C46 Flying Cloud Sect's Elite

Peng Gengkun, though held captive by the Azure Snake Patriarch, had not yet lost his life.

Clamped under the Patriarch's arm, Peng Gengkun recognized the creature's exceptional abilities.

A dark aura, akin to a Warrior's Astral Energy but with an eerie twist, swirled around the Azure Snake Patriarch as he moved.

"Could this be the might of a demonic beast? This one seems to be on par with a Martial Disciple Stage warrior! With my current power, it would be quite a challenge to slay such a beast," Peng Gengkun mused, a chill creeping into his thoughts.

Yet, he soon shook his head slightly in resignation.

"There's no way I can defeat this beast. If I can just protect myself or manage to escape, that would be enough! Luckily, even though the beast took a Space Ring, it seems well-versed in human ways. But it's unaware that I don't possess one. Instead, I've hidden my items in the Leviathan-roc Space!"

In secret, Peng Gengkun accessed the Leviathan-roc Space and crushed a Spirit Stone, quietly restoring his Astral Energy.

Unbeknownst to the Azure Snake Patriarch, Peng Gengkun had a method to replenish his Astral Energy. The Patriarch continued to carry him, hastening their return to the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range.

The Patriarch's velocity was astonishing, surpassing by dozens of times that of a Warrior at the Astral Energy Realm employing their Movement Technique.

For Peng Gengkun, traveling to the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range on his own would require days. But at the Patriarch's pace, they would arrive in just half a day.

Peng Gengkun concentrated on rejuvenating his Astral Energy, biding his time for a chance to break free from the Azure Snake Patriarch's grasp. Meanwhile, the Patriarch, intent on offering Peng Gengkun as a sacrifice to a fallen python, remained silent, simply escorting him towards the mountain range.

Time blurred until Peng Gengkun slowly opened his eyes, only to discover that they had already reached the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range.

"My Astral Energy has significantly recovered. If I can slip away while the Azure Snake Patriarch is distracted, I might just manage to escape..."

Peng Gengkun inhaled deeply, covertly channeling his Astral Energy to prepare for the Vajra Subduing Devil technique.

But just as Peng Gengkun was about to make his move, the Azure Snake Patriarch abruptly halted.

Peng Gengkun's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately ceased the flow of Astral Energy.

"Has he detected my shift? No, if he had, he would've attacked me on the spot! Could there be another reason?"

Puzzled, Peng Gengkun then felt the baby Leviathan stir, seemingly picking up on something.

"There's a presence of Spiritual Energy nearby, and it's potent! That explains why the demonic beast stopped."

Scanning his surroundings, Peng Gengkun noticed a figure emerging slowly from the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range.

The figure was clad in the attire of an elite disciple from the Flying Cloud Sect. His garments were somewhat worn, yet his gaze was piercing. Clearly, he had been honing his skills in the mountain range for an extended period.

The elite disciple's eyes met Peng Gengkun's, but the Azure Snake Patriarch remained still, not attacking.

With one hand gripping Peng Gengkun, the Azure Snake Patriarch spoke icily, "So, a Human Clan member training in the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range? Leave now. I'll spare your life today."

Peng Gengkun observed the elite disciple, who, despite standing still, was subtly reaching for the saber at his waist. The disciple then spoke, "It seems you are a demonic beast."

The Azure Snake Patriarch grunted, "Do you intend to kill me?"

The elite disciple glanced at Peng Gengkun and declared, "But as you have one of our Flying Cloud Sect brethren with you, I cannot simply stand by. My time cultivating in the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range has honed my swordsmanship to a fine edge."

As the elite disciple readied himself to intervene, Peng Gengkun was taken aback, not expecting the disciple to risk a confrontation to save him.

"Yan Xiongxiao? That name rings a bell. Ah, yes, Lin Huaqiao mentioned that among the elite disciples, aside from Cao Manzhu, the other notable figures are Ruan Lang, Wu Longbin, and Yan Xiongxiao!"

Peng Gengkun couldn't help but curse under his breath as he remembered Yan Xiongxiao's identity.

"Is Yan Xiongxiao out of his mind? With his current level, he stands no chance against a demonic beast! It would be one thing if these creatures were somewhere between a mutated beast and a demonic beast. But if they're genuine demonic beasts, then anyone below the Martial Disciple Stage is simply out of their league! Even if his intention is to rescue me, what if..."

After a moment of internal conflict, Peng Gengkun resolved to remain an observer on the sidelines.

As Yan Xiongxiao's hand grasped the sword hilt, the Azure Snake Patriarch struck.

The Azure Snake Patriarch, a formidable demonic beast and progenitor of the python, launched an attack of exceptional power. Despite not reverting to its beast form, its offensive was marked by a rolling tide of Black Qi. Demonic Qi swirled in the palm of the Azure Snake Patriarch before lashing out at Yan Xiongxiao.

The Black Qi, deceptively light and effortless, forced Yan Xiongxiao to parry with his blade continuously.

"Yan Xiongxiao's swordsmanship is truly masterful! He's obviously slain numerous mutated beasts! It's just unfortunate that he's no match for this demonic beast!"

While a demonic beast's assault would stir up a tumult of Black Qi, Peng Gengkun was aware that once a Warrior reached the Martial Disciple Stage, their inner aura would take shape. At that point, the aura emitted by a Warrior wouldn't be much different from the Black Qi unleashed by a demonic beast.

More than the hue of the Demonic Qi, Peng Gengkun was preoccupied with its potency. He surmised that the Azure Snake Patriarch's actual power was likely on par with that of Chang Jipeng. Had it been Chang Jipeng before the formation of his Martial Disciple Soul Embryo, he certainly wouldn't stand a chance against the Azure Snake Patriarch.

"The Azure Snake Patriarch is truly formidable! Yet now, as he attempts to subdue me, he's only fighting in his human form. His strength must be akin to that of an average Martial Disciple! He may be strong, but I believe I won't be defeated..."

Lost in his thoughts, Peng Gengkun was snapped back to reality as Yan Xiongxiao dispersed the Black Qi. With a powerful push off the ground and swift execution of his Movement Technique, he closed the distance, confronting the Azure Snake Patriarch face to face.

Yan Xiongxiao had the audacious intention of severing both arms of the Azure Snake Patriarch with a direct strike. His swordsmanship was so swift that onlookers could only perceive the glint of two crescent moons.

Peng Gengkun was forced to concede that Yan Xiongxiao's swordplay bordered on the realm of mastery.

Even though Peng Gengkun was unfamiliar with the name of Yan Xiongxiao's sword technique, he was convinced that even with a Palm Technique like Vajra Worshipping Moon at his disposal, it would barely hold its own against Yan Xiongxiao's swordsmanship!

"Such a ferocious sword technique is truly formidable! If he were to come at me with that blade, I doubt I could fend it off!"

Peng Gengkun pondered to himself. In that instant, he realized that Yan Xiongxiao's saber technique was indeed something he could not parry.