The Crystal Python's tail shot out from the dust, slapping the Flame Gorilla away.
The terrifying force shattered its ribs, reducing its strength by at least 40% with a single blow!
"Little Flame!"
Chu Yuansheng's temples throbbed with pain; he had practically escaped death.
If the Flame Gorilla had been killed, he too would have been killed by the backlash of the Heavenly Mandate contract power.
Seeing this, everyone frantically retreated. Even Zhao Xin, the City Lord's daughter, felt powerless.
The difference in level sometimes could not be overcome by numbers, and this was precisely such an example.
Without the Flame Gorilla, they were no match for the Crystal Python.
"Retreat, retreat, retreat! This battle is hopeless. The Crystal Python is simply beyond our abilities."
Li Lianshan completely lost his will to fight and immediately led the Earth Bear to retreat.
Even Chu Yuansheng's advanced martial art technique and the Flame Gorilla's full-force attack couldn't defeat the Crystal Python. Who here could possibly defeat it?
Not retreating now would be suicide.
Chu Yuansheng's gaze was fixed on the Crystal Python's head, but he saw that the crystal scales the Flame Gorilla had struck earlier were completely unscathed.
"I get it now! This damn Crystal Python has broken through to the Second Level mid-stage! If we'd known, would we have bothered fighting? We should have just stolen a few spirit herbs!"
The four of them regretted their overconfidence.
The Crystal Python guarded the spiritual herb field, occupying the area richest in energy in the entire secret place; breaking through to a higher level wasn't impossible.
Unfortunately, they hadn't considered this beforehand.
The Crystal Python seemed to be enraged by the Flame Gorilla's attack and was now charging towards them.
Chu Yuansheng's eyes widened, his heart sinking.
"Damn beast! My grandfather is Liu Qingshan! Go back where you came from!"
The Crystal Python ignored him, its vertical pupils filled with icy coldness and bloodlust.
It was incredibly fast, catching up to Yao Chuyu, the weakest among them, in the blink of an eye.
It lashed out with its tail, the terrifying force breaking through her defense. Fortunately, Li Lianshan's Earth Bear used its bloodline talent to shield her, but it was severely injured in the process.
However, this was merely a temporary respite. Without defeating the Crystal Python, they couldn't break the deadlock.
If the python struck a second time, no one could protect Yao Chuyu anymore.
Seeing this, Chu Yuansheng had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue. After all, it was he who had suggested attacking the Crystal Python.
"My father is Chu Junwu, a Seventh Rank martial artist! If you dare kill me, you're finished!"
Since invoking his grandfather, Liu Qingshan, was of no use, Chu Yuansheng had to bring up his father as well.
He raised his arms to defend himself, his eyes tightly shut in tension.
But the Crystal Python's attack didn't land even after a long wait.
"Wow, he must be really afraid of my dad!"
Opening his eyes, he saw a majestic beast holding the Crystal Python in its paw, its ferocious aura even stronger than the python's.
"This is..."
An unknown, powerful magical beast had actually saved them.
Zhao Xin was slightly startled, then looked behind her and saw Ling Qingxue slowly walking towards them.
She had seen Wu Liang's appearance in the mine, and it bore a four- or five-point resemblance to the beast before her.
After all, besides Ling Qingxue, she couldn't think of anyone else.
Li Lianshan spat out a mouthful of blood, a bitter smile on his face.
"Chu Yuansheng, here comes the one who stole your first place."
Chu Yuansheng turned around and saw Ling Qingxue walking towards them leisurely, without a trace of fear on her face.
"Ling Qingxue? You... you actually broke through to the First Rank peak!"
This was too unexpected. This person was completely outside his range of imagined rivals. After all, Ling Qingxue was being besieged by the Thunder Mercenary Group just a few days ago; who would have thought she would be the dark horse?
"Are you alright?" Ling Qingxue asked calmly.
"Ah, we're fine, just a few minor injuries."
"Then you can step back. I'll handle the Crystal Python."
Chu Yuansheng and Yao Chuyu both doubted whether they had heard correctly.
"That giant beast is your magical beast? Isn't your beast small and blackish-gray?"
"Ling Qingxue's magical beast possesses the skill of size transformation. It was this giant beast that killed the Overload Black Turtle with two slaps," Li Lianshan explained helplessly.
Killing the Second Level early-stage Overload Black Turtle that had survived several joint examination versions with two slaps—even a storybook wouldn't dare write something like that!
Zhao Xin stood beside Ling Qingxue. "Qingxue, do you need our help? This Crystal Python has already broken through to the Second Level mid-stage. It might be difficult for you to kill it alone."
Ling Qingxue shook her head slightly. "No need, he can handle it."
Everyone almost simultaneously looked at Wu Liang, wondering what Ling Qingxue meant by "can handle it."
But Wu Liang, transformed into a giant beast, paid no attention to them. He was deep in thought.
He was pondering whether this spicy snack covered in crystal scales would be crunchy to eat.
"Spicy snacks are still the best. You don't even need to chew them."
He gripped the Crystal Python with one claw, and no matter how much it struggled, it couldn't break free.
Wu Liang had killed numerous magical beasts in the secret place, and his attribute values had increased significantly again. His attack power had reached 700, and his defense power was over 800.
Activating the level 6 "Greed" skill, his values surged again by 60%, directly surpassing the power of the Crystal Python that had broken through to the Second Level mid-stage.
At this moment, in Wu Liang's eyes, the Crystal Python was just a small crystal spicy snack.
"Hiss!"
The Crystal Python hissed, its vital energy erupting as it barely managed to escape Wu Liang's grasp.
But Wu Liang wouldn't let it escape; he flattened it with a single slap.
Seeing Wu Liang's violent display, Chu Yuansheng and the others felt a chill run down their spines.
Too violent!
If that slap had landed on them, none of them would have survived.
Zhao Xin's understanding of Ling Qingxue's talent was once again completely redefined.
It was unbelievable that a student with no background and no connections could leave them so far behind.
"She will definitely get into one of the top ten Martial Arts Universities in the country, without a doubt!"
In the remaining four months, Ling Qingxue would unleash her full potential until they couldn't even see her anymore.
In the distance, the flattened Crystal Python wasn't dead yet—it was barely breathing. In a desperate attempt to retaliate, it decisively activated its bloodline talent.
Its injuries began to heal at a visible speed, instantly returning it to its peak condition, even surpassing it.
The Crystal Python bared its sharp fangs, intending to fight Wu Liang to the death.
But Wu Liang's next few slaps shattered its illusions. Even with its innate skills activated, it was still no match for Wu Liang.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Crystal Python was once again slapped into a deflated state, then devoured by Wu Liang like noodles.
Now he knew that crystal scales were indeed crunchy, and its meat was far superior to that of the Overload Black Turtle.
[Ding! Second Level mid-stage Crystal Python consumed. Estimated digestion time: 4 hours!]