The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind

Xia Mo arrived outside the mountain range. He took out the map and studied it briefly, then, without lingering, headed straight into the mountains.

According to the map, it would still take an hour to reach his destination. After entering the mountains, Xia Mo proceeded cautiously and no longer took the initiative to provoke other magical beasts.

An hour later, to Xia Mo's surprise, a vast cluster of volcanoes came into view. The volcanoes came in all sorts of shapes—some oval, some square, some nearly triangular or crescent-shaped. Some looked like crouching tigers from afar, while others resembled enormous brush rests.

However, the entire volcanic range consisted of extinct volcanoes. The mountains were thick with lush vegetation. Following the map's directions, Xia Mo made his way inside and eventually stopped before a bare volcano in the center, surrounded by numerous peaks.

He had not expected there to be a dormant volcano among them. Sensing the faint heat emanating from the mountain, Xia Mo knew he had reached his destination.

Xia Mo took out the map. It recorded that the treasure was located in a cave at the foot of the mountain.

Xia Mo walked along the mountain's base for a while when he suddenly heard a burst of noisy commotion. He headed toward the source of the sound.

Xia Mo hid behind a huge boulder and looked ahead. Before him, a group of people was confronting a magical beast.

The people varied in age, twelve in total, and appeared to belong to the same group. Their leader was a young man around twenty years old, dressed in magnificent white robes with an arrogant, chin-raised expression.

Standing before the young man were three middle-aged men. They too wore white robes, each holding a weapon as they stood in front of the young man, protecting him.

Judging from their attire and sect insignia, Xia Mo guessed that they might be from the Earth Flame Sect. Since Jia Nan Academy was located in the Black Corner Region, he needed to know what forces existed there.

The group had positioned themselves in three directions, surrounding and attacking a giant python roughly thirty meters long. The python was enormous, its scales fiery red and incredibly tough. It was clearly a powerful magical beast.

Xia Mo could not identify this magical beast python at first, nor did he know what species it was. However, the python was exceptionally vicious. It reared up half its body and looked down at everyone present from above.

Xia Mo had only come over because it was noisy here and the auras were rather chaotic. He had guessed there were many people fighting and wanted to see if he could pick up some benefits.

Yet Xia Mo had never expected that the moment he arrived, even while hiding behind a boulder so far away, he would already be within the magical beast's attack range. Its territorial instinct was far too strong.

The moment Xia Mo appeared, everyone present noticed him and glanced his way.

Since these people had all noticed Xia Mo, the python, being even more sensitive to auras, had naturally discovered him long ago. Its lantern-sized eyes glanced at Xia Mo. Seeing that his aura was relatively weak, the python ignored him and continued staring at the group closest to it.

The three middle-aged men in white robes stood directly before the python. Their auras were the strongest, posing the greatest threat to it, so naturally they received its special attention.

As for the young man in magnificent white robes, who led the group of four, he showed no fear of the python whatsoever. He even pointed straight at it and snorted coldly. "You dare block this young master's path? I think you're tired of living."

As he spoke, the young man turned to glance at Xia Mo and laughed loudly. "This place is so dangerous, yet this brother actually dared to come out and help. I truly admire you." Although Xia Mo did not look very tall, the black hooded robe he wore made it impossible for them to discern his true strength. The young man wanted to test him.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the python immediately turned to look at Xia Mo. Xia Mo was startled. Its intelligence is quite high.

Xia Mo had just been about to speak, but he immediately shut his mouth. He had no desire to draw the python's attention.

Damn it, that bastard clearly has ill intentions. Then don't blame me for being ruthless, Xia Mo thought.

"I'm just passing by. You all carry on," he shouted, then hastily pretended to leave. Once he was out of their sight, he circled around and hid behind another boulder.

The group did not bother with Xia Mo. They merely watched him leave their line of sight, either because they had no time to spare or because they were confident in their own strength.

The python flicked its tongue at the crowd, then charged directly at the group of four to the south. Opening its bloody maw, it lunged at them, intending to swallow all four in a single bite.

However, these four were not weak either. They all appeared to be mid-level Da Dou Shi or above. They each unleashed their weapons and attacked the python.

Yet the python's scales were incredibly hard. No matter how they attacked, all they could produce were a few metallic clangs against its scales. They could not break through its defenses at all.

