"I’m ending this... with one strike."
The Cloud Swallow Python let out a furious hiss.
Its enormous body became a streak of white as it shot toward Scarlet at terrifying speed.
The distance between them closed in an instant.
Scarlet didn’t move. Her crimson eyes remained fixed on the python’s neck.
Closer...
Closer...
Even Raeshan narrowed his eyes.
Only when the python’s fangs were less than a meter away did Scarlet move.
Whoosh!
Her figure vanished.
The Seven Feather Movement Technique erupted to its limit.
She appeared beneath the python’s jaw. The Crimson Flame Sword drew a brilliant crimson arc.
"Second Form..."
"Setting Sun!"
Slash!
The sword sliced deep into the python’s neck. Blood sprayed through the cave. Yet the attack still wasn’t enough to sever its head.
The python roared in pain.
Its enormous tail whipped toward Scarlet with explosive force.
Bang!
Scarlet was sent flying.
She slammed into a stone pillar.
Crack!
The pillar shattered.
A mouthful of blood escaped her lips.
Her arms trembled violently.
The Crimson Flame Sword nearly slipped from her grasp.
The python didn’t give her a moment to recover.
It lunged again. Its bloodstained jaws opened wide.
Scarlet forced herself to stand.
Her spiritual qi was almost exhausted.
Her vision blurred.
"So this... is the limit of the Seventh Stage..."
She bit her lip.
"No..."
"I can’t lose."
"I promised Master."
She took a deep breath.
Instead of retreating, she rushed forward.
The distance between her and the python rapidly closed.
The Cloud Swallow Python struck first. Its massive tail swept toward her.
Scarlet’s figure flickered.
Whoosh!
She narrowly avoided the attack.
The tail smashed into the cave wall.
Boom!
Countless rocks rained down from above.
Without slowing down, Scarlet continued forward.
Ten meters.
Five meters.
Three meters.
The python suddenly twisted its body. Its jaws snapped toward her from the side.
Scarlet’s pupils contracted.
There was no room to dodge.
At that critical moment, she instinctively changed her footing. The Seven Feather Movement Technique carried her body just far enough to avoid the deadly bite.
The python’s fangs brushed past her shoulder, tearing her sleeve and leaving a thin line of blood across her skin.
Ignoring the pain, Scarlet stepped directly beneath its head. She gathered every remaining strand of spiritual qi into her sword.
The Crimson Flame Sword shone with dazzling crimson light.
Its blade hummed excitedly.
Scarlet’s breathing became calm.
The world seemed to slow.
She saw only one opening.
The wounded spot on the python’s neck.
She raised her sword.
"Second Form..."
Her voice was steady.
"...Setting Sun."
The sword descended.
A blinding crimson crescent flashed across the cave.
Slash!
For a heartbeat...
Everything became silent.
Then...
Thud!
The enormous head of the Cloud Swallow Python fell to the ground.
Its headless body convulsed violently before collapsing with a deafening crash.
Boom!
The cave trembled.
Dust filled the air.
Scarlet remained standing, her sword pointed toward the ground.
Her breathing was ragged.
The last trace of spiritual qi left her body.
The Crimson Flame Sword slipped from her fingers.
Clang.
She swayed unsteadily.
Before she could fall...
A familiar hand caught her shoulder.
Raeshan.
He looked at the python’s corpse before turning to Scarlet.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"You did well."
"You observed your opponent..."
"Found its weakness..."
"And ended the battle with a single decisive strike."
Scarlet managed a weak smile.
"...Master..."
"I won."
Raeshan nodded.
"Yes."
"You won."
Only then did Scarlet allow herself to relax.
Her exhausted body finally gave out.
She fell unconscious.
Raeshan caught her before she hit the ground. He looked down at his sleeping disciple and shook his head with a helpless smile.
"You’ve worked hard."
Then his gaze shifted toward the Spirit Water Lily blooming quietly in the pond.
"The prize belongs to you now."
Raeshan raised his hand and released a strand of spiritual qi.
The gentle stream of spiritual energy wrapped around the Spirit Water Lily.
With great care, he severed its roots without damaging the flower in the slightest.
The Spirit Water Lily slowly floated into the air before landing gently in Raeshan’s palm.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"Perfect."
He stored the Spirit Water Lily inside his storage ring.
"This belongs to Scarlet."
"When the time comes for her to break through to the Foundation Building Realm, it will become one of her greatest opportunities."
Raeshan looked down at the unconscious Scarlet in his arms.
Her breathing was steady.
Although she had exhausted nearly all of her spiritual qi and suffered several injuries during the battle, none of them were life-threatening.
He nodded in satisfaction.
"This kind of battle was worth it."
"Only by walking the line between life and death can a cultivator truly grow."
He bent down and picked up the Crimson Flame Sword.
After wiping the blood from the blade with a clean cloth, he returned it to its sheath before fastening it to Scarlet’s waist.
Then, carrying Scarlet in his arms, he stepped onto the Radiant Sky Sword.
Whoosh!
The flying sword shot out of the cave like a streak of golden light.
A cool mountain breeze swept past them as they soared above the endless peaks of the Ten Thousand Mountains.
Not long afterward, Blazing Sun Hall came into view.
The towering halls stood proudly beneath the afternoon sun, surrounded by drifting spiritual qi.
Raeshan landed gently in front of Scarlet’s courtyard.
He carried her inside and carefully laid her on the bed.
After covering her with a blanket, he checked her pulse once more.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Rest well."
"When you wake up..."
"You’ll be stronger than you were today."
With one last glance at his first disciple, Raeshan quietly left the room and closed the door behind him.
Outside, he stood beneath the ancient willow tree with his hands behind his back.
His gaze drifted toward the distant mountains.
For the past month, he had remained within Blazing Sun Hall, focusing entirely on Scarlet’s training.
Now that she had tempered herself through real combat...
It was time to leave the mountain.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Staying in one place forever is rather boring."
He wasn’t planning to descend the mountain because he needed resources.
With the system in his possession, cultivation resources would come sooner or later.
Nor was he seeking fame.
He simply wanted to see this cultivation world with his own eyes.
There was an entire world waiting beyond Blazing Sun Hall.
Raeshan stretched lazily.
"I’ve been cooped up here long enough."
"Once Scarlet recovers..."
"We’ll head down the mountain for some fun."
He smiled to himself.
"It’ll be a good chance for her to gain experience."
"And for me..."
His eyes wandered toward the distant horizon.
"...to cure my boredom."
A gentle mountain breeze rustled the willow leaves overhead.
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