Chapter Nine: The Serpent on the Wall (Part Two)

In an instant, the cries of battle echoed throughout Wanjia Village.

"That beast actually flees at the sound of fighting?" Lei Yan stood up, gazing toward the southwest. He hadn’t expected the creature to appear in that direction, well beyond the range of his abilities. Yet, from the shouts, Lei Yan deduced it was indeed a beast—one that was cowardly at heart.

"Ordinary weapons are useless—watch mine!" came a loud shout from nearby, the voice belonging to Li Yun, the Hall Master of the Li family.

Brandishing a spiked club, Li Yun pursued the beast at top speed. With a powerful leap, he swung his weapon downward, the force of a thousand pounds behind it. He believed that striking with a blunt weapon would be more effective against the beast’s armored hide, but hadn’t anticipated its astonishing speed.

A resounding crash followed as the club missed its target, smashing into the ground and sending up clouds of dust. Cursing, Li Yun spat, "Damn it, this beast is fast!"

Suddenly, a long shadow whipped toward Li Yun with a shrieking wind. Within the dust, Li Yun’s ear twitched; he quickly stepped back. In that instant, the shadow flickered past him, barely grazing his left arm before vanishing into the haze.

Li Yun glanced down at his arm—a deep wound, bone exposed, had appeared. His left hand was numb, almost lifeless. Shocked, he thought, "The beast knew to use the dust as cover for its attack. Good thing I dodged quickly, or else I’d be reporting to the underworld now." With two sharp taps, he sealed the acupoints on his arm, but blood continued to trickle from the wound, showing just how severe his injury was.

As the dust settled, Li Yun gripped the end of his club, standing firm. The ground around the weapon was deeply sunken. Several villagers rushed over, asking if he needed help. Li Yun shouted, "That monster dared to wound me—I won’t let it get away!" He pressed forward in pursuit.

Compared to Li Yun, Sun Jin, the Banner Master of the Sun family, had a much easier time. He followed closely behind the beast, thanks in part to Lei Yan. The powder Lei Yan scattered had affected the beast as it struck Li Yun’s arm. Now, the beast’s tail gleamed like a silver rod, lighting wherever it moved.

"Beast, take this!" Sun Jin’s foot stamped the earth, and a fiery glow burst from his right hand, striking at the beast’s tail.

The beast, fleeing, did not dodge; instead, its tail swept up to meet Sun Jin’s palm.

With a thunderous sound, Sun Jin was sent flying backward. Even in midair, he used his inner strength to slow his fall, rubbing his numb right hand in astonishment. From just this brief exchange, Sun Jin determined the beast’s strength had reached the Innate Realm.

The beast, struck by Sun Jin, fared no better. The child it had seized was suddenly freed and tumbled to the ground. Yet the beast was cunning—without pause, it darted away like a streak of black lightning. Sun Jin wasted no time, stepping forward to chase after it.

By now, many villagers had arrived. Seeing the child on the ground, a few rushed over, scooping the youngster into their arms.

As Lei Yan hurried toward the southwest, his abilities sensed a giant serpent, several yards long, directly ahead. The moment he detected it, the truth became clear.

This serpent was known as the Wall Python, named for its lizard-like body—long and sleek, with four sharp claws beneath. These claws could easily tear through a child’s chest. Moreover, the Wall Python carried a toxin within it, one it could not expel except by devouring the heart of a child, which forced the poison out.

Lei Yan suddenly stopped, struck by a thought. The presence of a Wall Python meant a mutated Blood Orchid was nearby. Wall Pythons typically guarded these rare flowers, and the toxins they expelled from consuming children’s hearts became nourishment for the Blood Orchid. When the mutated Blood Orchid matured, absorbing spiritual energy, it transformed into a Blood Orchid Demon—a creature that feeds exclusively on blood. At that point, countless lives would be lost, starting with the Wall Python itself.

Though the Blood Orchid Demon was vicious and cruel, the mutated Blood Orchid before it matured was a precious medicinal ingredient, one that only cultivators could refine. While Lei Yan lacked the True Flame required for its refinement, he could at least harvest the flower now and wait until he possessed the necessary power.

As Lei Yan stood momentarily stunned, a black shadow sped toward him.

For reasons unknown, the Wall Python, upon seeing Lei Yan, flashed a fierce light in its eyes and lunged for his throat, jaws gaping wide.

"Truth be told, you’re rather pitiful," Lei Yan remarked. He leapt into the air, spun deftly, and a blue glow flashed from his right arm as he struck at the charging serpent.

The Wall Python, seeing the attack from above, coiled its tail and swept it upward. Its scaled tail collided with Lei Yan’s palm.

With a thunderous boom, Lei Yan was sent flying, but the Wall Python suffered even more. Lei Yan’s Seven-Wave Palms were no longer mere physical force; now, his inner energy surged into the beast’s body. Despite its armored hide, it could not block the energy's impact. Its whole body shuddered and crashed heavily to the ground, writhing in pain.

At that moment, Sun Jin arrived, followed by Li Yun and Yuan Hou.

The Wall Python raised its head and let out a furious roar. Its body turned crimson, and it shot away like a blazing shadow, vanishing from sight in an instant.

Staring at the long tail on the ground, Sun Jin’s face darkened. "Could this be the legendary Wall Python?"

"That’s right, it is," Yuan Hou said with a smile. "I got a good look just now. Things are getting interesting!"

"Whatever it is, that beast must die," Li Yun growled, dark aura flickering faintly across his face.

"Hmm, looks like the Blood Orchid hasn’t turned into a demon yet. We must kill this beast quickly; otherwise, when the Blood Orchid transforms, the carnage will be far worse, and more lives will be lost," Sun Jin said seriously.

"Brother Lei, you’re truly formidable—one strike and the Wall Python was knocked to the ground. My instincts weren’t wrong," Yuan Hou said, slapping Lei Yan’s shoulder with a cheerful grin.

"Not at all," Lei Yan replied. "But what’s this demon you keep mentioning?" From their words, Lei Yan judged they were unaware of the rarity and value of the Wall Python and Blood Orchid, so he feigned ignorance.

"You don’t know?" Yuan Hou started, then laughed. "Let me explain. The Wall Python is born solely for the Blood Orchid; it uses its own toxins to nourish the flower. When the Blood Orchid matures, it becomes a demon, eats the Wall Python, and then wreaks havoc everywhere."

Lei Yan glanced at the others, seeing them nod in agreement, confirming they knew nothing of the Blood Orchid’s true uses. He smiled, "Then we really must kill the Wall Python soon. I’ve heard there’s a place called Blood Orchid Slope nearby—perhaps it’s hiding there."