50: With the power of a single arrow, the demon beast was slain.

"It... it's come ashore! It's coming toward the town!!"

The remaining people on the shore, those running slower, let out desperate cries.

"Ah—! The monster has come ashore!"

"Help! Immortal Master, save us!"

Black Mountain Town was currently in a state of complete chaos.

The entire outskirts of Black Mountain Town had fallen into a deathly panic! Wailing for their parents, the crowd scurried about like headless flies.

Commoners dragged their families along, crying as they surged toward the depths of the town, hoping to hide in sturdier houses or praying for the protection of ethereal gods.

People crowded the streets, stampedes occurring constantly; wails, curses, and prayers mixed together as if the end of the world had arrived.

The wealthy families reacted the fastest. The Sun Residence, Liu Residence, Town Guardian Residence... the tall courtyard gates were already tightly shut, heavy bolts dropped into place.

The masters and ladies, their faces pale, were surrounded by servants as they hurriedly hid in long-prepared, deep underground secret rooms and passages, trembling with fear.

They only hoped the monster would leave after gorging itself on the "commoners" by the river, or... or that the Immortal Master, who was hiding somewhere unknown, would suddenly appear... The massive body of the Black Water Profound Python crushed the simple fences and thatched huts on the outskirts of the town, leveling the path like a bulldozer.

It opened its giant maw, a foul wind swept through, and a powerful suction was activated once again!

Over a dozen elderly, weak, women, and children hiding behind woodpiles and in grass sheds screamed as they were sucked into the air, instantly disappearing into the snake's mouth! Blood flowed down the corners of its mouth, dripping onto the muddy ground.

It chewed greedily, its cold vertical pupils scanning the denser houses and fleeing figures ahead, preparing to launch the next round of devouring!

"Help!"

"Immortal Master! Immortal Master, save us!"

"Mother... Mother...!"

Desperate cries echoed through the skies; the outskirts of Black Mountain Town had become a blood-sea Hell! The fragility of Mortals and the cruelty of the demon python were displayed to the fullest at this moment.

At this darkest, most hopeless moment!

A clear, cold, and majestic voice, like sunlight piercing through dark clouds, resounded over the entirety of Black Mountain Town:

"Prodigy! Die!"

Everyone subconsciously looked up!

In the eastern sky of the town, a tall and upright figure stood in the air! It was Li Qingfeng! He was dressed in the light green robes of the Qingxuan Sect, shining brightly under the sun like an Immortal descending to the world!

In his hand, he tightly gripped an ancient-looking, dark-gold longbow—the cloud-splitting bow embryo!

At this moment, there was no physical bowstring on the cloud-splitting bow embryo, but the mysterious runes on both sides of the bow arms were lighting up wildly, and countless bright-gold Spiritual Qi light spots gathered from all directions.

They quickly condensed and stretched between the bow arms, forming a bowstring composed entirely of pure spiritual power, emitting a sharp aura!

Li Qingfeng's eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, firmly locking onto the head of the rampaging giant python below!

The spiritual power around his body was like a boiling furnace, all of it poured into his arms!

In his hand, that ancient cloud-splitting bow embryo had been drawn into a full moon!

On the bow's body, mysterious cloud patterns flowed like living things, emitting a low hum!

On the bowstring, an arrow composed purely of highly condensed metal element spiritual power was emitting a terrifyingly sharp aura that one could not look at directly!

The tip of the arrow pointed exactly at the head of the monstrously powerful Black Water Profound Python that had just swallowed Mortals!

Sun-Piercing Star-Shooting Art First Form—Cloud Piercing!!!

"Swoosh—!!!"

Momentum built for a long time! Essence, Qi, and Spirit condensed into a single point!

"Twang—!!!"

The bowstring vibrated loudly, like a thunderbolt tearing through the sky!

That golden arrow-light instantly shot out from the string!

Its speed was so fast it exceeded the visual limits of a Mortal!

It left only a piercing, dazzling golden trail in the air that spanned between heaven and earth!

Wherever it passed, the air was torn apart, emitting ear-piercing sonic booms!

Within the arrow-light was contained a resolute will that marched forward without looking back, piercing through everything!

Time seemed to freeze at this moment!

The Black Water Profound Python felt a fatal threat; for the first time, its vertical pupils showed extreme fear, and an unprecedented sense of lethal crisis rooted in life instinct instantly seized it!

It suddenly looked up, and in its vertical pupils, it only saw a golden light tearing through its field of vision, carrying a terrifying killing intent that froze its Soul, already right before its eyes!

