Chapter 217 The Only Chance of Survival

"Not good, it intends to use the cultivation of the Golden Bell Guards and the power of the golden bell to forcibly complete the final step of its Python-Dragon transformation!"

Seeing this, Feng Qing's face instantly turned deathly pale.

Once the Python-Dragon transformation was complete, it would no longer be a python demon, but a true Dragon. Its strength would skyrocket several times over, and by then, everyone present would be buried here.

Bai Junyi was slightly stunned, but he reacted immediately. His eyes split with rage, and the Protective Aura on his zhan yue blade surged even higher.

"We cannot let it succeed, change the formation! Attack instead of defend. The Li position will be the main attack, the other seven will support. Target the golden bell!"

The Eight Trigrams Demon-Subduing Formation suddenly reversed.

The previously stable Kan and Gen positions shifted their Qi to be fierce, while the main attacking Li position suddenly became restrained.

Chen Mu stood in the Li position, sensing the changes in the formation's Qi. He pushed his Hunyuan Calamity Astral Qi to its limit, slowly raising the soul-slaying blade, its tip pointed directly at the golden light at the Python-Dragon's throat.

This strike would decide the life and death of everyone.

The Python-Dragon also sensed the crisis. Its massive body coiled tightly, protecting its vital abdomen. The golden bell at its throat shone brilliantly, drawing in the surrounding Spiritual Qi frantically to form a vortex of Spiritual Qi around it.

"Attack!"

Bai Junyi roared, and all eight people moved in unison.

Shi Yong threw his iron shield, aiming straight for the python's head; Lu Dachuan held his blade, slashing toward its seven-inch mark with the force of splitting a mountain; Feng Qing fired three consecutive arrows, sealing off the Python-Dragon's escape paths to the left and right.

The Python-Dragon wanted to dodge, but Shen Suning's soft whip had already coiled around its neck; Ling Xiaoning's figure was like the wind, acting as a distraction; even Ji Xiang, forcing herself, threw three poison-tipped hidden weapons.

As for Chen Mu, at the same moment everyone launched their attack, he pushed his Divine Void Step to its limit. His entire body turned into a blurred afterimage, cutting in from the side and lunging straight for the golden light.

He infused his Hunyuan Calamity Astral Qi into the blade, turning it a dark gold color, and slashed out with both agility and ferocity.

The soul-slaying blade was specialized in severing the Divine Soul and destroying spirituality.

The blade's edge had not yet arrived, but its intent to kill the soul had already pierced through the vortex of Spiritual Qi, stabbing directly at the golden bell. The golden bell emitted a sharp ringing sound, the runes on its surface flickering, and it suddenly exploded with a burst of blinding golden light, attempting to block the fatal blow.

"Crack."

The blade struck the golden bell, emitting only a crisp sound. A tiny crack appeared on the surface of the golden bell, and the golden light instantly dissipated.

"Hiss!"

The Python-Dragon let out a shrill, miserable wail. Its aura instantly became chaotic, the vortex of Spiritual Qi collapsed, and its Python-Dragon transformation process was forcibly interrupted. At the same time, the attacks from everyone landed on its body, and the Python-Dragon was momentarily plunged into a desperate situation.

But a trapped beast will still fight, let alone a Demon King about to transform into a Dragon.

It twisted its body frantically, its giant tail sweeping out, knocking Shi Yong, Lu Dachuan, and Bai Junyi flying. The three immediately spat out blood and fell to the ground, heavily injured.

It violently flung its head, breaking free from Shen Suning's soft whip and knocking Ling Xiaoning away. Its muscles contracted violently, actually forcing Feng Qing's arrows and Ji Xiang's hidden weapons out of its body.

Only Chen Mu, the moment the soul-slaying blade struck the golden bell, had already pulled back and retreated, narrowly avoiding the Python-Dragon's counterattack. He landed three zhang away, the soul-slaying blade hanging down as a drop of dark blue-black blood slowly slid off it.

The Python-Dragon was heavily injured but not dead. It glared viciously at Chen Mu, its eyes filled with resentment and madness.

This human had actually managed to interrupt its Python-Dragon transformation and injure its Divine Soul—he must die! It opened its bloody maw, took a deep breath, and intended to deliver a fatal blow to everyone.

