Chapter 468: Chapter 34: Vitality
Corpses refined into new Dark Beasts?!
Strength increased by dozens of times, a new type of powerful Dark Beast?!
Over three meters tall, as thick as a barrel, with skin draped in thick hide like scales, and a forehead with the signs of emerging horns, even if one scoured the entire Xuan Beast Ridge, they might not find a Dark Beast as formidable as the Molten Python Corpse King.
Not to mention that the Five-star Mercenaries present had never seen such a thing before, even Yue Jinghua was witnessing it for the first time, and only a Divine Worm like the Gold Eater Worm might understand it.
Yue Jinghua finally understood why the Dragon Slayer Hero Mo Kang took a creature, which could only be considered a Mid-level Xuan Beast like the Molten Python, into the Sky Dragon Palace years ago.
The Four Seasons Path, as one of the essential pathways to enter the Dragon Court of the Dragon Palace, surely harbored extraordinary Dark Beasts. It seemed that the other three pathways likely had similar situations.
Having witnessed this scene, Yue Jinghua felt a surge of excitement followed by an inevitable shock.
Fortunately, she had taken the Fiery Fire Path ahead of time tonight and caught a glimpse of the Guardian Beast’s strength beforehand.
Yue Jinghua, who possessed dual identities as a Summoner and a Demon Summoner, had always believed that whether as a Summoner or Demon Summoner, the most direct method to acquire Dark Beasts was through contracts with existing Dark Beasts in nature.
However, the appearance of the Molten Python Corpse King, together with the Earthworm Jellyfish she had encountered before on the Cloud River Sea Road, shattered Yue Jinghua’s conventional understanding of Dark Beasts.
In her heart, a new method of summoning Dark Beasts vaguely took shape, but if she wanted to test whether this method was feasible, she would first have to capture a fused Dark Beast similar to the Molten Python Corpse King.
It was unknown, though, whether the lifeless Molten Python Corpse King could be summoned by a contract like other Dark Beasts.
If it had been anywhere else, Yue Jinghua would have definitely tried it out, but it was a pity that she was currently inside the Sky Dragon Palace, with the Divine Court Mercenary Branch nearby and dangers lurking all around, making it impossible for her to attempt it.
She had to temporarily put aside the plan to capture the Molten Python Corpse King and wait for another opportunity to experiment some other day.
In the moments Yue Jinghua was pondering, the situation changed again.
In the lantern-like eyes of the Molten Python Corpse King, the frightened reflection of Li Rui was mirrored.
Fast, almost in the blink of an eye.
Like a phantom, the body of the Molten Python Corpse King rose high, and with a wide-open mouth, "Hiss--"
A breath of Poisonous Gas spewed out.
The Dark Energy protecting Li Rui was like paper, frail and easily punctured.
The body of the python, like a bolt of lightning, instantly swept Li Rui away.
Li Rui screamed mournfully, his whole body’s bones issuing an unnerving cracking sound under the Corpse King’s crushing grip.
Seeing their companion entangled by the Molten Python Corpse King, the Five-decade Mercenary and the Ascetic Monk Ran Wu almost simultaneously kicked off from behind, shooting forward like arrows, not daring to linger any longer as they sprinted straight ahead.
The screams of Li Rui lasted for a moment before he, along with his equipment, was swallowed whole by the Molten Python Corpse King.
A Five-star Mercenary was slain in the blink of an eye.
Watching the lingering Corpse Poison in the surroundings and the Molten Python Corpse King that had curled up after its feast, Yue Jinghua silently retreated backward.
The Five-star Mercenary and Ran Wu only dared to stop for a rest after having escaped a good distance.
"Ran Wu, how do you see this situation?" The Five-decade Mercenary looked back to ensure that the Molten Python Corpse King was not in pursuit before wiping his forehead.
Upon wiping his forehead, he realized it was drenched in cold sweat, chilling to the touch.
Remembering Li Rui’s screams of terror, both of their faces turned pale with fear.
As Five-star Mercenaries, both were seasoned veterans in the mercenary world, seldom having been pursued to such a desperate extent.
