The little girl, despite her small stature, was surprisingly fast. When she spotted Li Hao, she forcibly changed her direction, veering away from him. This deliberate maneuver shortened the distance between her and the pursuing Frenzied Python King. If Li Hao had simply turned and fled at that moment, he could have almost certainly escaped unscathed.
Li Hao hesitated for a brief instant. Then, taking a deep breath, he cast aside his indecision. He snatched up a large rock from the ground and charged toward the colossal beast. When he was within ten meters, he hurled the stone with all his might, aiming for the Python King's head.
Thwump!
The rock struck the creature's skull with a loud crack, shattering into a cloud of dust and fragments.
Li Hao's eyelids twitched. This thing's defense is insane!
Enraged by the impudent attack, the Frenzied Python King abandoned its chase of the girl. Its massive body coiled and then surged forward, intent on crushing Li Hao. Its sheer size laid waste to everything in its path; trees and shrubs were mercilessly flattened under its bulk. The destructive momentum was terrifying to behold.
"Run!" Li Hao roared at the little girl, who was staring at him with wide, curious eyes. He grabbed another rock from the ground and rushed to meet the beast head-on.
Truth be told, facing this monstrous Profound Beast, Li Hao had no confidence whatsoever. But the idea of fleeing now was untenable. If the girl had initially led the beast toward him, he would have bolted without a second thought. Yet, she had chosen to put herself in greater danger rather than implicate him. She's kind, just like Xiao Xue...Of course, the fact that he now felt he had some capacity to fight back also played a part.
Gasping for breath, Ya Ya watched Li Hao charge the python, her dark, intelligent eyes blinking in astonishment. Clearly, she hadn't expected a mere Chore Disciple to risk his life drawing the beast's ire.
With a fierce shout, Li Hao put every ounce of his strength into swinging the rock, smashing it against the Python King's head.
Thud!
A dull impact echoed. The rock shattered, and Li Hao was sent flying backward, landing hard on the ground. Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, he gained a visceral understanding of the phrase "like an egg striking a stone." His strike had felt like hitting solid metal; not only did the rock disintegrate, but the recoil numbed his entire arm.
Hiss... SSSSS!
Infuriated by the repeated strikes, the Frenzied Python King flicked its giant crimson tongue and coiled its body again, lunging at Li Hao with renewed fury.
Seeing the mountain-like beast bearing down on him, Li Hao's heart leapt to his throat. There was no time for hesitation. He scrambled to his feet, spat out a mouthful of blood, and charged once more. Running was no longer an option; the flat terrain offered no cover, and they could never outrun a snake on open ground. If flight was impossible, the only choice was a desperate fight to the death.
When he closed within two meters, Li Hao let out a roar, pushed off the ground with all his might, and launched himself into the air. His fists aimed directly for the Python King's sapphire-blue eyes, each as large as a man's fist.
Swoosh!
The python reacted instantly. Its body twisted, and its enormous tail, cutting through the air with a terrifying whistle, swept horizontally toward Li Hao.
The tail was impossibly fast. Before Li Hao could even get close to the beast's head, the tail struck him squarely.
WHUMP!
The blow felt like his waist had been snapped in two. A grunt of pain escaped him as he vomited a spray of blood. The force sent him hurtling through the air for nearly ten meters before he crashed into a pile of dry grass, sending up a cloud of dust.
I'm no match for it!He had known this from the start. The defensive power of a Profound Beast could easily overwhelm a human of the same level, often even those a level higher. And this beast was clearly stronger than him!
"Hey! Are you okay?" Ya Ya rushed to his side, helping him up, her voice soft with concern.
"You're still here?!" Li Hao struggled to stand, his face darkening when he saw she hadn't fled. He had risked his life to buy her time to escape, and she was still here? He felt like strangling someone!
Ya Ya shook her head vigorously, her little pigtails swaying. "You're so righteous! How could I abandon a friend and run away alone? I will live and die with you, never abandoning you! Here, put this on, then let's keep beating it!" As she spoke, she reached into a small pouch hidden within the front of her dress and pulled out a Talisman. Without ceremony, she slapped it directly onto Li Hao's shoulder.
The moment the paper touched his skin, it transformed into a golden light that sank into his body. A surge of energy immediately jolted through him. His spirit soared, and a powerful force seemed to course through his limbs, banishing his fatigue.
There was no time to ponder this sudden change. Li Hao grabbed a nearby tree branch and charged back toward the Frenzied Python King. He would have loved a moment's rest, but the beast gave him no opportunity. It was already charging again, its massive jaws gaping open to reveal an arm-thick, crimson tongue.
Staring into a maw large enough to swallow three of his heads, Li Hao felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know where he found the courage to confront a beast two levels above him. But he knew with absolute certainty that on this flat ground, running meant certain death. Since that was the case, he might as well gamble everything on one desperate fight. That, at least, offered a sliver of hope.
