Chapter 696: Devouring Ghosts and Swallowing Thunder Python

"A Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python is a rare exotic beast. It thrives in places with frequent thunderstorms and feeds on various vengeful spirits and ghosts. A normal Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python doesn't have a third eye, so this one must be a mutated beast. If it advances further, it could transform into a Flood Dragon. Brother-in-law, are you interested in subduing it?" Ye Lin asked, looking a bit eager.

"A beast that has already reached the third tier isn't easy to subdue. If it were to advance to the fourth tier before me, that would be problematic. Those three Core Formation cultivators earlier probably also wanted to subdue it, which is why they were restricted and ultimately killed by it. This beast is a mutated creature with considerable powers, but the three Core Formation cultivators also depleted a significant amount of its demonic energy. This is an excellent opportunity to slay it."

Spirit beasts raised from a young age rarely betray their masters. Subduing an already mature demon beast, however, carries a high risk of backlash. Wang Qingshan, for instance, subdued a high-grade second-tier Three-Headed Fox at the ruins of the Jinyang Sect. He was so worried about it advancing to the third tier that he rarely let it out. Now that Wang Qingshan has reached the Core Formation stage, he no longer has such concerns.

Wang Changsheng was only at the fifth level of Core Formation. If the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python were to advance to the fourth tier, he would definitely suffer a backlash. This is not uncommon in the cultivation world. Because of this inherent flaw, most cultivators raise their spirit beasts from a young age, as the chances of betrayal are much lower with such companions.

Furthermore, this area was deep within the Myriad Ghost Sea, where Nascent Soul stage ghostly entities might appear. Wang Changsheng intended to finish the fight quickly. The last time, he was nearly killed by a Nascent Soul cultivator for some treasures. Learning from that experience, he dared not repeat it.

With a raise of Wang Changsheng's hand, hundreds of blue formation flags flew out, sinking into the sea near the island and disappearing. A vast expanse of dense fog surged forth, enveloping the entire island.

With this formation, Wang Changsheng could act with confidence, without worrying about other cultivators witnessing his fight.

"This island still has quite a few restrictions. Be careful," Ye Lin cautioned. He nodded and released two flying eagle puppet beasts, which flew towards the island. Wang Changsheng and Ye Lin followed behind the puppets.

Not long after, they appeared outside a narrow valley. As soon as the two flying eagle puppet beasts entered the valley, a thick golden lightning bolt suddenly struck down from high above, shattering both puppets into a pile of scrap metal.

Ye Lin's eyes glowed with dazzling golden light. "This path is impassable," he said. "We'll have to go around from the left. Be careful." He then released two ape puppet beasts to lead the way.

Wang Changsheng dared not be careless and released hundreds of Gold-Devouring Ants, which circled around him.

As they proceeded, over a dozen second-tier puppet beasts were destroyed. Even their divine sense couldn't detect the traps. If not for Ye Lin's assistance, Wang Changsheng would not have been able to find all the restrictions himself, perhaps only a few.

About fifteen minutes later, they arrived at a black plain. A silver fruit tree, three zhang tall, stood over a hundred zhang ahead. It had no leaves, and three pale silver fruits hung from its branches.

According to Cheng Zhenyu, there should have been five fruits. It seemed the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python had eaten two.

The Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python was coiled around the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree. From time to time, a thick silver lightning bolt would strike down from the sky, hitting the python. Yet, like mud sinking into the ocean, the lightning would vanish completely upon contact.

Upon closer inspection, its abdomen was heavily bleeding, several scales on its neck had fallen off, and its aura was somewhat weak. Clearly, the three Core Formation cultivators had given it significant trouble earlier.

A fierce glint flashed in Wang Changsheng's eyes. He opened his mouth, and the Mountain-Sea Pearl flew out. With a spin, countless blue water mists appeared out of thin air, transforming into a blue water dragon over ten zhang long, which lunged menacingly towards the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python.

Disdain appeared in the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python's eyes. It opened its mouth, and a thick silver lightning bolt shot out, striking the blue water dragon accurately. However, the water dragon was unharmed and continued its charge towards the python.

