Shang Xia understood everything after thinking about the events that transpired. 

The Lightning Bird was definitely the creature that led the flock of Mutated Rain Swallows. Moreover, it seemed to possess a large harem of female Mutated Rain Swallows.

From the looks of things, it was able to lead the flock because of the power of lightning it harnessed.

As Mutated Rain Swallows yearned for the power of lightning, the Lightning Bird was able to attract many partners. 

Everything changed for the Mutated Rain Swallow when Shang Xia captured it. It not only managed to feel the familiar power of lightning around him, it also enjoyed the benefits of bathing in the ball of lightning he summoned.

When it was part of the Lightning Bird’s harem, it was only able to receive the wonderful lightning it desired occasionally due to the Lightning Bird’s limited stamina.

After interacting with Shang Xia for a short period of time, the Mutated Rain Swallow enjoyed several times more joy compared to when it followed the Lightning Bird.

Comparing the two, the Lightning Bird was barely able to fulfill its desires once every few months. Shang Xia allowed it to bask in lightning several times a day… There was no need to compare the two!

It was faced with a clear choice!

Forsaking its original partner, the Mutated Rain Swallow remained loyally by Shang Xia’s side. Everything was so that it could enjoy the power of lightning whenever it wanted!

That was also why the Mutated Rain Swallow refused to run away when he was asleep. It even protected him in his slumber!

The time he spent with it while returning to the place the convoy once got raided confirmed his guesses even further!

Even without any restrictions around it, the bird seemed to be hell bent on following Shang Xia.

What Shang Xia couldn’t understand was the Lightning Bird’s actions. It had been following Shang Xia around since he awakened, and Shang Xia couldn’t help but think that it was still trying to find a chance to retrieve its lover.

He cursed the bird several times in his heart. 

Why the hell are you so adamant about this Mutated Rain Swallow? Don’t you have the rest of your harem to care about?!

He didn’t wait long to realize that he was wrong. The interaction between the two birds was minimal. Even when the Mutated Rain Swallow chirped naggily at it, the Lightning Bird would reply curtly. No male in the right mind would do that if they were trying to regain the love of their woman…

Even though it had been following Shang Xia, the Lightning Bird made no attempts to attack. Eventually, Shang Xia gave up and allowed it to follow slowly behind him.

…

Looking at the Lightning Bird in the distance, a weird look formed in Shang Xia’s eyes. 

“Does it have something to ask of me?” Shang Xia wondered. After all, its actions were too suspicious.

“Chirp chirp!” 

Too bad Shang Xia didn’t speak bird. He turned to the Mutated Rain Swallow for an explanation, and the little bird hovered in the air before him. The feathers on its body puffed up before returning to normal, and it repeated several more times.

Thinking about it for a second, he guessed, “Does it want to bathe in my lightning?” 

The Mutated Rain Swallow cried out several times and it turned a little despondent. 

The Lightning Bird snapped urgently, and it seemed to be blaming the Mutated Rain Swallow for meddling in its business.

As the Mutated Rain Swallow turned to stare at the Lightning Bird, it started to chirp angrily again. Even if Shang Xia didn’t know bird talk, he could tell that the Mutated Rain Swallow was scolding the Lightning Bird.

Shaking its head, the Lightning Bird eventually lowered its head. 

After thinking about it, Shang Xia gathered another ball of lightning in his hand before looking at the Lightning Bird.

Flapping its wings, the Lightning Bird turned its head away as though it didn’t care about Shang Xia’s gesture.

Chuckling helplessly, Shang Xia understood what the bird was feeling. The amount of lightning he gathered was enough for the Mutated Rain Swallow to enjoy itself, but it was far from enough for the stronger Lightning Bird.

“Chirp chirp…” The Mutated Rain Swallow cried out softly as it looked at Shang Xia.

Sighing inwardly, he wouldn’t lower himself to argue with the little winged creatures. As his inner qi surged, the ball of lightning in his hand grew larger.

The faint golden lightning grew brighter, and a trace of red could be seen within.

The Lightning Bird stared at Shang Xia’s hand instantly. Leaping around, it raised its head slightly. 

Hehe, you’re not being honest with yourself…

Shang Xia sneered. The lightning in his hand grew even stronger and a reddish hue overpowered the gold.

The Lightning Bird no longer hesitated. Leaping off the tree, it shot towards Shang Xia’s hand.

Who would have thought that Shang Xia would retrieve his energy at the last second, scattering the lightning ball?

Crying out in displeasure, the Lightning Bird flapped its wings and tried returning to the tree before. However, the space around it started to solidify and no matter how hard it struggled, it couldn’t move an inch.

Shang Xia walked over slowly and stopped when the bird was struggling at his chest level. The ball of lightning slowly reappeared in his palm again as he addressed it. “Why should I give it to you?” 

The Lightning Bird was stumped. Now, the female cultivator, Yan Ming, wasn’t there to work with it! In a fit of desperation, it could only cry out desperately.

Shang Xia stared at it while walking a complete circle around the creature. He examined it closely.

He didn’t forget how the Lightning Bird tried to take his life several times back in the forest when it worked together with Yan Ming…

Now that it fell into his trap, Shang Xia felt that it should be thanking the gods that it didn’t turn into bird barbecue. Of course, it had something to do with Yan Ni’er too. 

Oh right… Yan Ni’er was the name Shang Xia gave to the Mutated Rain Swallow after it started following him.

“Chirp, chirp…” Yan Ni’er chirped softly by his ear as she tried to beg him for mercy.

Chuckling softly, Shang Xia eventually released the ball of lightning in his hands once again. The Lightning Bird that was screaming desperately fell silent.

“You’re a glutton too…” Muttering softly, he directed the lightning in his palm towards the Lightning Bird’s lips.

The damn bird was an absolute thief. It didn’t show any gratitude at all as it swallowed as much as it could. When more than half of it was gone, it released a mighty cry.

Shang Xia reacted quickly by closing his palm.

“Chirp… Chirp…” The Lightning Bird quickly expressed its displeasure. Flicking his finger, he hit the damn bird’s head. “What are you shouting for?! If you want it, you’ll have to look for the owner of this item!”

Shang Xia could tell that the Lightning Bird was on the verge of breaking through. He could understand its thought process. There wasn’t a single cultivator who didn’t wish to break through.

In order to do so, the Lightning Bird would usually charge into the clouds to receive baptism from the endless lightning stored within. Those who succeeded would experience a fundamental transformation. Those who didn’t would be turned into ashes.

Since Shang Xia’s body contained the power of heavenly lightning, not only could he assist the Lightning Bird in its breakthrough, it could also reduce the risk significantly!

After he spoke, he tossed a bunch of items onto the ground. Those items belonged to the students of the institution, and they were scattered all over the place. Several of them belonged to the outer disciples and they had been deliberately buried underground.

Due to the sudden changes in the geography in the battlefield between two worlds, the cleanup crew failed to pick them up.

Shang Xia didn’t know if the Lightning Bird had the same sense of smell as a dog, but he knew that it definitely had amazing eyesight. As long as the bird gave its all, he might be able to locate his fellow disciples.

Moreover, Shang Xia’s plan didn’t just involve the Lightning Bird. One couldn’t forget that the Lightning Bird was the leader of the flock of Mutated Rain Swallows!

Shang Xia’s plan had long since taken them into account once he subdued Yan Ni’er.