Outside the spaceship, the crow "quack" resounded in the sky.

From the screen, these creatures have no intelligence, they represent ominous creatures, their eyes are blood-red, and those small red eyes have the madness of beasts.

"With a laser cannon." Ludwig calmly gave the order.

Su Ma, who was in charge of the shell shooting, turned out the laser cannon, and under the outer side of the ship's hull, the muzzle of the gun turned to aim at the crow flock.

A blinding bright white beam shot out from the swarthy cannon barrel, and as the laser beam moved, a white line was drawn on the pure black crow flying carpet.

Although the laser cannon attack was very lethal, it did not stop the overwhelming flock of crows, nor did it have any deterrent effect on these crows. Instead, more crows swooped down on them like crazy, demonstrating to humans in this way of not fearing death, sending them the message that their own race was endless and could never be killed.

At this time, these ugly-faced crows are like flocks of death dressed in black.

"These are no ordinary crows." Neil said lightly, his tone undulating without a hint of hebbing. "I once saw a pet dog that had been hungry for more than ten days, and from its eyes, I could see the pain of being tortured by hunger, but more of a frenzy and longing."

"You mean these crows have gone crazy with hunger?"

"Perhaps." Neil said.

All four people on the ship fell silent.

The crow swarm flew out of the only terrestrial mangrove forest in the merfolk land, and if they landed, they would undoubtedly enter the crow's nest. It was still some time before midnight, and when they landed on land at this time, they would inevitably have to go head-to-head with a flock of crows, which would consume too much of their body and firepower.

"Retreat." Ludwig contacted Cong Yi with a communicator, explained his judgment and concluded, "We can't land, and below is the crow's nest." ”

"No, the crows can't get into the clearing that leads to the Merfolk Temple, we just need to walk through this group of crows to get there."

"How do you know?" Cong Yi's categorical tone made Su curious.

On the other side of the communicator, Cong Yi chuckled lightly and did not answer her.

Ludwig did not question Cong Yi's judgment, he immediately gave instructions: "Su and I go out to clear the way for the spaceship, Shen Ling, you assist Neil in piloting the spaceship, as soon as we leave, open the protective shield, you must use the safest speed through the crow flock to reach the clearing below." ”

"You don't have to leave the ship, we can rely on the protective shield to get through the crow swarm." Shen Ling's gaze fell on Ludwig's body, and after he came back, his eyes followed Ludwig closely for a long time.

"No one can be sure if the shield has managed to pass through these crows, after all, these are no ordinary crows. The flexibility of the spaceship's attack is not enough, there will definitely be crows coming from the angle that the spaceship cannot attack, the flexibility of the fighter is very strong, and Su and I can ensure the greatest safety. ”

Ludwig also looked at Shen Ling, his gaze was cold, Shen Ling seemed to be just an ordinary subordinate in his sight, but Shen Ling could read responsibility and concern from that gaze.

Shen Ling was once again sure in his heart that he was really not the little prince who lived in the Garden of Eden before, and now he was like a mountain that would never collapse, so reliable and trustworthy.

Su tapped Shen Ling twice on his tense shoulder. "Take it easy, this kind of Cheng Dù's task is just a piece of food for me and His Highness, just a few miscellaneous birds."

Ludwig and Su left the spaceship and drove the fighter plane to guard the wings of the spaceship, they were like two strong iron wings, spreading a strong protective circle for the spaceship, shooting all the crows that approached the spaceship.

The three White Ghosts also disembarked from the spaceship, and the fighters they flew were old, but their attack power was not inferior to that of Ludwig's side.

Contrary to the casual way of fighting in the past, the three White Ghosts stood guard beside their ship like well-trained soldiers, and for them, the only person in the ship was the one they had to protect at the risk of their lives.

The ship activated its protective shield and acceleration system and swooped down towards the crows.

Soon, the two ships and five warplanes were like pebbles thrown into the black tide, and they were immediately swallowed up by the crow swarm.

The moonlight-white transparent shield enveloped the spaceship in it, and countless crows slammed into the shield, and the shockwave of the impact bloomed on the shield like ripples.

