Wang Xian's heart tightened. He calmly backed away.
Yan Hui was a master. In the past, he had been known throughout Sunset City as a "gentleman of refined manners." As the scion of one of the three great lineages, his name was known for a thousand li in every direction.
"Who the hell are you?!"
The giant serpent suddenly raised its head and flung Yan Hui into the air, hissing, "Who sent you to steal my treasure?!"
Amid the snowy mist, Wang Xian said nothing. He retreated to an ancient tree, then darted behind it in a flash.
Suspended in midair, Yan Hui roared in fury and swung his sword down—
Crack!
The ancient tree, so broad that it would have taken two people to encircle it, shattered at the blow.
Wounded by the black serpent, Yan Hui seemed to have gone mad. His sword struck, shaking the earth as sharp stone spikes erupted from underground, pressing in on every side and soaring several times higher than the trees.
In the blink of an eye, a forest of stone spikes filled an area dozens of zhang across, grim as a sword formation.
"Demon! You can't escape!"
"I came from Sunset City. Today, I'll take your treasure—and your life!"
The giant serpent twisted its body, crushing the stone spikes in its path as it continued to slither forward.
Yan Hui hung in the air. Though wounded, his attacks showed no sign of slowing.
The black serpent writhed for a moment, then its head suddenly split open. Its face split next, and a new head pushed out from beneath the old skin.
In no time, the giant serpent had shed its entire skin.
A naked woman rose to her feet. With a wave of her hand, she conjured a blue-green robe and