The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 215 Escaping the Python's Maw in the Deep Abyss on the North Shore and Seeking Help

A month after arriving at Fengyu Mountain, the group remained highly vigilant.

Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin were both awake for longer and longer periods of time, and Luo Yifei and the others finally figured out what had happened after Elder Qingsong and his group left Fengyu Mountain.

Fengyu Mountain is located in the southern sea area of ​​the Southern Han Kingdom, separated from Beihai County by a bottomless strait.

a month ago.

Elder Qingsong, along with Huang Yuyan, Zhou Jin, and Haiyang, three disciples of the Xuantian Sect, headed to the north shore of Fengyu Island, planning to cross the strait and enter the mainland interior of the Southern Han Kingdom.

Elder Qingsong originally intended to use his flying boat to cross the strait, but unexpectedly, there was a formation restriction in the sky above, which would block people and magical artifacts when they arrived at high altitudes.

That day, they had just arrived at the edge of the cliffs on the north shore of Wind Whisper Island, with the bottomless strait with its surging, dark waves right below them.

Elder Qingsong carefully observed the surroundings for a moment, and after confirming that there was nothing unusual, he took out an exquisitely crafted, date-shaped flying boat from his sleeve. As he made hand seals and chanted incantations, the flying boat grew longer in the wind, transforming into a length of about ten feet, and hovered steadily a few feet above the ground.

"Board the ship," Elder Qingsong said in a deep voice, taking the lead on the deck of the flying ship. Huang Yuyan, Zhou Jin, and Haiyang followed closely behind.

The airship took off smoothly, and everything went well at first.

However, just as the airship rose to a height of about 100 feet, barely passing the highest point of the cliff and preparing to accelerate towards the other side of the strait, a sudden change occurred!

As if it had crashed into an invisible, viscous barrier, the airship shuddered violently, and its forward momentum came to an abrupt halt!

Immediately afterwards, countless fine golden lines lit up the previously clear sky, like a giant spider web that instantly spread out, covering the entire expanse of the firmament as far as the eye could see. These lines were not static, but rather flowed and flickered rapidly like living things, radiating a terrifyingly powerful pressure. An overwhelming and irresistible repulsive force pressed in from all directions, causing the azure spiritual light on the surface of the flying boat to flicker violently, emitting a creaking sound as it was pushed backward by this force, almost losing its balance and falling!

"Not good! It's an anti-air formation!" Elder Qingsong's expression changed drastically. He shouted in a low voice, his hands moving rapidly as he unleashed several solid spells into the core of the flying boat. The flying boat shone brightly with azure light, barely managing to stabilize itself before the golden light net, but it could no longer advance an inch.

"Elder!" Huang Yuyan exclaimed, quickly moving closer with Zhou Jin, each channeling their spiritual energy to protect themselves and a corner of the flying boat. Haiyang, his face pale, gripped the gunwale tightly, steadying himself as he stared in horror at the golden net of light that enveloped the heavens and earth.

Elder Qingsong frowned, attempting to control the flying boat to slowly descend. Sure enough, as the altitude decreased, the golden light patterns gradually dimmed and dissipated, and the powerful repulsive force receded like the tide, restoring the sky to its azure blue. When the flying boat returned to a height of less than fifty feet above the sea, all obstacles disappeared.

"What a powerful formation!" Zhou Jin looked at the seemingly calm sky above with lingering fear. "It covers such a wide area and is so powerful that it is definitely not something that an ordinary cultivator could set up."

Elder Qingsong nodded solemnly, his gaze fixed on the hazy outline of the land on the opposite shore: "It seems that crossing this gorge by air is not an option. This restriction... is probably an ancient relic, specifically designed to block the sky over this sea area. Therefore, the only way is to travel by flying boat across the sea."

Elder Qingsong simply stopped the flying boat on the sea.

However, though the sea appears calm on the surface, turbulent currents are actually raging beneath.

As soon as the airship landed, it swayed slightly with the undulating waves, a stark contrast to its stable flight in the air. The inky black seawater churned around the hull, as if countless eyes were peering into the abyss, exuding an unsettling and chilling aura.

"Everyone, be careful and keep your balance," Elder Qingsong warned, his sharp gaze sweeping across the surrounding sea. He steered the flying boat close to the surface, cautiously heading towards the opposite shore along the strait. Its speed was far slower than flying, but this was the only way.

