Chapter 30: Chi Xiao Sword Qi

The night was deep, and mist began to rise within Fengxi Ze.

Lu Wan, by the moonlight, took a deep step then a shallow step, probing forward.

He looked up toward the distance and could vaguely see a pitch‑black mountain silhouette spanning the end of the official road, its outline like a coiled giant beast.

"I guess this must be Mangdang Shan..." Lu Wan muttered lowly, about to turn back to report to Liu Bang.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from behind, like something moving slowly through the grass.

Lu Wan's whole body tensed, and he slowly turned his head—

A flash of glaring white shimmered in the moonlight.

He rubbed his eyes, mustered his courage, took a few steps forward, and pushed aside grass half a man's height—

"Sss....."

Lu Wan inhaled a sharp breath of cold air, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

In the center of the official road, a massive White Snake coiled there, its body as thick as a beam, its scales glinting cold silver in the moonlight.

It lifted its head slightly, its crimson Snake Tongue flickering, a pair of vertical pupils looking up at the moon, seemingly unaware of Lu Wan's arrival!

Lu Wan's heart hammered like a drum, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

He held his breath, retreated cautiously, fearing to startle the colossal creature.

Until he had withdrawn a short distance, he then abruptly turned and bolted away!

Bang!

He tripped over a stone, fell heavily to the ground, yet ignored the pain, rolling and crawling as he continued to sprint.

"Big brother! Big brother!"

Lu Wan staggered back to the camp, his face ashen, his voice changed in tone:

"Trouble! There's a snake ahead! A huge snake!"

Liu Bang, originally cradling the Chi Xiao Sword and leaning by the campfire with his eyes closed to rest, heard the words, snapped his eyes open, and a sharp gleam flashed in his pupils:

"What?"

Liu Bang's mind suddenly recalled something Yu Lin had said, and he grabbed Lu Wan's shoulder:

"What kind of snake?"

Lu Wan swallowed, gestured, and said: "It's as thick as three people could embrace! Long… I don't know how long, I was so scared I didn't dare look closely, I just ran!"

His voice trembled: "Big brother, let's take another path! Let's avoid it for now!"

Liu Bang narrowed his eyes slightly, slowly sat back beside the campfire, and closed his eyes without speaking.

The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet, only the crackling "pop" of the firewood.

Everyone stared at each other, none daring to speak.

Uncertain how long passed—

Snap!

Liu Bang suddenly ripped the wine bag from his waist, tipped his head back and gulped it down with a "glug glug" sound.

The wine streamed down his chin, dripping onto the Chi Xiao Sword.

"You want me to avoid it?!"

He sprang up, and the Chi Xiao Sword rang out as it unsheathed:

"Why should a brave man fear!"

The blade's edge glowed with an uncanny crimson aura in the firelight, casting half of Liu Bang's face a blood‑red hue.

"You all stay here!"

He strode toward the deep moonlight, his voice ringing like iron:

"I'll go slay that White Snake!"

"Everyone, stay back!"

The others stood in place, watching Liu Bang's silhouette gradually merge into the night, while the Chi Xiao Sword glowed with a terrifying red light under the moon, like an awakened red dragon, ready to choose a victim and devour!

"What do we do?"

"What do you mean what do we do? Big brother told us not to go, so we don't. He's now a Qi Refining Warrior!"

"Indeed, big brother is mighty!"

"We'll shout later, don't startle the White Snake!"

"Yes, yes, yes."

The rustling footfalls shattered the night's silence.

The White Snake slowly lowered its head, moonlight flowing over its silvery‑white scales, its amber vertical pupils turning toward Liu Bang, cold and indifferent.

As its Snake Tongue flickered, a foul‑smelling white mist condensed into frost in the cold night.

Liu Bang steadied himself, the Chi Xiao Sword pointed straight at the White Snake, its tip trembling slightly: "Step aside, and I'll spare your life."

His voice rang especially clear in the night wind.

The White Snake expelled a forked tongue, emitting a hissing sound, as if mocking the arrogance of this tiny human.

