74 Chapter 73: The Ice Soul Python’s lair (2/2)

I was jumping at everything, almost mistaking a massive column of rock to be my quarry. Soon enough, I just gave up and switched off night vision, depending on my qi sense to sound out my prey instead.

”There you are.”

With my eyes closed, I was able to detect the Ice Soul Python the same way Zhao Shi did. Moving swiftly toward the high-ranking magical beast, I stopped a few meters away from what seemed to be its head.

Right, they have no eyelids.

At least pythons and snakes didn't have eyelids, anyway. So I could easily identify the two glowing orbs as the Ice Soul Python's eyes. The pupils had contracted, and a thin membrane had glossed over the eyes to protect them from the atmosphere, but otherwise it looked as if the Ice Soul Python was wide awake.

Now, how do I lure it out of its lair?

Snakes weren't deaf. They might not have ears, and might not hear sounds as we humans do, but they could still pick up vibrations very well and detect low frequencies. If that was the case, I could still wake it up, but I doubted yelling would be an effective method of doing so.

No, I needed something with more impact.

On the other hand, I had the greatest opportunity to kill the Ice Soul Python. Now that I thought about it, wouldn't it be most effective to slay the Ice Soul Python while it was asleep, when its guard was down? All I needed to do was attack its weak point, the eyes, and I would be able to finish this job once and for all.

Drawing the sword that Zhao Shi had given me, I used Jin to dash toward the Ice Soul Python's eye and stabbed down.

”!”

A frosty qi buffeted me, knocking me off my feet. I rolled as something massive slammed down on where I fell on earlier, pulverizing the dirt. Jumping up, I evaded a forked tongue that almost stabbed through me.

The damned thing was awake all this time!?

Or perhaps the Ice Soul Python was sensitive enough to have woken up when it sensed my killing intent. Whatever the case, it was pointless thinking about it. I had to evade the monster before it caught me in those crushing coils of its.

Actually, the Ice Soul Python was more likely to swallow me whole, given how tiny I was compared to its whole body. Its head alone was several times larger than my whole body. Gulping, I jumped back and used Tui to retreat.

”Ss…”

The Ice Soul Python hissed as it lashed out like a whip, its serpentine body darting toward me. With a curse, I used Tui again and widened the distance between us. The Ice Soul Python smashed into the side of the cave, bringing the rocks tumbling down, but its sheer size shrugged off the attacks and it continued to lunge after me.

”I am so out of here.”

Muttering, I twisted around to avoid getting swallowed again, disappearing from in front of the Ice Soul Python and materializing elsewhere. As soon as my feet hit the ground, I immediately spun around and activated Jin to dash out of the cave.

”Incoming!” I hollered at the waiting Zhao Shi, Da Ge and Zi Xiao Ji. The trio had already spread out and waited in ambush positions, having expected me to successfully lure the Ice Soul Python. I didn't tell them about my failed attempt to slay it while it was asleep.

Boom!

The Ice Soul Python burst out of the cave. As it did so, Zhao Shi and Da Ge descended upon it. Zhao Shi slashed at its head, her blade narrowly missing the eyes and striking the armored scales that covered its neck. Behind, Da Ge attempted to cleave the Ice Soul Python in half with his Giant Slayer, but the Ice Soul Python's armored scales proved impenetrable to his broadsword. Da Ge swore as the broad blade merely bounced off.

The Ice Soul Python writhed and lashed out, attempting to coil around the two, but both of them dove out of the way, narrowly escaping its serpentine body. Its tail whipped out to lash out at them, but they managed to dodge again.

”Just die already!”

Zhao Shi was shouting angrily as she slashed at the Ice Soul Python again, but her sword proved ineffective, unable to pierce through the armored scales. Da Ge ran behind and swung his broadsword down with all his might, but was similarly unsuccessful, the armored scales all but impervious to his attacks.

No wonder Tang Qi Hong wants the armored scales of the Ice Soul Python as spirit materials for her armor and equipment. They are really resilient!

Unfortunately, this was no time to be impressed by the Ice Soul Python's sturdiness. If we failed to slay it, we would get eaten, or at best we would be forced to escape with our tails between our legs.

After coming all the way up this mountain and braving the elements, I was pretty sure that failure would leave a bitter aftertaste. Not to mention, we wouldn't be able to get the gold and corresponding rewards for this mission.

”The Ice Soul Python's scales are too tough!” Zhao Shi warned. ”We've to target its weak spot! The eyes!”

”Easier said than done!” Da Ge grunted as he dodged another deadly attack from the Ice Soul Serpent's whip-like tail. ”The damned thing is moving around too much!”

”Is…is there anything I can do?”

Even though Zi Xiao Ji had drawn her short sword, she remained at a safe distance, spectating for the most part. I noticed that her sword was black, almost like iron, but didn't seem sharp at all. To be honest, it resembled a blunt iron club more than a sharp, bladed weapon. Yet there was something about the qi in the sword that bothered me.

