Borrowing Momentum

Yuan Ming's pupils suddenly contracted, and he hurriedly leaned backward.

The next instant, a spray of water exploded from the river. A huge, ferocious snake head suddenly burst from the water, opening its blood-filled maw and biting down at Yuan Ming.

Fortunately, Yuan Ming had dodged in time and was not bitten. Behind that snake head, a python body over thirty meters long surged into the air. Its tail, lifted from the water, swept fiercely across and smashed into Yuan Ming's lower abdomen.

Bang!

A sharp pain shot through Yuan Ming's abdomen, and his entire body was sent flying by the tremendous force. He only came to a stop after crashing through three old trees.

He struggled to his feet, and a bloody sweetness immediately rose in his throat. He instantly realized that this water python that had ambushed him was far stronger than the Boa Constrictor from before.

When dealing with the Boa Constrictor, he had considered himself somewhat confident. Coupled with his concerns about the drawbacks of the Fur Transformation Technique, Yuan Ming had never transformed, wanting to rely solely on the strength of his human body to try and kill a fierce beast. But that was no longer possible.

With one hand forming a seal, he activated the magic power within him and transformed into a fierce white ape.

Once he had steadied himself, he saw that the water python that had emerged from the river was completely black, covered in diamond-shaped scales. On its high-raised head grew a spiraling black horn, while its eyes glowed crimson, brimming with bloodlust.

"Is that... a Unicorn Viper Python?" Yuan Ming asked hesitantly.

He had only seen an illustration of the creature in the Illustrated Guide to Common Fierce Beasts Zhao Tong had given him. It was only half similar in appearance, but the written description and distinguishing features basically matched.

If it truly was that creature, then this would be troublesome, Yuan Ming sighed inwardly.

At that moment, the black viper python had already launched its attack. Its body slithered forward, its head still held high, and its blood-filled maw looked down upon Yuan Ming before opening wide and exhaling at him.

A cloud of dense purple smoke immediately poured from its mouth, rolling toward the ground. In an instant, it submerged an area thirty meters across, and the flowers and grass within immediately wilted, taking on a withered appearance.

"Poisonous gas in its belly can wither a hundred grasses and ruin the blood qi. It may be counteracted with venom from the back of a fire velvet frog." Yuan Ming recalled the description from the book and immediately recognized it.

Even if this creature had not quite reached the middle stage of first-grade fierce beasts, it was not far off. It was far more difficult to deal with than an ordinary Boa Constrictor.

Yuan Ming hurriedly retreated, avoiding the poisonous smoke as it spread after him.

Roar...

Yet at that very moment, a deep beastly roar suddenly rang out, accompanied by a powerful gale. It instantly sped up the spread of the purple poisonous smoke, and before long, it had blanketed an area three hundred meters across.

No matter how quickly Yuan Ming fled, he could not outrun the wind. He was immediately swallowed by the haze as well.

He instinctively held his breath and quickly fled toward the outskirts. Yet the purple smoke all around him not only blocked his vision, but also corroded the vines hanging from the trees.

Even the branches of the ancient trees withered because of it. Yuan Ming tried several times to climb them, but every time he grabbed hold, the branches rotted and snapped, sending him crashing down.

"This time, I'm in trouble." Yuan Ming frowned tightly, gripping his longsword as he watched his surroundings.

Just then, the ground beneath his feet suddenly trembled. A black shadow swept sideways from nearby, bringing with it a fierce gust of wind.

Sensing danger, Yuan Ming hurriedly raised his sword to block.

Clang!

The edge of the Azure Fish Sword struck the Unicorn Viper Python's scales, sending sparks flying.

The enormous force drove Yuan Ming back once again. Though he was not as badly off as before, the blow still scattered the breath he had been holding, and he involuntarily inhaled the purple poison smoke.

The instant the smoke entered his mouth, Yuan Ming felt a scorching dryness in his mouth and throat, as if he had swallowed a mouthful of burning charcoal. It was painful and hoarse, unbearably uncomfortable.

Yuan Ming quickly held his breath again and focused on his surroundings.

Within the drifting poisonous smoke, the black shadow attacked again. Two lanterns glowing red shone within it, but it was not the viper python's body—it was its head rushing toward Yuan Ming.

At once, Yuan Ming gathered strength in his arm. His muscles bulged, magic power surged wildly from his dantian, and it poured into the Azure Fish Sword.

The moment the horned python head rushed close, he raised his arm high. Green-blue light blazed from the sword in his hand as he slashed straight down between those two scarlet lanterns.

The Unicorn Viper Python's huge head appeared to be charging forward brutally, but in truth, its direction was controlled with extreme precision.

The spiraling pointed horn at the center of its head was like a spear thrusting straight ahead, colliding directly with Yuan Ming's blade.

The sound of metal striking metal rang out, sending waves of trembling echoes through the air.

The tremendous backlash nearly knocked Yuan Ming's sword from his hand, while the Unicorn Viper Python was also halted by the blow and had to shake its head to dispel the force.

Yet Yuan Ming regained his balance faster. With several rapid steps, he rushed close, gripped the Azure Fish Sword with both hands, spun in a great circle, and swung the blade horizontally across the Unicorn Viper Python's abdomen.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Amid a shower of sparks, a streak of blood flashed.