It suddenly lifted its massive tail and slammed it onto the ground—

Boom!

The ground shuddered violently, shards of stone scattering. Liu Bang was jolted backward, his boots carving two deep gouges in the mud.

"Do you actually intend to throw away your life?!"

Liu Bang let out a loud shout, his voice echoing across the open night sky.

He stepped forward, and the Chi Xiao Sword traced a cold beam in the moonlight.

The White Snake's vertical pupils suddenly contracted, its massive tail sweeping across like lightning!

Liu Bang hastily raised his sword to block —

Bang!

The clang of metal exploded, Liu Bang felt excruciating pain in his tiger's mouth, his whole body flew out like a broken kite, crashing heavily into the grass.

He felt a sweetness in his throat and spat out a mouthful of fresh blood with a "wah"!

The White Snake swam slowly over, the rustling of its scales against the grass sounded like a death‑knell urging on.

Liu Bang lay on his back, seeing the whole sky of stars spinning.

"Master, can I really cut?"

"I'm afraid I'm going to die!"

He gave a wry smile in his heart, and before his eyes appeared the gentle smile of Lü Zhi, as well as the innocent faces of those two young children.

In a daze, he seemed to see Yu Lin standing ahead.

"You can cut."

Yu Lin's voice rang in his ears, clear as a spring striking stone: "Just draw your sword!"

Liu Bang widened his eyes, seeing Yu Lin make a sword‑drawing gesture toward him, the motion flowing like clouds and water, as if containing the ultimate truth of heaven and earth.

"Just draw your sword..."

Liu Bang muttered the repetition, then burst into loud laughter: "Hahaha! Good!"

In the midst of his laughter, he leapt up with a carp‑flip, and the Chi Xiao Sword suddenly burst forth with a dazzling crimson light, illuminating his blood‑stained face.

"Just draw your sword!"

Liu Bang roared as he charged at the White Snake, the sword light like blood, tracing a grim‑beautiful arc across the night sky.

At this moment, he seemed to see the two ancient seal characters "Chi Xiao" on the Chi Xiao Sword glowing, and hear a dragon‑like hum emanating from the blade.

Sizzle—

Snake blood spattered, falling like rain, dyeing Liu Bang's robes red and the ground beneath his feet red.

The White Snake let out a shrill hiss, its massive body thrashing wildly, its tail slamming the ground, shaking the surrounding vegetation to pieces.

However, the Crimson Sky Sword Qi had already invaded its flesh.

The White Snake struggled a few times, then collapsed with a thunderous crash, its amber vertical pupils gradually losing luster, utterly dead.

Liu Bang sheathed his sword and stood, lowering his gaze to the Chi Xiao Sword in his hand.

The blood on the blade was strangely absorbed by the sword, the crimson patterns growing ever more vivid, as if it were truly drinking the White Snake's blood!

The sword blade trembled slightly, emitting a low hum, as if rejoicing yet also yearning for more.

Liu Bang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly broke into a grin:

"Good sword!"

He flicked off the residual blood on the sword, turned, and strode away.

The night wind howled, blowing away the bloody scent on him.

Under the moonlight, his silhouette stood tall like a pine, the Chi Xiao Sword in his hand glowing with an eerie red light, like a dormant crimson dragon ready to be drawn at any moment.

Yet he was nowhere to be seen.

Behind him, a person stepped out from the side.

"Liu Bang, well done."

"Hope to meet again!"

Yu Lin nodded in relief, then came to the White Snake's corpse and extracted its Snake Gallbladder.

As the countdown ended, his consciousness was enveloped by WhiteLight.

【Mission Completed】

【Reward: Crimson Sky Sword Qi】

【Crimson Sky Sword Qi: Crimson light sweeps the sky, one sword splits Destiny】

【Next Wandering Myth countdown: three months】

【Myth is: Ji Gong Living Buddha】

【Mission: Obtain the Palm Fan from his hand】

【Reward: Trait—Indestructible】