Chapter 54: Battle Against the Giant Python

In an instant, the long sword hummed and vibrated, its blade blazing with brilliant light.

An incomparably fierce sword qi, resembling a tangible blade, erupted outward in a fan shape centered around Ximen Feixue.

Carrying the overbearing force of tearing through the air, the sword qi flattened grass, snapped trees, and sent dust and stones flying in its wake.

Lu Qianqiu felt a wave of overwhelming, crushing force rush toward her. Before she could even react, she was struck heavily by the sword qi.

Her body flew backward out of control, stumbling and staggering for several steps before she barely managed to regain her footing.

A look of astonishment and utter disbelief filled her eyes. She never imagined that Ximen Feixue could so easily neutralize her surprise attack and send her reeling in such disarray, failing even to close the distance.

"How is this possible? When did a punk like you become so powerful?!"

Lu Qianqiu stared wide-eyed at Ximen Feixue, roaring through gritted teeth.

The anger burning within her grew even more intense. At this moment, it was no longer just about competing for the Spirit-Nether Grass; it was about washing away her humiliation and reclaiming her pride.

How could she possibly lose in front of someone she had always looked down upon?

"Lu Qianqiu, do you really think I am still that weak kid you could bully at will? Ever since I began cultivating under my Master, I am no longer who I used to be."

"If you want to fight today, I will accompany you to the very end!"

With these words, he leveled the sword in his hand.

By now, Lu Qianqiu was consumed by anger and embarrassment, her eyes stained red.

Seeing that Ximen Feixue had blocked her attack with such ease and even dared to mock her, she bit her lower lip and shouted harshly, "Ximen Feixue, don't get cocky too soon!"

With that, she abruptly put her fingers to her lips and blew a sharp, piercing whistle.

The whistle pierced the silence of the valley, echoing endlessly among the mountain forests.

Immediately afterward, a rustling sound came from deep within the woods. Branches and leaves shook as if some behemoth were moving through them.

A moment later, a white snow python appeared like a phantom.

To call it a python was an understatement, as it bore little resemblance to ordinary snakes.

This giant python was as flawless and pure as freshly fallen snow in winter, yet beneath that whiteness lurked an icy, bone-chilling aura.

Its thick, serpentine body coiled and slithered forward, a waist as wide as a water vat easily snapping trees as thick as a rice bowl.

Most bizarre of all, a pair of black horns grew from its head, emanating a chilling presence that proclaimed it was no ordinary exotic beast.

As soon as the snow python appeared, it flicked its forked tongue at Ximen Feixue. Its bifurcated tongue was as thick as an arm, hissing menacingly while an acrid, pungent stench instantly filled the air.

Its eyes, resembling blood-red lanterns, locked onto Ximen Feixue.

Just like its master, it was filled with murderous intent toward Ximen Feixue!

Looking at the snow python, a ferocious smile appeared on Lu Qianqiu's face. She shouted aloud, "This is the spirit beast I painstakingly raised. Usually docile, once provoked, it becomes the undisputed overlord of these mountains. Ximen Feixue, running into it today means your luck has run out for eight lifetimes. Prepare to meet your doom!"

With that, she blew the whistle once more, issuing the command to attack.

Receiving the order, the snow python's massive body shot toward Ximen Feixue like an arrow released from a bow, sending dirt and stones flying wherever it passed.

It opened its blood-red maw, its fangs flashing with a cold light as if it intended to swallow Ximen Feixue in a single gulp.

Its momentum was fierce enough to swallow the heavens and earth whole.

Seeing the white snow python lunging at him, Ximen Feixue felt a tight squeeze in his chest. This was the first time he had ever faced such a gigantic creature head-on.

Forced to rely on agile footwork to dodge and weave, Ximen Feixue found himself pinned down and constrained in the engagement.

Sitting on a small stool not far away, Ye Xinghe was still leisurely cracking melon seeds. Watching Ximen Feixue's slightly flustered appearance, he spoke unhurriedly.

"Feixue, where on earth did all those techniques I taught you go? Are you really going to wet yourself just because something is a bit oversized?"

With a soft "ptoo," he spat out a melon seed shell, stood up, and raised his voice.

"Don't be afraid! Just treat that sword in your hand like a firewood chopper and hack away! It's just a snake, what is there to be afraid of!"

Standing nearby, Lu Qianqiu's face alternated between pale and flushed upon hearing Ye Xinghe's words.

The snow python she was so proud of was being described by Ye Xinghe as utterly worthless, which infuriated her to no end.

She gently stroked the python's scales, partly to soothe it and partly to make a show of force toward Ye Xinghe, lifting her chin as she spoke.

"Ye Xinghe, don't underestimate my snake. It is no ordinary mortal creature. It hatched from a snake egg I chanced upon in the icy, abyssal depths of the Far North."

"That place is frozen and utterly hostile. Exotic beasts capable of surviving and multiplying in such an environment are exceedingly rare, let alone one born with inherent sentience. The pair of horns on its head are even more extraordinary—they were formed by absorbing a millennia of cold qi from the abyss, harder than rock and possessing infinite power."

"Afterward, I poured countless efforts into feeding it rare spiritual treasures, spending years cultivating a tacit understanding with it until I finally trained it to be what it is today. How could it ever be diminished by a few careless words from you?"

Lu Qianqiu seemed immensely proud of this serpent.

Hearing Lu Qianqiu's boast, Ximen Feixue felt a twinge of apprehension, but his Master's words still echoed in his ears.

He forced his state of mind to return to tranquility.

As he leveled the long sword in his grip, the blade hummed resonantly, and spiritual energy surged along its length, blooming with a brilliant white light.

Ximen Feixue tapped his toes lightly against the ground, his body instantly soaring into the air before shooting up toward the clouds.

In the blink of an eye, he had reached high altitude, leveling off directly opposite the aggressively charging white snow python.

Next, Ximen Feixue gripped the long sword tightly with both hands, and the spiritual energy within his body surged overwhelmingly toward the blade.

Instantly, the long sword blazed with a blinding radiance. The brilliant glow of spiritual energy, resembling the scorching midday sun, illuminated the surrounding sky as bright as day.

As the continuous influx of spiritual energy poured in, the long sword actually began to expand in size.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the onlookers, the blade rapidly transformed into a gigantic weapon dozens of meters long, its body broad and thick, its cutting edge fiercely exposed.

Ximen Feixue held this colossal sword high overhead with both hands, looking as majestic as a deity cleaving open the heavens and earth.

Gazing upward at Ximen Feixue and the colossal sword suspended in mid-air, Lu Qianqiu's triumphant expression instantly froze, replaced by a deep wave of shock.

She had never imagined that Ximen Feixue could unleash such a formidable technique.

Realizing that Ximen Feixue had summoned such an astonishing giant sword, Lu Qianqiu felt a surge of fear, but the ruthless streak ingrained in her bones was instantly ignited.

She brought the whistle back to her lips and blew a rapid succession of commands.

Receiving her master's even more forceful directive, the white snow python violently whipped its massive body around, fixing its gaze entirely on Ximen Feixue high above.

Then, the python's thick tail lashed out fiercely, whipping up a gale of wind as it borrowed the momentum to dash furiously toward Ximen Feixue.