"Fifth-order Azure Serpent?" Lin Chu's eyes flickered with surprise at the sight. He had only just arrived and encountered a fifth-order beast.
As if sensing it had been discovered by Lin Chu, the Azure Serpent's body coiled, rising to form a circle. Its massive head flicked its long tongue, and its eyes fixed on Lin Chu.
Lin Chu glanced at it. This Azure Serpent was likely over ten meters long and considered a dominant presence in this area.
Among beasts, territories were clearly demarcated. If one trespassed into another's domain, a battle was inevitable.
"Good fellow, I'll test my skills on you first!"
As the ferocity in the Azure Serpent's eyes intensified, Lin Chu's mind stirred, and the spiritual energy within him erupted.
"Meteor Holy Slash!"
With a half-arc of his blade, the Azure Serpent moved instantly.
Despite its extremely long body, its movements were swift. In a blink of an eye, its colossal form dodged Lin Chu's attack. Lin Chu's offensive seemed to have further enraged the Azure Serpent.
After evading Lin Chu's strike, it utilized the cover of the surrounding dense foliage, vanishing in an instant and reappearing behind Lin Chu. Its tail swept directly towards him.
Lin Chu, having long sensed the Azure Serpent's movement, had no intention of being easily struck. The previous incident with the rhinoceros beast was still vivid in his memory. As the Azure Serpent's tail swung, Lin Chu countered with a palm strike, instantly deploying the Lingxu Step.
Then, using the speed of the Lingxu Step, Lin Chu repeatedly launched offensives against the Azure Serpent. However, the effect was minimal. The Azure Serpent's defense seemed even tougher than that of the rhinoceros beast.
Even with eighty percent of his strength, Lin Chu couldn't inflict any significant damage.
"I didn't expect the Azure Serpent's body defense to be so astonishing. If only I had a Earth Spirit Weapon." Retreating again with the Lingxu Step, Lin Chu shook his head in frustration, his yearning for a spiritual weapon growing even more intense.
The Azure Serpent, meanwhile, was clearly enraged. A creature it considered so insignificant had repeatedly evaded its attacks. Not only had it evaded, but it had also attacked.
Although these attacks were like tickles, the Azure Serpent felt its prestige had been challenged. It then began to thrash about wildly, its body twisting and striking everywhere. Towering trees fell with resounding cracks.
"It seems I'll have to resort to my last resort." Lin Chu shook his head helplessly. He possessed too few techniques. If he had more, he might not be in a position where he could only attack defensively.
"Floating Spirit Holy Burst!"
Lin Chu thought, and with a thought, the spiritual energy within him surged out. It floated in mid-air, as dazzling as starlight.
"Fall!"
As Lin Chu pointed downwards, a sky full of spiritual light descended upon the Azure Serpent.
Hiss!
As if sensing danger, the Azure Serpent's body moved, rapidly coiling into a circular shape, enclosing its massive head.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the scene, which had only just begun to clear, was once again obscured by dust. The immense tremor propagated outward.
"It should be dead, right?" After a moment, Lin Chu murmured, glancing at the Azure Serpent's location.
Whoosh!
Just then, a piercing sound suddenly rang out. It was directed straight at Lin Chu.
Bang!
Lin Chu had no time to defend himself. Just as he was about to retreat, he felt a searing pain in his abdomen, and large beads of sweat trickled down his face.
"I was careless..." Lin Chu's face turned pale instantly, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. Forcing down the weariness coursing through his body, Lin Chu unleashed another Floating Spirit Holy Burst towards the Azure Serpent's position.
A moment later, as the dust began to settle, the Azure Serpent's body gradually reappeared in Lin Chu's sight. It was motionless, its massive head obliterated.
Seeing the Azure Serpent completely dead, a look of relief finally crossed Lin Chu's face. Then, his body faltered, and he collapsed.
"Where... is this..."
As he slowly woke up, Lin Chu opened his eyes to find himself in a simple, rustic cottage. On a table pieced together from wood, a slender figure supported her head with one hand, appearing to be dozing.
As Lin Chu's voice broke the silence, the slender figure's head shifted slightly, and she turned her head.
Seeing her, Lin Chu's mind went blank.
The slender figure was clad in a snow-white dress, possessing skin like ice and snow, and delicate features that made her appear exceptionally fresh and refined. Especially her eyes, which were as deep as a clear pool of water, captivating and impossible to look away from.
At this moment, as the slender figure's gaze met Lin Chu's dazed stare, she furrowed her brow slightly, appearing somewhat annoyed. This action, however, only made her appear even more alluring.
If she could have been described as an ethereal fairy before, she now possessed an added touch of spirit.
"Have you seen enough?"
As the slender figure parted her lips, a cold voice echoed in the room. Lin Chu snapped back to reality. He hadn't felt the coldness before, but as the slender figure spoke, Lin Chu distinctly felt the temperature in the room plummet.
"Esteemed fairy, it was my intrusion. May I ask, where is this place?" Sensing the woman's displeasure, Lin Chu immediately bowed his hands in apology before asking.
