127: Snake's mouth snatching food

Seven days later, on the night of the full moon.

On the edge of the Thousand Reed Swamp, the Bewitching Mist was denser than usual. The grayish-white mist flowed slowly like a living thing, blurring the reed clusters, waterways, and even the moonlight in the sky. When Divine Sense probed into it, it was like falling into a quagmire, with less than one or two tenths of perception remaining.

Gao De did not manifest his enormous Jiaoren body, but maintained his Half-Jiaoren form. He wore the embryonic purple scale earth-shaking armor, which had been initially refined, and held the thunder fang formation-breaking halberd. His aura was suppressed to the extreme, almost blending with the surrounding Bewitching Mist.

Behind him, Green Edge and Iron Pincer also held their breath, concentrating. In addition, there were ten carefully selected Demon Soldiers, most skilled in stealth and speed, all of whom had taken specially made anti-miasma Medicinal Pills to counter the effects of the Bewitching Mist.

"Master, according to observations over the past few days, the Three-Headed Black Water Python left the core deep pool an incense stick ago and began patrolling in the northwest direction. According to its usual habits, it will not return to the core area for at least three hours," Green Edge transmitted with extremely subtle Demonic Power.

Gao De nodded slightly, Purple Lightning and phantom mist interwoven in his eyes. "Act according to the plan, let's go!"

He took the lead, silently slipping into the thick mist. Green Edge and Iron Pincer followed closely, while the ten Demon Soldiers dispersed, lurking at key nodes on the periphery, responsible for vigilance and, if necessary, creating chaos to attract hostility.

Upon entering the range of the Bewitching Mist, even Gao De felt his Divine Sense severely suppressed, with a perception range of less than ten zhang, even less than his visual range.

He immediately activated the newly acquired Yunhe Sect secret technique, simultaneously mobilizing the natural affinity for water spirits in his Bloodline, sensing the subtle flow of water veins and changes in Spiritual Qi.

That faint, ethereal, peculiar "fragrance" instead became an invisible guide in the thick mist.

They moved through the maze-like reed swamp like ghosts, avoiding undercurrent whirlpools and bypassing the nests of sleeping water demons.

Gao De's Breath Concealment talent, combined with the initially integrated Dream Phantom characteristics, made the three demons undetectable, like reflections in water.

About half an hour later, the mist ahead seemed to thin, and a shallow beach surrounded by tall reeds appeared before their eyes.

In the center of the shallow beach, a unique ethereal reed stood quietly. It was about three zhang tall, entirely a warm jade-white color, with faint golden halos circulating along the edges of its leaves. At its tip, it bore a heavy ear of reed flowers emitting a hazy glow. It was precisely the thousand-year ethereal reed essence!

Even more striking was a small pool, about the size of a fist, of clear, viscous paste like liquid emerald, at the exposed, jade-like root entanglement of the reed essence. It emanated a rich fragrance and pure Spiritual Qi that made one's blood surge—the reed heart jade marrow!

"Found it!" Iron Pincer couldn't help but transmit, his voice filled with excitement.

Gao De's eyes narrowed, but he didn't immediately step forward. "Be careful, how could that demon python not be on guard against such a spiritual object?"

He slightly closed his eyes, his Mental Energy in his Sea of Consciousness combining with the Mirage Phantom Divine Ability, meticulously scanning the area ahead.

Sure enough, in the underwater mud around the reed essence, he sensed several extremely subtle Demonic Power imprints, almost completely merged with the surrounding environment. Once triggered, they would inevitably alarm their owner.

Beneath the water's surface, several "Withered Water Pythons" with colors identical to the mud lay in wait. Although their strength was only at the second rank, they served as excellent sentinels.

"Green Edge, deal with those 'eyes' underwater. Be quick and silent," Gao De ordered.

Green Edge acknowledged the command, his figure like a wisp of green smoke merging into the water. A faint glow flashed on his unicorn horn, and the Withered Water Pythons didn't even have time to struggle before their heart meridians were instantly shattered by a concentrated Demonic Power, sinking silently to the bottom of the water.

"Iron Pincer, act as Protector. I will retrieve the treasure," Gao De instructed, and the Mirage Thunder Phantom Mist around him quietly spread out. It did not diffuse widely, but precisely covered the area tens of zhang around the reed essence, further isolating any potential aura and energy fluctuations from this place.

He cautiously approached, avoiding the Demonic Power imprints underwater, and arrived before the reed essence.

Taking out the prepared ten-thousand-year warm jade box and spirit-absorbing jade bottle, he first gently enveloped the pool of reed heart jade marrow with Demonic Power, carefully guiding it into the jade bottle without any loss, sealing it, and putting it away.

