C12 Terror Serpent

As Zhao Xiaoqi and Number Two were locked in a fierce battle, the disciples of the Grand One Holy Land watched with growing anxiety. Suddenly, a disturbance erupted from the nearby forest.

All the disciples, along with Loong San and his companions, turned their attention to the source of the noise, on high alert.

Before anything came into view, an oppressive aura from afar weighed down on the lower realm disciples, leaving them gasping for air. The elders' faces turned ashen, recognizing the arrival of another formidable presence.

Loong San and his group felt a crushing force in their bloodlines, their faces paling as they realized a great demon had emerged.

Soon, the trees in the direction of the disturbance began to topple, and the ground rustled as if something massive was slithering through.

A colossal creature made its way out of the forest, revealing eight enormous snake heads, each one more menacing than the last, flicking their forked tongues and casting chilling gazes upon the onlookers.

"The Terror Serpent, it's the Terror Serpent!"

"Why would a Terror Serpent be here?"

"Could this be the great demon from Eight Mountain nearby?"

The Grand One Holy Land's disciples speculated in a frenzy as they beheld the eight fearsome heads.

Indeed, this great demon was the Terror Serpent from Eight Mountain, boasting eight heads and tails, each endowed with a different deadly attribute: poison, sword intent, darkness, flames, ice, and more, all formidable in their own right.

The Terror Serpent paid no mind to the flustered disciples.

Drawn by the tumult of the ongoing battle, it cast a cursory glance before focusing on the two combatants in the sky.

After observing for a moment, the Terror Serpent swiftly threw itself into the fray. Only then did its full, mountainous body come into view. Loong San and the others realized just how massive the creature was, dwarfing them as it glided by, its robust body and agile tail sweeping away trees as if they were mere twigs.

In no time, the creature had cleared a vast space, the origin of the earlier disturbance now evident.

Witnessing the Terror Serpent's entry into the fight, Loong San and his companions grew pale with concern. Their eyes were fixed on Zhao Xiaoqi, now battling Number Two in the sky, their nerves stretched to the breaking point.

The Terror Serpent, having joined the fray, seamlessly coordinated its attacks with Number Two against Zhao Xiaoqi.

Their movements were in perfect sync, requiring no visual cues to strike in unison, a clear sign of their familiarity with each other.

As it turned out, the pair were old acquaintances. Observing Number Two's prolonged struggle, the Terror Serpent stepped in to assist.

Both the man and the demon were venomous, and as they unleashed their full power, a deadly miasma quickly enveloped the area, lethal to any who encountered it.

Yet, Zhao Xiaoqi remained unfazed.

Protected by the Clouded Tree, an artifact of extraordinary mystery, he was impervious to all toxins.

The Terror Serpent, a notorious demon and one of the East Continent's elite, had joined forces with Number Two, piquing Zhao Xiaoqi's interest in the battle.

The clash between the two, one demon and one human, was fierce. Poisonous fog, sword energy, fire, and ice filled the air, punctuated by the booming sounds of their physical impacts. The sky became an arena of chaos, as their formidable powers dominated the heavens.

The shockwaves of their battle reduced nearby trees to dust, erasing them from existence, and the half-mountain Zhao Xiaoqi had sheared off had vanished without a trace.

Despite not tapping into his bloodline's power during this intense confrontation, Zhao Xiaoqi felt a sense of fulfillment in matching his opponents with sheer physical strength.

However, spotting Loong San and the others below, Zhao Xiaoqi chose to cease the battle.

He may not have known the man and demon's connection, but he recognized their joint assault on him. Fearless as he was, he remained cautious of a potential ambush from the Rakshasa Sect on the Grand One Holy Land's people while he was distracted.

With a tinge of regret, Zhao Xiaoqi resolved to bring the battle to a swift conclusion.

Determined to end it quickly, Zhao Xiaoqi engaged with renewed focus, channeling the power within his bloodline. The Human Emperor's phantom presence loomed large in the sky, mirroring Zhao Xiaoqi's movements. Behind him, the Golden Wing Roc's wings materialized, and the Divine Dragon's phantom coiled and danced.

Zhao Xiaoqi's fist rocketed forward with blinding speed.

Previously, Number Two had managed to evade Zhao Xiaoqi's casual strike, but this time there was no escaping the blistering assault of the Golden Roc's full power. In less than the time it takes to blink, the fist was upon him, and Number Two had no choice but to brace himself and withstand the blow with his martial prowess.

Zhao Xiaoqi's physique, however, was forged from a top-tier treasure. As he began to channel his Qi, the overwhelming pressure of his bloodline cascaded forth like the authority of the cosmos itself, with the power to rend the very fabric of space.

Despite exerting his utmost effort, Number Two could only offer a token resistance.

Meanwhile, the Terror Serpent was paralyzed, its movements stifled by the imposing bloodline of the Divine Dragon. It watched Zhao Xiaoqi with a mix of awe and uncertainty, wondering if this individual could possibly be a juvenile Divine Beast.

Shaken by its own conjecture and witnessing Number Two's desperate struggle, the Terror Serpent dared not make a move.

"Who are you, exactly?" Number Two demanded, now fully aware that he had been played. His eyes flickered as he tried to discern what kind of formidable creature Zhao Xiaoqi might be, to possess such extraordinary power.

"Go to hell and ask your minions," Zhao Xiaoqi retorted, foregoing further conversation and launching a forceful palm strike.

The air was cleaved by the palm's passage, tearing open rifts in space, and Number Two was instantly reduced to a mist of blood.

"Good heavens, did Number Two just perish like that?" The disciples of the Holy Land exchanged incredulous glances.

Loong San was equally astounded that such a formidable figure had fallen so abruptly. Amidst his shock, he felt a renewed sense of relief for having wisely chosen to surrender.

Otherwise, he too might have been nothing more than a mist of blood by now.

Tang Xin observed Zhao Xiaoqi's display of divine might, her eyes alight with wonder. It took her a moment to regain her composure.

As the Saintess of the Grand One Holy Land, she had encountered numerous prodigies, yet none had ever matched Zhao Xiaoqi's formidable strength.

The Terror Serpent, equally taken aback by Number Two's sudden demise, was terrified. Seizing a moment when Zhao Xiaoqi's attention was elsewhere, it contemplated a swift escape.

"Hmm?" Zhao Xiaoqi detected the slightest movement and turned his gaze to the serpent, questioning, "And where might you be off to?"

Despite its lack of intimidation, the Terror Serpent felt as though it was under the gaze of an ancient behemoth, powerless to resist.

"Heh..." Zhao Xiaoqi scoffed, eyeing the Terror Serpent. "I offered you a chance to leave. Since you've chosen to stay, none of you will leave. It's the perfect time for making snake soup."

Enraged yet aware of its own inferiority, the Terror Serpent mustered all its strength to escape Zhao Xiaoqi's oppressive force, lashing its tail at the Grand One Holy Land disciples below.

Seizing the moment Zhao Xiaoqi was preoccupied with rescuing the disciples, the serpent made a break for it.

"You're seeking your own demise!"

Once the disciples were safe, Zhao Xiaoqi's gaze followed the fleeing Terror Serpent, now just a fading black silhouette in the distance. Harnessing the lineage of the Golden Wing Roc, he swiftly gave chase.

"Elder, what's our move?"

The Holy Land disciples exchanged uncertain glances, indecisive until Loong San snapped to action. "Don't just stand there, chase after our Young Master!" he commanded, bolting ahead.

"Let's move. We'll back him up," the elder instructed, leading the disciples as they hastened to follow Loong San's lead.