Cooperation

Without the slightest hesitation, he hurried after Su Shi'er's footsteps, shouting from behind: "Kid, stop running! This Fire Cloud Python is heavily injured. If we join forces, we can definitely kill it."

Like hell I believe you!

Su Shi'er ran at full speed, completely ignoring Shen Miaoyin's words. A starved camel is still bigger than a horse. No matter how badly injured this Fire Cloud Python was, it was still a demon beast comparable to the Foundation Establishment stage. He had absolutely no intention of fighting it.

The Passage Token was clutched in his hand. At this moment, he wished he could sprout an extra pair of wings.

Feeling the commotion chasing after him, he found it utterly exasperating.

What the hell is this woman's deal? She's at least a Foundation Establishment expert—why is she following me!

Shen Miaoyin's brows were tightly knit, and she looked equally frustrated. She had genuinely meant to invite him, but she never expected that not only would this disciple ignore her, he would run even faster.

"Just how cowardly is this kid?! That speed—he's actually combining mortal lightness techniques with the Wind Calling Technique?!"

Just then, the giant python abruptly halted, opened its mouth, and spewed a torrent of venomous flames.

"Not good! Watch out!" Shen Miaoyin cried out sharply, her Ice Sword releasing a burst of cold air to shield herself while also warning Su Shi'er.

Before Shen Miaoyin could even finish her warning, Su Shi'er sensed the attack coming from behind.

"Damn it, that woman is going to get me killed!"

Cursing under his breath, he quickly activated the Turtle Pattern Shield in his bosom while also channeling the Blood Light Shield.

A blood-red light shield enveloped him, and the Turtle Pattern Shield swelled in the wind, transforming into a massive shield as tall as a man, blocking him from harm.

To be safe, Su Shi'er also hastily pulled out a handful of Defense Talismans.

Earth Wall, Water Wall... over a dozen defensive spells layered in front of the Turtle Pattern Shield.

Watching this, Shen Miaoyin couldn't help but twitch at the corner of her eye.

"A Top-grade Defensive Magical Artifact? And that many Defense Talismans? Even Lu Mingshi's own granddaughter wouldn't get treatment like this!"

"Could it be... that this is Lu Mingshi's real trump card?"

"Whoosh, whoosh!"

Flames roared, and then the venomous flames swallowed Su Shi'er whole.

The defenses sustained by the Defense Talismans were all shattered before the venomous flames.

Then, the flames slammed heavily into the Turtle Pattern Shield.

Su Shi'er felt his true essence drain by more than half in an instant. The Turtle Pattern Shield shuddered violently, and he was sent flying backward.

He had intended to use this force to quickly escape the Spiritual Plant Garden. But the attack's power was astonishingly great. His body lurched, and he felt as if his internal organs were about to be crushed.

Midair, the Passage Token slipped from his hand.

The venomous flames swept past, and the Passage Token was reduced to nothing in the fire.

"Damn it!"

Seeing the Passage Token vanish, Su Shi'er was dumbstruck.

Without the Passage Token, with his strength, he had no way to leave the Spiritual Plant Garden's formation.

Looking at the Turtle Pattern Shield, his heart ached as if bleeding.

The Turtle Pattern Shield was covered in dense, fine cracks. One more attack like that, and this shield would be completely destroyed.

"I miscalculated! This is bad! Is this really where I, Su Shi'er, die today?"

Su Shi'er silently lamented, his peripheral vision quickly scanning for any other way out.

"Kid, no matter how you got in, I'll warn you one last time. This Fire Cloud Python is severely injured. If we join forces, we still have a chance to fight."

"Otherwise, once it fully digests the medicinal power of the Cinnabar Fruit, we'll both be dead for sure."

Shen Miaoyin's figure flickered, and just like Su Shi'er had done moments ago, she combined lightness techniques with the Wind Calling Technique, drifting through the air.

With light steps, she reached Su Shi'er's side in a single breath. As she landed, her expression was extremely grave.

Su Shi'er didn't answer immediately. Instead, he cautiously glanced at the distant Fire Cloud Python. After two consecutive attacks, the python had clearly grown much weaker, lying on the ground panting.

Only then did he speak, his tone full of frustration: "What do you want me to do?!"

