Chapter 148: Azure-scaled Python
Deep within the Cloudmist Mountain Range.
Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao traveled deeper along the way, encountering many cultivators’ figures.
“Now in the Cloudmist Mountain Range, there are truly a lot of cultivators, and along the way, there are also many fights breaking out among them.”
At this moment, Lin Chang’an felt somewhat fortunate. Luckily, he and Yun Yao had teamed up to set up a black market, sparing themselves from such life-and-death struggles.
If he still needed to regularly hunt demon beasts like before, in this situation, solo hunting would easily make him a target.
“Demon Core Condensation—such a thing is extremely rare even among quasi–third-rank demon beasts. It is equivalent to a cultivator forming a Core.”
Along the way, Yun Yao explained this rare existence to Lin Chang’an.
Ordinary quasi–third-rank demon beasts, similar to human cultivators at the False Core Realm, faced immense difficulty advancing into a true third-rank beast.
But some demon beasts with strong bloodline power, if they managed to condense a Demon Core during the quasi–third-rank stage, then barring accidents, their chances of breaking through to third-rank were very high.
“This is an Azure-scaled Python, extremely poisonous. Its snakeskin is also an excellent material for making talisman paper. That is our purpose this time.”
As Yun Yao explained along the way, Lin Chang’an acted as if he knew some things and did not know others.
After all, he had been just a drifting cultivator before, and compared to disciples of great clans and sects, he lacked a deep foundation.
“So that’s how it is.”
Lin Chang’an nodded in sudden realization, but Yun Yao did not know that previously, a cultivator surnamed Huang had generously gifted him this knowledge.
“However, there are too many cultivators in the Cloudmist Mountain Range recently, especially those preparing to return. They are easily targeted.”
Experienced robber cultivators always waited for cultivators loaded with spoils on their return journey.
With many cultivators along the way, naturally, the traces of demon beasts were also numerous.
Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao traveled deeper and only reached their destination a month later.
It was not that they were slow, but in the perilous Cloudmist Mountain Range, they had to constantly avoid unnecessary troubles and tread with utmost caution.
……
In a decayed, damp swamp pool, poisonous miasma spread everywhere, exuding a dangerous aura.
After reaching the destination, Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao carefully scouted the surroundings. Finding no other cultivators’ traces, they finally approached the swamp pool.
“Brother Lin, the miasma here is extremely terrifying. Because I cultivate the Water Yin Demonic Art, I have great immunity to yin and poisonous creatures.”
Though she said so, Yun Yao still cautiously swallowed two Detoxification Pills.
Lin Chang’an nodded lightly and also swallowed three Detoxification Pills.
“My wood-attribute cultivation method also grants some immunity, but we should still be careful.”
Under the enveloping miasma, even Yun Yao, at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, furrowed her brows. Losing her divine sense detection ability, she could not even confirm whether the demon beast was still within the swamp pool.
“I have this Earth Element Formation. Though only a mid-grade second-rank formation, its defense is very strong. It will at least prevent the beast from escaping.”
As Yun Yao began setting up the formation plate and flags around, Lin Chang’an opened his Spiritual Eye to gaze at the swamp pool.
After observing for a long while, Lin Chang’an finally shook his head and said,
“No, although my Spiritual Eye can pierce fog and stone, this swamp pool is too deep.”
In front of Yun Yao, certain abilities were acceptable to reveal.
After all, cooperation was built upon mutual strength. If one side was too inferior, the balance of cooperation would tilt.
“Spiritual Eye—no wonder Brother Lin always returned full-handed from beast hunts. So, you actually cultivated such a pupil technique.”
Hearing this, Yun Yao was first surprised, then showed a look of realization.
Previously, most of Lin Chang’an’s hunts were against poison insects. He naturally had means to restrain them.
Poison insects often had obvious weaknesses, skilled in ambush and concealment—perfectly countered by the Spiritual Eye.
Once the formation was set, Lin Chang’an patted his Spirit Beast Pouch, releasing the Green-Horned Ox, already at mid-second-rank.
“Moo.”
The Green-Horned Ox, upon sensing the familiar poisonous miasma of the Cloudmist Mountain Range, instinctively grew alert, its ox eyes glaring fiercely.
With his mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation and a mid-second-rank spirit beast, Lin Chang’an’s strength was already outstanding among mid-Foundation cultivators.
“Daoist Yun, this is troublesome. If the beast hides deep in the swamp, it will be dangerous for us to go down rashly.”
Feeding the Green-Horned Ox a few Detoxification Pills, Lin Chang’an frowned deeply.
Gazing at the swamp before him, he secretly pondered that if he wanted to seek Core Formation spiritual items in the future, he would likely have to venture into the Sea Abyss of Beasts.
