Pursuit, A Blade Cutting the Buttocks

Half a month ago, Chen Guan felt he had reached the limit of a three-star Dou Master, just one step away from breaking through. It only required a small leap, but he restrained himself, feeling that his rapid progress in cultivation had left his foundation slightly unstable.

His patience paid off. After fighting the Crimson Ice Snake King for half a month, Chen Guan had solidified his foundation even more.

Tonight, he could no longer suppress it. Without much effort, once he activated the "Supreme Saint's Heart Refinement," he broke through naturally.

The sky was clear and the clouds washed away; it was another day perfect for hunting Fire Foxes.

Chen Guan entered the mountains as usual, but his feelings were a bit complicated.

Now that his strength had advanced, the Crimson Ice Snake King was no longer his match. Continuing to fight it was a waste of time and no longer served as training.

But he was a sentimental person. After more than ten days of fighting, he didn't know how to handle the Crimson Ice Snake King. Should he steam it, or stir-fry it?

Cough cough.

It would depend on the snake's attitude.

Two men, one tall and one short, watched the young man head into the mountains, setting up a chessboard to pass what they expected to be another boring day. They clicked their tongues in amazement.

"This kid's a real monster. What do you think his relationship with the princess is? Could he be the emperor's secret... but his surname is Chen. Could it be a fake name?" The short man was filled with curiosity.

The taller one, more familiar with officialdom, shot him a glance. "What's it to you? Want to die early? Stop yapping and set the board—it's my turn to move first."

While the two men enjoyed their leisure, Chen Guan had already reached where his old friend, the Crimson Ice Snake King, was waiting.

Despite its low intelligence, the Crimson Ice Snake King still used the same straightforward entrance after nearly half a month.

Bang!

With just thirteen slashes, Chen Guan sent the Crimson Ice Snake King flying, its massive body crashing through several large trees, leaving a gash over a foot long on its surface, nearly cutting it in two.

This was the heaviest injury the snake had ever suffered at Chen Guan's hands! The snake king was shocked, its cold pupils widening in disbelief and rising fear.

Chen Guan controlled the fight effortlessly, walking forward with his broad sword.

"Enough. I feel like you're more intelligent than the average third-tier magical beast, so you should understand some of what I'm saying. How about surrendering to me? Killing you now would be easy, honestly. I've only been using you to sharpen my skills."

He gave the snake an opportunity.

Perhaps part of this was due to their "old friendship," but what really mattered was the value the snake held.

This was a mutated Crimson Ice Snake, a magical beast on par with a three or four-star Dou Grandmaster. In the Jia Ma Empire, it was already a minor powerhouse.

Even Xiao Yan's father was just a Dou Grandmaster.

Making it a spiritual pet wouldn't benefit Chen Guan much, but he could give it to Little Doctor Immortal or Qing Lin.

Yes, although he hadn't met that little girl yet, Chen Guan had already factored her into his plans.

The Triple Jade Green Snake Flower Pupils had potential no less than the Woeful Poison Body. Only a fool would pass up such a powerful ally.

Chen Guan had already decided where the Crimson Ice Snake King would go. However, to his embarrassment, the snake had no intention of surrendering.

Hiss hiss hiss!!

Three jets of poison shot out, and while Chen Guan dodged, the snake shot into the dense forest.

It couldn't win, but it could still escape.

A chase ensued.

Unlike before, this time it was the Crimson Ice Snake King fleeing for its life. How the tables had turned!

Driven by its strong survival instinct, the snake's speed increased. Even though Chen Guan used his Cloud Steps, he was only slightly faster.

The gap between them, around ten meters, was slowly closing but not instantly.

Chen Guan, irritated at the snake's resistance, relentlessly pursued it, condensing his sword energy and shooting it out one blast after another.

The attacks weren't strong enough to be fatal, but the snake didn't dare block them and was forced to endure them, its body covered in shallow wounds, nearly turning it into a blood-snake.

These wounds weren't life-threatening, but they were as irritating as having a blade cutting one's butt—burning and excruciating!

Knowing the boy was faster, the snake's limited intelligence told it that escape was impossible unless it fled to one place.

Locking onto its target, the Crimson Ice Snake King charged deeper into the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

Before long, third-tier magical beasts began to appear, marking the area of their activity.

Chen Guan frowned slightly, slowing down, but after some thought, he continued the pursuit.

Third-tier magical beasts were equivalent to Dou Masters, and Chen Guan was confident in his ability to survive.

He believed the Crimson Ice Snake King would only flee this far. Any deeper, and it would become food for higher-level beasts, not escape.

As expected, the snake eventually stopped by a small lake near the fourth-tier area, diving headfirst into the water without hesitation.

That's it?

Chen Guan stood at the lake's edge, remarking how the snake wasn't very clever after all.

With its ice attributes, the Crimson Ice Snake King might gain some advantage in the water, but it couldn't think that would even the odds. Diving into the lake meant there was no more escape.

Casually popping a pill into his mouth, Chen Guan sat by the lake, recovering his Dou Qi while he waited.

A quarter of an hour passed, and the lake remained calm.

This suggested no other magical beasts were in the lake, as they would've started fighting by now. The territorial instincts of magical beasts were deeply ingrained.

Even if there were magical beasts, they wouldn't be above the third tier.

With this judgment, Chen Guan, feeling confident, jumped into the lake.

The small lake wasn't large. Despite limited visibility, Chen Guan scouted the area within a few minutes.

Strangely, he couldn't find the Crimson Ice Snake King!

He was sure it hadn't left the water, but it had mysteriously disappeared. This baffled Chen Guan.

After surfacing for air, Chen Guan dove back down for a more meticulous search, determined to uncover the truth.

Finally, after changing his air supply seven times, Chen Guan found a clue.

Under a small slope on the right side of the lakebed, a stone door was hidden!

The lake held secrets!

Chen Guan was certain the snake had gone inside.

Realizing the significance, Chen Guan felt a surge of excitement and, with confidence in his abilities, decisively pushed the door open and went inside.

Since the Crimson Ice Snake King had made it out alive, so could he!

(End of Chapter)