Gou Zai Fei Men made up myths

"This is... the 'Vermilion Fruit'?" Shen Mo's pupils contracted, and his heart trembled! The Vermilion Fruit was a legendary treasure that could directly enhance a cultivator's cultivation level!

Although these three stones don't seem to be very old, they are already coveted treasures for Qi Refining cultivators!

"We're rich!" Zhang Daniu's eyes widened, and he almost drooled.

"Don't move!" Shen Mo quickly stopped Zhang Daniu, who was about to rush forward. "There are often guardian beasts or restrictions around such spiritual herbs!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound came from deep within the medicinal field!

Immediately afterwards, a strange snake, as thick as a bowl, entirely green, with a fleshy crest on its head, slowly emerged from the weeds, its cold, vertical pupils staring intently at the intruder!

The aura emanating from him had clearly reached the late stage of Qi Refining!

"It's a Blue-scaled Serpent! Be careful! Its venom is extremely potent!" Su Xiao exclaimed in alarm, his expression changing.

"Prepare for battle!" Shen Mo shouted in a deep voice, several talismans already appearing in his hand.

Although their opponent was at the late stage of Qi Refining, the five of them working together might not be without a fighting chance! Moreover, he was determined to obtain this Vermilion Fruit!

"Hiss—"

The Azure-Scaled Serpent coiled before the Vermilion Fruit Tree, its scarlet tongue flicking in and out, emitting a chilling sound.

Its cold, vertical pupils were fixed on the five uninvited guests before it, and the emerald green scales on its body were slightly open, emitting a foul and dangerous aura.

The pressure from the late-stage Qi Refining realm spread out as if it were a tangible force, making it difficult for Shi Tie and the others to breathe.

"Damn it... this worm has such a powerful aura!" Shi Tie gripped the iron rod in his hand tightly, his dark face full of solemnity. Although he was warlike, he also knew that a demonic beast in the late stage of Qi Refining was by no means an easy opponent.

"Sect Leader, how do we fight?" Zhang Daniu swallowed hard and asked nervously.

Shen Mo's gaze swept quickly across the entire herb garden. The area wasn't very large, but it was overgrown with weeds, making it difficult to maneuver. The location where the Azure-Scaled Serpent was coiled up blocked the path to the Vermilion Fruit Tree.

"This beast is guarding the Vermilion Fruit; it certainly won't leave easily," Shen Mo ordered in a deep voice. "Su Xiao! Use a sonic spell to distract it! Qing Yan! Set up a simple trapping array behind us, just in case!"

"Shi Tie! Da Niu! You two, follow me and launch a feint attack from the front to draw its attention! Be careful to avoid its venom!"

"Yes!" the four replied in unison and immediately sprang into action.

Su Xiao formed hand seals and uttered a strange low chant. Although the Bewitching Sound Technique wasn't powerful offensively, it was quite effective at disrupting the mind.

Upon hearing the sound, the Azure-Scaled Serpent became visibly agitated, shaking its head and letting out a threatening hiss.

"Now! Go!" Shen Mo shouted, his figure flashed, and he rushed to the left first! At the same time, he raised his hand and a "fireball talisman" shot out, turning into a fireball the size of a washbasin, which smashed towards the snake's head!

Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu also pounced from the right at the same time! Shi Tie swept his iron rod horizontally, aiming straight for the snake's vital spot! Zhang Daniu roared, and his axe, accompanied by a fierce wind, cleaved towards the snake's tail!

"Hiss!" The Azure-Scaled Serpent, attacked from three sides, was instantly enraged! It lashed out with its tail like a steel whip at Zhang Daniu's axe!

At the same time, the snake tilted its head to avoid the fireball, opened its mouth and spat out a stream of dark green venom, which shot towards Shen Mo like a sharp arrow!

"Watch out!" Shen Mo was prepared. He changed his footwork and used the Azure Cloud Step to narrowly avoid the venom. The venom landed on the ground and immediately made a "sizzling" sound, corroding a deep pit in the stone slab!

With a loud "clang!", Zhang Daniu's axe collided violently with the snake's tail! He felt an immense force, his tiger's mouth split open, and he was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the stone wall!

"Da Niu!" Upon seeing this, Shi Tie's eyes widened in fury, and he thrust his iron rod even faster! However, the scales of the Azure Phosphorous Crown Serpent were exceptionally hard, and when the iron rod struck it, it only produced a string of sparks and left a white mark!

"Such tough skin!" Shi Tie's heart sank.

"Attack its eyes and mouth!" Shen Mo shouted while dodging the venom. He threw out several more talismans, namely "Ice Cone Talisman" and "Earth Wall Talisman," in an attempt to restrict the snake's movements.

Su Xiao's sonic manipulation constantly interfered with the strange snake, causing its attacks to repeatedly go astray.

Zhao Qingyan was at the rear, quickly setting up a simple "thorn trap formation". Although it was not very powerful, it could at least provide some obstruction.

In an instant, the herb garden was filled with flashes of spiritual light, and roars and clanging sounds filled the air. The five people and the snake were locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle.

However, the strength of the late-stage Qi Refining demonic beasts far surpassed theirs. In particular, the venom of the Azure Phosphorous Crown Serpent posed a great threat, causing Shen Mo and the others to be hesitant and restrained.

Soon, Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu were injured, though only superficially, but the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable.

"This won't do!" Shen Mo thought anxiously. His gaze swept over the Vermilion Fruit tree, and an idea struck him. He shouted to Su Xiao, "Su Xiao! Use your strongest divine sense attack to stimulate that Vermilion Fruit!"

Although Su Xiao didn't understand the meaning, she trusted Shen Mo completely and immediately did as she was told. She concentrated all her divine sense, transforming it into an invisible thorn, and fiercely stabbed at the reddest fruit on the Vermilion Fruit Tree!

The instant her consciousness touched the Vermilion Fruit—

"Buzz!" The Vermilion Fruit suddenly shone brightly with red light! A surge of intense energy spread out!

"Hiss!" The Azure-Scaled Serpent let out a shrill scream as if its tail had been stepped on. It turned its head sharply and looked at the Vermilion Fruit Tree, its eyes filled with extreme panic!

It actually abandoned its attack on Shen Mo and the others, and frantically pounced on the Vermilion Fruit Tree, as if it wanted to protect something!

"A great opportunity!" A glint flashed in Shen Mo's eyes!

He had long suspected that the Vermilion Fruit was about to ripen and was of paramount importance to the guardian beast, perhaps even more important than its own life! And indeed it was!

"Shi Tie! Da Niu! Attack its back of the head! Su Xiao! Keep provoking the Vermilion Fruit!" Shen Mo roared, then flashed past the strange snake and pounced on the Vermilion Fruit tree!

His target wasn't the Vermilion Fruit, but... the area beneath the fruit tree! He sensed an exceptionally pure source of wood elemental energy there!

"Bang bang bang!" Shi Tie and Zhang Daniu seized the opportunity and attacked the serpent's hindquarters frantically. Although they could not inflict fatal wounds, they made it roar repeatedly and unable to turn around to help.