Fire Cloud Python

The moment Shen Long burrowed underground, his connection to the Black Tortoise Shield was severed. He knew full well that the Black Tortoise Shield had been destroyed. After all, it had only been a low-grade magical artifact.

He took out two talismans flickering with spiritual light and slapped them onto himself. With a flash of light, a cyan light screen and a set of yellow earth armor appeared, forming three layers of defense.

The ground tore apart as a cyan wind blade shot toward him. The Mystic Water Shield and cyan light screen shattered instantly. The attack struck the yellow earth armor, leaving a long gash across its surface.

Shen Long broke out in a cold sweat. Was this the strength of a Second-Rank Demon Bird? It had nearly claimed his life.

He swiftly moved deeper underground as the earth trembled faintly.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Shen Long returned to the surface. The power of the Earth Escape Talisman had also run out.

A watery blue light screen and a set of yellow earth armor covered his body, and his face was full of vigilance.

Shen Long was currently in a long, narrow valley thick with wild grass.

A thunderous explosion came from ahead. A massive Mountain Pushing Beast charged into the valley, its body marked with burns.

More than ten Crimson Fireballs, each as large as millstones, shot out from behind the Mountain Pushing Beast and slammed into its body one after another. Rumbles rang out as surging flames swallowed the Mountain Pushing Beast whole.

The Mountain Pushing Beast let out a pained howl and slowed down. A blood-filled maw descended from the sky and bit down on its neck. The Mountain Pushing Beast struggled violently, but it was useless. Blood poured from its neck, and before long, it stopped moving.

"A First Rank Late Stage Fire Cloud Python!"

Shen Long's expression hardened as his gaze landed on a giant crimson python.

With a flick of his sleeve, a foot-long white ice spike shot out and struck the Fire Cloud Python with a dull thud.

The Fire Cloud Python opened its blood-filled maw and spewed more than ten millstone-sized Crimson Fireballs at Shen Long.

Shen Long activated a small umbrella wreathed in shifting blue light. It released a Blue Water Screen that protected him.

The Mystic Water Umbrella, a mid-grade magical tool.

Over the past two years, Shen Long had earned quite a few Spirit Stones. He had spent four hundred Spirit Stones to purchase this Mystic Water Umbrella.

More than ten Crimson Fireballs struck the Blue Water Screen in succession and exploded, with roaring flames engulfing the Blue Water Screen.

Shen Long formed a hand seal, and the Mystic Water Umbrella immediately shone with brilliant blue light. Ripples spread across the Blue Water Screen as the flames scattered. The Fire Cloud Python pounced at him.

Shen Long raised his right hand, and a streak of cyan light flew out and sank into the ground. A thick Cyan Vine burst from the earth and wrapped around the Fire Cloud Python's abdomen.

The Fire Cloud Python struggled fiercely, but it could not tear free. It turned its head and spat out a stream of Crimson Flame, which landed on the Cyan Vine and reduced it to ashes.

A pair of scissors glittering with cyan light shot toward it and struck the Fire Cloud Python with a dull thud.

A cyan wind blade over thirty feet long shot over and struck the Fire Cloud Python, leaving a shallow cut on its body.

Shen Long activated the Beast Soul Talisman. The Green Wind Tiger unleashed wave after wave of cyan wind blades at the Fire Cloud Python.

Shen Long controlled the Azure Moon Shears to attack the Fire Cloud Python while continuously releasing White Ice Spikes.

Time slowly passed. The Fire Cloud Python gradually began to falter. Several of its scales fell away, and blood streamed down its body.

It wanted to attack Shen Long, but the Green Wind Tiger gave it no chance. Whenever it tried to approach Shen Long, the Green Wind Tiger would pounce on it.

Sensing that something was wrong, the Fire Cloud Python opened its mouth and spat out more than ten Crimson Fireballs at Shen Long.

The Crimson Fireballs struck the Blue Water Screen one after another. Ripples spread across the Blue Water Screen, and every Crimson Fireball scattered apart.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Fire Cloud Python crawled back the way it had come at great speed.

It had not crawled far when a thick Cyan Vine burst from the ground and wrapped around its abdomen.

