Chapter 69: Xiao Zuo, You’re Doing Very Well

Fortunately, the goddess of luck favored Yu Yan this time.

The two Lightning Eagles were intently staring at a spot on the ground, as though something there had captivated them. They never anticipated that in the barren, empty Gobi, where everything could be seen at a glance, any threat might appear.

The rock with holes, conjured by Yu Yan, was swept along by a gentle breeze.

It rolled, together with several other rocks of varying sizes, right to the feet of the Lightning Eagles.

Lightning Eagles were small creatures; even the fifth-tier ones were about as tall as Yu Yan. As she straightened up, the ninth-tier Featherleaf Banyan she held was thrust toward the root of one Lightning Eagle’s wing—Zuo Changyu had said that keeping one would ensure the other wouldn’t fly away.

Attacking the throat, a fatal spot, required exceptional precision.

Moreover, if the Lightning Eagle sensed danger and dodged, Yu Yan’s effort would be wasted.

The wing, on the other hand, was a large, easy target. Even if her strike missed slightly, it wouldn’t prevent her from incapacitating the Lightning Eagle. After all, when a bird’s wing is injured, whether it dies or not is irrelevant—it certainly won’t be able to fly.

A sharp cry, reminiscent of a duck’s screech, erupted from the attacked Lightning Eagle as it beat its wings frantically.

Yu Yan had guessed right!

Despite the close-range, unexpected ambush, a fifth-tier monster’s sense of danger was far keener than those of first to fourth-tier creatures. Most of her attack was evaded; if she had aimed for its slender neck, she likely wouldn’t have pierced even the skin.

But now, feathers, skin, and sinew at the wing’s tip were mercilessly torn open—a segment of the lightning-veined wing tip fell to the ground. The Lightning Eagle let out an agonized, piercing scream, instinctively trying to escape.

Yet, with part of its wing lost, the sky was no longer its playground.

It struggled, lurching into the air, blood that shone deep blue dripped steadily. It fought to maintain balance, flew a short distance in a wobbling arc, but ultimately crashed helplessly to the ground.

The other Lightning Eagle, startled, soared into the sky, sending out mournful cries.

Circling above the Gobi again and again, it seemed to urge its fallen mate not to lose hope. The vile attacker, sneaking about, threatened its companion, and the Lightning Eagle, furious, let out a shrill call and dove towards the earth.

“Not good!”

Yu Yan’s hair stood on end. She abandoned her attack on the wounded Lightning Eagle.

Wind-elemental energy gently wrapped around her body—she cast a weakened version of Wind Spiral on herself. Spinning like a top, she flew dozens of meters away. After a string of explosive sounds, there was no longer a single patch of safe ground between her and the injured Lightning Eagle.

Dust billowed, obscuring most of her vision.

Through the haze, Yu Yan saw the wounded Lightning Eagle’s companion return, trying in vain to lift its mate onto its back.

But this was clearly an impossible task.

After several attempts, the Lightning Eagle let out repeated, despairing cries. Yu Yan touched her nose, dispelling a surge of guilt. Monsters and humans in the dungeon were locked in a life-or-death struggle; pitying them was tantamount to sacrificing herself!

If she hadn’t dodged quickly enough during that series of lightning bird explosions, she’d be the one sitting there, waiting for death.

She didn’t know what skills the wounded Lightning Eagle possessed, but the healthy one had demonstrated its ability—Lightning Bird. Among the Lightning Eagles Yu Yan had encountered, it was the most destructive skill. Once released, the Lightning Bird would automatically explode upon encountering any obstacle!

In this respect, it was much like the sixth-tier Fire Rhino Horn that Yu Yan often used as a single-use item.

But the horn truly was disposable.

Lightning Eagles, on the other hand, if mentally sound and with enough spiritual energy, could release as many Lightning Birds as they wished.

A bitter smile tugged at Yu Yan’s lips—this had become troublesome.

If a fifth-tier Lightning Bird struck her directly, just one would be enough to wound her. After all, she was only a fourth-tier herself… cough, her sole advantage was that the Lightning Eagles couldn’t see through her illusions.

Transforming herself once more into an utterly ordinary, unremarkable rock with holes, Yu Yan lay in silent ambush.

She waited for a second chance to strike!

After a day and a night, Yu Yan, relying on her illusions, wore down the Lightning Eagle that refused to leave its companion, attacking again and again until it was exhausted. The wounded one, after bleeding so long, was near death. Yu Yan exhaled, lifted her aching arms.

For these ten-plus hours, she’d fought with every ounce of focus.

Each successful strike was followed by a swift escape with Wind Spiral or Wind Step, over and over. Both her stamina and spirit were worn to the bone.

She withdrew the illusion from Zuo Changyu—there was nothing within ten kilometers that could threaten him now. Cloaking the aura of Zuo Changyu, who wasn’t even a first-tier enhancer, hadn’t cost her much energy.

But now she was running on fumes; saving even a bit of mental energy mattered.

She was about to finish off the Lightning Eagle, which had lost its value as bait, when a gunshot rang out, making Yu Yan’s face instantly darken. Zuo Changyu, flamboyant as ever, blew the smoke from his gun’s barrel and stepped out of his hiding place in the cave.

He was oblivious to the disaster about to befall him. “Yan-jie, you look so tired you can barely lift your arms.”

“This bird may be fifth-tier, but it’s almost dead. I figured my gun could finish it. Oh… it really did die! How about it, Yan-jie, aren’t I clever?”

Yu Yan said nothing. At that moment, a mechanical, emotionless voice echoed in both their minds.

“You have fulfilled the conditions to leave the dungeon. Would you like to exit?”

Zuo Changyu stared blankly at Yu Yan.

So this was what Yu Yan meant—only by killing a fifth-tier dungeon monster could one escape this S-rank dungeon!

Yu Yan smiled coldly. “Little Zuo, you’re really something!”

Originally, by killing the two Lightning Eagles, she and Yun Duo’er could have left the dungeon. Who would have thought Zuo Changyu, acting on his own, would shoot the already dying second Lightning Eagle. Now, she’d have to find another fifth-tier monster, kill it, and only then could she leave.

Yu Yan could have killed him on the spot!

Yet Zuo Changyu remained clueless. “Heh… actually, it’s not so bad!”

Though Yu Yan’s mood seemed off, Zuo Changyu truly didn’t realize what he’d done to offend her. In his mind, Yun Duo’er, trapped in the Plant Spirit World, didn’t exist, and Yu Yan had never mentioned having a daughter.

Both of them had killed two Lightning Eagles and gained the chance to leave the dungeon.

Wasn’t this exactly what Yu Yan had wanted?

Moreover, he hadn’t thought of competing with Yu Yan for the Lightning Eagles’ bodies—though he was tempted. A few pieces of Grey Wolf meat had already increased his strength, so the meat of these fifth-tier Lightning Eagles would surely offer even greater benefits!

But without Yu Yan, he wouldn’t have stood a chance against the two birds.

If he hadn’t ended up as their snack, it would have been a miracle.

So, despite his greed, Zuo Changyu harbored no ill intent…