Bai Junyi managed to prop himself up, scanned the situation on the field, and quickly weighed his options.

Although the Python-Dragon was covered in wounds and its scales were damaged in many places, its aura remained powerful and terrifying, its demonic power seemingly endless.

Conversely, for the members of Team C, Bai Junyi, Shi Yong, and Lu Dachuan were heavily injured and could only barely stand. Feng Qing's arrow quiver was more than half empty, Shen Suning's right arm was injured and her soft whip strikes were not as effective as before, Ji Xiang's injuries had worsened and she was panting on the ground, and Ling Xiaoning was in constant danger, relying entirely on Chen Mu for rescue.

If this continued, Team C would sooner or later be worn down and die here, following in the footsteps of the Tian Di Xuan Three Teams.

Just as Bai Junyi felt despair and was preparing to order Feng Qing and Shen Suning to take the injured Ji Xiang and Ling Xiaoning and attempt a breakout, while he, Lu Dachuan, Shi Yong, and Chen Mu fought to the death to cover the rear, a sudden change occurred.

The body of the Python-Dragon, which was gathering strength to deliver a final blow to everyone, suddenly stiffened. It let out a painful hiss, and its bloated abdomen twitched and writhed violently, as if something inside was struggling frantically.

Suddenly, it twisted its body violently, using its thick tail to force everyone back one last time, and then, without hesitation, slithered rapidly toward the depths of the dense forest. In a few twists, it disappeared behind the trees, leaving only a scene of chaos behind.

It escaped?

A Demon King about to transform into a Dragon, one that was prepared to fight to the death, had actually escaped when it was on the verge of killing its opponents?

Everyone was stunned, unable to process it for a moment, but a glimmer of understanding flashed in Chen Mu's eyes.

His previous slash had not only interrupted the Python-Dragon transformation but also injured the Python-Dragon's Divine Soul. The Python-Dragon was currently at a critical stage of giving birth, and with its Divine Soul injured, complications in the birthing process were inevitable.

If it continued to fight to the death, it might be able to kill them all, but it would certainly die, and the fetus in its womb would definitely not be saved.

So it chose to escape.

It fled back to its nest to protect the fetus in its womb with all its might, planning to seek revenge after giving birth.

"It... it really ran away?"

Ling Xiaoning rubbed his chest, which hurt from being hit, feeling somewhat incredulous.

Bai Junyi leaned on his zhan yue blade to barely stand up. He coughed violently, spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression changing, and finally gritted his teeth.

"It is close to giving birth. That slash just now heavily injured it; it must return to its nest immediately to give birth, otherwise both mother and child will die."

After saying this, he looked at Chen Mu, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Chen Mu, you..."

Chen Mu had already turned around, heading in the direction the Python-Dragon had fled.

"Pursue!"

It was only a single, crisp word, but it made everyone's hearts tremble.

Bai Junyi was stunned, but immediately reacted and said anxiously.

"No! Although it is heavily injured and about to give birth, the Demon King's nest must be extremely dangerous. We are currently suffering heavy casualties, and pursuing rashly..."

"It is at its weakest right now."

Chen Mu interrupted him, not stopping his pace.

"Once it finishes giving birth and recovers, we will die an even worse death."

After saying this, he did not explain further. His figure flickered, and he had already plunged into the forest, following the traces left by the Python-Dragon, a flame burning fiercely in his heart.

A Demon King's offspring, a newborn Dragon—how much Lifespan could it plunder? More importantly, a heavily injured Demon King about to give birth was the best opportunity for a hunt.

How could he let such an opportunity pass?

Bai Junyi watched Chen Mu's back, gritted his teeth, and hissed.

"Those who can move, follow! Those who cannot, bandage your wounds on the spot and wait for rescue."

Shen Suning, Feng Qing, and Ling Xiaoning had lighter injuries. They looked at each other and gritted their teeth to follow.

Lu Dachuan and Shi Yong were heavily injured and unable to move, and Ji Xiang, due to excessive blood loss, was nearly unconscious and had to remain where they were.

The four of them followed the traces Chen Mu left behind, pursuing deeper into Black Rock Mountain.

Ahead was the demon's nest, a place where death was almost certain, but at the same time... it was also the only chance of survival.