C46 Flying Cloud Sect's Elite

Yu Kun found himself in the clutches of the Azure Snake Patriarch, yet his life hung by a thread, not yet snuffed out. Clamped under the patriarch's arm, Yu Kun recognized the creature's extraordinary abilities.

A sinister Black Qi swirled around the Azure Snake Patriarch, reminiscent of a Martial Disciple's Astral Energy, but tinged with an eerie essence. "Could this be the might of a demonic beast? This one seems to be on par with a martial cultivator at the Martial Disciple Stage! With my strength as it stands, slaying this beast would be a formidable challenge," Yu Kun mused, a chill creeping into his thoughts.

Yet, he soon shook his head, dismissing the idea. "I was never going to best this beast. If I can just defend myself or even flee, that's victory enough! Luckily, though it confiscated the Space Ring, it seems well-versed in human ways. But it's unaware that I don't possess a Space Ring. Instead, I've concealed my items within the Leviathan-roc Space!"

In secret, Yu Kun accessed the Leviathan-roc Space and shattered a Spirit Stone, quietly replenishing his Astral Energy. Unbeknownst to the Azure Snake Patriarch, Yu Kun had a means to restore his energy. The patriarch, still gripping Yu Kun, hastened back to the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range.

Shockingly, the patriarch moved at a velocity that dwarfed a Martial Disciple's Movement Technique by dozens of times. A journey to the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range that would take Yu Kun days was reduced to mere hours at the patriarch's speed.

Yu Kun dedicated himself to regenerating his Astral Energy, biding his time for the right moment to slip from the Azure Snake Patriarch's grasp. The patriarch, intent on sacrificing Yu Kun to accompany a fallen python, remained silent, simply escorting him toward the mountain range.

Time blurred until Yu Kun's eyes fluttered open, and to his surprise, they had reached the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range. "My Astral Energy has significantly replenished. If I catch the Azure Snake Demonic Beast off guard, escape might just be within reach…"

Inhaling deeply, Yu Kun steeled himself, channeling his Astral Energy in preparation to unleash the Vajra Subduing Devil technique.

Just as Yu Kun was about to channel his Astral Energy, the Azure Snake Patriarch abruptly halted. Yu Kun's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately ceased the flow of energy within him.

"Has he detected something amiss with me? No, if he had, he'd have struck by now. Could there be another reason for his pause?" Yu Kun pondered, startled, when he felt a subtle stir from the baby Leviathan, as if it had picked up on something.

"There's an object imbued with Spiritual Energy nearby, and it's quite potent at that! No wonder the demonic beast has stopped in its tracks." Yu Kun scanned his surroundings and noticed a figure emerging from the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range.

The man was clad in the tattered garb of a Flying Cloud Sect Elite Disciple, his eyes sharp with a honed edge that spoke of lengthy trials within the mountain range.

As Yu Kun locked eyes with the Elite Disciple, the Azure Snake Demonic Beast, surprisingly, made no move to attack. Clutching Yu Kun's hand, the beast spoke with an icy tone, "So, you're a member of the Human Clan, training in the Cloud Connecting Mountain Range? Leave now. I'll spare your life today."

The Elite Disciple stood his ground, his hand inching towards the saber hilt at his waist. He then spoke up, "You appear to be a demonic beast."

The Azure Snake Patriarch let out a contemptuous snort. "Do you intend to kill me?"

Glancing at Yu Kun, the Elite Disciple declared, "I cannot simply stand by when you've captured a fellow disciple of the Flying Cloud Sect. I've honed my saber skills through long cultivation in these mountains, and they are not to be underestimated."

Yu Kun was taken aback, realizing that the disciple was actually preparing to rescue him.

"Hu Zhengye? That name rings a bell. That's right, Hsu Shaan mentioned him as one of the formidable Elite Disciples, alongside Gu Yuan, Wu Baishun, and Bai Qingfeng."

Remembering Hu Zhengye's reputation, Yu Kun couldn't help but inwardly curse.

"Is Hu Zhengye out of his mind? With his level of cultivation, he's no match for a demonic beast! If we were dealing with something between a mutated beast and a demonic beast, maybe, but against a true demonic beast, anyone below the Martial Disciple Stage stands no chance! Even if he's trying to save me, what if..."

Yu Kun wrestled with indecision briefly before resolving to observe from the sidelines.

As Hu Zhengye's hand grasped the knife's hilt, the Azure Snake Patriarch struck. This formidable demonic beast, an ancestor to pythons, launched an attack that was nothing short of remarkable. Without reverting to its beast form, the Azure Snake Patriarch's offensive was still a maelstrom of Black Qi, with Demonic Qi coalescing in its palm before surging towards Hu Zhengye.

The Black Qi, deceptively light and insubstantial, forced Hu Zhengye into a flurry of defensive slashes with his blade.

"Hu Zhengye's swordsmanship is truly masterful! He's undoubtedly slain numerous mutated beasts! Yet, it's unfortunate he's no match for this demonic beast!"

While the demonic beast's assault churned with Black Qi, Yu Kun understood that once a warrior attained the Martial Disciple Stage, their inner aura would take form. At that point, the energy a warrior released was not so different from the Black Qi of a demonic beast.

Yu Kun was less concerned with the hue of the Demonic Qi than with its potency. He surmised that the Azure Snake Patriarch's true power was likely on par with Zhou Xingtian's. Were it the Zhou Xingtian prior to forming his Soul Embryo, he would surely fall short against the Patriarch.

"The Azure Snake Patriarch is formidable indeed! But now, as he attempts to control me using only his human form, his strength must be akin to that of an average Martial Disciple! He remains powerful, but I believe I won't be outmatched..."

Lost in thought, Yu Kun was brought back to the moment as Hu Zhengye dispersed the Black Qi and, with a powerful leap, employed his Movement Technique to close in on the Azure Snake Patriarch.

Hu Zhengye aimed to sever the Patriarch's arms with a swift strike. His blade moved with such speed, it left trails like twin crescents in its wake.

Yu Kun couldn't deny the near-transcendent quality of Hu Zhengye's swordplay.

Even without knowing the name of Hu Zhengye's technique, Yu Kun was confident that his own Vajra Worshipping Moon Palm Technique would, at best, only hold its own against Hu Zhengye's swift swordsmanship.

"Such ferocious blade work is truly a challenge to counter! Should he come at me with that knife, I fear I wouldn't stand a chance!"

Yu Kun mused internally. In that instant, he realized that Hu Zhengye's blade technique was something even he couldn't defend against.