Quite Bold

Jiang Lu pursed her lips. Just looking at it made her wince.

If nothing unexpected happened, the Nether-Toothed Python was about to lose its temper.

Sure enough, the venomous fangs in its mouth gleamed, and a foul-smelling liquid dripped onto the ground.

Its jaw twitched, its eyes glowed red, and its vertical pupils burned with suppressed, impending rage.

The spiritual plants on the ground withered instantly.

What terrifying venom!

One human and three beasts swallowed hard.

Exchanging a glance, they immediately launched an attack. It was too late to run now!

Seeing its tail slowly slithering to the side and wrapping around a tree trunk, Jiang Lu realized this python was quite cunning!

Jiang Lu sighed inwardly.

Black mist swirled around them as the Nether-Toothed Python coiled its tail around the tree trunk, its dark scales gleaming. Seeing that its attention was focused on the two spirit beasts, Jiang Lu took the opportunity to slip behind it.

Holding her long sword, she stood sideways, her eyes locked onto its seven-inch mark.

Chi Li was enveloped in crimson flames, with fireballs swirling around its body as it lunged straight at the python's head, unleashing a torrent of fire toward its body.

The water vapor around Cang Chen condensed into ice, and sharp ice blades slashed fiercely toward the python's underbelly.

Seeing this, she leaped into the air, her sword blade glowing with red light as she struck.

Three streaks of light shot toward the python like shooting stars.

The screech of her sword scraping against the scales was ear-splitting.

Jiang Lu's hand trembled slightly as a wave of numbness shot through her entire body.

She cursed under her breath.

She immediately channeled spiritual energy through her limbs and bones, which finally relieved most of the numbness.

Having been attacked, especially feeling the burning and freezing sensations on its back, the Nether-Toothed Python roared in anger and whipped its tail.

Instantly—

Toxic fog spread in all directions. Chi Li immediately took to the air, flapping its wings to construct a barrier that blocked the spraying venom.

Seeing this, Cang Chen coiled its body and lunged forward, spitting a freezing jet of water. With several cracking sounds, half of the python's scales were frozen, restricting its movement.

The python stiffened. It slowly turned its head, its vicious gaze locking onto Chi Li.

Chi Li's feathers trembled under its gaze, a shiver running straight to its head.

Seizing the opening, Jiang Lu leaped up and thrust her long sword toward the python's seven-inch mark.

She cried out inwardly.

A thick layer of shimmering light protected its seven-inch mark. When her spiritual sword collided with it, the weapon shattered instantly.

Then, a roar blasted toward Jiang Lu.

“Hiss—”

The roar sent shockwaves rippling through the air, causing the atmosphere to vibrate.

Jiang Lu was caught off guard as the foul stench from the python's mouth wafted over, prompting her to retreat immediately.

Then, her magical artifact flashed, hurtling toward the python's seven-inch mark amidst a flurry of fire and lightning.

A deafening sound echoed, and the surrounding air warped slightly as the light of the fire and ice blades faded.

The Nether-Toothed Python writhed in agony. Chi Li's intense flames scorched its wounds, while Cang Chen's ice blades tore through its flesh. Working together, the three of them firmly suppressed it.

Seizing the chance, Jiang Lu drove her magical artifact toward its seven-inch mark once more.

Another jet of blood spurted out, splashing onto the tree trunk and trickling down the crevices. Foul-smelling black blood soaked the soil.

The giant python struggled for a moment before its heavy body crashed to the ground, shaking loose a shower of leaves.

Jiang Lu let out a breath. Hearing Mengbao's call, she immediately headed toward the Star-Purple Condensed Pistil behind the python.

With a wave of her hand, the Star-Purple Condensed Pistil vanished from sight, stored away in her space.

It happened to land right on Ling Xi.

Ling Xi: ...

It turned its head, staring at the purple glow on its body, its mind blank for a moment.

Where did this spiritual plant come from?

Oh—

Look at it, getting all dazed from the impact. It had to be a gift from its master!

Linglong's master was its master!

It immediately stood up and dragged the Star-Purple Condensed Pistil to an open space.

Having an extraordinary perception of spiritual plants, it naturally knew its attributes and where it should be planted.

No one knew better than it did.

Looking at the Nether-Toothed Python at her feet, Jiang Lu drew a knife and plunged it ruthlessly into its head.

Soon, a purple demon core appeared in her hand.

A Tier Three giant python dreaming of evolving into a flood dragon? It wasn't entirely impossible, but unfortunately for it, it had crossed paths with her.

Jiang Lu kicked the giant python and left with the three spirit beasts.

Not long after she left, rustling sounds echoed from all directions. Small snakes poked their heads out from the shadows, flicking their tongues as they slowly approached the Nether-Toothed Python's carcass.

Once they confirmed it was dead, they began to feast on it.

The giant python still contained residual magical power. By devouring it, the small snakes would quickly fill their own bodies with its power.

The small snakes quickly stripped the Nether-Toothed Python clean, leaving behind only a long skeleton before slithering away, their red eyes gleaming.

Jiang Lu continued forward. Right now, she didn't lack resources, but she sorely lacked combat experience.

And she also needed resources to hand over to the Medicine King Pavilion.

As her master's direct disciple—and his only one at that—the pressure on her was immense.

The amount of elixirs she had to submit every year was not small. Since she could currently refine Tier Two elixirs, she was required to submit one thousand of them annually, and that was only because her cultivation was still at the Qi Condensation stage.

If her strength increased later on, the grade of the elixirs she had to hand over would be higher, and the quantity would increase as well.

This was the return expected of them for the Medicine King Pavilion's tutelage.

Jiang Lu walked on. If she could break through to late-stage Qi Condensation as soon as possible, with her current mental strength, she would be fully capable of refining Tier Three elixirs.

She wouldn't have to submit as many Tier Three elixirs.

However, ever since she entered mid-stage Qi Condensation, her cultivation had shown no signs of progress. If she wanted to reach the late stage in a short amount of time...

She had no confidence.

“Shh—”

Suddenly, voices drifted from a distance. Jiang Lu stopped immediately and patted her pouch, signaling the three little ones to be quiet.

“Big Brother, are we really going to take this risk?”

A timid voice sounded, prompting Jiang Lu to quickly duck behind a tree.

“Of course. We must hurry and find it before anyone else does. That way, our clan can get some temporary relief.”

Another voice answered. Jiang Lu frowned slightly, then her expression brightened. Could there be some hidden treasure?

She quietly followed behind them.

Both of them were only at early-stage Qi Condensation; one was at the first layer of Qi Condensation, and the other was at the second layer of Qi Condensation.

For them to dare enter the outer region of the Illusionary Forest, they must have some tricks up their sleeves, or they wouldn't have come unless absolutely necessary.

Watching them venture deeper and deeper, Jiang Lu's brow furrowed tightly. The air here was too cold and eerie; there was bound to be something very dangerous ahead.

Looking at the trembling bodies of the two...

They were quite bold indeed.

She wrapped her body in a thin layer of spiritual energy to ward off the chill.

Upon entering, Mengbao suddenly grew excited. If she hadn't stopped it, it would have jumped right out of her pouch.

“Master, Mengbao says there's a great opportunity inside that can help us increase our strength!”

Chi Li's voice was filled with excitement!

Right now, what they needed most was something to boost their power!