I slay demons and monsters in a bizarre city.

Chapter 86: To Die Standing or to Live Kneeling?
The Black Goat had experienced the power of Cerberus firsthand. Its howl sounded like two massive bronze blocks colliding, sending shivers down one's spine. The scene was still vivid in his mind. It wasn't the Black Goat fighting Cerberus, but rather its own kind, the more powerful members of the Black Goat family. The result was predictable: the Black Goat family suffered a complete defeat.

The doors of the ice palace slowly opened, revealing a magnificent interior. The fireplaces on the walls crackled and popped, creating a stark contrast to the freezing cold outside. The luxurious palace was surprisingly warm, even cozy.

Beneath his feet was a carpet adorned with dragons and phoenixes, and the ever-burning lamps on either side flickered with light. Li Changgeng also smelled the incredibly delicious aroma of roasted meat. To be honest, Li Changgeng was quite hungry.

Looking up, he saw a special crystal chandelier hanging from the top of the palace, resembling one from medieval Europe. The pillars were carved and painted, and the wood carvings were exquisite. This was definitely the treatment of European royalty. It was just a dog. No matter how powerful it was, it was just a three-headed hellhound. Li Changgeng didn't take this guy seriously. Since he was here, he would go all out. Besides, was he really going to die here?
Bangdang...

The doors of the ice palace slammed shut.

The light inside the palace did not dim at all; on the contrary, it became much brighter.

"Where's that dog?" The green countdown timer in front of Li Changgeng was decreasing. He needed to defeat the three-headed hellhound as soon as possible and return to Black Sea City Hospital. It was too easy for the man in yellow to kill Li Ying. Li Changgeng didn't want to be threatened or used by others, but he had no choice at the moment. He could only become stronger in order to break free from his restraints.

The bronze shrine and the countdown that appeared before us were undoubtedly tricks of the man in yellow.

“My lord, I think you would be better off being a little more polite.” The black goat wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and looked up at the tiered palace. There were four platforms in total, dividing a complete staircase into five sections. In other words, if Li Changgeng wanted to see Cerberus, he would have to pass through the black platform in the middle of the white staircase. And on each platform, there would be wizards, warriors or monsters blocking his way.

"My lord, to see Cerberus, you must pass the challenge of these four platforms. To be honest, my ancestor tried it and was defeated on the third platform."

Black Goat rubbed his fist and said excitedly, "Thank you, sir, for taking me away from the Ghost Train and giving me a chance to be reborn. I will do my best to beat the guy on the first platform. After I die, if possible, fuse me with the Skeleton Reaper in the forge. Maybe I can still help you."

Faced with the choice between dying standing up or living on your knees, Li Changgeng chose to stand up, and the black goat did the same without hesitation.

Is it really that difficult?

Li Changgeng looked at the end of the white steps, and in the hazy distance, it seemed as if someone was looking down with great interest. It wasn't a matter of distance; there was a special magical restriction that prevented Li Changgeng from seeing that way.

Li Changgeng stepped onto the steps, held his breath, and took a dozen steps until he reached the black platform on the first black middle section of the steps. If he could fly over or leap over, he might avoid this entanglement.

Li Changgeng exerted force with both feet, twisted his waist, and drew his Shadowless Blade to slash through the air. A vast golden blade of light surged forth, and Li Changgeng followed closely behind, attempting to use its power to break through the wind and move forward.

This leap was huge, and Li Changgeng had already arrived in the middle of the black platform.

suddenly……

sizzle...

The sound was familiar, like a snake flicking its tongue. Li Changgeng had heard Xia Mengmeng's giant snake spirit phantom make such a sound before.

not good!

I'm stuck!

By the time Li Changgeng realized what was happening, it was too late.

He was suspended in mid-air, gripped by an immense suction force that rendered him unable to move. Hiss...

A dark, black snake head emerged, its enormous mouth gaping open, ready to swallow Li Changgeng's feet whole. Li Changgeng could smell the foul odor emanating from the snake's mouth and see the scarlet forked tongue of the black snake's head.

Instinctively, Li Changgeng tried to dodge, but to no avail. The giant snake's suction seemed to have an invisible restraint, and he couldn't move at all. He was like a wire used for acting, posing in a very cool way.

"I am Cao!"

In desperation, Li Changgeng cried out. Despite having experienced many terrifying and bizarre things, the feeling of being swallowed by this giant snake still gave him goosebumps. This was being swallowed raw, which was extremely dangerous.

Bang! Crash!
The black goat's flaming fist slammed into the black snake's head, followed by a flying kick and a soaring foot. The black snake's head twisted to the side, and its bite missed, revealing a venomous fang that was over a foot long and had turned moldy and green.

creak, snap...

When Li Changgeng's shoelace was touched by the black snake's fangs, dark green venom began to seep out and corrode, breaking the shoelace.

Li Changgeng was finally able to move.

A backhand slash!

Zheng……

The slash was very close, as if it had struck steel. The backlash from the blade's edge made Li Changgeng's forearm go numb, as if he were being electrocuted, and his tiger's mouth throbbed with pain. He almost dropped the Shadowless Blade.

Having finally escaped the giant serpent's jaws, Li Changgeng leaped onto the steps. The Black Goat clenched his fists, and the two looked at each other. Li Changgeng looked at the Black Goat's tense face and said, "I didn't expect him to be this strong!"

"My lord, I'm telling you, and you still don't believe me. There are four challenges you need to overcome. Even if you can defeat them all within three moves, I'm afraid you won't have enough time." Black Goat held up four fingers. In his understanding, Li Changgeng was a very steady person and wouldn't be so impulsive. Li Changgeng's aggressiveness must have a reason, and if he were to analyze the reason, it could only be a matter of time.

"Do you have any good ideas?" Li Changgeng watched as the black snake's body slowly stretched out from under the stage, its black scales gleaming.

"There are only two ways: break through its scales, or wait for it to open its mouth and then attack from there." The black goat was prepared to sacrifice itself; it had already done a great job helping Li Changgeng get through this ordeal. As for what would happen next, that was up to Li Changgeng himself.

"It seems we can only try to work on it with words!" Li Changgeng was certain. The black snake's scales were too tough. Although his strike just now wasn't a powerful one, it hadn't harmed the snake at all.

"My lord, these demonic beasts are no ordinary creatures. If you kill them or persuade them, you can recruit them as mythical cards! Just like me. At that time, you might be able to cross the giant city wall and have the strength to leave Black Sea City."

With a roar, the flames from its burning horns transformed into volcanic lava, burning down its head and causing its body to rapidly combust wherever they touched. The black goat grimaced in pain as its body began to swell wildly, exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

“I will die first, sir. Find an opportunity to kill this black snake.”

(End of this chapter)