Chapter 344: The Emperor Who Slays Snakes

"Hoo~~~"

Around the Jade-Faced Snake's body, wisps of immortal mist suddenly materialized.

Xie Fa·Immortal Realm!

The Jade-Faced Snake still harbored some apprehension toward the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll; after establishing her defenses, she immediately activated her purification method.

With this, the paper effigy in the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll's hands could no longer interfere with the Jade-Faced Snake.

A trace of fire in Lu Ran's heart had already turned into secret delight.

Though the Jade-Faced Snake appeared lofty, looking down on ants like a god, her thinking was clear and her actions cautious.

A sentence floated up in Lu Ran's mind:

"Despise the enemy strategically, but take them seriously tactically!"

Good!

Truly worthy of being the arch-nemesis of a First-Rank God!

Truly an existence capable of rivaling the Evil Spear Emperor on the level of intellect!

With such a fiend joining his ranks, she would be more than qualified to serve as the leader of his slave squad.

"Whoosh~"

Lu Ran's figure vanished silently; wielding the Eight Desolations Extinction, he instantly appeared behind the Jade-Faced Snake.

A crisp "Ding!" rang out.

Lu Ran had been fast enough, yet the Tang Dao still struck the snake's tail!

"Oh?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow slightly.

Truly worthy of being a River Realm Demon Lord!

The third form of the Ran Gate Sword Art, Scintillating Star, had actually been blocked?

All along, the Jade-Faced Snake's true snake tail had been coiled in a spiral around the upper half of her human body.

But at the very instant Lu Ran vanished, the coiled tail suddenly tightened, causing Lu Ran's effort to come to naught.

Whoosh~

Lu Ran's figure vanished once again.

The next moment, a thick snake tail swept across with astonishing force!

"Slap! Slap! Slap!"

A full sixteen thick, long, white-scaled snake tails whipped about frantically.

Vast swathes of trees were snapped apart, and the earth trembled with a humming vibration from the lashes.

The Jade-Faced Snake's crawling speed was likewise not to be underestimated.

Unable to locate Lu Ran for the moment, she headed straight for the annoying Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll.

"Ugh."

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll let out a low groan, her eyes filled with fury.

Alas, the gap in cultivation realms was too great.

Even though the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll's aura was in no way inferior, she was merely River Realm·Stage Five; how could she contend with a River Realm Demon Lord?

There was another point that left the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll constrained.

Over the past half-month, Lu Ran had already trained her not to fly high into the sky, lest her identity be exposed.

Thus, the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll could only fly backward through the forest, dodging the pursuing Jade-Faced Snake.

"Hiss."

The Jade-Faced Snake's hissing cry was also faint, sounding plain, yet her movements were anything but slow!

She was seen crawling forward at high speed, several snake tails clearing the way, flattening the mountain forest ahead.

Meanwhile, several other snake tails lashed fiercely at the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll.

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll flew backward at high speed, dodging left and right with exceptional agility.

Alas, the white-scaled snake tails were even more agile!

"Slap!" One snake tail grazed past her expensive phoenix crown, smashing the tree trunk beside it into powder.

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll was both startled and enraged!

Seeing another snake tail attacking, with nowhere left to dodge, she had no choice but to fling her robe forward.

Lady Lady Yanzhi Xie Fa·Red Bridal Gown!

"Crack!!"

The tip of the snake tail swept across the hem of her garment, emitting a piercing sound of shattering.

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll still wore the cloud cape, but in terms of Xie Fa, her defensive clothing had been shattered!

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll's expression changed abruptly!

In her line of sight, a thick snake tail came attacking, resembling a giant long spear.

At the same time, in the mountain forest not far away.

Lu Ran reached out to his side, where an ancient bronze mirror floated before his palm.

The next moment, the oval-shaped ancient bronze mirror transformed into a huge full-length mirror.

Xie Fa·Mirror Flower Moon!

Simultaneously, another full-length mirror appeared in the mountain forest, suspended along the path of the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll's backward flight.

"Whoosh!"

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll flew backward into the mirror and emerged flying backward from the full-length mirror beside Lu Ran.

Her cloud cape fluttered wildly in the wind.

Lady Lady Yanzhi Flower's face drained of color.

The scene was somewhat poignant and beautiful, yet Lu Ran had no time to appreciate it.

Because inside the mirror, a thick, long snake tail had followed out as well!

This full-length mirror was not large in specification, merely three or so meters in length and width.

How could it accommodate the passage of a thick snake tail?

Facts proved it could!

The full-length mirror had actually been stretched wide!

This thick, white-scaled snake tail had forcibly squeezed its way in, distorting the rectangular mirror into a large circular one.

How to describe that scene?

It was just, well, deserving of execution!

"Hiss!"

A wheel of rosy light swept across; Lu Ran finally unleashed his divine weapon, instantly severing a snake tail.

"Screech!!"

