23: Chapter 23 Hidden River, Heavy Water Assassination

One hundred zhang beneath the waters of Yunmeng Marsh.

"Pfft..."

Lin Ze was wrapped in a layer of deep blue water veil.

This was the trait gained after his Azure Wave Art reached Perfection and broke its limits... Water Spirit Affinity.

Under the lethal pressure of these deep waters, not only did Lin Ze feel no suffocation, but he felt as if every pore on his body was breathing.

Xiao Xuan, perched on Lin Ze's shoulder, exhaled a stream of bubbles, the dark gold patterns on its shell glowing faintly in the darkness, guiding them toward the scent of the Demon Python's blood.

Ahead, the dark river suddenly narrowed, revealing a secluded cave leading deep into the earth's veins.

That was the lair of the Blue-Scaled Demon Python.

A wave of Demonic Qi overflowed from the cave, mixed with the strange fragrance of some Spirit Medicine nearing maturity.

Death Throes Inside the Cave

Inside the cave, jagged rocks were strewn about.

The Blue-Scaled Demon Python, its body severed in half, lay limp on a coral reef.

Its scales had lost their luster, and the backlash from burning its demonic core caused its body to twitch incessantly.

Beside it, a water spirit profound fruit was emitting an alluring spiritual glow.

This was the Opportunity for advancement it had guarded for a century.

As long as it swallowed this fruit, it could reshape its demonic core and perhaps even step into the First Rank High Grade!

"Hiss..."

The Demon Python struggled to open its gaping maw, wanting to bite at the fruit.

"Vile beast, you cannot handle such a spiritual object."

The Demon Python raised its head, and in its injured vertical pupils, the figure of a youth in green robes was reflected.

Lin Ze stepped through the water and entered.

In this deep-water cave, he did not unleash a long-range Water Arrow Technique.

Instead, guided by that single drop of Limit-Breaking Heavy Water, he concentrated all the mana in his body into his fists.

Heavy Water Crushing, Deadly Strike Against the Great Demon

"Hiss!"

It burned its last bit of vital blood, transforming into a streak of bloody light as it lunged toward Lin Ze.

This was the desperate, suicidal strike of a Peak Great Demon!

"Xiao Xuan, suppress it!"

Lin Ze stood his ground, neither dodging nor evading.

"Roar!"

Xiao Xuan leaped from Lin Ze's shoulder, expanding rapidly in the wind until it was the size of a millstone.

The Heavy Water Shell Shield and the Immovable Mountain stance overlapped instantly, like a ten-thousand-jun basalt stele, bracing against the Demon Python's collision.

"Clang!"

A terrifying shockwave stirred up a violent vortex within the cave.

And the very moment the Demon Python was suspended in mid-air by the recoil, Lin Ze moved.

He instantly crossed the distance of several zhang, closing in directly on the Demon Python's broken vital point.

"Die!"

Lin Ze threw a punch.

Mana and Heavy Water converged at his fist, transforming into a deep-sea mountain.

"Bang!"

His fist smashed into the broken part of the Demon Python's spine.

The tyrannical power of the Limit-Breaking Heavy Water erupted in that instant, rampaging along the Demon Python's Meridians and destroying everything in its path.

"Crack..."

"Crack..."

A series of bone-cracking sounds rang out.

Before the Blue-Scaled Demon Python could even scream, its body was crushed into several segments under the weight of the Heavy Water.

Immediately after, Lin Ze formed his fingers into a sword shape, a flash of cold light passing over his fingertips.

"Pfft."

He forcefully gouged out the Demon Python's cracked, azure-blue demonic core.

A generation's Peak Great Demon of the outer waters had fallen.

Lin Ze let out a long breath; the stinging pain in his Meridians intensified, a sign of mana overdraw.

But looking at the demonic core in his hand and the water spirit profound fruit within arm's reach, his eyes were filled with fanatical fervor.

"Only by cutting the weeds and eliminating the roots can one rest easy."

Lin Ze efficiently stored the Demon Python's top-quality blue scales and snake bones into his Storage Pouch while eyeing the three blue fruits.

"With this Peak demonic core, plus these three water spirit profound fruits..."

"The Breakthrough to the third level of Qi Refining will happen today!"

He patted Xiao Xuan, who had performed a great service, and sat down beside the still-warm carcass of the Demon Python, beginning a frantic Breakthrough right there in the lair deep within the dark river.