Chapter 6325 Strange Lifeforms
The Heaven’s Spine Mountain Range was one of the most dangerous places in the heaven region’s battlefield, a natural barrier that nearly split the entire realm in two. Other than a handful of special pathways, no one dared to cross it.
Too many experts had perished there throughout history. Even from afar, when the mountains first came into sight, an overwhelming aura of resentment struck them like a tidal wave, making their skin crawl.
“It looks like it’ll take another half a day to arrive there,” said Long Chen solemnly, his eyes locked on the endless ridges.
Long Chen’s senses were sharper than most people. Beneath that shroud of darkness, he could feel immense pressure—as if something terrifying was watching from within, waiting.
Everyone started to tense up. Even Xue Tu gulped as he stared at these pitch-black mountains.
Long Chen unfurled his map. The position that Long Yu had marked wasn’t far. After adjusting their course, the owl dragons sped up, their wings beating furiously.
With the Heaven’s Spine Mountain Range in view, they couldn’t detect any other experts. Clearly, no one wished to come to such a dangerous place. Most people would choose to stay far, far away from it.
The massive owl dragons seemed insignificant once they neared the mountain range. In comparison to those towering peaks, they were no bigger than mosquitoes flying between colossal trees.
The mountains were soaked in darkness. Black stone, black soil, black vegetation—as if some god had spilled ink over the entire land.
The deeper they ventured, the heavier the aura grew. Death and resentment pressed down on them until even the sound of the owl dragons’ wings resembled the wails of damned souls.
Just as they were about to reach the foothills, Long Chen told the owl dragons to slow down. Their huge bodies could easily become a target.
But before they could fully adjust, the ground below erupted. With a deafening crack, a massive white bone python shot upward like a bolt of lightning. Its cavernous jaws split wide, and its fangs gleamed with a cold, venomous light as it lunged for the owl dragon’s underbelly.
It was incredibly fast and seemed to have been lying in wait for a long time. It instantly unleashed a sneak attack once they were in range.
“Damnit!”
Everyone stood on the owl dragon’s back, and with the attack coming from below, there was no way to block in time.
But in the next instant, blood-colored petals surged through the air, condensing into a giant shield that intercepted the python’s fangs.
In the past, Long Chen wouldn’t have been able to react unless he had sensed the enemy in advance. But things were different now. With Evilmoon’s power resonating with his soul, the blood petals could manifest instantly anywhere his divine sense reached.
This was the strength he had gained after forming a true spiritual contract with Evilmoon. With that bond, Long Chen no longer needed to fear ambushes—no matter how sudden or how fierce.
BOOM!
The bone python smashed into the shield, releasing a thunderous shockwave that rattled everyone to their core. That single strike was nearly equivalent to the full-force blow of a nine-hundred-flame divine sprout.
If Long Chen had not reacted quickly, the owl dragon would have been slain, and many of their companions would be crippled or worse.
At this moment, the python recoiled with terrifying speed, its skeletal body retreating toward the cave beneath it.
“Since you’ve come out, don’t leave!” Mu Qingyun shouted.
She was already beneath the owl dragon, her sword will blazing. As a sword cultivator, her senses were razor-sharp, and she had instinctively entered battle state the instant danger appeared.
But even so, she had been a step behind Long Chen. Without his intervention, the owl dragon would have been doomed. However, now that the beast wanted to retreat, her killing intent surged.
With a flick of her wrist, a flying sword streaked out, and the bone python’s head went flying. The sword she was using was precisely one of the thirty-six flying swords Long Chen had just given her.
To everyone’s horror, the python’s headless body continued to slither away, utterly unfazed.
“What?”
Gasps rippled through the group. The bone python had no flesh, no blood. And even decapitated, it showed no sign of death. Such a grotesque existence was something they had never witnessed before.
Suddenly, a wave of Sovereign might spread, covering the surroundings.
Di Mengyao’s Sovereign flame domain spread across the battlefield, instantly locking onto the python. Just as it tried to burrow into the earth, its body froze and spasmed helplessly.
Ashamed, she cursed herself for reacting too slowly—she should have unleashed her domain the moment the beast appeared.
Clenching her jade hand, she tore upward. The ground exploded as the python was dragged out, its body twisting wildly in her domain.
Under their horrified gazes, black runes writhed across its skeleton, squirming like maggots. They pulsed with greasy black pus, twisting desperately as if trying to escape her suppression.
“How vile...”
The sight made even hardened warriors’ stomachs churn.
“Ah, so it’s these parasites controlling the python!” someone realized.
No wonder the python wasn’t affected by the loss of its head. So it was just a puppet.
Long Chen’s expression hardened. With a wave of his hand, flames roared out, engulfing the python. Di Mengyao released her domain at the same time, allowing the fire to consume everything.
The black maggots tumbled to the ground, shrieking in voices dripping with hatred and resentment as they burned.
Long Chen studied them coldly until they were nothing but ash. Only then did he speak.
“This lifeform contains the aura of the other-world experts, but they’re riddled with curse energy. I believe they were once experts of that realm but forced into this abomination by a curse. Even now, their soul essence refuses to disperse.”
“They were cursed to this state and still didn’t die? Then they must have at least been Divine Sovereigns! But what kind of power could twist Divine Sovereigns into mindless monsters?!” exclaimed Hai Mingkong.
“I’m only speculating,” said Long Chen. “We’ll need more evidence. Either way, stay sharp. We will move in formations. Don’t be careless”
At his command, everyone fell into position. The strongest guarded the perimeter, with Long Chen and Di Mengyao leading the charge. Mu Qingyun covered the rear, while Hai Mingkong, Qing Yi, and the others spread across the outer ring.
With a wave of Long Chen’s hand, they instantly vanished into the black mountains.