Free Web NovelDeep in the valley, only the wind whispered.
The rock valley was ahead, but ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) the ground suddenly caved in, like a giant scar, looking very imposing.
It was as if a massive creature had once passed through here, leaving deep indentations in the ground.
Lord Louis raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop: “Don’t make a sound.”
Everyone immediately slowed their steps, not uttering a word, and then slowly approached the canyon.
At the bottom of the valley, hidden by snow and ice, a colossal silhouette was faintly visible, its body coiled in circles like a hill.
This was an Ice Vein Giant Serpent, currently in a deep slumber.
Thin frost covered its scales, reflecting an eerie shimmer that sent shivers down one’s spine.
Its body was as thick as a house in diameter, and tens of meters long, coiled between the icy rocks—a true giant in every sense.
Its head rested on a large rock in front, and through its closed eyelids, faint deep blue light patterns were barely visible. Its fangs were half-exposed, exuding a chilling aura, and its breathing was extremely slow; each exhalation brought forth a layer of condensation.
Even though it was hibernating, it still exuded a suffocating sense of oppression.
The moment they saw this massive creature, the breath of all the knights almost stopped.
Some widened their eyes, their spears trembling slightly in their hands; others unconsciously took a step back, their faces turning pale.
Even Lambert swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple visibly bobbing.
But Lord Louis looked at the colossal figure with unusual calm, as he had mentally prepared himself before coming. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Seeing that everyone’s morale seemed low, he quietly gave an order: “Everyone, retreat outside the valley first.”
With a wave of his hand, everyone quietly retreated from the valley as if a burden had been lifted.
It wasn't until they returned to the valley entrance, far from the sleeping beast, that the oppressive silence was finally broken.
“That’s an Ice Vein Giant Serpent, isn’t it? I saw a picture of it in a beast compendium, but it wasn’t even a third of its real size.”
“Such a monster actually exists!”
“Oh my god, if that thing were awake, our small group wouldn’t even be able to scratch its hide.”
Everyone whispered excitedly, growing more terrified with each word, yet also showing a hint of excitement.
At this moment, Lord Louis raised his hand and gently pressed down: “Quiet.”
Everyone immediately fell silent.
He narrowed his eyes, looking towards the valley: “This is an almost impossible opportunity to have again.
You’ve seen that the Ice Vein Giant Serpent is in a deep slumber. We don’t need to risk our lives dealing with its fury when it’s awake.
With just one fatal blow, we can win this great hunt.”
He paused for a moment, then curved his lips into a confident smile: “And if we kill it, everyone will have hot snake soup tonight.”
Upon hearing the words “snake soup,” the tense atmosphere, taut as a bow, instantly relaxed a few notches.
The knights exchanged glances, their lips beginning to curl uncontrollably into smiles.
They didn’t shout out loud, fearing they might wake the distant serpent, but the excitement practically burst from their eyes.
“This isn’t an ordinary beast,” a young knight beside him whispered, his voice filled with uncontrollable exhilaration. “It’s said to nourish the bloodline and enhance cultivation!”
“If I could drink a bowl of snake bone soup, I might even be able to advance further,” an old knight said excitedly.
“Shh.” Seeing the crowd growing more agitated, someone immediately raised a finger. “Don’t make noise. Do you want it to wake up?”
So everyone quieted down again.
But the light in their eyes had already quietly ignited.
That wasn't merely the desire to hunt, but an instinctive craving to surpass their own limits.
After all, even in the Northern Region, the Ice Vein Giant Serpent ranks among the top few beasts.
Its scales, blood, bones, gall, meat—every part of it was priceless. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
The snake meat, almost every piece, was a great tonic for nourishing the body and strengthening it.
And now their Lord Louis said he would share the snake meat with them, so how could they not be excited?
Moreover, no one felt any surprise or doubt about their Lord’s generosity.
After all, that was Lord Louis, a Lord who always kept his word and never disappointed his followers.
Despite the scarce resources in the Northern Region, they were able to eat and drink their fill every day, and occasionally even had beast meat to improve their meals!
This was something they hadn't dared to imagine before they came.
It was as if as long as they followed Lord Louis, there would always be benefits.
For this, let alone an Ice Vein Giant Serpent, even an Ice Frost Dragon would be met with six strikes per second!
Loyalty!
As everyone looked excited but dared not make a sound, Lord Louis gently waved his hand, summoning Lambert and several elite knights.
They quietly retreated to one side of the valley entrance, forming a small circle for a secret discussion.
“We only have one chance,” Lord Louis whispered. “The target is the junction of the serpent’s neck and head. Beneath the thin scales here is the serpent’s nervous system.”
As he spoke, he drew his dagger and outlined the serpent’s head in the snow, then pointed at the back of its neck.
“This spot can be a one-hit kill, and it must be a one-hit kill, otherwise if it wakes up—it will be troublesome.”
Lambert’s expression was steady as he nodded, “I understand. I will take twelve of our steadiest brothers, approach quietly, and then deal with it cleanly.”
“Very good.” Lord Louis looked at him. “The rest of the knights will be dispersed and deployed. If we fail, they will immediately provide long-range suppression to prevent it from escaping or counterattacking.”
With that, he opened the black box he carried.
Inside the box, twelve short-handled throwing spears were neatly arranged.
The spear shafts were made of dark gray beast bone, and the spearheads were inlaid with magic crystals containing magma essence.
“These are ‘Armor-Piercing Blazing Spears.’ Although their power is far from that of ‘Ice and Fire Double Heaven,’ once they hit, the magma essence inside the magic crystal will explode, creating a high-temperature, high-pressure impact, enough to penetrate its neck scales.”
Lord Louis’s tone was calm, his gaze firm: “As long as you stab that spot, it won’t last more than a few seconds.”
The elite knights silently took their weapons, none of them flinching.
“Retreat immediately after striking. Even if you fail, prioritize saving your lives,” Lord Louis added finally.
This last sentence caused all the knights’ expressions to tremble slightly, then reveal grateful looks.
“Good luck to you all,” Lord Louis said finally.
The knights immediately bowed their heads in a silent yet solemn gesture, expressing their respect and admiration for their young Lord.
And in their eyes, a light flickered, almost impossible to suppress.
The chance to personally hunt an Ice Vein Giant Serpent was perhaps a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Then the team quietly dispersed. Lambert led thirteen elite knights, slipping down into the valley floor like phantoms, hugging the icy rocks.
The remaining knights quickly set up defenses around them, holding their breath and waiting.
Deep in the valley, the sleeping giant serpent still breathed slowly, frost quietly spreading from its nostrils, completely unaware of the hunters’ approach.
Lambert led twelve elite knights, treading carefully through the snow.
Every step was extremely cautious, and they were fully focused.
After all, it was a one-hit kill, and there was only one chance.
