Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 172 Kirin
Yuan Jingshan nodded and manipulated all the ice shards to pierce the same point on the shield.

Liu Sijun then activated the Taixu Mirror with all his might, gathering all the purifying power into a thick beam of light and shooting it toward that point.

Tong Lei also concentrated the fiery spiritual power on his longsword to its limit and unleashed "Flaming Dragon World-Burning Thrust," a sharp fiery spear piercing towards the shield.

Gu Changzhou channeled the power of the stars and unleashed an enhanced version of "Starry Sky-Splitting Slash"—"Starry World-Splitting Slash." A massive sword aura containing powerful stellar energy, carrying the momentum to tear through space, slashed towards the shield.

Under the combined attack of everyone, the shield began to fluctuate, its light flashing erratically.

The python roared angrily inside the shield, struggling to escape the group's attacks.

Finally, under the relentless attacks of the group, a small crack appeared on the shield.

Gu Changzhou's eyes lit up, and he shouted, "Keep attacking! Its shield is about to break!"

Upon hearing this, everyone increased their spiritual energy output.

With a dazzling light and a loud bang, the shield finally shattered.

The python, now free from its shield, was once again exposed to the group's attacks.

Tong Lei's Fiery Dragon World-Burning Thorn struck the python's neck first, and the power of the Fiery Dragon instantly surged into the python's body, causing the python to let out a shrill scream.

Immediately afterward, Yuan Jingshan's icicle pierced the python's wound, causing it to writhe in agony. Liu Sijun's purifying beam struck the python again, and large patches of its blood-red scales began to fall off, revealing the wounded flesh beneath.

Gu Changzhou seized the opportunity and unleashed "Stars Return to One," a sword aura containing the power of the stars' origin, shooting towards the python's heart like a fallen star.

The python seemed to sense its impending doom; it struggled to twist its body, trying to avoid the fatal blow.

But by this time it was already severely injured and moved slowly, and the sword energy pierced through its body.

The python let out a final scream, its massive body crashing to the ground, spraying a cloud of blood.

As everyone looked at the fallen python, their tense nerves finally relaxed a little.

However, the eerie aura permeating the blood mist did not diminish at all; on the contrary, it seemed to become even more restless because of the python's death.

Looking at the churning blood mist around them, Liu Sijun said with a grave expression, "This blood mist is getting more and more strange. We need to find the array's core as quickly as possible."

"That's right, who knows how many dangers are hidden in this blood mist."

Yuan Jingshan echoed, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, the fierce battle with the python having consumed a lot of his spiritual energy.

Tong Lei extinguished the flames on his longsword and sheathed it. "Let's go, keep moving forward."

The four continued to grope their way forward through the blood mist. The surrounding blood mist seemed to be alive, constantly surging and changing, sometimes condensing into various terrifying shapes, and sometimes quickly dissipating.

Before long, a low roar came from the blood mist, the sound growing louder as it approached, as if some enormous creature was rapidly closing in on them.

Something else has arrived!

Tong Lei swiftly drew his longsword, and fiery spiritual energy surged around him once more.

Gu Changzhou gripped his sword tightly, channeling the power of the stars, and warily watched the depths of the blood mist.

A gigantic figure appeared and disappeared in the blood mist, and as it drew closer, the ground began to tremble slightly.

"This aura... is even stronger than the python from before."

Yuan Jingshan's face turned extremely ugly, and his hands unconsciously clenched, ready to cast a spell at any moment.

Soon, a giant beast resembling a Qilin burst out from the blood mist.

Its entire body radiated a blood-red light, its scales like burning flames, and its four hooves pounded the ground, splashing up a cloud of blood mist. The Qilin's eyes gleamed with ferocity, and it opened its mouth wide, letting out a deafening roar, as a blood-red shockwave rushed towards the four of them.

"careful!"

Gu Changzhou shouted and unleashed the "Star Guardian Shield," protecting the four of them within it.

The shockwave struck the shield with a piercing sound, causing ripples to spread across the shield and dimming its light.

"This Qilin is quite powerful, so everyone should be careful and not underestimate it."

Gu Changzhou said while maintaining the shield.

Liu Sijun quickly activated the Taixu Mirror, which emitted beams of runic light in an attempt to interfere with the Qilin's movements.

The runic rays struck the Qilin, but only sparks flew, seemingly causing little harm to the Qilin.

"It seems that this Qilin has extremely strong defensive capabilities."

Liu Sijun frowned, pondering a solution.

Tong Lei shouted and unleashed the "Fiery Dragon Roaring to the Sky Slash," a huge fiery dragon roared out from the longsword, carrying scorching heat and immense power, and pounced towards the Qilin.

The Qilin neither dodged nor avoided; instead, its crimson light shone brightly as it directly confronted the Flame Dragon.

The Fiery Dragon and the Qilin collided, unleashing a dazzling light and a powerful impact that shattered the surrounding blood mist.

Yuan Jingshan then formed hand seals and unleashed the "Earth Spirit Prison" technique, attempting to restrict the Qilin's movements.

The ground beneath the Qilin's feet suddenly rose up, forming a huge earthen prison that trapped the Qilin inside.

However, with just a struggle, cracks appeared in the earthen prison, and it quickly broke free.

"This Qilin is too tenacious; we need to think of a way."

Tong Lei looked at the Qilin, a hint of solemnity flashing in his eyes.

Gu Changzhou pondered for a moment and said, "This Qilin is powerful, and simple attacks are unlikely to cause it any real damage. We need to find its weakness and then concentrate our strength to kill it in one blow."

While observing the Qilin's movements, Liu Sijun said, "The Qilin's eyes and abdomen are relatively vulnerable. We can try attacking these two areas."

Everyone nodded after hearing this.

Tong Lei swung his longsword again, unleashing the "Flaming Dragon Heart-Burning Thrust," where the dragon's head transformed into a sharp thorn, aiming for the Qilin's eye.

Gu Changzhou channeled the power of the stars and unleashed "Star Shattering Shadow Annihilation," sending countless tiny star sword energies raining down on the Qilin's abdomen.

Yuan Jingshan manipulated earth magic, forming countless sharp earth spikes around the Qilin, which pierced towards the Qilin from all directions, creating opportunities for Tong Lei and Gu Changzhou to attack.

Liu Sijun activated the Taixu Mirror with all his might, and a huge beam of light containing powerful purification energy shot out from the mirror, blasting towards the Qilin's abdomen.

The Qilin felt an unprecedented threat. It let out an angry roar, and the blood-red light on its body flickered wildly.

It tried to avoid the attacks from the crowd, but was surrounded by attacks from all sides and was in a predicament.

But as a powerful guardian beast, it would not easily submit.

Its body suddenly blazed with crimson light, and its scales stood up, resembling an indestructible armor.

(End of this chapter)