From afar came the Jade-Faced Snake's shriek.

With this strike, the snake tail behaved itself.

It immediately retracted.

Only a segment of the snake body with a neat cross-section remained, falling to the ground before shattering into mist.

The gap between a divine weapon and an ordinary blade was simply too obvious.

Previously, the Ba Huang Dao could not pierce the snake scales.

The Xia Guang Dao, however, had directly chopped the snake body off!

"Hmm."

Over ten meters away, the momentum of the Lady Lady Yanzhi Figure flying backward slowed.

Having escaped from the brink of life and death, she looked toward the young emperor holding the Xia Guang Dao.

For a moment, the Lady Lady Yanzhi Figure's eyes rippled with emotion, tender as water.

Even her deathly pale, paper-like complexion was tinged with a blush.

Lu Ran had no mind to pay attention to the Lady Lady Yanzhi Figure; his focus was entirely on the Jade-Faced Snake.

He dispersed the full-length mirror and gazed at the Jade-Faced Snake from afar with great interest.

The aloof White Snake Fairy finally changed her expression.

Her eyes were no longer cold and indifferent but filled with angry resentment as she glared at Lu Ran from a distance.

"Heh."

Lu Ran grinned broadly, weighing the Xia Guang Dao in his hand.

In ancient times, Emperor Gaozu slew the snake.

Today, I, his descendant, shall emulate my ancestor!

That would also be worthy of this black-and-gold imperial robe I wear.

Clutching the Xia Guang Dao, Lu Ran summoned a black cloud beneath his feet and flew straight toward the Jade-Faced Snake!

Regarding those wildly thrashing thick snake tails, he seemed to have no concerns whatsoever.

"Screech!!"

The Jade-Faced Snake let out a sharp sound, hissing like a serpent.

The white-scaled tail swept over fiercely.

The Xia Guang Dao immediately struck down!

The thick snake tail fell to the ground, its cross-section perfectly smooth; gushing blood flowed forth before it shattered into mist.

Lu Ran's pupils were cold and ruthless as he continued flying forward on his cloud!

Over ten snake tails waved chaotically, appearing ferocious and imposing.

However, wherever Lu Ran passed carrying the rosy light, segment after segment of snake tail was cleanly and decisively severed.

"Hiss—"

The Jade-Faced Snake was in immense pain, her cold countenance becoming somewhat distorted.

Lu Ran's black-and-gold imperial robe fluttered wildly as he pressed forward with his blade.

Looking into the Jade-Faced Snake's terrified eyes, he said softly:

"I still prefer you when you were aloof and high above."

"Screech!!"

Suddenly, a dazzling luster erupted from the Jade-Faced Snake's body.

"Hmm?" Lu Ran leaned his body backward, and the black cloud beneath his feet halted abruptly.

Is the Jade-Faced Snake... about to evolve?

In Lu Ran's mind, he even paired it with the BGM from Digimon!

Shielding his face with one hand and squinting through his fingers, he saw amidst the brilliant light, a colossal python soaring into the sky emerge!

This was the ultimate move of the Jade-Faced Snake clan!

Jiang Pin Xie Fa · White-Scaled Immortal Sky Python!

The Jade-Faced Snake finally revealed her true form; no longer possessing the upper human torso, her entire body transformed into a giant python.

Its scale was quite magnificent, over a hundred meters in length!

"Good heavens~"

Lu Ran stood with his mouth slightly agape, gazing up at the coiling White-Scaled Celestial Sky Python soaring through the heavens.

Its eyes were scarlet red, and its thick serpentine body was covered in dense white scales.

Every single snake scale resembled lustrous Bai Yu, shimmering with a beautiful glow.

If one were to catch this and use it as a mount,

wouldn't one simply die from its sheer beauty?

"Hiss!!!"

The White-Scaled Celestial Sky Python hovered in the sky, opening its blood-filled maw to spray celestial breath downward.

Xie Fa · Celestial Breath!

Suddenly, a red robe swooped in, blocking the sky above Lu Ran.

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll flew over swiftly, its rosy cape fluttering as it attempted to protect Lu Ran.

"River-grade won't work," Lu Ran remarked casually, executing a one-click outfit change.

The black-and-gold imperial robe on his body abruptly transformed into a great red rosy cape.

Although it was not the attire of a groom,

Lu Ran and the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll's clothing could now be considered a couple's outfit.

Seeing this, Lu Ran raised his right hand, and the sleeves embroidered with dragons and phoenixes suddenly expanded.

Xie Fa · Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeves!

"You, Ting Zhi Shi Fa," Lu Ran commanded.

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll stood beside Lu Ran and decisively retracted the trailing hem of its rosy cape.

The celestial breath spraying down from the high skies was entirely sucked into Lu Ran's sleeve.

After watching for a moment, the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll likewise raised her right hand, causing her sleeve cuffs to widen as well.

