179: Crimson-scaled Demon Python, Facing a Bitter Battle Due to Favorable Terrain

The hissing sound carried the unique scorching Aura of Qiwu Valley, shaking the very air until it distorted! Amidst the churning red mist, a massive shadow fully emerged—a giant python nearly thirty zhang long, its scales dark red like blood, a pair of ferocious, short red horns atop its head, and the four-clawed phantom on its abdomen already mostly solidified! Although its Aura had not yet reached the Nascent Soul stage, it had already reached the pinnacle of the Golden Core stage, and it even faintly stirred the scorching spiritual energy in the surrounding environment, creating an astonishing momentum!

"Red-Scaled Demon Python! It is on the verge of transforming into a dragon! In this place, it holds all the geographical advantages!" Qu Feiyan's voice was urgent as she pointed out the key. This demon python had coiled beside the Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine for years, nourished by its Aura, and could even command the pure fire Qi within the valley and use the faint Phoenix pressure for its own ends, boosting its strength by thirty percent out of thin air!

The demon python's scarlet slit pupils locked onto the Phoenix wood core, its greed almost turning into substance. It opened its giant maw, not to spew poison mist, but to manipulate the red mist permeating the surroundings! In an instant, the mist churned and condensed, transforming into dozens of lifelike red fire snakes that hissed and bit from all directions! Each fire snake contained pure fire poison and a trace of Phoenix Blood essence, their power far exceeding ordinary fire-type Spells!

"Be careful of these fire snakes; they can induce heart fire and burn away spiritual energy!" Su Wanqing commanded sharply. The frost silence sword unleashed a sky full of moonlight, and the icy Sword Qi collided with the fire snakes, producing loud hissing sounds and billowing white mist, yet it was difficult to freeze them all at once!

Qu Feiyan's zither music rang out, the blood-colored sound waves attempting to disrupt the fire snakes' trajectories, only to find that these fire snakes were guided by some will within the valley, making it extremely difficult to deflect them completely; they still lunged forward, fearless of death.

Gongsun Yu's thunder urgency sword summoned thunder, and the purple lightning swept across. The extremely Yang lightning was naturally the nemesis of evil, but these fire snakes contained the majestic and scorching Phoenix Blood essence. The lightning strikes, while capable of dispersing them, had greatly reduced effectiveness and instead consumed her own spiritual energy rapidly.

Lin Xuan's Taichu Sword Domain expanded, Chaos brilliance flowing as he continuously decomposed and derived the incoming fire snakes, protecting himself and Yun Shang. However, his brows were tightly locked, sensing the faint Phoenix will contained within the demon python's attacks, which gave its strikes an indescribable "Aura" that was extremely difficult to deal with.

"We cannot defend passively! It is borrowing the power of this environment; we must interrupt it!" Lin Xuan's gaze was sharp as he saw the key. He moved, holding nothing back. The sin-severing sword emitted a low hum, and a highly condensed Chaos Sword Gang tore through the air, striking directly at the reverse scale on the python's seven-inch mark! This strike contained the intent of Taichu breaking the law, attempting to sever its connection with the surrounding environment!

A hint of mockery flashed in the demon python's scarlet slit pupils. It did not dodge or evade; the red scales all over its body shone brightly, drawing the surrounding red mist to instantly condense into a thick red crystal shield at its reverse scale!

"Clang!"

The Sword Gang struck the red crystal shield, producing a deafening explosion! The shield trembled violently, cracks appearing, but it did not shatter! Lin Xuan was forced back several steps by the recoil, his arm slightly numb.

"Such strong defense!" Lin Xuan's heart sank. In this place, this demon python was a combination of offense and defense, practically invincible.

"Roar!" The demon python seized the opportunity to counterattack. Its massive body suddenly reared up, its giant red-scaled tail crashing down like a collapsing pillar of heaven with the force of ten thousand jun! Even more terrifyingly, as the giant tail swung, it drew upon the dense red spiritual energy in the valley, forming a massive red storm vortex that engulfed all five of them! The storm not only contained tearing power, but also a scorching Aura that constantly eroded everyone's protective spiritual light!

