Deep underground, in a passage not far from the end chamber housing the spiritual spring pool, the rocky ceiling above suddenly rippled like disturbed water. A sphere of orange light seeped through and descended into the corridor.
Within that bubble-like orange radiance were Lin Feng and the Swordsman.
Thanks to the incredibly rich spiritual energy suffusing the area, Lin Feng had regained his vitality. The wounds he'd sustained earlier were mostly healed, and the Swordsman had similarly replenished his depleted true essence.
Upon landing, Lin Feng cautiously scanned their surroundings before asking the Swordsman, "Well? Is the demon beast nearby?"
The Swordsman extended his spiritual sense, sweeping the area meticulously. He shook his head. "Not within three hundred meters. Judging by the earth tremors I sensed earlier, the beast must have pursued that other group of cultivators further away."
Lin Feng's eyes instantly lit up with excitement. "Then what are we waiting for?! This is our chance!! Move!!"
Immediately, both men sprinted towards the spiritual spring pool ahead, hoping to collect the precious water before the Ice-Eyed Python returned.
Yet, the moment they charged into the funnel-shaped cavern, before they could even reach the pool's edge, they skidded to a simultaneous halt.
"It's back!!" The Swordsman whirled around, his expression turning grave as he stared back the way they came. A wry smile touched his lips. "As expected. Trying to avoid that beast and take the spring… it was never possible…"
Lin Feng also turned towards the passage. He didn't need the Swordsman's warning; he could already feel the powerful aura hurtling closer. Now, even the ground beneath their feet vibrated faintly, proof that the enraged Ice-Eyed Python returning had no intention of a stealthy approach.
"Wasn't this anticipated?" Lin Feng clapped the Swordsman on the shoulder, forcing a light-hearted grin. "Stick to the plan! I'm counting on you, Swordsman!"
"It's you we're all counting on, Lin Feng!" the Swordsman retorted, his voice tight. "I'm trusting you here! Was it true? Do you really have a way to…"
"Relax!" Lin Feng cut in firmly. "Once we've decided to act, we must have unwavering confidence in victory!! Besides, if it really doesn't work out then, we can still use your treasure to earth-glide away…"
"Hey! Hey! I'm staking my life here, and now you say that?! Don't scare me like that!"
"Just joking! Don't worry, it will work! No more talk—it's here!!"
The tense ten-second wait felt agonizingly long. When the colossal form of the Ice-Eyed Python finally surged into view at the end of the passage, despite all their mental preparation, both men couldn't suppress a surge of primal fear.
"Huh?!" Suddenly, the Swordsman's eyes sharpened, a spark of hope igniting within them. "It's injured!!"
Lin Feng also saw the numerous wounds marring the python's massive head. His expression mirrored the Swordsman's relief. "Then what are we waiting for?!" he shouted. "Take action!!"
"Right!!"
The Swordsman's demeanor shifted instantly. All distractions seemed to fall away as his focus narrowed to a razor's edge. His true essence surged violently within him, radiating an aura of immense, unyielding sharpness. He looked like a sword drawn from its sheath, its deadly edge fully exposed.
With a flick of his right hand, he summoned the Exquisite Pagoda before him. His hands swiftly formed an intricate seal, which he slammed forcefully onto the miniature tower!
"Go!!"
As the Swordsman's command rang out, the fluctuations of his true essence peaked. In that instant, every ounce poured into the Exquisite Pagoda!
"HUM!!!"
The palm-sized pagoda shot forward, emitting a deafening hum that filled the cavern. It blazed like a captured star, erupting in a blinding light—no longer orange, but a dazzling, violet radiance!
Tiny arcs of lightning crackled from its surface. In the surrounding air, thin tendrils of violet lightning materialized out of nowhere. Fierce thunder-attributed spiritual energy converged madly, coalescing in the blink of an eye into a seething purple lightning ball several meters wide!
The sequence happened with breathtaking speed. Just as the violet thunderball, centered on the pagoda, took form, the Ice-Eyed Python had already crossed the hundred-meter distance, charging headlong into the funnel cavern. It entered just in time to meet the projectile thunderball head-on!
