On the other side.
Xiao Yang and Azure Luan raced ahead at full speed. They soon left the West Mountain Hunting Ground and headed for Yin Water Pool.
According to the rules of the Autumn Hunt, contestants weren't allowed to leave the hunting ground. After all, Demonic Beasts lurked everywhere outside, and accidents could easily happen.
But for the sake of the Heavenly Origin Fruit, they couldn't worry about the rules.
Soon, they ran into a wave of beasts.
Dozens of different Demonic Beasts charged at them from every direction. Their fighting strength was equivalent to that of Second- or Third-grade Martial Artists. Though they lacked intelligence, they were not to be underestimated.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh..."
Azure Luan kept drawing her bow and firing arrows. The hundred meters around them seemed to become a death zone, as one Demonic Beast after another fell.
"Not good! I brought a limited number of arrows, and I've already used up more than half. At this rate, I'm afraid I'll run out before we even reach Yin Water Pool!"
Azure Luan furrowed her brows.
If she lost her advantage at long range, she'd have to fight hand-to-hand. That would make it hard to avoid getting hurt.
"Take a break. I'll handle the rest!"
Xiao Yang strode toward the Demonic Beasts.
"Wait!"
Azure Luan tried to stop him. Xiao Yang hadn't brought a bow and arrows; all he had was a single War Saber.
But the very next moment, she saw something utterly unbelievable—
Xiao Yang didn't even use his War Saber. He pointed a finger at a tiger demon charging toward him.
Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger!
"Bang!"
With that single strike, the tiger demon's head exploded. It died instantly, like a watermelon smashed on the ground.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
Xiao Yang then moved through the beast tide with nimble steps, cutting through it as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables.
Everywhere he passed, the Demonic Beasts lay dead.
With the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger, whoever he pointed at was sent straight to the afterlife!
This was an Emperor Grade martial art. It had even crippled the Third Prince, Xiao Li, with a single move. Using it to kill Demonic Beasts was like using an anti-aircraft gun to kill mosquitoes.
"How incredible!"
Azure Luan couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
It wasn't that the Demonic Beasts were weak. Xiao Yang was just too strong!
If she had to fight them at close range herself, she wouldn't be able to handle them as easily as Xiao Yang.
As expected!
This Ninth Young Master was even more extraordinary than she'd imagined. He must have been keeping a low profile all along, hiding his true strength.
With his help, perhaps General Ning's rebellion really could succeed!
Xiao Yang treated the Demonic Beasts like punching bags, honing his martial arts and growing ever more adept at using the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger.
With him clearing the path ahead, they soon covered dozens of miles.
"Something's wrong!"
Azure Luan finally noticed something strange. "Even if Demonic Beasts roam outside the hunting ground, there shouldn't be this many. And they seem to be coming after us!"
"You're only noticing now?"
Xiao Yang laughed as he killed another Demonic Beast. "When we were leaving, it looked like Xiao Junlin sprinkled something on your back!"
"What?!"
Azure Luan was shocked and immediately took off her outer garment.
She wore light armor underneath, but her smooth skin, flat stomach, and well-defined abs were still visible.
Xiao Yang marveled to himself that on Blue Star, a spirited female commander like Azure Luan would be wildly popular with women.
"Damn it! This is Myriad Beast Lure!"
She quickly spotted some powder scattered on her outer garment. It was colorless and odorless, and so fine that it was very hard to notice.
"This is a special fragrance concocted by an alchemist. It has a powerful attraction for Demonic Beasts! That bastard Xiao Junlin wants to use them to kill us!"
Azure Luan explained, then threw the garment to the ground.
They continued on. Fewer Demonic Beasts appeared, and the pressure eased at once.
"We're finally here!"
Xiao Yang stopped. Before them lay a cold pool, its surroundings barren as Yin energy gathered there. Not a single Demonic Beast could be seen.
The moment they stepped into the area, they felt as if they'd fallen into an ice cellar. A chill rose from the soles of their feet.
It was as though some terrible presence lurked there!
"Look! The Heavenly Origin Fruit is growing on a lotus leaf in the middle of the pool. It's almost ripe!" Azure Luan cried excitedly.
