But the giant python's body was simply too formidable. A layer of earth-yellow light instinctively radiated from its body, enveloping it entirely, making it even tougher—its defenses reaching an absurd level. Even under such intense pounding, the python didn't collapse completely.
ROAR!!
The giant python seemed to regain clarity amidst the relentless battering. With a furious howl, yellow light burst from its body. Suddenly, a fissure opened in the ground beneath it, forming a tunnel, and the python quickly turned and dove underground.
"You want to escape? Get back here!"
Yi Tianxing's eyes glinted coldly. He exerted force through his arms once more, yanking the python right back out of the hole.
ROAR!!
The python's eyes gleamed with ferocity. As it was pulled back out, it let out another roar, unleashing a flood of yellow light in all directions, instantly engulfing Yi Tianxing.
"Gravity!!"
Yi Tianxing immediately sensed a crushing pressure weighing down on him—like a mountain pressing silently into his body, sinking deep into his internal organs. A typical cultivator wouldn't be able to withstand it; their internal organs would be crushed on the spot.
The suddenness of this gravity domain startled even Yi Tianxing. His body trembled slightly.
But the immense power within his flesh forcibly resisted it.
This level of gravity still wasn't enough to suppress him.
"War Spear!!"
With a flash of light, a bronze war spear appeared in his hand. With a swing of his arm, the spear shot forth like a flying bolt, slicing through the air. The weapon contained a fierce Jade-Shattering Spear Intent—its tip radiating a sharp, lethal aura.
It struck directly toward the python's seventh inch—its vital point.
The giant python sensed the fatal threat and tried to dodge, but the war spear was far too fast—so fast its trajectory couldn't even be tracked. There was no time to react. In the blink of an eye, the spear had already reached its target.
The python's body shone with a yellow divine light. Its scales gleamed, its defense pushed to the absolute limit.
PFFT!!
But it was useless.
Before the Jade-Shattering Spear Intent, infused with the worldly energy of the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, the war spear's sharpness became utterly unstoppable.
The yellow light shattered on impact. The spear pierced through the scales with little resistance, driving straight into the python's seventh inch. A surge of violent power and spear intent tore into its body.
ROAR!!
The python raised its head and let out a shrill, heart-wrenching howl. Despair flashed in its eyes. With its vital point struck, it could clearly feel its life force fading rapidly.
The seventh inch—was a snake's vital spot.
With it pierced, all strength drained from its body.
As though every ounce of its power was stripped away. In its desperate roar, there was nothing but hopelessness and unwillingness.
It had never expected Yi Tianxing's body to harbor such terrifying strength—strong enough to rival ferocious beasts. He had even managed to cross a tier to slay a second-tier beast.
The python turned to look at Yi Tianxing one last time. Its eyes were filled with hatred and savage fury.
But soon, the light in its eyes faded completely.
The spear intent that had entered its body—especially through the seventh inch—had extinguished every last trace of vitality.
It was utterly ruthless.
SWISH!!
The python collapsed, motionless.
Yi Tianxing didn't hesitate. With a wave of his hand, he stored the entire python into his tower. This was a second-tier beast—a supreme culinary ingredient. Bringing it back would surely allow for the creation of top-grade delicacies. Wasting even a morsel would be criminal.
This entire battle, from beginning to end, hadn't taken more than three or four minutes. Every exchange was like a lightning strike—each move meant life or death. Victory or defeat was decided in an instant.
So fast that most cultivators couldn't even react before it was all over.
But the intensity of that battle remained etched in everyone's minds. Witnessing a second-tier beast being beaten to death by a single cultivator left them deeply shaken.
Some couldn't even close their gaping mouths.
"He just… killed that python like it was nothing. Was that real?"
"I saw it too. The aura that python gave off was terrifying. Standing before it felt like being a boat in a stormy sea, moments from capsizing. That was no first-tier beast. I'd bet it was second-tier—equivalent to a cultivator in the Life Aperture Realm. And it got killed just like that."
"What a brutal style. He actually swung the python around and slammed it into the ground. Is he a barbarian? How can someone's physical strength be that overwhelming? Who the hell is this guy?"