It wanted to dodge, wanted to defend, but its heavily injured body combined with its recent devouring action meant it simply didn't have time to make any effective reaction!

"Puchi—!!!"

The golden arrow, with indestructible power, pierced through its tough skull scales without any hindrance! The violent xin metal spiritual power exploded within its head!

"Hiss... Roar...!!!"

A howl so miserable it didn't sound like a snake's came to an abrupt end!

The Black Water Profound Python's hideously raised head, larger than a house, exploded like a watermelon struck by a giant hammer!

Red, white, and dark green fragments mixed with foul-smelling blood, spraying down like a torrential rain!

That massive, nearly five-zhang-long headless snake body twitched and rolled violently on the spot a few times before finally collapsing with a bang, crashing heavily into the muddy pool of blood and splashing mud everywhere!

"It's dead!"

That Qi Refinement Stage demon python, which had just been monstrously powerful and arrogant, was killed with a single arrow!

The entire Black Mountain Town was as silent as death.

Only that figure standing proudly with a bow high in the sky remained; amidst the gradually dispersing dust and blood mist, he looked like a savior God of War descending to the human world!

All the fleeing, crying, and hiding commoners seemed to have been placed under a freezing spell, staring blankly at the colossal snake corpse that had collapsed, then looking up at the blue figure bathed in sunlight in the sky.

After a brief deathly silence came a mountain-shaking, tsunami-like wave of ecstasy and cries of survival after the disaster!

"It's the Immortal Master Li from Li Family Village!!"

"The Immortal Master saved us! The Immortal Master killed the monster!!"

"Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving our lives!"

Countless people knelt toward Li Qingfeng in the sky, kowtowing like pounding garlic, weeping with gratitude.

Town Guardian Lin, Steward Sun, and the others hiding in the tunnels also crawled out tremblingly upon hearing the thunderous cheers outside.

When they saw the giant snake corpse and Li Qingfeng in the sky like a deity, the fear on their faces was instantly replaced by immense shock and lingering dread, and they hurriedly followed the crowd in kneeling and worshiping.

Li Qingfeng slowly descended from the air, landing lightly beside the giant python's corpse.

His face was slightly pale; that arrow just now had almost drained all the spiritual power of his Qi Refining First Layer.

The green bamboo shuttle slowly landed not far behind Li Qingfeng.

Wang Tiezhu, Zhang Shitou, and Li Qinghe jumped off the Flying Shuttle, looking at the giant python that had collapsed dead and the headless body, then at the tall figure standing upright with a bow, bathed in the cheers of the commoners, their eyes filled with shock and gratification.

Wang Tiezhu took a deep breath, suddenly puffed out his chest, and his voice, like a booming bell, drowned out all the cheers:

"Immortal Master Li Qingfeng, the Town Guardian of the New Town under the governance of qingxuan, is here! The Prodigy has been slain! Black Mountain Town is safe!"

This proclamation was like a heavy hammer, slamming into the hearts of every Soul in Black Mountain Town who was still in shock, and also hitting those behind the tightly closed gates of the wealthy families.

Li Qingfeng's posture remained upright as his gaze swept over the kneeling commoners of Black Mountain Town, finally landing on Town Guardian Lin and the others who had arrived upon hearing the news.

He held high the Coiling Dragon Green Jade Seal in his hand—the four large characters "under the governance of qingxuan" shone brightly in the sunlight.

"The demon calamity has been removed!" Li Qingfeng's voice was not loud, yet it clearly spread throughout the scene, carrying an unquestionable majesty:

"However, spiritual energy is reviving, and demon creatures are appearing frequently! Black Mountain Town has no Cultivator presiding over it; this is not a long-term solution!"

He looked around at everyone and announced word by word:

"From this day forth! Black Mountain Town is incorporated into our Qingxuan New Town joint defense! It shall be protected by this jade seal! I, Li Qingfeng, shall concurrently take on the responsibility of Town Guardian! I will ensure the safety of this region! All subjects under my governance must follow the laws of Qingxuan! If anyone is dissatisfied, or believes they can block the next demon calamity themselves, they may step forward now!"

The entire scene was dead silent. Having experienced that Hell-like scene just now, who would dare say no? Saving their lives was what mattered!

"Immortal Master is merciful! We are willing to follow the Immortal Master's orders!"

"We are willing to follow the Immortal Master's orders!"

Town Guardian Lin took the lead, followed by Steward Sun and Physician Liu, and all the commoners followed suit, shouting loudly, the sound waves shaking the sky.

Li Qingfeng nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the even gloomier silhouette of the Black Mountains in the distance to the west.

Black Mountain Town was now in his pocket!!!