Chapter 34: Treacherous and Vile Beast (1)

Tang Chun Xi halted in the middle of the dense forest, mentally communicating with the Lunar Umbrella, feeling the mystical energy pulse in her mind.

"How does your detection ability work?" — she asked, her violet eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Stellar Detection: I connect to the stars and seek their knowledge. The more precious the resource, the vaguer the feeling. As long as it is not within a formation or spatially isolated, I can sense it and guide you there.

Maximum Range: 5 kilometers.

"I see..." — she thought, adjusting the position of the umbrella. "Let's test it then. Take me to the nearest resource."

With a thought, the Lunar Umbrella opened above her head, and for a brief moment, the canopy that usually displayed fluffy clouds and a bright blue sky shifted. A night sky was revealed, covered in clouds, with stars flickering through the darkness before vanishing as quickly as they appeared. Soon, a vague intention arose in her mind, pointing in a direction.

Without hesitation, Chun Xi followed, moving cautiously through the vegetation on the outskirts of the Clear Water Mountains.

As she advanced, she noticed something different. The level of spiritual energy in the area had increased, and the usual Level 1 and 2 animals were no longer visible. In their place, only Level 3 spirit beasts, and occasionally some Level 4 ones, moved between the towering trees.

Keeping a low profile, Chun Xi cloaked herself in a thin layer of stellar wood energy, masking her presence from the most common predators. It worked... for a while.

As she neared the location indicated by the Lunar Umbrella, warning signs began to appear. The tree leaves were partially burned or withered, some plants seemed corroded, and the ground bore irregular marks, as if something large and sinuous had passed through.

Chun Xi stopped, frowning.

"These marks... there's something wrong."

The sounds of the forest seemed more distant, muffled by a heavy atmosphere. Even the animals that should have been present were absent. A discomforting premonition grew in her chest.

"You're not leading me somewhere dangerous, are you?" —she asked the Lunar Umbrella mentally.

Before she could get a response, a black-and-red shadow shot out from the undergrowth like a deadly bolt of lightning.

A snake!

The reptile was about four meters long, its width akin to an adult's wrist. Its glossy black skin shimmered with red undertones—a clear warning of its extreme toxicity. It lashed out like a lethal whip, aiming directly for Chun Xi's ankle.

By pure instinct, Chun Xi leaped backward, narrowly dodging the attack. The snake missed its mark and struck a nearby tree instead.

A loud hissing sound echoed as the tree bark began to rot and melt, releasing a dark, foul-smelling smoke.

Chun Xi narrowed her eyes.

"How cunning! As I suspected, its skin must be soaked in venom. If it had touched me..." — A chill ran down her spine.

Without hesitation, she quickly swallowed a Bile Anti-Venom Pill, feeling a protective warmth spread through her body. But even with that, she dared not let the snake make contact with her.

The serpent, realizing its initial strike had failed, raised its head and bared its venom-dripping fangs. Its cold, calculating gaze seemed to mock the prey before it.

"This thing is more troublesome than the boar, but I'm not without means to deal with it," — Chun Xi thought, a cold smile playing on her lips.

The snake slithered rapidly across the ground, preparing to strike again.

Chun Xi activated Phoenix Wing Step. A faint aura of stellar fire enveloped her body, flickering and warm. She leaped back at the last second, spinning mid-air.

With the Lunar Umbrella in her hands, its sharp tip gleamed as a metallic stellar aura coated the blade.

With a swift motion, she hurled the spinning umbrella toward the snake.

The serpent seemed to scoff at the attack, subtly shifting its body to evade...

But then, the Lunar Umbrella's speed suddenly doubled.

— BANG!

The impact was violent. The snake was slammed into the ground, cracking the earth around it.

Moments before the strike, Chun Xi had whispered mentally:

"Amplify Weight."

The result was a devastating blow.The snake writhed, spitting out mouthfuls of black blood. But something troubled her.

"The cutting attack had no effect..." — Chun Xi noted. "Its venom acts as a slippery armor, making it resistant to such strikes. But the impact... must have damaged its internal organs."

She narrowed her eyes.

"If metal doesn't work, how about fire?"

The serpent, though injured, had not given up.

Suddenly, it spewed a burst of liquid venom in a wide arc, restricting Chun Xi's possible escape routes, while lunging straight at her.

"Damn, this snake is smart!"

But Chun Xi already had a plan.

Activating [Blazing Trail], she swiftly moved through the only safe path, leaving a flaming trace behind.

The snake, with no time to react, slithered over the fire and was immediately engulfed in flames. A deafening hiss echoed through the forest as the reptile thrashed, burning.

But the battle was far from over.

In the next moment, another shadow moved from a nearby hole.

"The second snake finally made its move!"

It had been a trap.

The second snake, hidden underground, emerged and fired a fresh burst of venom straight at Chun Xi.

Her eyes widened.

— "The snake in the hole has acted."