Song Qingshan is fine, so Qin Fang is relieved, but the crisis on Ji Xiang's side hasn't been resolved yet. Just now, another gunshot sounded, further revealing Ji Xiang's danger.

However, Song Qingshan had clearly just gone through a battle, as the blood was the best evidence...

"Don't mention it. Almost got eaten by a group of mice!"

Song Qingshan nodded, continued toward Ji Xiang's location with Qin Fang, and said with a helpless bitter smile.

"Mice?"

Qin Fang was stunned, his face showing an incredibly strange expression, and he couldn't help but glance at the blood stains on Song Qingshan, finally understanding why the blood was everywhere.

"Damn it, this place hasn't been inhabited for who knows how many years, but the mice have grown as big as cats, damn near becoming spirits, a whole nest came at me, almost gnawed me to bits..."

Speaking of what happened, Song Qingshan seemed highly frustrated, truly embarrassed by those mice.

Not only was he covered in blood, but his clothes had turned into rags, nearly forcing him to run naked.

"Mice as big as cats..."

Hearing this, Qin Fang's face looked indescribably odd; his first thought was that Song Qingshan was exaggerating, but he immediately denied this notion because Song Qingshan wasn't that kind of person—most of what he said was true.

Yet, since the matter was in the past, arguing about it held no significance; the priority was still rescuing Ji Xiang, because the situation was surely quite dangerous over there.

"Another corpse..."

On their way, they found another corpse, not slain by a sword but with its neck broken.

"I saw two corpses on the way... all killed by someone!"

Song Qingshan muttered a bit from the side.

"Hmm?"

Qin Fang froze, glanced at the corpse, vaguely feeling something beginning to surface in his mind...

But Qin Fang's attention was quickly drawn to something else, and he slightly lifted his head, looking upward.

"Monk, we're here..."

Then, Qin Fang straightforwardly shouted to the dense canopy above.

Song Qingshan was stunned for a moment, but quickly realized what Qin Fang was doing.

And in almost no time, a figure flew down from the treetop and rapidly landed in front of Qin Fang and the others.

Of course, the person who appeared was Monk Wukong. Although the Reed Crossing River Technique from Shaolin Temple wasn't as high-ranking as Qin Fang's Traceless Snow Stepping Technique, it allowed Wukong to easily maneuver through the treetops, making the terrain more favorable for him.

"Qin Fang, there's no time for chit-chat, Ji Xiang encountered trouble... I just saw a great big python over there!"

However, Monk Wukong didn't have time to say much, only tossing these words before flying back to the canopy and heading there first to assist.

"Damn it, let's hurry up..."

Upon hearing Monk Wukong's words, Qin Fang's expression changed slightly.

Giant pythons weren't fearsome, at least not to master-level peak experts like Qin Fang who had no fear of such creatures.

Just like the Golden Crested Snake Qin Fang encountered long ago. It forced Qin Fang into dire straits, but if they met now, Qin Fang could surely slay it without a scratch.

But now, a giant python could force Ji Xiang—a master-level peak expert—into desperation, indicating a very different situation.

Considering Song Qingshan's tale of mice as big as cats, the dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi in this mystical location, and the abundant rare herbs growing everywhere, Qin Fang suddenly understood something!

Those mice hadn't become spirits, but a python this large very well might have... Otherwise, how could it push Ji Xiang to such an extreme?

"Quick, quick, quick..."

Thinking of these things, Qin Fang dared not delay and instantly dashed forward with Song Qingshan in a mad rush... At this point, Qin Fang cared little about anything else, wielding the Flowing Shadow Divine Sword to cleave the trees barring his path, while he and Song Qingshan charged directly to rescue Ji Xiang.

Roar~~

Boom, boom, boom~~

About a hundred meters from the battlefield, Qin Fang and the others clearly heard loud crashing noises. Vaguely, they discerned beastly roars, possibly issued by that giant python!

Bang~~

Not only that, but they also heard crisp gunshots—Ji Xiang was still firing... Whether for self-defense or because Monk Wukong had joined him in battling the enemy remains unknown!

Bang, bang, bang~~

As they neared the battlefield, the sounds grew more thunderous, ear-splitting, and the ground trembled as well.

Several trees had met an unfortunate fate, knocked down and leaning, looking pitiful... All of this was caused by that giant python!

"Qing Mountain, be careful; it's a big one..."

When they got closer, Qin Fang's mini-map showed the giant python, as well as Ji Xiang, Monk Wukong, who had arrived a moment earlier, and Qin Fang instinctively warned Song Qingshan.

"Damn... such a huge serpent!"

Just as he finished speaking, the two rushed into the battlefield, intruding into the python's view.

Even though Qin Fang anticipated the python's size and fearfulness, he couldn't help exclaiming subconsciously upon seeing it.

"Indeed... huge!"

Beside him, Song Qingshan couldn't help but swallow, and he understood why Ji Xiang, who was about as strong as him—perhaps slightly stronger—was pushed to desperation. This serpent was truly enormous.

They say giant pythons have barrel-like waists, yet this one... With a stout body having a diameter of at least a meter or more, a grown man couldn't wrap his arms around it.

Its length was even more frightening; a quick glance suggested at least thirty meters long, currently coiled and launching ferocious attacks at Ji Xiang and Monk Wukong...

That massive body towered, seemingly seven to eight meters high, with each descending strike resembling a thunderstorm. Even if Ji Xiang and Monk Wukong dodged, the serpent's head would smash a massive hole into the ground...

Within this area, Qin Fang and Song Qingshan saw no fewer than ten such holes...

"What are you standing there for, hurry up and help!"

On the other side, Monk Wukong saw Qin Fang and Song Qingshan in a daze and immediately shouted, seizing the moment as the python's attack failed, to draw back.

"Coming..."

Qin Fang promptly responded and immediately kicked into action, exhibiting his mastery of the Traceless Snow Stepping Technique, wielding the Flowing Shadow Divine Sword, rushing straight for the python.

Song Qingshan wasn't outdone either and swiftly moved, but he didn't charge at the python; instead, he approached Ji Xiang and Monk Wukong.

There was no choice; although Song Qingshan had both offensive and defensive skills, his strongest attack was just the Xuanyin Divine Claw, yet given the python's incredibly tough body, his Xuanyin Divine Claw would amount to "scratching an itch"—so he refrained from adding to the chaos!

"Xuan Shui Python... Didn't expect one would still be alive!"

Qin Fang quickly drew near the python, his eyes devoid of worry or fear, instead showing excitement as he muttered.

Ji Xiang, Monk Wukong, and Song Qingshan might have dismissed the python as a well-grown giant serpent.

However, Qin Fang's scouting skill revealed the python's background clearly—it was indeed the long-extinct Xuan Shui Python from centuries ago...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly picks. Your support is my greatest motivation.)