Chapter 143 - 140: Young Master Qingjiang, Ice Python

A tremendous sound erupted from the bottom of the ship, causing the entire Fish Dragon to shudder violently.

This was astonishing. The Fish Dragon was nearly the size of a small mountain; the power required to shake such a massive vessel was terrifying.

BAM! BAM! BAM!

It was the muffled, heavy sound of a behemoth ramming the hull. Many of the Martial Artists on board felt the vibrations through their feet, their bodies nearly bouncing off the deck.

In that instant, everyone’s expression changed as the same thought crossed their minds.

"Could it be those beasts?"

Li Shiyu’s delicate brows furrowed. She seemed to know something as well.

"What is it?" Ning Jiang asked.

"Water-Split Pythons. A type of Demon Beast unique to the Qingjiang River," Li Shiyu explained.

Ning Jiang nodded, not finding it particularly strange. The Qingjiang River was immense, splitting the entire Cyan Cloud Country in two. This vast river was more than a hundred times larger than the Demon Mist Mountain Range outside Luoyang City.

It would be stranger if a river this large were perfectly calm and devoid of any Demon Beasts.

"Judging from the commotion, this Water-Split Python must be at least at the Innate Peak," Li Shiyu said with a frown.

Her gaze swept over the Fu Family’s experts, who all wore grave expressions.

Demon Beasts were inherently stronger than Martial Artists due to their physically powerful bodies. Under normal circumstances, it would take three Martial Artists to deal with a Demon Beast of the same level.

Furthermore, they were in the middle of the great river, giving the Water-Split Python a geographical advantage. Even five or six Martial Artists of the same level might not be able to handle it.

"Everyone, if there are any Innate Peak Martial Artists among you, we ask for your assistance! The Fu Family will reward you handsomely afterward!"

At this moment, the Fu Family expert had no time to bother with Ning Jiang.

There were a total of four Innate Peak experts from the Fu Family on the ship, but they were stretched thin against a Water-Split Python that held a territorial advantage.

"Of course."

"I’ll help too."

"Hehe, if there’s a handsome reward, then I won’t be polite."

Three more Peak Innate experts stepped forward from among the passengers.

"Alright, let’s go down."

With a command from the leading Fu Family expert, the seven of them leaped off the Fish Dragon. Standing on the surface of the river, they looked toward the bottom of the ship and, sure enough, saw a massive Black Shadow repeatedly ramming the hull.

"Hmph, that damn beast. Good thing this ship is built sturdy. An ordinary vessel would have been pierced through in a single hit."

The Fu Family experts were both shocked and furious.

Then, at the leader’s command, the seven Peak Innate experts all unleashed their Innate Gang Qi. They launched their strongest Martial Techniques, aiming to shred the Water-Split Python under the ship.

SHIIING!

Before their sharp Innate Gang Qi, the river water parted. The attacks landed on the Water-Split Python, leaving a few faint scratches on its body.

’What a tough body.’

If these attacks had struck a Martial Artist, they would have been sliced in two long ago. Yet, on the Water-Split Python, they were nothing more than faint scratches with almost no effect.

ROAR!

The Water-Split Python let out a roar, its body twisting as it burst out of the river.

Suddenly, everyone saw a colossal python. This Water-Split Python was over twenty zhang long, its scales the size of human heads, glistening and black. Its enormous head held two eyes that shot out a cold, vicious light, utterly merciless.

"Kill it!"

The seven Peak Innate experts roared and attacked simultaneously, surrounding the Water-Split Python.

BOOM—

An astonishing battle erupted on the river’s surface, sending massive waves crashing in all directions.

The many Martial Artists on the ship watched, mesmerized, wishing they could join the fight themselves.

The seven experts were all formidable, their skills extraordinary. Though the fight was strenuous, their combined efforts gradually began to suppress the Water-Split Python.

’If nothing unexpected happens, repelling this Water-Split Python shouldn’t be a problem.’

Just as the Martial Artists on the ship began to breathe a sigh of relief, the situation took a sudden, shocking turn.

BOOM!

Before everyone’s stunned eyes, the river’s surface exploded, and a pillar of water shot into the sky.

Another Water-Split Python had appeared. This one was even larger than the first, its aura far more terrifying.

"This one must be close to the Innate Limit, right?"

"What rotten luck! Water-Split Pythons are usually solitary. Since these two are together, they must be a pair."

A chill ran down everyone’s spines as they cursed their misfortune. One Water-Split Python was manageable, but against two, they had no chance of victory.

"I don’t want to die yet, I’m getting out of here!"

In the face of imminent disaster, the darker side of human nature was revealed.

Some Martial Artists planned to abandon the ship. They could just forego the boat trip. As long as they could get to shore and far away from the Qingjiang River, their lives would be safe.

"AHH!"

A scream rang out. Just as some Martial Artists leaped onto the river’s surface to flee by treading on water, several smaller Water-Split Pythons suddenly shot out and devoured them whole.

"Dammit, this must be a whole nest!"

All the Martial Artists on the ship turned pale. It seemed the two large Water-Split Pythons had produced a brood.

"Dammit! Are we going to die here today?"

"I’m still young! I don’t want to die!"

Many of the Martial Artists panicked. Most had never faced such a life-or-death threat before, and they fell into disarray as disaster struck.

In this situation, fewer than ten percent of the people managed to remain calm.

