Chapter 463: Three-Headed Giant Python
Yun Che ran wildly for an entire hour, without a moment of rest except for the brief delay caused by Yue Ji and Mei Ji. Sweat poured down his forehead. Under normal running conditions, he wouldn't have felt tired in such a short time, but during this hour, he had been sprinting at full power every second, accompanied by immense consumption of profound energy and physical strength. Additionally, having previously used the Dragon Soul Domain, his spirit was also filled with fatigue.
This world was incredibly vast and empty. The sky was a dull gray, and before him lay an endless wilderness with no sharp undulations, no clusters of trees or stone forests to hide in. Even slightly taller rocks appeared only occasionally. Therefore, fleeing forward at full speed was Yun Che's only option.
However, the comforting thing was that after this hour passed, no one had come chasing after him.
"Careful, there's a dangerous big guy ahead," Mo Li suddenly warned.
Yun Che's vigilance immediately rose. He had encountered quite a few profound beasts along the way, but he had easily shaken them off. Since Mo Li specially warned him this time, it seemed this profound beast was no ordinary one.
Soon, within Yun Che's field of vision, a huge black mass appeared. This black object was curled up quietly, seemingly a giant profound beast sleeping soundly. When Yun Che saw it, it also sensed the approach of a living being. Its coiled body suddenly stretched out, revealing three enormous pitch-black heads. Each head was triangular, even larger than Yun Che's own body. Black tongues flicked out from their mouths, and their small eyes radiated a chilling light.
It was a three-headed giant python!
"Ah!!" Just as Yun Che was about to tell Feng Xue'er to close her eyes, a young girl's scream came from his embrace. For creatures like snakes, even the strongest woman would have an instinctive fear, let alone such a huge three-headed python.
The aura emanating from this three-headed giant python was cold and terrifying. In terms of strength, it was a high-level King Xuan Beast! Its six eyes locked onto Yun Che, and with a hiss, the middle head shot forward like a black lightning bolt, opening a pitch-black mouth like an abyss. Its fangs stood upright like poison blades from hell, chilling the heart at the sight.
Yun Che quickly shielded Feng Xue'er in his arms, not letting her see this terrifying scene. Then, his figure flickered as if crossing space, instantly appearing ten zhang ahead, completely evading the python's attack. Along this path, whenever he encountered any profound beasts, he would avoid them at full power and shake them off, never engaging in direct combat, because that would only consume the time he and Feng Xue'er needed to escape. This python was no different.
Having dodged the python's attack, Yun Che was about to sprint at full power to shake it off when a hissing sound came from the side—the python's second head struck at that moment, its speed more than double that of the first. Yun Che had just used Star God Remnant Shadow and couldn't use it again in such a short time. With his own speed, even at his limit, he absolutely couldn't avoid the python's attack. His expression darkened, and he quickly turned around, grabbed the Dragon Gate, and slammed it fiercely onto the python's terrifying giant mouth.
An extremely unpleasant strange cry rang out. The python's second head was knocked back, and its entire body began to stir chaotically. However, the power of this three-headed giant python far exceeded Yun Che's expectations. Under the immense force, he was sent flying far away, crashing heavily onto the ground, sliding backward for over twenty zhang before stopping.
"Xue'er, are you okay…"
Just as Yun Che was about to check if Feng Xue'er was injured, the dangerous aura came again. The second head had just been knocked back when the first and third heads followed up with tearing bites, giving Yun Che no time to breathe.
Having just witnessed the terrifying speed and power of this python, Yun Che quickly retreated. It was impossible for him to block the attacks of two snake heads with one hand. He made a decisive decision, pushed his palm upward, and with a light cry from Feng Xue'er, threw her high into the air. He grabbed the Dragon Gate with both hands, activated Heart Incineration, and used Overlord's Wrath to meet both snake heads at once.
Boom!!!
Under Yun Che's full-force strike, both snake heads let out pained hisses and were knocked far away. Yun Che spun his body, then leaped from a low altitude, gently catching the falling Feng Xue'er back into his arms… However, his mind was constantly alert to the three-headed python. When he caught Feng Xue'er, the position of his hand was slightly off, and his palm covered a soft, towering mound.
