27 Chapter 26: Exi (1/2)

Finally, at the end of the plains, I found a path that led upward.

”Phew…”

Just as I breathed a sigh of relief, I heard a rustle not far to my right. I narrowed my eyes and saw a dark shape darting through the tall, yellowish grass.

Another Hellfire Badger? Or…?

If there was one creature more dangerous than the Hellfire Badger in this area, it was the Shadow Leopard. Even the fearless Hellfire Badger was helpless before a Shadow Leopard, the latter being the former's nemesis. Admittedly, the Hellfire Badger would give one hell of a fight, but it would always inevitably end in the Shadow Leopard's victory. Such was the immense power and raw strength of the dark-skinned predator.

Even I wanted to avoid encountering the Shadow Leopard. I wasn't insane enough to want and try to defeat a dangerous demonic beast, especially when I recognized that my chances of surviving such a duel would be near zero.

Best to run.

Using a combination of Shadow Steps and Jin, I quickly advanced to the narrow path, which resembled more a rocky corridor than the natural plains that extended across this section of the subterranean cavern. The dark shape hiding in the tall grass didn't follow, keeping its distance, but I wasn't going to count on it for maintaining its detachment for long. I surged forward again, finally putting myself beyond its line of sight.

”Ha…”

Sighing, I trudged up the path. Again, it didn't resemble stairs but a jagged slope worn down by millennia of erosion and formed naturally by geological processes. The steep slope and uneven footing didn't bother me, though. I was just relieved that it led upward.

I just want to get out of this cave and see sunlight again.

Scrambling upward and staying cautious so that I wouldn't get ambushed by the denizens of this cave, I slowly but surely hauled myself toward the exit. I could just barely catch a glimpse of light at the top, brighter than the faint illumination that the qi stones embedded into the rocky walls afforded. The glaring brightness increased my hope and enthusiasm, and before I knew it, my movements were accelerating.

Be careful!

I reminded myself harshly and forced myself to calm down. Even though the corridor seemed bereft of demonic beasts and traps, it was likely that there was something waiting to ambush me right outside the exit of this ”stairs”. Taking a deep breath, I slowed down as I neared and reached out with my senses.

There was an enormous source of qi somewhere near the exit, a living creature that was extremely powerful. Just detecting it from this distance was enough to send me chills and stop me dead in my tracks.

”What the hell is this…?”

Gulping, I whispered fearfully to myself. Pushing my glasses up my nose, I mustered my courage and cautiously stepped out of the exit and into the light.

It was another chamber. Not a very big one, especially when compared to the regions I had just been through, but still pretty vast. The forest and plains were certainly much bigger than this chamber, but even so it was large enough to house a castle, or a quarter of Wu Ling Academy. I estimated the breadth and length to be about a kilometer long, and the height to be about a hundred meters.

Right in the middle of this new chamber was a lake. A huge lake that seemed to flow off into another path on the opposite end, much like an underground river spreading across the subterranean spaces. The bright light I saw earlier was coming from that path, so I guessed that the branching flow actually led to another river on the surface.

Meaning that if I followed the river, I might finally be able to reach the surface and return to Sen Lin Forest.

Finally! After spending so long in here, I'm finally going to get out of this godforsaken place!

Feeling excited, I hurried toward the path, following along the edge of the lake. I wasn't very fond of getting myself wet, especially since my swimming skills left a lot to be desired. I wasn't a very good swimmer, but I knew enough to keep myself from drowning.

Besides, I didn't know what dwelled within the lake. I had to beware of aquatic magical beasts and demonic creatures that were concealed beneath its deceptively calm surface. A predatory Diamondback Crocodile, or a terrifying River Horse (which resembled nothing like a horse, I assure you), or a swarm of Needlefang Piranhas…I did not fancy becoming the prey of any of these vicious demonic creatures.

Especially since I would be at a disadvantage underwater…

Moreover, there's still this immense qi that I'm detecting…

The source of the qi was obviously originating from beneath the waters. Whatever was emanating that horrifying amount of qi, it was lurking beneath the waters, most likely waiting for an unsuspecting prey to draw near so that it would abruptly emerge and ensnare it, dragging it back into the depths of a watery grave.

I would rather avoid such a horrible death if I could help it. Even with the bottle of Green Dragon Spring water attached to my belt, the all-healing liquid wouldn't save me from drowning. In fact, how the hell was I supposed to drink the Green Dragon Spring water when I was drowning in the first place? And even if I somehow drank it underwater, it wouldn't grant me gills or the ability to breathe water. I would just drown again.

That was why I had to be very careful…

But it seems like I have no choice.

The moment I reached the path, all dry land abruptly ended. The only way out of this hole was to swim in that river branching out of the huge lake.

What should I do?

The answer was obvious. I should just go for it. But I wasn't suicidal enough to just plunge in, so I warily approached and tested the waters.

And then the guardian of the lake burst out.

”!!!”