’Fine, I’ll help them out this once,’ Ning Jiang thought, preparing to intervene.

The Fu Family members had been disrespectful to him, and he couldn’t care less if they lived or died. However, most of the Martial Artists on the ship were innocent.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch them die.

Just as he raised his hand, about to strike...

Suddenly, SHIIING!

A massive Halberd Aura several dozen zhang long cleaved down from the sky. It was immense, tearing through everything in its path.

Before this single strike, the massive body of one of the two large Water-Split Pythons seemed fragile. It was instantly split in two, and a torrent of blood gushed out, dyeing the river red.

"Who is that?"

Everyone stared in shock.

They saw a young man streaking toward them through the air above the river, moving as fast as lightning. His speed carved a trench in the water’s surface, parting the waves on either side.

The young man, dressed in black and strikingly handsome, wielded a Fangtian Halberd.

"That weapon is..." One of the Martial Artists realized something and instantly cried out, "It’s Young Master Qingjiang, ranked third among the Nine Great Young Masters!"

"Yes, it must be Young Master Qingjiang! We’re saved!"

"Hahaha! Heaven never seals all exits! With Young Master Qingjiang here, these few Water-Split Pythons are nothing to fear."

Young Master Qingjiang, Jiang Yunfei. Ranked third among the Nine Great Young Masters and fifteenth on the Innate List, his fame shook Cyan Cloud Country.

The Jiang Family he belonged to also had an extraordinary background. They were a Noble Family with a deep and powerful heritage.

In the Qingjiang region, the Jiang Family was even known as the Master of Qingjiang. The family had long been active on the river, earning Primordial Stones by transporting various goods and Martial Artists, as well as hunting the Demon Beasts within.

Their fleets were filled with experts, making them the undisputed overlords of the Qingjiang River, whom no one dared to provoke.

"Die."

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Yunfei arrived. The Fangtian Halberd in his hand was incredibly domineering. With each swing, a sharp Halberd Aura cleaved through everything, effortlessly slaying all the Water-Split Pythons.

’So strong.’

Aboard the great ship, many Martial Artists were captivated. Such power was what countless people yearned for and pursued.

The younger generation of Martial Artists, in particular, looked on with deep admiration.

Young Master Qingjiang was a top-level figure among the younger generation of Cyan Cloud Country, a commanding presence admired by countless people.

In contrast, Li Shiyu’s expression was calm, her thoughts elsewhere.

’No matter how powerful Young Master Qingjiang is, he can’t compare to Ning Jiang.’

’The old Patriarch of the Huangfu Family, ranked twelfth on the Innate List, was no match for Ning Jiang at all. What chance would Young Master Qingjiang have?’

"Thank you for saving us, Young Master Qingjiang. We are eternally grateful."

The members of the Fu Family bowed respectfully to Jiang Yunfei.

With Jiang Yunfei’s power, even their own Fu Family Patriarch would have to treat him with courtesy and not dare to be neglectful.

"It was nothing, a trivial matter. My Jiang Family’s fleet happened to be nearby. I heard the commotion and came to take a look," Jiang Yunfei said nonchalantly.

"By the way, have you seen any Ice Pythons during your voyage?" Jiang Yunfei asked the Fu Family members.

"Ice Pythons? We haven’t. If I may ask, Young Master Qingjiang, has something happened?" the Fu Family expert asked, startled.

"Hmph. One of my Jiang Family’s ships was attacked by an Ice Python, resulting in heavy casualties. I am currently hunting it. If you have any information, provide it to me, and I will reward you generously," Jiang Yunfei snorted coldly.

"An Ice Python!"

"To be able to attack a Jiang Family ship and cause so many casualties, that Ice Python must be a Demon Beast that has reached the Innate Limit."

Hearing this name, the crowd of Martial Artists was shocked.

"You know about Ice Pythons too?" Ning Jiang asked, noticing the strange look on Li Shiyu’s face.

Li Shiyu nodded and began to explain. "The appearance of these Ice Pythons is very strange. Originally, there were no such Demon Beasts in the Qingjiang River. The only serpentine Demon Beast was the Water-Split Python."

"But sixteen years ago, some Ice Pythons suddenly appeared in the Qingjiang River. At that time, many of Cyan Cloud Country’s great ships were attacked by them, and many Martial Artists were killed or injured."

"Some people speculated at the time that these Ice Pythons might have evolved from Water-Split Pythons. After that, the major experts of Cyan Cloud Country organized a Great Python Hunt and joined forces to slaughter the Ice Pythons en masse, which alleviated the situation."

"Of course, it was impossible to kill them all. It’s normal for a few to have slipped through the net."

’Sixteen years ago?’ Hearing this, Ning Jiang grew thoughtful. Wasn’t it sixteen years ago that he had appeared on the Qingjiang River and been found by Ning Changfeng?

’Could there be some kind of rare treasure beneath the Qingjiang River?’

Ning Jiang speculated privately. Others might not understand the reason for the Ice Pythons’ sudden appearance, but as a Legendary Venerable from a hundred thousand years ago, Ning Jiang was vastly knowledgeable. He knew that certain rare treasures of heaven and earth could indeed cause Demon Beasts to evolve.

"Oh no, the hull is breached! The ship is going to sink!"

Suddenly, the Martial Artists on the Fish Dragon cried out in alarm.