Chapter 79: Gains and Losses Within the Trap

Ji Yao paid no heed to whatever thoughts the Jade Serpent might harbor and, right before its eyes, gleefully dug up a considerable number of Enlightenment Herbs once more.

Nearly half of the Enlightenment Herbs were uprooted by Ji Yao, and yet the Jade Serpent had not achieved its aim; it was impossible for it not to be anxious. Just as it was about to lash out, it found that the female cultivator, who had been right in front of it, had suddenly vanished.

How could this be? The Jade Serpent, half-hidden in the grass, abruptly raised its massive head. Its golden eyes, slit pupils shifting back and forth, its tongue flicked out as if probing for clues.

Suddenly, a narrow golden sword-light swept low across the ground. The Jade Serpent instinctively bristled its scales, shaking rapidly, barely managing to slip away from the sword-light’s path. Yet its reaction was a step too slow: the sword-light severed the stalks of the surrounding Enlightenment Herbs, scraping along the serpent’s underbelly and tearing away a scattering of blood-stained scales.

The roots of the severed Enlightenment Herbs seemed to be drawn by some force, soaring into the air and gradually vanishing—clearly, someone had collected them.

The Jade Serpent was not the only one capable of invisibility; with human ingenuity, how could there not be a method for concealment? Moreover, Ji Yao possessed treasures that masked her presence.

Ji Yao now removed her invisibility talisman, revealing herself. The Jade Serpent, missing some scales, could now track her movements even if she vanished again.

Ji Yao’s steps were light and elusive. In one hand she held several ancient talismans, in the other, she lifted the Snowdust Sword, her spiritual sense spreading out to search for anomalies in the surrounding air.

Sure enough, about two meters to her side, the currents of air showed subtle ripples. Without hesitation, Ji Yao sent a burst of sword energy, and the Jade Serpent’s massive form appeared instantly.

There was but one concern: the serpent’s tail was right beside her feet. The head, forced into view by the sword energy, seemed to provoke its fury.

The thick, powerful tail swung at Ji Yao. There was no time to dodge. Without thinking, Ji Yao twisted her body into an arc, pressed her arm against the tail, and grasped it.

Her entire body hung half-suspended from the serpent’s tail. Using the force of its strike, she was flung into the air, causing the tail to miss and instead slam into a nearby tree.

A cracking sound echoed as the trunk snapped. Ji Yao released her grip just in time, her momentum carrying her forward.

As she soared past the tree, Ji Yao abruptly flipped, landing with force on the fallen trunk and instantly springing upright, retreating backward.

The Jade Serpent reacted as well, its body weaving forward. Wherever it passed, trees were felled by its tail, its tremendous power bearing down on Ji Yao.

Though the serpent’s movements were not especially swift, its length made up for it. The tail swung with extraordinary force, and the broken trees hindered Ji Yao’s retreat.

After several evasions, the serpent caught up, its tail curling inward to bind her.

Once entangled, escape would be nearly impossible. Ji Yao slapped a Vajra Talisman onto herself and, instead of retreating, sprang toward the serpent’s head.

With the tail moving so forcefully, the head was less agile. Ji Yao stabbed out with the Snowdust Sword, but its fine scales left no mark.

Ji Yao realized that her initial sword-light had scraped off scales only because the serpent had raised them, creating gaps in its defenses. The sword energy exploited these flaws, slicing into the flesh.

Otherwise, with the protection of its scales, the serpent was armored against blades and arrows. Only weapons of the highest grade or spiritual power surpassing its cultivation could inflict harm—something Ji Yao could not achieve.

She had not expected the Jade Serpent’s scales to offer such astonishing defense, in addition to camouflage.

Now, to break through its defenses, she had only two options: the original wound, or its eyes. Alternatively, if the serpent opened its jaws to bite her, she could strike directly into its mouth.

But the last option was hardest; the serpent was cunning and would not use its mouth until it had fully subdued its prey. In this brief struggle, it relied solely on its tail and scales, even concealing the initial wound.

That left one method: wait for it to turn invisible again, and seize the moment when it raises its scales to inflict a new wound.

Each time the Jade Serpent went invisible, it remained so for no more than ten breaths. Even if Ji Yao did not force it to reveal itself, it would show itself briefly. That moment, when its defenses were compromised, was Ji Yao’s best chance to strike.

Her sword failed to penetrate the serpent’s defenses, so Ji Yao spun her blade and circled its body, slipping away with the sword’s momentum.

Escaping the coils of the tail, she once again put distance between herself and the serpent, darting about to keep her advantage.

Their location was already far from the initial battleground, freeing Ji Yao from concerns. She unleashed eight Explosive Talismans, sending them shooting toward the Jade Serpent from eight directions.

She had not expected that, instead of preventing its invisibility, she would now force it into hiding. Ji Yao narrowed her eyes, focusing her spiritual sense on the serpent nearby.

The eight Explosive Talismans finally exerted enough pressure. The Jade Serpent’s pupils narrowed into slits; its body flattened to the ground, responding instinctively to danger. Its scales bristled, shaking as it prepared to vanish.

This was the moment Ji Yao had waited for—she would not let it slip by. She sank her feet, leaned forward, lowering herself just above the ground, and swung her sword levelly.

A compressed strand of sword energy swept low, severing grass and wood along its path, slicing through the gap in the serpent’s raised scales a split second before it vanished.

The small cut spurted a line of blood, a patch of blue scaled snake skin fell to the ground, and the blood-stained Jade Serpent disappeared into the air, leaving behind only the scent of blood.

Once invisible, the serpent’s speed was unhindered by its body, becoming extremely swift. Ji Yao dared not repeat her earlier mistake and waste time letting it approach.

Though she still had the Vajra Talisman’s protection, the risk of being struck was high.

Eight Explosive Talismans hovered in midair, controlled by Ji Yao, forming an encircling barrier around the serpent’s location.

Ji Yao did not expect her sword to be even more effective this time, exceeding her goal. The talismans’ sealing effect was now ready to be unleashed.

With her spiritual sense, Ji Yao activated all eight Explosive Talismans at once. Violent energy surged outward.

She had underestimated the combined power of eight Explosive Talismans exploding together. Even at a distance, Ji Yao was forced to retreat rapidly by the shockwave.

The Vajra Talisman on her body burst into white light, flickering before dissolving into ash, filling Ji Yao with dread. Without its protection, she might have been thrown clear by the blast.

Considering this, the Jade Serpent, at the center of the explosion, must have fared even worse.

Though not detonated at close range, the rampant energy forced the serpent, unable to escape the encirclement, to reveal itself.

Its massive body crashed down from midair, landing heavily and sending grass and foliage flying.