69: It's dark now

The Spirit Pattern Python revealed its form, letting out a pained hiss.

A large amount of fresh blood, along with Chen Qing's flesh, sprayed from its mouth.

As a special existence among Spirit Pattern Pythons, it possessed talents and unique abilities that other Spirit Pattern Pythons lacked.

Because of these, it had been extraordinary and powerful since birth.

Over the years, it had encountered many humans who came to hunt it, and with its powerful Mental Energy, it successfully evaded many strong individuals.

It had also, in turn, hunted many human Martial Artists.

But this was the first time it had been so threatened.

Its eyes were blood-red, losing their usual clarity, and the pair of horns on its head flickered continuously, attempting to heal its injuries.

“Want to recover?”

Chen Qing coughed up a mouthful of blood and sneered.

Hit by his attack, which was covered in Extreme Ice Qi, the power of Extreme Ice would also erode the Spirit Pattern Python's wound, making recovery impossible in a short time.

Of course, Chen Qing's condition was also extremely poor; his stamina was fine, but his Mental Energy was almost depleted.

At this moment, he was silently condensing an Ice Prism Mirror in the distance.

Due to his Mental Energy being almost exhausted and the distance being a bit far, the Ice Prism Mirror was condensing very slowly.

He still needed some time!

In his current state, killing this Spirit Pattern Python was no longer possible; he could only find an opportunity to retreat and wait for the next hunt.

Under the night, time flowed by, second by second.

The Spirit Pattern Python realized its injuries could not heal, and its blood-red eyes gradually regained rationality, looking in the direction where Chen Qing stood.

Suddenly, it charged at Chen Qing again!

Chen Qing controlled the condensation of the distant Ice Prism Mirror while engaging in a struggle with the Spirit Pattern Python.

He wielded his shark tooth, constantly parrying the Spirit Pattern Python's tail whips, and the frequent exertion further deepened the injury on his left shoulder, causing blood to continuously gush out.

Chen Qing broke out in a cold sweat, gritted his teeth, and directly froze his shaking left arm and bleeding left shoulder, fixing it to his side.

But from now on, he also had to be careful to prevent his left arm from being hit, otherwise, it could shatter like ice.

The Spirit Pattern Python also became increasingly calm, gradually recovering from the shadow of its injury, but it seemed not to be in a hurry at all, allowing Chen Qing to continue fighting it.

Gradually, Chen Qing also noticed something amiss; this Spirit Pattern Python was a bit too calm!

It seemed completely unconcerned about him escaping!

However, Chen Qing had no other retreat; he could only stake everything on the Ice Prism Mirror jump.

As time passed, the distant Ice Prism Mirror finally condensed successfully!

Chen Qing didn't have time to think and immediately activated the Ice Prism Mirror!

However, he failed!

In the distance, next to the newly formed Ice Prism Mirror, a thick vine struck and shattered the Ice Prism Mirror!

The Spirit Pattern Python's eyes narrowed slightly, seemingly mocking him!

It had been premeditated; it seemed to have guessed Chen Qing's plan long ago.

The trees in this area seemed to be extensions of its body; as long as it wanted, it could control all the trees here.

Chen Qing's mood instantly plummeted.

With the shattering of the Ice Prism Mirror, the Spirit Pattern Python launched another fierce attack, its movements swift, and its slender tail coiled towards Chen Qing!

Chen Qing flashed, narrowly dodging the attack, and at the same time, several Medicinal Pills appeared in his hand.

These were Medicinal Pills his teacher, Yang Chen, gave him: the bloodburst pill and the Soul-Returning Pill.

The bloodburst pill could temporarily burn one's own Qi and blood to unleash power, but it had severe side effects, leading to a period of exhaustion and inability to Cultivate; the Soul-Returning Pill could keep the user alive when on the verge of death, delaying death, but it could not heal injuries, only temporarily prolong life.

At this point, he no longer cared about side effects or efficacy.

If he didn't use them now, he wouldn't have the chance to use them at all!

The Medicinal Pills entered his mouth, and a Martial Artist's absorption speed was extremely fast; Chen Qing instantly felt himself filled with power.

“Clang!”

He cleaved open the incoming snake tail with one strike, his eyes blood-red, put away his shark tooth, and firmly grabbed the Spirit Pattern Python's snake tail with his right hand, pulling hard, actually lifting the entire Spirit Pattern Python.

“Boom!”

Chen Qing swung with all his might, slamming the Spirit Pattern Python heavily onto the ground, creating a huge deep pit!

However, after this, Chen Qing's strength instantly weakened considerably.

Not enough!

“Rise!”

Chen Qing gritted his teeth, pulled up the Spirit Pattern Python, and delivered another heavy slam, forcefully smashing it into the ground again!

Another dull thud echoed through the mountain forest.

The earth seemed to tremble!

Chen Qing panted heavily, a flash of light in his hand, and his shark tooth appeared; taking advantage of the Spirit Pattern Python still not having recovered and still slowly writhing, he quickly moved to the Spirit Pattern Python's head and forcefully chopped down with his blade!

“Pfft!”

Without the cover of the vines, a clearly visible bloody mark appeared on the Spirit Pattern Python's head.

After that one strike, Chen Qing's eyes had already begun to turn hazy and unclear, his hands trembling, no longer able to firmly grip the shark tooth in his hand, his body swayed twice, leaning on his blade, desperately gasping for breath.

“No! I-I have to go!”

Chen Qing's body trembled, and leaning on his blade, he walked step by step down the mountain.

The side effects of the bloodburst pill, coupled with excessive blood loss and depleted Mental Energy, left him extremely weak.

His thoughts gradually became chaotic, the scene before his eyes flickered between bright and dark, and he began to walk back solely by consciousness.

“I-I must go back! I can't die here!”

“In this life, I-I came to live freely, how can I just die on the road like this!”

“Dad, wait for me to come back, I still want to eat your cooking! Yes, eat!”

“It-it's so dark, this road, it's a bit, a bit far!”

...Space Battlefield.

It was already late night; although the Space Battlefield did not experience day and night cycles, the soldiers had reached their shift change and rest time.

Inside a tent.

Chen Youzhong was receiving treatment from an accompanying military doctor; with his son's last remittance, plus some of his savings, he finally gathered enough money to treat his chronic lower back problem.

A comrade next to him was teasing him, saying he had a good son, when suddenly, Chen Youzhong's heart skipped a beat.

He abruptly stood up from his seat, disregarding the military doctor's treatment, and looked out towards Blue Star's direction with some panic.

“Youzhong, what's wrong?”

“Old Chen, don't move around, the treatment is important!”

Chen Youzhong's body trembled, somewhat at a loss, and he looked around blankly, unclear what was happening to him.

“N-nothing, I just suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable.”

The military doctor frowned, looking at him doubtfully: “Feeling uncomfortable is normal; your injury is not a simple physical damage, but rather a secret technique from the Apocalypse Clan, which damaged the root of your body. Ordinary wood-elemental treatment is useless; we can only try to decipher this secret technique. Feeling uncomfortable is a normal reaction.”

Chen Youzhong was stunned for a moment, then recovered and looked at everyone, saying awkwardly: “Oh, oh, alright. I just spaced out. Continue.”

With that, he sat back down in his seat somewhat absentmindedly, his eyes vacant as he stared straight ahead.

What on earth happened?

Could it be that his son was in trouble?

Chen Youzhong's mind was in turmoil, and he dared not think further.