A sudden massive snake head, larger than Ji Wuye could fully comprehend, lunged towards him with blinding speed.
Those black waters on its body, akin to real obsidian scales of snakes, reflected Ji Wuye's glistening crimson eyes as the colossal maw opened, filling his entire field of vision.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/dp6V1Y4/Notif-1.webp]
BOOM!
The air itself seemed to explode with a thunderous boom as the serpent's strike connected. A violent shockwave erupted, splashing the shallow black waters below and briefly revealing the Dungeon's rocky floor before the disturbed fluid came crashing back.
Ji Wuye's body was flung backwards like a ragdoll, slamming against the entrance as rubble and dust rained down upon him. The damp rubble hissed as it was soaked by the receding waters.
HISS!
At the same time, a bone-chilling hiss reverberated through the vast space as the gigantic snake withdrew its head, molten eyes scanning the debris intently. Its forked tongue flicked out, tasting the air musty with pulverized stone and damp earth.
But then...
The mound of rubble shifted, parting to reveal a faintly pulsing red aura surrounding a great wooden sword as it emerged. Ji Wuye followed, miraculously uninjured, gripping the vibrating hilt tightly. His gaze swept over the serpent's seemingly endless form, each head swaying as its massive coiled body remained latched around the gigantic stone statue of Fenrir.
"That's just insanely fast," Ji Wuye remarked, the words barely a whisper as his eyes caught the edge of his peripheral vision.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/B2rqSjR/Notif-3.webp]
Though outwardly stoic, Ji Wuye's heart pounded in his chest as the system notification lit up once more. Despite his newly recently advanced Feline Reflexes skill and his physique rivaling a 7th realm martial master, he could not even perceive the snake's strike. Had his Deflecting Blows skill not negated the blow, the consequences would have been catastrophic - especially now that the fallen rubble had sealed off his exit.
"As expected from a creature of legend," he muttered solemnly, unable to hide an undercurrent of respect in his tone. Slowly, Ji Wuye released his white-knuckle grip on the sword's hilt, allowing the pulsating red aura to dissipate as the weapon began its descent.
But in a blur of movement, his hand snapped out, snatching the hilt back with a tight grip.
The reason was simple...
The Deflecting Blows skill was a one-time use per battle according to the details. Yet the question burned in his mind - what precisely defined the parameters of a "battle" instance?
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'Obviously, by whether the practitioner holds the sword,' he thought, his free hand moving to massage the Mingmen point at the small of his back, just above his tailbone. This precise motion would temporarily boost and double the flow of Qi circulating through his Lower Dantian.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/9cwTRC8/Notif-Pressure.webp]
By releasing his grip on his 'weapon', it allowed the Deflecting Blows skill to revert to an inactive state after each use. This was the key allowing Ji Wuye to manipulate and activate the skill countless times.
ROAR!
Suddenly, a thunderous roar shook the chamber as the gigantic stone statue of Fenrir finally stirred, letting out a desperate cry. Its body, coiled by the Xiangliu's massive form, began to crumble - great chunks of rock turning to broken rubble that splashed into the shallow black waters below.
Even the glistening mythical chains that had restrained the wolf for eons abruptly disintegrated to dust, leaving the Xiangliu alone with Ji Wuye.
"Ha...ha...ha..." Ji Wuye let out a sarcastic laugh that echoed through the dungeon depths. He could scarcely believe his eyes - facing the legendary nine-headed snake of folklore, albeit in this strange watery manifestation. "Not impossible, but it would be exhausting."
A wide, anticipatory smile spread across his lips.
There was no fear or panic in his eyes, as this was still just the replicate "form" of Xiangliu or, in other words, a worthy opponent to truly test the limits of his improved martial arts skills and combat power.
Ji Wuye's Lower Dantian thrummed with surging Qi as it greedily drew in the surrounding energy of the Dungeon. His body grew feverishly hot, suffused with a mixture of excitement and grim solemnity. His heart thundered in his chest as sweat poured down his frame - the aftermath of stimulating his Zusanli point to temporarily double his stamina reserves.
HISS!
A bone-chilling hiss reverberated all around as the nine-headed leviathan loomed massive before him, its scale-like bodies in water form collectively occupying nearly half the vast Dungeon space. The colossal snake continually undulated and shifted, coiling tighter as if ready to spring forth and strike at any moment.
Nine sets of molten eyes fixed unblinkingly on Ji Wuye, pupils constricting to slits as each head joined in a chorus of menacing hisses. A few serpentine necks occasionally brushed against the high ceilings, causing debris to rain down and splash into the fathomless black waters below.
Ji Wuye tightened his grip on the great wooden sword, feeling the powerful vibrations and seeing the pulsating red aura of the Slash Breaker ripple along its length. His crimson eyes narrowed as the muscles in his legs tensed, coiling like springs ready to unleash.
His breathing grew ragged with mounting anticipation as his sharp gaze scanned the area - the broken descending stairs, the shallow black waters rippling below, the floating debris drifting lazily. He plotted a smooth offensive path to strike at the terrifying Xiangliu.
For a brief moment, neither combatant moved - a temporary stillness before the storm as predator and prey appraised each other.
SWOOSH!
Then, in an explosive burst of movement, Ji Wuye's body seemed to vanish into the air.
A whistling rush of displaced air followed his blurring descent as his right foot, reinforced by swirling cerulean Qi, acted as both wheeled chariot and beaten path. Each impact kicked up frothing wakes in the black waters as Ji Wuye glided smoothly above the surface.
His left foot stomped down like a rampaging bull, generating exploding bursts that propelled his lithe form forward in a series of undulating weaves and coils that eerily mimicked the serpentine Xiangliu's own sinuous movements.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/fnDBvLY/Notif-1.webp]
Rather than advance in a straight line, Ji Wuye zigged and zagged in a seemingly mocking dance, his trajectory difficult to track as he closed the distance between them.
But the Xiangliu would not be taunted into reckless action.
HISSS!
A bone-chilling hiss shattered the air as a barrage of debris went flying towards the rapidly advancing Ji Wuye. With liquid grace, he merely slid to the left, easily evading the hail of rocky projectiles.
image [https://i.ibb.co.com/R991vKM/Notif-2.webp]
More came streaking in, one after another, which Ji Wuye agilely twisted away from or deflected with a sweep of his great wooden sword.
BANG!
For those he could not avoid, the Slash Breaker came into play - its pulsing edge shattering the larger chunks of debris with resonant bangs.
Ji Wuye's crimson gaze flicked rapidly between the Xiangliu's probing attacks and the evasive path required to dodge the unceasing barrage.
But then...
'It's finally here...' Ji Wuye's heart thundered as sweat continually poured down his frame from the activated pressure points boosting his stamina reserves. With mounting anticipation, he witnessed the Xiangliu's full body give an ominous twitch.
Nine gaping maws yawned wide in unison, fangs gleaming as the colossal heads reared back.
However, in that same instant, Ji Wuye's gliding footsteps, rapidly weaving between floating debris and shallow black waters, came to an abrupt halt.
The Xiangliu, in that menacing pose as if wanting to attack, and the battle that he thought would be the start... just...
SPLASH!
A massive cold splash from the black water hit him as the gigantic body of Xiangliu, made of this black water, collapsed... before he even... touched it.