Seeing the opponent close in, Li Yan had no choice but to immediately switch the Li Fire Profound Yellow Fan to his left hand. His right hand formed a palm and chopped fiercely at the green tail sweeping towards him.
This action brought a sneer to the Rhino-Horned Green Python's eyes. This cultivator was actually engaging him in close combat. Earlier, when they first met, they had a brief exchange. At that time, even with a magical treasure, the opponent had been sent flying back by his punch. Now, he was using his bare palm. One sweep of its tail would surely break this human cultivator's bones and turn him into a bloody mist.
"Die... for me!" The Rhino-Horned Green Python squeezed out a few words from the corner of its mouth.
In its mind, the fan-shaped magical treasure must have lost most of its spiritual nature after losing its blood river and artifact spirit, which was why this human cultivator no longer dared to block with it.
The toughness of the Rhino-Horned Green Python's physical body was number one on this second level of the pagoda; no other demonic beast would dare to contest that. It couldn't help but put a few more degrees of force into its tail. It was just that its tail had a large hole pecked in it by that damn Crimson Crow earlier. As it whipped it with great force, besides a "whoosh," there was also the sharp whistle of wind passing through the hole, which for a moment added to its impressive momentum.
In an instant, the Rhino-Horned Green Python's tail and Li Yan's palm collided. The next moment, the python's savage face suddenly changed. Its features twisted rapidly as it let out a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering howl that was heard for a hundred li. Even the great mountain before them trembled a few times, and many broken rocks and shrubs slid down the slope.
Because the moment Li Yan's palm chopped onto its tail, the green tail, which had been carrying a world-destroying momentum, had been split open by a bloody gash half a foot deep. Even the bone within had been cut with a deep mark. An arrow of blood shot out from the wound.
Li Yan dodged sideways. At this time, the Li Fire Profound Yellow Fan in his left hand was gone. His left hand quickly flicked up, like playing a pipa. His five fingers separated in sequence and slashed towards the Rhino-Horned Green Python's neck.
Under the sudden blow, although the Rhino-Horned Green Python was stunned for a moment, with its cultivation and hundreds of years of combat experience, it reacted almost instantly. It was clear that the human cultivator before it had planned this long ago. Otherwise, how could he have erupted with such abnormal combat power and caught it off guard?
Seeing Li Yan's five fingers already slashing at its neck, it was too late to bring its hands back to defend. The Rhino-Horned Green Python roared, its back suddenly arched, its upper body bent backward, and its head tilted forward. In an instant, it nodded its head fiercely. It didn't dodge, but instead lowered its head with the shortest possible distance, as if to clamp Li Yan's five fingers between its chin and neck, preventing him from slashing, or perhaps to hit Li Yan's fingers with its forehead.
Li Yan didn't care what it did. Since he had launched his attack, he would give it his all, not giving the opponent a chance to breathe. Li Yan only felt a jolt at his fingertips as a great force was transmitted. Just then, the Rhino-Horned Green Python's forehead collided with Li Yan's fingers. And right in the center of its forehead, an upward-tilting, curved horn appeared, much like a rhinoceros horn.
This horn erupted with a golden light. Reflected against the Rhino-Horned Green Python's entirely green body, it looked unusually divine. The force from the horn was great, but it didn't break Li Yan's five fingers with one blow as the python had imagined.
The Rhino-Horned Green Python only felt a sharp pain in its horn, causing it to let out a pained howl. This was the second time today it had cried out in pain.
One must know that the horn was its innate ability. The golden light it released could split gold and shatter mountains. A great peak like the one in front of this pool, it could easily ram into the mountain's core, let alone using the horn at such a close distance. This was when the power of the horn's golden light was at its greatest.
But in the collision just now, it had only slowed Li Yan's five fingers for a moment. It didn't send them flying back as easily as before. Instead, the five fingers continued their slash. The light on its horn was cut open, and an even sharper force struck the horn itself beneath the golden light, leaving a deep finger mark on it.
And with this brief collision, the Rhino-Horned Green Python's hands had already returned to its chest. But in its intense pain, it couldn't help but lower its head and retreat. Yet, its fists shot out like two dragons emerging from the water, blasting forward with unstoppable momentum.
As the Rhino-Horned Green Python's arms twisted, the space in front of it distorted. It caused the nearby trees to shake wildly, and the water in the pool below to erupt into the sky like boiling water. Even the unconscious woman on the other side of the pool was pushed several zhang away by the gale from the fists.
Facing the Rhino-Horned Green Python's double-dragon-like attack, Li Yan, meeting it head-on, had a wooden expression. He also let out a loud shout, brought his fists to his chest, and at the same time, though his feet were on empty air, he took an inch-step as if stepping on solid ground. A cracking sound came from the empty space under his feet. Using the momentum, he also shot out his fists flatly, crashing straight into the Rhino-Horned Green Python's fists. This was the first time since he started cultivating that Li Yan had clashed head-on with someone. It was truly a rare sight.
Seeing Li Yan actually clashing with him, although Li Yan had erupted with abnormal combat power just now, the Rhino-Horned Green Python still couldn't believe its eyes. It had used twelve-tenths of its strength in its fists.
With the Rhino-Horned Green Python's physical body being comparable to that of an initial-stage Golden Core, it had only ever met two other people with similarly strong bodies in the same rank. Both were monks. But after a fight, the result was one win and one draw. The time it won, although it heavily injured the monk, it also suffered minor injuries itself, and the monk escaped.
