Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Fierce Battle! Shapeshifting Giant Python

"Oh? Where is it?"

Zhu Ge asked hurriedly.

"Outside Mengzi City to the south!" Liu Jianjian said. "There’s a village there called Xin’an Village. The Black-Horned Bull is plowing the fields there!"

"Mengzi City? That’s a bit far."

Zhu Ge thought about it and decided to drop the idea for now.

That Black-Horned Bull was too far away.

There was a great distance between Yuan Yang City and Mengzi City, with several other cities in between.

Given the current edict from the Plague God Sparrow, the areas around the cities would likely be swarming with Demon Beasts.

The detour around these cities would be too long, but he doubted he could fight his way through them either.

"Then I’ll stick to the plan: keep training and keep eating!"

Zhu Ge confirmed his path forward, then turned to look at Zhu Sisi.

"Sisi, how’s your practice with the Cultivation Technique coming along?"

Zhu Sisi’s Cultivation Technique was called the Nine Heavens Cocoon-Breaking Dragon-Swallowing Technique. It had great potential.

But Zhu Sisi was only a Spirit Realm Demon Beast and hadn’t reached the Transformation Realm yet, so she wasn’t as intelligent as Liu Jianjian. As a result, she couldn’t comprehend the Cultivation Technique as quickly.

"Master, I’ve learned the basics."

Zhu Sisi answered, "Right now, I need to devour mulberry leaves. Only then will I one day be able to devour dragons and serpents."

"Devour mulberry leaves? Fine. You’re in your growth phase anyway, so grow as fast as you can." Zhu Ge nodded. "I’ll go out hunting again. Jianjian, you’re coming with me."

"Huh? Me?" Liu Jianjian pointed to herself and said sheepishly, "I’d rather not. I’ll—I’ll go pick fruit. Yes, that’s right, I’ll go pick fruit!"

"Pick fruit, my ass," Zhu Ge said, speechless. "You’re coming with me. If we find any suitable Demon Beasts, you can take them in. By the way, how many quills have you refined for containment?"

"Three," Liu Jianjian said, looking embarrassed. "The fruit-picking was too intense. I didn’t have time to refine any."

Liu Jianjian’s cheeks were flushed red, making her look quite cute.

"Then we’ll catch three for now." Zhu Ge shot her a glance. "You do nothing but fool around outside all day. From now on, you’ll refine ten quills a day. I’ll be checking."

"Huh? Ten? Even if I don’t eat or drink, the most I can refine is six!" Liu Jianjian’s face immediately fell.

"Then make it eight," Zhu Ge snorted. "All you do is go out, shoot the breeze, and gossip. You don’t have any ability to protect yourself."

"Eight? Fine..." Liu Jianjian put on a long face, but a closer look would reveal the cunning glint in her eyes.

"Also, I’ll be watching you refine them. If you finish all eight without eating or drinking, you’ll train with me. One-on-one combat."

With that, Zhu Ge turned and walked toward the valley entrance. "Let’s go. The hunt begins!"

"Huh? Wait, wait, Master! Can we change that? I can refine twelve!" Liu Jianjian shouted, chasing after Zhu Ge.

However, Zhu Ge usually used the *Incense-Burning Art* to travel, so he was naturally very fast.

Liu Jianjian had also watched Zhu Ge practice his Martial Arts. Zhu Ge had even personally taught her, guiding her hands.

Plus, since Liu Jianjian was a coward who feared death, she paid close attention to such escape-focused Martial Arts.

So, Liu Jianjian was not slow and caught up to Zhu Ge in no time.

"Master, my good Master." Liu Jianjian looked like she was about to squeeze out some tears. "I’ll do ten from now on, okay? Just ten!"

"We’ll see how you perform." Zhu Ge glanced at her.

"You’re naturally timid and a gossiping chatterbox, which has led you to develop the habit of taking potshots from a distance. But you also need to practice fighting with your own body. Otherwise, no one will be able to protect you in the future."

He had subdued Liu Jianjian with close combat in the first place.

Her close-combat ability was, to put it mildly, pathetic!

If this were a game, Zhu Ge might not have bothered strengthening Liu Jianjian’s close-combat skills, instead letting her continue to develop her long-range abilities.

But this was reality!

Survival was their number one priority.

