"Er Ming!"
Listening to the Sky Azure Bull Python's grief-stricken roar, Wu Ling lowered his head and examined the smoking Barrett.
Several cracks had split open around the muzzle. Wu Ling pressed a catch, and the Spirit Power block, now hot enough to glow red, popped out of the Barrett's chamber.
He wrapped his palm in Spirit Power, gently pinched up the scorching block, looked it over, and muttered, "There is still some Spirit Power left inside the block. The Barrett's Spirit Power efficiency needs improvement. No, it might be a materials problem. But so far, these are already the best materials we can find on this continent. If that still is not enough, I can only have Rose make the materials herself."
"I will kill you!"
Just as Wu Ling sank back into research, the Sky Azure Bull Python roared. Vast Spirit Power condensed once more between its two bull horns.
Seeing that it intended to attack Wu Ling, all five Titled Sages, including Yue Guan and Ghost, who had just returned, attacked at the same time to interrupt it.
"Eternal Creation!"
"Hellish Phantoms!"
"Chrysanthemum Falls, Wounding the World!"
"Dark Ghost Slash!"
"Flaming Meteor Fall!"
From below, above, and all four directions, attacks came from every side. Even with its dragon bloodline, the Sky Azure Bull Python had already been pushed to its limit while enduring the combined assault of five Titled Sages.
Its scales were shredded, half of its tail was cut off, and even one of its claws was severed by Bibi Dong's Eternal Creation.
But it ignored all attacks that threatened its life. The only word left in its mind was revenge. Even if it had to pay with its life, it would kill the ant that had murdered Er Ming.
"Annihilation Thunder!"
A pillar of lightning that seemed to connect heaven and earth shot from between the Sky Azure Bull Python's horns. It tore through the petal tornado formed by Yue Guan's ninth Spirit Skill and howled toward Wu Ling with terrifying momentum. This strike was even stronger than the one before.
When the Titled Sages saw its power, every one of them changed expression. They were not afraid of the attack itself. They were worried about Wu Ling.
None of them had expected the Sky Azure Bull Python to disregard its wounds completely for the sake of vengeance. Their full-force attacks had failed to interrupt it, and now they had no spare strength left to protect Wu Ling.
As the thick bolt of lightning filled Wu Ling's vision, he suddenly laughed without a care.
"Not bad."
After that silent flex, Wu Ling vanished and was replaced by a blue-haired Wu Ling.
Of course, that blue-haired Wu Ling was Azure, who had not appeared in a very long time.
When the utterly lifeless Azure appeared, he had only one thought.
"Hmm. Me again?"
Then, when he saw the thunder filling his vision, his final thought before death was, "Dead again? What number is this? Should I compare creative death methods with that Natsuki Subaru guy?"
After that, everything returned to nothingness.
Looking at the forest that seemed to have been plowed by the attack, a wave of grief was just about to rise in the five humans and one beast when they sensed a familiar Spirit Power.
On a great tree behind the Sky Azure Bull Python, Wu Ling patted the dust off his clothes without a scratch on him.
"That was dangerous. Good thing I can switch positions with my clones, or I really would have been done for by that tiny bit." As he spoke, Wu Ling even pinched his thumb and index finger together to show how tiny the gap had been.
"Human, you will not live past today!"
When the Sky Azure Bull Python saw Wu Ling, it twisted around, adjusted its position, and swung its remaining claw toward him.
After seeing that Wu Ling was safe, the grief and rage in Bibi Dong and the other four Titled Sages instantly scattered, replaced by lingering fear. In the next second, when they saw that the Sky Azure Bull Python still wanted to attack Wu Ling, that fear transformed into fury.
After all, no matter how one looked at it, the five of them had failed to stop the Sky Azure Bull Python's attack just now. If they let Wu Ling be injured, or even killed, under a five-on-one advantage, where were they supposed to put their dignity as Titled Sages?
"Beast, how dare you!"
Bibi Dong and the others shouted. Then they each took three potion bottles from their storage rings and drank them. Magic Bear tossed his three bottles to Ghost Leopard, then charged forward first.
Magic Bear Sage barely stopped the Sky Azure Bull Python's advance. The other four finished their potions and rushed in. Feeling the continuous recovery of Spirit Power and stamina within their bodies, all of them unleashed attacks even stronger than before.
As they spent Spirit Power without restraint, the Sky Azure Bull Python gradually fell into disadvantage.
It tried to attack with its claw combined with its Slowing Domain, only for Bibi Dong to layer on the Deathgod Domain and cut off its other claw.
It tried to attack with its horns, only for Magic Bear Sage and Ghost to break both horns.
It tried to attack with its tail, only for Ghost Leopard Sage to slice off the other half.
It tried to attack with its teeth, only for a gigantic purple chrysanthemum to slam straight into its face and knock it away.
In the original story, Yue Guan, Ghost, and Bibi Dong had hunted both the Titan Giant Ape and the Sky Azure Bull Python. If not for Tang San's interference, Bibi Dong might truly have succeeded.
This time, Bibi Dong's level was lower than in the original story, but Yue Guan and Ghost had both reached level ninety-six. With Magic Bear Sage and Ghost Leopard Sage added as support, the result had been decided from the moment the two sides met.
In the end, the Sky Azure Bull Python's desperate attack was interrupted by Yue Guan and Ghost's Two Poles Stasis Domain. Its entire body froze there.
Wu Ling was clearly not far away. That ant was clearly something it could crush with one claw. That distance clearly should have taken only an instant to cross. Yet it could not touch Wu Ling.
In its eyes, that short distance had become an uncrossable chasm.
The Sky Azure Bull Python's mind shifted. It intended to self-destruct and drag everyone present down with it. But as Yue Guan and Ghost increased their Spirit Power, even that tiny sign of self-destruction was locked in place inside its body.
In the final moment, what the Sky Azure Bull Python saw was Bibi Dong's cross-shaped slash cutting toward its head, and through the gap between the two intersecting blades, Wu Ling's eyes.
Those eyes were mocking and cold.
"Ngh!"
The carrot in Lyra's hand fell to the ground. She suddenly clutched her chest.
"What is wrong, Lyra? Are you sick?" Tang San, who had been reading nearby, stood up and asked when he noticed her condition.
For once, Lyra did not answer Tang San. She turned around and stared steadily in the direction of Star Soul Forest.
"Why do I feel my heart trembling?"