Chapter 529: Human-Headed Serpent Body
"Not good, we've run into a serpent swarm."
Zhang Ruochen stared at the sea surface, his expression turning extremely grim.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword sensed danger, trembling incessantly and emitting a sword hum.
The Western Xuan Sea was the territory of the Crimson Cloud Python Serpents. Without needing to guess, he knew that the blood aura from the dead Crimson Cloud Python Serpent must have attracted the swarm.
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had been lamenting that finding thirty Crimson Cloud Python Serpents was impossible, yet only moments later, he found himself surrounded by the swarm.
If there were just two or three Crimson Cloud Python Serpents, Zhang Ruochen could still handle them.
But encountering dozens of Crimson Cloud Python Serpents—let alone Zhang Ruochen, even a cultivator above the Fish-Dragon Seventh Transformation would likely have to flee immediately.
Huang Yanchen also sensed the dangerous aura, looked at Zhang Ruochen, and said, "Let's return to the Cosmic Divine Wood Map first."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "You go into the Scroll World first. I have the Dragon Pearl to protect me, and I'm proficient in Spatial Displacement, so I can take care of myself."
"Whoosh—"
The Cosmic Divine Wood Map flew out from between Zhang Ruochen's brows, hovering in midair.
Above the scroll, a Space Gate materialized.
Huang Yanchen knew that with her strength, even encountering the weakest Crimson Cloud Python Serpent would mean certain defeat. If she stayed, she wouldn't be able to help Zhang Ruochen and would only distract him.
So, without hesitation, she entered the Space Gate and returned to the Scroll World.
Zhang Ruochen didn't enter the Scroll World. After all, he had come to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm to train, and he was even striving to break through to the Supreme Extreme Realm. How could he hide from danger?
Sometimes, one had to face challenges head-on. Unless absolutely necessary, he would never retreat into the Cosmic Divine Wood Map.
Zhang Ruochen grabbed the scroll's spindle and wrapped the Cosmic Divine Wood Map around himself.
The Cosmic Divine Wood Map was not just a scroll; it could also serve as a defensive treasure. Wrapped around his body, it could even withstand attacks from Sacred Artifacts.
The next moment.
"Roar!"
A massive crimson shadow emerged on the sea surface, revealing eyes as large as lanterns. On its serpentine head sat a scarlet "demon lamp."
That Crimson Cloud Python Serpent was right beside the ship, lowering its body and staring at Zhang Ruochen on the deck.
Its eyes were only ten zhang away from Zhang Ruochen, its ferocious mouth wide open, emitting a thick blood aura. Its voice was cold and deep: "Outer realm human, was that Crimson Cloud Python Serpent killed by you?"
Zhang Ruochen stood calmly on the deck, looking closely at the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent before him. "That's right."
Zhang Ruochen's body was smaller than one of the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent's eyeballs, making him appear utterly insignificant, but he remained composed, showing no trace of fear.
This Crimson Cloud Python Serpent was larger and more robust than the others, and its aura was stronger.
Its cultivation level was roughly equivalent to a human cultivator at the Fish-Dragon Fifth Transformation.
Killing it would earn him 300,000 military merit points.
Of course, with Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, even using the power of time and space, killing it would not be an easy task.
Crimson Cloud Python Serpents were naturally aggressive, possessed immense strength, and could summon wind and rain, overturn rivers and seas—they were far more formidable than Treefolk.
"Daring to kill a Crimson Cloud Python Serpent in the Western Xuan Sea—you're asking for death."
That Crimson Cloud Python Serpent let out an angry roar and struck down with its claw.
Zhang Ruochen didn't dare to clash head-on. He immediately used Spatial Displacement, appearing thirty zhang away, hovering above the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent's head.
"Boom!"
The Crimson Cloud Python Serpent's claw shattered the thirty-meter-long ship into pieces. With a thunderous crash, the mast, deck, and cabin all sank into the sea.
Finding Zhang Ruochen gone, the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent was momentarily surprised.
"Die!"
Zhang Ruochen channeled all his strength into his arms and slashed downward, aiming for the crimson crest on the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent's head.
That was its weak point, its fatal spot.
If he could pierce the crest, its combat power would drop by at least half.