Such high-level fundamental spells like Water Manipulation would best be studied in advance.
Yun Yao did not know that Lin Chang’an’s thoughts had already drifted so far.
If it had been another cultivator thinking like this, it would be considered delusional and arrogant.
But for Lin Chang’an, who had awakened talent and inherited ancient opportunities, it was called foresight.
“Brother Lin, rest assured. Since I could discover this beast, I naturally have my own methods.”
Beneath Yun Yao’s calm expression, it had always been Lin Chang’an showing his strength. This time, it was her turn.
She raised her hand, and from within her robe, her Spirit Beast Pouch glimmered.
A flash of silver light surged, and instantly a chill emanated beside the swamp pool.
Seeing Yun Yao’s spirit beast, Lin Chang’an exclaimed, “An Ice Flood Dragon!”
Over the years, through cooperation with the Zhou Family, he had learned much about demon beasts.
He also learned details about the Sea Abyss of Beasts from Song Tingfeng.
This Ice Flood Dragon was not a species found in the Yue Kingdom, and even within the Sea Abyss of Beasts, it was exceedingly rare.
Just as Lin Chang’an thought this was a spirit beast Yun Yao had obtained from the Sea Abyss, she calmly said,
“This was originally prepared by that old man from the Palace of Blazing Fire, intended as a gift for the Huang Family’s top prodigy, Huang Tianxiao. Since I had to feign death and escape back then, I joined hands with the Mystic Yin Sect and attacked the Gathering Treasures Pavilion to seize this spirit beast.”
Hearing this, Lin Chang’an’s lips twitched.
No wonder Yun Yao had been so wealthy all these years. So, she really had colluded inside and out to rob the Gathering Treasures Pavilion.
With the appearance of the Ice Flood Dragon at the early second-rank, the Green-Horned Ox glared protectively, standing in front of its master.
This was already its instinct.
“The Ice Flood Dragon is essentially a mutated python-bloodline demon beast. Naturally, it can sense its kin. In water, it can also detect the Azure-scaled Python.”
Quasi–third-rank demon beast, Azure-scaled Python.
Lin Chang’an recalled information about this beast, patted the Green-Horned Ox, and said in a solemn voice,
“Wait for the right chance to strike.”
Both Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao were decisive people. In the treacherous Cloudmist Mountain Range, hesitation only bred danger.
Once Lin Chang’an was ready, Yun Yao formed hand seals and activated the formation.
A pale-yellow barrier enveloped the area, sealing it completely.
The Ice Flood Dragon hissed, and under Yun Yao’s command, the spirit beast shouldered the heavy task.
This familiar scene made the Green-Horned Ox let out a low moo, its ox eyes revealing a human-like sympathy.
It too had once used its small frame to lure enemies for its master.
“Brother Lin!”
“Daoist Yun!”
The two exchanged solemn glances, standing close together as they activated the Yin-Yang Joint Strike Secret Art.
This secret art had been cultivated by them for eleven years—long since perfected in coordination.
【Yin-Yang Joint Strike Secret Art (Proficient 687/1000)】
Looking at its progress, Lin Chang’an nodded to himself. His own progress had been great, but this art required both partners to improve together, and above all, mutual trust.
Nonetheless, their mana flowed unimpeded, merging seamlessly.
Besides aiding cultivation, the dual cultivation joint strike secret art amplified the power of spells cast together.
After a while!
As the two stared intently at the swamp pool, the surface finally churned with bubbling turbulence.
“Brother Lin!”
With Yun Yao’s cold shout, Lin Chang’an instantly understood—this time he was to assist Yun Yao’s spell.
With a thunderous boom, the Ice Flood Dragon burst out of the swamp, and at the same time, their joint strike secret art perfectly filled the opening.
【Ice Spike Technique】
At the very instant the quasi–third-rank demon beast, the Azure-scaled Python, revealed its head, what greeted its gaping bloody maw was a dense rain of terrifying ice spikes descending from the sky.
“Roar!”
The Azure-scaled Python let out repeated angry howls of pain, while spells surged before Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao. With Yun Yao’s cultivation method, this Ice Spike Technique was immensely powerful.
“Now!”
Just as the Azure-scaled Python, writhing in pain, prepared to retreat back to the depths of the swamp, Yun Yao suddenly let out a cold shout. Instantly, the waters churned, and in the next moment, waves splashed everywhere.
Sharp earthen spikes surged upward from below, countless in number, directly forcing the Azure-scaled Python out of the swamp.
“Brother Lin.”
