In an instant, before anyone could react, Mercenary Captain Moba saw the Crimson Flame Vipers charging straight toward Xiao Yixian and the others.
His figure flickered urgently, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of their cart, shouting in a deep voice,
"Thousand Wave Surge!"
Thousand Wave Surge is a high-level Yellow Rank Dou Technique. It was the strongest technique Moba had mastered so far. Years of training had allowed him to perfect it to a near-flawless level.
Unleashing his strongest technique from the start was due to the fact that Crimson Flame Vipers rarely appeared on the surface of the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Moba knew little about them, having seldom encountered them before.
As his shout echoed, the long spear in his hand burst forth with a rich blue light. A massive blue wave, formed entirely of energy, surged skyward, then came crashing down upon the oncoming vipers.
Under the overwhelming force of the attack, more than ten of the vipers were instantly killed. Only two or three in the rear managed to escape, leaving behind a trail of scorched and mangled serpent corpses.
Seeing this, the remaining vipers halted their assault, turned around, and retreated into the dense forest beside the path.
After the attack ended, three mercenaries were found bitten by the Crimson Flame Vipers, suffering from fiery venom that left them in agonizing pain. Without timely treatment, their lives were in serious danger.
The three poisoned mercenaries were quickly brought to the rear of the herb-gathering team, where Xiao Yixian personally stepped in to expel the venom from their bodies.
"First, bandage their wounds. Then give them some Half-Branch Lotus, and add one Seven-Leaf One-Petal Flower."
With a faint smile on her lips, Xiao Yixian tended to the injured carefully. At this moment, she seemed like a divine being descended, sacred and untouchable, an image to be revered from afar.
After a few waves of beast attacks, the mercenary team became much more cautious. Yet, in a mountain range teeming with magic beasts, countless unknown dangers still lurked ahead.
While Xiao Yixian continued treating the injured, some mercenaries remained on guard around the herb team. A few others were sent to deal with the viper corpses along the path.
"Is that... a magic core?"
Suddenly, one of the mercenaries cried out in excitement, standing up with a faintly bloodstained red magic core in hand.
Although Crimson Flame Vipers were not considered strong among Tier 1 beasts, the fact that a magic core had been found in one of their bodies was considered extremely lucky.
It is important to note that not all magic beasts possess a magic core. These energy crystals appear randomly. Sometimes, a mercenary group might lose half its members to kill a beast, only to walk away with nothing.
Such things were common on the Dou Qi Continent. As a result, magic cores were incredibly valuable and in high demand.
The mercenary's cry quickly drew everyone's attention. All eyes were fixed with envy on the core in his hand.
"Watch out! There's something in the grass behind you!"
At that moment, Mu Chengfeng, who was helping Xiao Yixian treat the injured, suddenly sensed danger. Relying on his powerful soul perception, he felt something rapidly approaching.
The rustling sound grew louder and louder. Even the herb-collecting physicians, who had no cultivation, could sense it clearly; this was a testament to how fast the unknown creature was.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!"The mercenary captain ordered with a grave tone.
The mercenaries gripped their weapons tightly, their eyes scanning every flicker and stir in the surroundings.
With a sudden hiss, a large red-patterned snake slithered out from the dense woods, flicking its tongue menacingly.
It had a fleshy crest on its head, larger than its skull, and was covered in blood-red scales. Its long, stinking mouth revealed sharp, venomous fangs, sending a chill down everyone's spine.
A Crimson Flame Python, a Tier 2 fire-type magic beast, had evolved from the Crimson Flame Viper through a rare bloodline mutation. Typically, it served as the leader of the viper pack.
The python was massive and capable of swallowing small animals whole. It had developed basic intelligence, was ferocious and cunning, and excelled at ambushing humans, often killing prey through suffocation.
"A T-T-Tier Two magic beast!"
Moba's hand trembled slightly as he gripped his spear, and his voice quivered. The other mercenaries beside him were already shaking, and one even wet his pants in fear.
Tier Two beasts had strength comparable to that of a Dou Master. Among the mercenaries, Moba was the strongest, although his level was only that of an Eight-Star Dou Fighter. Their fear was understandable.
"Roar~"
The savage Crimson Flame Python opened its blood-reeking jaws and let out a thunderous roar at the group.
The resulting shockwave hit their faces like a gale. Even the untrained physicians felt their faces twist under the pressure.
"You beast, take this!"
Moba raised his silver spear and lunged at the python, unleashing his high-level Yellow Rank technique, Thousand Wave Surge, once again.
Blue waves surged toward the sky, rolling and sparkling with energy. His spear shot like lightning toward the python's massive head.
"Die!"
Seeing his target so close, Moba roared and poured all his Dou Qi into the strike.
Just as the spear was about to pierce the python's skull, it vanished.
In an instant, it reappeared behind Moba.
"Watch out! Behind you!"Mu Chengfeng shouted anxiously from not far away.
Upon hearing this, Moba's Dou Qi surged, and he spun around. The python had already lunged forward, its jaws aimed straight for him.
Moba quickly raised his spear to block, wedging the weapon between its jaws, and a fierce struggle ensued.
The python's eyes glowed faint red, flickering. Then, without warning, it spat a fireball from its mouth, slamming it into Moba's chest.
Moba was blasted off his feet, dragged across the mountain path for several meters before crashing to a stop. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he hit the ground.
After defeating Moba, the python did not pursue him. Instead, it turned and lunged toward Mu Chengfeng.
Perhaps drawn by the trace of snake-human blood in Mu Chengfeng's body, the Crimson Flame Python seemed oddly interested in him.
Xiao Yixian glanced at the injured Moba lying in the distance, then turned toward the incoming python. Her face went pale. In her heart, she thought, "This is the end... ugh..."
"D-Don't come any closer..."Facing the giant, ferocious snake head closing in, Xiao Yixian's delicate pale face twisted in fear as she stumbled backward.
Seeing the python about to strike, Mu Chengfeng's pupils suddenly contracted. Without hesitation, he threw himself in front of Xiao Yixian.
"Aah!"
Driven by sheer fear, Mu Chengfeng let out a piercing scream. His previously ordinary eyes turned a radiant emerald green.
And with that cry, three small green dots suddenly emerged within his emerald pupils, clear and bright.