46: The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Jiang Donghua narrowed his eyes, carefully observing the dark-green crocodile monster.

Its scales were as thick as iron, its fangs as white as knives, its four limbs strong and powerful, and its tail had several rows of sharp bone spurs; it was clearly no ordinary monster.

He quickly recalled the monster guide he had once read.

Suddenly, a name flashed through his mind.

"Snake-Swallowing Crocodile!"

It specialized in preying on snake-type monsters and possessed extremely strong anti-toxicity, so even the potent venom of the Black Water Profound Serpent posed no fatal threat to it!

Jiang Donghua's lips curled slightly, and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

"No wonder it dared to confront the Black Water Profound Serpent; it's its natural enemy."

The Black Water Profound Serpent also clearly sensed the danger; its serpentine body slowly coiled tighter, its snake pupils fixed on the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile, and a low hiss emanated from its throat, as if warning the other party not to act rashly.

However, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile remained unmoved; instead, it slowly crawled forward, its blood-red eyes filled with greed and killing intent.

"Roar—!"

Suddenly, the Black Water Profound Serpent attacked first, its serpentine body shooting out like lightning, its fangs piercing directly towards the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's neck!

"Hiss—!"

Venom splattered, yet the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile merely tilted its head slightly, allowing the venom to spray onto its scales, without even the slightest trace of corrosion!

Its anti-toxicity was terrifying!

The next moment, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile suddenly opened its gaping maw and bit fiercely at the Black Water Profound Serpent's vulnerable spot!

"Hiss—!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent cried out in pain, twisting its body frantically, trying to break free, but the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's bite force was extremely terrifying; its fangs were deeply embedded in the serpentine body, and blood immediately gushed out!

Jiang Donghua watched with cold eyes, chuckling inwardly.

"Black Water Profound Serpent, you're dead this time."

He was not in a hurry to act; instead, he continued to conceal his aura, quietly waiting for the outcome of the two beasts' battle.

When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to wait until both were severely injured before making his move to reap the rewards?

The two were naturally like intertwined lovers, you in me, me in you, rolling, biting, and strangling each other in the pool.

But that azure-blue object slowly floated up from the muddy bottom of the pool.

"azure water profound crystal fruit!"

A glint flashed in Jiang Donghua's eyes, and he instantly recognized the azure-blue light shimmering at the bottom of the pool.

A water-element treasure!

Legend had it that this spiritual fruit grew deep within extremely cold water veins, taking ten years to form and a hundred years to bear fruit, containing pure water-element energy.

If a water-attribute Great Dou Master consumed one, it would be enough to directly break through a one-star realm!

Even cultivators of other attributes could use it to temper their meridians and enhance the purity of their Dou Qi.

"Looking at the fullness of this fruit, it's at least a hundred-year-old treasure!"

Jiang Donghua was secretly delighted; if this item were put up for auction, a hundred thousand gold coins would only be the starting price, and if it encountered a water-attribute expert in urgent need of a breakthrough, it could even fetch an astronomical price!

"No wonder these two beasts are fighting so desperately!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent and the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile were still fighting fiercely, the pool water churning, mud splashing everywhere.

Although the Black Water Profound Serpent's venomous fangs were sharp, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's scales were incredibly hard, and coupled with its natural anti-toxicity, the snake venom simply could not cause fatal damage.

Meanwhile, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's bite force was extremely terrifying; each tear could rip off a large chunk of flesh from the serpentine body, and blood dyed the entire pool red.

"Fight, fight even harder!"

Jiang Donghua's lips curled slightly, and a cold glint flickered in his eyes.

"When you two are both severely injured, this azure water profound crystal fruit will be mine!"

A trace of fear finally flashed in the Black Water Profound Serpent's vertical pupils.

Its venomous fangs were useless, its constricting attacks ineffective, and even escaping had become a luxury!

It frantically twisted its half-severed body, snake blood gushing out like a spring, staining the pool water crimson.

But the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile gave it no chance; its huge tail, covered in barbs, suddenly lashed out, striking the snake's head fiercely, making the Black Water Profound Serpent see stars!

"Hiss—!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent let out one last mournful hiss, its serpentine body twitched a few times, and then finally stopped moving.

The victor was decided!

However, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile was not in much better condition; its hard scales were torn open by the snake's fangs, revealing several gruesome wounds, its abdomen was mangled and bloody from the constriction, and its left front claw was almost bitten off, with blood continuously oozing from the wounds.

It panted heavily, slowly swimming towards the Black Water Profound Serpent's corpse, opening its gaping maw, ready to enjoy its spoils.

But at that very moment.

"Whoosh!"

A dark figure, like a ghost, swept down from the treetops, sword light like lightning, piercing directly towards the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's right eye!

"Pfft!"

Blood splattered!

"Roar—!"

The Snake-Swallowing Crocodile let out an earth-shattering roar, the intense pain making it thrash its head wildly, but the figure had already used the force to flip back, landing steadily on a large rock by the pool.

Jiang Donghua held his sword in one hand, a cold smirk playing on his lips.

"Beast, are you done fighting?"

The Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's single eye was blood-red, staring intently at this suddenly appearing human, a low roar rumbling in its throat.

It never expected that after fighting to the death, it would be ambushed by a human!

Jiang Donghua flicked the blood drops from his sword, his eyes cold.

"Now, it's my turn."

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!

The heavily injured Snake-Swallowing Crocodile and the azure water profound crystal fruit were all within his grasp!

"Trying to escape?!"

A cold light flashed in Jiang Donghua's eyes, Dou Qi exploded beneath his feet, and his figure, like lightning, pursued it to the edge of the pool.

