Chapter 58: The Great Battle with the Blood Python (Part 1)

"Originally, I thought I could save some effort, but it seems I still have to put in some work!" The Blood Python flicked its blood-red tongue, its gaze coldly fixed on Chu Jianqiu.

"You're quite the actor. If I were one of those brainless fools, I might have believed you had us cornered. Unfortunately, your pretense only reveals your true nature—brave on the outside but cowardly within. You're probably not thinking about how to eat us, but rather how to escape."

"Why do you only claim to have the strength of the Fifth Level of True Qi, instead of a higher level? If you revealed your greater strength and attracted higher-level martial artists, wouldn't consuming them be even more beneficial to you? Why go through the trouble of luring us, mere small fry?"

"What does this mean? It means your current strength is only slightly above what you've claimed. If a higher-level martial artist were to come, you'd be the one thinking about how to escape, not how to eat them."

"So, your remaining strength is only at the Sixth Level of True Qi. Therefore, what you should be thinking about now is not how to eat us, but how to escape from us."

Chu Jianqiu looked at the Blood Python and said calmly. Most of what he said was true, but he deliberately understated the Python's remaining strength by one level.

His words were not meant for the Blood Python but for the disciples of the Mystic Sword Sect behind him.

The fighting spirit of the Mystic Sword Sect disciples had been almost completely shattered by the Blood Python. He needed to restore their confidence.

If he had revealed the Blood Python's true strength, which was two levels higher, these people would likely still lack the will to resist.

But if the Blood Python's strength was only at the Sixth Level of True Qi, they might have a chance of victory with their combined efforts, which would greatly boost their morale.

Chu Jianqiu didn't expect them to defeat the Blood Python; he just wanted them to regain their courage to defend, so they wouldn't interfere when he engaged in a major battle with the Python.

Sure enough, upon hearing Chu Jianqiu's words, everyone's confidence was immediately restored. Their fear of the Blood Python vanished, and they became eager to fight, some even eager to try their luck.

Especially Si Fengkai, whose arrogant demeanor instantly returned, eager to challenge the Blood Python.

"If you don't want to die, don't make any rash moves. Quickly form the Five Elements Yin Defense Formation to defend yourselves."

Chu Jianqiu saw that these people had suddenly become overly confident and felt a bit speechless. He quickly stopped them from acting rashly.

At this point, everyone already had great faith in Chu Jianqiu and did not dare to act recklessly. They immediately formed the defensive formation.

The Blood Python stared at Chu Jianqiu with a cold gaze, its eyes filled with intense killing intent. Chu Jianqiu's words had almost revealed all its thoughts and intentions. This boy's mind was too terrifying. If he were to escape, it would mean no peace for the Python in the future.

"Even if I only have the strength of the Sixth Level of True Qi, killing you, a mere First Level of True Qi waste, would still be effortless." The Blood Python glared at Chu Jianqiu coldly.

"You can try." Chu Jianqiu looked at the Blood Python calmly, his eyes filled with intense fighting spirit.

Since cultivating the Supreme Martial Body, he had not yet had a truly satisfying battle. Si Fengkai was too weak for him, and he couldn't muster much interest.

Moreover, in sparring with fellow disciples, he had to be careful not to accidentally kill them, so he couldn't fight to his full potential.

Now that he had encountered the Blood Python, he naturally wanted to fight to his heart's content.

If he were truly overmatched, he had a trump card to ensure his survival and could leave at any time.

As for what would happen to Han Anyi and the others after he left, that was not something he could consider.

Before they came up the mountain, he had already warned them about the abnormality of the situation. Since they didn't listen, they would have to bear the consequences.

Besides, he had already done his best to protect their lives. If it was truly beyond his control, he couldn't stay and die with them.

The Blood Python's body flashed, and its massive tail swept toward Chu Jianqiu.

Chu Jianqiu did not dodge; he mustered all his strength and met the attack with a palm strike.

"Boom!"

The two terrifying forces collided, sending shockwaves of energy rippling through the air. The shockwaves caused violent gusts of wind, and the trees on both sides were snapped by the force.

At the point of impact, the ground was blasted into a crater over ten yards wide, and dirt and debris shot into the sky like arrows.

Everyone watching was instantly pale. Such a terrifying attack was not something a First Level of True Qi martial artist could unleash.

Si Fengkai's face was drained of all color. He had always wanted to teach Chu Jianqiu a lesson, but if he had to face Chu Jianqiu, just that one palm strike would have reduced him to dust.

Wan Xiuying, looking at the massive crater, was speechless. What kind of prodigy could unleash such a terrifying attack at merely the First Level of True Qi? Even a martial artist with a legendary Heavenly Bloodline couldn't achieve this.

Even with her current Fifth Level of True Qi cultivation, she couldn't unleash such a fearsome force.

Ximen Yiliu nearly collapsed, thinking about how she had been opposing Chu Jianqiu all this time. She felt a wave of despair. If Chu Jianqiu decided to settle the score with her later, what would she do?

Han Anyi, filled with fear and resentment, bit her lower lip tightly. Why wasn't she the one with such prodigious talent?

Chu Jianqiu was sent flying dozens of yards by the impact, crashing into the ground and creating a deep pit. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his body was torn by several ghastly wounds from the terrifying force.

The Blood Python's strength was even greater than he had anticipated. Relying solely on strength and True Qi, he truly couldn't match it.

Chu Jianqiu climbed out of the pit, and as he rose, his wounds began to heal at an astonishing rate.

Chu Jianqiu was not surprised by this. He had long known about the incredible healing ability of the Supreme Martial Body. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to challenge the Blood Python, which was far stronger than him.

If he hadn't cultivated the Supreme Martial Body, the injuries from that one blow would have left him unable to continue fighting.

But with the Supreme Martial Body, as long as his vital energy and blood were not depleted, his physical body had a very strong healing ability.

The Blood Python was also sent flying several yards by Chu Jianqiu's palm strike, its massive body sweeping a large area of the ground and sending dust and debris flying.

Its injuries were far less severe than Chu Jianqiu's. It quickly got up and looked at Chu Jianqiu, wanting to see if the boy was dead.

Its previous strike had used about seven or eight-tenths of its strength. Although it had been severely injured and was now at only a fraction of its former strength, that strike would have been too much for even an ordinary Seventh Level of True Qi martial artist, let alone a mere First Level of True Qi martial artist.