Chapter 997 - 965: Ice Flood Dragon Stone

"Fellow sect members, leave twenty people to guard here. The rest of you, follow me inside to assist Elder Song!"

Hearing Song Minghui’s call, Zhang Nianchuan issued the battle orders.

Out of fifty Foundation Establishment disciples from the Cyan Mountain Sect, thirty responded, following Zhang Nianchuan into the snake nest.

With fellow members coming to assist, inside the snake nest, Song Minghui wielded the Tier Four Spiritual Artifact, the Flying Snow Sword, targeting the Tier Three Giant Python with a fierce attack.

This Tier Three Giant Python, called the Black-striped Snake, had reached the mid-stage Crystallization stage, thus lacking in strength compared to Song Minghui.

Song Minghui had already reached the Ninth-Layer Crystallization stage, on the verge of forming a Golden Core.

The Black-striped Snake had a considerable size, capable of swallowing an adult whole; after revealing itself, its powerful demon energy made Zhang Renmo and others extremely wary, not daring to approach.

The Black-striped Snake unleashed an attack, spewing three strands of black light directly toward Song Minghui and others.

These three black lights were its Lifebound Divine Techniques, each possessing immense corrosive and penetration power, enough to easily pierce through a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact.

"Black-striped Snake!"

Song Minghui instantly recognized the origins of this demon snake and chose not to use the Cold Light Shield to block the attack, instead opting to evade using her body technique.

Though Song Minghui dodged the attack, Zhang Renmo was overconfident, summoning a Tier Three Lower Grade Defensive Shield to protect himself.

With a clang, one black light struck the defensive shield, creating a crack.

The corrosive power of the black light severely damaged the artifact, emitting a sizzling vapor.

Seeing this, Zhang Renmo, although pained, understood the need for decisiveness and immediately discarded the shield.

With a few cracking sounds, the Tier Three Shield shattered into three pieces, turning into scrap metal as the corrosive black liquid spread, causing the ground to hiss and sizzle.

If he had delayed a moment longer, the corrosive black light could have easily reached Zhang Renmo, making the cost far more significant than losing a Tier Three Spiritual Artifact.

The other two black lights struck the ground, creating two half-foot-deep holes, accidentally killing a demon snake caught in the middle, a victim of the Black-striped Snake’s attack.

"Leave this Black-striped Snake to me, clear out the other demon snakes!"

Song Minghui commanded, urging the Flying Snow Sword to slash straight at the Black-striped Snake.

Upon using the Cyan Cloud Sword Technique, the flying sword multiplied into more than ten swords, emitting dazzling sword light, overwhelming the Black-striped Snake.

Facing such a fierce flying sword attack, the Black-striped Snake opened its mouth, forming a circular shield with its demonic power, only to hear metallic clashing sounds the next moment.

The circular shield was immediately slashed apart by the flying swords, shattered to pieces.

Taking advantage of this opening, Song Minghui intensified her attack; the Flying Snow Sword unleashed even sharper sword qi, and within just two or three breaths, two slashes struck the giant python’s vital point, severing it.

Hiss!

A massive figure appeared, with cold, blood-red snake eyes—another Tier Three Demon Snake emerged.

This was a Blood Spot Demon Snake, reaching Tier Three Top-Grade, with power grown to about Eighth-Layer Crystallization.

Typically, giant pythons, and large snake species, are not venomous, often using constriction techniques to hunt their prey, and this Blood Spot Demon Snake was no exception.

It had been lurking in the nest, ready to launch a surprise attack as soon as Song Minghui appeared, intending to deliver a fatal blow.

However, it underestimated Song Minghui’s strength, not expecting the Black-striped Snake to be swiftly defeated, leaving it without the chance to attack.

With the battle reaching a fever pitch, it had no choice but to reveal itself for a frontal assault.

Facing the Eighth-Layer Crystallization Blood Spot Demon Snake, Song Minghui showed no intention of retreating; the Flying Snow Sword and Cold Light Shield both appeared in front of her, one attacking, the other defending.

"Senior Sister Song!"

At this moment, Zhang Nianchuan arrived with fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators to provide support, assisting in eradicating the demon snakes.

Upon seeing the Blood Spot Demon Snake, Zhang Nianchuan immediately rushed to Song Minghui’s side, wielding the Tier Four Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Golden Light Mother and Child Blade, releasing nine flying blades to assist Senior Sister Song in dealing with the demon snake.

With two late-stage Crystallization cultivators, equipped with excellent gear and Tier Four Spiritual Artifacts, aided by the sect’s inherited cultivation techniques, they faced the Blood Spot Demon Snake.

It didn’t take long; after several bouts, Zhang Nianchuan managed to slash off its head.

During this, Song Minghui did not need to summon her Tier Four Spiritual Artifacts for combat.

With the slaying of two Tier Three demon snakes, the remaining ones were no threat; the crowd primarily used flame magic to turn the snake nest into a sea of fire.

This fire burned for three days and nights, with everyone stationed at the snake nest’s exit, clearing escaping demon snakes.

It wasn’t until the fourth day that no more demon snakes emerged. Song Minghui led her group back into the snake nest.

At this point, the interior was scorched earth; the air was filled with a searing heat, the stones underfoot charred black, with ashes scattered from the burned demon snakes.

Even under such an intense blaze, some Tier Two Demon Snakes survived; as the group ventured deeper, they eliminated the last few dozen snakes, reaching the snake nest’s end.

Upon arriving there, Song Minghui noticed something amiss; unlike the scorching heat elsewhere, this area was untouched by the fire’s temperature, instead exuding a chilling cold like stepping into an icy world.

Snakes indeed prefer cool environments; however, this extreme cold was unusual, to the point it could be called an ice cave.

This was quite out of the ordinary.

Song Minghui, Zhang Nianchuan, Zhang Renmo, and others felt puzzled. After careful inspection, they soon discovered the source of the coldness.

"They’re Ice Flood Dragon Stones."

Zhang Nianchuan found several peculiar stones resembling transparent ice blocks, rich in ice attribute spiritual qi.

Upon hearing the words "Ice Flood Dragon Stone," Song Minghui’s expression instinctively changed.

"This place is not safe to linger!"

"Retreat quickly!"

Almost simultaneously, Song Minghui and Zhang Nianchuan issued retreat orders.

Though Zhang Renmo, Zhang Renyi, and the others were unsure about what the Ice Flood Dragon Stone was,

they saw the changing expressions of Song Minghui and Zhang Nianchuan, hinting at something terrifying, didn’t dare delay, and ordered the family cultivators to retreat from the snake nest together.

Once they stepped back into daylight, Zhang Renmo couldn’t help but voice his doubts.

"Elder Song, what is the Ice Flood Dragon Stone, and why must we retreat so quickly? Did we discover something troublesome?"

"Yes, what exactly is going on?"

Zhang Renyi also asked, quite perplexed.