Ludwig and Sue shot at the outer flock of crows in the direction of the shield, trying to soften the impact of some of the crow swarms on the cover. But it was clear that their efforts were particularly weak in the face of a horrible flock of crows.

Ash suddenly reminded Shen Ling in his mind, "This is a strange beast." It paused, then added, "Or, rather, mutated crows, the ship's shields can't completely withstand their attacks."

"How can there be so many crows here?" Shen Ling asked Ash suspiciously, "Have you ever seen a crow in this place before?"

"They don't belong on this planet, I think, someone brought them in."

"Someone entered the Merfolk Temple?"

"This question can only be answered when we enter the temple."

There was a "bang", something slammed into the ship, only a loud "bang" was heard, and something broke.

A sharp siren sounded on the ship, flashing red lights that represented danger.

Neil had pulled up the image, and above the ship, a giant black bird, twice the size of their ship, had used the ship as some kind of toy, grabbing the sharp ends of the ship with its claws, and grabbing her towards the ocean.

The raven in front of it automatically made way for it, dividing a wide passage through the black sea of ravens like Moses dividing the sea.

Ludwig and Sue followed the giant raven and attacked it with particle cannons. But the powerful cannon fire was like a pebble falling on the crow king.

It didn't care about the two little flies that followed him, but it was annoyed by the interruption, and it "quacked" twice, and the crow flock behind it immediately surrounded Ludwig and Sue.

The Raven King swooped down, grabbing the ship and skimming low above the sea.

The spaceship was turned upside down by it, and although they had seat belts on their bodies, Shen Ling and Neil were still very uncomfortable, and they were a little sick to their stomachs by the bumps.

At the third low sweep of the Raven King, the sea water suddenly shook violently, and a tentacle with pink flesh and two rows of dense fleshy suction cups burst out from the sea, accurately grasping the spaceship, and countless suction cups were firmly glued to the smooth outer wall of the spaceship, judging from the size of this tentacle, its owner would definitely not be smaller than this Raven King.

In the camera screen inside the spaceship, there were those dense suction cups glued to the outer wall of the spaceship, these pink with some jet black, the number of suction cups that made people's hearts numb successfully made Shen Ling vomit out, and he closed his eyes and refused to look at it again.

After closing his eyes, Shen Ling suddenly felt as if his body was slowly heating up, as if a heater had been installed in his body, and his internal organs seemed to be roasted by a fire.

Neil's psychological element was better than Shen Ling's, but he was shocked by this terrible picture, and his face turned pale for a while, and he closed his eyes.

The Raven King seemed to be waiting for this moment, grabbing the ship and flying upwards to drag the owner of the tentacles out beneath the surface of the sea. More tentacles poured out from beneath the surface, but their target was not the ship, but the crow that clung to it.

The Raven King quacked excitedly, and his subjects flew down to peck at the tentacles that jutted out of the sea.

There are tentacles sticking out from under the sea, but the tentacles sticking out from behind are much smaller than the first time.

The crow pecked frantically at the tentacles, and the tentacles mercilessly carried the crows to the water by the suction cups, and soon, a layer of black oily crow corpses and broken tentacles floated on the surface of the water.

At this time, Ludwig and Sue, who were following them with significantly fewer crows, had already seen it.

The crows didn't want to fight them at all, they had only one purpose, and that was the octopus monsters under the sea, and to the crows, they were just bait.

The two flew to the brink of a battle between the Raven and the Octopus Monster, and Ludwig locked on to the location of the ship captured by the Raven King, holding his breath, observing the battlefield, ready to rush in and take the ship back at any moment.

Sue was disgusted by these monsters that came out of the sea, it was not the most severe battlefield she had ever faced, but it was definitely the most disgusting battlefield, but she did not dare to follow Ludwig in the slightest.

The three White Ghosts also passed through the crow layer and followed Ludwig, who had safely carried Cong Yi to the clearing.

The Raven King bit the other tentacle of the giant octopus, and it let go of its claws gripping the ship.

