Chapter 145: Chapter 142: Subjugation, Beast Tamer?

The atmosphere on the bow of the ship suddenly froze. The hearts of the many Martial Artists leaped into their throats.

On one side was Jiang Yunfei, the renowned Young Master Qingjiang of the Cyan Cloud Country.

On the other was a man of unknown origin. But judging from Li Shiyu’s respect for him, he probably had a few tricks up his sleeve.

’I hope this is at least a little exciting. I’d hate for it to be a one-sided slaughter.’

The tall and beautiful Qiao Yiyi watched Ning Jiang with great interest.

’I’m curious to see just why Li Shiyu holds such a young man in such high regard.’

"Young Master."

Just as tensions reached a breaking point, a group of Jiang Family experts came rushing over.

"Hm? What is it?" Jiang Yunfei frowned.

"Reporting to the Young Master, we’ve found traces of the Ice Python up ahead."

"What? Is it the same Ice Python that attacked our Jiang Family?" Jiang Yunfei’s gaze turned cold.

"It should be. It still bears the scars our Jiang Family experts left on it."

"Good, good. That Ice Python dared to attack our Jiang Family’s ship and cause so many casualties. It must pay the price."

The Jiang Family had dispatched all of its major fleets to find this Ice Python.

Now that the fleet led by Jiang Yunfei had encountered it, there was no reason to let it go.

Besides, an Ice Python itself was immensely valuable. Its body could be used as material for weapons—its scales, for instance, could be crafted into Cold Ice Armor. Its Demon Core was even more expensive.

The Demon Core of an Innate Limit Ice Python was worth over several million Primordial Stones.

"Consider yourself lucky. I’ll spare you for now."

Jiang Yunfei shot a cold glare at Ning Jiang before departing with the Jiang Family experts.

"Let’s go! Let’s hurry and watch. The battle between Young Master Qingjiang and the Ice Python is sure to be spectacular."

"Exactly. A fight between Young Master Qingjiang and this guy would be completely one-sided. The battle with the Ice Python is the one worth watching."

The many Martial Artists on the ship burst into an uproar, the atmosphere electric with excitement.

"Hmph. What a joke."

Li Shiyu snorted, clearly displeased.

"Let’s go take a look as well."

Ning Jiang, however, was completely unconcerned. His focus was also on the Ice Python. Perhaps he could uncover some of the Qingjiang’s secrets from it.

If his suspicions were correct and there was some kind of worldly treasure beneath the Qingjiang, the Ice Python should hold some clues.

...

「Several miles from the fleet.」

Towering mountains rose on both sides of the vast Qingjiang, which flowed through them.

At that moment, a massive python was coiled atop a huge boulder at the foot of a mountain.

The python was over three hundred feet long. Its body was enormous, and its scales were not black but a pale blue, as if forged from ice.

The ground around the Ice Python was covered in a layer of frost. With it at the center, even the air grew frigid.

The Ice Python was an amphibious Demon Beast. Although it spent most of its time in the Qingjiang, it would occasionally crawl onto the riverbank.

"It really is the Ice Python."

After rushing to the scene at top speed, Jiang Yunfei spotted the Ice Python resting on the bank at a glance.

"Kill!"

With a roar, Jiang Yunfei wasted no time on words. His Fangtian Halberd trembled, unleashing a brilliant Halberd Aura as he brought it down on the Ice Python’s head.

"ROAR!"

The Ice Python let out a furious roar that shook the mountains.

It reared up the upper half of its body, its massive form an overwhelming sight.

CRACK!

The air exploded as the Ice Python whipped its tail like a lash, sweeping it out with unstoppable force.

BANG—

The violent collision unleashed a storm that kicked up waves dozens of feet high.

"Don’t get too close."

The other Martial Artists had also arrived. They stayed several miles away to watch the battle.

’Such a powerful body.’

Jiang Yunfei looked at the Ice Python’s tail, his brow furrowed. He had just unleashed the Innate Gang Yuan in his body to form a massive Halberd Aura and strike with it, yet it had only left a shallow gash on the python’s tail.

The Ice Python, a mutated form of the Water-Split Python, had a physique several times stronger than its predecessor. This was also why their bodies were so precious.

’Looks like this will be a tough fight.’

Jiang Yunfei’s fighting spirit soared. A young man like him was full of drive. He immediately said to the other Jiang Family experts, "None of you are to interfere. This is a battle between me and it!"

"Understood." The others didn’t dare to disobey.

"Huh? What’s he doing?"

Suddenly, the crowd of Martial Artists was startled to see a young figure step forward.

"It’s him."

The people recognized him as Ning Jiang, the one who had clashed with Jiang Yunfei earlier.

"What are you doing? Get back, now! If you disturb the Young Master, can you bear the consequences?" a Jiang Family expert who was part of the surrounding cordon snapped when he saw Ning Jiang approaching.

"You’re the ones who should get back."

Ning Jiang said faintly, his steps never halting as he moved forward.

"Insolent!"

