Among the diverse inhabitants, some possessed a single large, circular eye centered in their forehead, casting a piercing gaze. Others belonged to a tribe with three eyes, their look sharp and shrouded in mystery. Most peculiar were the headless folk; their eyes were positioned on their chests and their mouths on their stomachs. They appeared utterly grotesque—evoking a blend of terror and curiosity—looking like headless horsemen whenever they mounted their steeds.

  Many Beastmen and Birdmen also resided here. These races possessed human torsos and heads but the legs of birds, with arms covered in feathers like wings. They soared through the sky like giant avian creatures, the sound of their flapping wings rushing like a torrent. Nearby, tiger-bodied men with human heads moved with a lithe, powerful grace, carrying the distinct musky scent of wild predators.

  There were also Centaurs—human from the waist up and equine below—galloping across the steppes. The thunderous rhythm of their hooves made the earth tremble slightly. Though they lived in organized communities with houses, their levels of social development varied: some groups still ate raw meat, their savage nature marked by the faint scent of fresh blood in the air; others had mastered fire for cooking, their campfires flickering in the dark and releasing the aroma of smoke and roasted food. Some were vegan, living in harmony with nature and smelling of cool grass, while others were dedicated carnivores, constantly on the hunt.

  Their languages were incredibly diverse, a mix of human speech and animalistic sounds that created a strange, sometimes chaotic symphony of the wilderness. As this was the territory where B?ch h? (White Tiger, Beastmen) lived, he knew it well, enthusiastically pointing out various sights with a look of immense pride.

  The Sacrifice of the Giant Tree

  Not far off lay a village of Birdmen—beings with human bodies, bird heads, and wings—who lived upon a colossal tree that reached into the clouds. Inside a treehouse, two Birdman sisters named Bird One (Rank C cultivation) and Bird Two (Rank C cultivation) were talking.

  "What do we do now, sister?" Bird Two sobbed. "The sacrifice has fallen to our family this time."

  "Don't worry," Bird One replied. "I will die in your place."

  Bird Two wept even harder. "No! We have to stay together. We are the only two left; the rest of our family is gone. I can't live alone."

  "Fine then," Bird One said resolutely. "Let me go and consult the deity."

  Bird One went to meet the Deity within the giant tree and was granted a green jade pendant. She was told that the jade would glow when a substitute was found, but she had only one month. If no substitute was found by then, Bird One would have to enter the tree trunk as a sacrifice to the Tree God. After many days of searching fruitlessly, the jade suddenly flared with light as the Flying Wood Dragon passed overhead, bringing joy to the sisters.

  The Ambush

  They stalked the vessel for several days, lurking for an opportunity. One evening, while Sam Halfling and Merry Halfling were chatting on the deck of the flying boat, the two Birdman sisters launched a lightning-fast ambush, knocking them both unconscious and carrying them away. No one on the ship noticed except for the Nine-Eared Spirit Hound. Its four ears among its nine twitched, and it let out a thunderous bark. It launched a bolt of electricity (Lightning Ball) at the kidnappers, lightly stunning them. However, they managed to fly off, retaliating with Wind Arrow and Wind Blade spells before vanishing into the night.

  The loud barking woke everyone. Han Thuong stood dazed, thinking they were under attack by monsters or giant birds. But Noe understood immediately. After a brief exchange with the Spirit Hound, the Black Spirit Chicken and White Spirit Chicken were released to search for their friends in the darkness. Meanwhile, Han Thuong entered the cockpit of the Flying Wood Dragon, steering it in the direction the hound indicated.

  The chase lasted all night. At dawn, they finally identified the kidnappers. They hesitated to attack immediately, fearing that if the Birdmen panicked and dropped the Halflings from such a height, they wouldn't survive. Noe raised his bow, waiting until they were over a river. He fired nine arrows simultaneously, controlling them with a skill called Nine Star Chain. The arrows pierced the sisters' wings precisely. Immediately, the White and Black Spirit Chickens slammed into them, knocking them into the water.

  The Truth of the Jade

  Noe, possessing a superior Water-type Spirit Root and Foundation Establishment (Rank B) cultivation, was in his element. He dived into the water, overwhelmed the two sisters with Water Ball spells, and brought the Halflings safely to shore. The others watched from above, confident in Noe's victory but remaining vigilant for surprises, like a sudden water monster or a forest predator.

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  Bird One and Bird Two were helpless. Noe tied them up and demanded, "What are you doing here? Why did you attack us?"

  Though they understood human speech, they replied in the language of birds, expressing their despair and belief that they were about to die. They didn't know Noe had the ability to Hear All Things. Noe began to understand the village's plight: a malevolent entity resided there, demanding a Birdman life every year. He also discovered that the village shrine held three treasures: the White Jade Sword, the White Jade Seal, and the White Jade Pendant.

  Using his Clairvoyant Eye, Noe saw the jade pendant on the sisters glowing intensely. He took it, and the jade spoke: "Prophet, I have found you."

  Noe frowned. "Did you intentionally lure these two to me?"