The warmth in his hand, though a bit immature, was still considerable in size and considered full and plump. It perfectly fit into Yun Che's palm. Even through a layer of phoenix robes, the incredibly soft touch still filled his entire hand, sending a shiver through his whole body.
"Eep…" The girl in his arms let out a flustered whimper. Yun Che immediately realized what his hand had touched. He hurriedly tried to withdraw his hand, but at that moment, a huge black shadow swept toward him from behind with a gust of wind—it was the python's tail!
Three heads and one tail could all act independently. Facing this three-headed giant python, Yun Che was practically facing four enemies at once, all of them surpassing him in speed, leaving him no chance to catch his breath. Yun Che's eyes focused. He could no longer care about anything else. He tightened his arm around Feng Xue'er, his hand unconsciously gripping hard… Immediately, all five fingers of his left hand sank deeply into a cluster of warm, fragrant, jade-like softness.
"Ah…"
Falling Moon and Sinking Star!!
Both the girl's scream and the violent collision rang out simultaneously. The huge tail was knocked back by the Dragon Gate, but Yun Che was also sent flying sideways. After landing, he staggered more than a dozen times and nearly fell backward.
"Brother Yun… your… hand…" Feng Xue'er's voice was as faint as a mosquito's whimper, and her limp body struggled slightly. Yun Che hurriedly moved his arm down and wrapped it around her waist: "Xue'er, I didn't mean to…"
The three-headed python gave Yun Che no time to explain. Enraged by the continuous attacks, it fully extended its huge body, which was dozens of zhang long. Its three enormous heads, like demonic claws, descended simultaneously from the sky, biting at Yun Che.
Yun Che activated Star God Remnant Shadow, suddenly flashing backward. Then, using the same trick, he pushed Feng Xue'er's delicate body into the air again, gripped the Dragon Gate with both hands, and his gaze turned extremely ruthless.
This python was extremely troublesome. If he didn't completely drive it back, it would be almost impossible to shake it off!
"Purgatory!!"
A red light flashed in Yun Che's eyes, and his whole aura became as violent as magma.
"Phoenix Wing Firmament!!"
Yun Che's entire body ignited with flames. He suddenly charged upward, passing through the three snake heads in an instant, and smashed heavily into the python's body.
Boom!!
As the fire waves exploded, the three-headed python let out a blood-curdling scream and flew far away as if swept up by a hurricane. Yun Che, under the recoil, performed a backflip and leaped back to where he had been standing. Behind him, a blue light flashed, and the Shadow of the Celestial Wolf roared up to the sky.
Heavenly Wolf Strike!!
With the wild swing of the Dragon Gate, a Shadow of the Celestial Wolf shot out, tearing through space, and smashed heavily into the flying three-headed python. The python's huge body tumbled rapidly in the air like a top, accompanied by a shower of black python blood splattering through the sky.
Being in the highly consuming Purgatory state and using two big moves in a row placed a considerable burden on Yun Che's body. After the Heavenly Wolf Strike, his body stumbled backward under the recoil force, deviating from his intended position. Feng Xue'er fell from the sky at that moment. He frantically balanced himself, made a flying leap, caught the descending Feng Xue'er firmly in his arms at low altitude, then landed on his back, finally shielding her perfectly.
"Brother Yun… your hand…"
Feng Xue'er's voice was soft and delicate, with a hint of tears. One of Yun Che's arms held her slender waist tightly, while his other hand was gently clamped between her legs, his palm pressed against a warm, soft area… He looked down, and his eyes jumped suddenly, because that hand had actually slipped inside her phoenix robes, clamped tightly between her snow-white legs. His palm was clearly pressed against the forbidden area of the young girl that was absolutely not to be touched.
"~!@#$%^..." Yun Che withdrew his hand like lightning. No matter how strong his mind was, he couldn't help but feel flustered. He hurriedly said, "Sorry… Xue'er, I didn't mean it… absolutely didn't mean it…"
He had just grabbed her chest firmly, and now this… Even Yun Che himself found it hard to believe that it wasn't intentional.
