47: A monstrous python devours people; let's discuss countermeasures.

Deep within the Black Mountains, inside that hidden Immortal Cave.

Moonlight, like liquid silver pouring onto the ground, filtered through the gaps in the vines hanging from the cave opening above, spilling onto Li Qinghe's seated figure.

His hands were held loosely in front of his chest, with a crystal-clear Jade Bottle floating between his palms.

At the mouth of the bottle, wisps of silver-white breath, visible to the naked eye and emitting a cold, faint glow, were being guided by him using the "Taiyin Moon Essence Qi Gathering Art."

They were being continuously stripped and absorbed from the gathered moon essence, slowly pouring into the bottle.

An hour later, the bottle trembled slightly, emitting a faint hum; the silver radiance swirled within, already full.

"The ninth bottle."

Li Qinghe opened his eyes, and a reflection of the moon seemed to swirl within his pupils before fading away.

He carefully put away this ninth Jade Bottle, placing it side by side with the previous eight.

"I still need twenty-seven more... there's still plenty of time."

He muttered to himself in a calm tone, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness.

Gathering moon essence only took place at specific hours; for the rest of his ample time, Li Qinghe devoted almost all of it to practicing the "Cold Moon Light-Splitting Sword Art."

Over the past year or so, he had discarded all distracting thoughts, and aside from his cultivation and qi gathering, his mind was completely immersed in the world of the sword.

After gathering the moon essence, he did not rest.

The clearing in the center of the cave was instantly enveloped by a piercing chill.

Li Qinghe pressed his fingers together like a sword and gestured forward.

The long sword stuck in the rock crevice gave a clear "buzzing" ring and leaped into his hand on its own.

The sword was a deep, mysterious blue throughout, with fine ice-crack patterns faintly visible on the blade; it was forged by his own hands with great effort from the cold iron Ore he had found under the guidance of the intelligence System.

Although it hadn't undergone the talismanic blessings or spiritual nurturing of a Great Master of Artifact Refining, it could be considered "half a Low Grade Magical Artifact," and the cold baleful qi inherent in its material was quite compatible with his "Moon Shadow Cold River Sword Art."

On the central clearing, the sword light flashed brilliantly, and cold air overflowed.

In his hands, the cold iron sword was no longer just sharp.

With every swing, a layer of condensed, inch-long radiance, flickering like something substantial, faintly swirled upon the blade!

This radiance was not a simple halo of released spiritual power, but contained extreme sharpness and the pure coldness of Taiyin Power, as if it could cut and freeze the very air!

This was precisely the first prominent Realm of the Dao of the Sword—Sword Radiance!

Li Qinghe's figure flickered like a ghost, his long sword tracing mysterious and profound trajectories.

At times like a lonely shadow on a cold river, at times like the moon setting over a calm lake—rippling with light yet hiding murderous intent.

Wherever the Sword Radiance passed, hard rocks were silently sliced open with smooth gashes, and the surrounding vegetation was instantly coated in white frost.

"Splitting Light and Seizing Shadows, Cold Moon Condensing Frost!"

Li Qinghe gave a low shout, and his sword momentum suddenly changed!

In an instant, the long sword in his hand seemed to split into several sword shadows that were hard to distinguish between real and illusory, and several streaks of cold moon light appeared simultaneously! The sword shadows were not illusions; each one contained the power of real Sword Radiance, carrying a bone-chilling cold that enveloped the area ahead!

"Chichi chi—!"

Several streaks of Sword Radiance struck the stone wall ahead at the same time, leaving several sword marks inches deep with ice crystals frozen on the edges!

The sword shadows merged back into one. Li Qinghe stood with his sword, breathing slightly hard, but his eyes sparkled with irrepressible excitement.

"It's done!"

He had finally gained a basic understanding of the first style of the "Moon Shadow Cold River Sword Art," "First Division of Moon Shadows"! This signified that he had not only mastered Sword Radiance but had also applied it to exquisite sword techniques; his combat power had increased by no small amount.

Just as he sheathed his sword and prepared to adjust his breathing to consolidate this hard-won Breakthrough, the "daily intelligence" System projected a cold message filled with bloody images into his mind without warning:

[Today's Intelligence (Event): Blood Calamity of the Man-Eating Demon Python]

[Location: Outer periphery of the Desolate Mountain Domain, downstream of a tributary of the Heishui River (approximately fifteen li from Black Mountain Town).]

