Killing Black Belly

As they spoke, the Black-Belly Scaled Snake had already slithered up to the shop entrance.

Its enormous head poked inside, its cold vertical pupils sweeping over the people in the shop with a predator's indifference.

It seemed to sense that Lin Yun and Zhou Lei posed the greatest threat. Its massive body slowly coiled up, assuming an attacking stance.

"Move!"

Zhou Lei shouted in a low voice and charged out first.

His battle saber carried the full force of a peak Martial Apprentice's blood and vitality. A faint white glow shimmered along the blade as it slashed viciously at the Black-Belly Scaled Snake's head.

Clang!

A deafening crash of metal rang out.

The saber struck the snake scales solidly, sparks flying everywhere, yet it left only a shallow white mark and failed even to break through the armor.

Instead, Zhou Lei was sent staggering backward by the tremendous recoil. The old wound on his chest instantly split open, blood soaking through his uniform. Pain twisted his brows together, and a trace of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.

"What tough scales!"

Zhou Lei gritted his teeth.

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake was thoroughly enraged by the blow. It let out a shrill hiss, its massive body suddenly springing up. Its gaping maw opened wide, exposing two rows of sharp venomous fangs as it lunged straight at Zhou Lei's face. A foul wind rushed toward him, carrying a powerful corrosive stench.

At that critical moment, Lin Yun moved.

He drove Wind-Treading Step to its limit, circling around the Black-Belly Scaled Snake's side like a phantom. He kicked off the ground fiercely with his right foot and soared into the air. His right fist gathered power to the utmost limit as the force of Vajra Fist stacked layer upon layer, smashing down hard on the snake's vital spot seven inches below its head with a howling rush of wind.

Bang!

A dull boom exploded.

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake's body suddenly stiffened, then writhed madly in pain.

Its thick tail swept sideways with overwhelming force, lashing toward Lin Yun in midair.

The tail cracked the air with explosive blasts. If it hit him, even with the Spirit Rhino Inner Armor, his bones and tendons would be shattered.

Lin Yun had anticipated it.

He lightly tapped his toes against the snake's back and used the recoil to flip backward, barely evading the tail sweep.

The thick tail brushed past the edge of his clothes, and the force of its passing wind cut painfully across his cheeks.

After landing, Lin Yun frowned slightly.

That punch had only cracked the outer layer of scales. It had not injured the flesh beneath at all.

The defense of a peak Rank One mutated beast was indeed far stronger than that of a late Rank One Rockback Beast.

"Lin Yun! Its belly scales are the thinnest! Hit its belly!" Zhou Lei shouted as he rushed in again to keep it occupied.

He knew he could not break its defense, but he had to draw the Black-Belly Scaled Snake's attention and create an opening for Lin Yun.

His saber kept striking the snake's body, the clanging sounds joining into one continuous racket.

Zhou Lei fought intelligently, targeting the snake's head and eyes. He forced the Black-Belly Scaled Snake to keep turning to defend itself, never allowing it to focus fully on Lin Yun.

Even so, the gap between them remained obvious.

After only a dozen exchanges, Zhou Lei was already in grave danger.

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake was simply too fast. Every sweep and lash of its tail carried lethal force. He relied entirely on his battlefield experience to dodge, and more wounds appeared across his body while his breathing grew heavier and heavier.

Lin Yun did not rush to attack.

He was waiting for an opening between the Black-Belly Scaled Snake's attacks.

He rapidly circled the snake's body, pushing Wind-Treading Step to the extreme. His figure darted left and right, constantly disrupting the Black-Belly Scaled Snake's judgment.

His gaze remained fixed on the area below its vital spot, on its belly, where the scales were slightly lighter in color. That was the weakest point in the entire snake's defense.

The chance had come!

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake viciously lashed its tail at Zhou Lei, stretching its body to the limit and fully exposing its belly.

Now!

Lin Yun's eyes sharpened. He suddenly exerted force through his feet, shooting out like an arrow released from a bow.

He poured all his blood and vitality into both fists. The alloy scales of the Armybreaker Fistguards glowed with a faint red light as Vajra Fist was driven to its limit. His left and right fists struck one after the other, smashing viciously into the same spot.

