58: Despair

Chapter 58: Despair

Looking at the mountains from afar made them seem close, but it took three more days of travel to reach the outermost perimeter of Kunlun.

The so-called outermost perimeter was lush with vegetation, much like a primeval forest.

Every large tree was several hundred meters tall, with dense foliage and moss-covered bark, entwined with old vines, requiring dozens of people holding hands to encircle them.

"This godforsaken place has no signal whatsoever."

"I think if a few people hid here, they'd be impossible to find," Cockroach grumbled. "Little Five, look, any one of these big trees could hide seven or eight people."

"Exactly. We haven't encountered anyone here. Are we moving a bit too fast?" Frog chimed in.

Xu Jingzhe frowned; he also felt something was off.

But he could only grit his teeth and push deeper.

At worst, they would just circle the outer perimeter of Kunlun.

Not finding anyone was often the best outcome.

Dodge told the others to stop, then scaled a several-hundred-meter-tall ancient tree. He shot up like a nimble ape, disappearing into the dense leaves in an instant.

Dozens of seconds later, he descended from another ancient tree.

"Let's go. No matter what, we need to put Little Five's mind at ease," Dodge said.

The group walked several hundred more miles. The path ahead became increasingly difficult, with arm-thick branches intertwining like natural barriers.

The rotting, withered leaves underfoot felt softer than the finest carpet, emitting faint rustling sounds. Occasionally, a few dappled rays of light filtered through the thick canopy, falling onto their hair, adding a touch of vitality.

Suddenly.

Dodge stopped dead, his entire body tensing like a startled cat, his eyes fixed on the path ahead.

Cockroach, who had been looking around, accidentally bumped into Dodge's back. He rubbed his prominent nose and asked, "Boss, what's wrong?"

"Shh... Look ahead," Frog whispered.

They all looked, and their hearts were greatly shaken.

A giant python, its head the size of a large G-Wagon, had a prominent bump in the middle, as if horns were about to sprout. Its scales were menacing, and its length was unknown, as it coiled around an ancient tree. Its scarlet forked tongue, five or six meters long, flicked out intermittently, emitting hissing sounds.

Its crimson eyes, like lanterns, gazed down at them from above.

"Holy mother of... This thing's about to become a spirit!" Cockroach exclaimed, his legs trembling.

"Boom!"

Just then, a clap of thunder echoed, and a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky.

The giant python's body tensed, as if facing a formidable enemy.

And the group, highly strung, involuntarily shivered, especially Cockroach, who was timid and almost sat down on the ground.

"This python shows signs of transforming into a dragon; it might be undergoing tribulation."

"We've unluckily trespassed into his territory. In his eyes, we are people who are hindering his tribulation, so he will inevitably fight us to the death," Dodge explained, making a gesture to retreat.

"Are there really creatures like dragons on Blue Star?" Xu Jingzhe asked with a trembling voice.

This python had too great an impact on his worldview! If it grew horns on its head and claws on its belly, it would be almost identical to a true dragon.

"Otherwise, how did the Chinese zodiac come about? The wisdom of our ancestors has been passed down for tens of thousands of years. Many things are still difficult for current scientific development to unravel."

"Just because you haven't seen it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist!"

The group moved backward in unspoken understanding. The giant python slid down from the ancient tree, incredibly smoothly.

"Run!" Dodge roared, hoisting Xu Jingzhe onto his shoulder, holding his AWM in the other hand.

His strength was the lowest here; he wouldn't be able to run fast and would be swallowed by the snake within minutes.

The group darted like rabbits and badgers, unleashing their full strength as they weaved through the forest.

"Split up and run!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The giant python charged wildly, shattering huge rocks, sending fragments flying. Several pieces grazed Dodge and embedded themselves in ancient trees.

Xu Jingzhe's stomach churned, suppressing the urge to vomit.

Dodge ran like a madman. He felt like a lone boat adrift on the ocean, his body beyond his control.

"Brother Qi, Brother Qi, put me down, I can run myself," Xu Jingzhe struggled to utter.

"What are you thinking? This giant python is already spiritual, it has sentience. We are now mortal enemies with him. Don't think that just because you're a mosquito in his eyes, he won't eat you!"

"No matter how small a fly's leg, he will fight to the death!"

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

The ground trembled. The giant python was more formidable than a large bulldozer. Wherever he went, vegetation snapped, rocks shattered, and nothing could stop him.

The originally dense and difficult-to-traverse primeval forest was forcibly cleared into a wide path by him.

Large trees, broken into several sections, swept across with immense force. Dodge was too slow to Dodge and was violently struck on the back.

The two of them tumbled through the air like birds with broken wings, smashing through several waist-thick branches and then crashing into a large tree.

Xu Jingzhe's vision went black, and he immediately passed out.

Dodge's physical condition was stronger. He left a human-shaped imprint on the tree, and his dazed mind recovered in a few seconds.

He glanced at Xu Jingzhe, who lay on the grass, and gritted his teeth.

Taking a deep breath, his chest gradually expanded, and visible currents of air rushed into his mouth.

"Roar..."

The Lion's Roar, earth-shattering, made the giant python's massive body tremble. He abandoned Xu Jingzhe, who was almost within his grasp, and charged at Dodge.

"Kid, life and death are fated. Brother Qi can only help you this far. Whether you live or not is up to you."

"If you survive, come find me for your sniper rifle!"

Dodge mumbled, speeding up. Using branches and vines to obscure the giant python's vision, he quickly moved away... "Hiss..."

"It hurts so much..."

Xu Jingzhe woke up, his surroundings pitch black, without a single ray of light. He felt like his body was ruined, an unknown number of bones broken, and his entire body was in excruciating pain.

Especially his internal organs, which felt as if they had shifted from their original positions, causing a suffocating discomfort and making breathing extremely difficult.

"Brother... Brother Qi." As he opened his mouth, blood seeped from the corner of his lips.

"Brother... Qi..."

Five minutes later, Xu Jingzhe confirmed that Dodge was not by his side, and a bitter smile continuously formed on his face.

"Hey, is the big shot there?" Xu Jingzhe asked in his mind.

Similarly, there was no response.

"Don't mess with me, I feel like I'm going to die."

"Big Brother, I was wrong. I'll never curse you again."

The system still showed no reaction.

At this point, he was utterly desperate.

Could it be that because Kunlun was once the dwelling place of gods, even the most advanced system on Blue Star was suppressed and crashed?

He tried several times to get up but failed.

His bones were indeed broken in multiple places, his legs couldn't bear weight, and every movement caused broken bones to pierce his flesh, staining his entire body with blood.

"Am I... going to die here like this, becoming a pile of white bones, eventually turning to dust under the power of time?"

Xu Jingzhe was unwilling. With astonishing willpower, enduring the intense pain, and with his ribs piercing both sides of his body, he finally managed to roll over and lie prone on the ground.

"Hoo..."

"Hoo..."

He bit his lip, trying to stay conscious, but due to excessive blood loss, his vision began to blur.

"Don't fall asleep, Xu Jingzhe."

"Ye Zi is waiting for you."

"Boss is waiting for you, Second Brother is waiting for you, Third Sister is waiting for you..."

"Don't fall asleep, don't fall asleep..."

"Ye Zi is waiting for you..."