The Giant Python’s cave was immense, as spacious as a great hall.

Six people entered, led by a youth in blue brocade robes. Following him were five young martial artists whose cultivation ranged from the Seventh to the Eighth-level Mortal Warrior Realm. One boy, however, was an exception, being only at the Fifth Level Mortal Realm.

The expression on the blue-robed youth’s face was utterly grim. He had come to the Moonlight Forest to temper himself, all for the sake of breaking through to the Innate First Realm.

He’d discovered the Giant Python the last time he was in the Moonlight Forest, but at that time, he was only at the Eighth Level Great Perfection Mortal Realm and was no match for the beast whatsoever.

But the giant python’s inner core was the key to his breakthrough into the Innate Realm. He was determined to obtain it, so he had left a mark, intending to return once he was powerful enough.

The blue-robed youth’s name was Du Fei. He was an Inheritance Disciple of the Golden Snake Sect who practiced the Coiling Snake Technique. With his exceptional talent, he had now reached the Ninth-level Great Perfection Mortal Warrior Realm. He was just one step away from achieving initial mastery of his Coiling Snake Technique and stepping into the Innate First Realm.

He had come this time precisely to slay the Giant Python, take its Inner Core, and use it to achieve his breakthrough.

Now, the Giant Python was gone, and only a little girl was here. So, Du Fei stared menacingly at Little Yue’Er and said, "Little girl, tell me who killed the Giant Python."

Little Yue’Er looked timidly at Du Fei and his group, her lips pressed tightly together, not saying a word.

"Not talking? It looks like I’ll have to resort to other means to get you to talk!"

Du Fei’s face twisted. He could see signs of a struggle. ’Clearly, the Giant Python hasn’t been dead for long.’

’Perhaps the one who killed it has already left, leaving this little girl behind.’

’A girl like this will surely spill everything if I just scare her a little.’

However, to Du Fei’s surprise, although fear was visible on the little girl’s face, she still refused to say a word.

Although Little Yue’Er was very young, she was very clever. She knew that her Big Brother was at a critical moment in his cultivation and must not be disturbed. If these people discovered him, her Big Brother would be in danger.

So, she remained silent. Even though she was terrified, she absolutely would not back down.

Seeing Little Yue’Er’s defiant reaction enraged Du Fei even more. He reached out to grab her, snarling, "Fine! Let’s see if you’ll talk after I slap you ten times."

"Third Senior Brother, she’s just a little girl! She probably doesn’t know anything. Let it go!"

It was one of Du Fei’s junior brothers who spoke up—the boy who was a Fifth-level Mortal Warrior. He came from a common background and couldn’t stand to watch any longer, so he spoke up from behind, trying to reason with him.

The Fifth-level Mortal Warrior had barely finished speaking when Du Fei stopped, spun around, and glared at him coldly.

Seeing Du Fei spin around and glare at him, the Fifth-level Mortal Warrior’s face paled, his eyes filled with terror.

The other Golden Snake Sect members nearby saw this, but they all wore gloating expressions.

"Haha... A lowlife like him was incredibly lucky just to get into the Golden Snake Sect. Third Senior Brother only let him tag along because he was useful for odd jobs. Now he dares to speak out and contradict Third Senior Brother? He’s a dead man."

"Third Senior Brother is furious right now. Even if this guy doesn’t die, he’s in for a severe beating."

"I hope he leaves him alive, though. If the little peon dies, we’ll have to do all those chores ourselves."

...

While the other Golden Snake Sect members were laughing and jeering, Du Fei had already lashed out with a kick.

SMACK!

The boy was sent flying, spitting blood. The kick had clearly injured him.

"You dare question me? You insolent dog! You must have a death wish!"

Du Fei blurred into motion and sent the boy flying again with another kick.

BOOM!

This time, the boy slammed into the cave wall. The powerful force made the wall of packed earth tremble, showering down dirt. Then, a stone was dislodged and fell away, revealing Jiang Jichen.

"There’s someone else here?"

All eyes turned to the small alcove where Jiang Jichen was.

No one spared a thought for the boy’s life. Du Fei’s last kick had been vicious, empowered by Spiritual Power. The boy’s body was now partially embedded in the dirt wall, his aura dangerously weak.

Little Yue’Er’s tiny body blocked the front of the alcove. She spread her arms wide to stop them and shouted, "Don’t you dare hurt my Big Brother!"

However, Du Fei and his men didn’t spare Little Yue’Er a single glance. His gaze was fixed malevolently on Jiang Jichen. "So that’s where you were hiding. And I can sense the aura of the giant python’s inner core... The inner core is on him! Haha... He’s so dead."

"Third Senior Brother, it looks like that kid is cultivating. Should we cripple him first?"

"I’ll do it!"

"Let me! Don’t you dare fight me for it."

...

These Golden Snake Sect disciples scrambled over each other, all eager to act. They had seen the Mid-Level Storage Bag in front of Jiang Jichen, and their eyes burned with greed, each wanting to be the one to snatch it.

"To think this kid has a Mid-Level Storage Bag. His background is probably not simple. But if we kill someone silently here in the Moonlight Forest, who would ever find out?"

Du Fei let out a cold sneer and then strode toward Jiang Jichen.

"Don’t come any closer! Don’t hurt my Big Brother!"

Little Yue’Er still blocked the way, refusing to let Du Fei pass.

"Annoying little brat. Die!"

However, Du Fei showed no concern that Little Yue’Er was just a child. He struck without mercy, scooping up Little Yue’Er and hurling her toward Jiang Jichen.

He acted ferocious, as if he viewed Jiang Jichen as an opponent he could dispatch with ease, but he remained cautious. Fearing a trap, he hurled Little Yue’Er at him as a probe.

Of course, given the force of his throw, if no one caught the little girl, she would undoubtedly die.

Little Yue’Er cried out in terror and squeezed her eyes shut.

But there was no crash, nor any pain. Little Yue’Er felt herself fall into a warm embrace and smelled an incredibly familiar scent.

"Big Brother!"

Little Yue’Er’s eyes flew open in joyous surprise and she saw Jiang Jichen gazing at her gently.

"Little Yue’Er, you stay here and don’t come out. With me here, no one can hurt you!"

Jiang Jichen said with a smile, then placed Little Yue’Er in the small alcove and calmly walked out.

His gaze fell upon Du Fei and the others, and in an instant, it turned bone-chillingly cold. The killing intent in his eyes was completely unconcealed.

These people were truly worse than animals, not even sparing a child so young. True rage stirred in Jiang Jichen’s heart. Killing intent billowed around him as he strode forward.

"Haha, Second-level Mortal Realm? Shit, a cultivator this weak dares to enter the Moonlight Forest? I refuse to believe he killed the Giant Python. He probably just got lucky and found that Mid-Level Storage Bag."

"Who cares how he got it? Kill him, and it all becomes ours!"

Du Fei said dismissively.

"He’s only at the Second-level Mortal Realm. Why should you bother, Third Senior Brother? Killing him will be as easy as crushing an ant for us."

Several Golden Snake Sect disciples moved past Du Fei, vying to be the first to kill Jiang Jichen.

But Jiang Jichen’s pace didn’t falter in the slightest. He rapidly closed the distance to them and unleashed a punch.

PFFT!

A Golden Snake Sect disciple at the Seventh-level Mortal Warrior Realm didn’t even have a chance to react before Jiang Jichen’s fist shattered his heart.

"Today, all of you will die."

His icy voice rang out. The sheer killing intent made their hearts clench, and their faces instantly turned ashen.