The violet lightning unleashed by the Exquisite Pagoda had finally dissipated. The now-dull pagoda flew back into the Swordsman's hand. He leaned weakly against a large rock, mouth agape as he stared at the Ice-Eyed Python ahead.
In mere moments, the python's soul essence, forcibly dragged out by the White Tiger spirit, had shrunk several times over. Strangely, its physical form had correspondingly diminished. From its initial imposing size of six to seven meters in girth, it was now only as thick as a bucket, its length reduced to just over thirty meters.
Moreover, the python's struggles had weakened to almost nothing. The half-extracted soul essence hovering outside its body had grown translucent, looking as if it might shatter completely at any second.
By this state, in another ten seconds or so, the Ice-Eyed Python would be utterly annihilated, soul dispersed.
However, at this critical juncture, Lin Feng suddenly staggered backwards. He stumbled several steps before "THUD!" colliding heavily with a rock taller than a man behind him. This impact was the only thing keeping him upright. His face was a terrifying shade of pale, his entire body looking utterly drained.
"POOF!!!"
Simultaneously, the White Tiger spirit savaging the python's soul essence froze mid-assault. Then, it dissolved into countless motes of white light, blinking out of existence as they streamed back into the White Tiger Soul Rage Talisman clutched in Lin Feng's hand.
—Lin Feng's true essence was completely exhausted!!
Despite activating the talisman at his peak and taking two Qi-Restoring Pills beforehand, the sheer amount of true essence demanded by the White Tiger Soul Rage Talisman was staggering. The reserves of a mere Foundation Establishment Stage Level 2 cultivator like Lin Feng simply couldn't sustain it for long.
As his true essence bottomed out, Lin Feng also confirmed a long-held suspicion within his heart—he truly couldn't access that mysterious 'burst' state anymore…
But there was no time to dwell on that now. Weakly bracing himself against the rock behind him, he turned his head towards the Swordsman not far away. "Swordsman… got any strength left? That Ice-Eyed Python… it's not dead yet. Finish it off!!"
He couldn't even lift a finger, utterly incapable of commanding his flying sword for the final blow. He didn't even have the strength to summon the strange fire within him.
"Relax… I've… I've got this!!"
The Swordsman, seeing Lin Feng's state, gave a grim nod. He pulled a porcelain pill bottle from his storage ring. Shaking out two pills, he tossed one into his own mouth and flicked the other towards Lin Feng. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself upright, dredging up the scant remnants of his true essence as he began walking forward.
"Plop…"
Lin Feng, however, lacked even the strength to raise his hand and catch the pill. It struck his chest and tumbled down into the folds of his robe.
"Chirp!!"
Immediately, a rustling sound came from Lin Feng's chest. Xiao Qiu popped out, cradling the pill in his tiny paws. He scrambled up onto Lin Feng's shoulder and gently pushed the pill into his master's mouth with his little claws.
The pill dissolved instantly upon contact. Lin Feng felt a wave of warmth flow down into his stomach, rapidly spreading through his limbs and bones. His depleted true essence began recovering at a rate several times faster than before.
"Top-grade Rank 3 Qi-Restoring Pill!!"
Lin Feng's eyes flashed with recognition. This was far superior to the Qi-Restoring Pills he possessed! Such a precious pill was something even Liang Han, the Beast Taming Sect disciple he'd encountered before, hadn't owned.
Sliding down the large rock behind him, Lin Feng managed to sit cross-legged. He focused inwardly, circulating his cultivation technique with all his remaining willpower to restore his true essence.
"SHING!!"
On the other side, the Swordsman's recovery was visibly faster. By the time he had covered the dozens of meters to stand before the Ice-Eyed Python, his weakness had lessened considerably. His left hand flicked, summoning the longsword he usually held across his lap. His right hand grasped the hilt. With a crisp, clear ring of steel, the blade slid from its scabbard. Cold light shimmered along its length—undoubtedly an extraordinary weapon.
The Swordsman looked down at the python gasping its last breaths before him. His gaze hardened. He raised the sword, poised to deliver the killing strike.
"Hsss…"
Just then, the python lifted its head weakly. Its eyes met the Swordsman's, and it let out a faint, pitiful hiss. Gone was the earlier madness and fury; the sound held only confusion, fear, and… unmistakable pleading. Its eyes glistened with moisture, projecting an intensely human look of desperate supplication.
It was clearly begging the Swordsman for its life.
"Huh?!"
The Swordsman froze mid-swing. His eyebrows shot up, surprise and astonishment flashing across his face as he stared at the creature before him.
"Sss… Sss…"
Seeing his hesitation, a spark of hope ignited in the python's eyes. It hissed again, its gaze flickering, projecting an aura of profound wretchedness and despair.
"This…" The Swordsman's astonishment deepened. It actually understands begging for mercy!! Such high intelligence… The thought sparked a strange excitement within him. He addressed the python directly: "Are you asking me not to kill you?"
"Hsss! Hsss!!" The python vigorously nodded its head, its eyes overflowing with entreaty.