Zhang Ruochen's sword strike was fast, but the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent's reaction was even faster. Before his sword could land, a serpent tail whipped out, striking Zhang Ruochen and sending him flying.
Fortunately, Zhang Ruochen had the Cosmic Divine Wood Map wrapped around him and the Dragon Pearl protecting his body. Otherwise, taking a full-force blow from a Fish-Dragon Fifth Transformation Crimson Cloud Python Serpent would have left him either dead or severely injured.
"Such fast reactions, such terrifying power."
Zhang Ruochen wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, realizing that this Crimson Cloud Python Serpent was not to be trifled with. He then used his movement technique to charge toward another Crimson Cloud Python Serpent with a weaker aura.
Dozens of Crimson Cloud Python Serpents had gathered in this sea area, their strengths naturally varying.
Among them, a few were only at the Fish-Dragon Third Transformation, and Zhang Ruochen set his sights on them.
A Fish-Dragon Third Transformation Crimson Cloud Python Serpent was worth 100,000 military merit points.
"Instant Without Trace."
Zhang Ruochen flew above a Fish-Dragon Third Transformation Crimson Cloud Python Serpent, merging with Time Imprints, and executed the Instant Sword Technique, thrusting forward at lightning speed.
"Pfft!"
His body, along with the Abyssal Ancient Sword, pierced through the Crimson Cloud Python Serpent's head, flying out the other side, leaving a gaping hole four chi in diameter.
White brain matter and red blood gushed out from the wound simultaneously.
"100,000 military merit points in the bag."
Though trapped in danger and covered in blood, Zhang Ruochen was exhilarated, his battle intent surging even more fiercely.
Then, using Spatial Displacement and the Instant Sword Technique, he struck again and again, killing two more Fish-Dragon Third Transformation Crimson Cloud Python Serpents, adding another 200,000 military merit points.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to continue his assault, streaks of purple lightning suddenly erupted from the sky, like thick electric dragons weaving through the dark clouds, accompanied by the muffled rumble of thunder.
A creature with a serpent body and a human head flew among the clouds, controlling the lightning.
Its cultivation was formidable, comparable to a Fish-Dragon Sixth Transformation cultivator. It had the ferocious head of an old human man, connected to the serpent's neck, its deep-set eyes gleaming with sharp, malevolent light.
Zhang Ruochen had long known that some highly intelligent barbarian beast clans, upon reaching the sixth-rank barbarian beast level, could cultivate mysterious ancient arts and transform into human form.
This Crimson Cloud Python Serpent, though only a fifth-rank barbarian beast, could already transform its head into a half-human, half-serpent form—truly astonishing.
Under the control of that Crimson Cloud Python Serpent, dense lightning, like a waterfall, poured down from above, striking at Zhang Ruochen.
The other Crimson Cloud Python Serpents also attacked simultaneously. Some spat wind blades from their mouths, some spewed flames, and others shot ice daggers...
Zhang Ruochen continuously used Spatial Displacement to dodge, but still, over a dozen attacks landed on him. His neck, legs, and arms were torn and bleeding, every inch of his skin charred black.
"Outer realm human, where do you think you're going?"
That human-headed serpent-bodied creature charged out from the clouds, extending a claw like a flame. In its claw, it held a massive purple hammer, which it slammed down toward Zhang Ruochen's head.
The hammer was over ten meters long, square-shaped, its surface engraved with serpent patterns, radiating hundreds of bolts of lightning.
Zhang Ruochen felt a suffocating pressure, every hair on his body standing on end, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were sinking.
"Whoosh!"
The Cosmic Divine Wood Map flashed, and the Space Gate opened. Zhang Ruochen leaped in quickly, retreating into the Scroll World.
"Boom!"
The hammer struck the sea surface.
A powerful energy wave, centered on the hammer, spread outward, creating layers of waves that reached the clouds.
Three Crimson Cloud Python Serpents were flung into the air by the force. Several others were struck by the hammer's residual shockwave, their scales cracking and sustaining minor injuries.
Just the residual force alone was this devastating—a testament to the terrifying destructive power of that strike.
"Has he been reduced to ashes?"
The human-headed serpent-bodied creature, holding the hammer, hovered in the void. Two beams of light shot from its eyes as it carefully observed the churning sea below.