When it was too late, Ludwig shouted, "Go! ”

Before he could finish speaking, his fighter plane had already broken through the web of countless crows and tentacles and rushed towards their ship.

But the opportunity was fleeting, and the giant octopus abandoned one of its tentacles and sank into the sea with the spaceship in its arms.

All the Raven King got was its tentacles, which it flicked outwards in anger and swooped down several times at the surface of the sea, but its claws only caught a few small octopus monsters each time.

The enraged Raven King once again turned his gaze to the warplanes that had rushed into their battlefield.

……

After being caught in the sea, except for always being turned upside down by the octopus monster, there is nothing unusual about the inside of the ship, the ship is very strong, the sealing facilities are very good, and the sea water will not overflow.

Seeing the seawater, Shen Ling felt relieved as if he had seen his hometown. Moreover, the temperature from the inside to the outside has affected his brain. He now felt as if he had been thrown into a fire, and desperately needed cold water to cool himself.

Shen Ling didn't have time to explain to Neil that the heat was about to cook him, and he needed seawater!

He unfastened his harness, transformed into a mermaid in front of Neil, and flew towards the ship's hatch.

Neil glanced at Shen Ling silently, didn't ask anything, he decisively unbuckled his seat belt and followed behind Shen Ling.

The ship that was towed into the sea was not a safe place, he was familiar with the nature of the water, and it might be safer to be outside the ship.

Embraced by the cold seawater, the heat in Shen Ling's body was slightly relieved. His consciousness also came to his senses, and he could clearly see the situation at the bottom of the sea, and immediately looked around at their current situation.

The giant octopus was dragging their ship and was rapidly swimming deeper to the bottom of the ocean, not noticing that the two people inside the ship were no longer there.

Around them, there are countless unknown fish, including a small octopus monster that has fled all the way down with the octopus monster.

Shen Ling glanced under the sea, avoiding the octopus monster, the bottom of the sea in his eyes was deep and bottomless, and there was a light blue light flickering one after another, like a lighthouse built in the underwater world.

What's that?

Shen Ling only thought about it for a second and decided not to spend time thinking about those unbelievable existences, this was a dangerous sea area, he had to hurry up and get out of here.

He held out his hand to Neil.

As soon as Neil grabbed his hand, he swam towards the surface of the sea with all his might.

They hadn't been swimming long before the giant octopus monster had already discovered their escape. The octopus angrily slapped the sea with its remaining seven tentacles, chasing after them.

Soon, the tentacles of the octopus monster more than ten meters long had already touched Shen Ling's fish tail. But with just a slight touch, Shen Ling immediately accelerated and distanced himself from it.

This insignificant distance was quickly overtaken by the octopus monster, his sucker stuck to Shen Ling's tail, and the other tentacle even encircled Neil's whole person.

Ash had already jumped out of Shen Ling's consciousness and scuffled with the octopus monster, but more small octopus monsters entangled him.

These strange beasts, they can touch the ash of the soul state!

Ash was no match for them, Shen Ling couldn't break free from the tentacles that were entangled around him, and Neil was clearly showing symptoms of drowning.

At this moment, Shen Ling once again felt the burning heat in his body, as if a flame was squeezing his internal organs, about to jump out of his body.

Shen Ling heard a familiar voice.

The voice was so kind, it kindled all his hopes in an instant.

"Mermaid cub, you see, you really can't do it without me!"

On the sea, the five warplanes were no longer able to resist the Raven King and his people.

They are just resisting stubbornly, although the bullets are abundant, and although the fighters are strong, they can't withstand such a crazy attack by the crows. What's more, the Raven King seemed to be just joking with them in a good mood.

Ludwig could not let everyone sacrifice meaninglessly here, he could only grit his teeth and give the order to return.

Sue was reluctant to return, but she could not refuse Ludwig's orders, he was her superior.

The three of them are different, and S said angrily: "Xiao Ling and the coffin face are still below!" You're not going to save them? ”

"Go back, and I'll take care of the rest." Ludwig looked at the sea and said flatly.