At first, things went smoothly, with only the rocking of the waves testing everyone's balance. Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin stood on either side, vigilantly observing the movements of the sea and sky. Haiyang, on the other hand, tried to adapt to the swaying sensation, which was different from flying; his palms were slightly sweaty, but he still forced himself to remain calm.

However, just as the airship reached the deepest part of the strait, another unexpected event occurred!

"Woo——"

A deep, resonant groan, as if emanating from the deepest depths of hell, pierced the seawater, vibrated the air, and reached the very core of everyone's being. Immediately afterward, the sea in front of the flying boat exploded open, a massive column of water shooting skyward! Amidst the splashing water, a colossal, suffocatingly dark shadow burst forth from the water, bringing with it a torrent of salty, foul rain.

It was a colossal serpent covered entirely in dark scales! Its head resembled a small hill, and its two lantern-like vertical pupils gleamed with a cold, bloodthirsty, dark red light, fixed intently on the flying boat on the sea. It opened its massive maw, revealing a forest of sharp teeth, and a pungent, foul stench assaulted the senses, accompanied by a chilling hiss that sent shivers down one's spine.

"A deep-sea serpent!" Elder Qingsong's pupils contracted, and he shouted sharply, "Protect the flying boat and prepare to meet the enemy! This beast is ferocious; do not be fooled by its hiss!"

Elder Qingsong's roar was like a thunderclap, instantly jolting everyone awake from the terrifying hiss of the serpent. The shadow of death had already descended, the stench of blood was pungent, and the gaping maw of the abyss seemed poised to swallow the flying ship and the entire sea whole!

"Control!" Elder Qingsong's hair and beard bristled as he unleashed his immense spiritual power into the core of the flying boat. The azure light on the surface of the flying boat suddenly intensified, instantly condensing into a thick spiritual shield that narrowly protected the entire boat just before the giant jaws closed in!

"Thump—thump!"

The serpent's ferocious head slammed into the azure light barrier, producing a dull, thunderous roar like a giant drum. The light barrier twisted and rippled violently, like the surface of a lake tossed with a boulder, spreading visible energy ripples. Its spiritual light flickered and dimmed, instantly losing more than half its brightness, emitting a teeth-grinding groan, as if it were about to completely collapse at any moment! The overwhelming impact caused the flying boat to plunge downwards, then be tossed high into the air by the surging waves, tilting and capsizing, almost capsizing!

"Stop!" Huang Yuyan's face turned deathly pale, but she suppressed her shock and quickly formed hand seals, channeling two streams of pure spiritual energy into one side of the light barrier, desperately trying to maintain its stability. Zhou Jin was in perfect harmony with her, and almost simultaneously, he acted, converging his spiritual energy to the other side, shouting, "Haiyang, hold the stern!"

Haiyang was jolted awake by the deafening impact, which felt like a mountain splitting and rocks shattering. His internal organs shifted, and his ears rang incessantly. He bit his tongue hard, the intense pain dispelling his dazed state. He gripped the gunwale tightly with both hands, pouring all his spiritual energy into the magic array at the stern of the flying boat, trying to stabilize the ship, which was teetering on the brink of losing control.

However, the deep-sea serpent's attack was thwarted, and the backlash from the light shield further fueled its overwhelming ferocity! Its massive body spun violently in the sea, its enormous tail, covered in dark scales, like a collapsing pillar of heaven, carrying with it monstrous waves and a biting, fishy wind, sweeping across the still violently rocking stern of the flying boat with overwhelming force and ruthless precision! This attack was even more terrifying than the previous collision!

"Dodge!" Elder Qingsong's pupils contracted sharply as he issued a stern warning, his hands flashing through hand seals as he desperately tried to steer the flying boat to avoid the danger.

But it's too late!

Haiyang was fully activating the stern magic array when he was caught off guard. He felt an immense, world-destroying force crash down upon him, and his vision was instantly swallowed up by a dark expanse of scales and towering, turbid waves!

"Boom - click!"

The serpent's massive tail slammed squarely into the already crumbling azure light shield at the stern of the flying boat! The shield shattered instantly, turning into countless wisps of dim spiritual energy! The remaining terrifying force poured onto the hull without hindrance, and the sturdy spirit wood hull emitted a terrifying explosion as the stern was instantly torn to pieces, sending wood chips and shattered spiritual light hurtling out like a torrential rain!

