67: Chapter 67 Earth Core Jade Marrow, Mutant Black Scale Python

This was a massive underground snake cave.

Bone-chilling cold permeated the cave, with fine ice crystals floating even in the air.

In the very center of the snake cave stood a massive stalactite as thick as three men encircling it.

At the tip of the stalactite, a drop of milky-white liquid was slowly condensing, emanating a pure Spiritual Qi that refreshed the heart and mind.

"earth core jade marrow!"

A terrifying, sharp gleam suddenly burst from Qi Yang's cloudy, aged eyes.

That milky-white liquid was precisely the top-grade spiritual item he dreamed of—one that could greatly increase the success rate of spiritual power liquefaction!

As long as he obtained it, his paper-thin Five-Element Mixed Spiritual Roots would stand a chance of enduring the spiritual power compression backlash of the Qi Refining Tenth Layer!

Qi Yang subconsciously wanted to rush over and collect it, but the moment he took half a step forward, his sharp perception flared with wild warning signals!

"Something's wrong!"

Qi Yang abruptly stopped in his tracks, his gaze fixed dead on the shadows beneath the stalactite.

Hiss... hiss...

Accompanied by the scraping sound of scales, a giant beast slowly poked its head out from the shadows.

It was a giant python covered in jet-black scales, with a bulging fleshy lump on top of its head!

Its crimson vertical pupils resembled two lanterns, glaring fixedly at the earth core jade marrow on the stalactite, while its thick body coiled around the stone pillar, emitting a suffocating, terrifying pressure.

"A Tier 1 Peak Yao Beast, the Mutated Black-Scaled Python!"

Qi Yang drew in a sharp breath, his back completely soaked in cold sweat.

Tier 1 Peak was equivalent to the Qi Condensation 11th Layer of a human Cultivator. Moreover, Yao Beasts possessed thick hides and extraordinarily tenacious vitality. The true combat power of this Mutated Black-Scaled Python was definitely far more terrifying than that Demonic Cultivator Leader from the Hundred Poisons Sect just now!

"Damn it, Deacon Pan Ping's map didn't mention such a deadly creature guarding this place!"

Qi Yang cursed loudly in his heart.

Forcefully steal it? Don't be ridiculous.

Although he was currently at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation and his Poison Wood Spiritual Power was domineering enough, if he faced this python—comparable to the Qi Condensation 11th Layer—head-on, a single swipe of its tail could shatter his protective spiritual light along with his internal organs.

"Stay low, I must stay low."

Qi Yang forcibly suppressed the greed in his heart.

His hands rapidly formed hand seals as earth-attribute spiritual power wrapped around his body, allowing him to silently submerge ten zhang deep into the rock layer underground.

He was waiting.

Powerful as this black-scaled python was, as long as it moved even half a step away from the stalactite, he could use the Earth Escape Technique to swiftly snatch the earth core jade marrow.

Time ticked away minute by minute.

Qi Yang lay dormant in the rock layer like a stone, suppressing even his breathing and heartbeat to the extreme.

Right at that moment, intense spiritual power fluctuations and rushed footsteps suddenly echoed from the crack at the entrance of the snake cave.

"Damned beast! Get the hell out of my way!"

Accompanied by a frantic, furious roar, a blood-soaked figure in tattered black robes stumbled into the underground snake cave.

Sensing the situation from within the rock layer, Qi Yang nearly burst out laughing.

The newcomer was actually that Demonic Cultivator Leader from the Hundred Poisons Sect!

This old Devil Head was in an utterly miserable state right now.

His original deep aura of the Qi Condensation 11th Layer had withered away, and the severed bodies of two venomous snakes still hung from his left arm. Clearly driven to desperation by the tide of snakes outside, he had fled blindly and stumbled straight into this underground cave!

Gasping heavily, the Demonic Cultivator Leader was about to find a spot to tend to his wounds when his gaze suddenly swept across the stalactite in the middle of the cave.

"Is that... earth core jade marrow?!"

The Demonic Cultivator Leader's eyes instantly widened, bloodshot with greed.

He had been stuck at the Qi Condensation 11th Layer for several years. Due to the limitations of his three-element Spiritual Root Aptitude, he had been unable to reach the threshold of the Qi Condensation 12th Layer Great Perfection.

If he could obtain this earth core jade marrow to cleanse his marrow and tendons, he would definitely achieve a Breakthrough in one go!

At this moment, greed completely triumphed over reason.

He even overlooked the terrifying Yao Beast coiled beneath the stalactite!

Roar!

Detecting the intruder's presence, the black-scaled python locked its crimson vertical pupils directly onto the Demonic Cultivator Leader.

