A massive snake tail crashed down with a thunderous roar, sending dust flying everywhere. When the dust finally settled, everyone could clearly see that the once-feared leader of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe, Huang Tian, had taken his last breath.
"The... the tribe leader!"
The tragic sight of Huang Tian's death devastated the members of the Phoenix Tribe. A few brave souls tried to rush forward, but were quickly pulled back by their comrades.
They wanted to save their leader, but they simply didn't dare to move. After all, nobody valued their life so little as to charge into certain death.
The terrifying strength of Zi Yan, Gu Fei, and the newly arrived Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python had them all completely paralyzed with fear. All they could do now was helplessly watch as their leader lay lifeless on the ground.
Even the tribe's Grand Elders, Feng Huang, Kun Huang, and Ying Huang, struggled to rise from the ground, severely injured by Zi Yan's casual strike. Their faces were pale, and blood trickled from the corners of their mouths, clear signs of internal injuries.
"Retreat!"
Feng Huang immediately ordered a retreat. If they didn't retreat now, even more of their tribe members would lose their lives.
As her command echoed, the air was filled with the sound of wings flapping, and countless golden streaks of light shot into the sky, vanishing beyond the horizon in no time.
Gu Fei didn't bother with the retreating figures. His attention was now focused on the Nine-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python.
"Huang Tian... just died like that!"
Yao Ming stepped forward, looking at Huang Tian's body in astonishment, clicking his tongue in disbelief.
"Young friend Gu Fei is truly fortunate. Every woman around him is so powerful!"
As soon as Yao Ming finished speaking, the enormous Heaven-Swallowing Python began to shrink. Under the shocked gaze of the crowd, the giant snake's form gradually transformed into a beautiful figure. When the light dissipated, a stunningly beautiful woman stood before them.
Her face was enough to bring down nations, her skin as white as jade, and her eyes sparkled like the stars. Her long, flowing hair cascaded down to her waist, swaying gently in the breeze. Her figure was curvaceous, and her tight-fitting dress perfectly accentuated her flawless body.
"Cai Lin! You were amazing just now!"
Zi Yan excitedly ran up to her.
"You helped too!" Cai Lin smiled warmly, gently patting Zi Yan's head. "If you hadn't already injured Huang Tian, I wouldn't have been able to kill him so easily."
Then, Cai Lin turned to Gu Fei, who was walking toward her. Their eyes met, and a tender smile appeared in hers. In the next moment, she rushed into Gu Fei's arms, and he effortlessly wrapped his arm around her slender waist.
"Cai Lin, you've grown even stronger over the years," Gu Fei said softly.
"I had to, to be worthy of you," Cai Lin playfully teased, shooting him a teasing look.
The two began to openly display their affection for each other, leaving many of the onlookers, especially the single men, nearly in tears with envy.
After some time, they reluctantly separated.
"It must have been lonely, training all those years alone at the bottom of the Nine Serene Springs..." Gu Fei said, his eyes filled with concern.
"At first, it was tough adjusting to the environment there, but after a while, I got used to it. The energy there is incredibly pure, and thanks to some fortuitous encounters, my cultivation improved rapidly. I've now reached the late stage of a four-star Dou Saint."
Cai Lin smiled, recounting her experience of training at the bottom of the springs.
"Your power just now was far beyond that of a four-star Dou Saint!"
Gu Fei chuckled knowingly, having long since realized something unusual about Cai Lin's strength.
Cai Lin didn't hide anything and raised her delicate hand, pulling back her sleeve to reveal a smooth, jade-like wrist adorned with vibrant, seven-colored snake markings that coiled up her arm.
"These markings have life in them," Gu Fei remarked with a smile.
Cai Lin nodded. "At the bottom of the Nine Serene Springs, I found the ancestral lair of the Seven-Colored Heaven-Swallowing Python. I received their inheritance. Although many of them had already perished, some of their souls remained. I woke them, and they now reside within me. With their power, I was able to unleash strength close to that of a peak five-star Dou Saint."
Hearing this, Zi Yan finally understood why Cai Lin had been able to kill Huang Tian so easily- it was because she had the support of her powerful ancestors.
The three chatted for a while before Gu Fei finally remembered the retreating Heaven Demon Phoenix Tribe.
"Let's head to the Phoenix Nest Mountain. Even if we don't wipe them out, we should teach them a lesson," Gu Fei said casually.
Cai Lin and Zi Yan both nodded, following Gu Fei as they flew toward the Phoenix Nest Mountain.
...
"It seems our tribe will need to go into hiding for a while," said a tribe elder, his face full of sorrow and fear as they returned to their territory at Phoenix Nest Mountain, where once prosperity now hung under a shroud of doom after the death of their leader.
But before they could catch their breath, they sensed three powerful auras quickly approaching.
"They're already here!" cried a terrified elder.
As panic gripped the tribe, Gu Fei, Cai Lin, and Zi Yan descended upon Phoenix Nest Mountain. Despite the breathtaking scenery- the golden crowns of phoenix trees covering the mountain, and their ancient trunks soaring into the clouds—Gu Fei's gaze was cold.
"This place is beautiful," Cai Lin and Zi Yan remarked in awe at the magnificent landscape.
"Indeed, it is," Gu Fei agreed, but then his tone turned icy. "It's a shame it will soon be stained with blood."