Chapter 56

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As Chen Hai thrust his spear towards the vital point of the demon python, its eyes, the python, with its innate wisdom, had been hiding in the deep mountains and forests for hundreds of years, devouring humans and beasts. Even though it hadn't expected a mere human to escape its sharp fangs, it certainly wouldn't let Chen Hai easily hit its vital point.

In mid-air, the python's body suddenly shifted several feet to the side. Chen Hai's spear struck the scales on the python's jaw, feeling as if he had hit an unbreakable piece of metal. Sparks flew, and the counterforce, carrying a strange power, made Chen Hai's right arm go numb.

Fortunately, Chen Hai's body remained unaffected. Seeing the python's massive body sweeping towards him, he instantly moved several feet to the side, stepping on the python's vital point with both feet, and using the force to leap into the dense forest like a bolt of lightning. Using the cover of the towering trees, he quickly moved through the forest, increasing the distance between himself and the python.

Even though the python sensed that Wu Meng, standing on the treetops, was a significant threat and knew that some weak humans were hiding in the forest, its cruel nature was fully aroused. It was unwilling to let Chen Hai escape easily. The huge python body charged through the forest, crushing the massive trees that required two people to encircle, with a continuous crackling sound...

Wu Meng watched the chase between Chen Hai and the python with a serious expression. It was only then that he noticed that the reason Chen Hai could exceed the limits of a Transcendent Realm martial cultivator was due to the subtlety of his footwork.

Chen Hai's running speed was not particularly fast, at least not as fast as the python's lightning-fast attacks. However, using the cover of the towering trees in the forest, he could often shift several feet in an instant, narrowly avoiding the python's fatal strikes, and even occasionally counterattack with his spear.

Wu Meng had never seen such skills in the Transcendent Realm disciples or soldiers of the Taowei Sect or the Wuwei Army. He felt that Chen Hai's footwork had an indescribable grace, like light clouds passing over a ravine or mist covering a mountain. In that brief moment, Chen Hai's speed could suddenly increase two to three times, which must be a highly advanced footwork technique...

What kind of footwork is this? Is it a technique that can be cultivated by a Transcendent Realm martial cultivator?

Wu Meng was shocked. Although he was still watching from the sidelines and had no intention of intervening, he closely followed Chen Hai and the python, thus clearly seeing the entire struggle between them.

However, it was Chen Hai's extremely proficient combat skills that truly amazed Wu Meng.

Even though Chen Hai possessed a highly mysterious footwork technique that could avoid danger, frequent use would quickly deplete his internal essence and true energy, leaving him powerless and at the mercy of the python.

However, Chen Hai only used this mysterious footwork when he was certain that ordinary means could not avoid a fatal strike. The distance he moved was not long, just a few feet, just enough to escape the fatal danger. This meant that he could control the consumption of his internal essence and true energy with incredible precision, without any waste.

Wu Meng began practicing martial arts in his childhood and only started practicing swordsmanship after reaching the Spirit Opening Realm. Although his realm in martial arts was not particularly high, his skills in combat were unmatched in the army.

After seeing Chen Hai's struggle with the python, he was truly amazed.

The cold frost spear in Chen Hai's hand, a top-grade mundane weapon, could not even scratch the python's scales, indicating that this python was a demon beast with a body cultivated to the peak of the Spirit Opening Realm.

In terms of physical realm, the python was three to four minor realms stronger than Chen Hai. However, after dozens of breaths of combat, despite the significant gap in cultivation, Chen Hai did not fall into a disadvantage.

What kind of combat skills could this be?

A disciple who was considered a waste and expelled from his clan, how could he possess such rich, experienced, and even master-level combat skills?

Wu Meng did not know that Chen Hai had already hunted over a hundred Rakshasa ghosts in the Blood Cloud Wasteland.

Although the puppet clone was enhanced and upgraded using the Rakshasa Blood Secret Technique, which was unrelated to Chen Hai's true body, the combat experience and awareness were directly imprinted in his soul.

Whether it was Chen Hai, Ge Tong, or Shen Kun, if they had the opportunity to hunt over a hundred Rakshasa ghosts, known for their physical killing prowess across the realms, they would have gained master-level combat experience and awareness far surpassing the seasoned veterans of the Wuwei Army.

Moreover, Chen Hai had decomposed and practiced over 160 basic martial arts techniques, meaning that in any posture, he could almost mobilize the essence and true energy of his entire body. This not only brought his body control to a level that ordinary people could not match but also allowed him to control the consumption of his essence and true energy with pinpoint accuracy, extending his combat endurance several times.

After dozens of breaths of combat, Chen Hai finally lured the python into the ambush area they had set up.

The python could sense that there were people hiding in the deep forest, but it was already completely enraged by Chen Hai. It also knew that these humans did not have any true threats, and even Wu Meng, who was following closely above, was not a match for it, so it charged into the ambush area.

The cultivation of a demon beast's physical body is similar to that of a human.

A human cannot cultivate all twelve main meridians to their peak, so the physical body will always have one or several fatal weaknesses.

