"Damn, I didn't expect your treasure map to be useful after all. It actually led us to find a rare medicinal herb."
Initially, Fang Chao had only come treasure hunting with a trial-and-error mindset. Even if he found nothing, he had plenty of time and could just consider it a trip to relax.
However, he never expected that this treasure hunting trip would lead to the discovery of a rare medicinal herb, making it well worth the effort.
"I have a pill formula on hand that uses Seven Star Lotus as its main ingredient. After we return, I'll refine it into pills and give you half."
Du Fei looked at the Seven Star Lotus before him. It had already grown seven leaves, clearly indicating it was fully mature and ready for harvest.
He said excitedly to Fang Chao.
He truly hadn't expected to almost miss out on such a treasure.
He hadn't planned to follow the treasure map from the ancient book at all. It was Fang Chao who had insisted on bringing him along.
Now, with the Seven Star Lotus in hand, he could return and refine Seven Star Pills, which was simply a stroke of great fortune.
Fang Chao was also surprised when he heard that Du Fei knew how to refine pills.
"I never knew, Du Fei, that you could refine pills. If I had known earlier, I would have brought you a lot of medicinal herbs too. Let's see if you can refine..."
*Splash!*
Before Fang Chao could finish speaking, the water surface of the pool suddenly broke open, and a massive figure emerged.
"Holy shit!"
Even Fang Chao, who prided himself on remaining calm in the face of disaster, couldn't help but blurt out an expletive.
Du Fei, standing beside him, widened his eyes, his expression one of utter shock.
The colossal figure that had just emerged from the water was a snake.
To describe it as just a snake was inaccurate; it was more like a giant python.
The python before them was as thick as a bucket, its head as large as a rice bushel. Its exact length was unknown, but the part exposed above the water was already seven to eight meters long. The portion submerged in the pool was likely even longer.
A giant python, at least twenty meters long and as thick as a bucket, was an incredibly striking sight.
Especially after bursting from the water, the python fixed its gaze on Du Fei and Fang Chao with a pair of triangular eyes glinting with a green light.
Its astonishingly long forked tongue flicked out intermittently, looking utterly terrifying.
It was fortunate that both Du Fei and Fang Chao were martial cultivators. If two ordinary people stood here, they would have likely been paralyzed with fear, and the fainter-hearted might have wet themselves.
"Du, Du Fei, do you think this thing will let us pick the Seven Star Lotus?"
Although Fang Chao was skilled and brave, he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread in the face of this enormous python, its sinister eyes staring at him.
His voice trembled slightly as he spoke.
Du Fei took a deep breath and gave a wry smile. "How about you try negotiating with it?"
Negotiate with a giant python?
Was this guy kidding him? If Fang Chao wasn't being stared at by the python, he would have rushed over and knocked on Du Fei's head to see what was inside.
"Get lost! If you want to negotiate, go do it yourself!"
Fang Chao shot Du Fei an annoyed glance.
How could this guy be in the mood to joke at a time like this?
*Hiss!*
Perhaps stimulated by their conversation, the python in the water raised its head high and flicked its tongue towards them.
*Splash!*
With a disturbance of the water, the python began swimming towards Du Fei and Fang Chao.
*Whoosh!*
Before the python had fully emerged from the pool, its body extended, and its head lunged directly at Du Fei and Fang Chao.
Du Fei and Fang Chao immediately dodged.
Although both were martial cultivators with exceptional skills, facing such a colossal python, they knew their combat capabilities were on entirely different levels.
*Boom!*
The python slammed into the wall behind them, causing the entire cave to shake.
Dust rained down from the ceiling.
For a moment, the depths of the cave became obscured by dust, and Du Fei and Fang Chao instinctively closed their eyes.
*Whoosh.*
Just as Du Fei and the two closed their eyes, the python, which had just hit the wall, attacked again.
When Fang Chao opened his eyes, the python's head was directly in front of him. He knew he couldn't dodge it.
At that instant, he thought he would be at least severely injured, if not killed.
But the next second, Fang Chao was roughly shoved aside.
The python's head brushed past his body.
Fang Chao rolled a couple of times on the ground before springing back to his feet with a supple movement.
Turning back, he saw Du Fei standing near where he had been.
It turned out that Du Fei had saved him at the most critical moment.
The python's attacks had missed twice, and with Du Fei disrupting its offensive, its hissing and flicking tongue now focused on Du Fei.
"Du Fei, be careful!"
Fang Chao couldn't help but call out a warning.
Just as Du Fei was about to reply, the python attacked again.
This time, the python didn't use its head to ram Du Fei. With a splash, the rest of its body emerged from the water.
The python was over twenty meters long. It swung its tail, creating a loud whistling sound in the air.
Its long tail lashed out like a whip towards Du Fei.
Given its immense length, the whip strike covered all possible evasion paths for Du Fei.
Seeing that the python had sealed off all of Du Fei's escape routes, Fang Chao's expression turned anxious, his fists clenched tightly.
The massive snake tail swept across the ground, not only creating a powerful whooshing sound but also sending everything on the ground flying.
Du Fei took a deep breath and leaped upwards, rising several meters into the air.
Seeing Du Fei leap to safety from the python's sweeping tail, Fang Chao finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Du Fei, it looks like we won't be getting the Seven Star Lotus today. Our lives are more important. We should get out of here quickly."
Although Fang Chao wanted to obtain the Seven Star Lotus for Du Fei to refine medicine, he clearly understood that the python was the boss in this cave. If Du Fei and Fang Chao didn't leave soon, they would likely be devoured.
"I'm afraid it's too late for us to escape."
Saying this, Du Fei pointed forward.
Fang Chao followed Du Fei's gaze and opened his mouth wide, clearly stunned.
The python had blocked the exit of the cave.
Whether it was intentional or not, with its colossal body blocking the cave entrance, it was impossible for Du Fei and Fang Chao to leave through the opening.
Fang Chao forced a wry smile. "I'm sorry, Du Fei. I've dragged you into this. If I hadn't insisted on coming treasure hunting, none of this would have happened. It seems we're in grave danger today."
It was no wonder Fang Chao was so pessimistic. The python's attack power was simply terrifying. If either Du Fei or Fang Chao were hit by its head or tail, they would be crippled, if not killed.
As for killing the python and leaving, that was merely a pipe dream, utterly impossible.
Du Fei understood why Fang Chao said that, but no one wanted to die, so he was desperately trying to figure out how to deal with the current situation.