C47 Saving Hu Zhengye

The blade whizzed by, leaving the Azure Snake Patriarch's arm unscathed, while Hu Zhengye's blade snapped in two.

Staring at the broken hilt in his hand, Hu Zhengye was taken aback. "Truly, you are a demonic beast. Your body is so incredibly tough that it shattered my blade!" he exclaimed.

With a chilling smile, the Azure Snake Patriarch replied, "I had no intention of killing you, but your swordsmanship brings to mind an old acquaintance." As he spoke, the scar on his face twitched, rendering his visage even more sinister.

The Azure Snake Patriarch struck once more, unleashing a sky full of Demonic Qi that swiftly ensnared Hu Zhengye.

Before, Hu Zhengye could fend off the Demonic Qi with his swordplay, but with his blade now broken, that was no longer an option. He found himself helplessly trapped amidst the swirling Demonic Qi.

Yu Kun, witnessing the scene, pieced together the puzzle. "That massive scar on the Azure Snake Patriarch's face must have been inflicted by someone! Could it be that Hu Zhengye's ancestor, or the creator of his sword technique, was the one who did it? Regardless, Hu Zhengye is in serious trouble now."

Yu Kun sighed internally, recognizing the peril Hu Zhengye was in, understanding that death was a real possibility.

Hu Zhengye's reliance on his blade was clear. With it broken, his cultivation remained, but his strength was severely diminished. He was powerless to break through the Azure Snake Patriarch's Demonic Qi.

"Forget it! With his level of power, even if I released all my Astral Energy, I couldn't escape! He's far stronger than I am. To get away, I can't rely on sheer force—I need to be clever! I didn't want to intervene, but since you risked your life to save me, I'm compelled to assist you! If you're looking for someone to thank, thank yourself!" Yu Kun thought, with a soft sigh, before he began to channel his Astral Energy.

Yu Kun's Astral Energy condensed into a dense sphere within him, then burst forth explosively.

In that instant, Yu Kun executed the Vajra Subduing Devil technique. His Astral Energy, sharp as a blade's edge, erupted from within, catching the Azure Snake Patriarch off guard. The Patriarch was forced to deploy his Demonic Qi defensively to shield himself.

The Azure Snake Patriarch was preoccupied with his own protection, leaving him no time to concern himself with Hu Zhengye.

Despite wielding only a broken blade, Hu Zhengye astonishingly managed to rip through the Demonic Qi barrier and make his escape.

"I never imagined I'd fail to save you, only to be rescued by you so swiftly!"

Hu Zhengye, though disheveled from his escape, looked at Yu Kun with eyes brimming with gratitude.

Seeing the Azure Snake Patriarch fend off Yu Kun's attacks, he gave Yu Kun a deep bow and said, "I am powerless to save you! I will go back to our sect to seek reinforcements! If, by the time I return, you have perished, I vow to dedicate myself to the Martial Arts and avenge you!"

With those words, Hu Zhengye swiftly employed his Movement Technique and hurried away.

Moments later, the power of the Vajra Subduing Devil faded. The Azure Snake Patriarch was ready to act, but a step behind. Hu Zhengye was already out of reach, leaving the Patriarch no choice but to recapture Yu Kun.

"To think you could restart the flow of Astral Energy!" The Azure Snake Patriarch said darkly, eyeing Yu Kun. "Lucky for me, you launched your attack already. Otherwise, had you unleashed the Astral Energy during my moment of vulnerability, you might have actually succeeded in escaping!"

Yu Kun offered a faint smile in response, yet remained silent, submitting to the Azure Snake Patriarch's grasp once more.

This time, however, the Azure Snake Patriarch exercised extra caution. He not only secured Yu Kun but also sealed off his Qi Sea.

Now, Yu Kun was unable to access his Qi Sea and commune with the baby Leviathan, as if their bond had been severed.

The Azure Snake Patriarch then spoke with a chilling tone, "I had intended to merely use you as a sacrifice for my progeny, but you had to release the descendant of my nemesis! For that, I will flay you and strip your sinews, ensuring your death is excruciatingly painful!"

Yu Kun let out a muffled groan, sensing an increase in the Azure Snake Patriarch's grip.

Observing Yu Kun's condition, the Azure Snake Patriarch inquired, "I'm curious, why choose to counterattack now? That man might not be able to kill me, but he could have given me trouble if he fought with all his might. Had you unleashed your attack then, escape would have been within your grasp."

Yu Kun fell silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. "I may be lazy," he admitted, "but I know enough to repay a favor. I've never met the man before, but if he was willing to risk his life to save me, why shouldn't I save him?"

The Azure Snake Patriarch let out a sinister laugh. "Human speech is so complex; I've never cared to understand it. But it's irrelevant now. This time, no one can save you!"

With that, the Azure Snake Patriarch shook his massive form, transforming into his serpentine shape and swelling to over thirty meters in length. Gripping Yu Kun in his jaws, he swiftly slithered back to the cave.

He tossed Yu Kun to the ground with a careless flick before coiling up and shrinking his body. "See this? This is where you killed my offspring! And soon, you'll meet your end here too!"

Yu Kun arched an eyebrow but remained silent. His gaze swept the surroundings, a hint of surprise coloring his features. The cave was alight with numerous odd incenses, all of them the Soul Fixing Fragrance, enveloping the space in a haze of smoke. The remains of the giant python lay there, half its body discarded, now treated as a sacred relic. The only thing missing in front of it was an offering, and it was clear that Yu Kun was intended to fill that role.

After discarding Yu Kun, the Azure Snake Patriarch coiled himself and began to silently replenish his Demonic Qi. "The battle took its toll on me. Once I've restored my Demonic Qi, you'll be sacrificed!"

He paused briefly before adding, "But don't mistake my silence for complacency. There's no escaping for you!"

Despite the dire circumstances, Yu Kun managed a smile. "Run? I've lost the desire to flee. Now, I'm curious to see just how you plan to kill me."

As the Azure Snake Patriarch continued to regain his Demonic Qi, he asked coldly, "Do you really think that boy from earlier will come to your rescue? Even if he wanted to help, by the time he returns, you might be nothing but bones in my belly!"

"I never pin my hopes on others," Yu Kun replied, his eyes briefly flickering as a daring plan took shape in his mind.

It was a long shot, but Yu Kun had a hunch that the Azure Snake Patriarch might just take the bait. If he did, Yu Kun saw a chance to break free.

Moreover, Yu Kun was convinced that when the time came, he stood a good chance of defeating the Azure Snake Patriarch!

He was certain that the bones of a demonic beast were far more valuable than those of a mutated beast!

"And let's not forget the abundance of Soul Fixing Fragrance here! If I manage to slay the Azure Snake Patriarch, I'll gain possession of the incomplete Martial Soul core, Soul Fixing Fragrance, and the Space Ring all at once! With these three assets, I can not only forge the Leviathan-roc Martial Soul but also advance it to a higher level! The risk is significant, but at this point, I've got no choice but to roll the dice," he thought to himself.

With his mind made up, Yu Kun once again broke the silence.