The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, While the Oriole Waits Behind

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes and carefully examined the dark teal crocodilian Demonic Beast.

Its scales were thick as iron, its fangs white as blades, its limbs powerful, and several rows of sharp bony spikes grew along its tail. It was clearly no ordinary Demonic Beast.

He rapidly recalled the Demonic Beast Compendium he had once browsed through.

Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind.

"Swallowing Snake Crocodile!"

It specialized in feeding on snake-type Demonic Beasts and was born with extremely strong poison resistance. Even the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's deadly venom could not pose a fatal threat to it!

The corners of Jiang Donghua's lips curled upward, and a chill flashed through his eyes.

"No wonder it dared confront the Blackwater Mysterious Snake. It turns out to be its natural enemy."

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake had clearly sensed the danger as well. Its body slowly coiled tighter, its serpent eyes fixed firmly on the Swallowing Snake Crocodile. A low hiss emerged from its throat, as though warning its opponent not to act rashly.

Yet the Swallowing Snake Crocodile remained unmoved. Instead, it slowly crawled forward, its blood-red eyes filled with greed and killing intent.

"Roar—!"

Suddenly, the Blackwater Mysterious Snake struck first. Its body shot out like lightning, its fangs stabbing straight toward the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's neck!

"Hiss—!"

Venom splattered, yet the Swallowing Snake Crocodile merely tilted its head slightly and allowed it to fall across its scales. There was not even the slightest sign of corrosion!

Its poison resistance was terrifying!

The next instant, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile opened its bloody maw and viciously bit down on the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's vital point!

"Hiss—!"

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake writhed wildly in pain, trying to break free, but the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's bite force was terrifying. Its fangs sank deeply into the snake's body, and blood immediately gushed out!

Jiang Donghua watched coldly from the side, secretly sneering.

"Blackwater Mysterious Snake, you're doomed this time."

He was in no hurry to make a move. Instead, he continued concealing his aura and quietly waited for the outcome of the battle between the two beasts.

When the snipe and clam fought, the fisherman profited.

Once they had both suffered heavy losses, he could move in and reap the harvest. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

The two beasts rolled, bit, and strangled one another in the pool like entwined lovers, each wrapped around the other.

But the dark blue object slowly floated up from the muddy bottom of the pool.

"Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Jiang Donghua's eyes as he instantly recognized the dark blue light shimmering at the bottom of the pool.

A supreme water-element treasure!

Legend had it that this spirit fruit grew deep within extremely cold water veins. It took ten years to take shape and a hundred years to bear fruit, containing pure water-element energy.

If a water-element Da Dou Shi consumed one, they could directly break through a one-star realm!

Even cultivators of other attributes could use it to temper their meridians and improve the purity of their Battle Qi.

"Judging from this fruit's maturity, it's at least a century-old treasure!"

Jiang Donghua was secretly delighted. If this thing were put up for auction, one hundred thousand gold coins would only be the starting price. If it encountered a water-element expert desperately seeking a breakthrough, it could even fetch an even more exorbitant price!

"No wonder these two beasts are fighting so desperately!"

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake and the Swallowing Snake Crocodile were still locked in a frenzied battle. The pool water churned, and mud splashed everywhere.

Although the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's venomous fangs were sharp, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's scales were incomparably tough. Combined with its innate poison resistance, the snake venom simply could not inflict fatal damage.

Meanwhile, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's bite force was terrifying. Every tear ripped a huge chunk of flesh from the snake's body, and blood dyed the entire pool red.

"Fight. Fight harder!"

The corners of Jiang Donghua's lips rose slightly, cold light flickering in his eyes.

"Once you both lose, this Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit will be mine!"

At last, a trace of terror flashed through the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's vertical pupils.

Its venomous fangs were useless, its constriction was ineffective, and even fleeing had become nothing more than a wishful thought!

It wildly twisted the severed half of its body. Snake blood sprayed out like a fountain, staining the pool scarlet.

But the Swallowing Snake Crocodile gave it no chance at all. Its huge barbed tail whipped out fiercely, smashing into the snake's head and leaving the Blackwater Mysterious Snake seeing stars!

"Hiss—!"

The Blackwater Mysterious Snake let out one final miserable hiss. Its body twitched a few times before finally falling still.

The victor had been decided!

However, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile was not in much better condition. Its tough scales had been torn open by the snake's fangs, leaving several savage wounds. Its abdomen had been constricted into a bloody mess, its left foreclaw was nearly bitten off, and blood continuously seeped from its wounds.

Panting heavily, it slowly swam toward the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's corpse, opening its bloody maw to enjoy its spoils.

But at that very instant—

"Whoosh!"

A black shadow swept down from the treetops like a ghost. Sword light flashed like lightning, stabbing straight at the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's right eye!

"Pfft!"

Blood splashed!

"Roar—!"

The Swallowing Snake Crocodile let out a thunderous roar. The agonizing pain made it fling its head about madly, but the figure had already used the momentum to flip backward and land steadily atop a huge rock beside the pool.

Jiang Donghua held his sword in one hand, a cold smile curling across his lips.

"Beast, finished fighting?"

The Swallowing Snake Crocodile's lone eye turned bloodshot as it stared fixedly at this suddenly appearing human, a low growl rumbling in its throat.

It never could have imagined that after fighting for its life, it would be ambushed by a human!

Jiang Donghua flicked the beads of blood from his sword, his gaze icy.

"Now, it's my turn."

The mantis stalked the cicada, while the oriole waited behind!

The heavily wounded Swallowing Snake Crocodile and the Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit were both already in his grasp!

"Trying to run?!"

A cold gleam flashed through Jiang Donghua's eyes. Battle Qi burst beneath his feet, and he shot toward the edge of the pool like lightning.

