Chapter 82: Swallowing Shows Its Power

Qi Hao's chilling voice echoed through the valley, seemingly filled with mockery, as if he held victory firmly in his grasp.

Zhou Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. Qi Hao's blind confidence made him sense a hint of danger. This guy should know that the strength of their respective teams was actually quite evenly matched.

"Given your strength, I doubt you can handle this gigantic python war puppet alone," Zhou Yuan said slowly.

Qi Hao smiled, a strange grin spreading across his face. "I think that problem is yours to worry about."

Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing exchanged glances, a flicker of doubt in their eyes. Was Qi Hao truly so confident that the gigantic python war puppet wouldn't attack them?

Noticing the expressions on Zhou Yuan and Su Youwei's faces, Qi Hao smiled faintly. He clenched his hand, and a black vertical flute appeared in it.

The flute glowed faintly, with subtle light patterns flowing across its surface, appearing remarkably mysterious.

"This is a Soul Control Flute, specifically used to control beast souls..." Qi Hao said with a light smile. "Although this gigantic python war puppet is a puppet, its core is a Grade 4 python-type Genesis Beast soul. If I can control its beast soul, what do you think the situation will become?"

Zhou Yuan, Wei Qingqing, and Lu Tieshan's expressions finally shifted. They clearly hadn't expected Qi Hao to possess such a treasure.

Something capable of briefly controlling a Grade 4 Genesis Beast soul was undoubtedly priceless.

"Actually, it's also thanks to His Highness Zhou Yuan's recent rise to prominence that the Great Wu side has increased their support for us, allowing a treasure like this to fall into our hands," Qi Hao said, turning the black flute in his hand with a smile.

"So, this time, I really must thank you."

Zhou Yuan frowned deeply, looking at Qi Hao's half-smile. If Qi Hao could indeed briefly control the gigantic python war puppet, the balance of the situation would be shattered.

A single gigantic python war puppet would be enough to completely entangle them, allowing Qi Hao to obtain the "Fire Spirit Spikes" without any obstruction.

Woo-woo! As Zhou Yuan pondered a solution, Qi Hao wasted no more time. He blew into the black flute, and a faint, peculiar wailing sound instantly echoed through the heavens and earth. As soon as the flute sounded, the crimson eyes of the gigantic python war puppet coiled in the valley gradually brightened, as if beginning to awaken. Immediately after, those crimson eyes turned towards Zhou Yuan and his companions. The gigantic python war puppet flicked its tail, cracking the earth, and its massive body transformed into an afterimage, shooting towards Zhou Yuan's group like a bolt of lightning, radiating ferocious power.

In the sky, Wei Canglan also noticed this scene and his expression changed instantly. He was about to intervene and help.

"Hey, your opponent is me! Don't get distracted!" However, just as he was about to make a move, a black Genesis Qi whistled towards him, its foul odor assailing his senses. Wei Canglan had no choice but to strike back with a palm, scattering the black Genesis Qi, but his opportunity to intervene had been delayed.

"Protect His Highness!" Lu Tieshan's expression was grim. With a fierce roar, eight Heavenly Gate experts acted in unison. As they punched, eight streams of Genesis Qi roared forth, heavily striking the surging body of the gigantic python war puppet.

A colossal sound echoed as the gigantic python war puppet's forward momentum was finally halted. However, with a tearing sound, its tail exploded through the air, descending as an afterimage. Boom! The entire mountain ridge was torn apart by that single snake tail, sending rocks flying. Lu Tieshan and the eight others were in an extremely disheveled state, scattering to evade.

Although they had the advantage in numbers, it was clearly not easy to contend with a gigantic python war puppet of the Alpha Origin stage.

Zhou Yuan watched Lu Tieshan and the others desperately dodging the gigantic python war puppet's attacks, his brow furrowing. This turn of events was truly beyond his expectations.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Wei Qingqing looked at Zhou Yuan, a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

Zhou Yuan shook his head and reassured her. Although his expression was serious, he wasn't overly flustered. Qi Hao had a trump card, but so did he. His trump card was Yaoyao.

Even before entering the ruins, Zhou Yuan had spoken with Yaoyao, hoping she could act if the situation turned unfavorable. Yaoyao had naturally agreed to his request.

However, along the way, Zhou Yuan had tried his best to stabilize the situation so he wouldn't have to rely on Yaoyao's power. But if the current situation truly started to completely favor Qi Hao, then he would have no choice but to ask the young lady for her help.