A resounding tiger roar rang out. A breeze swept past as the Green Wind Tiger caught up, opened its blood-filled maw, and bit down on the Fire Cloud Python's abdomen. The Fire Cloud Python let out a pained hiss, turned its head, and spewed flames that engulfed the Green Wind Tiger.

A thick Cyan Vine burst from the ground and wrapped around the Fire Cloud Python's neck before burrowing back underground, pinning its head to the earth.

The Fire Cloud Python's head was pressed tightly against the ground, while its abdomen was clamped in the Green Wind Tiger's jaws.

Cyan Vines burst from the ground one after another, wrapping around the Fire Cloud Python's neck and preventing it from breaking free. It had become a living target.

The Iron Tail Scorpion burrowed out of the ground, its tail stinger shooting toward the Fire Cloud Python's head with a dull thud.

The Azure Moon Shears descended from above and chopped down on the Fire Cloud Python's head, producing another dull thud.

The Green Wind Tiger tore and bit with all its strength. Large numbers of scales fell from the Fire Cloud Python's abdomen, and blood flowed without end.

In less than twenty breaths, the Fire Cloud Python lost its life and stopped resisting.

Shen Long did not dare let down his guard. He directed the Azure Moon Shears to cut off the Fire Cloud Python's head, only then feeling relieved.

He formed a hand seal, and the Green Wind Tiger turned into a talisman with dim spiritual light before falling into his hand. More than half of its power had been depleted.

He put away the corpses of the Fire Cloud Python and Mountain Pushing Beast, returned the Iron Tail Scorpion to its Spirit Beast Bag, and left.

After returning to the Marketplace, Shen Long headed straight for Craftsman Hall. When he reached the second floor, he saw Sun Huowang chatting with a red-skirted maiden in the bloom of youth.

The red-skirted maiden had delicate features, skin white as snow, and lively eyes.

Sun Yiyue, Sun Huowang's daughter, was a First Rank Artifact Refiner.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you're here."

Upon seeing Shen Long, Sun Yiyue greeted him.

"I would like to ask the shopkeeper to help refine a magical artifact. I hope I'm not disturbing you."

Shen Long said.

"Not at all. Take out the materials."

Sun Huowang said.

Shen Long took out the Fire Cloud Python's corpse and said, "It is a First Rank Late Stage Fire Cloud Python. I would like to ask the shopkeeper to use its hide to refine an inner armor for me. How many Spirit Stones would it cost?"

"A First Rank Late Stage Fire Cloud Python! You've got some skills, kid!"

Sun Huowang praised as he carefully examined the Fire Cloud Python's corpse.

"No problem. Once it's finished, I'll send someone to notify you."

Sun Huowang agreed.

"Shopkeeper, how many Spirit Stones will it take?"

Shen Long asked. A defensive mid-grade magical tool was not cheap. Obtaining the materials himself and asking Sun Huowang to refine it would save him some money.

Sun Huowang thought for a moment before saying, "No more than two hundred Spirit Stones."

"Then I'll trouble you."

Shen Long thanked him.

After chatting for a few more moments, he left.

"It has only been a few years, yet Fellow Daoist Shen has become so formidable. He can even kill a First Rank Late Stage Fire Cloud Python."

Sun Yiyue said in surprise. If Shen Long had killed the Fire Cloud Python alongside Xu Lei and the others, he could not possibly have kept the entire Fire Cloud Python for himself.

"That kid is no weakling. The Fire Cloud Python's fatal wounds were all on vital spots. No wonder he rejected my proposal."

Sun Huowang said.

"Father, your daughter does not want to marry. I want to join a cultivation sect, so I won't have to fear the Li Family."

Sun Yiyue said earnestly.

"Don't worry. Your father has made arrangements. Don't tell anyone about this, not even your brother."

Sun Huowang instructed.

"I understand, Father."

Sun Yiyue agreed.

After returning to his residence, Shen Long entered the Spirit Control Tower, released the Iron Tail Scorpion, and took out the Mountain Pushing Beast's corpse for the Iron Tail Scorpion to feast on.

He left the Spirit Control Tower, sat cross-legged on the stone bed, and began cultivating.