Zhu Ge didn’t want to fight for ages on the front line only to turn around and find his own marksman already dead on the ground.

And when it comes to survival, shoring up weaknesses is more important than amplifying strengths.

It’s like Martial Artists—no matter how strong their bodies are, an attack on their soul can still kill them.

And for those on other paths, no matter how strong their souls are, they can’t survive the destruction of their physical bodies.

Therefore, developing Liu Jianjian’s close-combat ability was very important.

"Close-combat ability..." Liu Jianjian’s face was more bitter than a bitter melon. "This is going to kill me..."

"Don’t worry, we’ll start you off practicing on First Realm Demon Beasts," Zhu Ge said. "Once you get used to it, we’ll move on to Second Realm Demon Beasts."

First Realm Demon Beasts didn’t really have much value for his own training.

They would die after a few whacks, which was pointless.

The best opponents for Zhu Ge to hone his Martial Arts against were still the Second Realm Demon Beasts.

Demon Beasts that had condensed a demonic core were much more durable.

"Alright then..." Seeing no way to change his mind, Liu Jianjian could only resign herself to her fate.

In her heart, however, Liu Jianjian knew that Zhu Ge was doing this for her own good.

So she perked up, no longer dejected.

’I will definitely...’ Liu Jianjian clenched her fists, silently cheering herself on.

WHAM!!!

But the next moment, a massive tail slammed down from the treetop canopy.

CRASH...

Liu Jianjian was sent tumbling away, rolling several times in the mud.

"Where’s your vigilance?" Zhu Ge shook his head. "I remember you being very alert before."

Liu Jianjian scrambled up angrily, glaring at the giant python nearby. "How dare you ambush me?!"

It was this Transformation Realm giant python that had just ambushed her!

The python had been hiding among the trees and seemed to possess an ability to conceal its aura, making it impossible to guard against.

"You dare to defy the orders of the Plague God Sparrow and the Red River Dragon Python?" the giant python hissed, its voice human. Its cold gaze flickered between Zhu Ge and Liu Jianjian. "All of the Human Race must be exterminated. That is the command."

"Why should I listen to those two?" Liu Jianjian retorted without hesitation. "They didn’t give birth to me or raise me. I’ll do whatever I want!"

"Then die!" The giant python’s massive body shot forward, the demonic core at its vital point throbbing violently.

Zhu Ge didn’t move, instead motioning for Liu Jianjian to handle it herself.

Liu Jianjian understood that she had to try. Recalling the Martial Arts techniques Zhu Ge had taught her, like the Five Animals Qigong and the Raging Vajra Palm, she charged forward.

"Tiger Form! Crane Form!"

"Vajra Palm!"

"Aiyoweee! My stomach!"

Demon Qi swirled around Liu Jianjian, but after just a few moves, the giant python swatted her back with its tail. She clutched her stomach, crying out in pain.

"Human Race Martial Arts? You, a hedgehog, are learning Human Race Martial Arts?" The giant python gave a cold laugh, its body coiling around and instantly constricting Liu Jianjian.

Liu Jianjian immediately reverted to her hedgehog form, but Demon Qi surged from the python’s body. When her quills pierced its flesh, it was like sinking into cotton.

"Let me show you the power of my constriction!"

As it spoke, the giant python tightened its coils, squeezing Liu Jianjian’s hedgehog body.

Her hard, long quills didn’t harm the python in the slightest. Instead, the crushing force of its coils was transmitted directly to Liu Jianjian’s body.

Liu Jianjian’s demonic core began to race, and dense Demon Qi covered her entire body.

"AAAAAH! Master, Master, it’s so tight, Master! It hurts!"

Liu Jianjian shrieked, "Save me!"

"Wait, hold on!" A thought suddenly struck Zhu Ge, an idea on the verge of breaking through. "Almost there, it’s coming!"

"What’s coming?" Liu Jianjian asked, confused.

The giant python couldn’t be bothered with Zhu Ge; it just continued to tighten its coils.

Meanwhile, Zhu Ge was intently observing the giant python.

’This python’s way of constricting seems quite formidable. *Five Animals Qigong* has five types of beasts and birds. *Xu Family Rain Swift Fist* is the rain swift.’

’Could I learn a thing or two from this python? Learn its method of constriction?’

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