Wen Qingye was using the Butterfly Step. His Body Technique was extraordinarily fast, his footwork almost preternatural, and in the blink of an eye, he had once again widened the gap between himself and Wenn Xing.

"Kid, I’ll kill you today even if you run to the ends of the earth!"

Wenn Xing’s expression was savage, a look that would strike fear into anyone’s heart.

Wen Qingye’s body blurred, leaving only afterimages in the air. He was already moving at full speed, not daring to let his guard down for even a moment. Naturally, he didn’t respond to Wenn Xing’s threat.

WHOOSH!

Wenn Xing swiped out with his claw again, only to find he had struck another afterimage. Rage surged through him.

’I’d like to see just how long you can keep running.’ Wenn Xing knew that Wen Qingye was only at the Second Heaven of Yin-Yang Realm. ’Such a miraculous Body Technique must consume a tremendous amount of energy. When his Primordial Qi runs out, that will be my chance.’

Of course, Wen Qingye knew what he was thinking. He took out several pills to replenish his Primordial Qi from his Sumeru Ring and swallowed them.

Behind him, Wenn Xing’s eyes went red with fury when he saw Wen Qingye take the pills, but there was nothing he could do about it.

Time trickled by. The chase continued, one fleeing and the other in relentless pursuit. In what seemed like a flash, the two had reached the depths of Xiebei Mountain.

The dense forest canopy blotted out the sun. The air grew thick and heavy, and countless venomous insects and flying ants swarmed about. A chilling gloom seeped into one’s very bones.

The occasional Demon Beast that crossed their path was casually obliterated into a bloody mist by a wave of Wenn Xing’s powerful Primordial Qi.

’Not good!’

Suddenly, Wenn Xing took note of his surroundings, and a shiver went down his spine.

Wenn Xing shouted, "Kid, if you run any further, I can promise you, you’re dead! Don’t forget, Xiebei Mountain is a Red Mountain!"

Red Mountain!

An extremely dangerous region, as everyone in the Celestial Profound Sect knew.

Wen Qingye’s brow furrowed. ’Wenn Xing is only warning me because he wants to capture me alive himself. How could I not know that?’

’The Yin Qi here is dense, but there’s a single thread of hope running through it. Clearly, there’s still a chance for survival.’ Wen Qingye’s eyes narrowed as he quickly made his decision.

From behind, Wenn Xing watched Wen Qingye pick up speed and gradually disappear into the depths of the forest. He sneered inwardly and then abruptly halted.

"You’re dead for sure, you arrogant, ignorant fool. Xiebei Mountain is no ordinary Red Mountain," Wenn Xing muttered. Then, as if recalling something, his expression changed drastically. "Zhou Yu... oh no!"

At that thought, Wenn Xing hastily turned and bolted back down Xiebei Mountain.

.......

’Something’s strange here...’ Wen Qingye drew his One Thought Sword, his eyes scanning the surroundings as his heart sank.

Everything around him was dark; not a single ray of sunlight penetrated the canopy. It was utterly silent, save for the crunch of leaves under Wen Qingye’s feet.

After walking for the time it takes an incense stick to burn, a peculiar scent suddenly drifted to Wen Qingye’s nose.

’What a strange scent. It smells like the unique odor of a Black Profound Snake. Could it be...?’ At this thought, Wen Qingye’s frown deepened.

Before mating, the Black Profound Female Snake emits a unique scent to attract nearby males, after which she selects a partner to couple with. The scent Wen Qingye had picked up was precisely that of a Black Profound Female Snake, which meant a large number of Black Profound Snakes were nearby.

Realizing this, Wen Qingye gripped his sword and proceeded with even greater caution. ’This is a good opportunity. I might be able to get some fangs from these Black Profound Snakes.’

Wen Qingye advanced a little further when he heard the sound of scales scraping against each other. Peering through a sparse patch of foliage, he finally saw the scene ahead.

He saw an enormous black serpent, its body as thick as three men. Its eyes glowed with an eerie, mesmerizing light, and its long tongue flickered in and out. Its massive body was coiled; this was the female snake.

It was surrounded by dozens of similar black serpents. A closer look revealed at least several dozen of them, though they were all smaller than the female.

These slightly smaller ones were the males. They writhed around the female, their scales constantly scraping against her body.

The Black Profound Male Snakes were obsessively swarming the female in a bizarre spectacle.

’This female is at least at the Sixth Level of Yin Yang Realm. This is going to be tricky,’ Wen Qingye thought as he watched her. ’The other males are only around the Yin Yang Realm Third Layer, so they’re nothing to worry about.’

The Black Profound Female Snake reared up its massive body, as if enjoying the sensation. Suddenly, its pupils contracted as its gaze shot toward Wen Qingye’s position.

’I’ve been spotted! I must have stepped in some Snake Saliva.’ Wen Qingye instantly understood why he had been discovered. He shot to his feet and hastily retreated.

HISS—!

Seeing Wen Qingye trying to escape, the lead female snake let out a strange hiss. The surrounding Black Profound Snakes all turned to look at Wen Qingye and, in the next instant, charged at him in a frenzy.

As the Black Profound Snakes surged forward, surrounding trees and bushes were either crushed to splinters or sent flying from the impact.

One of the snakes at the head of the charge opened its gaping, blood-red maw. Its stinking fangs glinted coldly as it gathered Primordial Qi in its mouth, rapidly forming it into a ball which it then spat at Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye sensed the Primordial Qi Ball coming up behind him. He gripped his sword, and a cold gleam, tinged with a hint of cyan light, flashed from the blade.

"Fourth Form of the Four Symbols Sword Technique! Windbreak!"

He slashed out, the single strike as unstoppable as a ship riding the wind and cleaving through waves, sweeping through the air with overwhelming power.

SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK! SHLICK!

The sword strike passed through, instantly dissipating the Primordial Qi Ball. The Black Profound Snake at the front, a creature of the Second Heaven of Yin Yang Realm, was hacked into several pieces, sending flesh and blood flying.

The sight of blood didn’t deter the Black Profound Snakes; it only fueled their savagery.

Dozens of Black Profound Snakes continued their charge. Wen Qingye took a quick look and noticed the female snake wasn’t pursuing them. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Wen Qingye pushed off the ground, spun around, and swung his sword in a rapid flurry. Three cold gleams emerged, striking out at one of the Black Profound Snakes. The three sharp streams of Sword Qi locked onto the serpent’s neck, abdomen, and the vital spot on its tail.

CLANG! CLANG!

The strike to the vital spot on its tail missed, but the other two hit their mark. Thanks to the sharpness of the One Thought Sword and Wen Qingye’s Primordial Qi, the two streams of Sword Qi broke through the Black Profound Snake’s tough hide.

The Black Profound Snake didn’t die immediately, but its body writhed in agony, twisting upon itself. The eerie glow in its eyes faded to a dull gray.

Just then, another Black Profound Snake lunged, its massive, blood-red maw gaping wide as if to swallow Wen Qingye whole.

Wen Qingye reacted instantly, pulling his sword back flat against his chest. Then, he thrust it straight into the approaching serpent’s mouth and charged forward.

The blade of the One Thought Sword sliced into the Black Profound Snake’s mouth. At last, a trace of primal fear appeared in the serpent’s eyes.

CRACK!

As Wen Qingye charged forward, the peerless sharpness of the One Thought Sword did its work. The Black Profound Snake’s body was split clean in two, starting from its mouth. With a wet BANG, a fountain of blood erupted into the air.