Chapter 9: The Azure-Scaled Python (Part 1)

After two hours of non-stop running, Zhang Yaojin was finally exhausted. He raised his hand to signal a stop, then went back to the Dark-Winged Scorpion and said, “Let’s rest for a while. I can’t drain all my strength… Guo Shier, you scorpion are quite good—perfect for moving through thick fog.”
Guo Shier asked, “What was that thing just now that made you decide to turn back?”
Zhang Yaojin smiled bitterly. “That was an eighth-level mutated Azure-Scaled Python. If it spots us, none of us will be able to escape… It’s a very powerful mutated spirit beast. I heard its swimming sound; if we don’t turn back, we’ll definitely run into it.”
Guo Shier said, “Let’s take another route out.”
Zhang Yaojin replied, “We must take this path… Let’s cultivate here for a few days. We can leave in a few days; maybe that mutated Python will leave by then… Hopefully, we won’t encounter any powerful mutated spirit beasts.”
Guo Shier said, “Hurry up. It’s best if everyone can advance quickly. I should be able to reach the rank of AdvancedAdvancedCrazy Master… Once I reach the rank of JuniorJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint, we’ll leave immediately!”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Zhang Yaojin said, “Reaching the rank ofJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint fromAdvancedCrazy Master is a huge hurdle—it’s not easy to break through. Of course, it’s not difficult here. With three years, anyone with decent potential can make progress. Even those with weaker potential can advance in seven or eight years at most… Outside, this is almost impossible.”
Guo Shier said confidently, “I can reach the rank of JuniorJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint in just one year!” With his current speed of absorbing soul threads, he had no reason to doubt his progress. With the Soul Scripture as his powerful tool, his cultivation speed was unmatched.
Eagle Demon laughed and said, “I believe in you!” His voice was low, but full of certainty.
Zhang Yaojin was filled with envy. He smiled bitterly and said, “I… Sigh, you kids are really amazing. It took me over a decade to finally reach the rank of JuniorJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint, and it wasn’t until the year before last that I broke through to IntermediateJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint. I know it will be hard to reach IntermediateJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint if we go outside. I originally wanted to reach the rank of GrandJuniorSaint Master -> Junior Saint, but now… it’s impossible. There’s no time left… I hope you can advance quickly so you can take me out.”
They found a place that, according to Zhang Yaojin’s experience, should be relatively safe. Everyone began to cultivate more intensively. Here, there were only two tasks: avoiding danger and cultivating—both of which were extremely difficult. In the foggy area, they might be able to survive for a hundred days, but if they encountered a powerful mutated spirit beast on the last day, all their efforts could be wasted, leading to complete ruin.

So, those who dare to enter the heart of the dark mist zone often only have half, or even less, a chance of making it out alive. Many disciples who came here to gain experience lost their lives due to carelessness, with not even their bones left behind.

Guo Shier didn’t retract his Dark-Winged Scorpion. The Ancient Talisman Worm remained very quiet, completely different from the Soul Beast. Here, he didn’t dare unleash the Giant Perch Dragon—just its footsteps would be enough to drive people crazy, let alone its roar, which would spell utter disaster.

The Ancient Flame Sparrow was different as well; as long as it was controlled and kept on his shoulder, there would be no problem. The Ancient Flame Sparrow was absorbing soul threads, the Dark-Winged Scorpion was also absorbing them, and with Guo Shier, this little monster that absorbed dark mist, the surrounding dark mist gathered around them.

Soon, the dark mist around the Dark-Winged Scorpion grew thicker, and everyone unconsciously gathered on its back. Every time Zhang Yaojin saw this, he felt frustrated—despite working hard to cultivate, he absorbed fewer soul threads and his soul grew slower than those sitting beside Guo Shier. Especially when Guo Shier recited scriptures silently, those around him also benefited, though they didn’t understand why.

After about an hour of cultivation, Zhang Yaojin said in a low voice, “Alright, let’s leave this place.”

They stayed in one place for anywhere from a few hours to ten hours, usually three to four hours—never longer. This was a convention formed through countless painful lessons; constant movement was the only way to ensure safety.

This time, Zhang Yaojin also sat on the scorpion’s back, responsible for guiding the way, while Guo Shier controlled the Dark-Winged Scorpion. Working in perfect harmony, they moved much faster than before. It was unclear how Zhang Yaojin managed to navigate; he had an almost supernatural intuition that allowed him to avoid dangerous areas.

As they traveled and cultivated, one day, Zhang Yaojin stopped the group for a rest. Guo Shier was completely lost; he couldn’t tell the way through the mist and asked, “Have we passed through the territory of that mutated Brocade-Scaled Python?”

Zhang Yaojin replied, “After this rest, we’ll have to cross its territory.”

Guo Shier slapped his forehead and sighed, “Oh no! I thought we’d already passed… How many days have passed? Almost eight days… Luckily you’re guiding us. If I had to go alone, I wouldn’t know where I’d end up.”

Everyone seemed exhausted. The pressure here was immense—living in constant fear and anxiety. In Sun Min’er’s words, living here would shorten one’s lifespan by several years.

After the cultivation was completed, Zhang Yaojin said, “This time we crossed over quickly. Thankfully, we have the Ancient Scorpion—this guy is amazing. As long as everyone stays silent and doesn’t speak… that mutated Jinlin Python is extremely sensitive; it can detect the slightest vibration or scent. I’ll cast a spell to mask our odors and help us avoid it as much as possible.”

He then chanted several spells in succession. Gray runes flew out and landed on everyone, instantly masking their scents. He asked, “Guo Shier, do you have a way to remove the scent from the Ancient Scorpion?”

