Chapter 83: The Third Prince of the Eagles

Compared to other races at this time, human life was like a flower that blooms for a single season—year after year, new blossoms appear, but never the same one. Humans lived on, generation after generation, yet people died unceasingly, and new lives were born in constant succession, one wave replacing another.

Nan Luo searched his mind but could not recall any cultivators among the humans. Besides, he felt that the Heavenly Court was like a cage, and it was far better not to enter if possible. Especially now, with chaos looming over the world, it was obvious that the Heavenly Court was preparing for war on all sides.

Suddenly, he remembered what Fuxi had once said: after the founding of the Heavenly Court, a great conflict was inevitable before its position could be secured. Now, with the tides of the world so clear even to Nan Luo, it was certain that without a grand war, those mighty beings would never truly submit. Even those who had already pledged themselves to the Heavenly Court likely did so half-heartedly, each with their own schemes.

Nan Luo would, of course, not trouble Emperor Jun with complaints about his inability to find anyone; after all, he had three months. If he found no one, it would not matter much. At most, when others went out to war with their soldiers, he would simply watch from the sidelines.

Descending from Mount Buzhou, he journeyed east. Most humans had migrated that way, so as Nan Luo left the Heavenly Court, he instinctively headed in that direction.

He did not ride the clouds across the sky, but walked leisurely on the earth below, as if strolling through a tranquil garden. Though he was still far from being the force he once dreamed of becoming in the vast wastelands, he no longer felt the terror and timidity of years past. Even if he encountered someone he could not defeat, he was confident he could escape—of this, he was certain.

Once, when he was only a small human, his fate was entirely out of his hands. Now, he was seen as an immortal by his kin, yet his destiny still eluded his complete control.

Suddenly, a thought struck him—to visit that old Azure Python Cliff.

With that desire, his figure vanished amid the verdant hills and gentle winds.

After all these years, Azure Python Cliff had not changed in the slightest. It still rose tall in the wind, like a massive blue-gray serpent emerging from the mountains, poised to soar into the sky.

The palace atop the cliff still stood, looking down over two cages, one large and one small. Yet now, there were no humans imprisoned within—through the all-seeing heavenly eye, only a single figure in black robes could be seen.

Nan Luo gazed intently and immediately thought of Ying Jiu.

“How could it be him? Why is he imprisoned here…” he wondered, perplexed.

To this day, he could not ascertain how powerful the Eagle Clan’s Third Prince and Ying Jiu truly were. Back then, he had been far too weak, and their imposing presence was overwhelming. Even now, when he recalled it, he still regarded them as formidable beings.

But returning now, he found that Azure Python Cliff was not as imposing and perilous as he remembered. The cages that could shift a year’s climate in a matter of days no longer seemed like earth-shattering displays of magical prowess; they were simply formations. Though his knowledge of formations was meager, he could nonetheless discern this much.

He looked at Ying Jiu, locked in the cage, and after a long silence, sighed gently. Drawing the Azure Sheen Sword at his waist, he waved it toward the cage. Instantly, the blade became a streak of white light, slicing through the dark cage as easily as cutting tofu, opening a silent gap.

Nan Luo felt little fondness for Ying Jiu, yet seeing him brought back memories of when he himself had nearly died—how a few words from Ying Jiu had changed his resolve and saved his life. Perhaps it had been nothing but idle speech on Ying Jiu’s part, but in the end, Nan Luo had survived.

He did not expect gratitude; he simply felt that, since fate had brought them together again, he should repay the debt.

The white sword-light cut through the black cage without a sound. Ying Jiu remained as he always had—expression stiff and wooden, only a glimmer of surprise in his cold eyes. He glanced up at Nan Luo in the sky, then darted from the cage, transforming into a black eagle that soared into the clouds, vanishing from sight.

The moment Ying Jiu disappeared into the clouds, two figures appeared before Nan Luo: the Eagle Clan’s Third Prince and the white-haired elder. Their faces were as cold as before, but their eyes showed wariness rather than the old condescension.

“Who are you, and why did you break the cage where our clan holds its criminals?” the Third Prince demanded, his voice icy. Yet Nan Luo could sense the difference—years ago, the prince wouldn’t spare him a glance, as if even looking at him was an insult. Now, after Nan Luo had destroyed the cage, the prince had not immediately attacked.

Nan Luo chuckled lightly. “Oh? Don’t you recognize me?” His tone was easy, almost casual.

The Third Prince and the white-haired elder frowned, staring at Nan Luo, but could not associate him with the insignificant human youth they once dismissed.

It was no wonder. So many years had passed, and Nan Luo had changed greatly. His appearance was similar, but his bearing was now worlds apart from the silent, stubborn youth of old. Though he had changed, his silence remained, but the timidity had vanished. The stubbornness was still there, though now hidden deeper, transformed into a quiet inner resolve.

“Are you a friend of Xiao Jiu? If so, state your origins. You may not know what crime he committed, but we will not trouble you.” The Third Prince was clearly probing, having sensed Nan Luo’s extraordinary aura—there was not a trace of fear in him, even when facing them both. Using the clan’s secret arts, the prince saw only a swirl of multicolored mist shrouding Nan Luo’s cultivation; nothing could be discerned. As for his aura, it was vague and elusive, as if he were a cloud drifting in the sky.

Nan Luo smiled. “No, I am not his friend.” At these words, their expressions grew even colder—if he was not a friend, then he must be here to cause trouble. Yet Nan Luo continued, unhurried, “Not only is he not my friend, I have quite a grudge against him. But I hate that cage even more, for I nearly died within it myself…”

“Who exactly are you?” the Third Prince asked harshly. He knew the visitor harbored ill intent, but was unsure of Nan Luo’s strength and dared not attack rashly—otherwise, he would never have bothered with words.

“I am merely a human you once deemed beneath notice.” As Nan Luo spoke these last words, his tone grew heavy, tinged with a killing intent.

Before coming here, he thought he had let it all go, but seeing the Third Prince before him, murderous thoughts inevitably arose. He was no saint—he remembered kindnesses, but grudges, too, he held with equal depth.

At the mention of “human,” the Third Prince’s eyes flashed with disbelief. His reaction was swift—without any visible preparation, he suddenly shot into the sky, instantly transforming into a gigantic black eagle that blotted out the sun.

With a single beat of his wings, a swirling wind enveloped Nan Luo, and the space beneath his wings became wholly his domain. The eagle’s talons, black as iron, swept down with a force that seemed capable of shattering mountains, their savagery more terrifying than any overwhelming aura.

“Haha! That can’t harm me now. Let’s see how you fare against my blade!” With these words, sword-light flashed. The enormous black eagle screamed, fleeing skyward, a severed talon tumbling earthward like a fallen blade.

With wings beating furiously, the black eagle shot toward the heights like a streak of shadowed lightning. Sensing the vast gulf between himself and Nan Luo—as well as the terrifying danger emanating from the Azure Sheen Sword—he chose to flee. Though not as fast as the legendary Golden-Winged Roc, he was swifter than most birds.

Naturally, he fled toward the gathering place of the Eagle Clan. Once there, he thought, no matter how powerful this human was, he could never escape alive. Yet just then he felt something heavy fall upon him, and heard a voice:

“This Star Lord is in need of a mount. You’ll do quite nicely.”