Boom! The blue water dragon collided with the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python. With a deafening crash, the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree shook violently. The Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python let out a strange hiss, its face contorted in pain.

Wang Changsheng sneered. The blue water dragon was no ordinary manifestation of spiritual power. The Mountain-Sea Pearl had been refined with One-Yuan Heavy Water, and water-attribute spells cast using it inherently carried a powerful gravitational force. They were far beyond what ordinary water-attribute magic treasures could achieve.

Wang Changsheng performed a hand seal, and the Mountain-Sea Pearl spun rapidly. Countless blue water mists surged out, forming five enormous blue water dragons that lunged menacingly towards the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python.

This time, the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python dared not meet the attack head-on. It quickly scrambled down from the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree, evading the five blue water dragons.

Boom! A series of resounding crashes followed as the blue water dragons struck the ground, instantly blasting out massive craters, over ten zhang wide and several zhang deep.

The Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python flapped its wings, a loud thunderclap sounded, and it vanished.

"Oh no, it knows Thunder Escape! Be careful," Wang Changsheng exclaimed, his expression changing. He performed a hand seal, and the Mountain-Sea Pearl discharged a vast expanse of blue water mist, forming a gigantic blue water barrier that enveloped him.

Ye Lin was already prepared and slapped two third-tier defensive talismans onto himself.

A flash of silver light, and the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python suddenly appeared before Wang Changsheng. It opened its mouth and spat out a large burst of silver lightning, striking towards Wang Changsheng. With a flicker of blue light, Wang Changsheng multiplied into ten figures. Several of the Wang Changsheng figures were hit by the silver lightning and vanished.

It forcefully flapped its fleshy wings, sending a volley of silver lightning orbs flying towards Wang Changsheng and Ye Lin. Thunder boomed continuously as a large expanse of silver lightning enveloped Ye Lin's body, and several of the Wang Changsheng figures were shattered.

A "chi chi" sound ripped through the air as hundreds of blue water ropes shot out from the blue water barrier, coiling around the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python. The python struggled violently, countless silver electrical arcs erupting from its body and striking the blue water ropes, but to no avail.

With a flash of blue light, a giant blue palm, several zhang in size, suddenly materialized in the air above its head and swiftly slammed down.

A shrill scream pierced the air as the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python let out strange roars.

A gigantic Mountain-Sea Pearl appeared above its head and smashed down.

Innumerable silver lightning bolts erupted from the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python's body, shattering the blue water ropes that bound it.

A vast expanse of golden light shot forth, enveloping its body, instantly immobilizing the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python.

Boom! The Mountain-Sea Pearl slammed into the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python, creating a massive crater. The python was utterly pulverized, dead beyond resurrection.

Had the beast not expended a large amount of its demonic energy, Wang Changsheng would not have been able to eliminate it so easily.

The Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python was a lightning-attribute beast. Its hide, combined with the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree, could be refined into several lightning-attribute magic treasures.

Wang Changsheng beckoned with one hand towards the ground, and the Mountain-Sea Pearl swiftly returned to its original size, flying back into his hand. On the ground, there was a giant crater over a hundred zhang wide and a dozen zhang deep.

Wang Changsheng nodded in satisfaction. A single Mountain-Sea Pearl was this powerful; if he had a few more, their might would surely be even greater.

He descended into the colossal pit and collected the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python's essence soul. Its inner core had been shattered.

"Eh, what's this?" Wang Changsheng discovered a small, pale green cauldron in the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python's abdomen. Its surface was carved with over a dozen green lotus flowers, and the cauldron emitted a surprisingly weak spiritual aura.

"Could it be a magic treasure from those three Core Formation cultivators earlier?" Wang Changsheng didn't ponder it further. He put away the small green cauldron and the Ghost-Devouring Thunder Python's corpse, then flew towards the Thunder Apricot Spirit Fruit Tree.

About fifteen minutes later, Wang Changsheng and Ye Lin flew off the island, heading back the way they came.