"Form a formation and hold!" Lin Xuan shouted, the Taichu Sword Domain expanding to barely protect the four of them. Su Wanqing's sword transformed into an ice lotus, blooming in layers to resist the storm's tearing. Qu Feiyan's zither music turned into an invisible barrier to weaken the erosion. Gongsun Yu's lightning circled, dispelling the heat. Yun Shang sensed with all her might and said urgently, "It is utilizing the fluctuations emitted by that ancient vine! Attack the energy connection between it and the ancient vine!"

Hearing this, Lin Xuan swept out with his Divine Sense and indeed discovered an extremely thin, almost imperceptible red energy thread between the demon python's abdomen and the Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine!

"Found you!" Intense light shot from Lin Xuan's eyes. He no longer attacked the demon python's main body. The sin-severing sword changed direction, Taichu Sword Intent condensed to the extreme, turning into an extremely fine thread of Chaos sword light that traced the trajectory of the energy thread, moving upstream to strike directly at the base of the Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine! He wanted to forcibly sever this demon python's source of power!

This move seemed to strike the demon python's fatal weakness!

"Hiss-roar!!!"

The demon python let out a hiss of extreme terror and rage. It could no longer care about attacking, its massive body twisting frantically, trying to block the sword thread, even willing to use its body to take the hit!

"Now!" Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu understood instantly and exploded with all their power!

The moonlight sword river surged, freezing the demon python's movements!

The blood lotus demon shadow loomed, impacting the demon python's Divine Soul!

The Chaos Thunder Gang roared, bombarding the demon python's head!

Under the three women's all-out containment, the demon python's movements slowed for an instant!

It was that instant!

"Swish!"

That wisp of Taichu sword thread, like a master butcher dismembering an ox, precisely cut the red energy thread connecting the demon python to the ancient vine!

The moment the energy thread snapped, the surging red light around the demon python dimmed suddenly, the red storm it had stirred up dissipated abruptly, and its Aura visibly dropped a notch! It had lost its greatest reliance in this place!

"Its power has receded! Attack!" Lin Xuan shouted, rushing out first. The sin-severing sword, carrying an indomitable momentum, struck directly at the seven-inch weak point exposed by the demon python due to its power decline!

Su Wanqing and the others were also greatly encouraged, each employing their ultimate techniques to attack the demon python with all their might!

However, this demon python was after all on the verge of transforming into a dragon. Although it lost the geographical advantage, its ferocity was even greater! Ignoring its own injuries, it burned its Bloodline essence. Its red horns erupted with blinding light, and a highly condensed crimson ray, like a death gaze, struck first despite being launched later, shooting towards Lin Xuan who was rushing at the forefront! This strike contained all its remaining demon power and Bloodline Origin, faster than thought!

Lin Xuan's pupils shrank, and there was no way to dodge!

In this life-or-death moment, the Nine Revolutions Golden Body Art within his body operated frantically, his blood and Qi burning like a furnace, the Taichu Sword Domain shrinking to his skin to form a layer of Chaos armor, while the sin-severing sword blocked in front of him!

"Boom—!!!"

The crimson ray slammed into the sin-severing sword! Terrifying energy exploded, and Lin Xuan was hit as if by a heavy blow, flying backward and slamming into the stone pillar behind him. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his Aura instantly withered, and the Phoenix wood core in his hand almost slipped away!

"Big Brother Lin!"

"Junior Brother!"

The three women cried out in alarm, their eyes splitting with rage.

The demon python, after unleashing this desperate attack, was also as if drained of all power. Its massive body collapsed to the ground, breathing its last, only its scarlet slit pupils still staring unwillingly at the wood core in Lin Xuan's hand.

The scene fell into an eerie silence, with only heavy panting remaining.

Lin Xuan struggled to stand up, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, looking at the dying demon python and the shimmering Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine in the distance, lingering fear in his heart. This Qiwu Valley was indeed filled with danger at every step. He walked slowly toward the demon python, preparing to deliver the final blow and collect the precious Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine.

However, just as he approached the demon python, a sudden change occurred!

The Phoenix Blood Ancient Vine, which had been silent all this time, seemed to sense the complete defeat of the demon python and the unique mixture of Taichu and Phoenix Aura on Lin Xuan, and its vine body trembled slightly.

"Hum..."

A faint hum, as if traversing through ancient time and space, rang out in everyone's hearts.