"HISS~"

"ROAR!!"

Writhing in agony, the Electric Giant Python let out an even more piercing shriek.

The aura of a Tier 3 Demon Fiend, accompanied by a foul stench and arcs of electricity, madly surged through the mountains. It crushed the air, trees, and rocks, setting off a continuous series of explosive cracks.

An area of several hundred meters was flattened, leaving behind a pockmarked, cratered landscape.

The Electric Giant Python’s massive body thrashed about, crashing into the ground and crushing everything in its path. Great splashes of blood showered the area, sizzling as they hit the ground.

However, it was no use!

After digging out the Demon Pill, Gu Zheng’s figure had flickered, and he had already retreated two seconds prior.

Now, he stood in mid-air, clutching the Demon Pill. He watched the Electric Giant Python go berserk on the ground below, his eyes cold and his expression unmoving.

The Demon Pill was the core of a Demon Fiend, the source of most of its power.

Without its Demon Pill, the Electric Giant Python’s strength plummeted.

In contrast, the clean wound Gu Zheng had carved out had little lasting effect.

In just that short time, amidst its frantic thrashing and venting shrieks, the wound had already begun to heal, no longer gushing Demon Blood.

But without the Demon Pill, the aura around the Electric Giant Python’s body was rapidly fading.

The electrical arcs coiling around its massive form shot out less and less frequently.

SWOOSH!

"CRACKLE~"

Amidst a flash of electricity, a dark shadow shot into the distance, attempting to flee.

It was the Electric Giant Python!

’This thing is trying to run.’

WHOOSH-BOOM!

The air suddenly exploded.

Layers upon layers of spear images suddenly blocked the Electric Giant Python’s escape route.

Luo Cheng’s figure flickered. He brandished his long spear, its Divine Wondrous power surging as he unleashed a tyrannical aura. He pressed the attack on the Electric Giant Python, his Spear Aura overpowering its electrical arcs as the spear tip stabbed straight for the Electric Giant Python’s eye.

He didn’t continue attacking the wound left by Gu Zheng, but instead went straight for the Electric Giant Python’s eyes.

In terms of defensive weaknesses, its eyes were indeed the Electric Giant Python’s weak spot.

Especially with its Demon Pill gone, the python released less and less lightning, significantly reducing the threat to Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng easily deflected the poisonous gas it spat out.

Its massive, writhing body, whether dodging or attacking, couldn’t even touch the corner of Luo Cheng’s robes.

This was because Luo Cheng’s speed—his agility—was so fast he was like a phantom.

CHH-CHH-CHH!

CLANG~ CLANG~ CLANG~

The spear images were dense and unending, occasionally striking its scales and sending sparks flying.

As the Electric Giant Python tried to flee, Luo Cheng relentlessly pursued it, staying close and continuously attacking its head, aiming for its eyes.

A Tier 3 Demon Fiend and a Heroic Body Realm master were both powerful entities.

Their attacks were fast, their evasions were fast, and their ability to land a hit was just as fast.

As the others watched in astonishment, Luo Cheng’s relentless assault finally paid off.

"PSHH!"

The Spear Aura, wrapped in terrifying power, pierced one of the Electric Giant Python’s eyes. The immense force drove the entire long spear deep into the eye socket.

"HISS~"

"ROAR!!"

In excruciating pain, the Electric Giant Python shrieked and roared, its massive body sweeping about even more frantically, rolling on the ground and destroying everything around it.

The Electric Giant Python that Huang Hongyuan was fighting heard the roar and launched a sudden attack. It spat poisonous gas and shot out a series of electrical arcs, forcing Huang Hongyuan back before turning and charging toward Luo Cheng. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

It was incredibly fast, reaching Luo Cheng in the span of a breath.

CRACKLE~

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A sound that shook the very heavens, like an explosive thunderclap, echoed between the sky and the ground.

The charging Electric Giant Python, wrapped in a furious aura, lunged at Luo Cheng.

He dodged repeatedly.

But he was "swallowed" in one gulp by a massive serpent formed from dense electrical arcs.

"Luo Cheng!"

