Bai Jie realized that this bitter battle was not yet over.
He had assumed the Calamity Python had already been knocked unconscious by the electricity, so he decided to first pick the softer persimmons to squeeze, and capture the two who were attempting to flee, to prevent his position from being exposed.
What he had not anticipated was that by the time he returned, the Calamity Python had mysteriously vanished into thin air!
No, it had not disappeared — it was lying in ambush, waiting for an opportunity.
Bang!
Abruptly, a piece of tree bark exploded. A snake body over ten meters long and as thick as a water bucket, twisting and writhing, violently burst forth from the shade of the trees, like a massive boulder viciously slamming into Bai Jie's body.
With a muffled thud, Bai Jie was sent flying in response, crashing into a tree. The middle of the tree trunk cracked and bent, thousands of leaves scattering like rain.
Looking at Bai Jie again, a distinct dent had appeared on his abdomen, strands of purple blood seeping out from within.
The culprit was unmistakably the Calamity Python that had vanished and reappeared!
Bai Jie forcibly endured the searing pain and warily eyed the Calamity Python. Fortunately, the python's head hung suspended in midair, as if it were observing him, and did not pursue immediately.
But Bai Jie discovered something that filled him with even greater dread — this python's Vitality had actually increased!
Target: Calamity Python (High-Tier Awakened Form)
Vitality: 60
Body Length: 15m
Status: Stable
Bai Jie also noticed that the python's eyes, which previously still contained a trace of human emotion, now held only primal predatory desire.
At the same time, wherever the python passed, the vegetation visibly lost its green luster, becoming withered.
"Are you some kind of herbicide? Don't come near me..."
"An extraordinary change has occurred in this python..."
Just as streams of thoughts flashed through Bai Jie's mind, the python seemed to confirm that Bai Jie was severely wounded. It opened its fearsome, blood-soaked maw and swept forward, carrying a gust of foul, putrid wind.
Bzzzt!
A blue-violet lightning spear rapidly condensed into form before Bai Jie's eyes, and with a whoosh, it pierced the wind, rushing to meet the python's bloody maw.
The python's vertical pupils flashed a momentary wariness. Then, the snake head in midair abruptly halted and bent to the side, barely avoiding the lightning spear's trajectory.
The lightning spear, brushing past the snake's body, struck a large tree trunk, letting out an explosive bang. Flames blossomed like fireworks, and the tree trunk immediately ignited.
"It actually missed?!"
Trepidation stabbed through Bai Jie's heart. Gritting his teeth, two more lightning spears condensed once more, suspended on either side of him.
"Let's see you dodge two!"
Bai Jie had his sights set on the opponent's enormous snake body, thinking that with such a large target, if he still missed, wouldn't that make him a master of snake-body outline tracing?
The harsh sound of tearing air intertwined with the shrill cawing of a thousand birds as two bolts of lightning, brimming with terrifying might, were abruptly hurled at the snake body.
Yet, a scene Bai Jie had never anticipated appeared once again.
The Calamity Python's body twisted into bizarre, unnatural shapes, leaving two gaps that perfectly allowed both lightning spears to pass through them.
By now, Bai Jie understood clearly — although his lightning spears were condensed from electric arcs, their speed fell far, far short of electric current speed, merely comparable to the flight speed of ordinary arrows.
Moreover, while this Calamity Python's body was massive, capable of swallowing who knows how many sows, it was nevertheless nimble and agile in the extreme, more than capable of easily dodging the lightning spear assaults.
"Hissss..."
The python flicked its tongue, what seemed to be the light of toying with its prey flickering in its vertical pupils.
"Can't land ranged hits, and getting close risks being coiled and strangled to death... To push me to this extent, damn!"
The python possessed preposterous physical strength and brute force, as well as that ability to wither plants.
Bai Jie, filled with wariness, dared not easily approach. At the same time, his thoughts flashed swift as lightning, rapidly sorting through countermeasure after countermeasure.
