What troubled Tang Tian most was that the enormous Heavenly Thunder Python before them looked at the Thunderclap Beast with an exceedingly fervent gaze.
By the Demon Race's law of the strong devouring the weak, the Heavenly Thunder Python could sense the lightning power within the Thunderclap Beast. Devouring it would certainly benefit itself.
At the very least, the Heavenly Thunder Python believed that after devouring the Thunderclap Beast, it would surely leap into becoming a demon beast at the Organs-Hiding Realm.
"Miss Ye, protect Little Thunder later. I think this beast has its sights set on him."
Tang Tian's expression was grave.
"No problem."
Ye Ruxue held the Thunderclap Beast in one arm, while her other hand had long since gripped her sword.
"I'll hold it back later. I'll have to trouble Miss Ye to help me pick the Thunder Cherry Blossoms and the Heavenly Thunder Vine."
Tang Tian thought the most reliable method was for one person to entangle the Heavenly Thunder Python while the other harvested the spirit herbs.
But then came the question: with his current strength, could he truly hold back the Heavenly Thunder Python?
If it had been any ordinary Bone-Forging Realm expert, they probably would not even have been enough to fill the gaps between the Heavenly Thunder Python's teeth.
"Alright. Be careful, Young Master Tang."
Ye Ruxue nodded. With her intelligence, she naturally understood this reasoning.
She had come to help, not to become dead weight.
That was why Tang Tian rather liked getting along with Ye Ruxue. Though she did not speak much, she was incredibly clever, utterly incomparable to a spoiled young miss like Qin Yuexi.
"Roar!"
The Heavenly Thunder Python raised its head and let out a great roar. Its long forked tongue was like a lengthy ribbon, giving off a nauseatingly fishy stench.
Seeing the two still discussing matters right before its eyes, clearly not taking it seriously at all, the Heavenly Thunder Python flew into a rage and struck first.
Its enormous body twisted as it rapidly shot toward Tang Tian and Ye Ruxue.
In the blink of an eye, it had arrived before them.
Tang Tian snorted coldly and flicked his hand. A longsword appeared in his grasp as he charged toward the Heavenly Thunder Python.
The sword naturally came from the spatial storage belts of Falling Star Sect disciples. During these days, he had not only tempered his body through battle after battle, but had also secretly studied the sword technique from the God Clan inheritance.
This sword technique was called the Astral Sword Art.
Back on Sacred Origin Peak, the earth-shaking sword strike Tang Tian had seen in that vision had originated from the Astral Sword Art.
The Astral Sword Art was immensely powerful. Fortunately, Tang Tian's cultivation was still low, so the power he could unleash was greatly diminished.
Yet as the inherited cultivation art of the God Clan's patriarch, it was far more formidable than even the entire Heavenly Dragon Empire, or even the Falling Star Sect.
With his powerful physique, the Astral Sword Art, and the ceaseless flow of yuan power within his body, Tang Tian had the confidence to battle the Heavenly Thunder Python.
So what if it was in the Organs-Hiding Realm? It was not as though he had never killed one before!
As he unleashed the Astral Sword Art, Tang Tian's speed increased greatly. His entire body became like a meteor, shooting toward the Heavenly Thunder Python.
The Heavenly Thunder Python had been nourished year-round by the lightning power within Heavenly Thunder Valley. Its physical body was incomparably powerful, comparable to that of an Organs-Hiding Realm demon beast.
Tang Tian naturally would not be foolish enough to meet it head-on. The gap between their cultivation levels was too great; the sword in his hand certainly could not break through the Heavenly Thunder Python's body. He could only attack its weakest point—its eyes.
Seeing Tang Tian actually dare to attack it, the Heavenly Thunder Python grew even more enraged. It opened its blood-filled maw and bit down at Tang Tian.
Tang Tian flashed to the side, evading that foul-smelling mouth.
The Heavenly Thunder Python's fangs were incomparably sharp. When they bit into a large tree, the tree was immediately snapped in two at the waist.
"So powerful!" Tang Tian's brows furrowed slightly, grateful that he had not been bitten.
Otherwise, his fate would have been no different from that tree before him—perhaps even worse.
"Be careful."
