Chapter Twenty-One: Fierce Battle

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This sudden turn of events provoked the Blazing Scale Serpent to unleash an even more furious and savage roar, its deafening cries echoing throughout the entire valley. Yet, facing the serpent’s wrathful bellow, Cao Yun stood unmoved, like a steadfast mountain enduring the storm.

His gaze locked tightly onto the monstrous beast before him, emanating a cold, frost-like murderous intent as if to freeze the creature entirely.

“Puff! Puff! Puff!” Three streams of scorching flames burst forth from the Blazing Scale Serpent’s mouth like three furious fire dragons, each tracing erratic trajectories as they raced fiercely toward Cao Yun.

With a flash of his figure, Cao Yun swiftly evaded the first two flames, aided by the Wind Riding Technique and his agile reflexes. However, the third flame clung to him like a shadow, leaving no room for avoidance. He had no choice but to condense his golden light shield thicker, as if donning a sturdy suit of golden armor.

“Puff!” The flames exploded upon contact with the shield, unleashing a dazzling brilliance and powerful shockwave that sent Cao Yun flying several yards. Meanwhile, the two flames he had dodged turned into blazing arrows, igniting the entire forest behind him.

The blazing inferno soared skyward, the crackling flames roaring relentlessly like a fierce storm from behind, turning the forest into a sea of fire.

Cao Yun crouched low, his gaze burning like a torch, steadfastly fixated on the Blazing Scale Serpent.

Where the serpent’s scales had been scorched by the venom of the Black Vine Serpent, the flesh melted away relentlessly, like ice and snow devoured by raging flames.

Its mouth emitted uneven gasps, blood mingled with saliva dripping from its snout, painting a picture of utter misery.

The serpent’s eyes grew increasingly wild, embodying a feral beast trapped at the brink of despair.

At this moment, a dark premonition stirred within Cao Yun.

His form flickered lightly, instantly evading, while under his spiritual command, bone needles shot forth like arrows from a released bow, striking the exposed white flesh where the serpent’s scales had dissolved.

Yet the Blazing Scale Serpent seemed utterly indifferent to the threat of the bone needles, charging fiercely toward Cao Yun with a speed that was breathtaking. Though struck by the needles, it showed no sign of slowing, relentlessly pursuing Cao Yun as he darted away like a streak of light.

Clearly, the vast disparity in their realms was evident.

Soon enough, the grievously wounded Blazing Scale Serpent caught up to Cao Yun.

With a whip-like strike of its tail aimed at Cao Yun’s vital points, it sought to pierce this “ant” in a single blow.

Gripping a basic low-grade short blade artifact he had acquired from Wu Jiao, Cao Yun infused it fully with his spiritual energy and wielded mortal combat skills, swinging the blade fiercely against the serpent’s tail.

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“Bang!” A heavy clash of metal resounded as Cao Yun seized the momentum to hasten his retreat with the Wind Riding Technique.

He called out softly, “Explode!”

“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” Bone needles detonated on the Blazing Scale Serpent’s body, shredding its flesh and blood.

At the same time, the venom of the Black Vine Serpent swiftly enveloped it. A piercing, mournful scream rang out as the serpent’s body writhed uncontrollably on the ground.

Scales and flesh fell continuously, turning into sparks that scorched the earth blackened beneath them.

Before long, the Blazing Scale Serpent’s body began to burn from within, accompanied by agonized wails.

The raging flames rolled over a few times before the serpent’s painful cries abruptly ceased, leaving only the crackling of fire.

That sound seemed to tell the tale of a life’s end and proclaimed Cao Yun’s triumph in this deadly contest.

There, glowing faintly with a translucent radiance, was the prize he had long sought—the Spirit Herb known as the Hundred-Tempered Flower.

Bathed in the glow of the dying embers, it appeared all the more precious and mysterious.

Suppressing his exhaustion, Cao Yun approached slowly, each step cautious, fearful of disturbing this gift from nature.

He gently extended a finger to touch the cool petals, and an invigorating medicinal fragrance instantly spread, as if capable of cleansing all fatigue and pain.

Carefully, he dug up the flower with its roots intact and placed it within a jade box. A wave of indescribable satisfaction surged through his heart.

Having completed this, Cao Yun let out a long breath and a faint smile of relief graced his face.

He gazed at the jade box, his eyes full of reverence and hope.

“The Hundred-Tempered Flower… finally in hand,” he murmured softly, unable to hide his excitement.

At that moment, a gentle breeze swept by, bringing a hint of coolness and dispersing some of the lingering smoke and bloodstains.

Cao Yun looked toward the distance, seeing the flames in the valley gradually die down, leaving only wisps of smoke curling into the sky.

This battle had cost Cao Yun greatly; had he not wisely applied the Black Vine Serpent’s venom to the Blazing Scale Serpent in time, the outcome would have been far less certain.

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Cao Yun sat cross-legged, taking out a water-attributed spirit stone, gripping it tightly as he began circulating his cultivation technique to replenish his depleted spiritual energy.

As time passed, his breathing steadied, and the waves of fatigue gradually receded.

When he opened his eyes again, they sparkled with his usual vitality and determination, as if the prior exhaustion and battle had never occurred.

Returning to his cave dwelling, Cao Yun eagerly set about preparing to refine the Hundred-Tempered Flower into a refined essence pill.

He understood well the immeasurable value of this spirit herb; if he could successfully refine it into a pill, his strength would soar dramatically, potentially breaking through to the fifth layer of Qi Refinement in one leap—not an impossibility.

First, he went to Wu Jiao to purchase some basic materials, then exchanged for rare ingredients at the Blood Slave Hall.

To be prudent, while acquiring materials, he deliberately mixed in some unrelated items to mask his true intent, wary of potential spies.

Having grown more cautious through experience, Cao Yun knew that in this world ruled by the strong preying on the weak, a single lapse could plunge him into irreparable ruin.

With all materials ready, he began the alchemical process.

From the secret chamber of his cave, he retrieved an exquisite pill furnace, placing it before him.

This furnace was no longer the inferior one bought from the old Ghost Elder; rather, it was exchanged from an outer disciple of the Heavenly Star Wolf Sect’s alchemy pavilion using ten bitter gall bladders of the Liao Shadow beast.

The Liao Shadow resembled a hyena, fiercely savage. Cao Yun had witnessed them effortlessly slay three blood slaves in a hilly region.

To complete that task, he had spent an entire month gathering sufficient bitter gall bladders.

But now, it all seemed worth the effort.

He stared intently at the pill furnace before him, his heart filled with anticipation and resolve.