The power was so tremendous that it even produced a massive booming sound.
One must admit this black-clad figure was very adept at choosing the right moment.
This was precisely when Zhao Ya was rushing halfway through, his old strength depleted and new strength yet to arise. Coupled with his upper-to-lower display, he had every advantage.
Yet unexpectedly, just as he approached, the sticky cold power of the giant serpent hadn’t even reached Zhao Ya.
Originally in mid-air, seeming unavoidable, Zhao Ya suddenly shifted sideways a yard away, just in time to avoid the black-clad figure’s attack.
Immediately, Zhao Ya chuckled, "Take a cut from my saber first, let me see how high the skills of this so-called Celestial Being really are!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Ya’s saber slashed out.
Since mastering the Wind-Slaying Saber Technique to the realm of Extraordinary to Saint, Zhao Ya’s control over his saber had reached an effortless level.
For instance, at this moment, this slash stirred not the slightest ripple, yet it instantly appeared before the black-clad figure, the whole process natural and fluid.
It even gave the illusion that the black-clad figure had voluntarily run into it.
However, the saber cut, sufficient to sever an elephant, was abruptly halted in front of the black-clad figure.
A look of surprise flashed in Zhao Ya’s eyes.
Because he felt a sticky, slippery force entangling his saber, making it impossible to withdraw.
Meanwhile, the black-clad figure’s fist was already smashing over.
The fist wind reeked, clearly laced with poison.
"Interesting, it seems your power has indeed increased a lot over the years!" Zhao Ya said calmly, not at all flustered, as a brilliant light suddenly gleamed in his eyes.
In an instant, the previously aggressive black-clad figure let out an extremely terrified scream, then flew backward like a kite with a broken string.
While still in the air, the scales on his body rapidly shed, and by the time he landed, he had become an old, feeble middle-aged man.
Thud!
The man spat out a mouthful of black blood, his dim eyes filled with fear.
Especially when he saw Zhao Ya slowly approaching with his saber, his body couldn’t help but tremble.
He feared not only the concept of death but also the incomprehensibility of what had just happened, making even the omnipotent Python God suddenly abandon him.
At this moment, Zhao Ya walked up to him, crouched down, and looked at the trembling man.
"Do you know Wu Bao’Er?"
The man looked bewildered, clearly having never heard the name.
Zhao Ya didn’t find this strange.
According to Wu Bao’Er, when she escaped, the High Priest of the Python God Sect was an old man.
So many years have passed, even if the old man didn’t die, he couldn’t have turned back into a middle-aged man.
The greatest possibility is that the then High Priest is dead now, and this is the new High Priest.
Of course, there’s also the possibility of having more than one High Priest.
But none of that matters anymore.
Zhao Ya stood up and walked past the man.
The man quietly sighed in relief.
No matter what, it’s good to keep his life.
Moreover, once this guy finds himself in over his head and barges into the Python God Cave, there’ll be a chance for revenge.
Yet just as he was calculating how to get his revenge later, the world around him suddenly changed, and he saw his own neck spewing blood.
Huh, what’s going on?
This thought flashed by, and the man then plunged into endless darkness.
Zhao Ya didn’t even look back, he casually shook his saber to fling off the blood stains.
To him, this black-clad figure was merely a minor character, not worth mentioning.
The true target should be within that pitch-black cave ahead.
Although earlier, when asking Liu Yujiao in the forest, she said there should only be one High Priest.
Zhao Ya didn’t believe it.
Of course, this doesn’t mean Liu Yujiao was lying, but rather, given her status, she likely can’t access the Divine Sect’s core.
Standing before the cave entrance, smelling the faint fishy odor in the air, Zhao Ya smiled slightly, then stepped forward and walked inside.
Inside the cave, it was very dark, but for Zhao Ya, whose brain had unlocked over fifty percent, significantly enhancing his sensory abilities, it posed no problem.
The only challenge was the increasingly intense fishy smell in the air.
To the point where Zhao Ya later had to block part of his sense of smell.
The path in the cave stretched downward and was exceedingly long.
Even with Zhao Ya’s body technique speed, it took half a cup of tea’s time for a faint light to appear ahead.
Zhao Ya increased his vigilance and rushed toward the light.
But after just a few steps, he suddenly felt the ground beneath his feet seemed a bit different.
From the cold, hard floor a moment ago, it had turned into a soft, sticky feel.
Before he could look down, a sharp sound of something tearing through the air came from the darkness behind.
Without thinking, Zhao Ya swung his saber backhanded.
Thud!
A multicolored venomous snake fell down, its foul-smelling blood instantly staining the ground red.
But immediately, the ground began to churn and surge, followed by a teeth-gnashing sound of chewing and devouring.
In the blink of an eye, the snake’s corpse disappeared without a trace.
At the same time, Zhao Ya saw the state of the ground.
Even Zhao Ya, who was bold, couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his spine at this sight.
It turned out that the soft, sticky sensation earlier was because Zhao Ya was standing not on the ground, but on a thick layer of something akin to maggots.
These maggots were as thick as a finger, over ten centimeters long, with triangular heads that had no eyes, just a huge mouthpiece.
After devouring the venomous snake’s corpse, these maggots became restless, surging violently, trying to climb up Zhao Ya’s feet.
Truth be told, Zhao Ya initially felt a bit creeped out.
Not out of fear, but out of disgust.
But he quickly calmed down and directly unleashed a powerful weapon.
Countless poisonous powder spread instantly.
The semi-enclosed cave environment was an ideal venue for the poisonous powder to exert its power.
But even with such potent poison, these maggots didn’t die, only ceaselessly surged.
Suppressing his nausea, Zhao Ya sped up and charged inward.
Finally.
After passing through this stretch, Zhao Ya entered a stone corridor.
The ground and walls of the corridor were exceedingly smooth, as if some creature frequently came and went here.
And just as Zhao Ya was about to pass through the corridor, countless black shadows rushed towards him from all sides.
Zhao Ya’s eye power was exceptionally keen; with the faint light in the corridor, he immediately saw that they weren’t shadows at all.
They were clearly countless multicolored venomous snakes.
These venomous snakes varied in size; the largest as thick as a bowl’s edge, the smallest like a baby’s finger.
So many venomous snakes surged towards Zhao Ya like a tide, while the maggots behind him wriggled incessantly.
Anyone else facing such a predicament would have been at a loss.
Only Zhao Ya simply met this with a cold smile.
Because he understood, using such methods to stop him clearly indicated that the being within the cave was now afraid.
He made no extra movements, only gently closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them.
Simultaneously, an exceedingly powerful aura burst from him.
This aura was so ancient and potent, like a true dragon that had existed since ancient times finally awakening from slumber.
In an instant, the venomous snakes, which were swarming over just now, suddenly acted as if encountering terrifying natural enemies.
The ones at the front didn’t even get a chance to hiss before they exploded into pieces.
The snakes behind fled in all directions.
Zhao Ya couldn’t be bothered with these filthy beings and continued strolling casually inward.
Finally.
After traversing the long corridor, an enormously spacious hall appeared ahead.
And hanging overhead in the hall were two red lanterns.
But on closer inspection, they weren’t lanterns at all, but rather two enormous serpent eyes.
A giant python as thick as a small truck was coiled together over ten meters high, its massive serpent head towering in the air, staring icily at Zhao Ya as he entered the hall.
In front of this giant python, more than a dozen black-clad figures were continuously prostrating in worship.