Yet despite its severe injuries, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile was not slow when fleeing for its life. Its massive body crashed into the black pool and vanished instantly into the murky water.

"Damn it!"

Jiang Donghua cursed and viciously slashed his sword across the water, sending spray flying everywhere.

This beast had such thick hide and tough flesh that even after taking several of his Blazing Palms and sword strikes, it could still drag its half-ruined body into the depths of the pool!

He narrowed his eyes at the surging water, inwardly irritated.

"This is the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's lair. The pool water must be highly poisonous. Entering it rashly would be too dangerous!"

Moreover, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile was an amphibious fiend. Now that it was lurking at the bottom of the pool, if he rashly pursued it, that beast might drag him into the deep water and strangle him instead!

"Hmph. You think hiding in the water will keep you safe?"

Jiang Donghua sneered and turned his gaze toward the dark blue glow at the bottom of the pool.

The Mysterious Water Profound Crystal Fruit was still there!

"Since you're too scared to come out, I'll collect this treasure first!"

He took a deep breath. Battle Qi circulated within his body, and flames gathered once more in his palm.

"Blazing Palm—Burning Waves!"

"Boom—!"

Scorching Fire-attribute Battle Qi blasted fiercely into the pool.

In an instant, the pool water erupted in flames, and white mist billowed upward!

If he could not force it out, then he would boil himself a pot of crocodile soup!

Unfortunately, with Jiang Donghua's strength, even if he used Blazing Palm a hundred times, he could never reach the realm of burning mountains and boiling seas.

Jiang Donghua stared at the muddy pool water, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.

"Since I can't force it out, I'll cut off the source!"

He abruptly raised his head and swept his gaze toward the slope above.

Sure enough, a winding stream was continuously feeding water into the pool.

"Heh, I'll cut off your lifeline!"

Without another word, he flipped his sword. Battle Qi surged into the blade as he slashed fiercely at the muddy bank connecting the stream to the pool!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Sword light flashed like lightning, and dirt and rocks flew everywhere!

Under his frenzied slashes, the once-stable stream bank rapidly collapsed. The water immediately changed course, rushing through the newly opened gap and flowing downstream.

"Again!"

Jiang Donghua did not stop. His sword struck repeatedly, Battle Qi exploding as he forcibly carved a deep trench beside the pool!

"Splash—"

The water level in the pool visibly dropped, and the murky mud gradually emerged.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

At the bottom of the pool, the Swallowing Snake Crocodile seemed to sense the danger. Its massive body twisted uneasily in the mud, its lone eye staring through the water surface at the damned human on the shore.

Jiang Donghua grinned, resting his sword on his shoulder as he looked down at it from above.

No water flowed in from above, while the water below drained away twice as fast.

As time passed, the small pool slowly ran dry.

"You mongrel, now that there's no water, where else can you hide?"

"Now, it's time to settle the score!"

He leaped forward. Blazing Palm gathered once more in his hand as he fiercely blasted it toward the struggling Swallowing Snake Crocodile in the muddy pit.

"Die!"

"Boom—!"

Blazing Palm struck heavily against the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's spine. Scorching Fire-attribute Battle Qi exploded, making its scales sizzle as the smell of burnt flesh instantly filled the air.

"Roar—!"

The Swallowing Snake Crocodile roared in pain. Its thick tail lashed out, mud splashing everywhere as it whipped toward Jiang Donghua like an iron lash!

"Cloud-Chasing Steps!"

Jiang Donghua's body flashed. An afterimage swept past as he barely evaded the attack.

The tail smashed into a rock on the shore and shattered the massive boulder into pieces!

"What tough hide!"

His gaze sharpened. His sword spun in his palm as he charged forward again!

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Sword light flashed like lightning, striking the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's wounds in rapid succession.

The flesh that had been ripped open by the Blackwater Mysterious Snake's constriction had now become Jiang Donghua's best point of attack!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Blood gushed out. The Swallowing Snake Crocodile writhed madly in pain, splattering mud everywhere and churning the entire bottom of the pool into chaos!

"Trying to run? Too late!"

Jiang Donghua sneered. Battle Qi burst beneath his feet, and he flashed around to the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's side like a ghost. Blazing Palm condensed in his hand once more as he slammed it toward the beast's mangled abdomen!

"Blazing Palm—Burst!"

"Bang—!"

Scorching Battle Qi exploded inside the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's body, instantly inflicting severe damage on its internal organs!

"Awoo—!"

The Swallowing Snake Crocodile let out a shrill wail, and terror finally appeared in its lone eye.

It had finally realized that this human before it was even more terrifying than the Blackwater Mysterious Snake!

It struggled desperately, trying to crawl out of the muddy pit and flee, but how could Jiang Donghua possibly give it the chance?

"Cloud-Chasing Steps—Triple Afterimages!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three afterimages appeared at once. Swords stabbed into the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's wounds from different angles, each strike drawing blood!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The Swallowing Snake Crocodile's struggles grew weaker and weaker, and its blood dyed the entire muddy pit red.

At last, its massive body crashed heavily into the mud, unable to move any longer.

Jiang Donghua panted heavily, his sword pressed against the Swallowing Snake Crocodile's throat as he said coldly, "Thick hide and tough flesh? Heh, you still had to die!"

"You killed my former good neighbor, the Blackwater Mysterious Snake. I suppose I'm avenging him now!"

With a flick of his wrist, his blade swept across, completely ending the ferocious beast's life.

"Whew..."

Jiang Donghua let out a long breath, flicked the blood from his sword, and turned his gaze toward the dark blue fruit at the bottom of the pool.

"Now, it's time to collect the spoils."