Chapter 119: THE DEMONIC LIZARD(7)

The thought immediately occurred to him that close-range attacks might be the only way to force an opening. The lizards could protect their backs with their scales, but their movements made it more difficult for them to defend every part of their bodies equally.

Li Yan tightened his grip around Fan Jian. The chaotic Qi inside his body continued consuming the spiritual energy around him through his Devouring Phoenix bloodline, and although the process was placing considerable strain on his body, it had also temporarily increased his cultivation.

His cultivation had risen because of the energy his bloodline had consumed, and Fan Jian had changed along with him. The sword now contained more power than it had possessed earlier, allowing Li Yan to use stronger techniques than his normal cultivation should have allowed.

He knew that he could not maintain this state for long. The bloodline was consuming too much Qi from his body, and every increase in strength came with a corresponding strain.

However, the current situation required him to take the risk. If none of them could injure the lizards soon, the poison would eventually kill them before they could complete the mission.

Li Yan moved directly toward the female lizard. Several disciples noticed him approaching but did not have enough time to stop him.

He used his lightness technique to close the distance before gathering the overflowing Qi around Fan Jian.

"Nine Heavens Blazing Sun Attack!"

The sword struck toward the female lizard’s chest with far greater force than Li Yan had been able to produce earlier. The attack collided with her scales, and this time the defense that had resisted so many techniques finally broke.

The blade pierced through. Blood immediately flowed from the wound.

"Grrrrrrrr"

The other disciples understood what had happened before Li Yan needed to explain it. The female lizard’s chest had finally been opened, giving them the weakness they had been searching for since the battle began.

"Attack that spot!" Li Hanye shouted.

The disciples immediately directed their techniques toward the injured area. Since Li Yan had already broken through the scales, they no longer needed to waste their attacks against the creature’s strongest defenses. One attack after another struck the same wound, causing more blood to flow as the female lizard struggled to protect herself.

The battle continued for hours. The female lizard fought desperately, releasing venom and attempting to use its claws and tail against anyone who approached, but the disciples had already learned that attacking its chest was more effective than striking its heavily protected scales.

They surrounded it from different directions and continued attacking the exposed wound whenever they found an opportunity.

Eventually, the female lizard became too injured to continue fighting effectively.

Several disciples attacked its legs to prevent it from moving, while the others continued targeting its chest.

When it attempted to defend itself with its claws, they forced it backward and attacked again. The creature’s movements became slower as more blood flowed from its wounds, and after another prolonged exchange, its body finally collapsed.

The female lizard had been killed. But the victory did not give the disciples time to recover.

The male lizard had watched its partner fall, and its reaction was immediate. Its eyes became fixed on the disciples surrounding the fallen female, and it released an enraged screech before opening its mouth and spraying venom across the battlefield.

"Grrrrrrrr"

The disciples scattered, but the poisonous attack covered a wide area. The miasma surrounding the male lizard also became much denser, the people who had already spent hours fighting were unable to retreat far enough.

Within a short period, the group of roughly thirty cultivators had been reduced by half.

Fifteen people died after being exposed to the venom and the miasma that they had been breathing throughout the battle.

Their antidotes had delayed the effects, but the prolonged exposure and the sudden increase in poisonous energy had eventually overwhelmed them.

Li Yan’s expression became serious when he saw how quickly the situation had changed. Only fifteen cultivators remained, and the male lizard was still standing in front of them.

They could not afford another prolonged battle. Li Hanye looked at the remaining disciples and understood that they needed a new strategy before the male lizard released another wave of venom.

"We cannot keep fighting it this way. Before it calls more of its offspring or retreats into the cave, we need to find a way to bring it down quickly."

Li Yan looked at the male lizard while keeping Fan Jian in his hand. The creature had become far more aggressive after losing its partner, and its movements were no longer as predictable as before.

Every time it opened its mouth, the remaining disciples had to spread out to avoid the venom, Li Yan understood that they could not afford to give it another opportunity to surround them.

"We should use the same method as before," Li Yan said while watching the lizard’s movements. "Its scales are strongest on its back, so attacking there will only waste our spiritual Qi. If we can force it to expose its chest, we should concentrate our attacks on the same place instead of attacking randomly."

Li Hanye nodded after considering his words. "We will draw its attention from the front while you look for another opening. Do not approach it unless you are certain you can retreat safely. Its venom is much more dangerous now that we have already lost so many people."

Li Yan agreed and moved with the others. The remaining disciples divided themselves around the male lizard, forcing it to turn repeatedly whenever someone attacked.

The creature became increasingly irritated as it struggled to decide which opponent to pursue, and Li Yan used the confusion to move closer.

He waited until Li Hanye attacked its head before rushing toward its side. The lizard immediately swung its tail toward him, but Li Yan used his lightness technique to leap over it and landed near its chest. Fan Jian flashed through the air as he directed his overflowing Qi toward the same area he had attacked on the female.

The blade struck the scales but failed to penetrate them. Li Yan immediately retreated before the lizard could release its venom.

He understood that the male’s scales were stronger than he had expected, and his previous attack had only succeeded against the female because her body had already been weakened by the earlier battle.

"We need to weaken it first," Li Yan said as he looked toward Li Hanye. "Do not waste your strongest techniques on its back. Keep attacking its legs and chest until it cannot defend itself properly."

The remaining disciples followed his suggestion and began focusing their attacks on the lizard’s legs. Their techniques gradually slowed its movements, while Li Hanye and Meng Jiali continued attacking from the front.

Li Yan kept searching for another opportunity as the battle continued, knowing that his body could not withstand the chaotic Qi for much longer. If he wanted to end the fight, he would have to make his next attack count.