87: Chapter 87 The Cicada Awaits
Nine Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators formed a circular formation, back-to-back, using various means to resist the attacks of the python swarm.
Li Sen's thunder blades cut horizontally and vertically, severing several pythons with every strike.
Every time Fang Li's great hammer smashed down, it turned several pythons into pulp.
The female Cultivator's flying daggers were like butterflies threading through flowers, specifically targeting the pythons' vital points.
The pale Cultivator's bone shield defended and attacked in turns, and could also release black flames to scorch the python swarm...
The others also displayed their respective Divine Abilities; fire-type Spells, ice-type Spells, metal-type Spells... all kinds of lights flickered in the hall, with the sounds of roaring, hissing, and explosions filling the air.
However, the number of pythons was simply too large.
Killing one meant two more would take its place.
Repelling one wave meant more would surge in.
Although the nine were valiant, in this war of attrition, their spiritual power was dropping rapidly, and they were gradually falling into a disadvantageous position.
Even worse, the Earth Demon Green Water Python had not been fighting with its full strength, but was instead commanding from behind the swarm, occasionally spitting out a mouthful of toxic water or whipping its tail, forcing the nine into a frantic scramble.
In the shadows, Voldemort's eyes lit up.
"A good opportunity! A god-sent opportunity!"
The nine Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators were locked in a great battle with the Green Water Python tribe, and everyone's attention was diverted.
That Earth Demon Green Water Python was also fully focused on commanding the battle.
This was the perfect time to fish in troubled waters!
Voldemort did not rush to act.
He was waiting, waiting for the most suitable moment.
The battle became increasingly intense.
Although the nine Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators were in a difficult situation, they were elites after all, and their coordination became more tacit.
They no longer fought the python swarm head-on, but focused on defense and stalling, occasionally counterattacking, and prioritizing defense against the Earth Demon Green Water Python's attacks.
Time passed second by second; the nine had already consumed more than half of their spiritual power, and all of them were injured.
Li Sen's arm was splashed by toxic water, corroding a large patch of flesh and blood.
Fang Li's left leg was bitten by a Foundation Establishment Stage Green Water Python; although he broke free in time, it left two rows of bloody holes.
The female Cultivator's shoulder was grazed by a python tail, and the bone was likely fractured...
Just when the nine were about to collapse, the sound of breaking air and human voices came from outside the cavern.
"Senior Brother Fang! Senior Brother Li! We are here!"
"Kill! Kill all these beasts!"
Dozens of streams of light rushed into the hall, led by five Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, followed by hundreds of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators.
Most of these Cultivators came from Turtle Mountain Market and rushed over immediately after receiving the distress signal.
Among the five Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, three were Disciples of the Duobao Sect, and two were captains of the market's guard team.
The hundreds of Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators were Loose Cultivators from the market and Disciples of small and medium-sized Sects, temporarily conscripted.
Once the reinforcements arrived, the counter-slaughter began.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss—!"
The python swarm immediately suffered heavy casualties.
"Good opportunity! Counterattack!" Li Sen shouted upon seeing this.
The nine, who had been struggling to hold on, saw the pressure greatly reduced and immediately turned from defense to offense.
Various Spells and Magical Artifacts bombarded the Earth Demon Green Water Python, forcing it to divide its attention to cope.
The battle reached a stalemate.
Both sides traded blows, making the cavern shake, rocks constantly falling from the ceiling, and the entire hall seemed as if it could collapse at any moment.
Now is the time!
A sharp light flashed in Voldemort's eyes; he knew the opportunity had come.
Everyone's attention was on the great battle, making the area beside the danyin fruit tree the safest place.
He crept forward carefully, using the shadows and stone pillars as cover, getting closer to the high platform bit by bit.
His Demonic Technique was naturally suited for concealment, and with the battlefield in chaos, no one noticed him.
One hundred zhang... fifty zhang... thirty zhang...
Voldemort got closer and closer to the danyin fruit tree; his heartbeat quickened involuntarily, a sign of extreme excitement.
Ten zhang... five zhang... three zhang...
At this distance, Voldemort stopped.
He needed to wait for the best moment, a moment when everyone was too busy to pay attention to anything else.
The battle entered a white-hot stage.
The Earth Demon Green Water Python was completely enraged; it no longer held back and used its ultimate move.
It was seen glowing with blue-green light, and the surrounding lake water surged into the sky, forming a water Dragon around it.
The water Dragon was twenty zhang long, lifelike, and pounced towards the crowd with bared fangs and brandished claws.
"Careful!!" Li Sen's expression changed drastically as he shouted a warning.
However, it was already too late.
Now is the time!
Voldemort moved.
His figure appeared beside the danyin fruit tree like a ghost, with extreme speed.
He reached out with both hands, and the danyin fruit tree was directly stored into his Storage Ring.
The entire process took less than a breath of time.
"Hahaha! Everyone, this Demon is leaving!"
Voldemort laughed loudly, his voice echoing throughout the hall.
He didn't even look at the battlefield, his figure turning into a wisp of black smoke, darting towards the depths of the cavern.
The entire hall suddenly fell silent for an instant.
Everyone saw that black shadow and heard his arrogant laughter.
"The danyin fruit has been stolen!" The pale Cultivator was the first to react, exclaiming in shock.
"What? Someone is fishing in troubled waters!"
"It's a Demonic Cultivator! I felt Devilish Qi!"
"Damn it! We are risking our lives here, only to have someone else pluck the peach!"
"Chase! Don't let him run!"
Except for Li Sen, Fang Li, and the female Cultivator from the Duobao Sect, the other six Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators made the decision almost simultaneously.
Give up the fight with the Green Water Python and hunt down the Demonic Cultivator who stole the danyin fruit!
For them, fighting the Green Water Python was for the danyin fruit; now that the danyin fruit was gone, what was the point of fighting?
It would be better to chase that Demonic Cultivator; maybe they could snatch it back.
The six turned into six streams of light and chased in the direction Voldemort had fled.
"You...!"
Li Sen was so angry that his face turned green, but before he could finish speaking, the Earth Demon Green Water Python's attack had arrived.
Having lost the containment of the six Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators, the pressure on Li Sen and the other two increased greatly.
Seeing the spiritual fruit it had guarded for a hundred years being stolen, the Earth Demon Green Water Python also went completely mad, and its attacks became increasingly violent.
"Damn it! A bunch of bastards!!"
Fang Li cursed loudly, but had to deal with the Green Water Python's attacks with all his might.
Meanwhile, Voldemort had already dashed several miles into the depths of the cavern.
He had a triumphant smile on his lips, feeling the Spiritual Qi emanating from the nine danyin fruits in his Storage Ring.
"Got it! With these danyin fruits, forming a Golden Core is just around the corner! When that time comes, this Desolate Realm will be mine to roam!" Voldemort felt heroic in his heart.
Voldemort sped through the depths of the Turtle Mountain cavern, his figure weaving through the intricate caves like a ghost.
His speed was extremely fast, leaving a string of faint black afterimages behind him.
At the same time, he could clearly feel six auras chasing closely behind him.
"Truly persistent."
A cold smile curled the corners of Voldemort's lips, and a cruel light flashed in his eyes. "Since you are courting death, don't blame me for having a feast."
These six Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, although superior in numbers, were nothing more than worthless trash in Voldemort's eyes.
Voldemort's figure flickered as he suddenly changed direction, no longer fleeing deeper into the cavern, but rushing upwards.
In a few breaths, he broke through layers of rock and arrived at the surface.