Chapter 172 - 123: Tragic Battle, Only 10 Survivors?, Moving the Blood-tooth Python’s Corpse

Chapter 172: Chapter 123: Tragic Battle, Only 10 Survivors?, Moving the Blood-tooth Python’s Corpse

’The Bloodthirsty Vine King can create offshoots from its tendrils and control them, but the problem is, the Lion-headed Goose can’t do the same...’

Although he didn’t know the exact reason, the fact that the Lion-headed Goose could contend with the Bloodthirsty Vine King for control of its offshoots was, for now, a good thing.

After all, he still knew far too little about the Bloodthirsty Vine King. He had no idea what other abilities it possessed, and his own means of countering it were extremely limited.

Moreover, it had already successfully parasitized students and infiltrated the school.

If the Lion-headed Goose could control the offshoots, it would be one of the few tools he had at his disposal to deal with the Vine King.

The only problem was that the Lion-headed Goose’s control over the captured offshoots wasn’t absolute. In a one-on-one scenario, it might be able to wrestle for control with the Bloodthirsty Vine King. But if faced with too many offshoots, it was hard to say if it would be effective at all...

"Found them!"

Suddenly, a voice called out from nearby, and a figure came running over.

Immediately after, more figures appeared, revealing themselves to be the members of the Fishing Club, along with Wang Biao, Jia Wen, and the others.

"My Lord!!!"

"My Liege..."

As soon as Wang Biao and Jia Wen appeared, one dropped to one knee, and the other burst into tears on the spot.

"My Lord, this subordinate was useless! I couldn’t even help you during the crucial fight against the Blood Python, forcing you to risk your own life. Please, My Lord, punish me!"

"My Liege, you scared me to death! I thought after you jumped down... but you’re safe and sound. I am so relieved!"

Chen Chong and Xu Jun were completely bewildered. They quickly helped the two men to their feet.

After some words of comfort, Wang Biao’s guilt and Jia Wen’s incessant tears finally subsided.

"Brother Chen Chong!"

"Brother Chong!"

"Brothers... it’s so good to see you’re all right!"

Zhong Fang, Zhang Meng, and Huang Mao also gathered around, their faces filled with smiles and relief.

"Yeah, you have no idea. We rushed over from school, and when Wang Biao told us you’d jumped into the deep pool to follow the Blood Python underground, we were scared out of our wits."

"We waited up top for hours. The deep pool was completely still, and we had no idea what was happening to you."

"Brother Wang Biao was even bolder—he jumped right in after you. But he came back up pretty quick. He said the bottom was unfathomably deep and pitch-black; he couldn’t find any trace of you."

"We found this place back then, too. We even went into the cave entrance, but it was too deep and complex, so we ended up retreating. We never imagined it would connect to the bottom of the pool."

"If we hadn’t held on to the fact that we never saw your bodies, we probably would have given up hope long ago and assumed..."

"Get outta here! What the hell are you talking about? Brother Chong has a charmed life. I knew he’d make it out alive the whole time!"

"Yeah, right. You were the one kicking up the biggest fuss. Said we couldn’t find them before it even got dark and wanted to go back and try again tomorrow!"

"Bullshit! I was just kidding! I... I... Anyway, Brother Chong is a total badass! He killed the Unihorn Catfish, so a mere Blood Python is definitely no problem for him!"

Listening to the group’s boisterous bickering, Chen Chong and Xu Jun smiled.

They had been underground for over a day. Judging by the darkness, it was probably two or three in the morning.

At this hour, he wasn’t surprised to see Wang Biao, Jia Wen, or Zhang Meng.

But for the members of the Fishing Club to have persevered this long, waiting for them in the dangerous Celestial Pit—that display of loyalty deeply moved both of them.

’At least this proves I wasn’t wrong about the Fishing Club,’ he thought. ’They’re worthy of my trust...’

Zhong Fang quickly put a stop to the club members’ squabbling.

"All right, that’s enough out of you," he said. "Brother Chen Chong just got out from underground. He’s had a long day, so let the man have some peace and quiet."

With that, Zhong Fang looked toward Chen Chong.

"Brother, are you guys okay?"

"Of course we’re okay."

"Honestly, whether or not you killed the Blood Python doesn’t matter. The most important thing is that you all came back alive..."

The others quickly chimed in, agreeing that their safety was all that mattered.

Xu Jun wore a strange expression. "Who said we didn’t kill the Blood Python?"

At his words, the entire area fell silent...

"The Blood Python... is dead?"

