Free Web NovelChapter 173: Chapter 173: Relentless Pursuit
The Frost Shadow Python coiled inside the iron cage. It slithered its enormous body upon seeing the crowd.
"HISS!"
It opened its mouth to flick its scarlet tongue and bare its ferocious fangs, frightening several onlookers into a hasty retreat.
Seeing this, Zhao Wufeng gave a slight smile and leaped onto the nearby Cloud Platform. He then raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
"CLICK!"
With a crisp sound, the iron cage in the center of the terrace opened.
The moment the iron cage opened...
"BOOM!"
The Frost Shadow Python’s tail slammed viciously against the iron gate. The gate was instantly sent flying, and with a loud THUD, it crashed into an unlucky soul who couldn’t dodge in time. The poor fellow spat out a mouthful of blood as he was thrown from the terrace, becoming the first to be eliminated.
"Shufeng, I trust there will be no more surprises this time?"
On a nearby Cloud Platform for those on the Martial Arts Ranking, Shen Mo Feng asked, his eyes dark.
Sun Shufeng slowly walked to Shen Mo Feng’s side. "Young Master Shen, rest assured. There will be absolutely no surprises this time."
"Good!"
Shen Mo Feng stared coldly at Shen Daoxing’s back, his expression grim. ’Shangguan Yiran can only belong to me. No one else can even think about laying a hand on her.’
As he thought this, he clenched one hand into a tight fist, the air seeming to crackle around it. ’Otherwise, they will be smashed to pieces.’
On the terrace, the Frost Shadow Python slithered out of the open cage. Its long body coiled around the outside of the cage as it raised its head high, warily surveying its surroundings.
The terrace fell silent. Everyone exchanged glances, but no one dared to take a single step forward. Clearly, no one was foolish enough to risk being the first to attack.
Seeing this, Zhao Wufeng smiled from his Cloud Platform and said, "Oh, right. I forgot to mention, if you fail to defeat it within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all of you will be eliminated."
The participants on the terrace were stunned. They turned to look at one another, but still, no one made the first move.
"Yang, what do we do? Should we attack first?"
Lv Yunsheng asked Shen Daoxing.
"No need to rush. Let’s wait."
Shen Daoxing shook his head, not yet ready to make a move.
At that moment, atop the iron cage in the center of the terrace, the Frost Shadow Python raised its terrifying head. It looked around, flicking its tongue in and out as if tasting the air for a scent.
Suddenly, its pointed head swiveled, its blood-red eyes locking coldly onto Shen Daoxing.
The Frost Shadow Python suddenly shot forward, transforming into a black shadow as it lunged at Shen Daoxing.
Shen Daoxing froze for a second. "Get back!"
He shoved Lv Yunsheng aside and leaped into the air.
"BANG!"
The Frost Shadow Python crashed heavily onto the ground, making the entire terrace tremble.
It had missed. The python raised its head, and with another WHOOSH, it lunged at Shen Daoxing again.
Shen Daoxing’s eyes narrowed. He leaped into the air, tapped lightly on the Frost Shadow Python’s head, and used the momentum to flip onto its back. Then, he thrust the Poisonous Fiend in his hand downward with all his might.
Then...
"HISSS!"
Shen Daoxing dragged his Poisonous Fiend along the Frost Shadow Python’s back as he ran.
He glanced back to see a long line of sparks flying in his wake.
’Just as I thought. Compared to the Great Ming Demon Sparrow, the Poisonous Fiend’s Power of Slaughter is far too weak.’ It had only managed to kick up a shower of sparks and leave a faint white scratch on the Frost Shadow Python’s body, causing no real damage.
Sensing the commotion on its back, the Frost Shadow Python began to writhe violently. Caught off guard, Shen Daoxing lost his footing and was flung high into the air.
The Frost Shadow Python immediately turned its head. It seemed to have singled out Shen Daoxing, and opening its gaping, bloody maw to reveal terrifyingly sharp fangs, it lunged forward like a black shadow.
Shen Daoxing was still mid-air, unable to borrow any force to dodge. He was a sitting duck.
Lv Yunsheng was horrified. He turned to the others, who were still standing motionless. "What are you all waiting for? If we can’t kill this beast before time is up, none of us will pass this assessment!"
With that, Lv Yunsheng was the first to charge forward.
"Cloud-Exploring Palm!"
Lv Yunsheng bellowed as a silvery-white light flared from within his body. Spiritual Power flowed and converged on his palm before he unleashed a mighty strike.
"CLANG!"
A sound like a striking bronze bell rang out, but the Frost Shadow Python was completely unscathed.
"Everyone, attack together!"
The onlookers, who had been watching from the sidelines, finally spurred into action. They knew that with the Frost Shadow Python’s attention fixed on Shen Daoxing, this was their best chance. Otherwise, none of them could hope to pass this assessment.
"Flying Thunder Shadowless Sword!"
A young man in a Daoist robe charged forward.
"Martial Yang Bagua Palm!"
Another burly man roared and charged in.
In an instant, flashes of blades and swords filled the air. Countless fist shadows, sword glints, and waves of Sword Intent rained down on the Frost Shadow Python, erupting in a brilliant, multicolored display of light.
Countless attacks landed.
"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!"
The attacks only produced a series of bell-like clangs against the Frost Shadow Python’s body, leaving behind a few white marks but causing no real damage whatsoever.
But the Frost Shadow Python’s advance didn’t slow in the slightest. It opened its gaping maw and swallowed the airborne Shen Daoxing in a single gulp.
"Yang!"
Lv Yunsheng cried out in alarm, but when he got a clear look, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He saw Shen Daoxing holding the Poisonous Fiend vertically, propping it between the Frost Shadow Python’s upper and lower jaws. He had forced its mouth wide open, keeping himself safe and sound.
Shen Daoxing tapped his toes lightly on the Frost Shadow Python’s lower jaw and vaulted out, quickly putting distance between himself and the beast.
Countless fist shadows, sword glints, and waves of Sword Intent once again rained down on the Frost Shadow Python from behind like a dazzling meteor shower.
Although these attacks caused it no real harm, the Frost Shadow Python seemed to have been provoked. It turned its head, opened its gaping maw, and spewed a tide of frigid, silvery-white air. In an instant, the several people at the very front were flash-frozen, turning into ice sculptures.
Then, with a casual flick of its tail, the Frost Shadow Python effortlessly sent them all flying off the terrace.
Afterwards...
"PTUI!"
The Frost Shadow Python shook its pointed head and spat the Poisonous Fiend from its mouth in disgust.
Its menacing, crimson eyes turned a violent blood-red. Ignoring everyone else, it once again turned and lunged at Shen Daoxing.
Shen Daoxing glanced over his shoulder. ’It’s obvious. There’s something wrong with this Frost Shadow Python relentlessly chasing me.’ But he had no time to ponder it further.
He couldn’t just wait to be killed.
At that moment, the Seven-Colored Profound Platform within Shen Daoxing’s body began to spin, and the stone statue of the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon atop it burst into brilliant light.
A phantom Five-Clawed Golden Dragon slowly emerged from within.
Shen Daoxing hadn’t wanted to use his Dragon Vein Power. ’The Dragon Vein is the very reason I made an enemy of the Celestial Profound Sacred Land. If I use its power, I’m afraid those Celestial Secret Warlocks from the Sacred Land will discover something.’
But just as Shen Daoxing began to activate his Dragon Vein Power...
The Frost Shadow Python pounced in front of him again, opening its dripping, bloody maw to bite down.
Suddenly, it froze. It extended its long tongue and licked Shen Daoxing, then sniffed him with its nose.
All at once, its pupils contracted.
