“Xinyue, retreat quickly!”
Seeing the python raise its head again, Li Shuo cast another Fireball and pulled Li Xinyue back at full speed.
However, the python would not let go of prey already within reach, and instantly lunged at Li Shuo.
Although Li Shuo was at the second layer of Qi Condensation, his meager spiritual power would be exhausted after casting just a few more Fireballs. He could only rely on his years of life-and-death experience, using his innate expert internal energy and martial arts to dodge.
Yet after a short while, he was still facing mortal peril.
Was he going to die here?
Li Shuo was deeply unwilling. After years of martial arts practice and countless bloody struggles, he had finally stepped onto the path of Cultivation. He had yet to witness the heights of the cultivation world-how could he die in a place like this?!
At that thought, he drew the heavy sword from his back and hurled it at the python. Though the heavy sword was merely a mortal weapon, it struck squarely into the python’s maw and still managed to wound the beast!
In its agony, the python grew fiercely enraged. It let out a roar, spitting a blade of wind from its jaws that shattered the heavy sword. The python surged straight toward Li Shuo, determined to swallow him whole!
“Whoosh!”
At that exact moment, an arrow whistled in from the side, striking the snake squarely in the eye. The python’s head jerked aside as blood splattered in all directions. Li Shuo arched his waist backward, flipping a Lightning Bolt Talisman straight into the snake’s open mouth. “Strike!”
In an instant, thunder detonated inside the serpent’s mouth, sending shattered teeth and bloody flesh spraying everywhere!
Though severely wounded and with its jaw nearly blown apart, the python was still not dead. Its single remaining eye flashed with malice, and its tail lashed out at Li Shuo, sending him flying dozens of meters away.
“Brother!”
Hiding in the distance, Li Xinyue shrieked at the sight, her eyes splitting with grief and rage!
“Water Cloud Talisman, strike!”
Seeing the python still charging toward him, Li Shuo triggered four Water Cloud Talismans simultaneously. Instantly, the area became shrouded in a dense, misty haze. The python was already at the end of its strength, and amidst the thick water vapor, it lost track of Li Shuo entirely, thrashing its tail wildly in every direction.
Branches and mud were churned up as the python’s vision became utterly blocked. It tried to sense the location of the damned human, but with its head severely injured, it could not gather its focus. Every attempt to concentrate only aggravated the agonizing pain, driving it into a frenzy of madness!
After rampaging for a long while, the beast gradually grew still. The mist slowly dissipated, and Li Shuo peeked out from behind a withered tree, looking at the massive snake carcass sprawled on the ground. The surrounding terrain was utterly devastated, with layers of earth scraped away.
Crying, Li Xinyue hurried toward him, but Li Shuo quickly shouted to stop her, “Xinyue, I’m fine! Don’t come over!”
Even a centipede dies hard; though the python appeared dead, there was no telling if it still harbored the strength to kill!
Li Xinyue halted her steps, but by then she was already very close to the serpent’s body. The python, which had seemed motionless, suddenly reared its head to strike her. Before it could reach her, however, an arrow shot from afar pinned it firmly to the ground.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
Several more arrows flew in, sinking deep into its body. Only after confirming the python was completely lifeless did a figure step out from the shadows.
“It’s you?”
The newcomer wore ordinary flax-gray garments that seemed to blend seamlessly with the surroundings, making him exceptionally difficult to detect. He carried a large bow, and while his appearance was plain, his expression was fiercely stern. Feeling an oppressive wave of blood-aura wash over her, Li Xinyue quickly lowered her gaze and bowed in salute.
“Greetings, Brother Ye. Thank you for saving our lives.”
As it turned out, the one who had saved them was none other than Ye Fan!
“Many thanks for your life-saving grace, Brother Ye. I never imagined your strength would be so formidable!”
Li Shuo also emerged from behind the withered tree, cupping his fists toward Ye Fan.
“I merely happened to arrive at the right time. If you hadn’t used the Lightning Bolt Talisman to heavily injure it, I certainly wouldn’t have dared to show myself!”
