Chapter 6

At first, Helan Xi thought the movement of the sand grains was due to the wind. However, in the blink of an eye, the “breathing” of the sand grew heavier, and the ground began to tremble. Beneath the sand dunes, something enormous seemed to be stirring.

The wind howled through the air, and the thriving orchids, a hundred years old, were torn into pieces in the swirling vortex, their shrill cries echoing as if the wind itself was mourning them.

The sand grains rapidly rolled to both sides, forming a bottomless crack, and a hoarse screech came from the depths of the earth, deafening!

Suddenly, Song Xuanji called out to Helan Xi, “Come here.”

Just before the crack reached under his feet, Helan Xi leaped forward in a flash, his toes lightly tapping the air three times like a dragonfly skimming the water, and he landed firmly beside Song Xuanji.

The enormous creature finally broke free from the earth. In an instant, it blocked the sky, sending yellow sand rising. A massive, shadowy figure stood in the sea of sand, resembling a mountain towering into the sky.

This wasn’t even its full appearance. The ground split its body in half, with the remaining half still writhing beneath the sand.

The wind whipped the fabric of their robes, and the sky was blurred by the swirling sand. Fortunately, both Helan Xi and Song Xuanji had top grades in “Beasts of the World,” and despite the unclear view of the creature, they immediately recognized it as the rare giant sand python!

The python’s back was covered in hard scales, and two enormous bone wings extended from it. Its eyes gleamed with a red light, like the blazing sun. Its huge pincers, twisted and strange, swung with such force that the sand flew and the ground trembled.

Helan Xi easily stabilized his body in the chaos of yellow sand but could barely open his eyes. He saw the sand python open its blood-red mouth and emit an angry roar, its pincers swinging toward them like razors!

Both Helan Xi and Song Xuanji drew their swords. Two icy blue sword lights cut through the dim sandstorm like fleeting meteors, crashing into the python’s massive pincers and exploding in brilliant light!

The surrounding chaos cleared for a brief moment. The python’s enormous body was violently thrown off course, its bloodthirsty rage surging, making it swing its ugly pincers even more ferociously.

“Zai Xingyue” hovered in front of its master, casting a reflection of the young man’s delicate brows. Helan Xi lowered his gaze, his fingertips forming a sword seal on his chest.

In an instant, the sword light of “Zai Xingyue” grew brighter, condensing into a celestial net of light, which rushed rapidly toward the sand python. The net didn’t directly strike the creature but, just a few steps away, suddenly transformed into countless sharp swords, piercing through the tough scales and plunging into its flesh!

The sand python’s pained scream echoed through the sky as its massive body collapsed like a crumbling sand dune, and it burrowed back into the ground along with the yellow sand.

Helan Xi squinted, trying to find the creature’s trace, but couldn’t spot it. He let out a soft “hmm,” his tone rising with confusion.

The “Beasts of the World” mentioned that sand pythons are incredibly agile. They can hide at any time within the vast sea of sand or burst forth unexpectedly, appearing behind their enemies. The only sign of their arrival is the trembling and shaking from beneath the earth.

“Helan Xi,” Song Xuanji’s voice remained calm and clear despite the howling winds, “Close your eyes.”

Helan Xi immediately understood.

Since he couldn’t see clearly, it would be better not to look at all.

The moment Helan Xi closed his eyes, the yellow sand vanished, and the surrounding sounds became clearer.

The wind, the sand, the soft rustling of a hairpin, and even his own heartbeat—all these sounds were now sharp and pure, each one so distinct.

Suddenly, a faint but out-of-place rustling sound mixed in. Helan Xi’s ears twitched, and he slightly turned his face, carefully distinguishing the source of the sound.

A year of training in the Unfeeling Dao had been enough to teach the originally impulsive youth to dismiss all distractions in critical moments and maintain the serene composure expected of an Unfeeling Dao disciple.

The sand python slithered and wriggled silently amidst the dust storm, quietly circling behind the white-clad youth. Its crimson eyes gleamed, waiting for the right moment to strike.

With his eyes still shut, the young man silently curved his lips, and the spiritual energy surging around him stirred the winds and sand. Invisible sword waves spread in ripples from him, clearing the area in circles.

