Five Thunders Bomb

?Chapter Five: Five Thunders Bomb

Bi Fan was still shaken, his heart pounding with lingering fear. The Magic Beasts in the gorge were probably more than ordinary Magic Beasts; they might already be demon beasts.

Though the gorge was full of precious spirit herbs, Bi Fan suppressed his greed for the time being and started back through the passage.

Bi Fan had an astonishing memory. He had already memorized the route while following the Mo Leopard in, and on the way out, he paid even closer attention, so he could return another day.

There were too many rare spirit herbs in the gorge for Bi Fan to simply forget about them. Once he grew stronger, he could enter the great gorge again.

After leaving the hidden passage, Bi Fan climbed the tallest tree and carefully gauged his bearings, committing them firmly to memory.

With towering trees all around, remembering the location was no easy task. Bi Fan walked around the area and left a few markers.

Once he was certain he had memorized the great gorge's location, Bi Fan took one last look at it before finally leaving, reluctant to go.

Fortunately, the Dragon Sable had fallen asleep. If it had seen so many spirit herbs, it definitely wouldn't have wanted to leave.

Not long after leaving the great gorge, Bi Fan encountered some people.

Three young men moved cautiously through the jungle. They were all formidable Viscera Realm experts.

"This Demon Domain really isn't fit for human habitation. I miss the wine, women, and moonlit nights outside," a Brocade-robed Youth muttered.

A burly youth said, "Young Master Ling, once we become Inner Disciples, we won't have to worry about enjoying beautiful women."

The Brocade-robed Youth laughed. "Of course. If only we got lucky and ran into the fellow Jiang Sheng put a bounty on. A full thousand crystals would pay for how many trips to the Spring Pavilion?"

"The Demon Domain is huge. It won't be easy to find him."

"As long as we run into him, killing him will be a piece of cake." The burly youth was brimming with confidence.

Hidden some distance away, Bi Fan heard every word and realized they were talking about him.

"Looks like Jiang Sheng is willing to bleed to get his revenge. He's actually put out a bounty," Bi Fan said, somewhat taken aback.

Still, most of those who entered the outer reaches of the Demon Domain to train were below the Spiritual Wisdom Realm, so Bi Fan wasn't afraid.

He didn't know where the three of them were from and had no intention of making enemies, so he let them go on their way.

But fate had other plans. A black python as thick as a barrel suddenly appeared behind Bi Fan. This behemoth would be no easy opponent.

The effects of the Bilo Pill he had taken earlier were still active. To be safe, he took out another Bilo Pill and put it in his mouth.

Besides its immense strength, the Jungle Giant Python's poison was its deadliest weapon.

With the python on the scene, Bi Fan could no longer stay hidden. He ran ahead at once, intent on putting some distance between them.

The three who had been talking hadn't gone far. Hearing the commotion, they came back.

When they saw the python, they were stunned and immediately prepared to flee.

"Look! Isn't that the man the Jungle Giant Python is chasing the same one Jiang Sheng put a bounty on?" the burly youth shouted.

"It really is! He looks exactly like the portrait," the Brocade-robed Youth exclaimed.

"Young Master Ling, what should we do?" The three took their lead from the Brocade-robed Youth, and the burly youth turned to him for an answer.

The Brocade-robed Youth's eyes flickered. He gritted his teeth, then finally made up his mind. "We'll hide and wait for him and the python to weaken each other. Then we'll take him down in one fell swoop."

"Young Master Ling, you're quick on the uptake. What a brilliant plan!" The slightly chubby youth flattered him.

The three hid in some nearby bushes, silently watching Bi Fan fight the python.

The python was indeed formidable. Its tail whipped around, snapping trees as thick as bowls. Bi Fan didn't dare take a hit head-on.

Its body was also unbelievably tough. The Flowing Light Sword left only white marks on its scales, unable to hurt it at all.

Bi Fan fought while retreating, growing more and more adept at using the Qingyang Gentle Wind Sword Art.

He had actually noticed the three earlier and had already devised a plan.

Bang! The python's tail caught Bi Fan when he let his guard down.

Bi Fan spat out a mouthful of blood and used the force to fly a long way.

As soon as he landed, Bi Fan clutched his chest where he'd been struck and staggered toward the place where the Brocade-robed Youth and the others were hiding.

"Could he have noticed us hiding here and deliberately led the python over?" The Brocade-robed Youth furrowed his brow.

"Impossible. Look at him—he's badly hurt and running blindly," the burly youth said.

"I hope so," the Brocade-robed Youth sighed. "At least he's injured. Otherwise, this would be a lot of trouble."

Having landed a hit, the python saw Bi Fan trying to flee and pursued him relentlessly.

The Brocade-robed Youth and the other two could no longer stay hidden. They suddenly sprang out and unleashed a flurry of attacks on the python.

They had actually wanted to deal with Bi Fan first, but he was too far from their hiding place for them to ambush him.

The three worked together seamlessly, and their successive strikes were exquisitely coordinated. Unfortunately, they couldn't inflict a fatal wound on the python. They managed only to slice open a long gash in its belly.

The python roared in fury and lashed its tail wildly. The nearby trees and bushes all suffered.

The chubby youth wasn't nimble enough and was struck.

He went flying, slammed into a tree, and crashed to the ground.

That single blow left him barely breathing.

"Little Chubby!" the burly youth shouted.

The Brocade-robed Youth showed no reaction. He kept his eyes on the python, already considering retreat.

The python seemed to be at the Valiance Realm. It would be difficult to deal with.