Putting his large bow away into his Storage Bag, Ye Fan’s stern expression softened slightly. Before Li Shuo could reply, he waved his hand and spoke briskly, “This place is no spot to linger. Let’s move!”
With that, he hoisted the python’s corpse onto his shoulder and moved off at high speed.
Seeing him carry away the beast, Li Xinyue wanted to say something, but her brother checked her with a glance. “Let’s leave quickly as well. The smell of blood here is far too heavy.”
The siblings hurried after him.
Not until they reached the safe outermost perimeter of the Qilian Mountains did the siblings finally breathe a sigh of relief. Ye Fan, whose expression had remained tight the entire way, also relaxed and took the initiative to converse with them. “I never expected you two to be so bold as to venture deep into the Qilian Mountains!”
“We wouldn’t dare,” Li Shuo said with a bitter smile. “My sister and I were tracking a Great Bar Sheep, lost track of time, and accidentally wandered deep into the mountains.”
“As for Brother Ye, your extraordinary strength is truly admirable for coming out here to hunt!”
“To be honest, I also came to hunt the Great Bar Sheep. But Brother Li and your sister were rather reckless, charging straight in and disturbing this Devouring Heaven Python, which let that Great Bar Sheep escape.” The source of this chapter is NovelPing.
Ye Fan halted and glanced at Li Shuo. Li Shuo cupped his fists and said solemnly, “Brother Ye saved both our lives, and my sister and I are endlessly grateful. A grace of this magnitude is hard to repay even with the utmost devotion.
“Though this Devouring Heaven Python was slain by Brother Ye, I did contribute a measure of effort. Having nothing of value on hand to properly express our gratitude, I can only offer this meager token-I hope Brother Ye will not take offense.”
“Do you take me for someone looking to monopolize your share of the Devouring Heaven Python?” Ye Fan asked with a light laugh.
“Isn’t that so?”
Li Xinyue spoke up first. “Little sister knows we owe you our lives, but my brother was struck by the python and is injured. We truly have nothing left of value-we can’t even produce a single Spirit Stone.”
Seeing her blunt manner-clearly distressed over the Spirit Stones yet forced by duty to acknowledge the debt-Ye Fan found her somewhat amusing. “I’ll take this Devouring Heaven Python to be sold, and we can split the resulting Spirit Stones equally. How about that?”
“That won’t do,” Li Shuo waved his hand. “If not for Brother Ye, my sister and I would be dead. How could we possibly take a share of your Spirit Stones?”
“If Brother Li feels troubled by it, consider it a debt. Treating your injuries is what matters most right now.”
Spirit Stones were precious, and even Ye Fan was not about to pretend extravagant generosity.
“Very well then, thank you, Brother Ye.”
Li Shuo cupped his hands in gratitude. For cultivators, the physical body was paramount, especially for low-level practitioners whose foundations were already fragile. If internal injuries were left untreated, the chance of advancing along the immortal path would become even slimmer.
“Actually, I did wish to ask Brother Li something. Where did you acquire your Water Cloud Talismans? At such a critical juncture, they played a vital role, and I would like to purchase some myself for emergencies,” Ye Fan inquired casually.
“Ah, those were crafted by a good friend of mine. If Brother Ye wishes to buy some, I can help procure them for you,” Li Shuo replied with a polite bow.
“A friend of Brother Li’s… he must also be from Luoxia Mountain. Might I be introduced?”
As Ye Fan turned to look at him, Li Shuo paused in slight surprise. Water Cloud Talismans were hardly rare treasures; why was Ye Fan so keen on meeting the maker?
Nevertheless, since Ye Fan was their benefactor, he saw no reason to conceal it. “Indeed so. My friend is already acquainted with Brother Ye. Once I return and mention this, I am sure he will be pleased.”
Li Shuo answered tactfully, implying that any introduction would first require consulting his friend.
Ye Fan nodded slightly, his impression of Li Shuo improving another notch. “That sounds excellent.”