"A Tier 4 Ice-Eye Serpent!"
The instant he laid eyes on the beast, Wei Wuyi's pupils contracted violently, shock flooding his core. There was no time for thought. His left hand snapped out like lightning, clamping onto Long Tian'ao's right shoulder beside him, hauling the younger man backwards even as his right hand whipped forward again. The flying sword, which had just recoiled, shuddered violently and shot out once more.
"Swish… CLANG!!"
This time, the Ice-Eye Serpent didn't even bother blocking. It merely tilted its massive head slightly, causing the sword aimed at its eye to strike the tough plating between its eyes instead. A piercing screech of metal on scale rang out, sparks flying as the sword scraped harmlessly across the armored plate and was violently deflected. Undeterred, its momentum unbroken, the serpent continued its furious charge towards the retreating Wei Wuyi and Long Tian'ao!
"Watch yourself!!"
Seeing his flying sword utterly fail to pierce the beast's scales only deepened Wei Wuyi's horror. Releasing Long Tian'ao, who had now snapped back to awareness, he barked the warning. True essence surged wildly through him. His hands flew together into a complex seal, then thrust decisively towards the oncoming juggernaut.
"SHIIIIING!!!"
Immediately, the deflected sword erupted with an intense, deep sapphire radiance. The very air seemed to ripple like disturbed water as countless water-based spiritual energy particles converged. The sword's energy blade exploded outwards, stretching a full ten meters long before slashing down with devastating force towards the serpent's skull!
"BOOOOOOM!!!"
The impact was thunderous. The solidified energy blade detonated against the serpent's brow, staggering its colossal form mid-charge. A shriek of mingled pain and fury tore through the cavern.
"HISSSSS!!" The Ice-Eye Serpent screamed, enraged and startled simultaneously. Its maw gaped wide, and three arm-thick bolts of icy-white, freezing energy lanced towards the two humans!
"Hummm…" Wei Wuyi's gaze sharpened. He didn't dodge. Instead, his left hand snapped upwards. A golden bell-shaped artifact materialized above his head. Radiating brilliant golden light, it instantly projected a colossal, three-meter-tall spectral bell image. The translucent golden dome descended, enveloping both Wei Wuyi and Long Tian'ao within its protective embrace.
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!"
Three consecutive, earth-shaking impacts followed. The serpent's freezing breath blasts slammed into the golden bell projection. Incredibly, all three strikes were absorbed and dispersed!
"Swoosh! Swoosh!!"
Simultaneously, Wei Wuyi was already commanding his flying sword to harry the serpent once more. Beside him, Long Tian'ao finally regained his combat senses. Flustered, he hastily summoned his own golden flying sword into the fray.
Wei Wuyi's initial retreat had pulled them both back to the approximate center of the funnel-shaped cavern. The precious Spirit Spring pool now lay fifty meters behind them. The Ice-Eye Serpent, radiating primal fury, occupied the space fifty meters ahead.
Crucially, the serpent had positioned itself squarely in the narrower 'neck' of the funnel-shaped cavern – effectively blocking the only visible exit. The situation felt unnervingly like being trapped in a jar meant for catching turtles.
Wei Wuyi inwardly cursed. The Spirit Spring was right behind him, yet he couldn't spare a thought for its riches now. He had anticipated a powerful guardian beast, like Loong Qing before him. But his worst-case scenario had been a Tier 3 Late-stage beast. Historical records of Giant Python Mountain were clear: Tier 4 beasts resided only deep within the main peak. This 'established fact' had been shattered today! Finding a Tier 4 beast beneath a minor subsidiary peak was unthinkable!
Though Wei Wuyi possessed a Golden Core sixth layer cultivation base, he was confident against Tier 3 Late-stage, even Peak-stage beasts. Danger would be manageable. But against a Tier 4 beast? Even a freshly advanced Tier 4 first-order? He held not a shred of confidence in victory.
Trapped within this rocky tomb, a clean escape seemed impossible. Gritting his teeth, Wei Wuyi knew his only option was to fight, buying time for an opening to flee.
Fortunately, they were no ordinary cultivators. As Sword Cultivators, their prowess far exceeded that of typical peers. While lacking diverse auxiliary techniques, their mastery over a single flying sword granted immense offensive power. Even the mighty Ice-Eye Serpent found its advance momentarily hampered under their concerted assault.