The Unicorn Viper Python's scaled armor had been cut open by Yuan Ming's heavy, powerful strike.

If I can wound it, then I can still fight it. Yuan Ming was overjoyed.

However, before he could rejoice for long, the situation suddenly took a turn for the worse.

The ground beneath Yuan Ming shook violently. Earth and stones split apart, revealing a crack.

Before he could react, he fell downward into the fissure.

Immediately afterward, the split ground revealed half of the viper python's body, which had long since coiled beneath the earth. The moment Yuan Ming fell in, it contracted its body and wrapped him tightly in the middle.

Yuan Ming's heart chilled. This viper python had actually laid a trap for him?

His entire body tightened as immense force pressed in from all directions. The bones in his chest creaked under the constriction, bile rose in his stomach, and bitterness flooded his throat.

Such strength. Yuan Ming thought inwardly as the power throughout his body erupted, trying to force apart the viper python's coils.

However, the moment he resisted even slightly, the viper python's strength doubled. The grinding of his chest bones immediately grew denser, the oppression in his chest worsened, and even breathing became difficult.

He forcibly freed the arm holding his sword and gathered strength in one arm, trying to swing the blade.

But at that moment, the poison gas he had inhaled began to take effect. The circulation of his blood qi suddenly became sluggish. Although he could still wield magic power, the strength in his body began to rapidly fade.

As the Unicorn Viper Python tightened its bindings again, Yuan Ming's arm went limp. He could no longer hold the sword, and with a twist of his wrist, it fell to the ground with a slap.

Before absolute strength, Yuan Ming felt despair for the first time.

Seeing that Yuan Ming had been disarmed and was already showing signs of exhaustion, the Unicorn Viper Python no longer continued tightening its body. Instead, it raised its head and circled around to face Yuan Ming.

Its crimson eyes looked down at him, carrying traces of emotion almost human in nature.

Yuan Ming read loathing, resentment, contempt, and cruelty in them.

Clearly, this Unicorn Viper Python was utterly different from the fierce beasts he had encountered in the past. Not only did it possess formidable strength, it also possessed extremely high intelligence.

Yuan Ming's blood qi had stagnated, and his strength was draining away badly. He struggled to control his arm and felt around on his body.

Thinking he was about to use some other trick, the Unicorn Viper Python immediately tightened its body again.

"Urgh..."

Yuan Ming could not help letting out a pained howl, his body involuntarily stretching taut.

The viper python hesitated no longer. Its enormous head extended toward Yuan Ming, opening its mouth to swallow the meal before it.

Bound by its coils, Yuan Ming had no way to dodge. He could only form a hand seal with one hand and shout softly, "Rise."

The next instant, a green radiance lit up before the Unicorn Viper Python. Huge wooden thorns abruptly rose from the ground, stabbing upward.

After advancing to the third level of Qi Refining, his Wood Thorn Technique had improved considerably. He could now activate it without touching the ground with his hands, and its casting speed had increased greatly as well.

However, the Wood Thorn Technique's power was limited. It could not pierce the Unicorn Viper Python's scales, only lifting its body without harming it.

The Unicorn Viper Python's body was suddenly raised, causing it to lose its balance slightly. Its head brushed past Yuan Ming's side, failing to bite him.

But Yuan Ming's hand had already thrust precisely into the wound on its abdomen.

The Unicorn Viper Python recoiled in pain, and Yuan Ming's embedded hand was pulled free.

Blood splashed out. The Unicorn Viper Python immediately flew into a rage, opening its bloody maw again and biting down at Yuan Ming.

This time, Yuan Ming did not use the Wood Thorn Technique again. He did not even dodge. Instead, he stared straight at the Unicorn Viper Python and silently counted, "Three, two, one."

When he finished counting, the Unicorn Viper Python's descending head suddenly froze in midair.

Its crimson eyes flickered. They first showed a brief vacancy, then a look of struggle emerged. After that, it actually released the coils binding Yuan Ming and toppled to the ground, struggling violently.

Yuan Ming fell to the ground and broke into a fit of dry coughing. He hurriedly rolled forward, picked up the Azure Fish Sword from the ground, then turned to look at the Unicorn Viper Python.

Its body twisted as it rolled madly over the ground. Its tail thrashed wildly in every direction, sweeping up great clouds of dust and smashing apart several old trees.

Flying sand and stones, along with splintered wood, dispersed much of the poisonous smoke lingering around them.

Enduring the severe pain, Yuan Ming forcibly circulated a stream of magic power, stimulating his blood qi. With sword in hand, he charged toward the Unicorn Viper Python, which was still struggling desperately.

He dodged the viper python's wildly sweeping tail, leaped into the air, and landed atop its body.

Yuan Ming swept his gaze over it and saw that the wound on the Unicorn Viper Python's belly had widened considerably. Within it were strands of black, vine-like growths, madly sprouting and burrowing into the python's flesh.

Good thing I didn't toss it away carelessly back then. Yuan Ming rejoiced inwardly.

Just moments ago, as he passed the Unicorn Viper Python, he had stuffed the fleshy tumor that had once parasitized the black bear into the python's wound.

That thing looked like a stone, but once it encountered blood, it would absorb it frantically, revive, and fight its host for control of the body.

And now was the crucial moment when the Unicorn Viper Python and the Blood Soul Vine were fighting over the fleshly vessel.