Meanwhile, the Calamity Python's fangs slightly parted, bristling with savagery, as it slinked slowly forward, closing in on Bai Jie. The distance was now less than fifteen meters.
"Should I wait until it's close, then suddenly hurl a lightning spear? No, no — while it might be effective, it would also put myself in peril."
After deliberation, Bai Jie ultimately did not condense another lightning spear. His choice was —
Strategic transfer!
The dark silhouette, adorned with blue-violet patterns, suddenly vanished from the spot. All eight spider legs furiously churned into motion, dashing toward the distance.
The Calamity Python seemed to freeze for an instant, then without a shred of hesitation, wound its way in pursuit of Bai Jie.
As Bai Jie rapidly moved, he simultaneously deployed web after web through his spinnerets between the rocks and trees along his path, to slow down the python's pursuit speed.
This move indeed worked. The level 10 Razor Spider Silk was already enough to make the python's movements sluggish, and could even slice through the skin and flesh on its surface.
"Hisss..."
The python gaped wide, letting out a high-pitched hiss, as if enraged to the extreme by the harassment of the spider silk. The aura around its body climbed, and the vegetation wherever it passed withered even more severely.
But it still could not catch up to Bai Jie.
Thus, one spider and one python pursued and fled for over ten minutes, maintaining a distance of about twenty meters.
The Calamity Python showed not the slightest intention of giving up. In its eyes, Bai Jie was its prey. No matter where it ran, it would have wings but no escape.
Suddenly, a string of soft, crisp calling rang out in Bai Jie's heart:
"Big sister Bai Zhi!"
It was unexpectedly the voice of the gold-and-white little snake.
Bai Jie's heart jumped. Through the Mutation Venom, he sensed the little snake's position rapidly approaching him.
Oh crap, this is bad... really, really bad!
He absolutely could not let Bai Huahua be drawn into this fight. Bai Jie could hardly even preserve himself — how could he afford to look after Bai Huahua, this noob whose Vitality was only 14?
If the Calamity Python spotted the gold-and-white little snake, wouldn't it just swallow her in one gulp like a corn cob?
Bai Jie transmitted in a shout: "Don't come over! Leave now!"
Bai Huahua's delighted tone responded: "Long time no see, miss you?"
Bai Jie: ?
Is this Bai Huahua's mind undeveloped, or is there a signal problem?
There was no time to warn Bai Huahua again. Abruptly, the hairs on Bai Jie's legs bristled. Spider Sense had appeared.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Faint sounds of something cutting through the air rang out behind Bai Jie. Without looking, his spinnerets fired out a large quantity of Razor Spider Silk to meet the direction of the sound.
The spider silk seemed to meet some obstruction and paused briefly. Then Bai Jie felt burning-hot liquid drip onto his back.
Ding! The system prompt rang.
[Notice: Host Vitality is decreasing]
[63], [62], [61]
[...]
Just as Bai Jie was wondering what had happened, he discovered with horror that the scorching liquid had damaged the skin on his back, seeping into his body. His flesh and blood were both dyed gray, the withering decay continuously spreading.
There was no pain, but Bai Jie felt that the parts eroded by the scorching liquid were gradually losing sensation.
"What is this stuff? Why isn't 'Poison-Refining Gu' having any effect?"
"I absolutely cannot let that stuff touch me again!"
The next second, Bai Jie abruptly saw a golden flash. A slick, soft, moist and cool sensation transmitted from the top of his head.
A small snake with alternating gold and white, scales like jade, landed steadily on Bai Jie's head, coiling itself and perching there.
"Big sister Bai Zhi, what are you running from?" Bai Huahua sent out an adorably naive transmission.
Bai Jie: ...
I see you don't understand anything! You still don't grasp the current situation?!
Bai Huahua unintentionally glanced back, and her little body trembled. Her volume abruptly shot up: "Ah! What monster is that?!"
