Xu Que had only just thought of this when the enormous white-scaled serpent, as if it had completed its own analysis of its prey, once again lunged towards him.
The serpent slithered at breakneck speed, its scales scraping the ground with a menacing hiss.
Xu Que narrowed his eyes warily, and the gleaming Cloud Essence Blade in his hand flickered with starlight.
It was coming!
In his heightened state of focus, he could track the serpent's every movement. As it opened its gaping jaws to swallow him, he rolled to the right, narrowly avoiding its fangs, and struck out with the Cloud Essence Blade, hoping to inflict damage.
Despite his array of tactics, the serpent's scales were unyielding, leaving Xu Que momentarily at a loss.
The serpent coiled itself rapidly, intent on ensnaring him within its grip.
But Xu Que anticipated this, springing onto the serpent's body and rolling away from its tightening coils.
As he slipped free, the serpent's head whipped around, jaws wide as it lunged at him again.
Dodging the lethal maw, Xu Que delivered a forceful punch to the serpent's head.
With a resounding crash, the impact nearly knocked him off his feet from the recoil.
"Damn it! Has its weakness shifted?"
Just as he had this thought, the serpent's next attack came. But this time, Xu Que's keen eye spotted a black mark on its underbelly, precisely seven inches from its head.
"Got it!"
He sidestepped the attack, tightened his grip on the Cloud Essence Blade, and slashed downward along the serpent's head.
The serpent coiled once more, determined to capture him.
Seizing the moment as it coiled, Xu Que executed a powerful upward slash toward the dark mark.
With a sharp sound, the blade cut through the air, unleashing a wave of spirit energy that even Xu Que found astonishing.
A spurt of blue blood splattered, and the serpent, twitching as if shocked, writhed in agony.
"And still it lives!"
Xu Que was astonished; he'd thought one strike would finish it, but instead, he'd only dealt a severe, though not fatal, blow.
Seeing the serpent thrashing about, Xu Que rushed forward, targeting the same spot, and charged the Cloud Essence Blade with more energy.
"Now!"
He unleashed a fierce diagonal slash, bursting with the energy of the Heaven-Slicing Technique.
A wet sound followed as the blade carved through half of the serpent's body in one powerful stroke.
"It seems its scales still can't be completely severed."
Though the Heaven-Slicing Technique was his strongest move, he lacked a weapon sturdy enough to penetrate the white scales entirely.
As Xu Que collected the serpent's dropped items, a familiar mechanical female voice rang out.
"Congratulations, Xu Que. You have successfully cleared the C-grade 'Dark Cavern' and obtained its territory rights, nine blocks of spirit iron, twelve spirit crystals, and one spirit stone. Check the trading hall interface for income details."
"Congratulations, Xu Que. Our data indicates that you possess an advanced territory; 'Dark Cavern' will now be integrated into the 'Forest of Shadows'…"
Xu Que ignored the voice, knowing the lower-grade territory would fold into the higher one. Once the trading hall opened, he could check his resources.
Surveying the vacant hall, he quickly gathered the loot and dashed outside. After all, Zhao Xian and the others were still waiting, and if he didn't call them, they'd likely wait a lifetime…
**[Solid Scale, Grade A]**
**Quality: Epic (Gold)**
**Material: Scale of the White-Scaled Serpent, exceptionally durable, ideal for forging and alchemy.**
"A Grade-A material!"
Xu Que was thrilled. Despite his knowledge of its value from past experience, seeing it firsthand confirmed its worth.
With this material, he could forge armor of such strength that he'd dare venture into any dimension, for this item once fetched 700 spirit stones at auction!
**[White Serpent Tendon, Grade B]**
**Quality: Superior (Purple)**
**Material: Tendon of the adult White-Scaled Serpent, highly resilient, ideal for forging and alchemy.**
"This is the core material for a Terror Wing Bow!"
In his previous life, Xu Que had seen this bow at auction; the starting bid alone was staggering!
An A-grade weapon's price far exceeded armor of the same level, and that Terror Wing Bow ultimately sold for 2,000 spirit stones!
Even with two territories and the Hundredfold Resource talent, it would take him six or seven days of resources to afford the Terror Wing Bow. Without it, it would take six to eight years!
**[Heart of Ice Spirit, Grade C (Unique Equipment)]**
**Quality: Superior (Purple)**
**Passive Effect: Increases wearer's cultivation speed, with a chance to gain clarity of mind.**
Seeing this item, Xu Que's mouth twitched in a smirk. Who would have thought the White-Scaled Serpent would drop such an item?
Remembering Liu Ruyan's scheming face from his past life, Xu Que wanted to revisit that story. But now, Liu Ruyan would be nothing more than a memory…
"In your past life, you plotted meticulously to steal this and gift it to Ji Boda. Don't worry, I'll see to it that he gets it this time too!" Xu Que sneered.
Turning a corner into the central corridor, he was halted by another item!
**[Anchor Shard, Grade D (2/2 Shards, Fusion Available)]**
**Quality: Excellent (Blue)**
**Note: Upon fusion, use the Anchor Key to locate lost dimensional relics.**
Without hesitation, Xu Que chose to fuse. Being in a dimensional space, it was best not to delay.
As he fused the shards, they transformed into a key.
**[Anchor Key, Grade C]**
**Quality: Superior (Purple)**
**Note: Opens a hidden dimensional space with unknown dangers and opportunities; use with caution.**
The notion of danger only made Xu Que chuckle. Others might fear danger, but he would face none, for he'd read the parchment of knowledge.
With the key in hand, he closed his eyes, attuning himself to the node's location.
A bright point appeared in his mind, and Xu Que quickly pinpointed the node's position.
"So, it's in the tunnel of the Thunderwater Ferrets!"
He entered the narrow, shadowy passage and paused at the midpoint, where he twisted the key against the stone wall.
A crisp sound echoed as if unlocking something. Before him, a new dimensional rift appeared.
Crossing into this rift, a new world unfolded.
It was a searing desert, filled with blazing heat.
Xu Que waited, surveying his surroundings before fixing his gaze in one direction.
"Is it over there?"
His eyes fell on a rolling sand dune, indicating something stirring beneath.
Xu Que didn't underestimate these strange creatures; in his current state, he couldn't kill them and would have to rely on speed or bait.
He tossed three pieces of exotic meat from his inventory toward a nearby spot.
The moment the meat touched the sand, the creature beneath surged toward it.
Suddenly, a massive sandworm erupted from the dune, devouring the meat and vanishing back beneath the sand!