The time it drew, the enemy was a Foundation Establishment stage ascetic monk. Neither side gained an advantage, at best it was an even match. Today, the Rhino-Horned Green Python had even materialized its horn, yet it was still injured by the opponent's five fingers. The Rhino-Horned Green Python believed it hadn't used its full strength in its haste. How could it be reconciled?
The two simultaneously shot out their arms, and they immediately collided. This time, the Rhino-Horned Green Python poured all its demonic power into its fists, determined to kill Li Yan in one blow. The pained look on its face had not yet faded and was already mixed with ferocious savagery. The golden horn on its forehead also flashed with light. With another loud "boom," the pool water that had just scattered around once again erupted from the pool.
Amidst the explosion, a figure grunted and was sent flying backward. It was the Rhino-Horned Green Python. At this moment, its arms hung limply. Its sleeves had been shattered into a thousand butterflies. On its bare, thick arms, countless small wounds had opened up. Under the force of the qi and blood in its body, blood shot out in streams. The Rhino-Horned Green Python's face first showed a daze, which was then quickly replaced by disbelief.
Li Yan, however, took several steps forward, quickly catching up. Each step he took on the empty air produced a booming sound. The moment his figure closed in, his right hand, with a sharp whistle, like chopping or hanging, smashed down on its head. A fierce glint appeared in the Rhino-Horned Green Python's eyes. The golden light from the horn on its forehead flared, spreading out in ripples. Li Yan's fist smashed onto it. This time, it only produced a soft "pop." Li Yan's fist was sent bouncing high, while the Rhino-Horned Green Python itself was sent plummeting downwards. The golden ripples on its horn instantly collapsed by more than half.
In its descent, the Rhino-Horned Green Python spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, its face turning deathly pale. It looked up and stared fiercely at Li Yan, who had taken another step and was rapidly descending. Its body suddenly changed direction and shot towards the dense forest. As it left, it glanced at the beautiful woman on the ground in the distance.
At the same time, its hoarse voice came out: "Brat, you were hiding your strength! What a schemer! I hope we meet again."
Li Yan had ended up in a close-quarters brawl with it. They were too close. Although it wanted to fly over and take the woman, that kid was sticking too close. If it hesitated for a moment, it would inevitably have to clash with the opponent again. Now, it had developed a fear of Li Yan's formidable strength. It even began to suspect if the opponent was also some kind of demonic beast in disguise.
After leaving the harsh words, the Rhino-Horned Green Python accelerated again. Another stream of blood immediately overflowed from the corner of its mouth. To quickly put distance between them, it had forcibly changed direction twice in mid-flight and used its maximum demonic power. Already injured, its abdomen felt like it was being twisted by a knife, and its qi and blood churned.
Li Yan pursued downwards. The opponent suddenly made a turn, then another large-angled turn. Without using the Cloud-Piercing Willow, he had already been left a dozen zhang behind. So, Li Yan slowed his pace, gave a cold smile to the Rhino-Horned Green Python who had turned back to shout at him, and slowly stopped his pursuit. He watched as the opponent flickered a few more times and disappeared into the forest.
Only then did Li Yan slowly withdraw his gaze. He then glanced around, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally, before preparing to leave. But just as he was about to leave, he seemed to hesitate and looked at the beautiful woman on the ground in the distance. After a moment's thought, his figure turned and arrived at where the woman was.
At this time, the beautiful woman's cheeks were as red as rouge, her skin like snow. Her eyes were full of spring, her demeanor alluring. Her red lips were like fire, letting out soft moans. It was just that her movements had been sealed by the Rhino-Horned Green Python. So, although her eyes begged with desire and her lips panted slightly, she was unable to move.
During the explosive confrontation between the Rhino-Horned Green Python and Li Yan earlier, the sky had been filled with water from the pool. After the water fell, it had drenched her completely. Her exquisite curves were on full display, her skin semi-transparent. Her already full figure looked even more ripe and enchanting.
After standing by the side of the pool, a flash of heat also crossed Li Yan's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. It was just that in his momentary distraction, Li Yan didn't notice that the woman's appearance had changed from their two previous encounters; she was several times more beautiful.
In this state, he couldn't just pick her up and leave. Li Yan had no choice but to sweep his large sleeve, transforming into a gust of light wind, and disappear with the beautiful woman in tow.
Not long after Li Yan left, four or five figures flashed out from the distant forest. They all had impressive cultivation, two women and three men.
"Senior Brother, what is this person's cultivation? Is he a Golden Core stage senior?" a young man in a white robe, about twenty years old, asked in a low voice, looking in the direction Li Yan had disappeared.
"It's hard to say. Maybe a peak initial-stage Golden Core. That Rhino-Horned Green Python is the overlord of this Green Python Forest, yet it was beaten until it coughed up blood in just a few moves. But the aura fluctuation from his body was very weak. Strange, truly strange. He is a Body Cultivator, no doubt. Which sect's Body Cultivator is he? Senior Brother Yiming, your magic power is profound, and you've seen countless people. Your Jingtu Sect is the strongest body cultivation sect in this world. Can you tell what kind of body tempering cultivation method this person cultivates?"
At this time, another person, about thirty years old, with a fair complexion and also in a white robe, spoke, asking a person next to him. The middle-aged man in the white robe had also impressively reached the Pseudo-Core realm.