Chapter 163. Head-on Clash
Cailin was, after all, the leader of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan. She had never been a soft target for others to knead and bully at will.
After hearing Chu Feng's words, she instantly recovered the queenly aura that truly belonged to her.
After all, Cailin could fear Chu Feng because she had seen with her own eyes just how powerful he was. But when it came to Shi Ritian of the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan, Cailin knew better than anyone that he was, in truth, nothing more than a blustering fool who borrowed the might of others to throw his weight around.
So Chu Feng's words had thoroughly awakened her.
Cailin immediately clenched her fists, and the fury in her heart burst forth at once.
From the very beginning, Cailin had already harbored resentment toward Chu Feng's actions. She felt that if not for him, she would never have ended up in such a state.
But she had no power to resist Chu Feng, so she could only endure it all this time. Toward Shi Ritian, however, she had not the slightest intention of showing any tolerance.
And with Chu Feng's earlier words fanning the flames, the anger she had long held toward the Dragon Clan was stirred up completely.
Thus, just as the member of the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan believed he had victory in his grasp and had perfectly humiliated Cailin, Cailin suddenly lowered both palms, and a strand of energy burst forth.
On the surface, that force appeared quiet and unremarkable, but in reality, it had gathered the most primal power of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan.
What set the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan apart from the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan was that their primal power took the form of venom.
This venom was one of the Heaven-Devouring Python Clan's secret arts. It was completely transparent in color.
Once someone was contaminated by it, they would be utterly trapped within the venom, and there was no way to neutralize it.
There were all kinds of ways to release this venom. It could seep from the tip of the tongue, or it could erupt from the palms through spiritual power.
Perhaps because Shi Ritian was too arrogant and conceited, he had completely ignored Cailin's power. Once she had prepared her venom, she immediately raised both hands and shoved forward with all her might, sending it hurtling toward Shi Ritian...
She had thought that this time everything would proceed flawlessly, that she could use the refined venom within her body to trap Shi Ritian completely.
But to her surprise, when her venom spread toward Shi Ritian like a great net, Shi Ritian displayed an astonishing power of control over water and wind.
He merely lifted one arm and waved it lightly, and a massive curtain of rain appeared before him, perfectly blocking all of the venom.
The key point was that the venom stuck to the curtain of rain as though it had been absorbed into it. It did not fall away at all, but clung tightly to the watery veil as if the two had fused together.
Cailin was still feeling puzzled when Shi Ritian suddenly let out a burst of laughter.
"Hahaha, did you really think these petty tricks of yours could still deal with me now? Didn't I already tell you? I have already reached the Fifth Level of the Self-Severing Realm. In this world, there are probably very few people left who can contend with me. And yet your Heaven-Devouring Python Clan, with these paltry little tricks that cannot even be brought to the table, still dares to flaunt them before me. How laughable."
At that, Shi Ritian burst into laughter once more. But as he laughed, the curve of his mouth grew colder and colder, and even his gaze turned icy.
"Cailin, oh Cailin, this matter should not have involved you in the first place. But since you are so foolish, then you cannot blame me. Doesn't your Heaven-Devouring Python Clan love using this kind of venom to harm others? In that case, today I will let you personally have a taste of your own venom."
As Shi Ritian spoke, he flexed his dragon claws, his expression utterly calm and composed, as though he were discussing something trivial.
...
Cailin, however, was utterly speechless. She knew far too well what those words meant.
"You shameless thing, what exactly are you trying to do? As the saying goes, one must not harm one's own kin.
What, are you really planning to deal with me here today? Though our Heaven-Devouring Python Clan may indeed be inferior to your Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan, we still have our own standing within the Ancient Royal Clan. If you dare kill me, how will you answer to our elders? How will you answer to the Ancient Royal Clan?
Aren't you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself?
Or do you really think that because you are so favored, your royal father will do nothing to you no matter what you do?
Let me tell you the truth. In the face of interest, your life means nothing. When the time comes, they might even offer you up as a sacrifice to the heavens."
Cailin was truly enraged, so her voice was especially loud.
This was completely different from the weak little white rabbit she had seemed to be in front of Chu Feng before. Even Chu Feng, who was watching from the side, could not help revealing a hint of interest when he saw this.
Perhaps because Cailin spoke with such seriousness, she actually managed to startle Shi Ritian for a moment.
But who was Shi Ritian?
Ever since childhood, Shi Ritian had always been able to command the wind and summon the rain. He had never failed to obtain anything he wanted. So after hearing Cailin's words, although he had indeed frozen for an instant at first, he quickly recovered.
Shi Ritian soon returned to that grinning expression of his. The look in his eyes as he stared at Cailin was casual and full of mockery.
"Oh? Is that so? What I do not understand is this: how can a lowly third-rate clan like yours possibly compare to prodigies like us? So what if I really kill you? Within the Ancient Royal Clan, there are countless lowly clans like yours. Do you really think they would harm me for your sake? I carry one of the Ancient Royal Clan's purest spiritual bloodlines. Still, what you said has reminded me of something. If I do not kill you today, it would seem rather inappropriate. Otherwise, if word gets out, wouldn't both I, Shi Ritian, and the Dragon-Elephant Giant Spirit Clan lose all face?"
In the next instant, Shi Ritian stopped wasting words. He coiled his entire body into a tight mass, and the dragon scales covering him began to flash with deep blue light.
At that moment, every single dragon scale seemed to have been imbued with life.
Cailin did not know what Shi Ritian intended to do, but she merely raised her head and said without the slightest fear, "Good, very good. It seems your confidence really has grown. In that case, let the two of us have a proper match."
Shi Ritian shouted, "Ignorant fool! Today I will show you what the Fifth Level of the Self-Severing Realm truly means. I will make sure you do not even know how you died. But for the sake of the little connection between us, once you have completely fallen, I will naturally take good care of your Heaven-Devouring Python Clan for you. So you can go in peace."
After hearing those words, Cailin could not help frowning, but deep down she was still rather confident in her own strength.
Yet in the very next moment, a strand of lightning burst from Shi Ritian's dragon claws and began slashing relentlessly toward Cailin.