Bang! Bang!

The force of the two punches stacked together, exploding in successive waves.

With a crisp crack, the belly scales finally gave way and shattered apart.

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake let out a miserable shriek. Its body curled up wildly, its tail sweeping about without restraint as it tried to smash its attacker to death.

Having succeeded with one strike, Lin Yun immediately retreated.

But the snake's tail was too fast. The tip still grazed his shoulder. A tremendous force struck him, and he staggered back five or six steps before stabilizing himself. A sickly sweetness rose in his throat.

"Lin Yun!"

Zhou Lei cried out in alarm.

"I'm fine." Lin Yun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes only grew brighter.

Now that the scales were broken, things would be easier.

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake had gone completely mad.

It abandoned Zhou Lei. Its massive body turned, and it stared fixedly at Lin Yun, its vertical pupils filled with savage killing intent.

It arched its body like a taut spring. The next second, it shot forward. Its jaws opened wide, venomous fangs gleaming coldly as it lunged straight for Lin Yun's throat.

It was so fast that it reached him in the blink of an eye.

"Watch out!" Zhou Lei's eyes nearly split with fury. He wanted to help, but it was already too late.

Yet Lin Yun did not retreat.

He stared at the rapidly approaching snake head. The footwork beneath him abruptly shifted, and Wind-Treading Step twisted him into an extraordinarily tricky angle. His body slid past the cool snake belly by the narrowest margin.

The pungent foul wind swept past his ear, and the venomous fangs snapped shut almost against his scalp.

At the instant they passed each other, Lin Yun crossed his arms and unleashed all his blood and vitality without reservation.

Vajra Fist!

Both fists shot out at once, striking precisely where the scales had just been shattered. The power of his fists brutally penetrated the flesh, driving straight into its internal organs.

Crack!

The dull sound of bones shattering mixed with the sound of flesh tearing apart.

The Black-Belly Scaled Snake's charge abruptly halted. Its enormous body froze in midair for a full second before crashing heavily to the ground.

Its body convulsed madly, its tail slamming the ground and sending shattered stones and dust flying.

But no matter how it struggled, it could no longer rise again.

Dark purple blood continuously poured from the wound at its vital spot, staining a large patch of ground red.

After twitching for more than ten seconds, the Black-Belly Scaled Snake's head dropped heavily. Its vertical pupils lost all light.

A peak Rank One mutated beast, slain!

Dead silence fell over the surroundings.

The wind rolled up dust and swept past his bloodstained fistguards. The young man stood tall, his breathing slightly hurried but still steady.

"Good... good work!"

Zhou Lei burst into hearty laughter, but his laughter tugged at his wounds, making him bare his teeth in pain.

He braced himself on his saber and tried to walk over. After taking just one step, he stumbled, his face instantly turning pale.

Several of his ribs were broken, and his internal organs had been shaken. He had held on until now only by sheer willpower.

Lin Yun hurried over and reached out to support him.

"Don't move around. Your injuries are serious."

"I won't die." Zhou Lei panted and patted Lin Yun on the arm, his eyes full of admiration. "Lin Yun, you brat... you're damn incredible. I'm at peak Martial Apprentice, and I couldn't take that thing down, but you slaughtered it."

"You kept it occupied well."

Lin Yun spoke calmly, claiming no credit.

He knew perfectly well that without Zhou Lei drawing its attention head-on, he could never have found the opening so smoothly.

The two of them had worked together. Neither could have done without the other.

"Let's withdraw first. It isn't safe here."

Lin Yun said no more. He bent down and half-carried Zhou Lei over his shoulder.

Zhou Lei was tall and powerfully built, no lightweight, yet Lin Yun carried him with steady steps and showed no sign of strain.

The group did not dare delay. Along the way, they encountered several scattered Swift Mantises and small Bone-Cracking Centipedes that had turned back, all of which Lin Yun dealt with effortlessly.

After walking for about half an hour, they finally met up with the main City Defense Army force that had come to provide support, along with the group that had retreated ahead of them.