In that split second, sheer terror flashed within the python's lantern-sized eyes. It hadn't anticipated such overwhelming power from a human whose aura felt leagues weaker moments before. Attempting to dodge was futile; it was far too late!!
"HISSSS!!!"
A shriek of pure panic tore from the python's maw. Its aura exploded outward. Its massive jaws gaped wide, and a sphere of white light, roughly the size of the thunderball, shot from its throat like a cannonball aimed straight at the incoming violet energy.
"BOOM!!!!!"
The next instant, an earth-shattering explosion ripped through the air. To the python's utter horror, its own spiritual blast shattered instantly upon contact. The violet thunderball detonated directly above its head, exploding downwards into a vast, crackling net of purple lightning!
"CRACKLE! BOOM! ZAP! CRACKLE! BOOM!"
Bolts of lightning, varying in thickness, rained down mercilessly upon the python's skull. Each strike left a scorched, blackened mark on its armored scales. Several of the thickest bolts struck with devastating force, blasting scales apart and exposing raw, mangled flesh beneath—a gruesome sight.
The Ice-Eyed Python had spent the day racing back and forth underground, repelling multiple waves of 'invaders'. While it had successfully driven off Lin Feng's group initially (a minor skirmish), the subsequent encounters with the Lu family party and the two cultivators from the Absolute Sword Sect, though ultimately victorious, had taken a toll. The injury inflicted moments earlier by Wei Wuyi's low-grade Rank 4 Gale Talisman was still fresh. Now, struck by this violet thunderball, whose power was easily comparable to that talisman, even the Rank 4 demon beast couldn't stifle a scream of agony. It began to thrash wildly, crashing against the cavern walls in its frenzy. Every impact caused the earth to tremble violently, collapsing sections of the rock face.
The Swordsman's Exquisite Pagoda treasure! Not only did it possess earth-gliding abilities, it could unleash such a devastating lightning attack!
The Swordsman had accomplished his mission. As he'd claimed earlier—by unleashing his ultimate technique at full power, he had managed to wound the Ice-Eyed Python.
...
Meanwhile, Lin Feng seized this critical moment to unleash his strongest killing move!
The instant the Swordsman unleashed his pagoda, Lin Feng had flipped his hand, producing the White Tiger Soul Rage Talisman. He tossed two Qi-Restoring Pills into his mouth, then channeled his true essence frantically into the talisman.
Just as the thunderball struck the python and it shrieked in agony, writhing violently, the talisman in Lin Feng's hand erupted with blinding light! An aura of immense, primal savagery burst forth!
"ROOOOAR!!!!!"
A torrent of white light shot from the talisman, coalescing in the air before Lin Feng into the immense, spectral form of a White Tiger! Its deafening roar shook the very foundations of the cavern. The tiger spirit seemed to tread on air itself before launching a Mountain-Crushing Pounce towards the Ice-Eyed Python dozens of meters away!
"HSSSSS!!!"
The thrashing python froze mid-movement. The terror in its eyes multiplied tenfold. It let loose another scream, this one edged with madness. Abandoning any defense against the lingering violet lightning, it channeled all its power. An intense ice-blue radiance burst from its body, solidifying into a thick, tangible barrier of light before it.
Yet, when the White Tiger spirit collided with this luminous shield, it passed through as if it were mere mist! It plunged straight onto the body of the Ice-Eyed Python!
The spectral tiger was colossal, but the python's size was equally immense. The tiger spirit landed squarely on the python's head… and passed through its physical form. However, as it emerged on the other side, gripped firmly in its spectral jaws and claws, was the writhing, ethereal silhouette of a giant serpent!
It was the soul essence of the Ice-Eyed Python!
Instantly, the python's entire massive body locked rigid. Then, it began to shudder and convulse violently, like something possessed. Overlaying its physical form, the phantom serpent struggled desperately, caught in the relentless, savage grip of the White Tiger spirit. The tiger tore at it with furious claws and fangs.
Strangely, despite the White Tiger spirit's ferocious assault, the serpentine soul essence didn't fragment or lose pieces. Instead, it visibly began to shrink and grow fainter. Its aura, the very essence of its life force, plummeted rapidly, becoming weaker and weaker with each passing moment…