Reminded by Han Lang, Tang Geng’s thoughts quickly returned to the battle against the mutated S-class esper, Wang Shan.
At that time, their cultivation levels were only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
After Wang Shan had transformed himself into an esper, he had mutated to grow a body of scales.
These scales were incredibly tough, rendering swords and blades useless against them.
If Han Lang hadn't had a stroke of genius then, prompting Tang Geng to find a way to lift Wang Shan's scales, they would have had no chance of defeating the mutated Wang Shan.
Recalling this, Tang Geng immediately understood.
Wasn’t the current situation just like dealing with Wang Shan before?
The great serpent's scales had a defense a hundred times stronger than Wang Shan’s. If they couldn't find a way to bypass the scales and attack the serpent's true body, they would likely exhaust themselves to death without defeating it!
With this thought, Tang Geng quickly responded.
"I remember! I'll try to lift its scales!"
Saying this, he immediately channeled his spiritual energy and used his spirit sword to scrape against the serpent's scales in reverse.
Seeing this, Ma Long was greatly alarmed.
"What are you doing, Tang Geng! Are you trying to scale the serpent?"
Tang Geng ignored Ma Long's jest and replied sternly.
"That's right! Han Lang's golden needles are tiny. If we can scrape open even a sliver of its scales, Han Lang's needles can enter its body, and we can then dismantle the serpent from the inside!"
Hearing this, Ma Long and the others suddenly understood.
However, even though Tang Geng poured all his effort into it, sparks flying as his spirit sword scraped against the serpent's scales, the scales remained completely unmoved.
Tang Geng sighed in frustration and said.
"It's no use! I can't scrape them open!"
Han Lang didn't have time to discuss further and shouted.
"Find a way!"
Just as Tang Geng was at a loss, Liu Xiaoxiao suddenly had an idea.
"Tang Geng! Stop using your spirit sword. Have Zhao Wu use his square brick. Ma Long, Tang Qin, watch for the right moment and assist Zhao Wu in pressing down with all your might. Tang Geng, your spirit sword should follow closely behind the brick, cooperating with me for a second scraping!"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood Liu Xiaoxiao's intention.
If the scales couldn't be scraped open, it must be due to insufficient force!
Otherwise, how could overlapping scales not even allow for a single gap to be created?
Zhao Wu's square brick, after being materialized, was inherently of higher quality than a spirit sword.
Combined with the strength of Tang Qin and Ma Long, it would surely loosen the scales.
Then, with Tang Geng using his spirit sword and Liu Xiaoxiao assisting in finding the opportune moment, even if a single scale was pried open by the brick, the spirit sword's sharpness would allow it to wedge in smoothly.
As long as they seized such an opportunity, Han Lang's golden needles could then enter the body.
Wouldn't the serpent be completely subdued then?
With these thoughts, everyone immediately began to divide the tasks.
Zhao Wu also did not hesitate, immediately materializing his square brick, controlling it to tilt, and using its edge to press down on the serpent's back.
Ma Long and Tang Qin flashed forward, channeling their full spiritual energy, and firmly pressed the brick downwards.
Tang Geng's flying sword also slid in beneath the brick, following the edge of the brick and moving upwards in sync.
Liu Xiaoxiao extended her palms forward, materializing giant spiritual energy palms, and pressed down on the other side of the spirit sword.
Han Lang stood ready.
"Crackle!"
As the brick and spirit sword advanced, sparks erupted instantly from the serpent's back.
Everyone strained with all their might, frantically trying to make the brick and spirit sword find a gap in the scales.
Suddenly,
"Crack."
Tang Geng's spirit sword became stuck.
Upon closer inspection,
The body of the spirit sword was completely embedded within a scale.
Deep within the scale, the serpent's crimson flesh was faintly visible to everyone.
Tang Geng shouted urgently.
"Now!"
Han Lang was also quick-handed.
"Swish, swish, swish!"
Nine needles flew.
With lightning speed, they instantly penetrated the serpent's body.
The serpent roared in pain, thrashing wildly.
Han Lang continued to guide the golden needles to move within the serpent's flesh and skin.
"Whoosh!"
As the golden needles reached the serpent's vital seven-inch point, the serpent's massive body suddenly faltered, then collapsed as if struck by electricity.
Its eyes still held hatred, and its body trembled uncontrollably, but it could no longer move an inch.
Seeing this, Ma Long couldn't help but feel triumphant.
He jumped onto the serpent's body and kicked it hard.
"Still so arrogant! Damn it, a mere beast dares to be arrogant with us!"
Before he could revel in his victory for half a second, the serpent's body suddenly twitched violently, and then it attempted to raise its head again.
Ma Long was startled and quickly dodged.
However, the serpent did not manage to rise again as it intended, but instead crashed heavily to the ground, unable to move.
Ma Long, still shocked, cautiously approached again.
Confirming that the serpent was indeed immobilized, he became energized once more.
He kicked the serpent hard.
"Damn it! You scared me!"
However, before his words could even finish, Han Lang on the other side shouted with a pained expression.
"Hurry, deliver the fatal blow! Its body is too large, I can't control it for much longer!"
Hearing this, everyone was once again astonished.
Although the serpent was now powerless to resist, even so, the defense of its scales was still something they couldn't break through.
Just as everyone was at a loss, anxiously like ants on a hot pan, Shan Nan suddenly snatched the spirit sword from Tang Geng.
Then, holding the spirit sword, he flashed to the serpent's head and, aiming at the gap where a fang had been knocked out, forcefully thrust it upwards.
The spirit sword did not pierce through the body.
However, between the two raised horns on the serpent's head, a subtle protrusion could be seen.
As blood flowed down the spirit sword, the serpent's body began to twitch uncontrollably.
Its eyes, once fierce, were now replaced by a gradual dimming and fading.
Soon, the serpent completely ceased to move.
Its eyes also closed completely.
"Hoo!"
Han Lang's golden needles were still inside the serpent, and he could clearly feel that the serpent had lost all signs of life.
But before he could fully relax, Ma Long had already flown to the serpent's head again.
With a "bang," he kicked the serpent's head.
The immense force caused the lifeless serpent's head, along with Tang Geng's spirit artifact sword, to drag across the ground for several meters before stopping.
Seeing this, everyone finally became completely convinced that the serpent had been thoroughly defeated.
"Heh heh."
Ma Long grinned smugly.
He walked forward, pulled out Tang Geng's spirit artifact sword, and tossing it back to Tang Geng, said with a playful smile.
"Tang Geng, lend me your sword again later to deal with the serpent's corpse!"
Tang Geng couldn't help but roll his eyes at Ma Long. While taking out a cloth from his storage ring to carefully wipe the bloodstains from his sword, he replied.
"Are you kidding me, Ma Long! My dignified mid-grade spirit artifact sword, used as a butcher's knife by you? If you want to use it, find your own!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Long not only wasn't annoyed but replied fawningly.
"Don't be like that! In this desolate wilderness, in a foreign land, where am I supposed to find another one! At worst, after I cook the meat, I'll give you the first bite!"
"Tch!"
Tang Geng snorted disdainfully and ignored Ma Long further.
However, Shan Nan urged everyone at this moment.
"Alright, the serpent has been dealt with. Hurry up and go into the pool to cultivate. We don't have much time left!"
Hearing this, everyone finally remembered the important matter at hand and, one by one, they all jumped into the hot spring pool filled with Earth Spirit Milk.