Chapter 151: Snakefolk Form
“Bloodline gene path? Turning yourself neither human nor ghost.”
Seeing the snakefolk phantom revealed by Zhou Ming, Qi Shouwu’s tone was filled with ridicule, as if his own class advancement as a Phantasmal Tamer placed him a level above others.
“That’s still better than you. You’re already half-buried in the ground, yet your strength is still only at the beginner professional level.”
As soon as the words fell, Zhou Ming no longer had any interest in continuing the conversation. He immediately spat out a mouthful of purple poisonous mist.
The fog was viscous and carried an enchanting, faint fragrance. Yet the howling cold wind failed to disperse it. Instead, it directly enveloped Qi Shouwu.
“Tricks of no consequence.”
Facing Zhou Ming, who had just advanced to a Professional Beast Tamer, Qi Shouwu did not take him seriously at all.
Advancing to a Professional Beast Tamer did not mean one could immediately grasp the corresponding level of strength.
The Lava Fire Crocodile beneath his feet instantly transformed into an incomparably scorching flame vortex that wrapped around him. While isolating the poisonous mist, a suit of fiery-red armor formed around his body.
The armor looked as if it had been carved from fire-red crystal, clinging tightly to his entire body. Crocodile-skin patterns covered its surface, and the helmet resembled the head of a Lava Fire Crocodile.
However, just as Qi Shouwu took out his weapon and prepared to launch an attack, he suddenly felt extremely subtle vibrations beneath his feet.
With his rich experience in slaughter, flames instantly erupted beneath him. Borrowing this force, he swiftly dodged while attacking the ground below with flames.
The next moment, a twenty-meter-long giant python burst out of the ground.
Its scales shimmered with a metallic sheen. As the giant python wriggled its massive body, faint sounds of steel grinding against steel rang out.
Its entire body was dark gold as a base, with mysterious purple patterns spread across it. On its head, blood-jade-like bone spurs formed something akin to a crown.
After Zhou Ming advanced to a Professional Beast Tamer, the Ironthread Snake swarm, after fusing through the Gathering Sand secret technique, had already reached the level of a high-tier Ferocious Beast.
Even its outward appearance had changed due to this rise in strength.
With the ambush failing, the giant python’s tail swung out smoothly. Its style closely resembled the secret technique Zhou Ming had learned from the Mad Python Martial Way—Dark Tail.
Its speed was lightning-fast, its momentum thunderous. In an instant, the surrounding air became viscous.
Qi Shouwu, who originally intended to dodge, felt as if the air around him had turned into a swamp. He had no choice but to forcibly receive the attack.
With a push of both hands, flames capable of melting metal transformed into a barrier, which instantly changed into a semi-transparent fire-red crystal.
Qi Shouwu’s Lava Fire Crocodile was primarily fire-attributed, with earth as a secondary attribute, so its defensive power was not lacking.
“Bang…”
When the steel-like giant tail smashed against the dome-like red crystal barrier, an enormous collision sound accompanied by a violent shockwave erupted throughout the valley.
In the distance, the crowd who had yet to react was instantly knocked to the ground by the shockwave, snowflakes flying everywhere.
Separated by a hundred meters, they were still unable to withstand the shockwaves produced by the battle. This clearly showed the power of Professional Beast Tamers.
The red crystal barrier shattered like glass, yet the giant python’s tail was also left with severe scorch marks.
This brief exchange could be considered evenly matched.
“What profession did you actually choose?”
After personally experiencing the terrifying power of the giant python, Qi Shouwu no longer dared to underestimate Zhou Ming.
His Red Crystal Barrier not only had formidable defense, but its crystal surface also possessed extreme high temperatures, making it both offensive and defensive.
Now, without Zhou Ming even personally making a move, his beast could already break the Red Crystal Barrier. Although Qi Shouwu was not injured, the price paid by the other side was minimal.
“You’ll find out very soon.”
Zhou Ming stepped slowly forward over snow that had been melted by high temperatures. The giant python lowered its ferocious head.
As Zhou Ming spoke, he gently stroked the giant python formed from the fusion of the snake swarm.
The next moment, a black-hole-like void appeared in the palm of his right hand, and the giant python rapidly merged into Zhou Ming’s body.
