Chapter 987: Emerald-scaled Python

"Fortunately, the worst outcome was avoided, and Nightingale was subdued. As long as this operation is handled properly, there shouldn't be much trouble," Chen Lie said.

Chen Tianchui nodded slightly and casually asked, "Which Enforcement Hall team is coming this time?"

"There's no news yet. Nightingale is going to meet them. We'll only know once they've met."

"Report back at any time!" Chen Tianchui instructed plainly, secretly wary. He hoped it wouldn't be one of the more troublesome teams, as the secrets beneath Mist Cliff couldn't bear the light of day.

By the edge of Mist Cliff, during their wait, Lu Ye spoke, "You all wait here. I'll go down and take a look."

"I'll go with you," Li Baxian stepped forward.

Lu Ye pondered for a moment, then agreed.

One after another, the two leaped into the thick fog.

The moment they entered the dense fog, all light around them vanished, replaced by complete darkness. Lu Ye slowed his descent while sensing Li Baxian's position.

Initially, there was nothing unusual, but as they descended further, Lu Ye noticed that his perception seemed to be under an invisible suppression, making it difficult to sense Li Baxian's presence.

He quickly activated his divine sense and immediately realized that Feng Yuechan was right; the dense fog here had a miraculous suppressive effect on divine sense, and the deeper they went, the more pronounced this suppression became.

Before descending a hundred zhang, Lu Ye's expression changed, and he exclaimed, "Fourth Senior Brother!"

"Primal Magnetic Field!" Li Baxian's voice came from nearby, sounding somewhat surprised.

Indeed, the spiritual power flowing within both of them showed signs of being suppressed, which was clearly the work of the Primal Magnetic Field.

Lu Ye only perceived the existence of the Primal Magnetic Field, but his flying swords, lacking divine sense perception, felt the continuous suppression even more distinctly than he did.

Dust particles, accumulated over years, gathered within the dense fog. The Primal Magnetic Field emanated precisely from these particles, which were, astonishingly, dust from Primal Magnetic Ore!

"We can't go down any further," Lu Ye said.

Simple perception and divine sense suppression weren't major issues; with enough vigilance, potential risks could be avoided. However, the Primal Magnetic Field was practically the bane of cultivators. The deeper they went, the stronger its concentration became. If the spiritual power within their bodies were to be confined, they would inevitably plummet to the bottom of the cliff. Regardless of any danger, getting back up would be difficult.

No wonder even Spirit Sea Realm cultivators were unwilling to easily venture into this cursed place.

Divine sense was the greatest advantage of Spirit Sea Realm cultivators, but this advantage was useless here. Coupled with the presence of the Primal Magnetic Field, such a place could be called a truly perilous domain.

"Let's go!" Lu Ye shouted, and while the suppression on his spiritual power was not too pronounced, he swiftly flew upwards.

Li Baxian followed closely.

In a moment, the two broke through the dense fog's embrace and returned to the cliff edge.

As they landed, they immediately saw a cultivator wearing a mask standing nearby, who must have been the local Nightingale.

Lu Ye picked up the guard token from his waist and shook it: "Enforcement Hall, Team D4, Qu Rong!"

"Greetings, Milord!" the Nightingale bowed.

"Report your findings in detail!" Lu Ye said.

The Nightingale began to report his previous findings, but before he could say more than a few sentences, screams and shouts suddenly erupted from nearby.

Everyone looked towards the source of the sound, seeing nothing. The commotion came from some distance away, but from the sounds, it was clear something had happened.

"Let's go take a look," Lu Ye said, soaring into the sky and heading in that direction.

Everyone followed closely.

The Nightingale, with the lowest cultivation, not yet reaching the True Lake Realm, fell behind. Seizing the moment when no one was watching him, he tapped his battlefield mark and sent out a message.

In the main hall of the Chen family, Grand Elder Lingli looked up at Chen Tianchui: "The Nightingale sent a message. The team executing the mission this time is Team D4, and their leader is named Fei Jian."

Chen Tianchui's heart, which had been hanging, slowly settled. "As long as it's not those few teams, it's fine...." He suddenly reacted, raising his eyes and asking, "What did you say the leader's name is?"

"Fei Jian!" Lingli replied. "That Lu Yiye from the Green Blood Sect?"

"It should be him," Lingli nodded. "I previously heard that he joined the Enforcement Hall, and not long ago, he caused quite a stir in Vast Sky City."

The incident of several Enforcement Hall teams brawling had long since spread throughout Vast Sky City, and communication among cultivators was extremely convenient, so it was no surprise that Lingli had heard about it.

Seeing Chen Tianchui's expression, Lingli asked curiously:

"Does the Patriarch know him?"

"I haven't met him," Chen Tianchui shook his head. "But the Honored Master ordered long ago that if we encounter this person, we must befriend him at all costs!"

Lingli couldn't help but be moved. "The Honored Master... values him that much?"

"The Honored Master has his reasons!" Chen Tianchui looked invigorated. "This truly is a heaven-sent opportunity."

The Zhou family had nearly been exposed, and even if they made amends beforehand, they would inevitably face some penalties. But if they could befriend Lu Yiye as the Honored Master instructed, and even enlighten him to serve under the Honored Master... that would definitely be a great merit! Then they could atone for their past mistakes.

"The show should be starting now, shouldn't it?" Chen Tianchui asked.