If it weren't for this woman chasing after him, he would have long since escaped. But now, with the Passage Token destroyed, the only way to leave was to rely on her.

For the moment, he didn't dare show any of his displeasure.

"Buy me a quarter of an hour. I need to restart the sword formation! During that time, we absolutely cannot let it refine the Cinnabar Fruit's medicinal power." Shen Miaoyin said firmly.

"A quarter of an hour? Are you kidding me? My defensive artifact can withstand at most one more attack before it breaks. That's not buying you time—that's sending me to my death!" Su Shi'er's expression changed drastically as he shouted.

In truth, he still had quite a few talismans on him. If he really went all out, holding out for a quarter of an hour wasn't impossible.

But if he did that, he would have to reveal all his cards. Then wouldn't he become fish on a chopping block, at someone else's mercy?

Besides, since he knew this woman was at least a Foundation Establishment expert, she definitely had plenty of good stuff on her. As for whether she would settle scores afterward, he didn't think that far ahead. After all, this was a reasonable request on his part.

"Don't worry, of course I won't let you die!"

"I can see you have some mortal movement techniques on you. These High-grade Magical Artifacts, the Cloud-Treading Boots, can double your movement speed."

"With this High-grade Magical Artifact, the Ice Shield, plus your own strength, holding out for a quarter-hour shouldn't be a problem."

Shen Miaoyin spoke quickly, flicking her wrist. A pair of white boots and an ice-blue shield the size of a palm appeared in her hand.

"This... fine! I'll give it my best!"

Su Shi'er took the items and finally nodded. In his heart, he had already made up his mind—he would try once more, and the moment things became impossible, he would immediately cut and run.

Even if he had to die, he'd be the last one to go.

Seeing Su Shi'er agree, Shen Miaoyin breathed a sigh of relief. "Move quickly! I'm going to set up the sword formation."

With that, she swiftly headed toward where the other four flying swords had fallen.

If only she knew Su Shi'er's true thoughts, she would probably want to cut him down with a single sword stroke first.

The moment Shen Miaoyin moved, the giant python sensed the danger and opened its bloody maw once more.

Su Shi'er had already put on the Cloud-Treading Boots. He channeled his true essence into them, and a force wrapped around his legs and feet, making him feel as light as the wind.

Seeing the Fire Cloud Python's actions, he shifted his body, took a single step, and was already several zhang away.

The speed was so great that he found it hard to adjust at first. But his hands moved without any delay, his gaze locked onto the wound on the Fire Cloud Python's body as he flung out a handful of attack talismans.

The talismans turned into streaks of light and vanished, transforming into a motley assortment of attacks that shot straight toward the Fire Cloud Python.

Under the boost of the Wind Calling Technique, their speed doubled.

"Bam bam bam..."

Before the Fire Cloud Python could strike at Shen Miaoyin, a barrage of talisman attacks exploded against the wound on its body.

"Hiss~"

The Fire Cloud Python winced in pain. Its bell-sized eyes flickered with vicious, murderous light. It opened its gaping maw, turned its head, and charged straight at Su Shi'er.

Locked in that bell-sized glare, Su Shi'er's heart tightened, and he felt an illusion of being frozen in place.

Seeing flames gathering in its mouth, he didn't hesitate. He decisively drew breath and, aided by the Wind Calling Technique, soared upward.

The next second, a terrifying pillar of fire stretched for hundreds of meters.

While suspended in midair, he didn't forget to fling out more attack talismans.

The attack talismans transformed into two ice spikes, shooting straight toward the Fire Cloud Python.

"Rain, come forth!"

Before the ice spikes landed, Su Shi'er cast another water-element technique.

A downpour fell from the sky, its range perfectly covering the entire Fire Cloud Python.

The rain evaporated into steam before it could even land, consumed by the intense heat.

In this way, the Fire Cloud Python, which had been blazing with overwhelming flames, suddenly seemed to have its fire snuffed out. The temperature around it plummeted, and the power of the flames it spat diminished by several degrees.

This technique, ordinarily used by common disciples to water spirit plants, proved remarkably effective against the Fire Cloud Python, now wreathed in raging fire.

Then, the two ice spikes drove deep into the wound on the Fire Cloud Python's body.