Chapter 9

Gu Fei held the broken ancient sword with both hands, advancing stealthily towards the Black Water Mystic Snake, which was fifty feet away, in a cave illuminated by the flickering light of spiritual energy.

The dense spiritual energy condensed into points of light, like countless stars, constantly flickering and vanishing, filling the entire cave with a fantastical glow.

In the hazy light, a black giant snake was swallowing and exhaling the essence of heaven and earth in a pond about twenty feet in diameter. The misty light gathered towards the fierce snake's head.

In his right hand, Gu Fei held the part of the broken sword with the hilt, which was longer and more convenient to use than the other part in his left hand.

Naked, Gu Fei's clothes had turned to ashes during his cultivation earlier. Although he was without clothing, Gu Fei did not feel the slightest chill, even in the icy cold cave beneath the cold water pond.

With his greatly increased cultivation, Gu Fei was no longer afraid of the cold. He kept a close eye on the Black Water Mystic Snake, which was absorbing the essence of heaven and earth, and moved towards it cautiously and nervously.

The improvement in his cultivation allowed Gu Fei to sense the power of the Black Water Mystic Snake, which was still in its juvenile form. Even as a juvenile, the oppressive aura emanating from the Black Water Mystic Snake was enough to make one's heart race.

He could hear his heart pounding in his chest. This was the first time he had encountered such a fierce and cruel beast, and his palms were sweating.

The reason why the word "beast" is added after "demon" is that it is not yet a "demon." A "demon" usually refers to a creature that has developed intelligence, not inferior to humans.

When the "demon nature" of a demon beast exceeds its "beast nature," it is no longer a "beast" but a "demon."

Beasts have not yet developed intelligence, so demon beasts are "mentally weak" and act purely on instinct. Humans, on the other hand, are the most intelligent of all creatures, possessing wisdom, which allows them to outsmart even powerful demon beasts.

Gu Fei intended to take advantage of the Black Water Mystic Snake's cultivation to launch a sudden attack.

However, his plan was doomed to fail. Just as Gu Fei silently approached within five feet of the Black Water Mystic Snake from behind, the snake suddenly swallowed the demon pearl it was exhaling.

"Hisss!" A hiss, the snake's head, as large as a basket, turned sharply, and its two green, fierce eyes immediately fixed on Gu Fei.

For a moment, man and snake stared at each other, then with a "splash," the Black Water Mystic Snake rushed out of the pond, splashing water everywhere.

Gu Fei felt a gust of foul wind in his face and rolled to the side without hesitation.

"Whoosh!" The giant snake lunged forward, opening its mouth and spewing a black mist that instantly enveloped the spot where Gu Fei had been standing.

Silently, like melting snow, the black mist caused the solid black rock and the black ground to instantly sink, leaving a pit about six feet wide.

Gu Fei rolled three feet away, narrowly avoiding the black mist. Seeing this, a chill ran up his spine, and his hair stood on end. If he had been hit by that black mist...

"Whoosh!" Without time to think, the sharp sound of air breaking and an explosion reached Gu Fei's ears. In the dim light, a huge black shadow lunged at him, aiming for his waist.

Gu Fei leaped from the ground, and the Black Water Mystic Snake's thick body swept past his feet, missing him but sending several rocks flying into the air.

As Gu Fei leaped, he channeled the newly generated Five Elements Essence into the broken sword in his right hand and swung it down.

The moment the Five Elements Essence entered the sword, a faint, colorful glow enveloped the blade. With a "swoosh," the Black Water Mystic Snake let out a wild hiss, and a foul, bloody smell filled Gu Fei's nostrils.

"Indeed, it is a divine weapon, capable of easily piercing the Black Water Mystic Snake's incredibly tough scales." Gu Fei was delighted, but his expression quickly changed.

Just as he struck the Black Water Mystic Snake and was falling, a huge, fierce snake head, like a cannonball, charged at him.

In mid-air, with no way to brace himself, Gu Fei was in a panic. He quickly threw the front half of the ancient sword in his left hand at the charging snake.

A flash of cold light, and "swish!" the broken sword sliced a half-foot-long wound on the Black Water Mystic Snake's neck, causing blood to spurt.

Gu Fei's empty left hand thrust forward, and a misty light swirled in his palm.

"Boom!" A loud explosion shook the cave. Gu Fei felt a powerful force from his left hand, making his entire left arm numb, and he was thrown backward.

"Thud!" He crashed heavily into the cave wall, causing rocks to fall.

"Such strength!" Gu Fei knelt on one knee, his eyes like cold stars, staring at the giant snake, which was shaking its head, clearly disoriented from the blow.

"Ha ha! An ancient savage beast is indeed an ancient savage beast. Even in its juvenile form, it is incredibly powerful." Gu Fei wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth and stood up.

Having cultivated the ancient body-strengthening technique, he had unblocked all his meridians, greatly enhancing his physical strength and speed.

Although Gu Fei was only at the Sixth Heaven of Enlightenment, his body, hardened by years of training, was already very strong. After his cultivation improved, even ordinary blades and swords would find it hard to injure him.

At this moment, the Black Water Mystic Snake shook its fierce head, its green, fierce eyes emitting boundless ferocity, staring at Gu Fei.

Gu Fei snorted coldly, holding the broken sword, and with a powerful push from his feet on the cold rock, he shot towards the Black Water Mystic Snake like an arrow.

The Black Water Mystic Snake clearly became enraged, its head tilting back, and a strange energy wave emanated from its mouth, followed by a surge of black light.

"Whoosh!" In the next moment, a vast cloud of black mist spewed from the Black Water Mystic Snake's mouth, rushing towards Gu Fei.

"Again with this move?" After witnessing the power of the black mist, Gu Fei knew that even the slightest contact would mean the end of his life.

Gu Fei was very surprised by the Black Water Mystic Snake's ability to spew black mist. Ordinary experts would definitely be unable to withstand such an attack. This ancient demon beast possessed extraordinary abilities.

Especially considering that this Black Water Mystic Snake was still so young, the black gas it spewed could corrode everything. If it grew to maturity, it would be unimaginably powerful, truly a famous savage beast from ancient times.

"Ancient combat technique, stepping across the eight desolates!" Gu Fei shouted lightly, and just as he was about to be enveloped by the black mist, he leaped into the air and took a step in the void, instantly appearing behind the Black Water Mystic Snake's massive head.

The surging black mist wreaked havoc, the terrifying corrosive force destroying large areas of rock, even "evaporating" them, leaving no trace.

Then, a faint, colorful sword light suddenly rose, circling the Black Water Mystic Snake's neck, and a basket-sized snake head fell to the ground.