"Yi Tianxing—the Lord of Xuanhuang Town. I saw him at Dragon Gate Inn. I didn't expect him to be this terrifying. In battle, the aura he exuded was suffocating—so intense you wouldn't even dare meet his gaze."
Gasps of astonishment rippled through the crowd.
Someone had recognized Yi Tianxing and was stunned by his strength.
RUMBLE!!
The ground trembled.
Scorpionmen warriors began emerging from underground, one after another.
At their front stood Mojie, leading the charge. The number of Scorpionmen was rapidly growing.
"Yi Tianxing, hand over the Xuanhuang Jade. It's the perfect offering for the Demon God. If you dare say no, I'll show you the might of the Scorpionmen army and tear you to shreds."
Mojie sneered as he looked at Yi Tianxing.
Even after witnessing the death of the python, he didn't flinch.
His confidence came from both his own strength and the massive Scorpionmen army behind him. With such power at his back, he believed no one could oppose him. All enemies would be crushed.
This was his source of confidence.
On the battlefield, there was only life and death. Nothing else mattered.
"Hmph. Mojie, I'm not fighting you today. If you want the Xuanhuang Jade, come to Xuanhuang Town and get it. I'll be waiting for you there. Try and kill me. Let's see if you've got what it takes to make me hand over my treasure."
Yi Tianxing's voice was ice-cold. "So what if I took the treasure? It's mine now. I have the strength, so I claim it. If you want it, bring your life to exchange for it. Kill me, and it's yours. If you can't, then prepare for rivers of blood to flow under the walls of my Xuanhuang Town."
His tone was unyielding.
One sentence: Fight. Let's see who backs down.
SWISH!!
With a thought, a space gate emerged from the Hongmeng Heavenly Emperor Tower, appearing beside him.
This gate shimmered with silver light—an ancient, mystical portal swirling with mysterious vortexes, seemingly connected to far-off lands.
"I will raze Xuanhuang Town to the ground. Every human in it will die. Not even grass will remain," Mojie bellowed in rage as Yi Tianxing activated the gate.
"I'll be waiting!!" Yi Tianxing shot back coldly without turning around.
"Wait for me, Daoist Yi—it's me, Zhiqiu!"
At that moment, two figures burst forward—it was Ye Zhiqiu and the Monk Huahua. Seeing that Yi Tianxing was about to leave, they immediately chased after him.
SWISH!!
Yi Tianxing paused briefly. As the two caught up, he brought them into the space gate.
A flash of silver—and all three figures vanished.
Even the space gate disappeared as if it had never existed. But Yi Tianxing and the others were truly gone.
"A space gate… teleportation technique… I didn't expect him to have such a card up his sleeve. He escaped today, but he won't be able to run forever. Xuanhuang Town will be destroyed. Everyone wants that jade. It's not just me. Beasts, monsters, strong cultivators—none will let it go. It's only a matter of time."
Mojie's eyes glinted coldly.
The appearance of the space gate had shattered his plans to capture Yi Tianxing today.
But he wasn't giving up. He knew full well that the battle for the Xuanhuang Jade had only just begun. The whole world would be drawn into this storm.
He could already envision the chaos descending upon Xuanhuang Town—it would become the eye of the storm, doomed to destruction.
The lure of a supreme treasure was simply too great.
Just one look at the jade, and you could tell it was no ordinary item. No one would give it up easily.
"Move out! Head to Xuanhuang Town!"
Mojie coldly glanced at the spot where Yi Tianxing had stood. With a single command, the Scorpionmen warriors burrowed back into the ground and vanished—sealing the tunnels behind them.
They were gone.
Only then did the surrounding cultivators erupt into a buzz of voices.
"What a domineering town lord. To speak like that to the Scorpionmen—so satisfying! At last, someone from the human race who won't back down from the foreign tribes!"
"I'm going to Xuanhuang Town! With a leader like that, he's bound to build a new home for our people. There's going to be a war. I want to help. We're all human—how can I sit this out?"