The four men were instantly horrified and quickly dodged aside. However, the python was extremely fast. One of the men failed to evade in time and was bitten by the python on the spot. It chewed him twice before swallowing him whole.

The man let out a scream as he was devoured. The other two men were utterly enraged and frantically attacked the python.

The other three men did not remain idle either and immediately moved in to help. One wielded a broadsword, one held a Wolf Fang club, and the last gripped a sword. The three joined forces and unleashed their weapons against the python.

The young man in magnificent robes was not idle either. As a member of the Earth Flame Sect, he was naturally fond of battle. With a shake of his spear, he thrust it straight at the python's right eye. A flash of red light streaked past, and the young man had already rushed before the python, his spear stabbing straight ahead.

The three middle-aged men at his side naturally did not dare slack off. They rushed forward as well, one to the left, one to the right, and one behind the young man in magnificent robes, ready to protect him at any moment.

The python showed no fear in the face of the attacks from the two men before it. Instead, it twisted its body, swung its head, and slammed into one of them, sending him flying on the spot.

The attacks from the other three made the python somewhat uncomfortable, but only slowed its movements slightly. It immediately continued attacking them, opening its huge mouth in an attempt to devour them. At the same time, its tail whipped out at high speed, snapping every ancient tree in its path cleanly in half.

The python's tail was incomparably fast. One of the men failed to dodge and was struck head-on. His bones shattered and tendons tore as he screamed, shooting away like a cannonball before crashing heavily onto the distant ground, barely clinging to life.

Just as the python was about to continue attacking them, the attacks of the young man in magnificent robes and his group had already arrived. Among everyone present, the three middle-aged men were the strongest and had the most powerful auras. The python had been keeping a close watch on them, so when they made their move, it naturally did not dare be careless.

The python twisted its body and directly avoided the young man's attack. At the same time, it turned its head and opened its bloody maw to bite at the young man, intending to swallow him in one bite.

The young man in magnificent robes was instantly shocked. He had not expected the beast to be so clever. The opening it had just revealed had been deliberate, meant to lure him in and make him attack on his own.

Just as the young man was about to be swallowed by the python, the three middle-aged men beside him attacked together. Three powerful Dou Techniques shot toward the python from three different directions.

The two men on either side attacked the python's eyes, while the other swiftly stepped in front of the young man in magnificent robes and thrust the longsword in his hand straight into the python's mouth.

The python's scales were incredibly hard, and its defenses were astonishing. The middle-aged man directly before it sought another way through, aiming for a breakthrough from inside its mouth and intending to pierce straight through its jaws.

Dou Qi surged violently around the middle-aged man's weapon as three Dou Technique attacks blasted forth. Their power was immense. The python was immediately frightened and gave up attacking the young man in magnificent robes, turning to evade.

However, the three men's attacks were extremely fast and powerful. The python only managed to avoid the central man's attack. It could not dodge the attacks of the other two, though it still shook its head and avoided the vital points around its eyes, using its head to take the two attacks head-on. The scales on its head instantly exploded, leaving two gaping wounds as blood flowed out.

Watching the scene, Xia Mo could not help but be shocked. He had not expected the three men from the Earth Flame Sect to be so powerful. The three of them likely possessed the cultivation of Dou Ling. If not for the python's hard scales and powerful defenses, those attacks might have killed it just now.

The python twisted its body in pain, then whipped its tail toward the three men.

The python's tail swept rapidly toward them. One of them failed to evade in time and was struck head-on. The elder's chest caved in as he vomited blood and collapsed to the ground. It seemed he had suffered severe injuries.

The python's tail continued without losing momentum, lashing toward the boulder on Xia Mo's side. Xia Mo's eyes widened, and he immediately dodged aside. The python's attack was too fast, nearly sending Xia Mo flying.

After barely avoiding it, Xia Mo broke out in a cold sweat. If that tail had struck him, then even with his powerful body, he might not have been seriously injured, but he would certainly have been hurt.

Fortunately, the battle was intense, and no one noticed him. Xia Mo rolled over and hid behind cover again, watching the two sides fight.

"I remember now. This is the Fire Loin Golden Python, a Fourth-tier Magical Beast. It is immensely powerful and lives in volcanic caves. Wherever it resides, there must be a fire-element treasure. This must be the location marked on the map."

