Liu Fengchun drew a deep breath and said, "I have a few years on you, fellow Daoists, and have seen a little more of the world."
"When I was young, I once encountered a vine-type spirit plant living in symbiosis with a demonic beast. That encounter remains unforgettable to this day."
"Later, after making inquiries far and wide, I learned that some vine-type spirit plants have an innate gift for forming symbiotic bonds with demonic beasts."
"Within the reach of the demonic vine's roots, they can share their life essence. So long as the vine survives, its symbiotic demonic beast can cling to a breath of life no matter how badly it is beaten."
"Judging by that brute's aura, it is probably at the peak of the Middle First Stage. With the symbiotic Green Vine, it may be even harder to handle than an ordinary late-stage first-tier demonic beast."
"Then what should we do? Are we supposed to give up?" Yin Jiu, who had a somewhat aggressive temperament, spoke up.
Liu Fengchun slammed his Snake-Head Staff into the ground, its emerald eyes reflecting the cave's dim light. "We certainly cannot give up now! But this brute has already formed a symbiotic bond with the demonic vine. It is no ordinary demonic beast!" His withered fingers crushed half a piece of scorpion armor. "Who knows how many of us will die if we charge straight in? Someone must lure it away from the vine."
Cold air seeped through the holes in Yin Jiu's mask, and the Red Centipedes in his earthenware jar battered frantically against its walls. "My venomous insects are formidable, but they are not suited to a frontal assault."
A fresh crack split Chen Moyang's Formation Plate with a snap, and a silver needle plunged into the Xun Position. "I am ashamed to say that a first-tier middle-grade Restraining Formation takes half an incense stick to set up. If the snake's tail strikes before it is complete..."
"I will lead the attack."
Lu Zhao spoke abruptly, the Mystic Water Tortoise-Shell Shield's deep-blue curtain of water spreading over his elbow. "With my magical artifacts working alongside the Ironwood Guards, and Elder Liu's snake staff, holding off the Snake King for a while should not be difficult."
His gaze swept over Yin Jiu's cuff. "But Fellow Daoist Yin, how long will your Fire Centipede Devours Vine take?"
"Fire Centipede Devours Vine?" Yin Jiu fell somewhat silent after repeating those words. A moment later, he seemed to make up his mind, his voice rasping like a grinding wheel against iron. "Give me one incense stick, and I can eat through that demonic vine!" His withered claw slapped the earthenware jar, and lava-like patterns surfaced on the shells of three Red Centipedes.
Holding his snake staff, Liu Fengchun said, "I can only use my magical artifact at full power for ten breaths. We must trap the Snake King first!"
"I will lay the formation behind the Northeastern Stalactite Cluster," Chen Moyang said. "Fellow Daoist Lu, lure the Snake King into the needle formation. Leave the rest to me."
Four gazes crossed like blades. Outside the cave, the underground river roared against the rocks.
"Then how should we divide the spoils? The same as last time?"
Liu Fengchun said, "The venom sac is mine. That is the established rule!"
Yin Jiu rasped, "The shed snakeskin is mine."
The slit pupils beneath his mask swept over Chen Moyang. "Surely a formation master will not fight over insect feed?"
Chen Moyang pinched a cracked jade fragment from his Formation Plate between his fingertips. "The Snake Bone naturally meshes with formations. I need the entire spine."
Lu Zhao brushed the undried snake blood on his Water-Splitting Spikes. "All the remnant vines are mine." Seeing the other three's gazes suddenly sharpen, he added, "You can divide the Green Vine equally among yourselves, and I will give you another thirty spirit stones."
"How many spirit stones is that Green Vine even worth?" Liu Fengchun sneered. "Boy, those remnant vines are worth at least a hundred spirit stones! You toss out a casual offer to divide it equally-do you take us for beggars?"
His withered palm slapped the rock wall. Amid the shower of falling stones, he held out his hand. "Give us sixty spirit stones!"
A half-foot-long Red Centipede emerged from Yin Jiu's sleeve, its venomous mandibles clacking metallically. "Poison Fire Burns Vine will cost me no small amount. Sixty spirit stones is our bottom line."
In silence, Chen Moyang arranged the fragments of his Formation Plate into a trigram, then suddenly looked up. "The damage to my Formation Plate will not be cheap either. Fellow Daoist Lu must provide another sixty spirit stones."
The Mystic Water Shield's dim glow spread over Lu Zhao's cheeks. "I am leading the attack and will be the first to face the Snake King. Besides, this Snake King is worth considerably more than an ordinary Middle First Stage beast. With me taking no share of it, your gains should be substantial."