Using Tui, I retreated as far back as possible. A gargantuan serpent had burst out of the lake, hissing intimidatingly, as it struck the spot where I was standing on. Fangs the size of a pillar slammed into the earth, gouging a huge chunk out of the rock. Smoke began rising as the acidic venom burned the soil. Straightening up, the serpent glared down at me, its height towering over even a building.

A Lake Serpent? Or Dragon?

Emerald green scales sparkled in the light, each of them resembling a gemstone. Draconic spikes extended from its head, giving it a majestic presence, and huge black eyes captured me within those obsidian pupils that seemed as bottomless as the abyss from which I just climbed out of.

I felt a bead of perspiration drip down my face and smiled cynically.

”So you're the final boss, huh?”

It didn't matter. This Lake Serpent was standing between me and my route to freedom. I knew I wouldn't be able to defeat something as massive and powerful as this creature, but I didn't have to. My goal was to escape, not to kill everything in my path. Besides, it wasn't as if I possessed some sort of railgun or something.

What I did have was Shadow Steps, my footwork techniques and Lunar Rabbit kicks. They would have to be enough. Oh, and my ice-forging techniques too.

The Lake Serpent lunged at me again, and I gracefully jumped, avoiding the creature's attack. An explosion of gravel and rocks pelted me from behind, but I ignored them, jumping onto the Lake Serpent's back and running along it. Even though the wet emerald scales were somewhat slippery, my Shadow Steps and footwork had allowed me to maintain my balance without falling off stupidly. All I needed to do was keep my momentum going before I slipped.

Yeah! Just like this…then I'll jump and swim out before the Lake Serpent can turn around and catch me!

Kicking off the Lake Serpent's back, I launched myself toward the exit, arcing downward in a dive that would have made an Olympic swimmer proud. Well, not really, but allow me to flatter myself once in a while.

”!!!!”

I never hit the water. Instead, a second Lake Serpent burst out of the lake, charging straight at me with its open mouth. I twisted my body in midair, fumbling wildly. Then I reoriented myself, used the numerous droplets of water still suspended in the air as a temporary foothold, and then launched myself away using Jin.

The second Lake Serpent's jaws closed around empty air.

Screech!

”Huff…huff…”

I skidded across the shore, the friction leaving two trails in the damp soil, and then jumped back to my feet. Narrowing my eyes, I watched the two Lake Serpents twist and spin to face me, holding me in their obsidian, predatory gaze.

”So you have a comrade, after all?”

Splash! Splash!

Then a third. And a fourth. All the way until nine of them emerged from the lake, writhing, flailing and hissing viciously.

”No way…”

At that moment, I realized how sadly I was mistaken. This was no mere swarm of Lake Serpents. All nine of them were connected into one body.

This demonic beast was a…Hydra. A legendary nine-headed serpent that dwelled within the most abysmal of lakes and river. In terms of encyclopedia classification, it was a Rank 9 magical beast, on par with the Behemoth that dragged me into these hellish depths. The individual ranks held no meaning to me, but I did comprehend one thing.

The Hydra was not an opponent I could defeat. Well, I knew that already, so let me rephrase that. The Hydra was going to be a lot more difficult to deal with than a swarm of Lake Serpents. Several hundred times more difficult, if I would be honest.

I'm screwed…

Even as the thought passed through my mind, I clamped down on my despair with unflinching determination. I had been through hell and back, I had survived the Ghost Bear and a multitude of other predators in the subterranean cavern, I had endured excruciating pain and lethal biological transformations in an effort to stave off death from starvation. There was no way I would falter just because a great enemy stood before me and my route to freedom.

”Hmph. Isn't this just great, bring it on!”

With a yell, I charged at the Hydra.

The Hydra moved with a swiftness that belied its immense size, reacting near-instantaneously. Its nine heads flew toward me, attacking one at a time while forcing me to enact evasive maneuvers. I leaped high up, soaring above the first head and just barely avoiding its deadly, venomous fangs. Hell, even without the lethal venom, the fangs were large enough to crush me to a bloody pulp if they stabbed into my body.

As expected of an apex predator.

The Hydra had evolved to fight against legendary demonic beasts such as the Behemoth, so it would need every lethal weapon it could mutate. Those might be overkill against a mere human being like me, but as they say, even a lion would give its all to catch a rabbit.

Rather, I'm the one who can't afford to underestimate my opponent!

Tucking my body into a ball, I ducked the second head, rolling past its gargantuan jaws, then flipped out and landed on the third head before it could swallow me whole. Trying to maintain my balance upon its sleek neck and slippery scales, I forced myself to an unsteady run along the length of its neck, jumping off only when the fourth head charged toward my position.

This time, I used a basic movement from Shadow Steps to dodge the fourth head's assault, disappearing before it could tackle me. I reappeared, almost as if from the shadows and landed on top of its head. Gritting my teeth, I used Seismic Step, the second kick from Shadow Steps, to cave its skull in. The fourth head went down, screeching deafeningly.

However, it was not dead. Far from it.

”!”

The fourth head ferociously lashed out, almost knocking me off my feet. This time, I fell back to the footwork techniques that Teacher Jiao taught me, using Tui to retreat.