Guo Shier nodded. “No problem.” He told everyone to fly off the scorpion’s back, turned the Dark-Winged Demon Scorpion into a mass of essence, and then reformed it into a scorpion. “Alright. For at least a day, the Dark-Winged Demon Scorpion won’t have any scent.”

Zhang Yaojin exhaled in relief. “That’s really convenient.” He flew onto the scorpion’s back and said softly, “As usual, I’ll guide the direction, and you control the scorpion.”

Guo Shier nodded. “Okay. I hope we succeed this time.”

Zhang Yaojin replied, “I hope so too. If we delay any longer, it will be hard for us to leave here… Let’s go!”

Under Guo Shier’s control, the Dark-Winged Demon Scorpion rushed forward along the route indicated by Zhang Yaojin. Zhang Yaojin kept murmuring in admiration. He really liked this Ancient Scorpion—powerful, agile, and skilled at moving in the darkness.

After turning a few times, Zhang Yaojin’s expression suddenly changed drastically. He said urgently, “Quick! Turn around! Damn it… Someone has angered the mutated Jinlin Python! Run! Hurry…” His face turned deathly pale. Guo Shier also heard hurried footsteps. Just as he ordered the Dark-Winged Demon Scorpion to turn around, he saw someone rushing out of the thick fog.

It was Chen Zhen Dong, the man in black!

The Dark-Winged Demon Scorpion had just started moving. Zhang Yaojin shouted, “Get ready for battle! There’s no time!”

A hissing sound was heard. Terrifyingly, a large area of the surrounding black fog vanished instantly, revealing the mutated Jinlin Python. Everyone was stunned—its power was incredible; it could even disperse the fog around it.

Chen Zhen Dong said with a wry smile, “Sorry for dragging you all along!”

Zhang Yaojin snapped, “Stop talking! Hold it off!” Both of them felt frustrated. If they had received the inheritance, even if they couldn’t defeat this eighth-level mutated Jinlin Python, they wouldn’t have to fear it. But now, they had to fight desperately with all their might.

Guo Shier said, “Uncle Eagle Demon and Dingding, come down. The rest stay on the scorpion’s back. Let’s go!” With their abilities, only Guo Shier, Eagle Demon, and Zhou Xiaoling had any real strength; the others would just be sending themselves to death if they went up there.
Zhang Yaojin shouted, “Shier, you guys go! I and this guy can hold it off. Run first—I’ll catch up to you soon!”
Guo Shier replied, “We can’t get through unless we kill this Jinlin Python. Many hands make light work! Let’s fight to the end!”
Zhang Yaojin inwardly sighed. He still hoped Guo Shier would lead him out, so he didn’t want to fight desperately against the level-8 mutated Jinlin Python. But Chen Zhen Dong cheered loudly, “Great! Let’s take it down!”
At this point, Guo Shier had no choice but to go all in. He felt extremely frustrated in the foggy area, constantly running to avoid attacks, which drained his fighting spirit. Anyway, he wanted to test his own strength. Immediately, he released his life talisman ball and pointed with his hand— a black dot shot out.
That black dot suddenly expanded, growing from small to large, and with a loud boom, the Giant Perch Dragon appeared.
Zhang Yaojin and Chen Zhen Dong were both surprised and delighted. They never expected Guo Shier to have such a terrifying spirit beast. At a glance, they could tell that this Giant Perch Dragon, though not at level 8, had nearly that level of strength as a mutated talisman beast, which greatly boosted their morale. With this giant holding off the mutated Jinlin Python, the battle wouldn’t be so brutal.
The level-8 mutated Jinlin Python looked extremely strange. It was the first time Guo Shier had seen such a bizarre snake—it even had two legs at its front, its body as thick as a water tank, its scales dark green and shimmering like brocade. Its huge head was triangular, with a pair of pale blue eyes whose pupils were vertical and emitted a cold glow. Its three-forked tongue kept flicking as its head slowly swayed, staring intently at the people in front of it.
The Jinlin Python clearly showed disdain in its eyes, but when Guo Shier unleashed the Giant Perch Dragon, it immediately felt as if faced with a formidable enemy. The Giant Perch Dragon was also enormous, with strength close to level 8, enough to engage it in a fierce battle. It immediately coiled up into a combat-ready stance.
Guo Shier wasn’t done yet. He pointed at the Ancient Flame Bird. With a soft chirp, the Ancient Flame Bird’s body also suddenly expanded, reaching three meters in length, with flames swirling around it, creating intense heat waves. It also drove back the thick fog around them.
Seeing this, the mutated Jinlin Python felt even more threatened—talisman fire was its kryptonite. Chen Zhen Dong had ignored the little bird on Guo Shier’s shoulder until he suddenly saw the true form of the Ancient Flame Bird and exclaimed, “Ancient Flame Bird!”

Zhang Yaojin laughed heartily, “See how powerful I am? Ha ha, this little guy always surprises me!”
Chen Zhendong was secretly glad he hadn’t fought Guo Shier. Before advancing to Saint, the more real talismans one could use, the stronger their power would be. Guo Shier was clearly extraordinary—he could control both beast talismans and insect talismans simultaneously without any difficulty, appearing completely at ease. He had thought Guo Shier was a disciple from a sect specialized in beast and insect talismans.
An eagle demon appeared with a huge talisman shield, while Zhou Xiaoling still held that massive talisman blade as big as a door panel. The two approached the mutated brocade-scaled python from opposite sides.
The giant nesting dragon gently swayed its thick tail, seemingly dissatisfied that Guo Shier had confined it within a talisman. As soon as it emerged, it fixed its gaze on the brocade-scaled python—it needed to vent its anger.