"Almost," Lingli replied. "Third Elder's Blazing Python has been sent out, which should be enough for them to report." It was a pity for the Blazing Python; the Third Elder had raised it for decades, and this time, it likely wouldn't survive intact. Without the help of the Blazing Python, the Third Elder, as an expert in beast taming, would suffer a significant loss of strength, a truly crippling blow. But there was no alternative.

The Nightingale had already reported suspicions of a fierce beast emerging in the area. If the Enforcement Hall didn't find something to report, they certainly wouldn't leave easily. Only by giving them a plausible report would they depart, and only then could the secrets beneath Mist Cliff be preserved.

Although the secret wasn't something just anyone could uncover, it was always best to be prepared.

"Go personally and invite that Lu Yiye over. He led the team to kill the fierce beast and saved our Chen family members. Our Chen family should properly thank him!"

Lingli naturally knew Chen Tianchui's intentions and immediately accepted the order: "Yes!"

At this very moment, Lu Ye and the others had already reached the source of the commotion. From a distance, they saw several figures desperately fleeing ahead, continuously screaming and shouting, with a gigantic python, over ten zhang long, hot on their heels.

The enormous python had a massive body, covered in emerald green scales. On either side of its head, bulging fleshy lumps were hidden, giving it an extraordinary imposing presence.

Even from afar, its ferocious aura could be felt. Such a giant python, if it evolved just one more step, would likely transform into a flood dragon.

There was a bulge in the python's belly, shaped like a human figure, indicating that someone had already met with misfortune and been swallowed alive. The few still living were terrified. In such a situation, they should naturally scatter and flee to have a chance at survival, but these few were huddled together, clearly panicked and utterly disoriented.

The cultivators' cultivation levels weren't high either; they were all only at the Spiritual Stream Realm, unable even to fly to escape, and certainly no match for the Blazing Python's speed.

Just as the giant python opened its gaping maw, ready to attack, a whistling sound suddenly rang out. Immediately, streaks of sword light shot from Lu Ye's position, striking towards the Blazing Python's head.

Lu Ye was the first to attack.

Sword cultivators excelled in combat, and Li Baxian's speed was swift, his attack striking the Blazing Python's head in the blink of an eye.

Sparks flew as the emerald green scales covering the python's body proved incredibly tough, blocking many of Li Baxian's attacks and causing no significant injuries.

However, the force of the impact still made the giant python stumble, narrowly allowing the Spirit Stream Realm cultivators to escape disaster.

Lu Ye had already charged forward, stepping on the Blazing Python's head. He gripped his Pan Mountain Blade in a reverse grip and thrust it fiercely into its head.

A brilliant light flashed across the blade, enhanced by the Dual Peak Sharp Spirit Mark.

As the blade descended, the Blazing Python evidently sensed the danger. Its head shook, and surging demonic energy solidified into a protective barrier.

The blade pierced through the demonic energy's protection, embedding half a foot into the Blazing Python's head, but could not advance further.

The Blazing Python roared in pain, its forked tongue flicking in and out as it thrashed its head, trying to dislodge Lu Ye.

But then, Green Scales (Li Baxian), who had rushed over, wrapped his hands around its tail and yanked it forward.

The giant python, over ten zhang long, was forcefully pulled straight, falling to the ground.

Dust rose everywhere.

Lu Ye hovered nearby, his flying swords descending as streaks of light. Beside him, Feng Yuechan, with a solemn expression, rapidly formed and unleashed exquisite spells.

Xiao Xinghe also rushed over, drawing his blade and striking. Taking advantage of the Blazing Python's inability to rise, he sent sparks flying and blood splattering from its body.

A ghostly figure suddenly appeared beside the Blazing Python's head. It was Chen Tianchui, who had stealthily approached, unhesitatingly thrusting his short sword towards the python's eye.

With one strike, the serpent's eye was pierced.

Enraged, the Blazing Python turned its head and bit at Chen Tianchui.

Instantly, a foul, stinking wind assailed Chen Tianchui, making it hard for her to keep her eyes open.

Her figure continuously drifted backward, but the Blazing Python's gaping maw pursued relentlessly, seemingly intent on biting her to death.

A towering, iron-like figure suddenly blocked Chen Tianchui's path. Green Scales' (Li Baxian's) qi and blood surged throughout his body, his stance slightly lowered, center of gravity shifted downwards, and his feet seemed rooted to the ground. The enormous serpent's head struck him, but Green Scales remained utterly unmoving.

He suddenly raised a hand, seizing one of the Blazing Python's upper fangs, and with his other hand, grabbed a lower fang. With an enraged roar, he spun violently, causing the enormous serpent's body to be whipped around like a rope, turning half a circle before crashing heavily onto the ground.

Dust rose everywhere.

But the attacks of the others did not stop. Lu Ye's flying swords, Feng Yuechan's spells continuously rained down, and Li Baxian and Xiao Xinghe ceaselessly wielded their blades.

The Blazing Python, thrown to the ground, still tried to lift its head, but Green Scales (Li Baxian) had already stomped on its head, fiercely punching it.

With each punch, the ground trembled.

And no matter how much the Blazing Python struggled, it could not break free from Green Scales' (Li Baxian's) foot's restraint.

Chen Tianchui seized the opportunity, continuously striking her short sword at the Blazing Python's vulnerable points, stabbing with satisfying precision.

Initially, the Blazing Python resisted quite fiercely, but gradually, its movements became weaker and weaker until, finally, it became completely silent.

As Green Scales delivered his final punch, the head of this Blazing Python, comparable to a True Lake Realm cultivator, was shattered.