Chapter 027: The Sword Technique Rises Again

“Roar~~~”
Sensing Mu Tianhen’s intensifying murderous intent, the giant python grew even more enraged, opening its jaws in a wild howl that shook the clouds and sent all nearby creatures fleeing in terror, their bodies trembling.
Even the little ones perched on the distant trees clung tightly to the branches, their eyes filled with fear. Only Xiao Bai instinctively extended its tiny claws, ignoring the pain and the blood that continued to flow.
Its gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Mu Tianhen and the giant python, murderous intent seeping from its own body.
The other companions noticed Xiao Bai’s transformation and hurriedly surrounded it, urging it not to act rashly, to stay obediently on the tree lest it distract its master.
Listening to their persuasion, Xiao Bai gradually calmed down. Indeed, it was still a young fox, protected by its master along the journey—how could it be of any help?
Faced with such a terrifying python, even if it rushed forward, what could it possibly achieve? It would only become a corpse.
Most importantly, it would distract its master, preventing him from focusing on the battle with the python, and might endanger him.
Thus, Xiao Bai could only pray to the heavens, hoping its master would defeat the python and return safely.
At this moment, Mu Tianhen was less than five yards from the giant python, within its attack range. But this time, he did not wait for the python to strike first; instead, he launched a proactive assault.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, his feet pressed into the earth and his body shot upward like a bolt, instantly reaching thirty feet in the air, surpassing the height of the python’s head.
Seeing this, the python let out another roar and lifted its head, attempting to attack Mu Tianhen.
Unfortunately, no matter how massive it was, it remained a creature that crawled on the ground; the height to which it could raise its head was limited. At eighteen feet, it could go no higher.
Suspended in midair, Mu Tianhen could now observe the python’s full form and was inwardly awed.
This python was indeed fearsome: by rough estimate, its whole body stretched nearly two hundred feet, covered everywhere in gleaming scales, as though clad in a suit of sturdy armor.
Judging from the earlier battle, ordinary weapons or attacks lacking sufficient power could not break through those scales and would cause the python no harm.
But regardless, Mu Tianhen had to try.
How could he give up without exhausting all his strength and methods?
Thus, he suddenly ascended to a height unreachable by the python, then spun in midair and dove down. The longsword in his hand was infused with surging pulse power, flashing with dazzling cold light.
“Nine Heavens Waterfall!”
With a thunderous shout, Mu Tianhen once more employed the Azure Lotus Sword Art.
In an instant, the sword’s light transformed into streams of sword energy, weaving together into a net that descended from the sky like a waterfall from the nine heavens, pressing fiercely upon the python.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The longsword split the air with the force of ten thousand waves, faintly revealing the emergence of azure lotuses within the sword energy, rushing straight for the python’s head.
“Roar~~~”
The python suddenly let out a cry, fear flickering in its eyes, and quickly retracted its head, raising its thick tail to strike at Mu Tianhen from the opposite direction.
Its head contained its life core and needed special protection; it could not risk directly receiving the sword technique that exerted such pressure—it had to dodge.
But to flee without fighting was impossible; it had to battle and defeat this human warrior, preventing him from claiming the Blood Spirit Grass.
Thus, the python both withdrew its head and counterattacked with its tail.
Even if its tail were injured, it would not threaten its life, and could injure the enemy, thereby securing victory.
“Wind Charge!”
“Mountain Cleave!”
Mu Tianhen combined the Gale Sword Technique with the Azure Lotus Sword Art, altering his attack trajectory at lightning speed. Not only did he evade the python’s counterattack, he drew even closer to its head.
Seeing this, the python truly panicked, shaking its head in a desperate attempt to dodge Mu Tianhen’s incoming sword.
But it was still a fraction too slow; in the blink of an eye, Mu Tianhen caught up.
Whoosh!
In midair, a flash of cold light streaked by, slicing just past the python’s vital spot—seven inches from its head.
Clang!
Another metallic crash rang out, sparks flying everywhere.
Man and python separated after this strike, each retreating several yards.
Mu Tianhen felt his wrist go numb, marveling at the python’s defense. At the same time, his face was filled with helplessness, unsure how to secure victory in this battle.
By convention, whether venomous or constrictor, a snake’s most vulnerable point is seven inches from its head—the dead spot, easiest to break through.
But in reality, even after infusing the longsword with a massive amount of pulse power, it was as if chopping at a mountain rock, causing no substantial harm to the python.
If anything, it left only a pale sword scar on its scales.
Fortunately, the black iron longsword in Mu Tianhen’s hand remained intact, with no cracks or chips.
“Roar~~~”
The python opened its jaws in a wild cry, spewing a large amount of foul white gas, and lunged fiercely at Mu Tianhen, alternating head and tail in a frenzy of attacks.

After that previous strike, all worry left the python’s heart, replaced entirely by murderous intent.
Being struck at its vital spot by this insignificant human warrior was nothing short of an insult! Therefore, today it had to devour this warrior.
Moreover, the sword in the man’s hand could not harm it, so what was there to fear?
Even a hit at the vital spot did nothing; at other places, breaking its defense was even less likely.
“Millennia!”
Mu Tianhen did not hesitate, immediately employing the body technique paired with the Azure Lotus Sword Art: One Step, Millennia.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
In an instant, Mu Tianhen’s form vanished from its original place, becoming countless afterimages drifting unpredictably around, forming a dozen shadows; none could tell which was real and which was illusion.
Seeing this, the python grew angrier, attacking madly with wild roars.
It cared nothing for real or illusory forms; under absolute power, all else was irrelevant.
Sadly, it was not facing an ordinary warrior, but one who had inherited the legacy of an ancient emperor. Thus, no matter how it attacked, it could not threaten Mu Tianhen, let alone force out his true body.
On the distant tree, Xiao Bai and its companions stared in astonishment, rubbing their eyes in disbelief, thinking themselves caught in a hallucination.
Especially Xiao Bai—its eyes were not only filled with horror, but also joy.
As long as its master could evade the python’s fierce assault, the odds of victory were great.
As a beast, Xiao Bai understood energy consumption well.
With the python’s current approach, it would be exhausted within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, losing its ability to fight. By then, no matter how massive its body, it would become just a slab of meat ready for slaughter.
But what Xiao Bai did not know was that Mu Tianhen himself was also nearing exhaustion.
Having just forcefully employed the Azure Lotus Sword Art, though he barely managed to retract the move, the pulse power expended was immense, leaving his sea of energy almost depleted.
Fortunately, One Step, Millennia consumed only a minimal amount of pulse power; otherwise, he would surely have perished under the python’s attack.
While dodging attacks, Mu Tianhen occasionally countered with a sword strike, regardless of the target, solely to enrage the python and prevent it from resting and recovering.
Humiliated and furious, the python had never been so mocked by a puny human warrior; thus, its attacks remained relentless, wishing to kill Mu Tianhen in one blow.
So, both combatants continued to expend their energy, and it remained to be seen who would outlast whom.