The sand python, which had only just emerged from the ground, was caught off guard by the sword waves and was flipped onto its back. At that moment, “Zai Xingyue” unsheathed, shining with a bright, moon-like glow, and struck directly at the python’s only unprotected eyes!

In an instant, sword light and blood intertwined. The python’s long body twisted and struggled in mid-air, letting out a mournful and desperate roar before crashing to the ground.

The yellow sand settled, the dark clouds dispersed, and the bright moon hung high, bringing everything back to silence.

Helan Xi slowly opened his eyes. The creature’s head lay gruesomely beneath his feet, lifeless.

He didn’t know when it had gotten dark, but his companion from the Unfeeling Dao stood quietly under the moonlight, his long hair like a waterfall, his appearance as if carved from ice and snow. He seemed to shine with the same brilliance as the moon over the sea of sand, a true moonlit beauty.

Helan Xi noticed that not a strand of hair on Song Xuanji had been disturbed and asked, “Did you not intervene?”

“Was it necessary?” Song Xuanji replied indifferently. “You handled it alone.”

Helan Xi paused, inwardly pleased. So, Song Xuanji really trusts his abilities. It’s kind of embarrassing, actually—hahaha.

Song Xuanji glanced at him and explained, “Zhu Ruo Shuang has been here before. If he could defeat the sand python alone, so can you.”

Helan Xi steadied himself and turned around, taking a deep breath with his back to Song Xuanji.

For once, Song Xuanji said a full sentence, and this was the response? I didn’t even ask you why.

Helan Xi silently returned “Zai Xingyue” to its sheath, and together with Song Xuanji, they walked toward the crack that had formed earlier.

The crack was wide enough for several people, and when they looked down, it appeared dark and deep, clearly leading to a vast space below.

This was likely the place where Zhu Ruo Shuang had guided them to.

“Shall we go?” Song Xuanji asked.

Helan Xi nodded coldly, not even saying “hmm” in response.

The two of them leaped into the crack, one after the other, and the world before them was engulfed in abyssal darkness. After some time, Helan Xi’s feet finally touched solid ground. The moment they landed, the view before them suddenly brightened.

At first, Helan Xi thought the movement of the sand grains was due to the wind, but in the blink of an eye, the “breathing” of the sand grains suddenly intensified. The ground began to tremble, and beneath the sand dunes, it seemed as if some enormous creature was stirring.

The fierce wind swept through the land, tearing apart thriving hundred-year-old orchids in the vortex. The howling wind seemed to echo their mournful wails.

The sand grains rapidly rolled to the sides, forming a deep and bottomless crack. A hoarse, screeching sound came from the abyss beneath, deafening!

Song Xuanji suddenly spoke to Helan Xi: “Come here.”

Just before the crack reached beneath his feet, Helan Xi leaped forward, his toes lightly tapping the air three times like a dragonfly skimming the water. He landed steadily next to Song Xuanji.

The enormous creature finally emerged from the earth. In an instant, it blotted out the sky, sending yellow sand soaring. A massive shadow stood tall in the sea of sand, resembling a towering mountain.

This wasn’t even its full appearance—the ground split its body in two, and the remaining half still writhed and slithered in the sand.

The wind howled, and the sound of fabric flapping in the breeze was drowned by the haze of yellow sand. Fortunately, both Helan Xi and Song Xuanji had excelled in their studies of the “Beast Theory,” so even though they couldn’t clearly see the full form of the giant creature, they immediately recognized it as a rare giant sand python!

The giant sand python’s back was covered with hard scales, and it extended two rows of enormous bone wings. Its eyes gleamed with a crimson light, its giant claws twisted like those of a praying mantis. When it swung them, sand and stones flew, and the ground trembled.

Helan Xi, though struggling to stabilize himself in the swirling sand, could only barely open a slit in his eyes. He saw the giant sand python open its massive jaws and let out an enraged roar as it lunged toward them!

Helan Xi and Song Xuanji drew their swords simultaneously. Two icy-blue streaks of sword light cut through the dark sandstorm like fleeting meteors and collided with the python’s giant claws, exploding in a brilliant flash!