He kicked aside a half-melted scorpion pincer beside his foot. "If I do not step up, you will not even get a glimpse of the Green Vine-I will give the three of you thirty-six spirit stones."
"Forty-five!" Bloodshot streaks appeared in the emerald eyes on Liu Fengchun's staff. "Not one stone less!"
Yin Jiu said, "No fewer than forty-five spirit stones!"
Lu Zhao touched his Water-Splitting Spikes to the ground, and Ice Vines instantly froze the bare earth. "Forty-two." Seeing Liu Fengchun's withered lips about to part, he cut him off coldly. "Do not forget, killing the Snake King will still require all of us working together. If a few spirit stones distract us..."
In the deathly silence, only the underground river's wail could be heard. Liu Fengchun suddenly gave a bitter smile. "Forty-two it is. But you must give it your all."
Along the way, Liu Fengchun had also realized that, in terms of actual strength, Lu Zhao was the strongest of the four.
The other three might each have their own specialties in other areas, but none could match Lu Zhao in actual strength.
"Agreed." Lu Zhao considered it, then nodded.
When they entered the limestone cave again, the Hundred Waters Dharma Disc began spinning rapidly of its own accord inside Lu Zhao's robes. The crystal at its center burst with blue light like needles of ice.
"The flower bud is moving!" The silver needle on Chen Moyang's Formation Plate plunged toward the Zhen Position. The bronze-green vine cocoon hanging from the cave ceiling pulsed faintly, fine cracks opening in the bloody scabs on its surface and oozing amber fluid!
"This is bad!" Green light had only just begun to rise from Liu Fengchun's Snake-Head Staff when the rock wall to their left suddenly rippled like water!
The five-zhang-long Snake King burst out of the rock, without the scrape of scales or a foul wind tearing through the air, like a ghostly shadow ripping through space! Chen Moyang, first in its path, had his Formation Plate shatter with a bang, his protective spiritual glow disintegrating like paper!
"Kan Position!" Lu Zhao roared, pouring magical power madly into the Mystic Water Shield. The instant its deep-blue water curtain surged into a wall, the snake's tail lashed across Chen Moyang's chest and abdomen-the clang of metal against stone exploded together with the crack of breaking bones!
Chen Moyang slammed into a stalactite pillar like a kite with its string cut, blood mist spraying like rain.
The Red Centipedes had barely lunged from Yin Jiu's sleeve when the venom sac in the Snake King's throat swelled, spewing venom like a waterfall. The Red Centipedes dissolved on contact, turning into wisps of green smoke before they could even scream!
"It has an innate spell that lets it merge into rock! Be careful!" Yin Jiu cried.
The Wind-Rending Shard on Liu Fengchun's staff finally activated, but its green light swept through only the lingering afterimage of the Snake King.
Ripples spread across the rock wall again, and the snake's head emerged behind Lu Zhao. Venom dripping from its fangs corroded the Mystic Water Shield with a sizzling hiss!
The Hundred Waters Dharma Disc abruptly activated. As Lu Zhao spun around, three Ice Cones shot toward the snake's eyes in a triangular formation.
The Snake King opened its mouth again, spewing another dense surge of green-black venomous mist. The three Ice Cones rapidly melted!
Yin Jiu rolled away from the corrosive venom in a sorry state, half a corner of his mask eaten through.
The Snake King's amber slit pupils split into overlapping images within the mist, every gaze carrying a soul-devouring chill.
Lu Zhao drew a deep breath. Two Ironwood Guards appeared before him, earthen-yellow light spreading over their entire bodies.
Having landed its surprise strike, the Snake King slithered backward like a phantom, swiftly retreating to the Green Vine's side.
Seeing the Snake King arrive, the Green Vine seemed to possess awareness. Its roots reached out and wrapped around the Snake King, its manner like a gentle wife softly caressing her husband.
Liu Fengchun spoke up. "Fellow Daoists, we cannot delay any longer. We must strike with thunderous force. We cannot outlast this Snake King in a battle of attrition."
He looked toward Lu Zhao, plainly saying that it was time to see what he could do.
Lu Zhao spoke as well. "The rest of the plan remains unchanged. I will use my full strength to trap the Snake King."
Though Lu Zhao seemed bold at that moment, inwardly he was groaning. None of them had expected the Snake King to possess an innate spell that let it merge into earth and stone, severely injuring one of them right at the outset.
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