Why would the Jiang Family experts pay any mind to a mere boy? An Innate Late Stage expert stepped forward. But just as he was about to strike, a violent gust of wind slammed into him, sending him flying back, spitting blood.

With a casual flick of his sleeve, using less than ten percent of his strength, Ning Jiang had sent the man flying. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

"Bastard! You dare injure one of our men!"

Seeing this, the other Jiang Family experts were all enraged.

Their Jiang Family was a Noble Family. When had they ever encountered someone as arrogant and brazen as Ning Jiang?

"If you don’t move, it won’t be just a minor injury next time!" Ning Jiang’s voice turned cold.

His mercy had its limits. Once provoked, he wouldn’t mind going on a killing spree.

In fact, among Venerables, he was considered good-tempered. Some Venerables would grant you only one fate for blocking their path: death!

"If he’s looking to die, then let him in."

Jiang Yunfei had noticed Ning Jiang, and his eyes grew cold.

With his order, the Jiang Family experts had no choice but to let Ning Jiang approach the area where the Ice Python was.

"What are you doing? Coming here to die?" Jiang Yunfei said coldly.

"To die?"

The corners of Ning Jiang’s mouth curved into a slight smile. "Listen up. I’m claiming this Ice Python. From now on, it’s mine. None of you are to touch it!"

"What did you say?"

Jiang Yunfei stared at Ning Jiang in disbelief.

Ning Jiang had claimed the Ice Python so casually, as if he could capture and suppress this immensely powerful beast with a mere wave of his hand.

It was like saying "I’ll take this" while shopping, completely disregarding the Ice Python.

"Li Shiyu, is this man insane?"

Qiao Yiyi stood beside Li Shiyu, her impression of Ning Jiang worsening. Not even someone with Young Master Qingjiang’s strength would dare say something so ridiculous.

In fact, no one was certain who was stronger, Young Master Qingjiang or the Ice Python. They would only know after a fight.

"Hmph. I bet he’s just trying to steal the spotlight."

"Exactly. What young man doesn’t want to be famous? He probably saw Young Master Qingjiang’s renown, felt jealous, and is now trying to find a chance to make a name for himself."

"Using a moment like this to get famous... How utterly foolish."

Ning Jiang’s words immediately sparked a huge discussion among the Martial Artists.

Everyone thought Ning Jiang was just a buffoon trying to seize an opportunity for fame.

"A bunch of blind fools."

Li Shiyu snorted and said to Qiao Yiyi, "You’ll see soon enough whether Mr. Ning is insane or not."

"I’ll be waiting with bated breath," Qiao Yiyi said dismissively.

’I’m dying to see the look on Li Shiyu’s face after Ning Jiang makes a fool of himself.’

"Hilarious. You want this Ice Python? Then go ahead and try to tame it. Or do you think you can make it submit with just your words?"

Jiang Yunfei looked at Ning Jiang as if he were an idiot, his eyes filled with scorn.

"Make the Ice Python submit? What’s so hard about that? I can indeed do it with just my words!"

With his hands behind his back, Ning Jiang walked step by step toward the Ice Python.

"He doesn’t know the difference between life and death," Jiang Yunfei said, shaking his head.

"ROAR."

Seeing Ning Jiang walk toward it, the Ice Python roared. Its massive body moved, its enormous head opening its blood-red maw lined with sharp fangs as it lunged to bite him.

"He’s a dead man."

"Feeding himself to the snake? That’s one way to get famous, I suppose, but only as a joke."

"Li Shiyu, is this the man you hold in such high regard?"

The crowd sighed. Many even closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of Ning Jiang being devoured in a single bite.

Just as the Ice Python’s gaping maw was less than ten feet from Ning Jiang, four syllables came from his mouth.

No one could understand these four syllables, but the Ice Python understood their meaning.

"Submit, or die!"

This was the ancient tongue of demons. Ning Jiang had once used this very language to communicate with the Cyan-Scaled Eagle and even taught it a Demon Technique.

In that instant, the Ice Python’s body froze completely, not moving an inch.

It wasn’t just because Ning Jiang had spoken in the demon tongue, but because it saw his eyes.

What terrifying eyes they were!

It was a gaze that saw all living beings as nothing more than weeds and ants, to be swatted and crushed at will.

Once a Demon Beast reaches the Innate Realm, it gains intelligence. The Ice Python’s intellect was no less than a human’s, and its instincts as a Demon Beast were far superior.

Its instincts told it that if it moved even one more inch, it would die instantly!

This seemingly harmless young man was, in reality, far more terrifying than the one wielding the Fangtian Halberd!

"Huh? What’s going on?"

"Why did the Ice Python stop moving?"

"What did those syllables he just uttered mean? I couldn’t understand them at all!"

The people around them were utterly shocked. They had thought Ning Jiang would be devoured in one bite, but he had merely opened his mouth and stopped the Ice Python’s attack. What kind of miraculous ability was this?

"Very good."

Looking at the motionless Ice Python, Ning Jiang nodded, then leaped up and landed on its enormous head.

In that moment, the crowd erupted in an uproar. Everyone stared dumbfounded, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.

"Could it be... he’s a Beast Tamer?"