With the chubby youth badly wounded, the pressure on the Brocade-robed Youth and the burly youth mounted, and their chances of winning grew even slimmer.

Bi Fan had hidden himself. He had only pretended to be hurt earlier, deliberately lowering the three youths' guard against him.

He would see who came out ahead and reaped the benefits.

The python spat out a cloud of poisonous mist. The Brocade-robed Youth and the burly youth hurriedly took antidote pills and kept retreating.

The python grew even more vicious. Its thick tail swept, chopped, and smashed like an iron rod.

The Brocade-robed Youth and the burly youth couldn't even catch their breath. They were in a wretched state.

The Brocade-robed Youth flew into a rage and gritted his teeth. "Go to hell!"

He threw a pitch-black object about the size of his thumb, then quickly backed away.

"Fall back!"

The burly youth clearly knew how dangerous the object was; he retreated even faster without needing the warning.

The chubby youth was too badly injured to move. Despair showed on his face.

Bi Fan didn't know what the pitch-black object was. Seeing how frightened they were of it, he instinctively retreated into the distance.

Boom! A deafening blast rang out.

The tremendous explosion snapped the towering trees around them. The blast wave tossed the Brocade-robed Youth and the burly youth into the air.

The chubby youth fared even worse. Countless splinters pierced his body, and he was dead beyond all doubt.

Bi Fan was the farthest away, but even he was flipped head over heels by the blast wave. His ears rang, and he was temporarily deaf.

"This is... incredible! Could it be a Five Thunders Bomb?" Bi Fan was utterly shocked.

The Five Thunders Bomb was made by members of the Five Thunders Sect, one of the nine great sects of the day. Its power varied depending on the strength of the person who made it.

That Five Thunders Bomb must have been as powerful as a full-strength strike from a Great Strength Realm expert.

Bi Fan had once heard Jing Feng mention it and hadn't quite believed him. Now he had finally seen one with his own eyes. It really was formidable.

The python had been at the very center of the explosion. It was probably dead, but the thick smoke hadn't cleared yet, so there was no way to tell for sure.

"Cough, cough..." The Brocade-robed Youth and the burly youth helped each other to their feet.

"Young Master Ling, you used your life-saving Five Thunders Bomb. You've taken a huge loss this time," the burly youth said.

"As long as I kill the man Jiang Sheng put a bounty on, or the python has a Crystal Core, I'll make it all back," the Brocade-robed Youth said.

The burly youth said, "I'll go see if that man was blown to death. He was already injured earlier, so maybe we won't have to kill him ourselves."

The two were exhilarated, having completely forgotten their companion and not even checking whether the chubby youth was alive.

Just then, the dust settled, and the center of the explosion came into view.

The python was gone. Blood and flesh were scattered everywhere. In the middle of a huge crater lay a glimmering Crystal Core.

"The python is dead, and it had a Crystal Core!" the Brocade-robed Youth exclaimed in delight.

The burly youth didn't bother looking for Bi Fan. He rushed with the Brocade-robed Youth toward the crater.

Crystal Cores were incredibly precious. The python hadn't fought long, so it had lost little of its strength, and its Crystal Core was still full of spiritual energy. Getting it would make up for the Five Thunders Bomb and leave them with a handsome profit.

The Brocade-robed Youth was about to jump down and pick up the Crystal Core himself.

Bi Fan suddenly appeared inside the crater and took the Crystal Core.

"You brat! You dare steal our Crystal Core? You're dead!" the burly youth roared.

Bi Fan sneered. "Is that so? Even if I hadn't taken your Crystal Core, weren't you planning to kill me and claim the bounty?"

"Since you already know, then die!" The Brocade-robed Youth drew his sword and thrust at Bi Fan.

The burly youth moved in perfect coordination, attacking from the other side and cutting off Bi Fan's escape route.

Bi Fan dodged with a quick sidestep, then charged at the Brocade-robed Youth, sword and body as one.

Floating Rain Flying Flowers Sword!

He unleashed his strongest move, showing no mercy.

Bi Fan had revealed himself to seize the Crystal Core because he had already decided to kill them and leave no witnesses.

Carefree Immortal Finger! Dragon Roaring Tiger Howling Fist!

He launched two fierce attacks in succession, straight at the burly youth.

The burly youth was still stunned and reacted too slowly. Bi Fan's Carefree Immortal Finger pierced his chest, leaving a bloody hole from which bright red blood gushed.

Then Bi Fan's fist arrived, striking the wound and smashing a gaping hole through the burly youth's chest.

Bi Fan moved like lightning and ended the fight in the blink of an eye.

Of the three youths, only the Brocade-robed Youth had a Cosmic Bag. Bi Fan took everything they owned.

Bi Fan threw their bodies into the crater and covered them with some soil, so Magic Beasts or wild animals wouldn't eat them and leave their bones scattered.

It wasn't that Bi Fan was softhearted. He simply felt it was his duty not to leave their bodies to be devoured by wild animals.

Once everything was taken care of, Bi Fan quickly left.

The commotion had been enormous and could easily draw people or Magic Beasts. In his current condition, Bi Fan needed to cultivate and restore his inner energy.

The fight had ended quickly, but it had still taken a lot out of him.

Moreover, to lower the three youths' guard, Bi Fan had taken a hit from the python. He had prepared for it, but had still suffered a minor injury and needed to recover as soon as possible.

In the Demon Domain, both people and Magic Beasts posed a threat. Only by staying at full strength could he handle anything that came his way.

Bi Fan quickly disappeared into the dense forest, found a secluded spot, and began cultivating.