Chapter 38

**Boom!**

Something seemed to break, and Shen Miaoyin’s cultivation rapidly ascended. Her aura became increasingly cold and aloof, like an iceberg.

She glared at the giant python in front of her, let out a cold snort, and with a flick of her sleeve, five azure flying swords shot out from her sleeve.

Each flying sword was only a foot long, enveloped in a thin layer of cold air. As soon as they appeared, the temperature in the air dropped sharply.

The sword light crisscrossed, and the flying swords darted around like five fish weaving and dancing in the air.

A more intense cold aura spread out, driven by the flying swords, heading straight for the giant python.

In the next second, the cold aura met the flames.

*Zzzt...*

A sound like electricity crackled as the cold aura and flames neutralized each other, and a mist of water vapor rose up.

In the mist, the five flying swords cleanly and decisively struck the giant python.

*Ding ding ding...*

A series of clanging sounds rang out, and sparks flew.

The incredibly sharp flying swords, however, could not penetrate the giant python’s body.

*Hiss~*

The giant python flicked its tongue, revealing an impatient look.

With a sudden lash of its tail, it deflected the five flying swords. Then it leaped up, its body rising into the air.

Glaring down at Shen Miaoyin, the giant python opened its massive mouth again. In an instant, its entire body seemed to catch fire, turning bright red, and a more astonishing flame spewed from its mouth.

A torrent of flames rushed toward Shen Miaoyin.

"Perfect timing!"

"Ice Frost Sword Array!"

Shen Miaoyin clenched her teeth, the counter from the ancient restriction putting her under immense pressure.

But seeing the python use this move, she felt more confident.

She formed seals with her hands, and the five flying swords, which had been knocked away, swiftly flew back like fish, hovering above the python’s body.

As Shen Miaoyin chanted the incantation, the five flying swords trembled and shot out five streams of cold air.

The cold air converged in mid-air, forming a rolling mist of frost.

From the mist, a massive sword shadow descended from the sky.

*Puff!*

A dull sound, and the sword shadow pierced through the python’s body.

In an instant, blood rained down.

The python writhed in the air, its attack interrupted.

In pain, the python opened its mouth and sucked in the five flying swords, then glared at Shen Miaoyin with venomous eyes and lunged at her.

That massive mouth seemed capable of swallowing anything.

From his hiding place in the boulder, Su Shier’s heart tightened, and he couldn’t help but worry for Shen Miaoyin.

"Looking for death!" Seeing this, Shen Miaoyin’s eyes turned cold, and she changed her hand seals again.

Suddenly, the python, which was halfway through its charge, paused, showing an expression of extreme pain.

*Puff puff puff...*

In quick succession, the five flying swords pierced through the python’s body from the inside out, flying back to Shen Miaoyin.

Severely injured, the python’s body stiffened, and it fell heavily to the ground with a thud.

It was clearly on its last breaths.

"Is this her true strength? This... This is too terrifying!"

"This python is already so powerful, yet it couldn’t even last three moves against her? What kind of identity does this woman have?"

Su Shier, lying on the rock, was secretly alarmed by the scene before him.

At this moment, he yearned for strength even more.

"But, she seems to be injured as well. Could it be because of the restriction zone’s array?"

Su Shier speculated in his mind.

After all this, Shen Miaoyin’s delicate body trembled, and a thread of blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.

Her face turned pale as snow at this moment.

With her cultivation at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, dealing with such a beast should not have been difficult. However, being in the ancient restriction zone, her cultivation was sealed, and the counter from the restriction had severely injured her.

"The restriction here is indeed terrifying! Fortunately, I managed to deal with this guy in time, or I would have perished here!"

Glancing at the python, she quickly formed more seals and hastily sealed her cultivation again.

After doing this, she walked toward the python with her sword, intending to finish it off and then pick the Zhu fruit from the tree.

But at this moment, a sudden change occurred.

The dying python suddenly rose, raised its head, and lunged at the Zhu fruit tree with its mouth open.

"Trouble! Wretched beast, how dare you?!"

Shen Miaoyin’s face changed, and she was enraged. With a roar, she raised her sword and slashed a beam of sword light at the python.

*Bang!*

The sword light struck the python’s wound, causing its body to stagger again.

But the python’s closed mouth still managed to bite off three Zhu fruits. As the fruits entered its belly, the python’s body was instantly enveloped in a red glow.

Under the red glow, the python’s injuries began to heal at a visible speed. The once-dying python was regaining vitality.

*Hiss~*

In the red glow, the python flicked its tongue, its venomous eyes locked onto Shen Miaoyin.

Twisting its body, the massive python, like a whip, lashed out at Shen Miaoyin again.

A second-stage beast already had simple intelligence and could clearly sense that Shen Miaoyin’s aura had weakened.

"Trouble!"

Caught off guard, Shen Miaoyin could only instinctively raise her sword to block.

*Bang!*

After a dull sound, her body was thrown back, and she spat out a mouthful of fresh blood upon landing.

"This is bad! This python, after eating the Zhu fruits, even if it can’t fully recover in a short time, is still stronger than me!"

Seeing the python’s vitality continuously recovering and missing its first strike, it was now slithering toward her again, Shen Miaoyin inwardly cursed.

She dared not unseal her cultivation now. Once her cultivation aura leaked, the terrifying counter from the restriction would crush her to dust in an instant.

With her cultivation at the sixth level of the Qi Condensation stage and her injuries, she was at a disadvantage against the python.

Glancing to the side, she saw the location of the Dendrobium flowers nearby.

Without hesitation, Shen Miaoyin leaped and rushed toward the pile of boulders. She planned to use these boulders to shake off the python’s pursuit.

Although she was reluctant, she knew that if she didn’t leave quickly, once the python recovered more, even she would be in mortal danger.

At the same time, Su Shier, who had been hiding in the boulders and looking for a chance to escape, was stunned and terrified.

He was just a fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivator, and he didn’t think he could do anything in this level of battle.

"What the heck, why is it coming toward me?!"

"I can’t hide anymore, I have to run!"

With a firm resolve, Su Shier no longer concealed himself.

He rushed out from the gap between the boulders, stepping lightly, and quickly ran toward the edge of the spirit plant garden.

"What? There’s actually another person hiding here?!"

Seeing a figure suddenly dart out from the boulders, Shen Miaoyin’s eyes turned cold, and she broke out in a cold sweat.

Then, recognizing Su Shier, she understood.

"It’s him! The kid from Luofu Peak? What’s his background? With his fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivation, how could he enter this place and even evade my detection?"

Surprised as she was, Shen Miaoyin’s mind raced, and she quickly had an idea.