Wei Wuyi's flying sword was a Mid-Grade Spiritual Artifact; Long Tian'ao wielded a Lower-Grade one. Neither could pierce the serpent's primary scales. Yet, guided by their formidable will, the swords danced with lethal grace, relentlessly targeting the creature's vulnerable points: its blazing eyes, its gaping maw, and the comparatively softer scales of its underbelly. The serpent was forced into constant, furious head movements, swatting at the stinging swords like enormous, supremely annoying flies.
The Ice-Eye Serpent retaliated intermittently, blasting concentrated beams of icy energy. Each attack, however, was steadfastly intercepted and dispersed by the protective golden bell artifact's projection. Bolstered by Long Tian'ao's support, Wei Wuyi periodically gathered surges of true essence, unleashing powerful sword strikes. Even when missing vital spots, the impacts hammering against the serpent's armored hide produced jarring, metallic clangs. While failing to break scales, the concussive force inflicted significant pain, drawing roars of fury from the beast.
Superficially, the battle seemed locked in stalemate. Yet Wei Wuyi tasted the bitter truth. Barely minutes had passed, yet his true essence reserves were already nearly halfway depleted! The Ice-Eye Serpent, in stark contrast, appeared unruffled, its vast reserves dwarfing theirs. Prolonging this battle meant certain death. The beast isn't unleashing its ultimate power… He realized grimly. It's conserving energy, content to slowly bleed us dry…
"Tian'ao! Prepare to charge right with me!" Wei Wuyi roared, mind racing through desperate options. "We'll use Earth Evasion Talismans! Get behind it in the tunnel and escape!"
It was a perilous gamble, but he saw no other path to survival.
"GO!!"
Executing another powerful sword thrust that forced the serpent back a precious meter, Wei Wuyi bellowed the command. Together, he and Long Tian'ao lunged towards the cavern wall on their right.
"Humm…"
As they ran, Wei Wuyi recalled the golden bell artifact above his head and summoned his flying sword back. His right hand flicked out, an Exquisite-Grade Tier 3 Earth Evasion Talisman igniting in his grasp. An aura of warm, orange light enveloped both men. Like stones plunging into water, they seamlessly passed through the solid rock face!
"HISSSS?!!!"
The Ice-Eye Serpent, unfamiliar with such human trickery, had assumed blocking the exit was sufficient. The sudden disappearance of its prey into solid stone left it momentarily stunned. Then, a fresh wave of outraged fury surged through it. Its powerful spiritual sense exploded outwards, instantly locking onto the two figures tunneling through the mountain's substance. With a furious bellow, it slammed its massive head sideways, "CRUNCH!!" smashing directly into the adjacent wall to pursue!
Within the dense rock and soil, Wei Wuyi and Long Tian'ao moved swiftly, shielded by the orange aura of the Earth Evasion Talisman. However, a talisman was no match for a specialized earth-evasion artifact like Swordsman possessed. Even an Exquisite-Grade Tier 3 talisman could only sustain the effect for mere minutes. They had to emerge before it expired, or risk being entombed alive.
"It's catching up!!"
They hadn't traveled far through the mountain's innards when Wei Wuyi's spiritual sense detected the pursuing serpent closing in rapidly. His face paled. He poured every ounce of true essence into the talisman, desperately accelerating their movement.
"CRASH!!!"
Approximately a hundred meters beyond the end of the funnel cavern, a section of wall exploded outward. Two disheveled figures tumbled through the flying debris. Before their feet even touched the tunnel floor, Wei Wuyi had already reactivated his golden bell artifact. The spectral bell shimmered into existence just as the Ice-Eye Serpent's enormous head burst violently from the hole they'd created. Its maw yawned open, unleashing a massive, barrel-sized orb of condensed, white freezing energy straight at them!
"CLAAAAAANG!!!"
A deafening, resonant bell chime filled the tunnel. The small golden bell artifact hovering before Wei Wuyi shuddered violently. The spectral bell projection flickered wildly, its golden light dimming by more than half.
"RUN!!" Terror clutched Wei Wuyi's heart. Using the concussive force of the blast to propel them backwards, he hauled Long Tian'ao along. As soon as they hit the ground, they scrambled to their feet and fled down the tunnel at breakneck speed!
The Ice-Eye Serpent, naturally, refused to let its prey escape a second time. Its serpentine body coiled and sprang forward, giving swift chase.