The same was true for the python. No matter how unbreakable its scales were, it dared not let Chen Hai's cold frost spear pierce its eyes.

In addition to its eyes, the python had a white scale line on its belly, which was a fatal weakness before it reached the peak of physical cultivation. However, although the python's body had several weaknesses, it was almost impossible for Chen Hai, Ge Tong, and Shen Kun to directly attack these weaknesses due to the significant gap in physical realm. The python's speed was unimaginably fast, and it knew how to protect these weaknesses. If dozens of highly skilled swordsmen and warriors were to charge in without fear of death, they might have a chance to attack the python's weaknesses, but Chen Hai, Ge Tong, Shen Kun, and Zhou Jun were not enough.

Chen Hai's combat experience and awareness had reached a master-level, but even after dozens of breaths of combat, he still could not find an opportunity to attack the python's vital points.

Chen Hai, Ge Tong, Shen Kun, and Zhou Jun were on a private mission and could not allow the thirty elite soldiers to suffer uncontrollable casualties, or they would have a hard time explaining to Li Hu and Li Xianghai.

However, the python was only wary of Chen Hai, Ge Tong, Shen Kun, and Zhou Jun and never expected that the mud it was slithering through was filled with sharp stakes.

These sharp stakes were several inches long, made of cold-patterned iron, with the sharp ends pointing upwards. They were coated with a highly toxic substance that stimulated the nerves and had sharp barbs. They were quietly buried in the mud or dead leaves, waiting for the python to fall into the trap.

The python, unaware of the danger, charged in. Its attack was so powerful that it crushed the massive trees that required two or three people to encircle, and dozens of cold-patterned iron stakes were also crushed. However, four of the stakes deeply pierced the white scale line on the python's belly.

The barbs of the four cold-patterned iron stakes deeply hooked into the python's scales and bones, and they were connected to tripwires, which were tied to the roots of the towering trees.

Realizing it had fallen into a trap, the python tried to escape, but the tripwires and the roots of the trees pulled hard, tearing off a large piece of its belly scales, which were as strong as a high-grade yellow spirit armor, and severing a blood vessel...

"Roar!" The python, not expecting the humans to be so cunning, roared in pain.

Chen Hai activated the Golden Edge Spirit Ring, and three golden sword beams, each several feet long, directly slashed into the python's open mouth.

The python's body was extremely strong, but the flesh inside its bloody mouth was a weakness. The three golden sword beams instantly disfigured its face...

Seeing this, Wu Meng was also shocked. He never expected that the python, which was so powerful just a moment ago, would be severely injured in an instant by Chen Hai's clever tactics.

The injured python tried to escape, but Chen Hai, who had carefully set up the trap, would not let it escape into the mountains.

Zhou Jun, Ge Tong, and Shen Kun then joined the battle, using their highly proficient combat skills to keep the injured python at bay. One of the cold-patterned iron stakes was still deeply embedded in the python's belly, hooked into its bones, and no matter how it struggled, the stake, connected to the tripwire, remained firmly in place...

Chen Hai's combat awareness was cultivated through the hunting of over a hundred Rakshasa ghosts. Ge Tong and Shen Kun were already seasoned veterans, and they often sparred with Chen Hai, unknowingly raising their skills far above their peers.

The four teams of soldiers also held large nets made of iron vines and surrounded the python from both sides, waiting for the right moment to throw the nets. The python, with its immense strength, especially after being severely injured, unleashed its most ferocious power. The four nets were almost instantly torn apart, and several soldiers who didn't let go in time were thrown high into the air.

But even that brief moment was enough for Chen Hai and Zhou Jun. Chen Hai thrust his spear into the python's left eye, and Zhou Jun thrust his spear into the right eye...

The python's head swung violently in pain, and Chen Hai and Zhou Jun didn't have time to pull out their spears before they were thrown away.

Wu Meng caught Chen Hai and placed him on the treetop.

Standing on the treetop, Chen Hai said to Wu Meng, "You can help us save some energy now."

Wu Meng, who had been watching the battle, was shaken to the core. He never expected that a demon python with a body cultivated to the peak of the Spirit Opening Realm would fall to Chen Hai and his companions. Even if he didn't intervene, the python would eventually be killed by Chen Hai and his companions through prolonged combat. His intervention would only shorten the time.

Wu Meng suddenly realized that he had no reason to be proud in front of Chen Hai. Although Chen Hai's tone still didn't make him feel comfortable, he silently summoned his Spirit Pattern Sword, leaped down from the treetop, and helped Zhou Jun, Ge Tong, and Shen Kun to finally subdue the python, avoiding unnecessary casualties among the ordinary soldiers...

With Wu Meng's help, Chen Hai could now watch from the sidelines. He retreated to a stone slope, gathered the soldiers who had been injured in the sudden attack, took a Spirit Essence Pill to slowly recover his essence and true energy, and watched Wu Meng and the others wear down the python's last bit of strength.

At this moment, several black-feathered giant vultures flew over the valley, carrying Li Yulin, Yue Yi, Chen Qing, Su Ziling, and others, who had heard the commotion and rushed over.

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(End of the chapter)