Caw! Caw!

The shrill cries of seabirds echoed across the ocean as several birds circled overhead in formation. Every so often, one folded its wings and plunged down, its hooked talons skimming the surface before its sharp beak stabbed into the water. When it rose again, a large fish dangled from its beak. Other birds, having already satisfied their hunger, continued to hunt without necessity, methodically pecking their captured prey to death before dropping the lifeless bodies back into the sea.

Blood spread through the water, which soon drew in bloodthirsty sea beasts. The first-tier seabirds seemed to be enjoying their cruel game, at least until a fierce gale swept through and tore their formation apart. 

The seabirds cried out in alarm and looked toward the source of the wind, only to see the faint silhouette of a wooden kite streaking across the sky.

***

Luo Chen stood atop the wooden kite with his hands clasped behind his back, while Sang Jinghe sat cross-legged nearby with a pale face. Even with Luo Chen's mana barrier shielding him, the kite's incredible speed made it hard for him to breathe, forcing him to circulate his spirit power just to ease the discomfort.

After glancing at him, Luo Chen turned his attention back to Han Zhan, who was back inside the Soul-Nurturing Wood. "Senior Han, I really owe you this time."

"It's nothing. It was only an early-stage Sage puppet. It's a loss, but it won't kill me. Besides, didn't you promise me Flying Cloud's body?"

The early-stage Sage-level puppet that had self-destructed on Purple Spirit Island was the same spirit wood puppet Han Zhan had previously inhabited. Naturally, the price that convinced him to abandon such a treasure was Flying Cloud's body.

Back in the Sea of Clouds Plaza, Flying Cloud had ditched his body like a snake shedding its skin and escaped with only his Nascent Soul....