[Target: Early Stage Qi Refinement Stage level three Yao Beast 'Black Water Profound Python' (nearly five zhang long, damaged scales, unstable Demonic Qi).]

[Event: This python failed in a territory dispute with another powerful Yao Beast (suspected to be a level four Qi Refinement 'Iron-Armored Alligator Turtle') in the deep upstream river channel a day ago, suffering heavy injuries (internal organ shock, severed tail, 70% loss of Demonic Power). To replenish its blood and qi for healing and out of a desire for revenge, it has headed downstream and is fleeing frantically, its target being the most densely populated area on the banks of the Heishui River—Black Mountain Town! Its ferocity has been fully triggered, and it is filled with greedy craving for the blood and qi of Mortals!]

[Karma: The heavily injured demon python urgently needs a large amount of flesh and blood essence to stabilize its injuries and recover its Demonic Power. Although Mortal blood and qi are impure, their vast numbers make them the best target. It is expected to arrive at the riverbank on the outskirts of Black Mountain Town within twenty-four hours! Once it breaks into the town, with its Yao Beast body, residual Demonic Power, and tyrannical ferocity, it will surely trigger a bloody massacre! Black Mountain Town has no Cultivators stationed there, and Mortals will find it impossible to resist! At that time, lives will be ruined, and resentment will soar to the heavens!]

[Suggestion: Take advantage of its heavy injuries, weakness, and greatly diminished Demonic Power to kill it quickly before it reaches Black Mountain Town or just as it enters before causing large-scale casualties! This is the only chance to stop the blood calamity and save thousands of innocents! The longer you delay, the more it will recover, and the harder it will be to deal with! Warning: Although heavily injured, a level three Qi Refinement Yao Beast's Main Body is powerful; its deathbed counterattack is extremely dangerous! Exercise extreme caution!]

"A demon python attacking the town?!" Li Qinghe's pupils suddenly constricted!

The bloody scenes and the pressing time in the intelligence made his hair stand on end instantly!

Black Mountain Town! Thousands of Mortals! Twenty-four hours!

Without the slightest hesitation, Li Qinghe returned the cold iron sword to a simple Animal-Skin Scabbard at his waist, carefully hid the nine Jade Bottles, and his figure turned into a faint moon shadow as he rushed out of the cave at top speed, galloping towards Li Family Village at the foot of the mountain!

He had to inform his third brother, Li Qingfeng, of this news immediately!

Inside the hall of the new Li family residence.

Li Qingfeng, Wang Tiezhu, and Zhang Shitou were sitting together, solemnly studying a crude map of the Black Mountain Domain, with the location of Black Mountain Town prominently marked.

Clearly, the intelligence Zhang Shitou had brought regarding Black Mountain Town being a "Land of Three Absences" and Zhao Tianbao's covetous gaze made them feel a sense of urgency.

"Zhao Tianbao has taken three villages in Qingshui Town; his ambition is plain to see. He certainly won't let a choice morsel like Black Mountain Town slip by. We must beat him to it..." Wang Tiezhu pointed to the location representing Black Mountain Town on the map, his tone decisive.

"Exactly! My suggestion is that while the construction of the New Town is in full swing and our momentum is strong, we should send someone directly to Black Mountain Town to show our colors and announce a takeover! With Brother Feng's Jade Seal and Brother Tiezhu's cultivation to keep things in check, I doubt that Town Guardian Lin would dare to resist!" Zhang Shitou pointed at Black Mountain Town's position on the map, his tone urgent.

"That may be so, but if the name is not right, the words will not ring true."

Li Qingfeng tapped his fingers on the table, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Although we have the Jade Seal, our jurisdiction is currently only clearly defined as the New Town. Forcibly taking over Black Mountain Town might suppress them for a while, but if people like Zhao Tianbao use this as an excuse to attack us within the Sect for 'unauthorized expansion of territory and bullying Mortals,' it will also be a problem. We need a more 'justifiable' reason..."

Wang Tiezhu rubbed his chin.

"A justifiable reason? Do we have to wait for the Mortals of Black Mountain Town to come and invite us themselves? Those local bullies aren't that easy to talk to..."

Just as the three of them were racking their brains to find an entry point that was both legitimate and could intimidate everyone—

"Bang!"

The door to the hall was slammed open, and a wave of cold air surged in.