After walking forward for some distance, they heard a rustling sound ahead.
This time, without Han Li's reminder, everyone stopped simultaneously.
"Snakes?"
Dugu Yan looked at Han Li. Han Li smiled but didn't answer. Instead, he rose into the air, clearing the path for them.
"Can I take command?"
Dugu Yan consulted Xiu'er and Shui Bing'er.
"Yes," they both nodded without objection. In this area, they indeed weren't as knowledgeable as Dugu Yan.
"Bing'er, let's approach from the sides. Xiu'er will handle the front."
Dugu Yan decisively flapped her wings and took to the sky. Xiu'er couldn't fly.
Once they formed up, the enemy ahead finally revealed its true form. It was a huge dark red serpent, coiled and slithering on the path, occasionally flicking its tongue. There were nine protrusions on its head and back, each resembling a bright red mushroom, seemingly with blood flowing inside. The serpent's belly was especially large, bulging on the narrow path, and its body length was at least ten meters.
The strange serpent's tongue slowly lifted as it lay on the narrow path, its golden-red eyes becoming as bright as lanterns. Upon seeing the full appearance of the strange serpent, Dugu Yan paused mid-air. What was this thing? A mutated soul beast? She hadn't seen any records of it in the literature.
"Be careful, I don't recognize it. It might be a mutated soul beast. Pay special attention to those lumps on its body," Dugu Yan seriously instructed the other two.
"Bing'er, probe it with an ice spear, aim for the lumps," Dugu Yan instructed Shui Bing'er after a brief moment of thought. Given the environment, it was more appropriate for Shui Bing'er, with her stronger shaping abilities, to condense an ice spear with ice elements rather than using vision-obstructing flames.
"Alright."
Upon hearing her, Shui Bing'er, without hesitation, condensed several milky white ice spears and shot them at the approaching strange serpent.
"Gua..."
Seeing Shui Bing'er's attack, the strange serpent made croaking sounds like a baby's cry, and the nine lumps on its back began to emit a golden-red glow. A fiery red beam suddenly shot from its mouth, carrying a strong stench, swiftly heading toward the ice spears and colliding with them mid-air. The ice spears, after confronting the flames, still managed to pierce through but lost much of their power and were swept away by the serpent's tail.
"Its fire element is strong," Shui Bing'er reminded.
"Yes, but fire and poison? It's unlucky to meet me."
If it were any other type of attack, Dugu Yan might be unsure, but fire and poison were her specialties. However, she glanced at the serpent's massive body and then at the two small wing blades in her hands.
"Xiu'er, stay behind me. I'll intercept the fire and poison; you handle the attacks. Bing'er, try to restrict its movements and help us finish it quickly. Also, take care of Xiu'er's footing."
Shui Bing'er nodded, quickly switching her attack mode. As her wings fluttered, ice elements rapidly gathered in the narrow section where the serpent was, forming a substantial icy vortex that firmly trapped it, with cold air trying to invade its body.
"Gua gua gua!"
The serpent's croaking grew louder.
"Let's go!"
Dugu Yan swiftly moved along the narrow path, coming in front of Xiu'er, holding her wing blades in front, emitting a rich fire element, and charging toward the serpent. Behind her, Xiu'er's soul power gathered into her claws as she silently followed. The strange serpent, initially struggling against Shui Bing'er's icy prison, immediately ceased its struggle upon sensing the two's approaching aura.
The snake's head suddenly turned, and a jet of poisonous flame shot towards the two of them. It was quite cunning; the flame spread along the narrow path on the ground, quickly advancing towards them.
Its attack wasn't directed at Dugu Yan but at Xiu'er behind her. The strange snake had realized that the girl at the back had no wings and likely couldn't fly.
"Wishful thinking."
Dugu Yan naturally noticed its intention, snorted coldly, and increased her speed by a few more notches. Crimson flames burst from her wing blades as she dove directly into the fire.
Then, under the puzzled gaze of the strange snake, the wing blades in her hands rapidly absorbed the poisonous flames.
"Gua—!"
Another piercing cry sounded, and the strange snake coiled its body, its streamlined muscles tightening as its upper body quickly turned.
"Is it trying to escape?"
Han Li and Dugu Bo, hovering nearby, exchanged glances, both seeing the surprise in each other's eyes.