A trace of worry flickered in Ye Ruxue's beautiful eyes as she watched Tang Tian's retreating figure. Holding the Thunderclap Beast, she swiftly approached the Thunder Cherry Blossom tree.
Both she and Tang Tian were vital. If either one could not hold on, the other would not be able to harvest the spirit herbs, and they might even perish together.
And if Ye Ruxue could not harvest the spirit herbs, Tang Tian's battle against such a powerful spirit beast would be meaningless, and he would surely meet a miserable end.
Once the Thunderclap Beast saw that it could approach the Thunder Cherry Blossoms, it excitedly let out a series of "squeak squeak squeak" cries, broke free from Ye Ruxue's embrace, and darted toward the Thunder Cherry Blossom tree.
"Little Thunder, be careful."
Ye Ruxue called out anxiously and swiftly followed after it.
Seeing someone approach the Thunder Cherry Blossoms and the Heavenly Thunder Vine, the Heavenly Thunder Python immediately grew anxious. It hissed repeatedly as its body rapidly slithered forward.
It actually intended to abandon Tang Tian and chase Ye Ruxue instead.
"Trying to leave? Did you even ask whether this young master agreed? If I won't let you leave, then get back here!"
Tang Tian let out a thunderous shout and stomped hard on the ground with his right foot. Like a cannonball, he shot after it and arrived before the Heavenly Thunder Python. Without a moment's hesitation, his sword streaked forth like a meteor, stabbing toward the Heavenly Thunder Python's eyes.
"Roar!"
The Heavenly Thunder Python was both shocked and enraged, unwilling to continue tangling with Tang Tian.
Yet Tang Tian's Astral Sword Art was exceptionally formidable. Though he was only at the Initial Blood-Burning Realm, if he had not opened the one hundred and eight Hidden Meridians of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiend, and if his body had not been tempered by heavenly lightning, he would never have possessed such vast yuan power to sustain himself. He would have quickly overdrawn himself and run dry like a lamp out of oil.
"Pfft!"
The longsword pierced into the Heavenly Thunder Python's left eye, and blood splattered forth.
"Awoooar!"
With its vital point injured, the Heavenly Thunder Python howled in agony. Pain caused its enormous body to writhe and lash against the ground.
Throughout Heavenly Thunder Valley, countless trees were smashed into fragments by the Heavenly Thunder Python's tail.
Even the rocks upon the mountain were ground into powder beneath its immense force.
After Tang Tian's sword entered the Heavenly Thunder Python's eye, he had no chance to pull it free and could only release his grip at once.
Driven mad by pain, the Heavenly Thunder Python thrashed wildly. Yet Tang Tian knew no fear. His battles against countless demon beasts during this period had filled him with a fierce, death-defying savagery.
The stronger and more vicious the Heavenly Thunder Python was, the more excited Tang Tian became!
Strike while it was sick and take its life!
Tang Tian flicked his hand, and another sword appeared in it.
He closed in, swiftly arriving before the crazily writhing Heavenly Thunder Python. Tang Tian raised his hand, intending to drive this second sword into its other eye as well.
As long as he turned the Heavenly Thunder Python blind, then even if he had to flee with Ye Ruxue afterward, there would definitely be enough time.
However, the Heavenly Thunder Python had learned its lesson this time. Its body battered the ground as its head shook back and forth, refusing to give Tang Tian another chance to injure it.
"You're quite clever, but it's still not enough. Die!"
After the fierce battle, Tang Tian's aura became increasingly terrifying and sharp.
If not for the restrictions of the Nine-Turn Heavenly Thunder Art, which prevented Tang Tian from breaking through his realm, then with his current strength, his aura alone would have been enough to shake people's hearts, making even High Blood-Burning Realm cultivators feel terror and lose their courage.
"Kid, let me tell you this: don't even think about running away today. Even if that little girl truly gets the Thunder Cherry Blossoms and the Heavenly Thunder Vine, you still have to stay. This Heavenly Thunder Python must die. As for the reason, I'll tell you after it dies."
Fan Siren's voice rang out at this moment, extremely solemn.
[Author's note: The third update is here. Dear readers who like it, please cast your silver votes.]
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