C14 Green Bamboo Elder

"Heh..."

Upon hearing the old man's rebuke, Zhao Xiaoqi let out a dismissive chuckle. Completely unfazed, he simply gave the Terror Serpent a sly smile and kept walking forward.

The old man, noticing that his visitor hadn't backed away as instructed, saw the Terror Serpent still frantically pleading for help. With a frown, he set his wine cup aside and fixed Zhao Xiaoqi with a stern look.

"Who might you be, and why have you trespassed here?"

"There's no need for you to know who I am. As for why I've trespassed, it's obviously to kill that creature."

Zhao Xiaoqi's response was nonchalant, showing no urgency. He was determined to slay the serpent that day.

The old man, accustomed to respect, hadn't encountered anyone who dared speak to him in such a manner for quite some time. Annoyed, he shot Zhao Xiaoqi a slightly hostile glance but managed to maintain his poise.

He took a moment to regard the Terror Serpent. He was well aware of the creature's habitual arrogance and its penchant for trouble. He suspected it had somehow offended this stranger, and though it was his pet, he couldn't just stand by. Addressing Zhao Xiaoqi, he said, "Sir, my pet has always been willful. If it has wronged you in any way, I ask you to overlook its behavior for my sake."

"What if I refuse?"

It didn't matter to him whose pet it was. If it dared to kick him when he was down and gang up on him with another, he had no intention of letting it live.

"Sir, I've lived many years and made some powerful friends. I would appreciate it if you could show me some respect," the old man stated gravely, his voice chilling.

"Are you threatening me?"

Zhao Xiaoqi laughed. He was the type to respond to kindness but never to coercion; threats were the least of his concerns.

"Not at all. I'm simply discussing this with you. I'm an old man with just this one beloved pet. Surely you wouldn't be so unyielding, would you?" the old man asserted with conviction.

He was convinced no one would refuse to show him respect.

Unfortunately for him, Zhao Xiaoqi was the exception.

"Old timer, what's this 'face' of yours worth? You think longevity equals strength? Today, I'm going to end it, and I'd like to see who can stop me." With those words, Zhao Xiaoqi cut the chatter and charged at the Terror Serpent.

From the moment Zhao Xiaoqi stepped outside the courtyard, the Terror Serpent had kept a watchful eye on him. Seeing Zhao Xiaoqi spring into action, it panicked and scrambled to dodge. Barely evading the first strike, it had no time to celebrate before an even more ferocious punch was hurtling toward it.

Missing its mark, Zhao Xiaoqi immediately channeled his power. The bloodline power he knew so well surged through him, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that blanketed the heavens and the earth. Behind him, the Clouded Tree's phantom shadow eclipsed the sun, lush and expansive. Beneath it sat the Human Emperor, with the Divine Dragon spiraling upwards around the tree, and the Golden Wing Roc soaring behind the emperor.

As the phantoms manifested, Zhao Xiaoqi clenched his fist and struck at the Terror Serpent. The Human Emperor's phantom mirrored the action, delivering a punch so powerful it caused the air to boom with compression, slicing through space itself.

Bolstered by the Golden Wing Roc's speed, Zhao Xiaoqi's assault was lightning-fast. Before the Terror Serpent could even register the attack, his fist connected with one of its heads.

"Boom!"

A mist of blood erupted as Zhao Xiaoqi obliterated one of the Terror Serpent's heads. Seizing the moment, he rapidly unleashed two more punches, obliterating another two heads. In a blink, the beast was left with only five.

The Terror Serpent, caught off guard by the sheer velocity of Zhao Xiaoqi's onslaught, finally realized what was happening. Writhing in agony, it thrashed about the courtyard, its tail lashing wildly and cracking the earth beneath.

Though the ordeal seemed lengthy, it was over in a flash. The old man, utterly taken aback, watched in fury as his pet lost three heads in the blink of an eye.

"Excellent, truly excellent. It's been ages since anyone has had the audacity to challenge me like this."

"Cut the crap!"

Zhao Xiaoqi, hearing the old man's words, rolled his eyes and snapped back, his impatience palpable. Without missing a beat, he continued his pursuit of the Terror Serpent, intent on annihilating the remaining five heads.

"You dare?!" the old man bellowed, his rage boiling over as he rebuked the insolence before him.

He was on the verge of saying more when he caught sight of Zhao Xiaoqi relentlessly pursuing and attacking the Terror Serpent. In a flash of fury, he struck like lightning, snatching up a bamboo pole nearby and lashing out in anger.

Wielding the bamboo pole with formidable skill, the old man transformed it into a furious dragon, launching it at Zhao Xiaoqi with lethal intent.

Zhao Xiaoqi's offensive was thwarted. Realizing the old man was set on stopping him, he let out a cold laugh, dropped the Terror Serpent, and engaged the elder in combat.

Harnessing the power of his bloodline, Zhao Xiaoqi's physical prowess was formidable, matched only by the old man's own high level of cultivation—a rarity among experts.

Their clash was monumental, shaking the very heavens and earth, whipping up a storm of sand and stones, and filling the sky with a suffocating, terrifying pressure.

The Terror Serpent, with its five remaining heads, glared resentfully at Zhao Xiaoqi, yet it dared not intervene in their fight, fearing complete annihilation.

The battle between Zhao Xiaoqi and the old man turned day into night, their energy spheres colliding with such force that the surrounding area lay in ruins. They moved with such speed that the naked eye could scarcely follow, leaving only a trail of afterimages in their wake.

With a resounding "Clang!" the two combatants finally broke apart.

Zhao Xiaoqi maintained his nonchalant demeanor, his clothes unruffled even after the intense battle.

The old man, however, was disheveled and breathless, his vital energy severely depleted, clearly outmatched by Zhao Xiaoqi.

With a light chuckle, Zhao Xiaoqi regarded the old man cheerfully. "Old man, I'm feeling generous today. I'll spare you. You're no match for me, so step aside."

"No, the Terror Serpent is my pet. If you kill it, what will others think of me?"

The old man had not anticipated Zhao Xiaoqi's formidable strength. The surge of his elemental energy and the power he exhibited were incongruous, leaving him in a state of shock and contemplation.

Who knows where this little monster was raised—perhaps it's a noble scion out for some real-world experience.

But all the thinking in the world was pointless now. He had come too far to back down and simply watch someone slay the Terror Serpent before his eyes.

Zhao Xiaoqi watched the old man with an amused smile, finding him quite ridiculous.

He wasn't even certain of victory himself, yet here he was, concerned about saving face. It was absurd. "What others think of you is your problem. Now step aside; my patience is wearing thin."

"If it's a fight you want, then fight. But asking me to move? That's out of the question."

"Tch." Zhao Xiaoqi glanced at the old man with impatience. "Why are you so obstinate, old man? If you're courting death, I'll oblige you."

With those words, Zhao Xiaoqi began to channel his energy, readying himself for the confrontation.

Suddenly, a distant, ethereal melody pierced the air, barely audible, yet filled with a plaintive sorrow.

Zhao Xiaoqi halted his actions and looked toward the source of the sound, spotting a group of people swiftly approaching with a palanquin in tow.