The body of the Purple Lightning Python sank like it was falling into an abyss. Though its consciousness had not completely faded, it was so badly wounded that it could barely function. Zhao Xiqi's fierce sword strike hadn't directly harmed it, but the shockwave from Zhao Kun's self-detonation of his vital energy was like a boulder smashing through a dam, shattering its vitality. Now, while it wasn't on the brink of death, it had lost ninety percent of its energy and had no idea how long it would have to sleep before recovering.
That terrifying pressure from earlier, as well as the sudden mysterious power that neutralized the innate sword strike, left it baffled. There was absolutely no shapeshifted spirit beast of its kin in the pond—that it knew for certain.
Beasts, demon beasts, and spirit beasts could all sense the presence of their own kind with great precision. In particular, the pressure from a high-ranking member of their species would stir a deep instinct of submission within their bloodline. This was the very reason the Swiftwind Gold-striped Leopard was willing to follow it. Yet in that instant just now, it had felt no urge to bow down whatsoever. If it had been the work of a human grandmaster, that made even less sense—when would a human cultivator abandon their own kind to aid a beast? Only if they were driven mad by an obsession for revenge, like Lin Tian.
I almost lost my life... A faint thought echoed in the python's mind.
It was a form of telepathic transmission, but in its perception, the thought was so weak that it could be crushed with the slightest effort. Strictly speaking, it wasn't even true divine sense—just a fragile ripple of awareness clinging to spiritual power. The sender's cultivation hadn't even reached the Condensed Thought stage.
Lin Tian—it could only be him.
At that moment, Lin Tian was merely a Spirit Root Realm cultivator at the Spirit Induction stage. In his sea of consciousness, one spiritual root had just formed, and another had yet to stabilize. He was still worlds away from reaching the Condensed Thought stage.
So it was you, boy! You slipped away without a sound just now? Should I swallow you and replenish some of my blood essence? the python coldly transmitted.
Cut the crap! If it weren't for me, you'd already be in two pieces from that sword strike, Lin Tian retorted in thought. Underwater, even if he opened his mouth, the python wouldn't hear him clearly. Snakes lacked eardrums and could only perceive sound through vibrations sensed by their jawbones. Ordinary snakes had to be in contact with the ground to "hear." The Purple Lightning Python could hover in the air and sense vibrations in it, but right now, Zhao Kun's self-detonation had fractured its jawbone so badly that it hurt too much to move—let alone sense sound.
You? Impossible! That grandmaster-like pressure, and that silent method of dissolving an early-innate sword strike—if you truly had that strength, why would we have been fleeing like beaten dogs?! the python roared in disbelief, its divine sense assaulting Lin Tian so strongly that he nearly lost consciousness.
Lin Tian couldn't be bothered to explain. How I did it is none of your concern. What matters is that it scared them off. The Zhao family suffered heavy losses, but that innate-level expert won't let this go. Once he calms down, we're dead for sure. Our only way out now is to run!
The python's fury burned hot—it wanted nothing more than to rush back and slaughter the Zhao family—but reason told it that before advancing to a demon beast, taking on an innate master was suicide. And in its current wounded state, even more so.
Neither spoke further as they dove toward the depths of the pond. Lin Tian could already feel the pull of the whirlpool at the bottom—a force like an invisible hand urging them downward.
Suddenly, an immense suction force seized Lin Tian. His chest felt like it had been struck by a hammer, and when he tried to shout, the icy water pressure sealed his throat.
The pond was unfathomably deep—at least seventy or eighty zhang, perhaps over a hundred. Such pressure could crush an ordinary person into pulp. If not for his physique already surpassing that of a Qi Transformation stage martial artist, and the protection of the Lingwu Scripture, he would have been crushed. The python, though injured, was a peak-tier beast by nature—its body could easily withstand the pressure, and the compression even staunched the blood in its mouth.
Still, doubts filled its mind. Deep in its sea of consciousness, the ancient divine sense from the sealed great demon trembled faintly—what kind of treasure could allow a mere human to unleash the aura of a grandmaster in a critical moment and effortlessly block an innate-level strike?
Only Lin Tian knew the truth. It was the dormant lower volume of the Lingwu Scripture within him—which, after absorbing a vast amount of spiritual energy in the Empty Realm, had recovered a portion of its power, transforming from silk scroll into a talisman. In the moment of crisis, it had forcefully acted, neutralizing the innate sword strike instantly, then sinking back into slumber. Lin Tian would never share this secret with anyone—least of all the python.
Thankfully, Zhao Xiqi had been frightened off. Otherwise, in a true fight, he would have quickly realized that the so-called grandmaster aura was nothing more than a paper tiger.
Lin Tian still felt lingering fear—if an innate-level expert truly targeted him, the python might have a chance to escape, but he would surely die. The Lingwu Scripture could block one strike at most, then it would sleep again.
Under the combined pressure of the whirlpool and the crushing water, his last thought before fainting was about becoming stronger. As for the unknown danger beyond the whirlpool, he had no time to care—treasures and opportunities always came with a nine-in-ten chance of death.
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was the blurred massive shape of the python and its ghostly green vertical pupils. He was startled at first, but quickly relaxed—if the python wanted to kill him, his earlier unconsciousness had been the perfect opportunity.
Beneath him was a cold, rough rock surface—damp, but no longer underwater. Lin Tian's spirit lifted. We made it out?
You could say... we're trapped here, the python replied coldly via divine sense.
Lin Tian scanned his surroundings. The pitch-black cave was so dark he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. If he hadn't swallowed the gallbladder of the Inkcloud Beast before, he would be blind right now. A dozen zhang away, an underground river surged past, and there were slick drag marks on the ground—clearly, the python had woken first and dragged him ashore.
Where is this place?
Not sure. But I'm certain it's not far from the pond.
How can you tell?
The python flicked its tail, dropping a few plump white fish in front of Lin Tian. I've seen these fish in the pond before. This is their real nest.
Lin Tian nodded silently. He knew the taste of these fish all too well—he'd eaten plenty of them during his days in the valley.