At the same time, Lin Chu was greatly astonished. He had seen beautiful women before, such as Bai Yu Wei, who was already an exceptionally peerless existence. He never expected to encounter someone here who was not at all inferior to Bai Yu Wei.
"This is the depths of the Cangmang Mountain Range." The woman seemed to be a person of few words, responding simply before falling silent. However, her words sent shockwaves through Lin Chu.
The woman appeared to be around his age, and she emanated no spiritual energy whatsoever. Such a seemingly delicate woman living in the depths of the Cangmang Mountain Range.
Yet, Lin Chu did not dare to underestimate the woman before him. The sensation from earlier was still vivid.
"Um, miss, I remember I was only in the central region. How did I end up here?" Seeing that the woman was disinclined to speak, Lin Chu lowered his voice again, his eyes darting to her side with a hint of evasion.
Although he didn't know the woman's age, Lin Chu felt that being sweet-tongued would always be beneficial, especially in front of this seemingly unapproachable woman.
"Anyone who can fall unconscious in the Cangmang Mountain Range has quite the nerve. If my grandfather hadn't brought you back, you'd likely be food for the beasts by now. Grandfather is returning soon. Ask him if you have any questions."
The woman's response was more voluble this time. She glanced upwards towards the outside of the cottage before standing and walking out.
Upon hearing the woman's words, Lin Chu finally understood. So, this woman wasn't living alone.
He was somewhat surprised by the term "beasts" that the woman used. In the Cangmang Mountain Range, especially in its depths, even powerful cultivators at the Spiritual Venerable realm dared not venture too deep. Yet, the woman referred to them so casually.
Lin Chu was also filled with inexplicable curiosity about the woman's grandfather. What sustained this elderly pair living in the depths of the Cangmang Mountain Range?
Never mind, he would ask the woman's grandfather when he returned. Lin Chu shook his head and, with a thought, began circulating his Chaos Dragon Breath Art to recuperate.
When he had woken up, Lin Chu had felt a slight blockage in his qi and blood, a clear indication that the blow he sustained during the battle with the Azure Serpent had not fully healed.
Unbeknownst to Lin Chu, the woman, who had already left the cottage, paused as Lin Chu began circulating his Chaos Dragon Breath Art. She cast a surprised glance at the cottage enveloped in spiritual energy before slowly turning and departing.
A moment later, Lin Chu opened his eyes and, with a thought, looked towards the cottage door.
"Feeling better?" As Lin Chu's gaze fell upon him, an aged figure strode in. The newcomer was clad in a grey robe, and beneath his weathered face, his eyes were exceptionally sharp.
Lin Chu sensed him and felt a flicker of surprise. This elder also exuded no spiritual energy whatsoever.
"Thank you for saving my life, old sir." Although bewildered, Lin Chu still clasped his hands in greeting. As the woman had said earlier, if this elder hadn't brought him back, he might indeed have become food for the beasts.
The elder waved his hand. "I merely happened to pass by and witnessed your battle with that Azure Serpent. I must say, young fellow, your strength is not weak, but you are too overconfident. Fortunately, your body is quite resilient, or the Azure Serpent's dying counterattack would have pierced you."
Lin Chu's astonishment deepened. During his fight with the Azure Serpent, he had been keenly aware of his surroundings and hadn't sensed any presence. Yet, this elder claimed to have been present. Could it be that this elder was no ordinary person?
"Thank you for your guidance, senior. I have learned my lesson." Lin Chu thought, his gaze towards the elder becoming more respectful.
The elder narrowed his eyes, nodded, and then chuckled. "To venture alone into the Cangmang Mountain Range for training, it's clear you're no weakling. Furthermore, observing your cultivation techniques and moves, they don't seem to be of this Anwu Continent's heritage. Of course, you needn't worry, I have no interest in your possessions."
As the elder's voice faded, Lin Chu's wariness intensified. However, upon hearing the latter half of his statement, Lin Chu felt a touch of awkwardness.
"However... young man, I saved your life, shouldn't you offer some repayment?" Just as Lin Chu's wariness subsided, the elder's tone shifted, and he asked with a smile.
"That is only natural. However, what kind of repayment do you desire, senior? I don't have many valuable items on me to offer you." Lin Chu asked with a wry smile.
The elder waved his hand with a smile. "I have no need for your meager spirit stones for cultivation. As for repayment, I only require you to do me a favor."
Lin Chu felt a slight relief and then said earnestly, "Since you saved my life, senior, I am bound by duty and reason to repay you. If you have a task for me, I will spare no effort, even if it means ascending mountains of knives or descending into seas of fire!"
"It's not that dire. Hmm, you've met the girl from before, haven't you?" The elder nodded with satisfaction and said.
"Yes, I have." Lin Chu suddenly had a bad feeling. However, under the elder's gaze, he had no choice but to nod bravely.
The elder nodded, his expression unusually serious. "Yes, it's good that you have met her. The repayment I ask for is that from this day forward, you will ensure her safety."