He has already decided to turn into a dragon and these crows, although after he becomes a dragon, the loss of his body will be very fast, but as long as he grits his teeth and persists... He's persevered so many times, he just needs to persevere......

At this time, Ludwig was trying his best to suppress himself, even if he didn't bend his means, he would bring Shen Ling out, but his responsibility as a leader told him that he couldn't take others to death with him.

"Big hero, what are you going to do at this time?" S scoffed, piloting the spaceship to blast out several crows that were approaching.

"Eldest sister, in fact, His Royal Highness the Prince is right, we should return." Xia said calmly, "Our most important purpose is to protect the principal. ”

"Idiot Bird!" S scolded loudly, and increased his firepower to bombard the Raven King who was fighting with them.

The Raven King screamed sharply and rushed towards S's fighter.

It grabbed S's fighter in its hand and demonstrated to other fighters like a toy.

"Bastard!" Natsu excitedly wanted to rush over and die with the Raven King.

The old K, who noticed his affection, stopped him. "Calm down."

At this moment, the sea suddenly rippled round and round, and the ripples became denser and denser, and in the center of the ripples, a blazing blinding flame broke through the sea surface and rushed into the sky.

Whether it was the octopus monster or the crow flock, they were forced dozens of meters away by this flame.

It was a big fiery red bird visible to the naked eye, and his wide flame wings were hovering and soaring in the sky, majestic and majestic, like a god in the air.

The phoenix bird controls the flames on his body, so his flames are not eye-catching.

"Phoenix!" Natsu shouted in surprise.

Although the others didn't call out the name, in their hearts, they all knew that this was the real phoenix.

A phoenix that flew out of the sea, its feathers not soaked in the sea at all.

Ludwig remembered Shen Ling's soul beast, and he was almost certain that this phoenix was the one that often hid in Shen Ling's mind and spied on them. But Shen Ling obviously has no soul power, why is this phoenix still so powerful and turned into an entity.

Ludwig was worried about Shen Ling, and soon, he saw Shen Ling and Neil sitting on the claws of the phoenix.

Sue and the White Ghost also saw them.

Old K sighed in disbelief: "This guy won't hook up with Phoenix after a trip to the sea, right?" ”

The appearance of the phoenix is a powerful threat to both the octopus monsters at the bottom of the sea and the crow flock on the sea. The innate difference in rank of the beasts made them all tremble and fear under the pressure of the phoenix.

Flames erupted from Phoenix's mouth, aiming at the Raven King, who was trying to escape, and his wings were ignited, and he threw down S's fighter plane and fled into the woods in a panic with his people.

The phoenix's second flame breath had already chased after it, and the crows screamed and fell into the sea.

The octopus monster even shrank under the sea in unison, and no flesh-pink tentacles emerged from the sea.

"Whew-"

The phoenix let out a clear and high phoenix roar, sending his warning to the two alien beasts that dominated the planet.

Shen Ling, who was sitting on his phoenix claws, suddenly felt that his whole body was out of strength, his hands holding the phoenix were released, and the whole person fell backwards. Neil helped him up just in time, but he was already unconscious.

It was already dark, and the group lit a bonfire in the clearing.

It's not the kind of electrically controlled bonfire, but a real bonfire made from broken wood in the woods.

After a battle, everyone felt tired, there was no ** to talk to, just eating their own nutrients.

Shen Ling was even more tired and drowsy, but he still had a lot of questions he wanted to ask Phoenix.

The leaping flames reflected in Shen Ling's pupils, and the phoenix's voice occupied his entire brain.

The noisy phoenix began again, chattering and boasting about its abilities.

"Those little miscellaneous hairs, if I hadn't regained all my strength now, hum!"

The noise of the phoenix made Shen Ling particularly kind and nostalgic.

Ash was very silent, and if it wasn't necessary, he would basically not communicate with Shen Ling. In the days when the phoenix was away, no one was talking in his head, and Shen Ling always felt that something was missing.

But now, Shen Ling still has a stomach of questions he wants to ask Phoenix.

"How did you suddenly become a physical entity?"

"Ahem, shouldn't you compliment me on being handsome compared to this?"