However, although the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile was heavily injured, it was by no means slow in escaping; its massive body plunged into the black pool with a rumble, instantly disappearing into the murky water.

"Damn it!"

Jiang Donghua cursed, his sword heavily striking the water's surface, splashing water everywhere.

This beast had tough skin and thick flesh; after taking several of his Blazing Flame Palms and sword slashes, it could still drag its half-crippled body into the deep pool!

He narrowed his eyes, staring at the churning pool water, annoyed.

"This Black Water Profound Serpent's lair, the pool water must be extremely poisonous; venturing in recklessly is too risky!"

What's more, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile was originally an amphibious fierce beast; if he pursued it rashly while it lurked at the bottom of the pool, he might well be dragged into the deep water and strangled by this beast!

"Hmph, you think hiding in the water will save you?"

Jiang Donghua sneered, his gaze sweeping towards the azure-blue light at the bottom of the pool.

The azure water profound crystal fruit was still there!

"Since you're cowering and won't come out, I'll take this treasure first!"

He took a deep breath, his internal Dou Qi circulating, and the Blazing Flame Palm once again condensed in his palm.

"Blazing Flame Palm · Burning Wave!"

"Boom—!"

The scorching Fire Attribute Dou Qi violently blasted into the pool.

In an instant, the pool water was engulfed in flames, and white mist steamed!

If he couldn't force it out, then he would cook a pot of crocodile soup!

Unfortunately, with Jiang Donghua's strength, even using the Blazing Flame Palm a hundred times, he would never reach the realm of burning mountains and boiling seas.

Jiang Donghua stared at the murky water in the pool, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"If I can't force it out, then I'll cut off its source!"

He suddenly looked up, his gaze sweeping towards the upper part of the hillside.

Indeed, a winding stream was continuously feeding water into the pool.

"Heh, I'll cut off your roots!"

Without another word, he flipped his sword, infused Dou Qi into its blade, and fiercely slashed at the muddy bank connecting the stream and the pool!

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Sword light flashed like lightning, earth and stones flew!

The originally stable stream bank rapidly collapsed under his furious slashes, and the water immediately diverted, rushing downstream through the newly broken opening with a gurgling sound.

"Again!"

Jiang Donghua continued his actions, slashing continuously with his sword, Dou Qi exploding, carving a deep ditch along the edge of the pool!

"Gurgle gurgle—"

The pool water receded at a visible speed, and the murky mud gradually became exposed.

"Gurgle... gurgle..."

At the bottom of the pool, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile seemed to sense the danger; its massive body twisted restlessly in the mud, its single eye peering through the water, staring intently at the damned human on the shore.

Jiang Donghua grinned, his sword resting on his shoulder, looking down at it from above.

No water flowed down from above, but the water below flowed out twice as fast.

With time, this small pool would gradually lose all its water.

"You bastard, there's no water left, where else can you hide?"

"Now, it's time to settle the score!"

He leaped, the Blazing Flame Palm once again condensed, and he fiercely blasted it towards the struggling Snake-Swallowing Crocodile in the mud.

"Die, you bastard!"

"Boom—!"

The Blazing Flame Palm heavily struck the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's back, the scorching Fire Attribute Dou Qi exploding, making the scales sizzle and a burnt smell instantly spread.

"Roar—!"

The Snake-Swallowing Crocodile let out a painful roar, its thick tail suddenly lashed out, mud splattering, striking Jiang Donghua like an iron whip!

"Roaming Cloud Steps!"

Jiang Donghua's figure flickered, a afterimage streaked past, barely dodging the attack.

The tail struck a rock by the shore, directly smashing the boulder into pieces!

"What a tough beast!"

His eyes narrowed slightly, he twirled the sword in his palm, and once again closed in!

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Sword light flashed like lightning, continuously striking the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's wounds.

The flesh that had been constricted and torn by the Black Water Profound Serpent now became Jiang Donghua's best point of attack!

"Pfft! Pfft!"

Blood gushed out, the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile rolled frantically in pain, mud splattering, the entire bottom of the pool was churned upside down by it!

"Trying to run? Too late!"

Jiang Donghua sneered, Dou Qi erupted beneath his feet, and his figure, like a ghost, circled to the side of the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile, the Blazing Flame Palm once again condensed, and he fiercely slammed it onto its bloody abdomen!

"Blazing Flame Palm · Explode!"

"Bang—!"

The scorching Dou Qi exploded inside the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's body, its internal organs instantly suffering severe damage!

"Awoo—!"

The Snake-Swallowing Crocodile let out a mournful wail, and fear finally appeared in its single eye.

It finally understood that this human in front of it was even more terrifying than the Black Water Profound Serpent!

It struggled desperately, trying to crawl out of the mud and escape, but how could Jiang Donghua give it a chance?

"Roaming Cloud Steps · Triple Afterimage!"

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Three afterimages appeared simultaneously, swords piercing into the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's wounds from different angles, each sword drawing blood!

"Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!"

The Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's struggles grew weaker and weaker, and blood dyed the entire mud pit red.

Finally, its massive body crashed heavily into the mud, no longer able to move.

Jiang Donghua panted, his sword pressed against the Snake-Swallowing Crocodile's neck, and he said coldly.

"Tough skin and thick flesh? Heh, you still have to die!"

"You killed my former good neighbor, the Black Water Profound Serpent, so now I'm avenging him!"

He flicked his wrist, the sword blade sliced across, completely ending the fierce beast's life.

"Phew..."

Jiang Donghua let out a long breath, flicked the blood from his sword, and his gaze turned to the azure-blue fruit at the bottom of the pool.

"Now, it's time to collect the spoils."