Gu Xuan’s face was cold and stern.
He was not joking with the two of them. Even though a commander-level figure personally accompanied and protected first-time youths leaving the city, every year there were still young Martial Artists who lost their lives due to carelessness. Those who had never personally encountered Demons and Ferocious Beasts could not imagine just how cunning and terrifying they were.
Seeing that Zhu Ping’an and Leng Tianjiao both nodded, Gu Xuan finally smiled.
“Don’t worry. As long as you don’t stray too far from me, I guarantee you will leave the city in one piece and return in one piece.”
At Gu Xuan’s signal, the massive city gates creaked open slowly.
Zhu Ping’an had originally thought that once the gates opened, he would see a hellish scene of corpses piled like mountains and blood flowing like rivers. Instead, the moment the gates opened, a fresh fragrance of osmanthus flowers rushed toward him.
Outside the city, birds chirped and flowers bloomed under bright sunshine. There was no visible danger at all.
If not for the dried dark-red bloodstains covering the city walls behind him, Zhu Ping’an might have doubted whether the tales of danger outside were merely exaggerated rumors.
“Don’t let your guard down. Ferocious Beasts and Demons near the city walls are shot down by the city defense army, which is why it’s so quiet here,” Gu Xuan said calmly.
He then asked Zhu Ping’an what mission he had accepted. When he learned that it was to hunt Fire Cicada Snakes, Gu Xuan let out a soft sound of surprise.
“Miss Leng, I remember your mission is also to hunt Fire Cicada Snakes, right?”
Leng Tianjiao nodded expressionlessly.
“Haha, that makes things easier,” Gu Xuan laughed. “Fire Cicada Snakes aren’t too difficult for 1st stage Martial Artists to deal with. If you two cooperate, it will be even more efficient. You handle the mission yourselves. I will only intervene if your lives are in danger.”
Gu Xuan led the two toward a mountain valley. Upon entering the valley, the temperature noticeably began to rise. Even beads of fine sweat appeared on Leng Tianjiao’s fair forehead.
“That’s a Fire Cicada Snake,” Gu Xuan pointed toward a crack in the cliff ahead.
There, a Fire Cicada Snake about 3 meters long, fiery red all over and equipped with four short legs, was lying there dozing.
Although it was called a snake, its appearance was clearly more like a lizard.
“Shall we attack together?” Zhu Ping’an asked Leng Tianjiao out of courtesy.
“No. I’m not used to cooperating with men.” Leng Tianjiao did not even glance at him. “You just stand here. After I kill eight Fire Cicada Snakes, I’ll give you four gallbladders.”
“So arrogant?” Zhu Ping’an chuckled.
“Don’t take it to heart.” Gu Xuan patted Zhu Ping’an on the shoulder. “She’s the eldest daughter of the Leng family and the only daughter of Old Master Leng. It’s normal for her to be proud.”
“The Leng family?” Zhu Ping’an’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The Leng family was undoubtedly the number one family in Qingcheng. The Leng family’s patriarch could even stand on equal footing with the Qingcheng City Lord.
There was even a saying circulating in Qingcheng: The Leng family stands firm like iron, while city lords come and go like flowing water.
If you offended the Qingcheng City Lord, you might not necessarily die. But if you offended the Leng family, you definitely would not see the next sunrise.
It had to be said that Leng Tianjiao truly had the right to be proud. As she attacked, countless dazzling ice lotuses bloomed around her, completely suppressing the Fire Cicada Snake. It was only a matter of time before she killed it.
If Zhu Ping’an had not practiced sword techniques for more than half a month under Elder Yin and Elder Yang, he would have had no chance of victory against Leng Tianjiao.
“Look there. There’s another Fire Cicada Snake!” Gu Xuan pointed in another direction. A Fire Cicada Snake was staring at them intently.
Zhu Ping’an said nothing and advanced with his sword.
Man and snake observed each other cautiously. The Fire Cicada Snake’s fangs carried fire poison. If bitten and not treated in time, even a 2nd stage Martial Artist could face mortal danger.
Therefore, Zhu Ping’an did not underestimate it. His gaze sharpened. He stepped forward and thrust his long sword toward the Fire Cicada Snake’s eye.
Sensing danger, the Fire Cicada Snake let out a hoarse hiss and dodged to the side. Its massive tail whipped toward Zhu Ping’an with force.
That tail was like a steel whip. If struck, at the very least, bones would fracture.
Zhu Ping’an reacted swiftly, withdrawing his sword and immediately executing the Nine Mountain Divine Sword.
“First form of the Nine Mountain Divine Sword, Sword Drawn, Mountain Split!”
A flash of sword light passed in an instant. With a slicing sound, a massive fiery-red tail fell to the ground, still writhing.
The severed wound of the Fire Cicada Snake was smooth as a mirror, blood spurting continuously. In pain, the snake became ferocious and lunged at Zhu Ping’an with its jaws wide open.
It had to be said that the Fire Cicada Snake was extremely intelligent. It chose its timing precisely. Zhu Ping’an had just executed the Nine Mountain Divine Sword and was at the moment when his old strength was spent and new strength had not yet arisen. He had no time to defend. Get faster updates on novelping . com.
Seeing this, Gu Xuan was already preparing to intervene when a sudden change occurred.
A short sword pierced upward from beneath the Fire Cicada Snake’s jaw at some unknown moment, driving straight into its brain. Blood sprayed wildly.
Gu Xuan was stunned. Even he had not seen when the short sword had appeared.
“You can dodge New Moon, but you can’t dodge Full Moon.”
Zhu Ping’an calmly pulled the short sword Full Moon from the snake’s body. He then cut it open and retrieved a gallbladder, placing it into his backpack.
He felt no fear at the bloody scene before him. Instead, he sensed a faint excitement.
A Level 1 Fire Cicada Snake had been taken down without him sustaining any injury.
Choosing to follow Elder Yin and Elder Yang had indeed been the right decision. If he had practiced alone in isolation, his progress would never have been this rapid.
Even Leng Tianjiao could not help but glance at Zhu Ping’an. He had attacked later than she did, yet he killed his Fire Cicada Snake at the same time as her. Did that not mean she was inferior?
Leng Tianjiao’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
From then on, it was as if Leng Tianjiao was secretly competing with Zhu Ping’an. She would wait until Zhu Ping’an found a new Fire Cicada Snake before launching her full attack on her own prey.
When she saw that Zhu Ping’an was slower than her this time, her brows finally relaxed.
Her small actions did not escape Zhu Ping’an’s notice. He chuckled and shook his head. He had no intention of competing with her. Instead, he began focusing on tempering his real combat ability.
When facing the second Fire Cicada Snake, he used only the long sword New Moon. This time, it took him twice as long as the first to kill it.
When facing the third Fire Cicada Snake, he deliberately refrained from using New Moon and fought solely with the short sword Full Moon. This time, it took even longer.
When facing the fourth Fire Cicada Snake, Zhu Ping’an even fought barehanded, grappling with it like a wild man.
He was quickly injured. Yet under the pressure of life-and-death danger, his real combat techniques improved rapidly. This method of training, as if binding his own hands, made Gu Xuan watch with his heart in his throat, hesitating repeatedly over whether to step in.
Only Zhu Ping’an himself understood that if he did not desperately strengthen himself while protected by the plot and unable to die, then one day he truly would die in the jaws of a Ferocious Beast.