Chen Chong nodded. "Of course we killed it. But it’s too big for the four of us to carry, so we came out to get help bringing it back..."

...

Before long, Chen Chong was leading Wang Biao and the Fishing Club members into the Underground Cave.

The Underground Cave was a dim, complex labyrinth with dozens of branching paths, but with Xu Jun using his ability to guide them, the group advanced unimpeded toward the Blood Python’s lair.

Along the way, Wang Biao and the others noticed Qi Zhen. Seeing the thin, long-haired man in simple cloth robes, they knew without asking that he must be a new recruit.

After Chen Chong introduced them, they were all formally acquainted.

However, aside from knowing that Qi Zhen was a Transcendent, nobody had any idea how strong he truly was, and Chen Chong offered no further explanation.

At the same time, Chen Chong asked about the injured.

According to Zhong Fang, they had searched nearly every corner of the Celestial Pit, combing the area four or five times. With the help of the Tiger Striped Dogs, they found just over thirty lucky survivors.

As for the other seventy or eighty people... they were completely beyond saving.

They were either dead from their injuries, reduced to pools of gore, or their remains were incomplete—swallowed by the Blood Python or devoured by other beasts in the jungle.

During the search, the Fishing Club members had even encountered a pack of Fear Wolves and leopards devouring corpses.

If it weren’t for their numbers, they might have ended up as a midnight snack themselves...

Although they found over thirty survivors, the situation was not optimistic.

The majority were critically wounded and on the verge of death. Some were missing limbs, while others were conscious but vomiting blood, a clear sign of internal injuries.

Fewer than ten of them appeared to be unharmed.

The Fishing Club members sent them all back to the school, but a few more died on the way.

As for the rest, it was questionable if they could even be saved. Even if they did survive, developing chronic health issues in this environment would make their futures difficult...

"Brother, of the hundred-plus people who came to the Sky Pit, you could say it was a total wipeout. The members of the fitness club and the Fighting Club were almost completely annihilated."

"Even though we rescued around thirty people, I estimate only about ten will actually make it. The rest either won’t be saved in time or will struggle to survive even if they pull through."

"And some of the ones who look physically fine... it seems the terror has broken something in their minds..."

Chen Chong didn’t speak. He had expected this outcome.

Extraordinary Creatures were simply not something ordinary people could handle, let alone an A-Level one like the Blood-tooth Python. For ordinary people, it was a slaughter; no matter how many came, that’s how many would die.

It wouldn’t have mattered if there were a hundred people or a thousand; the result would have been the same.

The fact that they managed to save even a dozen people meant those survivors were incredibly lucky...

Throughout this entire conversation, Ning Yu remained silent. Her hand gripped her blade tighter and tighter, and her body trembled faintly.

She desperately wanted to ask Zhong Fang if anyone from her club was among the survivors, or if their bodies had been found.

But she didn’t dare.

She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to accept the answer...

Chen Chong noticed Ning Yu’s strange behavior. He knew she cared deeply for her club members; after all, their relationship was less like a team and more like a family.

During the hunt for the Blood-tooth Python, she hadn’t said a word about it, but the hidden fury in her attacks, her subsequent silence, and her subtle expressions all betrayed her turbulent, grief-stricken heart.

’This is something she has to face sooner or later,’ Chen Chong thought. ’If she can’t get past this, it could become a lasting trauma.’

Chen Chong took the initiative and asked the question she most wanted to ask.

"Zhong Fang, among the survivors, did you find anyone from the Swordsmanship Club?"

At his words, Ning Yu’s body gave a slight shudder, though she didn’t look over.

Zhong Fang glanced at Chen Chong, then at Ning Yu, a stunned expression on his face.

He had been about to bring it up earlier but had deliberately avoided the topic because Ning Yu was there.

He never expected Chen Chong to ask about it himself...

"Uh... yes!"

"There are?"

Ning Yu, who had been five paces away just a second before, was suddenly right behind him, making Zhong Fang jump in fright.

"Yes... there are!"

"How many?"

"Three..."

Ning Yu froze. Her expression turned to one of agony as her swollen, red-rimmed eyes quickly filled with tears. She was on the verge of breaking down but managed to suppress it with sheer force of will.

After a long moment, she let out a breath, a bitter smile gracing her lips.

"That’s... good. At least there are three. That’s much better than what I’d braced myself for. I’m content with that..."

But Zhong Fang’s next words sent her fragile, self-comforted state of mind plunging into an abyss.

...