"Something is eerie, not to mention that swarm of strange mosquitoes that come and go without a trace. Have you noticed that those mosquitoes are more formidable than any blood mosquitoes we’ve seen on the continent? And they targeted Li Rui with concentrated attacks, as if they had a vicious vendetta against him," the mercenaries from the Mercenary Branch had no particular friendship among them and decisively abandoned Li Rui when they realized he was being targeted.
"Hmm, I felt it too. Just now, it was only for a moment, but I seemed to sense someone spying on us," the ascetic monk Ran Wu brought his hands together and chanted a Buddhist mantra. "It seems like there is a Dark Practitioner with an exceptional spiritual power cultivation nearby."
Ran Wu, an ascetic monk, although he did not practice Dark Skill in the way of spiritual power, had a keenness in spiritual perception that surpassed ordinary Dark Practitioners.
Yue Jinghua’s Second Primordial Spirit is a unique state of spiritual power cultivation that is virtually unknown on the continent.
It was not surprising that Ran Wu mistook her state of the Second Primordial Spirit for that of a Dark Practitioner with astonishing spiritual power cultivation.
"Could it be the Divine Court?" On the continent, practitioners of spiritual power are few and far between. If such a person does exist, it’s likely they are from the Divine Court.
Remembering the seemingly unfathomable Divine Son Zong Shaoqing they had seen earlier by the Ancient Hero Fountain, the Five-star Mercenary and Ran Wu became even more convinced of their suspicion.
"The Divine Court is too bullying. If we hadn’t escaped quickly, we might have fallen into an ambush. Release the Messenger Moth to send the message out. Hmph, once those three arrive, why should we fear the Divine Court? By then, the Ancient Hero Treasure will belong only to the Five Saints Branch," the Five-star Mercenary said with a hint of anger on his face.
As he spoke, he took out a Jade Bottle from his bosom and released a Dark Insect resembling a moth from the bottle.
The Dark Insect immediately flew away.
Once the seed of contradiction is planted, it’s only a matter of time before it takes root and grows.
Ran Wu and the Five-star Mercenary took a moment to regain their composure on the spot. Having gone halfway through the Fiery Fire Path, they had to be extremely cautious the rest of the way to safely reach the Dragon Court.
Yue Jinghua retraced her original path. After the experience on the Fiery Fire Path, she didn’t dare to rashly attempt the other three paths.
After returning to the camp, a new rotation of Imperial Soldiers had taken their place.
Soon, everyone awoke, and after Chi Xi cooked some Spiritual Food, they all gathered together to discuss which path to choose.
According to Jin Nuo’s preference, he wanted to choose Autumn Walnut Avenue. When asked why, the young noble from Wo Hua Imperial City cracked a smile and said, "Of all the seasons, I love autumn the most."
Now that Yue Jinghua knew that the Divine Court had chosen Autumn Walnut Avenue, she was determined not to take that route.
With the Divine Court blocking the way, it would undoubtedly mean facing dual adversaries. Nor was it possible to take the Fiery Fire Path, as the satiated Molten Python Corpse King that blocked the middle of the path couldn’t be disturbed.
"Let’s take Spring Road," Ye Zi interjected from the side.
The recent changes in Ye Zi surprised Yue Jinghua, especially since their return from Greenland Black Forest. She seldom lost her temper, and although her attitude towards Yue Jinghua wasn’t necessarily any better, it was much kinder than before.
Seeing everyone turn to her askingly, Ye Zi was both happy and nervous, "I just have a feeling about it—that path is brimming with vitality."
In the eyes of the Chi Mei Clan, vitality signifies opportunity.
Recalling the unique talents of Yue Chen and Ye Zi, Yue Jinghua firmly said, "Brother Jin Nuo, let’s pick Spring Road then. Ye Zi’s intuition won’t be wrong."
Ye Zi was taken aback, unable to believe that Yue Jinghua would actually trust her words.
Jin Nuo shrugged his shoulders to indicate agreement. To him, it really didn’t make much difference which path they chose.