Amidst the motion, she stole a glance at Lu Ran, the corners of her lips curving up slightly.

Lu Ran: "."

No way!

I! You... sigh...

Who could have imagined that the Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll, whom the world viewed as a terrifying horror, was actually a love-struck fool?

No, I must change servants.

Hmm... never mind.

Today is already the seventh day of the eleventh month; there are only two days left until the trial ends, so let's just leave it like this for now.

"Ouch!" The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll suddenly let out a cry of pain.

Lu Ran decisively reached out and pressed her arm down: "You are a river-grade Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeve; you cannot withstand it."

The Lady Lady Yanzhi Doll lowered her brows and cast down her eyes, placing her hands folded over her lower abdomen.

She looked just like an obedient little daughter-in-law.

If anyone were to see this, their eyeballs would probably pop right out of their heads!

The area within a few meters of Lu Ran counted as a safe zone.

But this entire stretch of mountain forest was thoroughly devastated.

Wherever the celestial breath passed, flowers and grass were crushed to ruins, and trees withered rapidly.

Even the ground itself was being melted away along with everything else.

"Is this never going to end?" Lu Ran's expression turned quite unpleasant.

The Jade-Faced Snake, unable to break through despite prolonged attacks, did not change its strategy.

It simply hovered in the sky, blowing celestial breath at Lu Ran.

It seemed the Jade-Faced Snake feared Lu Ran greatly and was unwilling to descend.

"Fine, then don't come down."

Lu Ran raised his right hand high, holding open the massive Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeves.

He positioned his left hand to the side, and the moment he clenched his fist, the Xia Guang Dao flew over swiftly, its hilt landing squarely in its master's palm.

"Buzz!"

The Xia Guang Dao trembled gently.

Streaks of rosy light, resembling strips of Mixtian Ling, flew out from the blade's tip.

The soft, flowing gauze danced lightly, drifting beyond the absorption range of the Lady Lady Yanzhi Sleeves before coiling up toward the firmament.

"Hiss!!"

The White-Scaled Celestial Sky Python let out an angry serpentine cry, intensifying its exhalation as if trying to extinguish the rosy light.

She had miscalculated.

The moment the celestial breath touched the rosy light, it was burned to nothing!

The expression in the White-Scaled Celestial Sky Python's eyes changed; it twisted its body uneasily, its serpentine pupils shrinking until they were nearly vertical slits!

The "Mixtian Ling" had already arrived, coiling around the white python's body.

"Hiss! Hiss!"

The Bai Yu Celestial Sky Python, disregarding her noble status, turned her head and fled, only to find that her speed was no match for the rosy light!

In an instant, a piercing scream of agony echoed through the sky.

The incredibly hard scales were burned away inch by inch by the rosy light.

The colossal python twisted its body, wailing in pain, wrapped in strips of brilliant brocade as it plummeted toward the mountain forest.

"Boom-rumble!"

The earth trembled, and trees toppled.

Lu Ran lowered his raised right hand, and an ancient bronze mirror materialized once more.

With a mere thought, the images within the mirror shifted continuously until they locked onto the target area.

The Fate-Tethering Mirror silently expanded, transforming into a full-length standing mirror.

Lu Ran stepped inside, sending dust flying sky-high, obscuring all vision.

He kept his eyes closed, listening intently.

"Hiss—"

The Jade-Faced Snake lay limp on the ground, her gaze vacant, blood spilling from her mouth.

At this moment, she was no longer the colossal, sky-shaking giant python.

By reverting to her half-human, half-snake form, she had shrunk in size and finally escaped her predicament.

Yet the Jade-Faced Snake's body still bore the scars of being burned to a crisp, patches of charred flesh and gore.

"Hiss!" The Jade-Faced Snake suddenly widened her eyes.

That human youth draped in a black-and-gold imperial robe had, unbeknownst to her, appeared standing before her.

He did not move.

Yet a sharp Tang Dao plunged down with great speed, pinning itself into her skull.

The Jade-Faced Snake's mind went blank; when her consciousness returned, she had become a departed soul, drifting away from her body.

However,

that insignificant and lowly human still would not let her go.

"Hiss! Hiss!!"

The Jade-Faced Snake, filled with utmost rage, reached out with one hand to grab Lu Ran's neck.

Lu Ran remained utterly motionless, merely watching her in silence.

The soul of the Jiang Jing Demon Lord continuously contracted, merging into the cold, horizontal pupil.

Compared to the Evil Spear Emperor,

you still fall a bit short.

Lu Ran casually raised his hand; the Zhan Ye Dao that had pierced through the enemy's skull automatically rose and slowly flew back into its sheath.

"Buzz!!"

Lu Ran's brain buzzed loudly.

Within the Garden of Divine and Demonic Sculptures, the Yemo Yemo Xiesu of the Jade-Faced Snake absorbed the Demon Lord's departed soul, then began to tremble!

Asking for some monthly votes.

(End of Chapter)