"Earth Flame Sect disciple Huang Shan wanted to snatch the treasure, but he never expected others from the Earth Flame Sect to know about it too—and ones of very high status at that. Truly unlucky. Fate, fate."

As Xia Mo thought, he continued observing the situation in the field.

Seeing that there were still so many opponents, the Fire Loin Golden Python may have realized that danger was approaching. It let out a furious roar and charged madly at the two Earth Flame Sect elders before it.

It was far too fast, and the two had just unleashed powerful combat techniques. Caught off guard, one elder was rammed straight into the mountainside, crushed into a bloody paste!

"Attack together, now! This beast is almost finished! Don't confront it head-on—wear down its strength! Once we obtain the treasure, I will certainly report your merits!" The richly dressed man, no longer daring to show off, shouted furiously at the others.

This time, they had lost so many men, including two elders. If they came away with nothing, even with his status, he would not escape punishment.

He had happened upon a treasure map and led the elders out to search for it without telling his father. Now that such a disaster had occurred, the thought of facing his father when he returned made him shudder.

"Quickly! Quickly!" The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became, and the richly dressed man shouted at everyone.

Hearing him, the remaining people attacked one after another, their brilliant and colorful combat techniques crashing toward the Fire Loin Golden Python.

The Fire Loin Golden Python seemed to have heard him. It raised itself up, shook its somewhat dazed head, and charged at the richly dressed man without regard for anything else.

"Watch out!" shouted the remaining elder, immediately rushing in front of the richly dressed man.

But the Fire Loin Golden Python already hated the richly dressed man to the core. It ignored the incoming combat techniques and even used their force to charge at him even faster.

The last Earth Flame Sect elder rushed before the richly dressed man with his sword in hand, his expression grave. "Mysterious Fire Sword Qi!" Fierce battle qi wrapped around the sword as he slashed violently at the Fire Loin Golden Python's head.

Sensing the power of the technique, fear flashed through the Fire Loin Golden Python's eyes. Then it collided with the sword even more viciously.

With a bang, violent force scattered in every direction. The Fire Loin Golden Python's head was split open, blood pouring incessantly from the wound. "Hisss, hisss, hisss!" It shrieked in agony, yet rammed even more fiercely at the Earth Flame Sect elder before it.

Having just unleashed a high-grade combat technique, the Earth Flame Sect elder could not react in time. He was struck head-on by the Fire Loin Golden Python in its desperate struggle. Unlike the beast, he did not possess a powerful body. In an instant, his chest caved in. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and his aura vanished.

The elder's corpse continued flying backward and slammed into the richly dressed man behind him. The man only felt a savage force, like a massive hammer striking his chest. Unable to catch his breath, he fainted.

After fighting for so long, the Fire Loin Golden Python was also at the end of its strength. With a boom, it collapsed to the ground, its aura gone.

Watching the situation change so rapidly, Xia Mo could only think that the Fire Loin Golden Python was terrifying beyond belief. Fortunately, the Earth Flame Sect people had been here. Otherwise, he would have turned and left the moment he saw it.

The remaining Earth Flame Sect disciples looked at one another, unsure what to do next. The richly dressed man was unconscious, while the elders were two dead and one severely injured.

With only a few of them left, they walked over to the richly dressed man and surrounded him, intending to wait until he woke up before making further plans.

Seeing this, Xia Mo stepped out directly. His figure flashed, and in an instant, he appeared before the remaining Earth Flame Sect disciples.

"Who are you?" someone asked.

"The Earth Flame Sect is handling matters. Get lost!"

Xia Mo did not answer. These people still could not see the situation for what it was.

He lunged forward and threw a punch. With the other side completely unprepared, a chest shattered in an instant, leaving behind a bloody hole.

Bang!

He spun into a kick, sending another person flying over ten meters. The man crashed into a tree, and his aura instantly dissipated.

Clang!

With a ringing sound, the Heavy Saber swung out and directly slaughtered all the remaining people!

Xia Mo walked up to the richly dressed man, his gaze indifferent. The Heavy Saber flashed across the man's neck. Without even looking back, he continued toward the three Earth Flame Sect elders. To be safe, it was better to give them another strike.

PS: A big chapter today. I hope all you esteemed readers can give Xiao Qi some support—tips, monthly tickets, and recommendation tickets are all welcome.