Chapter 91

The giant python's gaping mouth, with its rows of teeth like saws, was only about seven or eight meters away from Su Xiaofan when the stench hit him.

"Damn, this time I'm done for!"

Su Xiaofan didn't know if his arms were broken or fractured; he couldn't exert any strength.

The python's tail seemed to have a sticky force, and when it touched Su Xiaofan's body, it coiled him up. At this moment, it hadn't tightened its grip, but if it did, Su Xiaofan would likely be crushed to death in mid-air.

As Su Xiaofan got closer to the python's menacing mouth, Jing Shizhen, who had been nowhere to be found earlier, suddenly appeared below the python's towering head.

The python's height when it was upright was about two stories high, making Jing Shizhen, standing below, almost unnoticeable.

Su Xiaofan clearly saw his master leap from the ground, and while still in mid-air, he suddenly drew a soft sword from his waist.

With a flick of his right hand, the soft sword, which was as flexible as a coiled snake, suddenly became taut. Without any hesitation, Jing Shizhen thrust the sword into the python's vital point.

The entire sword was embedded in the python's body.

After the sword entered, Jing Shizhen's wrist flicked, and the sword's body, which had become soft inside the python, suddenly stiffened, tearing the python's heart to shreds.

The python, which had been about to swallow Su Xiaofan, suddenly stiffened and whipped its tail, flinging Su Xiaofan away.

The python's head changed direction, and its several-meter-long tongue lunged toward Jing Shizhen, who was falling to the ground.

Due to the close distance and the python's lightning-fast speed, Jing Shizhen seemed to have no way to dodge.

At this critical moment, Jing Shizhen's left hand suddenly flipped, and a handheld Three Pure Ones bell rang out.

The clear sound echoed in the open space, spreading far and wide.

At the moment the sound rang out, time seemed to pause. Both Su Xiaofan, who had been flung away, and the python seemed to be frozen in place.

This pause was brief, only a few seconds, but it was enough for Jing Shizhen to escape. He didn't even have time to retrieve the sword embedded in the python's vital point.

The wound in the python's vital point made it even more frenzied, and the flickering firelight in the yard made it difficult for the python to lock onto Su Xiaofan and Jing Shizhen.

The massive body thrashed, plowing the ground, turning the large yard into a mess of pits and holes.

However, the python didn't realize that each of its movements was pulling the sword in its vital point, making the wound larger and larger.

As more blood flowed, the python's movements became slower.

With a low roar, the python's body crashed heavily to the ground.

"Master, is it dead this time?"

Su Xiaofan, enduring the pain, beads of sweat the size of beans rolling down his face, had almost fainted when his arms were pulled by Uncle Jing on the steep slope.

"I don't know; this thing is too strong."

Jing Shizhen shook his head, his face pale. The previous sword strike had almost drained all his true qi, leaving his dantian empty.

"Master, what's that Three Pure Ones bell?"

Su Xiaofan looked at the bell in Jing Shizhen's hand, which was different from the wind chime he had bought. The Three Pure Ones bell had a handle and could be held directly.

"This magical artifact can capture a person's soul. Without it, we wouldn't have escaped so easily." Jing Shizhen casually placed the Three Pure Ones bell at his waist and began to examine Su Xiaofan.

"Fortunately, it's just dislocated, and there might be some fractures. I'll set them for you." Jing Shizhen sighed with relief, as Su Xiaofan's injuries were not serious.

"Master, be gentle, it hurts." Su Xiaofan barely managed to keep from crying out.

"Hey, the python is moving again." Jing Shizhen's gaze suddenly shifted downward.

"How is that possible?" Su Xiaofan quickly looked over.

"Crack!"

"Ouch!"

With two consecutive sounds, Su Xiaofan's dangling arms were set back in place by Jing Shizhen.

Trying to move his arms, the excruciating pain was gone, but his shoulders still ached.

"Your arms won't be able to exert force for a few months. Be careful." Jing Shizhen smiled, knowing that solving the problem with the python made Su Xiaofan's injuries insignificant.

"Uncle Jing, is that thing really dead?" Tong Dongjie, who had been higher up on the steep slope, now approached, looking at the two with a complex expression.

Tong Dongjie knew his performance today was poor, but facing the giant python, he couldn't muster any resistance. Climbing the steep slope was already a sign of his bravery.

"It's hard to say, but it's half-dead." Jing Shizhen waved his hand and said, "Let's wait. If it's faking, it will bleed to death eventually."

Unlike the leopard's claw marks, Jing Shizhen's sword had pierced the python's heart, and the python's thrashing had widened the wound to the size of a bowl, staining the ground with fresh blood.

"Dongjie, do you still have the solid alcohol? Light it and throw a couple down."

