Chapter Ninety-Four: Fierce Battle [Requesting Monthly Votes]

“Hiss hiss hiss, wailing…”
With a piercing cry, golden light surged from Li Yang’s body, transforming him instantaneously into a six-winged golden centipede over thirty feet long, which lunged at the giant serpent.
Thunder roared, metal clanged, sparks sizzled and danced through the air.
In the sky, the two colossal beasts collided and tangled with each other. The entire mountain peak shattered, boulders tumbled down in torrents, and the centipede’s hundred legs struck the serpent’s scales, ringing out in a symphony of metal against metal, echoing through the void and showering sparks everywhere.
The serpent hissed in agony, shaking the mountains and the earth. Its entire form finally emerged into the open air: head and tail connected, its enormous body stretching dozens of yards as it twisted and snapped at the airborne golden centipede.
“Hmph! Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!”
Staring at the serpent’s maw bristling with fangs, Li Yang snorted coldly. He opened his own monstrous mouth wide, inhaled sharply, and his form expanded explosively.
Crunching, creaking, snapping…
He became a creature nearly equal in size to the serpent, charging forward to bite into its armored belly. Yet the serpent’s jaws clamped down on the shell of his back at the same time.
Hissing, writhing, they tore viciously into one another. The six-winged golden centipede was armored all over with hard golden shell, unafraid of the serpent’s bite. Though the serpent’s scales were thick and sturdy, they were not as seamless and tightly connected as the centipede’s shell. In mere moments, the serpent was left battered and bloody by Li Yang’s attacks, its anguished cries echoing through the air.
“Careful… Get out of the way!”
Just as Li Yang was reveling in his dominance, a warning from the old Daoist Zixiao sounded in his mind. The serpent raised its head, crimson demonic light brewing in its eyes, stirring ripples in the space around them.
“Leap and vanish!”
Seeing the crimson ripples in the air, Li Yang flickered and instantly slipped into a gap between spaces.
From his vantage within the space, watching the serpent’s eyes radiate those sinister waves, Li Yang could only smile bitterly.
In the film, Hu Bayi and his companions dispatched the serpent with nothing but a Firefly King. Yet here, the creature possessed such supernatural powers. If it had shown even a fraction of these abilities in the original story, Hu Bayi and his group would never have survived.
“Boy, don’t be fooled by the serpent’s size. It’s actually a Gu beast, lacking any true intelligence. As long as you avoid that evil light, killing it isn’t difficult.”
At that moment, the old Daoist’s voice sounded again.
“What is a Gu beast?”
Li Yang was bewildered. He’d heard of Gu insects, but never of Gu beasts.
“A Gu beast is a special kind of Gu insect—not truly alive or dead, but a vessel. It was created by ancient monsters unwilling to die, designed to house their souls.”
“In ancient times, Gu beasts guarded the masters’ paths. Before dying, some old monsters would place a strand of their soul in a Gu beast to guard against mishaps in reincarnation. If you can hold her off for a while, that soul strand won’t last long. Once her spiritual power is exhausted, she’ll be at your mercy!”
With this explanation, Li Yang gained a clearer understanding of the serpent’s origins.
“Senior, can I use a blood pact to tame this Gu beast?”
“It has no soul, neither alive nor dead, and its potential is extremely limited. It would be useless to you—don’t waste your efforts.”
Seeing Li Yang consider capturing the Gu beast, the old Daoist was alarmed and quickly advised against it.
In his view, Li Yang’s three exotic beasts—whether ancient or divine—were all of unrivaled potential. If he could tame several more of the same caliber, his power would be boundless.
Gu beasts, though raised through endless battles to become Gu Kings, were inherently limited. Lacking a soul, they could not form a magical avatar, making them as unworthy as a chicken bone—useless for the cultivation methods the old Daoist had modified.
Li Yang valued the old Daoist’s advice; since swearing an oath to the Heavenly Dao, their fortunes were intertwined.
Li Yang’s accomplishments were tied to the old Daoist’s future revival and ascension, so he would never harm Li Yang.