"HAH!"
With a battle cry, Li Hao pushed all hesitation aside. His feet sped across the ground as he lunged forward, branch held like a crude sword.
Seeing its target charge, the giant python hissed, its tongue flicking. It pivoted on its front section, whipping its tail around in another devastating sweep that tore up the earth and sent leaves flying.
Watching the tail arc toward him, Li Hao's eyes narrowed. He dropped into a slide, knees skimming the ground. He felt the wind of the tail pass just above his face. Letting out a furious roar, his face contorted into a snarl. His left hand slapped the ground, propelling him upward. Gripping the branch with both hands, he thrust it downward like a spear, aiming straight for the python's right eye!
This was a move from the Basic Sword Art. Though he wielded a mere branch, it would have to do.
Shink!
The Frenzied Python King, surprised its tail missed, jerked its head sideways. The branch missed the eye but stabbed deep into the scales behind its head. A violent, thrashing convulsion seized the beast. Simultaneously, its tail curled upward, wrapping tightly around Li Hao's waist.
A moment of elation at actually piercing the beast's tough black scales was cut short as excruciating pain erupted from his waist. It felt like his spine was being crushed.
Panic surged through Li Hao as he found himself constricted. But at this critical juncture, the mysterious Small Vortex inside him finally stopped being stingy. A continuous stream of Golden Profound Qi poured into his normal Dantian.
Feeling the energy flood his body, Li Hao abandoned the branch. He circulated the Profound Qi to his fists, which began to glow with a faint golden light. Like a man possessed, he began pummeling the python's tail.
To his astonishment, each punch caused the beast's black scales to dent and crack. He knew this wasn't his own strength; it had to be the combined effect of the Strength Talisman and the strange Golden Profound Qi!
Seeing the faint golden energy around Li Hao's fists, the previously pale Ya Ya's eyes lit up. She murmured to herself, "Golden Profound Qi! This little chore disciple actually possesses the Five Elements Profound Qi, specifically the Metal attribute!"
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Under Li Hao's frenzied assault, the Frenzied Python King clearly felt pain. Its tail grip began to loosen. The scales where Li Hao's fists landed were now shattered, revealing the raw, crimson flesh beneath.
After a moment of deadlock, the beast began to lose ground. Its tail was nearly beaten into two pieces. Agony shooting through its body, the python finally uncoiled, dropping Li Hao to the ground. It retreated several meters, its fist-sized eyes glaring at him with undiminished ferocity, but now tinged with a trace of wariness.
Ya Ya immediately ran to Li Hao's side, supporting him as he swayed. "Little chore disciple, keep hitting it! It chased me for a full hour over a single Mystic Grade Lower Tier Spirit Grass! If not for my Swift Wind Talisman, I would be in its belly by now!"
Li Hao sucked in a cold breath. A Mystic Grade Spirit Grass!Now he understood why the Profound Beast was so relentless.
Spirit Grass was exorbitantly expensive. Their grades followed the system of Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. A mere Yellow Grade Spirit Grass could fetch over ten thousand Gold Coins in the mortal world—an astronomical sum to Li Hao, whose monthly wages were only a few dozen Gold Coins! As for a Mystic Grade Spirit Grass, one tier higher, he couldn't even imagine its value. Most importantly, Spirit Grass held an allure for Profound Beasts comparable to the appeal of high-level cultivation techniques for humans.
Seeing Li Hao's weakened state, Ya Ya frowned. Her small hand dipped back into the pouch in her dress. She pulled out a green Talisman and a white one, slapping them onto Li Hao. "Here, little chore disciple! Keep fighting! I will cheer for you!"
Li Hao's mouth twitched, and he shot her an exasperated glare. But then, he felt another jolt of energy. A strange power flowed into his body, circulating through his meridians at incredible speed. In an instant, the fatigue from the intense battle vanished completely. His body was once again brimming with strength!
Moreover, he felt the energy of the world around him rushing into his body like a flood, coursing wildly through his meridians. Suddenly, the Small Vortex spun at high speed. This incoming Profound Qi vanished into his Dantian almost instantaneously. A couple of breaths later, the vortex began releasing streams of faint Golden Profound Qi.
Feeling the strange changes within, Li Hao's heart swelled with joy. He shot a glance at Ya Ya's pouch, his mind reeling. He knew the sudden influx of energy was undoubtedly due to her Talismans. But now wasn't the time for questions. A powerful Profound Beast was still lurking nearby.
Cracking his neck, feeling the surging Profound Qi within, Li Hao grinned fiercely at the Frenzied Python King. He stomped his right foot, propelling himself forward in a burst of speed. His right fist, accompanied by a sharp whistle, shot straight toward the beast's head.