Xiao Yang looked over as well.
The Heavenly Origin Fruit was crystal clear and radiant. It looked like the most delicious thing in the world, making one's mouth water.
"Once we have the Heavenly Origin Fruit, the general's injuries will soon heal! I'll go get it!" Azure Luan's eyes lit up.
"Wait! There's something wrong with this place..."
Xiao Yang hadn't even finished speaking.
Azure Luan had already charged ahead.
She was impatient, and her excitement made her careless.
She didn't know how deep the pool was, but as a Fifth-grade Martial Artist, she could run across the water for a short time.
Soon, she drew close to the Heavenly Origin Fruit. It was only ten meters away.
"Rumble!"
Just then, the calm pool suddenly boiled, forming a terrifying vortex.
A Giant Python shot out of it.
The part of its body above the water alone was ten zhang long. Dark, black scales covered its body, glinting with a chilling light.
Its head was as large as a hill. Its vertical pupils fixed on Azure Luan, the tiny "invader," as it flicked its scarlet tongue.
More importantly, a golden horn had grown from its forehead. It glittered brilliantly, seeming almost sacred.
"Is... is that a dragon?"
Azure Luan retreated rapidly, instinctively overcome by fear.
Xiao Yang immediately used his Double Pupils to examine the terrifying Demonic Beast.
Its information appeared on the panel.
[Unicorn Black Python: After absorbing the essence of the sun and moon and gathering Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, it has cultivated for more than 900 years. Its intelligence has awakened, and its strength is equivalent to that of a Sixth Grade Mountain Moving Realm Martial Artist.] [If it swallows the Heavenly Origin Fruit, it can shed its skin and transform into a flood dragon, summoning rain and floods and overturning rivers and seas. Its strength would rival a Seventh-grade Grandmaster.] [Weakness: Seven inches below its head.]
After reading the information, Xiao Yang tensed all over, bracing himself for battle.
A Demonic Beast that had cultivated for nine hundred years?
Its intelligence had awakened?
Its strength was equivalent to that of a Sixth Grade powerhouse?
Without a doubt, this Unicorn Black Python was the most terrifying enemy he had encountered in this world.
Fortunately, it hadn't shed its skin and transformed into a flood dragon yet. Otherwise, even if the other Young Masters' teams were there, they would probably all be wiped out.
"Bang—!!!"
Suddenly, the Giant Python lashed its tail and slammed it hard into Azure Luan.
"Pfft!"
She was sent flying. Her internal organs felt badly shaken, and she spat out a mouthful of bright red blood.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh..."
But she had no time to tend to her injuries. Azure Luan immediately raised her Cloud Piercing Bow and fired arrow after arrow.
"Clang! Clang! Clang..."
But the arrows merely struck the Unicorn Black Python's scales, throwing off sparks and leaving faint white marks. They did no damage at all.
"Damn it, we can only retreat!"
Azure Luan knew the difference in strength was too great. She had no chance of defeating the beast before her, so she turned to flee.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
Suddenly, the Unicorn Black Python opened its enormous jaws and spat out a cloud of dark purple poison gas, engulfing her instantly.
"Ah!"
Azure Luan let out a scream. Her head spun, blood flowed from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears, and all strength left her body. She fell into Yin Water Pool.
"It's over!"
"Could this be where I'm buried?"
"General Ning, I'm sorry I couldn't follow you... to the very end..."
Azure Luan's consciousness grew hazier and hazier.
But just before she passed out, she seemed to see a figure gripping a long blade, walking toward her step by step and standing in front of her.
"Ninth Young Master, you... you should hurry and leave. What are you doing?" Azure Luan asked weakly.
"Going to slay the flood dragon!"
Xiao Yang drew the War Saber at his waist, fire in his heart and light in his eyes.
At that moment, Xiao Yang had two choices!
If he fled, he could save his own life. But Azure Luan would be doomed, becoming a meal for the Unicorn Black Python.
So he chose the second path.
I, Xiao Yang, would never back down from a fight to the death, even when facing a vast army or dragons and serpents rising from the earth!!!
Before you continue