The Swordsman's eyes lit up brighter. He pressed further: "I could spare you… but you must release your soul essence. I will place a restrictive seal upon it. You will become my beast companion, bound to me forever. Do you accept?"
"..."
At his words, the python's eyes changed instantly, showing clear resistance and hesitation. But then it glanced fearfully at the gleaming sword in the Swordsman's hand. After a fierce internal struggle, it bowed its head in resigned acceptance.
Seeing such 'obedience', the Swordsman's heart swelled with delight. He turned slightly towards Lin Feng. "Lin Feng! Change of plan! This Ice-Eyed Python is a spirit beast of exceptional intelligence!! I happen to know an Art of Beast Subjugation. I want to claim it as my beast companion. Would that be acceptable?"
Lin Feng had been observing the scene while meditating. He'd witnessed the entire exchange. He too was greatly astonished. Hearing the Swordsman's request, he only pondered briefly before smiling and nodding. "If that's the case, go ahead and claim it. I have no objections."
While this meant forfeiting the precious Rank 4 demon core, scales, bones, and meat of the Ice-Eyed Python, Lin Feng saw no reason to object. He also recognized this was a rare spirit beast. Any cultivator encountering such a creature would be reluctant to kill it outright. He even possessed a Beast Subjugation Art himself, but it required Core Formation Stage cultivation and mastery of spiritual sense manipulation to use. Otherwise, he might have been tempted to compete with the Swordsman for it.
The Swordsman grinned broadly. "Then I thank you for your generosity! When we split the spiritual spring later, brother, you take a larger share!!"
He turned eagerly back to the python, excitement bubbling over. "Alright! Release your soul essence! Don't worry. Once you follow me, I won't mistreat you. The spiritual spring I acquire will be shared with you for cultivation, helping you recover your strength swiftly."
A flicker of something—perhaps reluctant hope—passed through the python's eyes. It sighed inwardly, then obediently released its soul essence. Immediately, a faint, ethereal serpentine silhouette, identical to its physical form, emerged from the top of its head. This was fundamentally different from being forcibly ripped out by the White Tiger spirit; it was a voluntary act, offered without any defense. It was an act of extreme vulnerability—if the Swordsman attacked now, its soul would scatter instantly.
The Swordsman's expression was one of intense focus. He sheathed his sword. Channeling his true essence, he formed a sword-finger gesture with his right hand. A small puncture appeared on his middle fingertip as true essence forced a drop of blood infused with his own soul power to the surface. He flicked this drop of vital essence onto the python's brow.
His right finger moved swiftly through the air, as if tracing an invisible pattern. The drop of blood on the python's brow seemed to come alive, swirling and forming a complex, arcane runic mark. It flashed once, then vanished. Simultaneously, an identical mark appeared on the forehead of the serpentine soul essence floating above the python's head. Once the mark solidified, the soul essence sank back into the python's body.
"Success!!"
The Swordsman withdrew his hand, looking slightly paler, but his eyes shone with exhilaration. He gazed down at the Ice-Eyed Python with immense satisfaction.
"Hsss…"
The python also seemed even weaker than before. It looked up at the Swordsman plaintively and let out a soft hiss, now carrying a distinct note of submission and closeness.
The Swordsman, his guard completely lowered, crouched down without hesitation and patted the python's head. "Alright, relax. I won't harm you now. You should be able to shrink, right? Make yourself smaller for now."
"Hsss…" The python responded affirmatively. Its body shimmered faintly with light and immediately began to rapidly diminish in size. Within a few blinks, it shrank from the thickness of a bucket down to the size of an ordinary snake. At first glance, one might mistake it for a common, non-magical serpent.
The Swordsman extended his right hand. The python slithered obediently into his sleeve, coiling itself around his forearm.
"Heh… Looks like I'll need to find a spirit beast pouch later…" the Swordsman murmured contentedly to himself as he stood up and walked towards Lin Feng.
Reaching Lin Feng, he asked with a smile, "Lin Feng, are you alright?"
Lin Feng managed a weak shake of his head. Using the nearby rock for support, he pushed himself upright. "Manageable. Recovered a bit… can move."
"Good!" The Swordsman beamed, his eyes turning eagerly towards the spiritual spring pool nearby. "Let's collect this spring water first! Once we have it, we need to leave immediately. If any other cultivators show up now, we'd be in serious trouble."
"Agreed. Let's hurry." Lin Feng nodded. Together, they walked towards the shimmering pool of spiritual spring water.
...
Standing at the edge of the pool, the Swordsman gazed at the brimming liquid treasure, his excitement palpable. "Tsk, tsk, tsk… Spiritual spring. So much spiritual spring!! Haha! Here, I have some jars!" He waved his hand, pulling several large earthenware jars, each the size of a basketball, from his storage ring. Grabbing one, he ripped off the seal, poured out the aged wine inside without a second thought, then dipped it into the pool, filling it to the brim with the precious spring water.
Lin Feng did the same, taking a jar, discarding its contents, and filling it with the luminous water.
Setting their filled jars aside, each picked up another empty one, ready to continue.
However, just then, something entirely unexpected happened…