"Ugh—!" Haiyang was the first to be hit, letting out a shrill scream. His protective aura was utterly useless against absolute power. He was thrown away like a leaf caught in a whirlwind, spitting out blood as he streaked through the air in a bloody arc, plummeting straight into the dark, raging abyss below!

"Haiyang!" Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin cried out in anguish, their eyes wide with shock, and instinctively lunged to save him.

"Don't move!" Elder Qingsong's voice was heavier and more urgent than ever before. "Protect the flying boat! This beast's ferocity is unstoppable; saving lives is tantamount to dying together! Stabilize the bow!"

Before the words were even finished, the serpent's cold, vertical pupils locked onto the tailless, severely weakened, and violently swaying airship once more. Its ferocious head was raised high again, its dark red pupils flashing with cruel, bloodthirsty light. Its massive maw opened wide, unleashing a torrent of dark green poisonous mist, thicker than before and emitting a pungent, corrosive stench, like a burst dam of death, surging towards the wrecked airship! Wherever the poisonous mist passed, even the surging seawater hissed and burned terrifyingly, rising wisps of smoke!

A torrent of dark green poisonous fog instantly engulfed the front half of the airship! Although Elder Qingsong did his best to maintain the remaining protective shield, the corrosiveness of the fog far exceeded expectations. The shield thinned and dissipated rapidly, like melting ice and snow. The pungent stench and burning sensation penetrated the last layer of protection, and Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin were the first to be affected!

"Pfft—!" "Ugh—!"

The two were struck as if by a heavy hammer. Their protective spiritual light was corroded and torn apart by the poisonous mist, and the powerful impact and terrifying corrosive force acted on them simultaneously. Huang Yuyan's shoulder was charred black, her spiritual energy was disordered, and she spat out a mouthful of blood; Zhou Jin felt as if countless poisonous needles had pierced his chest and abdomen, half of his body instantly became paralyzed, he also spat out blood, and his aura weakened. Almost simultaneously, the two were thrown back by the impact of the poisonous mist, falling away from the center of the airship!

At this critical moment, Elder Qingsong made a decision! He saw Haiyang struggling and sinking in the dark sea below, while Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin, though severely injured, still had a glimmer of hope. A resolute glint flashed in his eyes. He disregarded the wrecked flying boat, transforming into a streak of azure light, and rushed headlong towards the direction Haiyang had fallen! He had to save Haiyang!

"Elder!" Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin caught a glimpse of this scene during their fall and were shocked, but due to their severe injuries and the dissipation of their spiritual power, they were unable to stop or help.

Elder Qingsong moved with incredible speed, seemingly about to seize Haiyang's arm. However, the deep-sea serpent seemed to have anticipated this, or rather, it had been waiting for this moment! Its massive body churned the seawater violently, instantly forming a huge, dark vortex that covered the area where Elder Qingsong and Haiyang were located. The vortex contained terrifying suction and some strange power that imprisoned space! At the same time, the serpent's enormous head, filled with boundless malice, viciously bit down!

Elder Qingsong's expression changed drastically. He found himself firmly held back by the vortex's power, his movements becoming extremely sluggish, as if he were stuck in quagmire! Even worse, an invisible spatial confinement force spread out, making it impossible for him to use any escape techniques! It looked as if that terrifying giant maw was about to devour him and Haiyang together!

In the critical moment, Elder Qingsong suddenly channeled a stream of pure spiritual energy into Haiyang's body, temporarily protecting his heart meridian. At the same time, he exerted all his strength to send a rapid and clear telepathic message to Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin, who were barely managing to stabilize themselves in the distance but were already severely injured. This message resounded directly deep within the two's consciousness:

"Go! Quickly return to Wind Whisper Mountain for help! I am trapped here, and this fiend is no match for you! Go now—!"

Before the voice transmission could finish, the giant jaws of the serpent slammed shut! Elder Qingsong's figure, along with Haiyang, was instantly swallowed up by the churning, dark waves and the enormous shadow of the serpent!

Huang Yuyan and Zhou Jin witnessed this scene, their hearts breaking with grief and indignation! But the elder's final command was crystal clear. Suppressing their surging blood and excruciating pain, they exchanged a glance, both seeing the resolute determination in each other's eyes. Without the slightest hesitation, taking advantage of the moment when the python's attention was completely drawn to Elder Qingsong, they used their last remaining spiritual energy to transform into two dim streaks of light, fleeing headlong towards Fengyu Mountain without looking back!