Then I realized that the qi didn't solely belong to the sword. It mostly came from the ominous qi that Zi Xiao Ji infused into her sword.

”Be careful, Miss!” Zhao Shi reminded her tensely. ”We don't want you in combat. Keep your power in control!”

”But…”

”Don't worry, Miss Zi. We can handle this!”

Da Ge assured her with a bright smile. Zi Xiao Ji didn't look convinced, but she nodded. Taking a deep breath, she gazed upon the Ice Soul Python with golden eyes, something insidious flickering inside them.

As if there was another personality dwelling within the deep shadows of her soul…

Well, this wasn't the time to get all philosophical and poetic. I had to help. Using Shadow Steps, I suddenly appeared in front of the Ice Soul Python's face while it was distracted by Da Ge and Zhao Shi. Spinning around, I plunged the sword deep into its eye, causing it to wail horrifically and thrash about violently.

”Whoa!”

I was dislodged from the Ice Soul Python's vicious death throes. Or at least I thought so, but I realized that its qi wasn't fading away that much. If anything, it was growing stronger and more aggressive.

”Damn it!”

”Be careful!” Zhao Shi shouted at me from below before dodging the Ice Soul Python's huge tail, which smashed into the ground once more.

”I'm trying!”

”Over here!”

Near the belly, Da Ge grunted as he parried a blow from the Ice Soul Python with his broadsword. The ground beneath his feet cracked, but as expected of the sturdy fellow, he endured the tremendous weight behind that strike.

I hit the ground near Da Ge before rolling to his feet. Despite his struggling, he grinned at me.

”Good job, Fei Wu!”

”It's not over yet,” I warned cautiously, especially when I saw the vengeful Ice Soul Python rearing back before dashing toward us.

”I know. But can you pull that trick off again? Make sure you sink your sword deeper this down, though.”

”I'll try.” I suddenly realized Da Ge's intentions, and nodded. Taking a deep breath, I readied myself just as the Ice Soul Python lunged at us, its jaws wide open.

”Hah!”

With a determined bellow, Da Ge stomped forward and swung his broadsword. Realizing the danger, the Ice Soul Python clamped its jaws shut but continued its ferocious charge. A huge azure wave of qi rippled from Da Ge's broadsword and sliced into the Ice Soul Python's snout, but as before, its glacial armored scales absorbed the attack without any visible damage.

Even without its fangs, the Ice Soul Python was still a formidable monster. It crashed onto Da Ge's position and he was forced to endure the full momentum behind its blow, parrying its closed jaws with his broadsword. Grunting, he sank his feet deep into the ground, but was unable to halt the Ice Soul Python's charge. Skidding backward, he left deep furrows in the snow and ground, steam billowing upward from the intense friction.

Fortunately, he didn't have to endure for long. Dashing from beside him, I activated Jin to dash in front of the Ice Soul Python's remaining eye while it was still distracting. Infusing my sword with qi, I stabbed its other eye, completely blinding it.

Even as the Ice Soul Python shrieked in agony, I drove my sword deeper and unleashed a burst of pure but volatile qi into its eye, igniting it with the natural qi from the rich environment. The qi blast reached the brain of the Ice Soul Python and instantly reduced it into a bloody mess, imploding it against its thick skull and finally killing it.

”Huff…huff…”

Yanking my embedded sword out of the Ice Soul Python's ruined socket, I dropped to the ground and struggled to catch my breath.

”Phew…”

Freed from having to block the Ice Soul Python's charge, Da Ge collapsed to sit on the snow, perspiration dripping down his face despite the low temperature. Exhausted, he grinned at me and flashed me a thumb's up.

”Great work, Fei Wu!”

”Yeah, good job.”

Even Zhao Shi was nodding, impressed by my handiwork. She showed a rare smile as she glanced at my sword, which was dripping with the Ice Python's blood.

”I made the right choice to give that to you.”

”Thanks,” I murmured, winded.

”Yay!” Zi Xiao Ji cheered as she dropped down to rejoin us. ”You did it, everyone! You completed the mission!”

Unfortunately, her celebration was premature. As soon as she dropped to the ground, there was a huge tremor that rocked the plateau upon which we were perched.

Zi Xiao Ji went still. ”What was that?”

”No…it can't be…”

Zhao Shi turned pale as she glanced back at the cave where the Ice Soul Python came from. Da Ge gulped.

”What is it?”

”At least it wouldn't be the second head of the Ice Soul Python,” I muttered, knowing for sure that this wasn't a two-headed Ice Soul Python. I mean, for heaven's sake, the damned thing had crawled out of there and even attacked us with its tail. And that would truly be ripping off the Memory Chapter of the Spirit Realm dongman.

”No,” Zhao Shi replied as she trembled. ”It's worse.”

I blinked at that, fear and disbelief filling my heart. ”What could possibly be worse than a two-headed Ice Soul Python?”

I got my answer when something burst out of the cave, bellowing furiously as it crashed down on our position.