The surrounding chaos cleared for a moment, and the giant body of the sand python twisted violently, its bloodthirsty, murderous intent swelling as it wildly swung its ugly claws.

Zai Xingyue floated in front of its master, reflecting the youth’s delicate features. Helan Xi lowered his gaze, his fingertips forming a sword seal over his chest.

In an instant, the sword light of Zai Xingyue grew brighter, coalescing into a celestial net that rapidly rushed toward the sand python. The net did not directly strike the python, but when it was just a few steps away, it suddenly split into countless sharp swords that swiftly pierced through its hard scales and sank into its flesh!

The sand python let out a painful screech that rang through the sky. Its massive body, like a collapsing sand dune, burrowed back into the earth along with the yellow sand.

Helan Xi squinted, unable to find the sand python’s trace. He could not help but hum, the tone rising slightly in confusion.

According to the “Beast Theory,” the sand python was extremely agile. It could hide itself in the vast sea of sand at any time and emerge from the earth, unexpectedly appearing behind its enemies. The only sign of its approach was the tremors and vibrations from below.

“Helan Xi,” Song Xuanji’s voice was still calm and clear amidst the roaring winds, “Close your eyes.”

Helan Xi immediately understood.

Since he couldn’t see, it was better to not look at all.

As soon as Helan Xi closed his eyes, the yellow sand disappeared, and the sounds became distinct.

The wind, the sand, the faint sound of a hairpin swaying, even the beating of his own heart—all sounds were so vivid and pure.

Suddenly, a faint, discordant rustling sound mixed with the others. Helan Xi’s ears twitched, and he tilted his head cautiously, trying to discern the direction of the sound.

A year of cultivation at the Ruthless Path Academy had been enough to make the originally impulsive youth suppress all distractions at any critical moment, maintaining the calm expected of someone on the Ruthless Path.

The sand python’s movements were hidden in the swirling dust. It silently circled behind the white-robed youth, its crimson eyes flickering with a lurking light, ready to strike.

The youth, with his eyes still shut, silently curved his lips into a smile. His surging spiritual energy whipped up a fierce wind and enormous sand, forming an invisible sword wave that rippled out from him in expanding circles.

The sand python, which had just emerged from the earth, was caught off guard as the sword wave knocked it backward. Zai Xingyue unsheathed at the perfect moment, its light shining like the moon, aiming directly at the python’s only unprotected eyes!

In an instant, sword light and blood intertwined. The long, serpentine body of the sand python twisted and struggled in mid-air, letting out a series of pitiful and desperate roars, before crashing to the ground.

The yellow sand returned to the earth, the dark clouds dispersed, and the bright moon hung high in the sky. Everything returned to silence.

Helan Xi slowly opened his eyes. The giant creature’s head lay grotesquely at his feet, lifeless.

He didn’t know when it had gotten dark, but his Ruthless Path companion stood quietly under the moonlight, his long hair flowing like a waterfall. His appearance was like someone washing ice and snow, glowing in harmony with the moonlight over the sand. He looked like a moonlit beauty.

Helan Xi noticed that Song Xuanji’s hair was still perfectly intact and asked, “You didn’t make a move?”

Song Xuanji replied indifferently, “Was it necessary?”

Helan Xi paused, secretly pleased. So, Song Xuanji truly recognized his strength. It was a bit embarrassing, haha.

Song Xuanji glanced at Helan Xi and explained, “Zhu Rushuang has been here. If he could repel the sand python alone, so can you.”

Helan Xi calmly turned his back, taking a deep breath.

How rare for him to speak such a long sentence, and this was the result? I didn’t even ask for the reason.

Helan Xi silently called Zai Xingyue back into its sheath, and together with Song Xuanji, they approached the crack they had created earlier.

The crack was wide enough for several people to pass through. Looking down, it was pitch black, seemingly bottomless. Inside, there was clearly a vast space.

This was the place Zhu Rushuang had led them to. It must be here.

Song Xuanji asked, “Shall we go?”

Helan Xi coldly nodded, not even saying “mm” to Song Xuanji.

The two of them leapt into the crack one after the other, and before them lay an abyss of darkness. After an unknown amount of time, Helan Xi’s feet finally touched solid ground. The moment they landed, their vision suddenly became wide and bright.