  "Yes," the Jade Pendant replied. "We are three siblings, but our eldest brother is furious and running rampant. We two sisters tried to stop him but failed."

  "Explain," Noe commanded.

  The pendant explained that their eldest brother resided within the Jade Sword. He was stealing the "Merit" of the Birdmen by forcing them to worship all three treasures. The Jade Sword also forced them to sacrifice a body for him to possess, but since a mortal body couldn't last long, he required a new one every few years. After explaining, the Jade Pendant pleaded, "Please, take us in."

  Noe sighed. "Fine, let’s go take a look."

  The Confrontation at the Giant Tree

  The Birdman sisters, hearing Noe's explanation, were skeptical until they tested the Jade Pendant; its light dimmed as it moved away from Noe and blazed brightly as it drew near. Noe said, "Lead me to the shrine. I will take Bird One's place as the sacrifice."

  The two Halflings burst into tears. "Master, let us go instead! We'll die for you!"

  Han Thuong knocked them on their heads. "Idiots. Noe is a Prophet; he knows the future. He wouldn't walk into a death trap."

  Noe smiled. "Don't worry, I know what is safe." He gathered the group to outline the plan. The others would stay with the flying boat at a distance, while White Tiger (the tiger-headed Beastman) would hide in the forest, ready to strike on signal.

  Noe was bound and brought to the village atop the giant tree. The Birdmen were alarmed; Noe was of the Immortal Race (Elf), a powerful major race, while they were small. The Village Chief, worried about repercussions, tried to release Noe and substitute the sisters again, but Noe refused to leave.

  Suddenly, a Birdman emerged from the tree trunk, eyes turned white and clutching the White Jade Sword. His body was gaunt and frail, yet he screamed with a force that made everyone except Noe kneel: "Silence! I am the master! I decide the sacrifice!"

  He sneered at Noe. "This one is overflowing with too much Yang energy for me to handle, and he has no wings. I reject him! Get him out of here!" He looked at the sisters and laughed. "These will do." He began dragging them into the hollow of the tree.

  Noe drew his hidden bow and instantly fired the Nine Star Chain at the White Jade Sword. The possessed Birdman used his body as a shield, but Noe manipulated the arrows to weave around him and strike the blade directly.

  The man screamed as if he himself had been shot. The White Jade Sword encased itself in a layer of ice, its hilt lengthening like a spear. The possessed Birdman flew at Noe in a rage. Having anticipated this, Noe led him on a chase, leaping across giant branches and firing annoying shots at the sword to lure him toward the ground.

  Once near the forest floor, Bach ho (Beast-man, white tiger head, human body) transformed into a massive white tiger with blue eyes, wearing the magical artifact, Black Guardian Armor which had resized to fit him. On Noe's signal, he lunged from the brush, climbed the tree with incredible speed, and clamped his jaws onto the White Jade Sword, tearing it away from the Birdman. The sword vibrated violently, trying to escape, and unleashed a freezing frost that began to coat White Tiger’s body and jaws.

  At this moment, the villagers of the bird tribe, seeing the commotion at the temple, left their homes, bringing with them all kinds of weapons—bows, swords, daggers, and spears—to provide support. But Han Thuong, riding on his spirit dog and wielding the Mystic Ice Saber, unleashed a torrent of ice with each swing, preventing them from approaching the White Tiger. The villagers, overwhelmed by Han Thuong's imposing appearance, were momentarily at a loss, staring blankly at the frozen White Tiger.

  However, as a Pure Yang White Tiger, the freezing and slowing spells had little effect. The ice melted away as the armor surged with power. With a final crush of his jaws, White Tiger shattered the Jade Sword into pieces. The possessed Birdman collapsed unconscious. Noe rushed over and administered a healing potion to save the man's life.

  Aftermath

  The Birdmen were terrified by the display of power, even though their "Sacred Object" was destroyed. They were torn between relief—that the sacrifices were over—and fear that without a Sacred Object, they would be seen as weak and enslaved by other villages.

  The Village Chief wailed, "Why am I so cursed? Our village has no protection left! We are ruined!"

  Noe shook his head and returned to the flying boat. A day later, the two sisters flew after them. "Please, let us come with you. The Chief has exiled us; we have nowhere to go."

  Han Thuong smiled. "Give me a reason to keep you."

  The sisters pulled the shattered pieces of the Jade Sword, the Jade Seal, and the Jade Pendant from their bags. "The Chief no longer wants these. Please, take them and take us."

  Han Thuong turned to Noe. "Is it dangerous to bring them?"

  Noe sighed, knowing more members meant more trouble, but he told the truth: "It's not dangerous. In fact, it will be beneficial later."

  "Good," Han Thuong said. "You may board, but do not cause trouble. We will part ways when we reach the Immortal City."

  The sisters didn't know where the Immortal City was, but they nodded eagerly.

  Tho Trung Sa remained in meditation on the flying ship for three days and three nights, neither eating nor sleeping. No one woke him, allowing him to concentrate on his cultivation. He was also a high-level cultivator in the team, having reached the Foundation Establishment stage (B+).