Bai Jie continued running nonstop and said helplessly: "What it is doesn't matter. What matters is that it wants to eat me."
The little snake cried out in alarm: "Run fast, run fast! It looks like it's getting closer and closer!"
Bai Jie said coldly: "It's because you, this dead weight, are riding on top."
Bai Huahua said in confusion: "I'm smart as ice and snow? Why don't I understand big sister's meaning?"
Then she carried on by herself with great fuss: "Huh? Big sister Bai Zhi, how did you get hurt? Ahhh, it looks like it hurts so much... oh, right, big sister Bai Zhi, you don't need to worry, I can help big sister."
Bai Jie inwardly grumbled: Do me a favor, jump out yourself and deliver yourself into that python's jaws. That could count as buying me a tiny amount of delay time.
Suddenly, Bai Jie felt strands of coolness convey from his back, and the sensation in his damaged flesh and blood was gradually recovering.
It was actually the gold-and-white little snake, opening her small mouth and flicking her tongue. Bits of golden powder containing mysterious, profound meaning were sprinkled onto his body — repairing his wounds!
The power of withering decay vanished, as if dead wood were returning to spring. Even his Vitality began to rebound!
[59], [60], [61]
[...]
[64]!
Bai Jie was slightly surprised, not having expected Bai Huahua to have this ability.
This truly was "wiping your butt with sandpaper" — showing a hidden trick.
"Well done!" Bai Jie transmitted in praise.
"I know I'm pretty." Bai Huahua said seriously.
The Calamity Python's cold, emotionless vertical pupils flashed with a trace of shock. It never would have imagined that a small snake appearing out of nowhere could actually restore the demon spider's injuries.
Its bloody maw gaped wide once more. Transparent droplets of water that exuded a withering, decaying, sinister aura shot forth, their target aimed squarely at the rapidly fleeing spider.
A chill rose in Bai Jie's heart, knowing that the burning-hot liquid had come again. But he was not overly worried, because with Bai Huahua here, she could continue to repair those bizarre injuries.
But after one second passed, he had not felt anything hit him.
"Could it be..." Bai Jie had a faintly bad feeling.
Sure enough, he heard Bai Huahua's startled cry: "Aiyo! So hot!"
"Hey! You little airhead, are you okay?!" Bai Jie couldn't help but ask urgently.
"Uh, nothing, nothing. Just felt a bit scalded." Bai Huahua's adorably naive voice came through, allowing Bai Jie to relax slightly.
His heart steadied, and the speed of his legs accelerated to the limit as he raced toward the mountain peak.
The Calamity Python, on the other hand, was dumbfounded.
So much so that it got distracted and bumped its head against a tree trunk, widening the distance between spider and python again.
It could not believe it — at the instant the gold-and-white little snake came into contact with its breath attack, a golden light flashed all over the snake's body, and its own breath attack was actually rendered ineffective!
"Hisss!"
Watching Bai Jie flee toward the mountain peak, the Calamity Python's murderous intent surged dramatically. Like a train racing through the mountain forest, everything it passed was crushed and trampled. All plant life was razed, and every insect that drew near met its death.
...
Finally, Bai Jie brought the little snake to somewhere near the mountaintop.
Abruptly, Bai Jie no longer ran across the grass, but directly climbed up a large tree dense with branches and luxuriant leaves, concealing his form within.
The Calamity Python closely followed, coiling its way upward.
It felt that Bai Jie had abandoned the advantage of high-speed movement on the ground, foolishly trying to escape into the tree to avoid harm. This was instead seeking his own death — there was surely no escape now.
Moreover, it also discovered that the demon spider's aura had stopped moving.
The frequency of its tongue flicking quickened. It could no longer hold back from tasting the demon spider's flavor.
But the unexpected happened.
The moment the Calamity Python burrowed into the foliage above, its upper body seemed to sink deep into a quagmire, making movement difficult.
