A dragon was indeed a common sight, and the winged figure resembling a roc was not unusual either. However, the combination of these two beings was anything but ordinary.

  “Could it be the two who will one day become sworn brothers with Sun Wukong?”

  As Xu Fang pondered this, he suddenly noticed the innkeeper and the waiter, trembling with fear, rushing to the window.

  “What are you doing?” Xu Fang asked, puzzled.

  The waiter was too frightened to respond, while the innkeeper stammered, “Sir, we were just… just trying to look out the window…”

  At this moment, the innkeeper was cursing inwardly. He couldn’t understand why a guest from who-knows-where would be so calm in the face of danger, as if they didn’t know that demons could eat people.

  “No need for that. I want to see just how powerful these demons are,” Xu Fang replied, waving his hand dismissively.

  The innkeeper, however, persisted, “But… but…”

  “Find a place to hide!”

  Seeing that the innkeeper wouldn’t give up, Xu Fang flicked his wrist, and both the innkeeper and the waiter were suddenly lifted into the air, landing safely behind the counter.

  Xu Fang then turned his gaze back to the ominous figures in the clouds, assessing the strength of the two demons.

  The roc demon was relatively weaker, at the late True Immortal stage, while the dragon seemed to possess the initial strength of a Celestial Immortal!

  “Condensing the energy within to achieve Celestial Immortality! Once the five energies within are completely solidified, one can break through to the Golden Immortal realm!”

  Xu Fang felt a twinge of envy. His purpose in descending the mountain was twofold: to solidify his foundation and to prepare for his eventual ascension to the Golden Immortal stage by consolidating his energy.

  As he continued to observe, the roc demon had already burst through the clouds, a powerful gust of wind sweeping through the city, sending the wooden boxes from every household flying into the air!

  With the howling wind, the boxes shattered!

  A terrified scream erupted from one of the trembling girls as she plummeted toward the roc’s grasp!

  “Beast! Stop right there!”

  In that instant, Xu Fang sprang into action!

  With a flick of his sleeve, the raging wind ceased immediately!

  The girls caught in the gust were all returned safely to the ground by Xu Fang’s deft maneuvering.

  “Hmm?”

  The roc furrowed its brow, peering down at Xu Fang. Upon closer inspection, the demon’s expression relaxed.

  It realized that Xu Fang's cultivation was merely at the mid-True Immortal stage!

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  As a creature from the ancient wilderness, the roc knew it could easily contend with a mere True Immortal!

  “Who is this little pest, daring to meddle in my affairs? Seeking death!”

  The roc, proud and arrogant, was furious at having the girl snatched from its grasp. It immediately summoned a long spear, riding the winds toward Xu Fang!

  The dragon, hidden within the clouds, observed but did not intervene. It understood the roc’s capabilities and deemed Xu Fang’s True Immortal status not worthy of its attention.

  As the roc lunged at Xu Fang with its spear, Xu Fang remained unfazed and moved in to meet it head-on!

  He braced against the spear with his hands, pulling with all his might!

  The roc let out a ferocious roar, “You dare challenge me in strength? You’re asking for death!”

  As a descendant of an ancient species, the roc possessed innate strength, combined with its late True Immortal cultivation, enough to crush any True Immortal!

  Even against a Celestial Immortal, it believed it could hold its own!

  However—

  A smirk crept onto Xu Fang’s lips. “When did I say I wanted to compete in strength?”

  Upon hearing this, the roc’s expression changed dramatically!

  Suddenly, an inferno erupted from Xu Fang’s body, engulfing him in flames that surged toward the roc!

  The demon howled in shock, realizing it was now trapped within the fiery vortex emanating from Xu Fang!

  “This… this is impossible!”

  The roc’s expression shifted as it prepared to counterattack, but Xu Fang’s palm resonated with immense power, sending the spear flying from the roc’s grasp!

  “Brother—!”

  In a moment of desperation, the roc abandoned its pride and cried out, realizing Xu Fang was a formidable foe. In a head-on clash, it knew it would be at a severe disadvantage!

  “The little roc is being overwhelmed by this True Immortal human!”

  The dragon watched from above, a hint of seriousness crossing its features. Yet, it still did not regard Xu Fang as a threat.

  In the eyes of a Celestial Immortal, a True Immortal was as insignificant as a blade of grass!

  “Considering your cultivation, you should understand your place. We have not provoked you; why do you choose to oppose us today?”

  The dragon descended from the clouds, gazing down at Xu Fang with disdain. “Release the roc, and I may allow you to accompany me!”

  “Accompany you?” Xu Fang chuckled, his tone turning increasingly indifferent. “Unfortunately, you’re not worthy!”

  With that single word, Xu Fang’s sleeve flared wide, and he launched a powerful attack toward the dragon hovering above!

  Faced with a foe of greater strength, Xu Fang chose to strike first!

  He had already ensnared the roc; if he allowed the dragon to act first, he would have difficulty defending himself!

  “Preposterous!”

  The dragon’s fury ignited upon seeing Xu Fang refuse to submit and attack instead. “You foolish ant of the human race, you’ve grown too arrogant with a little power!”

  With a thunderous roar, the dragon unleashed its divine might!

  “Hmm—”

  Xu Fang grunted as his left sleeve tore apart under the dragon's overwhelming force!

  “My cultivation is ultimately my shortcoming; I must break through!”

  Xu Fang felt a sinking sensation in his heart. He had planned to refine his skills further before breaking through to the late True Immortal stage. Yet, faced with a formidable enemy, he could no longer afford to wait.

  The merit he had accumulated over the past three years surged forth within him!

  A sudden explosion of power!

  Three years had passed since Xu Fang left Fangcun Mountain. During that time, he had chosen to suppress his cultivation to solidify his foundation.

  All the merit he had gathered remained untouched.

  Now, perceiving that the dragon was about to strike, Xu Fang made a decisive choice to break through!

  With the tremendous buildup of power, he smoothly ascended to the late True Immortal stage!

  Buzz—

  His immense power erupted, causing the previously restrained roc to grimace in pain!

  “Ant, you seek death!”

  The dragon's countenance darkened as it witnessed Xu Fang’s transformation. Its mouth opened wide, and a blue orb was expelled!

  A deluge of water cascaded from the orb, like the heavens collapsing, threatening to drown all of Qingyang City!

  In an instant, the city was engulfed in an overwhelming tide, buildings crumbled, and citizens were swept away in the flood, their screams echoing through the chaos.

  “Just what I needed!”

  With the surge of power from his breakthrough, Xu Fang let out a triumphant roar!

  Watching the devastation unfold, he pondered for a moment and then swung his right sleeve with great force, gathering all the citizens into a protective barrier around him.

  To him, the greater the massacre committed by the dragon, the more lives he could save. The greater his merit would be!