Chapter 681 - 421: Deadly Grounds (Part 3)

As Duan Rong swiftly retreated, he clearly saw it—a giant python as thick as a human waist and about three meters long. Its mouth was full of fangs, and astonishingly, it had two outstretched claws at the front of its body.

The giant python, upon leaping from the stream, used its two front claws to grip the head of the giant lizard. Almost simultaneously, with one bite of its fang-filled mouth, it had bitten off half of the lizard’s head.

The python killed the lizard in one bite. Wu Shidao was about to retreat violently but was already caught by the python’s tail. Startled, Wu Shidao wielded the Iron Ruler against the python’s body, causing it to let out a frenzy of howls and bare its fangs wildly. Yet, despite the pain, it wrapped Wu Shidao tightly.

Wu Shidao had no choice but to wrap himself in the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, stirring it wildly to hinder the python’s constriction.

The python twisted its body to constrict forcefully, while Wu Shidao hurriedly gathered the surrounding Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi around him. This was a life-and-death situation, and the slightest mistake would cause the python to crush him into pulp.

Seeing Wu Shidao still struggling desperately, the python became even more enraged, hissing in fury. Yet, a hint of emotion could be seen in its cold, inverted eyes.

At this moment, Fan Hongjiao had arrived, her whip cracking against the fangs of the hissing python. She knew it was Wu Shidao’s life-or-death moment. Although they didn’t see eye to eye on Yunfu Peak, they were of the same sect, and Wu Shidao had called her senior sister for over ten years. Now was the time to fight against a common enemy.

At this time, Lu Geng and Wang Yue stood in the distance, trembling, not daring to approach.

After all, they only had the cultivation of the Primordial Qi Realm. Wang Yue was merely at the Second Level of the Primordial Qi Realm, and Lu Geng had just advanced to the Fourth Level.

Even Wu Shidao, in the Qi Vortex Realm, was struggling, and they would likely be killed instantly by the giant python.

Fan Hongjiao attacked with all her might. Her whip snapped, breaking three of the python’s fangs with a crisp sound, sending blood flying.

In pain, the python grew even more frantic, but it held onto Wu Shidao with all its might, locked in a struggle with the swirling Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi around Wu Shidao, unable to attack Fan Hongjiao.

Fan Hongjiao capitalized on the advantage of her long whip, flickering with agility as she harried the python from all sides, striking viciously with each blow. Soon, the python’s mouth was bloody, even bursting one of its eyes.

Just as Wu Shidao seemed on the verge of collapse, the python finally couldn’t endure Fan Hongjiao’s harassment anymore and released Wu Shidao, lunging towards Fan Hongjiao.

The python dug its two claws into the ground, its body circling wildly on the ground with a speed like a gust of wind. Fan Hongjiao fought while retreating, narrowly avoiding being wrapped by the python several times, evading its attacks with her nimble, ghostly body technique at the last moment.

Once Wu Shidao broke free, he spat out a mouthful of blood. His face was pale, and he immediately sat cross-legged, stuffing something resembling flesh into his mouth and swallowing it.

Wu Shidao quickly regulated his breathing. Within the Dark Forest, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was already abundant, and a Qi Vortex Realm practitioner could mobilize the surrounding space’s Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi for their own use.

The Qi Vortex in his Dantian whirled wildly, like the center of a storm vortex. The Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi within hundreds of meters around him seemed to be stirred, converging towards him.

Now, he sat cross-legged, his mind tranquil, fully exerting his cultivation technique. After just a few breaths, Wu Shidao suddenly opened his eyes, his previous weakness swept away, his gaze sharp as a knife.

Wu Shidao leaped up, Iron Ruler in hand, charging into the melee between Fan Hongjiao and the python.

Everywhere the python went, grass and branches were torn and withered. Fan Hongjiao fought more and more desperately, danger lurking everywhere. At this moment, the python suddenly lashed its tail towards Fan Hongjiao’s waist. Seeing she couldn’t dodge in time, she was about to be hit by the tail when suddenly there was a clang. It was Wu Shidao arriving, his figure flashing, swinging his Iron Ruler to block the tail lash.

With Wu Shidao’s arrival, Fan Hongjiao’s pressure instantly eased. She slowly caught her breath, and her attacks became increasingly fierce.

Watching Wu Shidao’s flashing figure not far beside her, Fan Hongjiao felt a slight stirring in her heart. When Wu Shidao first joined the sect, she was the one who guided him. Although they had grown apart over time due to differing temperaments, she remembered how they had fought side by side long ago.