This was the first time they had encountered a creature on the Hell Road that tried to flee. Even the weak bats before had attacked desperately, knowing they couldn't win.
Not just the two of them, but even Dugu Yan and Shui Bing'er ahead were momentarily stunned. Wasn't this supposed to be a trial? How could the guardians try to escape?
However, Shui Bing'er quickly reacted, no longer sparing her soul power. Three solid ice walls appeared behind the strange snake and slammed down hard on it.
Yet, something unexpected happened. Just as the ice walls appeared, the snake quickly turned its upper body again, and its coiled lower body forcefully propelled it toward Dugu Yan and Xiu'er, spitting another jet of poisonous flame at Dugu Yan.
Judging by its trajectory, the snake seemed to be aiming for the narrow path between the two girls.
Its target was the narrow path underfoot, specifically Xiu'er. It was trying to change the terrain to eliminate one of them.
"This creature is quite intelligent!"
Dugu Bo in the air had a look of surprise in his eyes. This snake was much smarter than the snake soul beasts he had encountered before.
"Well, it is a prehistoric beast. With such a title, it has to show some capabilities."
Han Li shook his head with a smile. Setting aside its combat strength, this soul beast was indeed clever.
However, he had no intention of intervening. If this was the extent of its attack, Xiu'er wouldn't be afraid at all.
Sure enough, as the snake descended, Xiu'er guessed its intention.
Her expression turned serious, and soul power began to gather at her feet as she actively moved forward to meet the snake.
"Explosive Step!"
A delicate shout came from Xiu'er.
With a loud boom, the narrow path underfoot shattered under her immense force. She shot into the sky like a cannonball.
Her petite frame, with her right claw glowing in a purple-gold hue, carried a sharp momentum as it struck directly at the snake's head.
"Gua—!"
A fierce light appeared in the snake's eyes, and the nine golden-red lumps on its back grew even brighter.
Unexpectedly, the snake arched its upper body in mid-air without any support, and the lumps burst, shooting out nine streams of golden-red liquid.
Strangely, the liquids merged into a single golden red ball the size of a fist and hurtled toward Xiu'er.
Its core had appeared. Han Li tensed, ready to intervene, fearing Xiu'er might smash it with one strike.
"Xiu'er, ice surface, and ice pillars."
Before he could move, Shui Bing'er's voice came from the side, unusually tinged with anger.
The snake had tricked her earlier, and she was furious.
Hearing Shui Bing'er, Xiu'er understood her intention. She, too, sensed the danger of the golden-red bead.
Decisively abandoning her initial attack, Xiu'er grabbed the ice pillar that had appeared beside her and swung it at the golden-red ball.
Simultaneously, Dugu Yan, having dealt with the poisonous flames, nodded at Xiu'er.
Xiu'er immediately adjusted her angle, redirecting the golden red ball towards Dugu Yan.
Clang!
Upon contact, a large amount of steam erupted, momentarily obscuring Xiu'er's figure. Under the impact, the golden-red ball flew towards Dugu Yan.
"Gua—!"
A different, mournful cry came from the snake, now helpless in mid-air, watching the ball fly towards its side.
But in the next moment, its cry was abruptly cut off.
Xiu'er emerged from the steam, moving as if on solid ground despite being in mid-air, and struck at the snake's head again with her right claw.
Under her feet, Shui Bing'er had created an icy pathway supported by ice pillars leading directly to the snake, even adding anti-slip treatment.
The most terrifying part was a sharp, five to six-meter-long icicle forming on the narrow path below.
With nowhere to escape, the snake took Xiu'er's blow, its head shattering.
Before it could be thrown away by the impact, Xiu'er grabbed its tail with her left hand, aimed its vulnerable spot at the icicle, and slammed it down.
Blood splattered as the snake was split in half, falling towards the blood pool below.
Despite some wobbling, the narrow path remained intact, supported by the ice.
This scene made Han Li and Dugu Bo shiver and look at each other.
Indeed, a year of living in the City of Slaughter had changed them.
Below, seeing the battle over, Dugu Yan turned her gaze to the golden-red ball in her hand, swallowing a gulp of saliva.
She had an urge to swallow the golden-red ball directly.