"And where have you been all this time?"

「……」

Seeing that Phoenix didn't want to say much, Shen Ling didn't want to force him.

"I guess I know what happened to Phoenix." Ash said quietly, and Shen Ling unexpectedly heard a hint of teasing from Ash's tone.

"Hey, stupid cat, shut up, I'll speak for myself." Phoenix adjusted, hesitantly explaining, "I've absorbed a lot of energy." He paused for a moment, and seemed to have made a lot of determination before continuing to say the following words, "Your soul energy has been absorbed by me, as well as all the energy you absorbed in the lake water of the alien beast planet in those ten years."

「……」

"Hey, mermaid cub, I didn't mean to absorb it, who told you to overflow all your energy. If I don't absorb it, it's a waste!"

Phoenix's suddenly raised tone showed the weakness of his heart.

Shen Ling thought that the phoenix might be worried that he blamed him, but in fact, Shen Ling had already regarded the phoenix and the gray as a part of himself, and their strength was undoubtedly his own strength, not to mention that the phoenix was a natal soul beast closely connected to him.

"You're still the best looking when you're a phoenix bird." The corners of Shen Ling's mouth hooked.

"Of course!" The phoenix's tail immediately cocked. "It's just that the energy is used up too quickly, and you can't supply me with soul power now, and if it appears for too long, it will cause your body to drain too quickly, it's really troublesome......

"I can't help this." Shen Ling shrugged, "All my savings for so many years have been eaten up by you."

The phoenix had nothing to say, and a few minutes later, Shen Ling fell asleep leaning on Ludwig.

The others also staggered to sleep, leaving only Ludwig and Cong Yi awake.

Cong Yi pulled the bonfire with thick branches, and asked casually, "Is your eldest brother okay?" ”

"You know him?"

"I guess I know each other."

"I didn't hear him mention you."

Cong Yi smiled helplessly, turned his head to look at Shen Ling, who was sleeping soundly, and his gaze immediately softened.

He has already found the child he lost back then, and all that remains is to find the teacher. After doing this qiē, he will return to the planet D14, where he will spend the rest of his life with his children.

As for other things, other people, it doesn't matter to him.

Finally, midnight came.

The mysterious transparent block staircase, encased in a soft glow, appeared in the darkness of the night, winding its way to the mysterious sky.

Everyone was awakened, changed into thermostats, and began the journey up the steps.

Unlike the first time the White Ghosts came here just to detect, this time they came to reach the top. So everyone couldn't help but quicken their pace and walk towards the top of the steps.

The time in his mind showed that Shen Ling knew that it had only been half an hour since they stepped on the steps, and he, in his monotonous upward movements, always felt that time had passed a long, long time.

The whistling cool breeze blew, because he was wearing a thermostatic suit, Shen Ling didn't feel cold, but he still couldn't help but tremble when he heard the whirring sound.

It's almost there, the place where the merfolk sing.

The few people who had climbed this Grim Reaper's staircase couldn't help but think.

However, they did not hear the singing.

The singing voice that could penetrate the earbuds and go directly into their brains did not appear, nor did the apparition of the mermaid.

There was an eerie silence between heaven and earth, and in the darkness, everyone had the illusion that there were countless eyes staring at them. It was as if in the next moment, someone would suddenly jump out and push them down the narrow steps.

However, still nothing happened.

They reached the top of the stairs, which seemed to be far from the limit, and it was much shorter than they had imagined.

Eight people stood at the top of the stairs and looked up at the world.

As far as the eye can see, there are white and soft clouds, but there is nothing but them.

They looked up, and a few kilometers above them, there was another dense cloud cover. The faint silvery-white beam of light cast from the clouds above illuminates the clouds below as if they were heavenly, giving the illusion that an angel will appear from here at any moment.

But the eight people all know that there will be no angels here, this is just a sea of clouds, nothing more.

The qiē in front of them made them understand, and the qiē preparation they had made suddenly turned into a joke, this was not the entrance to the mermaid temple at all.

It's just a well-prepared scam for explorers.