperor confidently allowed them to accompany the Crown Prince on this mission, for these people were truly the elites of their respective clans.

He did not intervene, because his enemy was not these water-element puppets, but the dozens of meters long Rank 9 Azure Sky Serpent Dragon in mid-air. Shortly after the battle began, the Azure Sky Serpent Dragon had already locked onto his aura. Clearly, the intelligence of a Rank 9 fierce beast allowed it to immediately perceive who among the group posed the greatest threat to it.

Zu An was also searching for the opponent's weakness. A Rank 9 fierce beast possesses a formidable physical body and various innate skills, and its combat ability was comparable to that of a human Grandmaster. A normal human Rank 9 cultivator facing it would have no chance of victory. Even a peak Rank 9 cultivator as strong as Han Fengqiu would at most be able to protect themselves. Zu An was currently at Rank 9, fourth-tier. Due to various divine arts he had mastered, his vital energy quantity and intensity far surpassed cultivators of the same realm. However, against a Grandmaster, he didn't have much chance of winning, but relying on his endless array of skills, he wasn't without the ability to fight.

Thus, the man and the flood dragon faced each other in a standoff, silently searching for each other's weaknesses. The Azure Sky Serpent Dragon was also observing the battlefield. Seeing its water-element puppets fighting to such a degree with the lowly and weak humans, it grew secretly enraged. It then opened its large mouth and spat out a water orb. The water orb instantly transformed into the shape of a strange bird.

"Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle!" A hint of despair flashed in Bi Linglong's voice, because this was a Rank 8 fierce beast! She hadn't expected this Azure Sky Serpent Dragon to be able to devour Rank 8 fierce beasts. No wonder it could advance to Rank 9. The four Rank 7 fierce beast puppets had already pushed them to their limits. How could they possibly resist this Rank 8 fierce beast?

However, she bit her red lip tightly. She would never give up until the very last moment, and she ordered the archers, who had just reorganized and were preparing to hunt down the four previous puppet beasts, to shoot at the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle in the sky.

Countless arrows shot forth in response, but the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle flapped its wings, and countless water-element bubbles gushed out. The originally formidable arrows and crossbow bolts, upon touching the bubbles, were instantly trapped within them. The ice-element power attached to them was almost instantly dissolved. Furthermore, many remaining bubbles fell into the Eastern Palace's formation. Many warriors from various families felt as if they were sinking into a swamp, and were similarly trapped within the water bubbles instantly. They struggled desperately, trying to break free, but like drowning people who couldn't swim, they merely wasted their strength in vain.

At this moment, the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle raised its neck and let out a silent roar. It then quickly folded its wings and dove, its entire body transforming into a streak of light as it crashed into their formation. Almost instantly, blood mist bloomed on the chests of those who were not encased in bubbles, and countless people had large holes ripped through their chests. The Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle's impact was terrifying to such an extent, like a flying sword wielded by a Rank 9 master. These people, at most Rank 6, how could they possibly resist?

Zu An moved. In fact, at that very moment, the Azure Sky Serpent Dragon had revealed a weakness. However, the time it would take him to exploit that weakness and take the opponent's life would likely be enough for everyone present to die ten times over. Having just witnessed these people's bravery, he was filled with immense admiration. He truly could not bring himself to sacrifice their lives to buy himself time.

He used the Great Wind Teleportation skill to appear next to a stunned warrior, pushed him aside, and held the Taia Sword horizontally across his chest.

Clang!

A sharp, piercing sound rang out. The Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle's incomparably sharp beak, which had torn through countless chests, struck the Taia Sword. The immense impact caused the blade of the Taia Sword to bend slightly.

"So noisy!" Mi Li's annoyed voice came from within the sword, followed by a terrifying surge of aura. The Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle shuddered and visibly paused. How could Zu An let such a good opportunity slip by? With a flash of his sword, he directly cleaved it into two.

Originally, with the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle's strength, Zu An could have won, but not instantly killed it. He hadn't expected to provoke Mi Li into action.

"Empress Sister, you're awake?" Zu An was both surprised and delighted, silently communicating with her.

"Don't bother with idle chatter. That damned bird isn't so easily killed," Mi Li's cold voice came.

Zu An looked down and saw two pools of water on the ground twisting continuously, showing a faint tendency to reform. They were originally formed by the Azure Sky Serpent Dragon using the souls of devoured fierce beasts as a base, and then manifested from water elements. Water, being formless and shapeless, possesses powerful regenerative abilities.

Upon seeing this, Zu An immediately channeled the Snowfall Divine Sword, instantly freezing the two twisting pools of water into ice lumps. He then channeled his vital energy and stomped them into fragments, completely annihilating the Azure Sky Profound Feather Eagle. At the same time, the troublesome water bubbles nearby also froze and shattered due to the intense cold, and the people trapped inside were released one after another.

"This King painstakingly refined a Profound Feather Eagle puppet, and you destroyed it!" At this moment, the Azure Sky Serpent Dragon's furious roar echoed from the sky. "Then this King will devour you and refine you into a new puppet!"