Huang Hongyuan cried out in alarm and rushed over at top speed.

WHOOSH~

SHOO!

A pitch-black figure suddenly shot up from a corner of the ground, leaping into the air.

It was Luo Cheng.

However, his hair was now standing on end, his skin was blackened, and smoke was rising from his body.

The moment he stood poised in the air, his body trembled slightly. Though it quickly subsided, Gu Zheng still saw it.

’This guy is injured!’

"HISS~"

"ROAR!!"

On the ground, the Electric Giant Python that had rushed in as backup unleashed its terrifying aura, then suddenly shot out countless blinding arcs of electricity.

CRACKLE~

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The dense electrical arcs submerged three mountain peaks, as well as the ravine and riverbed between them.

In that instant, the area became an ocean of lightning.

Wherever the arcs passed, they destroyed everything. The very earth was plowed over, scraped down by a meter or two, kicking up countless clouds of dust that disintegrated in the electric light.

SWOOSH~

Gu Zheng descended from the sky, plunging into the ocean of lightning to freely absorb this wave of energy.

CHH-CHH-CHH!

Using his arms as conduits, he drew in massive currents of electricity, strengthening his physique.

’It’s a shame it’s only one wave.’

The electrical arcs flooding the valley and riverbed quickly dissipated as the two Electric Giant Pythons vanished back into the passage.

Between the several mountain peaks, only a field of debris and soft, sandy soil remained.

"Whew!"

Huang Hongyuan took a deep breath, looked at Gu Zheng on the ground, and shouted, "Lord Gu, are you all right?"

"I’m fine."

Gu Zheng took out a set of clothes and put them on.

"That’s good to hear." Huang Hongyuan exhaled. He then turned to Luo Cheng and asked, "Luo Cheng, how are you?"

Luo Cheng didn’t respond. With his blackened skin and a pair of cold eyes, he glanced at Gu Zheng before turning to leave.

"You! Stop right there!"

Huang Hongyuan roared in anger, "You, Luo! I’ve put up with you for long enough! If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll..."

"Stop! I’m talking to you, didn’t you hear me..."

"You bastard! Fine, walk away! I’ll say this right now: Luo Cheng, with that attitude of yours, you’ll die a miserable death sooner or later!"

Huang Hongyuan cursed furiously.

From beginning to end, Luo Cheng never responded.

He left Huang Hongyuan standing there alone, shouting and cursing, which made him stand out all the more.

But none of the Demon Suppression Guards who had fled and were now returning dared to laugh.

Besides feeling a lingering fear, they all looked at Gu Zheng with gratitude.

"Our thanks to Lord Gu!"

"Without Lord Gu, we all would have died today."

"It’s a good thing Lord Gu happened to be nearby."

The Demon Suppression Guards thanked him and bowed one after another.

Although it was Luo Cheng who had initially intercepted the Electric Giant Python, the power gap was a bit too large, and Luo Cheng could only dodge.

By dodging like that, Luo Cheng could have eventually escaped, and the Electric Giant Python wouldn’t have pursued him to the death. Once it turned its attention back, it would have just attacked everyone else.

With the Electric Giant Python’s power, swallowing ten people in one bite wouldn’t be a problem.

Crushing a hundred people with a single sweep of its tail wouldn’t be a problem either.

And when a Tier 3 Demon Fiend fully unleashed its aura, no one could have escaped under its terrifying pressure.

It was safe to say that if not for Gu Zheng, they would have been dead for sure.

But in truth, this time, Gu Zheng had the advantage because of the Thunder Storage Source Fruit.

Both Electric Giant Pythons were on the verge of breaking through to the mid-stage of Tier 3. They had come out of the passage to attack and devour the Demon Suppression Guards, most likely to absorb their blood and flesh essence to accumulate enough power for a breakthrough.

Therefore, in terms of raw strength, only Huang Hongyuan, with his Heroic Body: Melting Furnace, had a clear edge over them.

However, the Electric Giant Pythons’ lightning was terrifyingly destructive, and even Huang Hongyuan couldn’t easily crush and kill them.

He couldn’t even take on both at once; he could only tie up one.