"I know…" Feng Xue'er buried her snow-white face deep into Yun Che's chest. A blush had already spread to her ears and neck: "But Brother Yun… is so bad…"
"…" Hearing that Feng Xue'er didn't seem angry, Yun Che secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He picked her up again, but the strange tactile sensation on his hand still lingered, unwilling to fade, causing constant ripples in his heart.
In the distance, the python that Yun Che had sent flying finally calmed down. But it didn't continue attacking Yun Che. Its six sinister eyes glanced at him, then its huge body retreated and fled away at an astonishing speed, quickly disappearing from Yun Che's sight.
"Trouble's coming."
Just as Yun Che began to relax after the python fled, a heavy voice rang in his mind. He was stunned and was about to ask Mo Li what she meant when he suddenly sensed something and quickly turned around.
He vaguely felt a powerful, dangerous aura approaching rapidly. Gradually, at the far edge of his vision, a blurry white dot appeared and grew larger and closer at an alarming rate.
"Ye Xinghan!!"
Yun Che's expression changed drastically, and his teeth clenched tightly… Finally, he had caught up! Yun Che clenched his fists, then activated his full speed, fleeing forward as fast as he could.
"You can't outrun him," Mo Li said flatly. "You've spotted him, and he's definitely spotted you. This place is wide open, and with your speed, escaping his pursuit is simply impossible… Your best choice now is to use the teleportation jade Xia Yuanba gave you and leave here immediately. Otherwise, you're dead for sure!"
"Have you ever seen me abandon a woman and flee for my own life?" Yun Che gritted his teeth.
"…"
"Not to mention that Xue'er saved my life… Even if she hadn't, I would never allow her to be harmed by anyone!"
"Hmph," Mo Li's voice was filled with disdain. "Playing the hero has its limits. Ye Xinghan is a mid-stage Overlord Emperor. Do you really think that even if you sacrifice your life, you can save her? You'll just be throwing your life away for nothing!"
"I'll try anyway!"
"…"
...
Chapter 464: Burial Flower Chant
Although Yun Che was fast, it was nowhere near Ye Xinghan's speed. The distance between them closed rapidly. Within a dozen breaths, it had narrowed to within a hundred zhang. Yun Che held Feng Xue'er tightly, gritted his teeth, his mind racing as he desperately thought of a way to escape. At that moment, he suddenly felt the aura locked onto him break off, and even the sense of danger largely diminished.
Yun Che quickly turned his head and saw a snow-white, elegant figure slowly descending from above, blocking Ye Xinghan's path. A powerful aura forcibly sealed off his presence and his forward path.
That was… Ji Qianrou!?
Yun Che's heart suddenly calmed down a lot. He took a deep breath and sped up again, charging straight ahead.
"Oh my, Little Hanhan, rushing so hurriedly, where are you going? Since I'm free and bored, why don't I lend a hand?" Ji Qianrou twirled his fingers, blinked his peach blossom eyes, and smiled charmingly at Ye Xinghan. The invisible aura he released completely sealed Ye Xinghan's path, preventing him from advancing another step.
The moment he saw Ji Qianrou appear, Ye Xinghan felt something was wrong. Given Ji Qianrou's nature, it was impossible for him to appear so coincidentally without purpose, and it was very likely that he had secretly observed everything. Ye Xinghan's face darkened and he said, "Ji Qianrou, step aside immediately and don't ruin my good deed."
"Oh my, Little Hanhan is so fierce." Ji Qianrou looked wronged and frightened, but his peach blossom face quickly bloomed again: "But Little Hanhan's angry look is really cute, making me want to touch you… Little Hanhan, stretch your face over here so I can have a good feel."
"You…" Ye Xinghan shuddered and involuntarily took a step back. Then he gritted his teeth and said, "Ji Qianrou, I've long felt someone watching from somewhere, and sure enough, it's you. We're both from the Sacred Grounds, no need for nonsense. You know who I'm chasing. Move aside now, and I, Ye Xinghan, owe you a favor. Otherwise… Hmph! You have no close ties with the Fenghuang God Sect either, so there's no need to become mortal enemies with me over a sect that's about to decline!"