Still, Li Yang was somewhat disappointed. Since taming the Golden Toad, the Six-Winged Centipede, and the Furious Bright Chicken, he hadn’t encountered another beast that truly satisfied him. He’d used his knowledge of the plot to pinpoint the giant serpent in the King’s Tomb, only for the old Daoist to dismiss it as worthless.
“Let’s see where you’ll hide now!”
At that moment, a woman’s voice suddenly emerged from the serpent’s mouth. A bulge rose on its forehead; a jet-black eyeball broke through the skin and popped out.
“Boy, dodge quickly!”
The instant he saw the eye, Li Yang’s hair stood on end. Even without the old Daoist’s warning, his instincts screamed danger.
A pillar of black light instantly targeted Li Yang within the spatial gap, carrying an aura of annihilation. Space was torn open, leaving a gaping hole.
Li Yang flickered, escaping in a flash. Staring at the cavern in the void that lingered without healing, every cell in his body trembled.
“So close! Whew…”
He exhaled deeply, his face filled with lingering fear. In that moment, he had truly sensed the threat of death. Had the beam struck him, he doubted he could have survived.
“If I’m not mistaken, she must be a descendant of the ancient Three-Eyed Tribe—also known as the Demon Eyes or Ghost Cave Clan, a human subrace from antiquity. Born with three eyes, but as the environment changed, their powers faded. Only a rare few can awaken their ancestral blood and open the third eye on their forehead!”
Feeling the aura of destruction, the old Daoist grew uncharacteristically grave. “Fortunately, you’re not facing her true form. Otherwise, you’d not have survived today.”
“Senior, now isn’t the time to discuss her origins—do you have any way to deal with her?”
Li Yang smiled bitterly, eyeing the serpent lurking nearby.
“If I still had my mortal body, I could dispatch her with a flick of the wrist. Now, with only a fragment of my soul left, unable to reveal myself to the world, what can I do?”
The old Daoist grumbled, his beard bristling.
“Prepare to die, boy!”
Seeing Li Yang appear, the serpent raised its head, the red glow in its eyes swelling with power.
“Nine Transformations of the Celestial Mystery: Golden Body Form!”
Li Yang’s body twisted in the air, morphing into a giant golden figure over thirty feet tall, muscles knotted all over. He exhaled golden breath after golden breath, instantly disrupting the energy brewing in the serpent’s eyes.
Thunder boomed, fists crashed.
Seizing the serpent’s momentary distraction, Li Yang shot upward, pressed down on its body, and raised fists the size of millstones to pound it mercilessly.
The serpent hissed in agony, its massive form rolling across the mountains, crushing everything in its path, frantically trying to shake Li Yang off its back.
Li Yang clung tightly to the serpent’s scales, unleashing golden breaths that engulfed its head.
The serpent wailed, the flesh on its head dissolved by Li Yang’s breath, exposing a stark white skull. A black shadow emerged from the jet-black eye on its forehead.
No sooner had the shadow appeared than the serpent stopped struggling. Instead, it wrapped tightly around Li Yang, constricting with terrifying force.
Cracking, snapping…
“Ah… ah…!”
Li Yang screamed in agony as the serpent’s crushing strength pressed down on him. He felt his muscles tearing, even his bones groaning in pain.
“Yaa…”
Fighting back with all his blood and energy, Li Yang’s golden skin turned scarlet, his face flushed, and golden-red blood seeped from the corners of his mouth.

“Quaa…”
Seeing Li Yang’s plight, the Golden Toad launched itself skyward, charging at the serpent.
“Foolish creature!”
With a snap, the serpent’s dark shadow glanced at the toad. Its tail whipped like a lash, sending the toad crashing into the mountainside.
“Croak, croak, croak…”
“Golden Toad!”
Watching the toad buried beneath rubble, Li Yang was frantic until he sensed it was still alive, allowing him to breathe a sigh of relief.
…
“Damn it, I can’t stand by any longer! I’m going to save Brother Li! Brothers, grab your gear—anyone willing, follow me to battle. Those who aren’t, I won’t blame!”
“Brother Li’s saved me many times; I, Old Luo, can be reckless in all things, but I can never fail to repay such a debt of life!”
On the floating island, gazing at the golden figure entwined by the sky-piercing serpent and listening to the thunderous screams, Old Luo’s eyes reddened. He tore off his hat and threw it to the ground with resolve.
“Brothers! What made Changsheng Mountain what it is today, gathering ten thousand men? Tell me, what is it?”
Turning to his comrades, Chen Yulou’s face was full of determination as he shouted.
“Honor! Honor! Honor!”
At Chen Yulou’s call, the Unshackled Strongmen behind him grew restless, roaring their response.
“Brother Li has saved me from peril many times. This time, rescuing him means near-certain death—are you afraid?”
“We’ll follow the chief to the death!”
“We’ll follow the chief to the death!”
“We’ll follow the chief to the death!”
At those words, the crowd erupted, faces ablaze with righteous fervor, not a trace of fear among them.
Such was Chen Yulou’s charisma; a single call could rally a horde of followers. Only in times like these could such iron-blooded men be forged.
“Brothers, let’s move!”
With Chen Yulou and Old Luo’s rallying cries, the Unshackled Strongmen of Changsheng Mountain poured forth. Old Luo’s soldiers, less disciplined, followed only in part—mostly those who had benefited from Li Yang’s kindness.
“Sister, stay behind. The legacy of the Moving Mountain Sect depends on you—help me look after Red Aunt.”
“Old foreigner, let’s go!”
Though Egret Whistle had spoken not a word, his resolve was clear. Since Li Yang was caught by the serpent, he’d steeled himself for sacrifice.
“Brother, I want to go too…”
Flower Spirit chased after him, eyes brimming with tears.
“Obey! Do you want me to die with regrets?”
He shook her off, calling back without turning his head.
“Brother…”
Staring at Egret Whistle’s chiseled face and hearing his icy tone, Flower Spirit collapsed, her face soon wet with tears.