Meanwhile, near the Southwest Tree Sea.

A pink giant mantis was weaving through the forest.

Its arm-blades constantly swung out blade energy, slicing through all trees blocking its path like sharp knives.

The target of the Flower Mantis’s pursuit—the Snake God, Xiang Yao—was fleeing headlong, narrowly evading the Flower Mantis’s attacks.

Called the Snake God, Xiang Yao had no snake features beyond serpent eyes and scales.

Instead, with all limbs and agile movements, Xiang Yao navigated this vast Sea of Trees as nimbly as a monkey.

The Southwest Tree Sea is an endless expanse of trees at the western edge of the Hundred Lands Mountain Range.

The distance to the Hundred Lands Mountain Range isn’t close, but it’s hardly far either.

The unbroken forests give this Sea of Trees its name, and that’s the main reason the Snake God chose to flee here.

Though influenced by Wu Yi Shoots the Sky, with chaotic Primordial Qi and fallen Gods, it still retains a vast and complex ecosystem.

Xiang Yao was relying on this complex ecosystem.

To hold out against the unbelievably powerful Flower Mantis until now.

"If you keep pushing me, don’t blame me for being rude!"

After once again being successfully intercepted by the pervasive blade energy, Xiang Yao angrily turned and shouted at the Flower Mantis.

Yet, what met his anger was fiercer blade energy and a pink figure seemingly faster than lightning.

Whiz—Boom!

Earsplitting sonic booms echoed through the mountains and forests.

By the time Xiang Yao sensed danger, the Flower Mantis had already caught up to him.

"Let me see how ’rude’ you can be!"

A hint of killing intent flickered in the pink pupils, as the Flower Mantis’s twin blades became faintly covered in a chilling glow.

——Divine Power: Sword Evil and Saber Gang!

In the blink of an eye, Xiang Yao’s body twisted serpent-like, evading the Flower Mantis’s attack at an almost impossible angle.

To this day, the Flower Mantis had surpassed most Gods in the cultivation of the Breathing Technique.

Even in this region where Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was chaotic, he could still maintain autonomous circulation of the Life Essence Qi within.

In contrast, Xiang Yao, though having cultivated the Breathing Technique and Perception Technique as well.

Could only manage to sustain his power from falling further.

As for advanced techniques like Body-Protecting Gang Qi?

Clearly not within his reach at present.

Clang!

With the sound of metal clashing.

Xiang Yao’s scales bristled up and shot out like porcupine quills.

Unfortunately, the Flower Mantis seemingly hated Xiang Yao to extremes, taking his counterattack head-on without dodging.

The metallic clash was the sound of serpent scales hitting against Body-Protecting Gang Qi.

"Die!"

The Sword Qi on the twin blades extended forward by a few centimeters.

The Flower Mantis vigorously swung downward, slicing Xiang Yao in half at the waist in an instant.

"Ah!"

Unable to hold back a wail, but Xiang Yao’s fury also reached its peak.

He never imagined he’d one day fall so low, to be bullied when down.

...........................

"Hand over the Soul Jade!"

"Or my next cut will take off your head!"

Sheathing his blades in time, he kicked away Xiang Yao’s lower half.

The Flower Mantis leapt nimbly, landing right in front of him from behind.

"Kill me? Who do you think you are?"

Facing the mantis blade aimed at his neck, Xiang Yao winced through the pain to raise his head defiantly, taunting.

"Wu Yi couldn’t kill me, Gonggong couldn’t kill me..."

"Do you, a mere mortal, think you can?"

Proving his words, Xiang Yao suddenly grinned, revealing sharp teeth.

Swoosh!

As the Flower Mantis realized the danger and quickly retreated.

A mass of Qi, mixed with deadly poison, spewed from his mouth.

The Flower Mantis’s Body-Protecting Gang Qi sizzled ominously.

What Xiang Yao spat wasn’t ordinary poison mist, but Nether Qi extracted from Nine Nether Qi.

When this special Primordial Qi mixed with Xiang Yao’s poison spurted out, its toxicity far exceeded any worldly poison.

If Li Boyang witnessed this scene, he’d be amazed by Xiang Yao’s ingenuity.

For such unique poisonous mist was akin to the left-hand or even Demon Path’s expedited "Celestial Being Sympathetic Qi"—uniting his Qi with Heaven and Earth to forge distinct Qi.

But compared to Li Boyang’s "Nine-Turned Pill" method for generating Profound Yellow Qi.

Xiang Yao’s Qi was weak and featureless, relying solely on the Nine Nether Qi’s power.

The sharp-eyed Flower Mantis spotted a faint red light within the toxic mist.

Thanks to this red light’s aid.

Xiang Yao achieved the highest form of the Breathing Technique, even without mastering Body-Protecting Gang Qi.

"Now trying to escape? Isn’t it a bit too late?"

Seeing the Flower Mantis about to flee the poison mist’s reach, Xiang Yao bellowed again. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

The next second, the lower half severed by the Flower Mantis transformed into a giant serpent tail rising into the sky.

The tail lacked the Flower Mantis’s speed, but fully utilized its agility in navigating this Sea of Trees.

Swish, swish...

Simultaneously, Xiang Yao’s upper half turned into a menacing snake head lunging forward.

The scene of Flower Mantis pursuing Xiang Yao was reversed, frightening nearby Spirit Monsters and beasts to flee.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Trees toppled, colliding with one another.

At a loss, the Flower Mantis took a deep breath.

Ignoring the poison mist’s harm, he charged at Xiang Yao again with unstoppable speed.

This time, neither side could retreat, engaging in true mortal combat.

Only then did the contested Soul Jade fully emerge into view.

At the seven-inch mark of Xiang Yao’s snake head carving.

A Soul Jade emitting a bewitching red glow embedded in his scales, granting him tenacious vitality.

The red light threads in the poison mist also originated from this Soul Jade.

Each twist and turn of Xiang Yao revealed the Soul Jade’s refracted rainbow hues.

With diminishing and augmenting strengths, the Flower Mantis quickly fell behind.

Yet, this didn’t dishearten the Flower Mantis but fueled his viciousness further.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The mantis’s twin blades whirled like propellers, clashing with scales incessantly.

Although Xiang Yao, enhanced by the Soul Jade, bore sturdy scales and near-immortal vitality, the pain was all too real.

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