"Fenghuang God Sect?" Ji Qianrou rolled his eyes, then laughed so hard his whole body shook: "You mean that little girl from the Fenghuang God Sect? That little girl is quite likable, but whether she lives or dies has nothing to do with me. I just think it's fun watching you and Little Cheche chasing each other around, so I couldn't help jumping out to add a little difficulty to your chasing game. It'll be more fun, oh hum!"
"Yun Che?" Ye Xinghan frowned, puzzled. Ji Qianrou had suddenly blocked him not for Feng Xue'er, but for Yun Che.
Although Ye Xinghan had an Overlord Xuan Artifact on him, he was no match for Ji Qianrou. If Ji Qianrou wanted to stall him, he couldn't even escape from under his hand. He said in a deep voice, "What benefits did Yun Che give you? The prestigious Jade-faced Demon Lord, selling his life for a brat from Cang Feng who's not even twenty? How ridiculous."
"Selling his life? Little Hanhan said that wrong, hmm." Ji Qianrou wagged his finger: "I said, I just wanted to join the game between Little Hanhan and Little Cheche. There are still ten hours before this world closes. If the game ends so quickly, there'll be nothing to play for the rest of the time. How boring. Shoo——"
Ji Qianrou raised his right hand, and between his snow-white fingers, a seductive red petal suddenly appeared. He moved his fingers slightly, and the petal floated lightly as if carried by a gentle breeze, drifting toward Ye Xinghan. When it was less than a zhang away from Ye Xinghan, its speed suddenly increased, shooting forward in an instant, leaving a lasting red streak across the space.
Ye Xinghan tilted his head, and the red streak flew past almost grazing his throat. The chill at that moment made his heart stop. He forced himself to stay calm and said darkly, "You want to kill me?"
"Oh my, Little Hanhan's words are so scary. How could I bear to kill Little Hanhan?" Ji Qianrou shook his head eagerly in denial… He absolutely had the ability to kill Ye Xinghan, and in this world, he could do it without any repercussions. But Ji Qianrou knew very well that Ye Xinghan's body must have a soul imprint personally left by Sun Moon Divine Palace's Heavenly Lord Ye Meixie. Once Ye Xinghan died, the memories and images he saw shortly before his death would immediately be transmitted to Ye Meixie's soul, letting him know who killed Ye Xinghan.
Although Ji Qianrou was wild and unrestrained, he wasn't foolish enough to attract the murderous intent of a Heavenly Lord. Moreover, Ye Xinghan's death would involve not just personal grudges but the entire conflict between the Sun Moon Divine Palace and the Supreme Sea Palace.
"But if Little Hanhan is disobedient, as an elder, a small lesson is only proper. Don't you agree, Little Hanhan, hum?" Ji Qianrou said with a smile.
Ye Xinghan clenched his fists, nearly exploding with rage. The prey had been right in front of him moments ago. He could have immediately seized Feng Xue'er's body and bloodline… especially Feng Xue'er's bloodline, which was a great help in becoming the future ruler of this continent—something he absolutely had to obtain. And then this Ji Qianrou had to jump out at the worst possible time!
"Ji Qianrou, I usually respect you as an elder and always yield to you. But don't turn down a face that's given to you!" Convinced that Ji Qianrou wouldn't kill him, Ye Xinghan, anxious and impatient, suddenly became extremely forceful, trying to intimidate him with his status as the young master of a Sacred Ground.
"Oh la la…" Ji Qianrou was hardly intimidated. Still smiling, he said, "This perfect face of mine is the most important thing in my life. I definitely have to keep it. But the green lotus Little Hanhan offers… I don't want it at all."
"You…"
Before Ye Xinghan could say another word, his eyes flickered and he struck abruptly. Two beams of profound light blazed and shot straight at Ji Qianrou.
"Sun Moon Prison!!"
As soon as he struck, Ye Xinghan used the strongest sealing profound technique of the Sun Moon Divine Palace, determined to forcibly lock down Ji Qianrou's movements while he was off guard.
