Chapter 26: Long Worm

The enormous serpent was coiled around a large banyan tree, its dark brown patterns interwoven. It was as thick as an eight or nine-year-old child's waist. Its bright yellow vertical pupils coldly stared at Li Tongya and the others.

"What a huge serpent!"

Despite his exclamations, Li Tongya quickly formed hand seals. As soon as he finished speaking, a faint golden light appeared in his hand.

The serpent hissed, flicking its bright red tongue. It opened its mouth wide and powerfully expelled a thick black mist.

However, the golden light struck first, heading straight for the patterned serpent's chin. The impact jolted the serpent's head sideways, causing the black mist to spill onto a nearby tree.

The large banyan tree instantly groaned as its lush branches and leaves completely corroded away, turning into black liquid that dripped onto the soil. Even the main trunk, thick enough for two people to embrace, suffered significant corrosion.

Li Yesheng and the others gasped, retreating in alarm. They looked ready to flee at any moment.

"Keep your eyes on it and slowly retreat," Li Tongya said in a low, serious voice, after rescuing Li Yesheng and a few village guards from the serpent.

As they slowly retreated, the serpent did not pursue them. It remained coiled around the banyan tree, staring coldly at everyone.

Only when the banyan tree was out of sight did Li Qiuyang timidly speak: "The fruit is behind that tree!"

"No rush," Li Tongya said, waving his hand. He instructed Li Yesheng: "Gather the village guards and have them bring long staffs and iron shovels from every household. If anyone has a bow, that's even better; bring bows and arrows, and come up the mountain together."

"Understood," Li Yesheng replied, then hurried down the mountain with the village guards.

Li Xiangping patted Li Qiuyang's shoulder and said, "You must have encountered this serpent while it was out foraging. Not only did you escape with your life, but you also found an opportunity! Go back to the courtyard and continue your cultivation. Your part here is done."

Seeing Li Qiuyang break out in a cold sweat and head down the mountain, Li Xiangping found a bluestone to sit on. He then said to Li Tongya, "This serpent has incredibly tough scales. Even a Golden Light spell only managed to shatter a few scales on its chin."

"From its appearance, it's just a minor demon in the Fetal Breath realm. Its intelligence hasn't fully developed, so what good are tough scales to a beast like that?" Li Tongya replied indifferently, carefully observing the terrain.

Soon after, the able-bodied men from Lijing Village began ascending the mountain. Hearing they were to slay a demon, they were a mix of apprehension and excitement, tiptoeing behind Li Yesheng.

After scouting the terrain, Li Tongya called over Liu Linfeng and asked, "Uncle, I heard the Liu family used traps to kill wild boars last year. For a serpent this size, how large a pit trap would be appropriate?"

Liu Linfeng hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "I heard this serpent is a demon. We can't judge it by ordinary standards. What if it can fly...?"

"It certainly cannot fly. Just double your usual experience," Li Xiangping interjected, muttering to himself, "If this serpent could fly, none of us would be alive right now."

"Then it's simple!" Hearing Li Xiangping's words, Liu Linfeng confidently assured them and began directing everyone to dig the pit. His commanding gestures were quite impressive.

Liu Linfeng had been holding back for a long time. Although the Li family had always been powerful, they used to show some respect to the Liu family, even asking for their input on village matters. Now that the Li family had integrated all the villages, Liu Linfeng didn't dare to step forward and give orders. These days had been stifling for him, but now, finally having something to do, Liu Linfeng instantly regained his energy.

"This won't do. My Liu family must find a place to prove its worth under the Li family's protection, or we will decline sooner or later!" Liu Linfeng thought to himself, even as he continued to give orders.

Unaware of the internal drama playing out in Liu Linfeng's mind, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping were busy imbuing arrows with the Golden Light spell. If left unused, the spell could last for six to seven hours, which was more than enough to kill the serpent.

Both of them could imbue about a dozen arrows each with their current magical energy. When their energy was depleted, they would meditate to recover. By the time the villagers had finished digging the pit, covering up the fresh earth with dry leaves, the two had just completed their recovery.

The village guards formed their formation, those with long staffs in front, and those with bows behind, each holding an arrow imbued with the Golden Light spell. They cautiously advanced toward the serpent.

The front group had just reached the large banyan tree when they couldn't help but exclaim in unison: "What a terrifying serpent!"

The serpent was coiled around a large banyan tree, its bright yellow vertical pupils striking fear into their hearts. It opened its mouth and immediately exhaled a thick black mist.

However, the few people in the front row had already been warned. They quickly dropped their staffs and retreated, so the black mist only corroded the dry leaves on the ground and a few staffs.

Yet, streaks of pale golden light, imbued arrows, arrived first. These incredibly sharp arrows struck the serpent, embedding themselves one by one into its patterned brown scales.

Disturbed repeatedly, the serpent finally became enraged. Hissing and flicking its tongue, it abandoned the banyan tree and slithered towards the group.

The people in front immediately scattered. Li Tongya and Li Xiangping quickly formed hand seals, unleashing Golden Light spells that struck the serpent, causing it to cry out in pain. It then raised its golden pupils to look at them and quickly rushed forward.

Far from being alarmed, the two were pleased. Watching the serpent slither along the cliff face, they shouted, "Get ready!"

As the serpent moved, it suddenly felt its body sink. It nearly plunged headfirst into a large hole hidden beneath the dry leaves on the ground.

However, due to its considerable length, the serpent didn't immediately fall into the trap. Its head quickly lifted, resting on the other side of the pit, and it looked about to climb out.

Just then, a group of village guards emerged from the cliffside. Together, they pushed a large bluestone, shouting in unison, "Now!"

The bluestone instantly plummeted, landing squarely on the serpent's back. Its muscles and bones fractured, and the patterned serpent hissed as it was instantly pinned to the bottom of the pit. Its head remained raised high, and its body was bent into a U-shape, unable to move.

"Hahahahahah!" Liu Linfeng let out a long laugh from the back of the crowd, nodding in satisfaction at the success of his masterpiece.

"Attack!" Li Yesheng roared, and everyone quickly grabbed sharpened bamboo poles, thrusting them repeatedly into the pit.

Although the serpent's scales were incredibly tough, it couldn't withstand the combined assault of a dozen men. They stabbed vigorously for half an hour until the bamboo poles they held were stained crimson before finally stopping.

After confirming multiple times that the serpent was dead, the villagers cheered triumphantly, their voices shaking the heavens. They excitedly discussed how to get the serpent out of the pit and carry it back to the village.

Leaving Liu Linfeng in charge, Li Tongya and Li Xiangping, accompanied by Li Yesheng and a few other trusted confidants, quietly circled behind the large banyan tree.

Seeing the ground littered with white bones among the dense bushes, Li Yesheng sighed and said, "Li Yesheng went up the back mountain years ago and never returned. He must have encountered this serpent while it was foraging and been devoured by it."

Li Xiangping nodded naturally. Li Tongya, however, looked at the small tree bearing five gleaming red fruits, his expression serious. He turned to Li Yesheng and said, "Have your men guard this area. Don't let anyone approach."