Chapter 50

**The Appearance of a Monster, Are You Afraid?**

A cold wind swept through.

A black shadow loomed like a dark cloud, its hands hidden in the sleeves of its robe, moving like a venomous snake, its form twisting and turning, making it hard to distinguish reality from illusion.

A hissing sound continued, as if snakes were slithering around the neck, sending chills down one's spine.

Chen Zong seemed to see a pitch-black python rolling and charging at him, a strong sense of danger overwhelming him.

*Residual Image!*

A sword slash burst forth, the sword light shining brightly and then instantly dimming, transforming into a shadow that enveloped and attacked, the transition between light and dark affecting the black shadow's eyes, making it hard to see clearly.

*Light and Shadow!*

Eight sword lights lined up in a row, slashing out and directly enveloping the black shadow. However, the black shadow's body twisted and contorted strangely, its hands bursting with power, shattering two sword lights in a peculiar manner, then slipping through the gap. The hands came together like a snake's mouth, striking fiercely at Chen Zong's chest, creating a startling whistling sound.

*Horizontal Sword!*

*Wrist Shake!*

The sword body trembled, its light shining brightly.

The sword and the hands collided, instantly separating, and then immediately attacking again.

It seemed like a desperate exchange, a life-or-death struggle.

The black shadow instantly retreated, circled around, and attacked again from the side.

*To be ruthless is not only to be decisive and merciless to the enemy, but also to be ruthless to oneself, to be reborn from the brink of death.* A sudden enlightenment flashed through his mind, and Chen Zong realized he had advanced further in his understanding of the four-character sword technique, especially the "ruthless" character, which combined speed, accuracy, and stability, giving him a deeper understanding of its essence.

*Draw the Sword! Draw the Sword! Draw the Sword!*

Chen Zong focused on offense. Each of the opponent's attacks did not burst with qi and blood, and even the use of qi and blood was rare, indicating that the opponent was severely injured.

Under his sword, the opponent either dodged or struck from the side, never daring to clash head-on, showing that the opponent was very wary of the sharpness of his sword.

Given this, Chen Zong could be more aggressive and fearless, fully utilizing his advantages.

*Residual Image!*

*Willow Sweep!*

*Eagle Strike!*

*True Sword Eight Techniques!*

The four foundation-level sword techniques, each reaching the subtle realm, were alternately employed, the transitions between techniques becoming increasingly perfect.

This black shadow was extremely powerful. If not for the severe injuries, Chen Zong would not have been a match for him.

However, due to the injuries, the black shadow could only exert a fraction of his strength, unable to burst with qi and blood or use high-level martial arts, and could only fight with a foundation-level martial art that had reached the subtle realm. His application of the foundation-level martial art was astonishing, and his combat experience in life-and-death struggles was rich, which were his advantages.

Chen Zong, on the other hand, used the black shadow's combat experience and the refined application of martial arts to hone himself, improving his combat skills, refining his combat techniques, and enhancing his control over the sword.

A strong enemy was undoubtedly the best whetstone and an excellent combat mentor. It could help him unleash his potential in life-and-death situations, improving himself in various aspects and firmly remembering the experience.

As time passed, the black shadow keenly noticed that the opponent's combat skills were rapidly improving.

If the opponent's previous display of high-level sword techniques and the subtle realm of several foundation-level sword techniques had shocked him, one thing was certain: the opponent's combat skills were quite basic in his eyes.

Now, however, they were rapidly improving, approaching his level, a speed that left him in awe.

*To think there is such a monster, who can catch up to me in a short moment. Once he grows, he will surely become a formidable enemy of our sect.* The black shadow thought, immediately resolving to kill the opponent as soon as possible, even if it meant taking a hit himself.

His body, slippery yet suddenly trembling, his hands alternating like a snake's mouth, bit fiercely at the blinding sword light, tearing it apart.

His legs, like angry pythons, burst forth from under the sleeves, striking Chen Zong's legs with terrifying force.

Unexpectedly, the sword light was just a feint, instantly dimming and breaking into a shadow under the hands, then shining brightly again, the sharp sound piercing the ears, making the black shadow extremely uncomfortable. The sharp edge, like an invisible sword, impacted his body, cutting through it as if it were being sliced.

The changes were too fast and sudden. The black shadow hastily retreated, but it was too late.

With a tearing sound, the black robe was ripped apart, and the chest was slashed open, blood flowing profusely.

Chen Zong's eyes flashed with shock. In that moment, he glimpsed the body under the black robe, which seemed to be covered in fine snake scales.

*You have successfully angered me.* The black shadow's body trembled, the torn black robe parting to reveal a supple, elongated body. Indeed, it was covered in fine snake scales, as if painted on or grown from under the skin, especially clear on the chest.

A somewhat blurry face, filled with coldness, with eyes gleaming green, made the temperature in the cave seem to drop even further.

*Transformation!* A more hoarse and obscure voice sounded. In front of Chen Zong, the person's body twisted strangely, like a snake, giving Chen Zong a chill.

The snake scales on his body became clearer as the body twisted, gradually spreading over the entire body. The originally gloomy face seemed to be stretched, looking like a hybrid between a human face and a snake head, also covered in snake scales. The tongue extended, becoming long and thin, hissing.