Faced with Ye Xinghan's sudden attack, Ji Qianrou's expression didn't change. Even the elegant, alluring curve of his lips didn't shift in the slightest. Only his two fingers lightly flicked, causing two rose-red petals to drift lightly to the left and right.
Crack! Crack!
The Sun Moon profound light carrying powerful sealing force burst like soap bubbles upon touching the two petals, stirring up turbulent storms that scattered in both directions. Standing in the middle of the two storms, Ji Qianrou didn't even have a strand of hair or a corner of his clothes stirred. He extended five fingers, each flickering with a different color, looking quite splendid. His peach blossom eyes narrowed, and he chuckled, "Little Hanhan really is naughty. Then I'll have to teach you a small lesson."
"Ji Qianrou, don't think I'm afraid of you! Let's see what you can do to me today!"
Ye Xinghan's gaze was vicious. The Sun Moon Tribulation spread in his hands. His whole body flashed with profound light, and his powerful profound energy surged like a tsunami.
"Yin Yang Illusory Annihilation… Die!!"
Two clusters of profound light, one white and one black, released from the Sun Moon Tribulation, intertwining in mid-air like a taiji diagram, blasting straight at Ji Qianrou. Wherever they passed, space twisted inch by inch.
Faced with this terrifying killing move, Ji Qianrou remained calm as a spring breeze. He twisted his wrist slightly, twirled his fingers, and the colored lights at his fingertips alternated, creating a riot of colors: "Little Hanhan, enjoy this beautiful… Bur—ial—Flower—Chant… oh."
As the final syllable left his lips, the colored lights on Ji Qianrou's five fingers flashed simultaneously. Instantly, petals of yellow, red, pink, green, blue, white, tea—all colors—whirled out, as if a magnificent multicolored rain of flowers had suddenly begun.
The incoming yin-yang force plunged into this sky full of petals, and then it grew smaller and smaller, smaller and smaller… When it was still several zhang away from Ji Qianrou, it had completely disappeared.
Disappeared without a trace, without a sound.
"Wha… at!?"
Ye Xinghan had heard many stories of Ji Qianrou's terror, but he had never fought him, and never imagined his petals could be so terrifying! At that moment, a wind mixed with a strong floral scent blew, carrying a large number of petals toward Ye Xinghan. Ye Xinghan's pupils contracted, and he instinctively retreated. But after retreating just one body length, a series of powerful tearing forces came from in front of him… more precisely, from every petal! The tearing force was so great that he had virtually no ability to resist. He could only watch helplessly as petal after petal touched his body.
The first petal landed on his shoulder… It was clearly just a petal, but at that moment, he distinctly felt as if a mountain was pressing down on his shoulder, causing his floating body to sink sharply. Then, the second, third, fourth, fifth… more and more petals stuck to his body. With each additional petal, Ye Xinghan's body grew heavier. After several dozen petals, he could no longer stay afloat and fell heavily from the air.
Even after landing, the tremendous pressure prevented him from standing. He was forcibly suppressed to his knees… and finally his entire upper body was pressed firmly against the cold, hard ground, unable to lift his head.
"Ji… Qian… rou!!" Ye Xinghan pressed his face to the ground and roared in a hoarse voice: "I will never let you off. If you ever fall into my hands, I…"
A petal directly stuck to Ye Xinghan's mouth, preventing him from making another sound. Ji Qianrou shook his head with a look of pity and said, "Young people are so impulsive. Even now, he still talks tough. Aren't you afraid that if I get angry, I'll accidentally cut off your head? A severed head, blood spraying from the throat… Oh, that would be the most beautiful, the most intoxicating scene in the world."
Petals continued to fall, gradually covering the ground below. In the center was a not-too-high pile of flowers. Within that pile was Ye Xinghan, completely buried, not even a corner of his clothes visible.
Ji Qianrou's body slowly floated up, and he murmured softly to himself: "I always hate owing favors. Now I've finally repaid one. I wonder how long Little Hanhan will be buried… Phew, if Little Cheche still gets caught by Little Hanhan, then it's not my fault, hmm, hehehehe…"
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