Jing Shizhen looked at Tong Dongjie. Snakes have strong vitality; sometimes, even when the body and head are separated, the head can still bite. He didn't dare go down to check.

"We're out, Uncle Jing. Our backpacks are down there." Tong Dongjie smiled bitterly. It was already good that they managed to escape; they couldn't think about anything else.

"Then we'll wait."

Jing Shizhen had no choice. But they could afford to wait; if the python kept faking, it would be truly dead in a few hours.

"Hey? Where's my bodhi bead bracelet?"

Su Xiaofan just noticed that the bracelet on his wrist was missing.

"Don't look for it. Without the bracelet, you wouldn't just have broken arms."

Jing Shizhen glanced at Su Xiaofan. Being hit by the python and surviving was thanks to the bracelet, and perhaps the jade pendant around his neck also played a role.

Su Xiaofan wasn't stupid and immediately touched the dragon-shaped pendant.

【Repair Value: 16 points!】

【Dragon-shaped Pendant: Intermediate-level damaged magical artifact, can be repaired, requires 50 repair points, insufficient repair value!】

【Cultivate the Dragon-shaped Pendant, requires 5 repair points, deduct?】

"Damn, what a loss!"

Seeing the dragon-shaped pendant, which was originally a complete intermediate-level magical artifact, now damaged, Su Xiaofan was heartbroken.

【Dragon-shaped Pendant: Intermediate-level damaged magical artifact, can be cultivated, cultivate?】

Seeing the option to cultivate, Su Xiaofan sighed with relief. Repairing required 50 points, while cultivating required only 5 points, a significant difference.

Su Xiaofan didn't immediately send the dragon-shaped pendant for cultivation. Even as a damaged magical artifact, it still had some defensive capabilities.

The outcome was still uncertain, and the elusive leopard might not be dead. Su Xiaofan needed the pendant for protection.

【Repair Value: 16 points】

【Broken arms, can be repaired, requires 10 repair points, repair?】

When Su Xiaofan focused on his arms, a message appeared in his mind.

"No repair!"

Su Xiaofan mentally rejected the repair option. Who knew what would happen during the repair process? They weren't out of danger yet.

"Xiaofan, don't worry. Your arms are at most fractured. You'll be fine with a cast for a while."

Seeing Su Xiaofan silent, Jing Shizhen thought he was worried about his injuries and quickly reassured him.

If Su Xiaofan hadn't been there to distract the python, Jing Shizhen would have had a hard time dealing with it. The python's vital points were well-protected, and the only opening was when it lunged to bite Su Xiaofan.

"Master, is this what a supernatural being is? It's not that impressive."

After recovering, Su Xiaofan felt that although the encounter was dangerous, the python didn't show any supernatural abilities, just physical attacks.

In Su Xiaofan's imagination, supernatural beings should have energy attacks, like fireballs or ice spells, to live up to the name.

"Is that so?"

Jing Shizhen glanced at Su Xiaofan, "Without that little leopard, we would have been done for. You withstood the hit because of the magical artifact. Otherwise, you would have been the first to go."

Looking at the python, Su Xiaofan had to admit his master was right.

The python's body was mostly injured by the leopard, with some claw marks even reaching the bone, severely affecting its movements.

Without the leopard's injuries, the python would have used its body to crush and swallow them, with no defense and no weak points, making Jing Shizhen's fatal strike impossible.

"Master, why didn't my Palm Thunder work on the python?"

Since there was nothing to do, Su Xiaofan asked about his confusion. He had fired several Palm Thunders, which hit the python, but the damage was minimal.

"Palm Thunder just has the word 'thunder.' Do you think it has the properties of real lightning?"

Jing Shizhen shook his head, "And this thing is too big. Your attack was spread out over its body. Do you think it would still have much power?"

"The snake's blood is a good thing."

Looking at the python's flowing blood, Tong Dongjie was envious. Soaking in snake blood could greatly benefit their cultivation.

"It's a good thing, but is it yours?" Jing Shizhen rolled his eyes. He had risked his life, and it wasn't fair for Tong Dongjie to benefit.

"Uncle Jing, I can buy it."

Tong Dongjie quickly said, knowing he hadn't helped at all. The python was the trophy of Jing Shizhen and Su Xiaofan.

"Whether I'm willing to sell it is another matter."

Jing Shizhen wasn't satisfied with Tong Dongjie's performance. If not for Su Xiaofan's bravery, they wouldn't have taken down the python, and they might have suffered.

"Dongjie, a general can be taken, but a commoner's will cannot be taken. You're not suited for cultivation. Using the snake's blood would be a waste."

Jing Shizhen knew a few ancient martial artists, all of whom had strong wills. None of them would have retreated like Tong Dongjie in the face of danger.

As a martial artist, determination is the most important. Without it, even the strongest warrior, like Lü Bu, would end up surrendering and being executed.

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