After Du Fei sliced open the giant python with a knife, creating a wound more than two meters long, the serpent finally realized that Du Fei was no longer the helpless opponent it had been chasing around earlier.
Immediately, the giant python put some distance between itself and Du Fei, then began to stir up the water in the pool with its massive body.
This tactic proved effective. Du Fei, lacking the python's immense size, found it impossible to stabilize himself amidst the rapid churning of the water.
After hitting the wall for what felt like the hundredth time, Du Fei jammed the knife in his hand into the wall to steady himself.
This couldn't continue, Du Fei realized. He had to find a way to get closer to the giant python. Otherwise, if it kept this up, he wouldn't be able to withstand the repeated impacts against the wall, even with his weapon and armor.
As soon as the python's churning movements subsided slightly, Du Fei seized the opportunity and pushed off the wall again with his feet.
However, unlike his previous evasive maneuvers, this time Du Fei was heading directly for the python.
Seeing Du Fei dare to attack, the python's ferocity was fully ignited. It opened its maw once more, intending to swallow Du Fei whole and then dissolve him with its venom.
But Du Fei had anticipated the python's reaction even as he launched himself forward. He twisted his body swiftly, avoiding being swallowed.
Yet, in doing so, he also failed to achieve his original intention of closing the distance with the python.
Before he knew it, the python's tail had already coiled around him.
Twist after twist, in the blink of an eye, the python had wrapped Du Fei up like a zongzi with its tail.
Once the entanglement was complete, the python immediately exerted its strength.
Coiling its prey and constricting it to death by suffocation was one of the python's most common methods.
This giant python was far larger than any snake Du Fei had ever seen, so as it tightened its grip, Du Fei felt as if his bones were about to be crushed, and he struggled to breathe.
Meanwhile, the python continued to slowly increase the pressure.
Taking a deep breath, Du Fei concentrated all his strength into his right arm.
*Swoosh.*
With all his might, Du Fei finally managed to move his right arm slightly. Then, the treasure sword, sharp enough to slice through metal, was driven upwards from below, tearing through the python's flesh.
Taking advantage of the python's pain-induced loosening of its grip, Du Fei seized the opportunity and swam to a position beneath the python's head.
"Die!"
Gritting his teeth, Du Fei gripped the treasure sword with both hands and plunged it deeply into the python's vulnerable spot, then pulled down with all his strength.
As Du Fei pulled the treasure sword down, the python's flesh peeled back on both sides, as if shedding its skin. A torrent of snake blood erupted from its body.
The giant python thrashed violently once more.
This time, however, Du Fei held onto the treasure sword embedded in its body with all his might, refusing to let go no matter how much it struggled.
After several minutes, the python finally stopped writhing.
Du Fei let out a long sigh of relief. When he looked up at the python, he saw that it was well and truly dead.
After a brief rest to recover some strength, Du Fei swam back to the cave entrance and shared the good news of his victory over the giant python with Fang Chao, who was anxiously waiting inside.
"That's great!"
Upon hearing that Du Fei had killed the giant python, Fang Chao clapped his hands in excitement and shouted.
This treasure hunting journey had truly been full of twists and turns. Initially, they had thought they found a top-grade medicinal herb that Du Fei could use for alchemy, and Fang Chao believed their treasure hunt had been incredibly lucky.
However, before Du Fei and Fang Chao could even harvest the herb, a colossal python appeared. After a chase, Du Fei and Fang Chao were forced into a hidden cave. Just as they thought they were cornered with no way out, fate intervened. In the cave, they discovered a treasure sword and a suit of armor. It was thanks to the treasure sword and armor that Du Fei ultimately prevailed in his battle with the python. Of course, Du Fei had also sustained serious injuries during the fight, but surviving was a stroke of luck in itself.
Reaching the surface, Du Fei first placed the snake gall and a pair of snake eyes he had just cut from the python into a container, then took a closer look at the Seven Star Lotus in the center of the pool. Several lush green leaves, like stars surrounding a celestial body, cradled a milky white flower in the center. Getting a little closer, one could detect a faint, ethereal fragrance emanating from the Seven Star Lotus. With the gentlest of movements, Du Fei severed the Seven Star Lotus at its roots, then packed it together with the snake gall and eyes. After completing these tasks, Du Fei and Fang Chao finally departed.
...
"Elder Gui, since that precious medicine is guarded by a beast, how can the few of us possibly defeat it?"
As a group of people were on their way, a young man wearing a headband looked at the black-robed elder leading the group.
The black-robed elder chuckled, "Young Master, I am well-prepared this time. You can rest assured, that guardian beast will certainly not be a problem."
Hearing the black-robed elder's confident tone, the man with the headband didn't press the matter further. The group continued on their journey.
When they arrived at a steep cliff face, the man with the headband and the black-robed elder leaped, soaring several meters into the air. They then continuously tapped the cliff face with their feet, ascending steadily. In less than two minutes, both of them had reached the top of the cliff. Once on the summit, they stood with their hands behind their backs, while the others who had followed them began to climb the cliff face inch by inch. It took them over ten minutes to all reach the top.
Once everyone had assembled, they set off again.
Shortly thereafter, they came across a vast cave.
"Young Master, this is it."
The black-robed elder's face lit up with excitement upon seeing the cave. He then waved to the others behind him, signaling them to stay put and not enter. Next, the black-robed elder took out a small porcelain bottle from his robe, poured some yellowish-brown powder from it, and lightly sprinkled it on himself and the man with the headband.
"Alright, we can go in now."
After applying the powder, the black-robed elder capped the bottle and put it back into his robe. The two of them entered the cave together.
"Huh, Elder Gui, why do I smell a strong scent of blood?"
After walking for a while, the man with the headband suddenly twitched his nose and looked at Elder Gui beside him. Elder Gui had clearly also smelled the blood and quickened his pace.
"What! Someone actually killed the guardian beast and took the Seven Star Lotus!"
When Elder Gui reached the pool inside the cave, he was stunned to see the corpse of a giant python floating on the surface of the water. The Seven Star Lotus, which should have been ripe at this time, was gone. This immediately shocked him. The man with the headband, standing beside him, looked gravely at the scene before them.