Xiao Su was overjoyed. Just as he was about to press his advantage, the Serrated Earth Dragon writhed in agony. It rolled over, its stomach churning. With a final heave, both ends broke free from Yan Jiaojiao's spirit net.
"Run!" Yan Jiaojiao immediately shouted at Xiao Su, who was almost drenched in blood.
Xiao Su dodged the massive maw the Serrated Earth Dragon swung at him. He circled the beast, trying to find another opportunity to slash open its stomach.
However, the Serrated Earth Dragon, driven by intense pain, was utterly frenzied and gave Xiao Su no chance to breathe. Its two heads attacked him in turns, biting and ramming.
Xiao Su's body was covered in the dragon's sticky blood, which hindered his movements. In a mere few dozen seconds, he had dodged several attacks, his speed already slowing.
Just as the dragon's sharp teeth were about to sink into his leg, Yan Jiaojiao arrived, sword in hand. She stretched out her arms, and it was as if invisible ropes bound the Serrated Earth Dragon's head and neck, holding it desperately in place.
Xiao Su narrowly escaped another peril. A fine mist of sweat coated his back, but his heart had yet to settle. The dragon's other massive maw lunged towards him again!
The situation was too dire. Yan Jiaojiao could no longer conceal her aura talent. A wave of pressure radiated from her like a shockwave!
The Serrated Earth Dragon's head, which was lunging forward, seemed to suffer a heavy blow. It was so stunned by the powerful pressure that its courage all but evaporated. It dared not move an inch, frozen in mid-air.
"Still not acting!" Yan Jiaojiao yelled at Xiao Su.
Xiao Su scrambled back to his senses, raised his sword, and slashed at the exposed stomach. The membrane tore open, and a human body rolled out onto the ground.
Despite being covered in crimson blood and yellow viscous fluid, Xiao Su recognized her instantly. It was Wen Jinshu!
"Jinshu!"
Xiao Su cried out in anguish and lunged forward.
The injured Serrated Earth Dragon, though in excruciating pain, dared not move under Yan Jiaojiao's oppressive aura.
Xiao Su reached Wen Jinshu, who had fainted, and embraced her. He paid no mind to his own filthy state. He raised his hand and cast a purification spell on Wen Jinshu, washing away her ordeal and revealing her beautiful, pale face.
However, Wen Jinshu's face was already corroded by stomach acid, leaving many red, bleeding burns. Her skin and clothes bore similar marks.
"Jinshu, wake up!" Xiao Su whispered, his voice trembling.
Wen Jinshu remained deathly still. Xiao Su began to infuse her with spiritual energy, continuously calling her name.
Yan Jiaojiao could not predict Wen Jinshu's fate. She had been in the Serrated Earth Dragon's stomach for quite some time, and suffocation was a possibility.
She never expected the Serrated Earth Dragon to actually swallow Wen Jinshu.
Yan Jiaojiao shot a sharp glance at the dragon. The Serrated Earth Dragon cowered and wriggled, emitting a sound wave that others couldn't hear, but Yan Jiaojiao understood the sequence of events.
It turned out that the Serrated Earth Dragon had long been lurking in this Green Sparrow Grassland. Its hunting method was to burrow underground, then expose its head and open its maw level with the ground. When creatures passed by, they would accidentally fall into this trap.
Just as it had tried to swallow Xiao Su, the Serrated Earth Dragon would suddenly emerge from the earth to capture airborne creatures.
Wen Jinshu had fallen into the Serrated Earth Dragon's mouth while walking. After securing its prey, the dragon burrowed out through another hole. Once Wen Jinshu was fully swallowed, the greedy beast had raced across the ground towards their group, thus alarming the students of Gunan Academy.
No wonder Wen Jinshu had disappeared without a sound. Yan Jiaojiao could hardly believe the Serrated Earth Dragon had eaten her.
One could only say that Xiao Su and Wen Jinshu shared a certain spiritual connection.
After learning the details from the Serrated Earth Dragon, Yan Jiaojiao ignored it and flew back to Xiao Su's side. The Serrated Earth Dragon dared not move, merely curling into a ball and licking its abdominal wound with its long tongue.
Xiao Su generously poured his spiritual energy into Wen Jinshu's body. However, after the pursuit and struggle, he had consumed too much, and soon all the spiritual energy within him was depleted.
Yet Wen Jinshu showed no reaction. Her body had only warmed up slightly. Xiao Su began to panic, tears welling up in his eyes.
Yan Jiaojiao crouched down and placed a hand on Wen Jinshu's wrist. A faint pulse could still be felt. She comforted Xiao Su, "She's still alive."
Xiao Su clung to this lifeline, looking at Yan Jiaojiao with red-rimmed eyes. "Please save her. If not, I don't want to live either."
Yan Jiaojiao sighed. While she envied the love of these young people, she feared that love could drive one to recklessness.
"I will do my best," Yan Jiaojiao said. Pure, green wood spiritual power emanated from her hands, gradually enveloping Wen Jinshu, until she was bathed in verdant light.
The stomach acid burns on Wen Jinshu's exposed skin began to heal, leaving only scars. Wen Jinshu, who had been on the verge of death, suddenly gasped, clearly having passed the crisis.
Xiao Su forgot his grief, staring at the scene in astonishment. He was greatly surprised by Yan Jiaojiao's ability to control pure wood spiritual power.
He had long heard that Yan Jiaojiao was a prodigious talent, but he never expected her to have mastered such exquisite techniques!
This was truly a skill that only one in ten thousand had the luck to learn!
Xiao Su, who had always considered himself intelligent and talented, still felt Yan Jiaojiao was not a threat, even after she had saved him once. He believed her status was far beneath that required for their acquaintance.
Now, Xiao Su finally understood why Wen Jinshu had proposed befriending her. Yan Jiaojiao was someone best kept as a friend, not an enemy.
At this moment, Yan Jiaojiao's voice echoed, "She should be fine now."
As soon as she spoke, Wen Jinshu coughed, expelling a few mouthfuls of mucus. Then, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Jinshu, you're awake!"
Xiao Su was overjoyed and tried to embrace Wen Jinshu tightly. But before he could touch her, Wen Jinshu turned away and vomited again. The foul smell of blood from Xiao Su had once again triggered her.
Xiao Su's core was now empty; he had no spiritual energy left. He had to ask Yan Jiaojiao for help again.
Sensing his predicament, Yan Jiaojiao raised her hand and cast a purification spell. Xiao Su was once again clean and refreshed.
While Xiao Su was tending to Wen Jinshu, Yan Jiaojiao gave the Serrated Earth Dragon a look. The dragon immediately burrowed into the earth and disappeared!