The Snake King and the Cold-Blooded Great Master no longer fought as two separate entities; their movements had begun to mirror and counter one another in an ever-shifting rhythm.
Their styles evolved with every exchange.
A feint that had worked once was discarded the next instant. A defensive step became an offensive pivot. It was as though two master craftsmen were reshaping their weapons even while striking.
They advanced and retreated in blinding succession. Their sleeves swept forward; blade-light carved backward.
Each dodge was measured to the breadth of a hair, and each weave concealed a trap.
Their eyes captured every minute detail, and their minds replayed each flicker of motion.
The strength was borrowed to mend weakness; weakness was bait to lure strength.
What began as a confrontation had turned into refinement.
Jun Mo Xie watched with narrowed eyes, the playful curve of his lips fading into genuine interest.
"They're learning from each other mid-battle," He murmured. "If this continues, both will come out sharper than they went in."
Suddenly, the Snake King released a piercing screech.
Her slender body spun like a falling leaf caught in a storm. The vast green ocean that had blanketed the battlefield vanished in an instant, collapsing inward as if swallowed by the earth. In the next breath, she shot skyward, enveloped in blazing emerald radiance.
Almost simultaneously, a towering silver-white blade-light followed.
It erupted upward with savage force, vaguely entwined with Lei Wu Bei's black silhouette. A shrill whistle tore through the heavens, so sharp and furious that it seemed capable of ripping the sky apart.
The image was breathtaking: man and blade fused into one unstoppable streak, like a dragon breaking free from subterranean chains and charging toward the sun with reckless defiance.
The brilliance of that rising light washed over the spectators below. Faces turned ashen beneath its glare. Even seasoned Great Masters felt their hearts tighten.
High above, the Snake King tilted her face upward as she ascended further. Her eyes gleamed with cold resolve. Another furious screech split the sky, and at that cry, thousands of Xuan Beasts below instinctively bowed their heads, their bodies trembling in reverence.
She spun midair, and her form dissolved into countless cold stars that cascaded downward in a deadly shower.
From the ground, it looked as though two meteors had begun their journeys from opposite ends of the sky, destined for catastrophic collision.
The wind roared violently between heaven and earth. Robes snapped. Hair lashed wildly. Not a single spectator dared to breathe.
First came a melodious, tender cry that seemed to belong to a celestial maiden.
Then followed a low, oppressive snarl, deep and ferocious.
And then, the sound of a large explosion echoed.
The collision of emerald and silver detonated like a thunderclap. Unceasing crashes reverberated across the plains, one after another, like a relentless battery of cannons.
The earth trembled, and the dust rose in spirals.
Above thirty meters, darkness swallowed the sky for a fleeting instant as if daylight itself had retreated in fear.
In that brief void, only a brilliant rainbow arched across the heavens.
"They are evenly matched," Lei Bao Yu said quietly, though another violent collision still echoed overhead.
Bu Kuang Feng and Venerable Mei did not refute him.
Bang!
A sharp crack resounded as the two streaks crossed paths again.
The towering silver-white blade-light surged higher, trailing like a long-tailed comet carving its path through eternity.
Meanwhile, a cold black-green radiance hurtled downward with tremendous force.
Then came the rain of blood.
Fragments of innumerable chopstick-sized snakes poured from the sky like grotesque petals. They pattered against the earth in a macabre drizzle, forming a thick, writhing layer before finally lying still.
Many onlookers stared in disbelief.
'How had the Snake King carried so many venomous creatures into the heavens without anyone noticing?'
The thought alone chilled their spines.
Bang!
The Snake King struck the ground, spinning. Her delicate feet slid across the soil as she staggered backward, step after step, before finally steadying herself. A thin stream of purple blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, staining her pale chin. Her green dress was shredded in several places by the merciless blade-light.
The long sleeves that had once flowed like dragons were gone, transformed into tattered strips that fluttered around her arms like broken butterfly wings.
She looked fragile, yet the killing intent in her eyes had not diminished in the slightest.
A soft thud followed as Lei Wu Bei descended.
He landed first upon his toes, absorbing the force, before pressing heavily into the ground to straighten his stance. His condition was worse at first glance. The black gown he wore was torn and riddled with snake bites, punctures scattered across the fabric like a grim constellation. Several long gashes, clearly carved by bladed silk, exposed his flesh beneath.
His hair hung disheveled around his face, wild and unkempt.
The dark red blood seeped from the corners of his mouth. At first, it was only a thin line. Then it flowed more freely, staining his chin. His rock-like countenance flushed crimson, then drained to ghostly white, then reddened again in a disturbing cycle, as if the blood within him could not decide whether to surge or retreat.
For a moment, silence reigned.
They stood facing one another, separated by only a few paces yet divided by an immeasurable gulf of danger.
Lei Wu Bei tightened his grip upon the blade. Through clenched teeth, he spoke, "That was good! The Snake King is truly exceptional!"
The Snake King's lips curved into a gentle smile. The drop of blood at her mouth fell to the ground as she inclined her head slightly. "The Cold-Blooded Master genuinely deserves to be a Great Master."
Strangely, the sight of blood upon her lips did not mar her beauty. Instead, it lent her an almost tragic brilliance, like a flower blooming at the edge of a precipice.
Lei Bao Yu stepped forward, raising his voice. "This seems like a draw. What's your opinion about this, Venerable Mei?"
Venerable Mei regarded him with a faint, knowing smile. Her gaze shifted briefly between the two wounded figures before returning to Lei Bao Yu.
"A draw?" She repeated softly. Then her smile deepened. "That's good. It's a draw."
Lei Bao Yu felt his face grow warm.
He understood the meaning beneath her tone. On the surface, it was indeed a draw as both combatants stood wounded, neither fallen, neither retreating.
Yet he knew very well that the Snake King had not revealed her ultimate trump card. The battle had stopped at equilibrium, but equilibrium could tilt in a heartbeat.
If it truly devolved into a life-and-death struggle, Lei Wu Bei would not escape unscathed.
The Snake King straightened her posture despite the blood at her lips.
Lei Wu Bei lifted his blade once more, though his breathing had grown heavier.
Above them, the wind still howled, carrying the lingering scent of venom and steel.
And everyone present knew that although this round had been declared a draw, the balance between man and beast had grown even more precarious than before.
--- β¦ β¦ β¦ ---
π’ Author's Note π’
If you're enjoying this story and want more chapters right now, I invite you to check out my Buymecoffee. There you'll find:
β Daily updates β never miss a day of new content
β Advanced chapters β read far ahead of public releases
β Exclusive perks & extras β only available to members
Your support not only gives you early access but also helps me dedicate more time to writing and expanding this story. Every reader who joins makes a huge difference.
π Dive into more chapters today: buymeacoffee.com/myth_valley
Let's keep the adventure alive! π₯πβ¨