As for the other one, Luo Cheng was no match for it and could only evade.

He couldn’t break its defense, nor did he dare to take a direct hit from its lightning.

Not to mention the Electric Giant Python’s terrifying physical body—a hundred-meter-long frame weighing tons. If a Heroic Body Realm master were actually hit by its tail, they wouldn’t be able to take many blows.

Not dodging would only lead to a miserable end.

In that regard, if Gu Zheng had faced it without using the Sealing Sword Talisman, the Divine Weapon Fragment, or unlocking his Bronze Elephant Body, he too would have prioritized evasion.

But the effects of the Thunder Storage Source Fruit made him immune to lightning, allowing him to get in close. Combined with his other abilities, he carved a hideous wound into the Electric Giant Python and forcibly extracted its Demon Pill.

Even then, the Electric Giant Python didn’t die. It didn’t even die after Luo Cheng shot a spear into its eye, driving it into its brain.

In the end, with the help of the other Electric Giant Python, it escaped back into the passage.

Its tenacious life force was truly worthy of a Tier 3 Demon Fiend.

...

After expressing their thanks, the Demon Suppression Guards began to clean up the battlefield.

Gu Zheng approached Huang Hongyuan and said thoughtfully, "Lord Huang, the Electric Giant Pythons aren’t completely dead. They will most likely return for revenge. Instead of waiting for them, I’d rather go to the other side of the passage and search for them. Maybe I can find a chance to finish them off for good."

"Huh?"

Huang Hongyuan was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook his head. "No, that’s too dangerous. Lord Gu, you saw it yourself. Those two Electric Giant Pythons are about to break through to the mid-stage of Tier 3. Going after them would be like walking into a tiger’s den."

"I’m aware of that."

Gu Zheng continued, "I never do things I’m not confident about. If I really can’t beat them, I’ll retreat immediately. The Electric Giant Pythons are fast, but I have a treasure from Master Meng that makes me even faster."

"..." Huang Hongyuan opened his mouth, but after a long pause, he just sighed. "In that case, Lord Gu must be extremely careful. If anything seems wrong, return at once. I will wait for you at the passage entrance."

"Then I’ll be troubling Lord Huang." Gu Zheng cupped his fist.

"It is we who are troubling you, Lord Gu."

Huang Hongyuan returned the gesture. "For our sake, Lord Gu is risking his life to enter the Demon Realm. On behalf of all the Demon Suppression Guards of this passage, I, Huang, thank you, Lord Gu!"

With that, Huang Hongyuan bowed deeply.

Gu Zheng quickly moved aside. "Lord Huang, there’s no need for this. I also gained something from fighting the Electric Giant Pythons."

"Rest assured, Lord Gu," Huang Hongyuan said seriously. "After we’ve collected all the Demon Flesh, Electric Light Scales, and Python Blood, we will count it all toward your merits."

Gu Zheng was speechless.

’Fine.’

’My gains are much more than just that.’

He said no more.

After bidding farewell to Huang Hongyuan, Gu Zheng went back to the distant mountain peak to retrieve the clothes he had stored there.

He also put the few Exotic Insects back into his pocket.

Then, he entered the passage at Dahuashan that connected to the Demon Realm.

After passing through the three-hundred-meter-long spatial rift, he stepped onto a coastline.

SPLASH~

Under a dim sky, blackish-red seawater washed ashore, wave after wave.

On the beach, two thick, long drag marks—deep furrows in the sand—stretched far into the distance.

They were left by the escaped Electric Giant Pythons!

SWOOSH~

Gu Zheng’s figure immediately blurred as he followed the tracks, flying off into the distance.

...

「Dahuashan Passage. In the temporary camp.」

"I never would have thought. That Luo Cheng and Lord Gu are both ranked among the ’Seven Demon Slayers,’ but his strength is a whole world apart from Lord Gu’s."

"Right, right! If you ask me, Luo Cheng just got lucky. That’s the only reason he gets to represent the younger generation of the Guangzhou Demon Slayer Bureau and be ranked alongside Lord Gu."

"In the past, he wouldn’t have even been qualified!"