"Get away!"

Bamo unleashed the power of the Divine Image, his Qi Sea roaring. A flash of crimson light streaked from his saber as it collided with the Scorpion Python’s Poisonous Hook.

The Scorpion Python’s tail reeled as if it had suffered a heavy blow. It swung back uncontrollably, smashing a large tree behind it to pieces.

Enraged, it coiled its tail around a massive branch and brought it crashing down on Bamo.

Bamo swung his long saber and stepped forward, bringing it down in a powerful cleave. A brilliant light erupted from the blade, splitting the massive branch in two as it came down.

Blood-red Sword Qi erupted from the saber’s edge, screaming toward the Scorpion Python.

The Scorpion Python twisted its body, dodging just in time. Its tail whipped through the air like lightning, stabbing toward the point between Bamo’s eyes.

Bamo held his great saber low, his Spiritual Sense blanketing the area. His eyes locked onto the trajectory of the Scorpion Python’s Poisonous Hook, and he brought his blade down in another cleave.

"SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!"

But at this critical moment, 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

three arrows shot in from behind, swiftly entering the range of his Spiritual Sense.

It was a sneak attack from Chu Lingguang.

Little Red Horse had carried him out of the dark forest. He looked back and saw Bamo charge out of the woods, but he was locked in combat with the Scorpion Python, so he breathed a small sigh of relief.

He had thought that no matter how strong Bamo was, he would be no match for the Scorpion Python. But to his surprise, after being at a disadvantage in the first exchange, Bamo was now fighting with growing ferocity, looking as if he was about to drive the beast back.

Seeing the battle reach a white-hot intensity,

and the standoff between the Scorpion Python and Bamo come to a head, Chu Lingguang fired three quick arrows at Bamo. He used his Three-Star Linked Pearls archery technique, each arrow aimed for his back, right over his heart.

The hairs on Bamo’s body stood on end.

He was only twenty-eight. He had left the Aika Tribe when he was young to study under Prince Andre, and his cultivation talent was considered one of the best in the entire Turkic Kingdom.

’Who would have thought that Chu Lingguang would dare to ambush me at such a critical moment in my fight with the Scorpion Python?’

’That Three-Star Linked Pearls archery technique... for it to come at such a critical moment gave me a definite sense of danger.’

The forward cleave he’d unleashed could not be pulled back.

His Sword Qi collided with the Scorpion Python’s Poisonous Hook once more.

Through his Spiritual Sense, he saw his long saber leave a deep cut on the Scorpion Python’s Poisonous Hook, almost slicing one of the barbs clean off.

And if the Scorpion Python were to lose its Poisonous Hook, its combat effectiveness would plummet.

"PFFT!"

He braced himself, taking the hit with his fifth-level Dharma Aspect.

His Qi Phase Scale Armor blocked all three of Chu Lingguang’s surprise arrows.

Although the arrowheads pierced his Qi Phase Scale Armor, they stopped dead after sinking into his flesh, unable to advance another inch. They couldn’t even reach his bones.

"What?"

Chu Lingguang was astonished.

’I’ve also mastered the fifth-level Dharma Aspect... I never thought Bamo’s defense would be this strong. To think he could just tank my three arrows with his Dharma Aspect!’

Through his own Spiritual Sense,

he could feel it all. The first arrow hadn’t been able to shatter the Qi Wave Armor. The second had finally pierced Bamo’s Scale Armor. He’d expected the third to tear through Bamo’s flesh and reach the vital point on his back, but it had been stopped cold, clamped in place by his incredible Flesh and Blood Power.

Chu Lingguang had long heard that martial artists from the Turkic Kingdom practiced the Divine Beast Breathing Method, drank three bowls of Beast Blood daily, and that their Qi Power and bloodline were far stronger than those of Grand Yuan Martial Artists.

’I never thought his physical defense would be this powerful.’

’If his flesh is this tough, how terrifyingly strong must his bones be?’

Chu Lingguang couldn’t even begin to imagine it.

He had thought his three arrows, fired at the critical moment, would be enough to distract Bamo and throw off his attack on the Scorpion Python. But he never expected his opponent to be so confident in his own defenses. Bamo’s Sword Momentum never faltered, and his saber struck the Poisonous Hook with unerring accuracy.

The Scorpion Python was no longer as frenzied as before. It watched Bamo with deep wariness. It had three poisonous hooks on its tail, but now one was damaged, and it hadn’t even managed to scratch Bamo. The cost of that exchange had been too high.

So it raised its head, observing Bamo carefully, searching for an opening.

Bamo gripped his saber with both hands. With a flex of his muscles, he dislodged the arrow shafts embedded in his back. His Qi Phase Scale Armor flared to life, once again enveloping his body, and the roar from his Qi Sea reached a crescendo.

Chu Lingguang and the Scorpion Python, one in front and one behind, both stared at Bamo.

Seeing Bamo block his Three-Star Linked Pearls and even cow the Scorpion Python into inaction, Chu Lingguang’s only thought was to flee.

But then, a peculiar ripple of energy washed over him.

It emanated from the Scorpion Python.

Within that strange ripple, Chu Lingguang perceived a message: the Scorpion Python wanted to team up with him.

The message simply appeared in his Sea of Consciousness.

The strange, intuitive connection left him slightly dazed.

It was his first time facing a Demon Beast like the Scorpion Python. He had seen its tail thrust and weave like a Long Spear, but to actually sense it transmitting a message...

This was something he had never anticipated.

’But I can already tell the Scorpion Python can’t handle Bamo. I need to get out of here. This is Turkic territory, after all.’

’If other pursuers show up, or if Bamo frees himself up, getting away won’t be so easy.’

’Since the ambush failed, it’s time to retreat. I can’t afford to hesitate.’

However, just as he was about to ride Little Red Horse away, another ripple surged from the Scorpion Python. An impatient message appeared in Chu Lingguang’s Sea of Consciousness.

Chu Lingguang’s face fell as he deciphered the meaning.

Though the message was fragmented, its meaning was clear: the Scorpion Python was warning him. If he retreated, it would also retreat back into the forest, leaving him to face Bamo alone.

’I can’t believe this Scorpion Python has such high Spiritual Wisdom! It’s actually using Bamo to threaten me.’

’I’d love to kill Bamo too, but I just don’t have the strength!’