Without hesitation, Lin Chang’an raised his hand. At his waist, the Yellow Dragon Bell soared into the air, transforming into a copper bell over ten zhang tall, radiating golden light.
With a resonant clang, it trapped the massive Azure-scaled Python against the ground.
“Hurry, I can’t hold on for long.”
In the moment he suppressed the demon beast, Lin Chang’an immediately felt its terrifying strength, his expression changing drastically.
As expected of a quasi–third-rank demon beast, its power was not comparable to any late second-rank demon beast.
Meanwhile, Yun Yao swiftly formed hand seals. At the swamp’s edge, a formation barrier erupted, completely sealing off the waterway.
From the beginning, the formation was not only to protect themselves but also to lure the Azure-scaled Python out and block the swamp, leaving it nowhere to hide.
Otherwise, if the beast slipped back into the swamp, they would lose all advantage.
“Hissss!”
The Azure-scaled Python struggled frantically within the Yellow Dragon Bell. As Yun Yao’s formation succeeded, Lin Chang’an leapt into the air and quickly retrieved the Yellow Dragon Bell.
This was his only top-grade artifact—he could not afford to let this beast damage it.
The instant it was freed, the Azure-scaled Python saw Lin Chang’an and, in a burst of ferocity, lunged straight at him.
“Courting death!”
Lin Chang’an shouted loudly, pressing down into the void with one palm. The Yellow Dragon Bell flipped upside down and, like a massive boulder, slammed down with a thunderous crash.
Even the quasi–third-rank demon beast let out a pained, blood-soaked roar beneath such a heavy strike.
Seeing this, Lin Chang’an retreated, unable to suppress a look of satisfaction.
“Who says the Yellow Dragon Bell is only for defense and trapping? When used to smash, its power is equally astonishing.”
The Azure-scaled Python, already gravely wounded in its abdomen, now roared madly under the threat of death.
In the next instant, its enormous body, over ten zhang long, whipped its tail, sending the Yellow Dragon Bell ringing as it was flung away.
Then, roaring once more, the Azure-scaled Python surged toward the formation barrier at the swamp’s edge.
Clearly, it intended to use its terrifying body to break open a gap and retreat back into the swamp.
“Daoist Yun!”
By now, the formation was complete. But if this frenzied quasi–third-rank beast kept attacking, the second-rank formation would not hold for long.
Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao understood this clearly. Instead of chasing after it, they retreated, both raising their hands and channeling the joint strike art together.
【Giant Sword Technique】
At the same time, both unleashed the terrifying Giant Sword Technique.
Above their heads appeared a colossal sword radiating azure light and a long spear emanating cold air.
The moment the enormous sword shadow, ten zhang in size, took form, the Azure-scaled Python, slamming itself against the barrier, immediately reacted.
It opened its maw and spewed forth an enormous cloud of green poisonous mist.
Clearly, the beast had long been preparing this attack. If the two had rushed forward to intercept, they would have easily fallen into its trap.
Wherever the poisonous mist spread, flowers, grass, and trees withered instantly, even the earth and rocks corroding with a hissing sound.
One must know, this was the Poison Miasma Zone of the Cloudmist Mountain Range—plants that could survive here already had strong resistance to poison.
Boom, rumble!
Amid the rolling poisonous mist, the Azure-scaled Python began burrowing into the ground.
“Brother Lin, this Azure-scaled Python’s poisonous mist blocks divine sense detection!”
Yun Yao warned. At that moment, Lin Chang’an activated his Spiritual Eye, clearly seeing the burrowing Azure-scaled Python.
His expression grew grave. This quasi–third-rank beast had extremely high intelligence—its fighting style was no longer that of a mere wild animal.
“Here!”
Through the joint strike secret art, their thoughts were linked. Lin Chang’an not only controlled his giant sword but also wielded Yun Yao’s spell with ease.
This was both the strength and weakness of the joint strike art.
If one harbored ill intent, disaster would follow.
In the next moment, the giant sword and spear pierced through the poisonous mist, driving straight into the earth.
At once, the ground shook violently, as if a land dragon had turned over. Beneath the earth, the Azure-scaled Python thrashed in agony, its massive body writhing.
“So powerful a poisonous mist!”
The giant sword embedded in the ground radiated azure light, sizzling as the poisonous mist corroded it.
This venom could clearly erode magical artifacts.
“Roar!”
With dirt and stones flying, the Azure-scaled Python burst out of the ground, covered in blood and writhing madly.
Lin Chang’an and Yun Yao withdrew their artifacts at once. Instead of clashing head-on, the two chose to circle and exhaust it.
One defended, one attacked. With their seamless coordination and joint strike secret art, every spell they unleashed carried the force of a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator’s strike.