Slender willows sway in the breeze

Chapter 271 Confrontation
"Everyone be careful, be prepared to react at any time!"

Xu Hechen formed hand seals, and runes flew from his fingertips, weaving into a defensive array in the air to protect everyone.

"Hopefully this formation can hold out for a while."

Just then, a huge black python suddenly sprang out of the crack. Its body was thick and its scales shimmered with an eerie light. Its gaping maw revealed sharp fangs.

Its body hovered in the air, its huge tail sweeping across, creating a strong gust of wind.

Liu Sijun quickly used the power of the Taixu Spirit Crystal, and a transparent shield appeared in front of everyone, barely blocking the giant python's attack.

However, the shield trembled violently under the giant python's attack, and cracks appeared.

"This giant python is incredibly strong; we can't fight it head-on."

Liu Sijun shouted, while observing the giant python's movements, trying to find its weakness.
Li Qing controlled the Fire Phoenix, which cried out and spread its wings, unleashing the Netherworld Purifying Fire as it charged towards the giant python.

However, the giant python seemed unafraid of the flames. It opened its mouth wide and spewed out a stream of black venom, which arced through the air and shot towards the fire phoenix.

The Fire Phoenix nimbly dodged the venom, but a few drops still splashed onto its wings, making a sizzling sound and emitting black smoke.

"Unexpectedly, the venom of this giant python can actually suppress the flames of the Fire Phoenix."

Li Qing gritted her teeth and increased her spiritual energy input, trying to keep the Fire Phoenix fighting.

Gu Changzhou seized the opportunity, his figure flashed, and he rushed towards the giant python like a black lightning bolt, his Molin Sword carrying a sharp sword aura as he slashed at the python's head.

The giant python seemed to sense the danger and quickly swung its body to dodge Gu Changzhou's attack. At the same time, its tail swept across again, and Gu Changzhou quickly dodged to the side.

Just as everyone was locked in a fierce battle with the giant python, Liu Sijun suddenly remembered the mysterious bead on the stone platform.

She turned to look at the bead and found that, under the influence of this evil aura, the bead had begun to tremble slightly, and its light gradually brightened.

Liu Sijun: "Everyone, hold on! The bead seems to be reacting!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Hechen immediately adjusted the formation, injecting more spiritual power into it in an attempt to protect the bead from interference.

Tong Lei and Gu Changzhou intensified their attack, attempting to restrain the giant python and buy time for Liu Sijun.

Liu Sijun concentrated, grasped the bead with both hands, and mobilized the spiritual power within his body, attempting to merge with the power of the bead.

As she worked harder, the bead shone brighter and brighter, and a soft light shone from the bead, illuminating the giant python.

The giant python seemed to sense the threat of the light, let out a roar, and struggled frantically, trying to escape the light.

However, the light, like a leech clinging to its bones, tightly enveloped it, and its movements gradually became sluggish.

Tong Lei: "Hang in there, everyone. It won't last much longer."

Upon hearing this, everyone unleashed their strongest spells to attack the giant python.

Gu Changzhou's Ink Kirin Sword, imbued with the power of stars, pierced towards the giant python's belly; Li Qing's Fire Phoenix ignited once more, charging towards the giant python; Tong Lei's Golden Roc phantom let out a deafening cry and swooped down; Xu Hechen's rune array also emitted a dazzling light, enveloping the giant python.

Under the combined attack of everyone, the giant python finally couldn't hold on any longer, letting out a shrill scream as its massive body crashed heavily to the ground, turning into a cloud of black mist and dissipating.

Just as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, mysterious runes suddenly appeared on the walls of the hall, causing the entire hall to shake violently and dust to fall from the ceiling.

Liu Sijun and the others watched the flashing runes on the wall warily. The light seemed to be alive, constantly pulsating and emitting an unsettling aura. "The power of these runes seems to be stronger than the ones we've encountered before, and they also have an evil quality about them."

Xu Hechen frowned, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. He could feel the powerful pressure contained in the runes constantly eroding his defensive formation.

Gu Changzhou gripped the Molin Sword tightly, its tip pointing forward. The star power on the sword trembled slightly as it vibrated, seemingly also wary of the impending danger.

"No matter what, we've come this far, we absolutely cannot back down."

Li Qing controlled the Fire Phoenix to circle above everyone's heads. The Fire Phoenix's feathers trembled slightly with the vibrations. Although the Netherworld Purifying Fire burned fiercely, it appeared somewhat dim under the pressure of these strange runes.

"What exactly is this rune trying to do?"

Tong Lei's eyes were sharp as he stared intently at the wall, the phantom of the Golden Roc appearing and disappearing behind him, ready to launch an attack at any moment.

"Let's focus on defense first and see what these runes do."

As soon as he finished speaking, the runes on the wall shone brightly, and beams of black light shot out from the runes, like sharp arrows, towards everyone.

Liu Sijun hurriedly mobilized the power of the Taixu Spirit Crystal to form an even stronger shield in front of everyone, attempting to withstand the attacks of these black rays.

The black beam struck the shield with a piercing sound, and ripples spread across its surface, as if it were about to shatter at any moment.

Liu Sijun said anxiously, "This shield won't last long, everyone think of something quickly!"

Just then, the mysterious bead in his hand shone brightly again, and its light collided with the light of the runes on the wall, producing a violent reaction.

The light from the mysterious bead gradually formed a protective shield, enveloping everyone and resisting the attack of the black light.

"This bead is indeed able to withstand these runes!"

Li Qing exclaimed in surprise.

However, the good fortune didn't last long. The runes on the wall seemed to sense the threat posed by the mysterious bead, and their light became even more eerie and powerful.

The runes began to spin, forming a huge black vortex that spewed out black flames and smoke, sweeping towards the crowd.

"The power of this vortex is too great; the light shield of the bead probably won't last long!"

Xu Hechen shouted loudly, his hands constantly changing hand seals, trying to strengthen the defensive formation.

Gu Changzhou gritted his teeth, brandished the Molin Sword, and slashed the sword energy towards the black vortex, trying to stop it from getting closer.

However, the sword energy was instantly swallowed up in the vortex and had no effect whatsoever.

Tong Lei controlled the golden roc phantom to rush towards the black vortex, attempting to disrupt its operation.

The golden roc phantom let out a deafening cry in the air, its claws reaching for the center of the vortex.

However, the suction force of the vortex was too strong, and the golden roc phantom was pulled closer and closer to the center of the vortex. Tong Lei's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly recalled the golden roc phantom.

Just when everyone was in dire straits, Liu Sijun suddenly remembered the scene he had seen on the stone platform earlier. The mysterious person seemed to be able to completely control the power of the bead.

She focused her mind, closed her eyes, and tried to establish a deeper connection with the mysterious bead.