The fierce battle continued. Lu Tieshan and the eight Heavenly Gate experts fought together, but they were still on the back foot under the gigantic python war puppet's attacks, struggling to hold on.

In the distance, Qi Hao watched the scene, the smile on his face growing increasingly smug.

Another fierce assault sent the eight figures reeling back, leaving deep footprints on the ground. Their clothes were tattered, and they appeared extremely disheveled. "Your Highness, we can't stop this war puppet," Lu Tieshan said with some shame.

Zhou Yuan nodded. He looked at the gigantic python war puppet, its massive body slithering as it approached them, then turned to Yaoyao and asked, "Sister Yaoyao, is there a way to deal with that gigantic python war puppet?"

Yaoyao tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment, then let out a soft chuckle. "Of course, there is a way."

"Oh? Is Sister Yaoyao going to make a move?"

Yaoyao glanced at the ugly war puppet python, wrinkling her delicate nose with a hint of disdain. She shook her head, then tossed Tuntun, who was in her arms, towards Zhou Yuan.

"This fellow has eaten so much of your Genesis Beast jerky; it's about time he did some work for you."

Zhou Yuan caught Tuntun, who Yaoyao had tossed into his arms, in a daze. The creature stared up at him with innocent, black-and-white, watery beast eyes, making Zhou Yuan's mouth twitch. *Let it deal with that gigantic python war puppet?*

Although filled with doubt, out of trust in Yaoyao, Zhou Yuan still stroked Tuntun's head and said gently, "Good Tuntun, take down that big guy, and you'll get ten plates of Genesis Beast jerky!"

Having spent so much time with Tuntun, Zhou Yuan knew exactly how to motivate the lazy creature. Sure enough, as soon as Zhou Yuan's voice fell, Tuntun's previously lazy eyes suddenly brightened.

Hiss! In the distance, the gigantic python war puppet let out a hiss and charged aggressively, crushing everything in its path. To the astonishment of Su Youwei, Wei Qingqing, and the others, Zhou Yuan tossed Tuntun from his arms. The little creature spun once in the air before landing on the ground in front of them.

"Your Highness, you're sending Tuntun to fight that huge monster?" Su Youwei pursed her red lips, glancing at Zhou Yuan, her beautiful eyes filled with doubt. Tuntun was cute, but could it really defeat the gigantic python war puppet with cuteness? Wei Qingqing also had a look that said, *You're really something.*

Zhou Yuan gave an awkward laugh. Since meeting Tuntun, all he knew was that the creature ate constantly every day, so he truly had no idea how strong Tuntun actually was.

"Did he just throw out a small beast? Is he completely out of options?" Qi Hao and the others were momentarily stunned when they saw Tuntun, then couldn't help but burst into laughter. In this form, Tuntun was simply too cute to possess any deterrent power.

Boom! Boom! However, the gigantic python war puppet showed no mercy. It charged aggressively, its enormous tail whistling through the air with astonishing power. The air exploded beneath its tail as it slammed down viciously towards Tuntun. That single strike was enough to shatter a mountaintop.

Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing's pretty faces showed expressions of unbearable pity.

As the snake's tail slammed down, that entire area collapsed with a rumble. Huge rocks shattered, and cracks continuously spread outwards.

However, just as the mountain rocks crumbled, a world-shaking roar suddenly erupted, shaking the entire forest.

As the roar reverberated, everyone suddenly saw the gigantic python's fiercely charging, massive body, as if struck by a tremendous blow, abruptly fly backward. RUMBLE! The gigantic python crashed into the mountain wall, sending large sections of rock tumbling down.

This sudden turn of events left everyone completely stunned. Su Youwei and Wei Qingqing both had their red lips slightly parted.

All gazes converged on Tuntun's location, where dust billowed.

Within the dust, a crimson light seemed to emerge. Then, everyone watched in shock as a colossal beast, approximately ten-odd meters tall, slowly stepped out of the dust, its heavy footsteps resounding. The beast was entirely crimson, covered in fiery red scales. Its eyes blazed like flames, and within its opening and closing maw, faint black light flickered, as if it could devour everything.

An astonishing aura of power and majesty gradually emanated from its body, causing the entire forest to fall silent. It was a mysterious, ferocious beast, as if it had stepped out from primordial antiquity. Mysterious and formidable.