The desperate flight and furious pursuit covered hundreds of meters in moments. Seeing the serpent closing the gap relentlessly, a wave of fury finally overwhelmed Wei Wuyi's caution. It was time for the trump card he'd been hoarding.
His right hand flickered. A cyan-colored talisman appeared between his fingers. A flash of profound reluctance crossed his eyes, instantly replaced by ruthless determination. Halting the flow of energy to the straining golden bell, he channeled his entire remaining reserve of true essence into the talisman clutched in his hand.
"DIE!!"
With a furious roar, Wei Wuyi's right arm snapped forward. The talisman transformed into a blinding sphere of cyan light. It shot forward a dozen meters before… detonating with apocalyptic force!
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!!!"
Instantly, the confined tunnel was engulfed. A hurricane-force gale erupted from the epicenter, spawning countless miniature whirlwinds and razor-sharp blades of condensed wind energy. This tempestuous maelstrom filled the passage, surging towards the Ice-Eye Serpent like an inescapable, shredding tide!
Lower-Grade Fourth-Rank Gale Talisman!!
This was Wei Wuyi's most powerful talisman, a treasure crafted by an Absolute Sword Sect Nascent Soul stage Elder Grandmaster renowned for his talismanic arts. Only a select few Golden Core elders possessed one. Its power mirrored an attack from an early Nascent Soul cultivator! He had received it upon advancing to Golden Core first layer decades ago and had guarded it jealously until this very moment, forced to unleash it with their very lives at stake.
"SCREEEEEEEECH!!!!"
The moment the fourth-rank talisman unleashed its fury, the Ice-Eye Serpent emitted its first shriek of genuine terror. Its charging form could be seen jolting to an abrupt halt as an intensely bright, glacial blue radiance exploded from every scale on its body. But in the next heartbeat, its massive form was utterly swallowed by the raging tempest and the collapsing mountain rock it tore loose…
"GO!"
Wei Wuyi's face was drained of color. He dared not linger for a single heartbeat. Grabbing Long Tian'ao once more, he turned and fled deeper into the tunnel network.
Part of him desperately hoped the Gale Talisman had obliterated the beast. Reason quickly quashed that fantasy. Even a genuine, early Nascent Soul cultivator delivering a direct blow wouldn't instantly slay a peer-ranked Tier 4 beast. At best, it was wounded. His only recourse was to seize this fleeting opening and escape. Once back, he thought grimly, I report this to the Sect. Let the Nascent Soul Patriarchs handle this serpent. Then the Spring will be ours.
Unburdened by the immediate threat of pursuit, the two figures vanished into the tunnel's gloom with startling speed…
The Lower-Grade Fourth-Rank Gale Talisman's devastation was immense. A hundred-meter stretch of tunnel was reduced to rubble, and the entire mountain peak shuddered violently for long moments, alarming countless cultivators battling on the surface far above.
"CRUMBLE!!!"
Amidst the settling dust and shattered rock, a furious roar echoed. An immense, ice-blue form heaved itself free, slithering onto a section of tunnel that had somehow remained intact.
The Ice-Eye Serpent bore the marks of its ordeal. Its massive head was a mess of crisscrossing wounds. Several scales near its brow had been shattered and peeled back, leaking dark blood onto the pale blue hide, presenting a ghastly sight. Focused solely on the chase, it had been caught utterly off guard by the Gale Talisman's overwhelming power.
Free of the debris, its blazing eyes immediately sought the direction Wei Wuyi and Long Tian'ao had fled. Muscles coiled, ready to launch back into pursuit.
Suddenly, it froze. Its massive body stiffened mid-motion. A new sensation struck its awareness. Its eyes blazed once more, but this time with a volatile mix of renewed fury and sheer disbelief. An almost hysterical shriek ripped from its throat. "HISSSSSSK RAAAAAAAA!!" It slammed its head sideways with colossal force, "CRASH!!!", bursting through yet another section of tunnel wall. It began tunneling frantically, not forward in pursuit, but backwards, towards its lair.
The reason was a fresh surge of violation in its ancient mind. Barely rid of two treasure-thieves, it sensed more tiny, insignificant creatures – mice – attempting to encroach upon its nest, upon its precious Spirit Spring!
This day, indeed, was proving to be the busiest, most infuriating day the Ice-Eye Serpent had ever endured…