Then, he joined his fingers like a knife, Purple Lightning coiling around them, and precisely and swiftly cut off the main stem and the spiritual ear at the top of the thousand-year reed essence, placing them into the warm jade box for Sealing.

The entire process flowed smoothly, taking only ten breaths.

"Got it, retreat!" Gao De whispered, without hesitation, turning to return the way they came.

However, just as they left the shallow beach and re-entered the Bewitching Mist—

"Hiss—!!"

A roar filled with monstrous rage and violent aura exploded like thunder from afar, approaching with astonishing speed! The entire surface of the Thousand Reed Swamp vibrated because of it!

"Oh no! How did it discover us so quickly?!" Green Edge's expression changed drastically.

Gao De's heart sank, and his Divine Sense instantly spread out. Although interfered with by the mist, he could still perceive a vast, cold, and destructive Demonic Power rushing madly towards their location!

The Three-Headed Black Water Python must have detected that the reed essence had been taken through some unknown means, abandoned its patrol, and returned at full speed!

"The plan has changed! Break out at full speed! Head southeast, where the waterways are complex and the Bewitching Mist is densest!" Gao De made a decisive decision, no longer concealing his tracks. Lightning flashed around him, and the Lightning Evasion technique was pushed to its Peak, enveloping the two demons as a purple electric light, speeding away.

As for the Demon Soldiers left on the periphery, they also displayed their Divine Abilities, trying their best to keep up.

Behind them, towering waves surged, and a suffocating pressure followed closely.

The thick mist was forcibly pushed aside, revealing a massive black shadow with three hideous heads. Six crimson snake eyes burned with furious rage, locking onto the fleeing purple electric light ahead.

"Intruders! Leave the reed heart jade marrow and the reed essence, and I shall grant you whole corpses!" The middle head of the Three-Headed Black Water Python let out a hoarse Mental Energy roar. The sound waves, mixed with Demonic Power, caused the surrounding reeds to explode.

Gao De paid no heed, increasing his speed to its Peak.

He knew that if they were caught, facing a Peak third-rank great demon in its rage, even if they could resist for a bit, they would suffer heavy losses, possibly even perishing there.

"Boom!"

A thick black water column, like a giant python, struck from behind, containing both corrosive and freezing powers.

Gao De didn't look back. He swung the thunder fang formation-breaking halberd, and a Purple Lightning spear tore through the mist, colliding fiercely with the water column, erupting in a deafening roar. The dissipated energy blasted huge deep pits in the surrounding water.

"Master, go first! We'll cover your retreat!" Iron Pincer roared, exchanging glances with Green Edge. They both stopped, turning to face the pursuers.

The Demon Soldiers who stayed behind also formed a formation without hesitation, unleashing their strongest attacks, attempting to delay the Three-Headed Black Water Python.

"Ants dare to block my path?!" The left head of the Three-Headed Black Water Python spewed venom across the sky, while its right head summoned countless ice spikes, raining down.

Gao De's heart tightened, but he knew this was not the time to hesitate.

He gritted his teeth, abruptly expanding the Mirage Thunder Phantom Mist backward. The dense purple mist instantly enveloped the area where Green Edge, Iron Pincer, and the others were fighting the Three-Headed Black Water Python.

Within the phantom mist, the scene was distorted, and lightning flickered, not only interfering with the Three-Headed Black Water Python's perception but also creating a brief window for Green Edge and the others to maneuver.

"Go!"

He didn't hesitate, nor did he have any thought of organizing resistance.

Gao De's Demonic Power erupted. The Mirage Thunder Phantom Mist no longer spread silently, but surged backward like an explosion, instantly engulfing a large area behind him. The dense purple mist distorted light and isolated Divine Sense, with subtle crackling thunder within, creating immense chaos.

At the same time, his left and right hands shot out like lightning, grabbing Green Edge and Iron Pincer's shoulders respectively.

"Master?!" Both demon generals were startled.

"Don't resist!"

Gao De growled, the Power of Thunder within him operating frantically, the Lightning Evasion technique pushed to its extreme!

"Rumble—!"

A dazzling purple electric light tore through the Bewitching Mist, fleeing desperately in a nearly savage manner towards the southeast, to the area with the most complex waterways and densest mist!

Its speed was far greater than when they arrived, almost burning Demonic Power to escape.

Green Edge and Iron Pincer, forcibly carried along by him, felt a massive force. They involuntarily became part of the electric light, with the sound of wind and thunder whistling in their ears, and their vision blurred by the high speed.

Gao De moved rapidly through the Bewitching Mist, relying on his perception of water veins and precise sense of direction, not daring to stop for a moment.

The reed heart jade marrow and thousand-year ethereal reed essence in his embrace emanated warmth. This was a huge gain, and even if it came at some cost, it was worth it.