Releasing a deafening roar, its massive body moved rapidly as it opened its bloody maw—spewing foul poisonous gas—and lunged straight at the Demonic Cultivator Leader!

"Vile beast! How dare you stand in my way!"

The Demonic Cultivator Leader let out a fierce roar, ruthless intent flashing in his eyes.

"Water-Wood Strangling! Die for me!"

The Hundred Poisons Sect's Demonic Cultivator Leader frantically formed seals, making the remaining Qi Condensation 11th Layer spiritual power in his body erupt violently.

Driven by his earth, wood, and water Spiritual Roots, it transformed into an overwhelming barrage of toxic dark-green water arrows and thick vines, crashing down on the black-scaled python.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The water arrows struck the python's black scales, bursting into blinding sparks, yet leaving only a few faint white marks.

The Physical Body of this Tier 1 Peak mutated Yao Beast was appallingly tough!

Hiss!

Stung by the pain, the black-scaled python fell into a complete frenzy.

Its tail, as thick as a water vat, whipped around with a terrifying sonic boom that tore through the air, smashing violently toward the Demonic Cultivator Leader.

"Earth Spirit Shield!"

The Demonic Cultivator Leader's face paled drastically as he hastily condensed a thick yellow shield of light before him.

Crack!

Holding out for merely half a breath, the Earth Spirit Shield shattered with a crash.

The immense backlash knocked the Demonic Cultivator Leader backward, slamming him heavily against the rock wall of the cave as he spurted a mouthful of black blood mixed with organ fragments.

"Damn it! How is this beast's hide so hard?!"

The Demonic Cultivator Leader gritted his teeth in hatred.

He had already consumed a vast amount of spiritual power against the snake tide outside, leaving him at a total disadvantage against the rested black-scaled python.

Yet his sinister eyes remained glued to the earth core jade marrow on the stalactite, his greed virtually tangible.

"As long as I get the jade marrow, I can achieve a Breakthrough! I'm going all out!"

The Demonic Cultivator Leader bit the tip of his tongue and spat out a mouth of blood essence, directly invoking a secret technique that burned his Lifespan.

His entire aura surged once more as he brandished a poison-dipped jagged broadsword, engaging in a bloody, close-quarters melee with the black-scaled python.

The entire cave shook violently as loose rocks showered down, causing the milky-white liquid on the stalactite to sway gently.

Meanwhile, Qi Yang, lying dormant ten zhang deep in the rock layer, saw everything clearly through his perception.

"Good fight, put a bit more strength into it."

Qi Yang sneered in his heart.

Like a patient old hunter, he calmly analyzed the drain on both sides.

Although the Demonic Cultivator Leader had forcibly boosted his combat power through the secret technique, his spiritual power was completely drained, and his Protective Aura was as flimsy as window paper.

As for the black-scaled python, despite its tough Physical Body, large patches of its scales peeled off under the demonic Cultivator's desperate poisonous blade strikes, spilling black venomous blood.

The intense battle raged on for a full incense stick's time.

"Break for me!"

Accompanied by a shrill scream from the Demonic Cultivator Leader, he sacrificed his left arm—letting it be crushed in the python's jaw—while channeling all his remaining spiritual power into the jagged broadsword in his right hand, hacking it viciously into the python's seven-inch vital spot behind the fleshy lump!

Pfft!

Foul poisonous snake blood gushed skyward like a fountain.

The black-scaled python's massive body twitched violently a few times before collapsing to the ground with a thud, completely lifeless.

"Hahaha! I won! The earth core jade marrow is mine!"

Drenched in blood with his left arm gone and his face pale as paper, the Demonic Cultivator Leader laughed wildly like a lunatic.

Stumbling forward without even bothering to raise his Protective Aura, he eagerly rushed toward the stalactite.

His spiritual power was totally depleted; right now, he was sustained entirely by sheer greed.

Just as he reached the stalactite and extended his remaining right hand to collect that drop of milky-white liquid...

"Now!"

Deep within the rock layer, killing intent suddenly erupted in Qi Yang's eyes!

He didn't use any spiritual power to attack the Demonic Cultivator Leader directly, because even with exhausted spiritual power, the instinctive counterattack of a Qi Condensation 11th Layer expert was exceptionally dangerous.

Qi Yang formed a hand seal, gently circulating the Poison Wood Spiritual Power within his Dantian.

Whoosh...

Inside the cave, a nearly imperceptible layer of ice-blue fine dust suddenly drifted through the quiet air.

This was precisely the deadly poison Qi Yang had set up in the air long ago—Frost Absolute Shadow!