*Hiss... You have forced me to transform and reveal my true form. You can be proud, to die under my true form, you should feel lucky.* The half-human, half-snake monster's voice was even more bizarre, his body constantly twisting, his arms swaying like two venomous snakes, giving Chen Zong a very uncomfortable feeling.

This creature, neither human nor beast, but something in between, was extremely repulsive, causing a great impact on Chen Zong.

*What kind of monster are you?* Chen Zong's scalp tingled, a chill spreading down his spine. He took a deep breath, gripped his sword tightly, and calmed himself down. His gaze became even sharper, as if piercing through all darkness.

*Monster... You, a lowly ant, dare to call me a monster... You should die...* The sharp voice seemed to pierce his brain. The moment the word "die" sounded, the snake man burst forward at an astonishing speed, his arms like venomous snakes emerging from a cave, creating countless snake shadows, and his legs like an angry python, striking fiercely.

The pressure increased dramatically.

The shadow of death loomed.

After transforming into a half-human, half-snake form, the enemy's strength became even more terrifying.

The cold aura made Chen Zong feel suffocated, his body seemingly unable to move.

He resisted with all his might, the first level of the True Sword Heaven-Cutting Technique reaching its peak, as if breaking through some constraint, his qi and blood surging. Chen Zong immediately felt that the connection between himself and his sword had advanced further.

The first level of the True Sword Heaven-Cutting Technique—completed!

A sword slash, the sharp sword light seemingly cutting through the无形 pressure, each sword following the previous one, transforming into a dozen sword lights, attacking the snake man's arms and legs from all directions, while Chen Zong's feet slid backward.

*Light and Shadow!*

Eight sword lights shone, advancing in a staggered manner, a sudden enlightenment appearing, but there was no time to ponder it.

Under the sword light, the snake man twisted his body to avoid.

One hand flashed with an illusion, striking fiercely at the precious iron sword, the terrifying force making the sword tremble, Chen Zong's right hand's tiger mouth cracking.

*Second strike!*

The precious iron sword flew out of his hand.

*Third strike* was aimed at Chen Zong's chest, unavoidable, Chen Zong raised his right arm to block.

A cracking sound rang out, the heavy iron arm guard on his right arm shattered instantly, the immense force pushing Chen Zong back, his right arm in great pain, the hardness of the heavy iron arm guard repelling the snake man's hand.

The precious iron sword fell, Chen Zong's left hand opened, gripping the hilt.

*Chopping Sword Technique!*

A single sword, as if capable of splitting mountains and severing the earth.

*Left-handed sword!* The snake man was shocked.

This person, barely in his teens, had already cultivated his right-handed sword technique to such a level, which was already astonishing, and he could also wield a sword with his left hand, seemingly no less proficient than his right.

A single sword strike, the sword light blinding, the momentum terrifying, the sharpness world-shocking.

Unavoidable, the snake man could only raise his arm to block, concentrating his strength, his forearm swelling.

The sword rose and fell, without hesitation, ruthless and decisive.

The precious iron sword, already sharp, combined with the Chopping Sword Technique at the subtle realm, and the completion of the first level of the True Sword Heaven-Cutting Technique, which increased the power by ten percent, made this strike reach its peak.

The sword edge met the snake scales on the arm, and Chen Zong immediately felt the smoothness and toughness of the scales.

*Press down!*

The sword edge broke through the scales, cutting into the arm, slicing through the bone.

A hoarse sound rang out, Chen Zong roared, pouring all his strength into a second strike.

The bone was severed, the arm cut off.

Strange greenish blood spurted out, the stench spreading, accompanied by a piercing scream.

A kick with the right leg, striking the snake man's chest, the precious iron sword trembled, the sword light scattering, all piercing the snake man's body, breaking through the scales, leaving wounds, blood flowing profusely.

Losing an arm, the snake man temporarily lost balance, the pain overwhelming him, making his reactions slower than usual.

*Damn thing... You dare to sever my arm...* The voice was like a ghostly wail. The snake man's other arm transformed into countless snake shadows, striking out, while he rapidly retreated, bursting with astonishing speed, like a large python, heading out of the cave.

Through the dimness, Chen Zong vaguely saw a palm print on his back.

*Pursue!*

The snake man rushed out of the cave, running into the heavy rain, disappearing into the grass. Chen Zong pursued for several dozen meters but could not find the snake man's trail, so he returned to the cave.

Re-entering the cave, he saw the severed arm on the ground, the snake scales disappearing, returning to the appearance of a human arm.

*What kind of creature is this?* Chen Zong stared at the severed arm, puzzled.

It was certain that the person was human, but for some reason, he had transformed into that monstrous form.

Moreover, after transforming, his strength became even more powerful, far exceeding the standard of a thousand pounds, and the snake scales on his body had astonishing defensive capabilities, likely unbreakable even by a fine iron sword. Fortunately, Chen Zong had a precious iron sword.

Kicking the severed arm to the corner, Chen Zong walked to the stone slab, where a bundle was placed. He used his sword to open it, and several items scattered out.

An oil paper package, five white porcelain bottles, a dozen herbs, three booklets, and a fist-sized irregular triangular black iron piece.

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**End of Chapter**