And as it continued to struggle, this sensation of binding only tightened further. The now-familiar pain of slicing cuts also arrived.
"Hisssss!"
The Calamity Python hissed in shock and fury.
"Bet you didn't see this coming — this is my escape route."
It was then that the Violet Lightning Man-Eating Demon Spider, in the darkness, released its Stealth Camouflage and revealed its form. Atop its head, a gold-and-white little snake curiously surveyed everything around her.
What was also revealed were the densely interwoven, layer upon layer of delicate spider webs!
Bai Jie watched the furiously struggling python and sneered inwardly: "This isn't those dozen or several dozen strands of spider silk you encountered on the road. These are tens of thousands of silk strands woven together into an inescapable net everywhere."
"Here, not only did I use the toughest spider silk, I also coated all of it with the highest concentration of corrosive deadly toxin, and cast 'Stealth Camouflage' on all the silk, preventing you from seeing this dense web."
"This place... is my spider nest."
"Wow!"
That was the fangirl's voice. She let out a worshipful exclamation: "So this is big sister Bai Zhi's home? So big, so comfortable. Just a little bit lacking in water."
Bai Jie silently rolled his eyes, thinking to himself: If you dare spray water here, I'll throw you right into the big python's mouth.
To be safe, Bai Jie's silhouette moved, climbing to below the tree trunk and applying spider silk winding to the python's still-free lower body as well.
At first, the python's lower torso could still break through the scant strands of spider silk, but as the silk adhered more and more and the winding grew denser, the scope of its resistance also progressively shrank.
It took quite a while, until Bai Jie felt his spinnerets were almost entirely emptied of thread, before he stopped.
Now, the python could be considered firmly fixed to the large tree by the spider silk. The base of the large tree was so thick that it would require several people joining hands to measure — it was sturdy enough to withstand the python's struggles.
As early as when first constructing the nest, Bai Jie had arranged a defensive installation like an inescapable net spanning heaven and earth. He had not expected to put it to use so quickly, and it appeared the effect was pretty good.
Because he had cast the "Stealth Camouflage" skill on the spider silk, the python had not detected anything amiss. The moment it thrust its upper body inside, it was stuck by the webs. And with its struggles, the more silk entangled it, eventually the more deeply it sank, becoming prey caught in the net.
"A true hunter often appears in the form of prey."
"As a spider, one ought naturally to be well versed in the stratagem of waiting at ease for the exhausted enemy, luring them into the net... Eh? No, I'm clearly a human being..."
Bai Jie shook his head. To avoid leaving loose ends, he decided to first make sure the Calamity Python stopped breathing.
Three lightning spears condensed, arrayed in a triangular formation, suspended above Bai Jie's head. In the night that had only recently fallen, they illuminated the entire tree with a blue-violet eerie glow.
Even Bai Huahua was so terrified by the lightning spears radiating destructive energy that she trembled all over, plastering herself against the spider's back to gain a sense of safety.
"Big sister Bai Zhi, please, please don't let that thing hit me..." the little snake said timidly, as if recalling something.
The electric light crackled and sizzled, the python wailed miserably.
Within the snake's pupils, they had been completely overtaken by terror.
"Accept your death. Pay the price for your transgression."
A merciless sigh echoed in Bai Jie's heart.
Tssss! Tssss! Tssss!
After three consecutive sounds of ripping silk, the lightning spears successively pierced through the python's crown, neck, and heart region.
In that instant, amid the cry of a thousand birds, blue-violet electric light flared brightly, like blazing lamps.
While shrieking wretchedly, blood flowed and evaporated at the same time, the fragrance of roasted meat wafted and spread everywhere...
Bai Huahua slightly raised her head, her ruby-like eyes sparkling, and the corners of her mouth disgracefully drooled.
Ding!
[Calamity Python's Status Updated to "Deceased"!]