"What is that dammed bird doing?!"

Calina's group was at a loss on what they should do. Should they go help? Would they arrive in time? Oh well... Considering Kentucky's defense, they most likely would. They just didn't know if they should go or not.

​​

The cultivators protecting the crystal immediately noticed Kentucky approaching at full speed. However, the Core and Soul Fusion Realm leader of the group quickly noticed that Kentucky was only a Middle Stage Three Demon Bird, so he let the others deal with it.

"Another annoying demon beast. Just take care of the bird so that it won't touch the crystal."

The Core Formation Realm subordinates immediately nodded and positioned themselves to strike Kentucky down when it got close enough to them.

At the same time, Kuana and the others arrived where Calina's group was.

"Sorry, your bird suddenly began to drool between its beak and shot in this direction. We didn't even have time to react before it flashed away."

If there was any doubt that it was Kentucky, all doubts were gone right now. Calina and Malaka looked at how the cultivators were prepared to attack Kentucky and couldn't wait anymore. Without hesitation, the two charged out, moving in the cultivators' direction.

Wano's mouth twitched. There went their plan of staying hidden until they were in a safe place. He could have ignored Calina's group and fled the scene, but he had a debt to pay to the girls. In the end, he also charged out.

Obviously, the Lakure Race members noticed Calina's group as soon as they stepped into the clearing. Their leader, who was in the Core and Soul Fusion Realm, noticed Wano's cultivation.

"Enemy attack! Protect the Formation Masters! I will stop the Core and Soul Fusion Realm guy while the others deal with the two girls and the bird!"

"Yes, Senior Hue."

Other than the Formation Masters controlling the crystal, there was a total of ten cultivators protecting the crystal. Calina's group only had four members, including Kentucky, so they weren't afraid of them. That was also why Hue didn't call for reinforcements straight away either.

Back at the trees, Kuana, Laffey, and Cassy didn't know if they should go with them or not.

"What should we do, Kuana?"

"We can still flee while they distract the enemies. First of all, we shouldn't even have caught their attention."

"However, it was also because of them that we escaped the valley entrance in the first place."

Hearing that, Kuana finally gritted her teeth and charged out as well. In the end, they wouldn't have Wano to scout the way out, so chances were high that they might get caught due to their weaker Spiritual Senses. Of course, that discussion only lasted for a second due to Spiritual Sense.

Seeing that three more girls came out didn't faze the Core and Soul Fusion Realm guy. They still had the advantage in numbers, and he was one stage higher than Wano in front of him. Just to make sure, he kept three of the protectors of the crystal to deal with Kentucky.

Wano was the fastest one by far due to his cultivation, so he immediately pounced at the leader.

"Take my sword!"

Fire and Wind Element gathered as Wano's swords moved in a flash of red fire.

'Decapitation in Flames!'

A horizontal sweep came forward, taking the leader of the group aback. It wasn't strong enough to prove dangerous to him. However, Wano's attack immediately covered a wide range. Obviously, he was trying to take the Core Formation Realm cultivators down.

"Courting death!"

Lightning Element gathered around the leader as his attack countered Wano.

'Lightning Dispersion!'

He also used a wide-area attack, which clashed against Wano's one.

*Boom!*

Fire and Lightning mixed together in an explosion of Spiritual Energy. Immediately, the Core Formation Realm cultivators were forced back due to the energy. However, they quickly understood that they shouldn't intervene in those two and focused on Calina and the rest on the back. Calina's group also understood this and did the same thing, avoiding Wano's battle.

Kentucky was the first one to charge out, but Wano was faster than him in the end. Still, he arrived at the Red Crystal just a second later. The three Core Formation Realm cultivators immediately channeled their Spiritual Energy and Elements as they attacked Kentucky.

'Wave Slasher!'

'World of Sunder!'

'Southern River Puncture!'

Three attacks came straight at Kentucky as he descended from the skies in the Red Crystal's direction. However, no one knew just how much stronger Kentucky was compared to demon beasts at his level. Those attacks only made Kentucky angry since they were trying to stop him from eating the crystal.

White and Dark Flames burst out of Kentucky's body as his descent increased several times in speed. Obviously, he was using the Fried Chicken Cannonball Attack. Well, Rean was the only one who called it that.

*Creeeeeee!*

This attack needed time for him to reach a high enough altitude and then drop down. However, once Kentucky reached his full speed and had the two flames covering his body, he was unstoppable. The power of the attack was definitely at the Core and Soul Fusion Realm level.

The attacks barely passed through Kentucky's Dual Flames and were completely stopped by the blade-like feathers and scales under them. They weren't even able to reduce Kentucky's speed at all.

"What?!"

The cultivators panicked and tried to get out of Kentucky's way. Unfortunately for them, it was already too late.

*Boom!*

"Ahhhhhh!"

All three of them were swept away like ragdolls. The Black and White Flames covered their bodies as they collided several times with the ground before coming to a full stop. It was hard to tell whether they were alive or not.

The leader, who wasn't that worried at first, now had his eyes wide open.

"What the hell is that bird?!"

Quite a few of the Formation Masters sitting around the Red Crystal were also blasted away. The remaining ones looked at Kentucky with fear. However, Kentucky ignored them and pounced at the Red Crystal.

"Stop right there, chicken!"

The leader immediately tried to stop Kentucky. However, Wano's face showed a smile at that very moment.

'At least the bird is good for distraction.'