Before Qi Shouwu’s eyes, Zhou Ming’s legs, along with his trousers, instantly transformed into a two-meter-long dark-gold snake tail.
His bare upper body surfaced with extremely fine, semi-transparent snake scales, and on both sides of his cheeks were rows of pale purple snake scales.
In that brief instant, the oppressive pressure emanating from Zhou Ming doubled directly.
After transforming into his snakefolk form, Zhou Ming felt no discomfort at all. Perhaps it was instinct, or perhaps it was a benefit brought by practicing the Mad Python Martial Way.
With his dark-gold snake tail swinging beneath him, Zhou Ming resembled a high-speed train, carrying countless gusts of wind and snow as he charged straight at Qi Shouwu.
At this moment, a fire-red long blade appeared in Qi Shouwu’s hand, possessing the effect of condensing and enhancing fire-attributed energy particles.
With the long blade in hand, Qi Shouwu brandished scorching flames and charged toward Zhou Ming.
Facing Qi Shouwu, who now had weapon support, Zhou Ming did not choose to clash head-on. Instead, he once again spat out thick purple poisonous mist.
Although Qi Shouwu used flames to isolate the poisonous mist, his vision was ultimately affected. Even though his Spiritual Power could still sense Zhou Ming, it still allowed Zhou Ming to seize a slight initiative.
Closing in from the side, Zhou Ming formed his fingers into a blade and slashed toward Qi Shouwu’s neck. Qi Shouwu immediately swung his flame-burning long blade.
“Zzz…”
Zhou Ming struck the blade’s surface with his right palm, which was covered in semi-transparent snake scales. In an instant, the smell of scorched meat filled the air.
“You dare to touch my Fire Sparrow with your flesh? You’re courting death.”
Qi Shouwu let out a ferocious laugh. Flames condensed along the blade edge as he counterattacked Zhou Ming.
However, in snakefolk form, Zhou Ming’s movement was exceptionally strange. His upper body bent sharply to dodge, while the snake tail beneath him swept horizontally toward Qi Shouwu’s legs.
Seeing this, Qi Shouwu could only retreat.
Yet in the next moment, Zhou Ming suddenly straightened his body and extended both hands. From each arm, a three-meter-long Ironthread Snake burst forth.
Such an eerie method of attack left Qi Shouwu unable to defend in time. The two Ironthread Snakes immediately coiled around his arms and body.
When the Ironthread Snakes made contact with Qi Shouwu’s Phantasmal Beast armor, scorch marks instantly appeared at the points of contact. They likely could not restrain Qi Shouwu for even a single breath.
However, Zhou Ming needed precisely that brief moment. The Thunder Type-3 Revolver had already been taken out from his Spatial Ring the instant the Ironthread Snakes flew out.
“You…”
Seeing Zhou Ming press the Thunder Type-3 Revolver directly against his forehead, Qi Shouwu instantly broke out in a cold sweat.
Yet the difference between life and death lay within the snap of a finger.
“Boom…”
Before Qi Shouwu could react, the violent bullet tore through his Phantasmal Beast armor.
As a Professional Beast Tamer, this shot was still not enough to take Qi Shouwu’s life. The Phantasmal Beast armor absorbed all the bullet’s power and restored the torn area to its original state.
However, the powerful shock still left Qi Shouwu dizzy and disoriented.
Seeing that Qi Shouwu had already broken free from the Ironthread Snakes’ restraints, and that the Thunder Type-3 Revolver could not truly shatter the Phantasmal Beast armor, Zhou Ming seized this opportunity to activate the ability born from his advancement to Professional Beast Tamer—the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils.
“Snake Devour.”
The fine golden patterns around the iris of the Dark-gold Serpent Pupils began to rotate. Qi Shouwu, who was still dizzy, instantly felt as if countless venomous snakes were tearing at his Spiritual Sea.
Within his mind, an overwhelming sea of snakes surged forth like a tsunami, and Qi Shouwu completely lost the ability to resist.
However, his Phantasmal Beast disengaged from its armor state, reverting back into the Lava Fire Crocodile as it lunged toward Zhou Ming.