Zongwu: Aspiring to be the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 320 Sword Slays Blood Python, Divine Efficacy
This is Tong Bo's third visit to this underground city.

His ideas were completely different from the previous two times.

On his previous two occasions, he had wanted to explore the secrets behind it.

This time, he had only one thought.

kill!

The underground city is always kept bright.

Tong Bo gripped the Whirlwind Sword tightly in his hand, and the breeze carried his scent deep into the underground city.

The blood python smelled his scent and immediately slithered out, heading towards Tong Bo.

Tong Bo did not flinch at all. As the blood python emerged, he slashed straight at it with his sword.

The wind and sword energy merged into one, amplifying the power of the sword energy.

However, Tong Bo was clearly unable to unleash the same peculiar sword energy that Zhou Ming had used before.

After all, it was the Whirlwind Sword Technique released through this sword; ordinary methods naturally couldn't be used.

Even so, the power of this sword energy had completely reached the Grandmaster level.

But his opponents are not weak either.

Yin Zhong carefully selected the Blood Python specifically to guard the underground city when he left the Imperial Sword Manor.

Not only are they a different species, but they have also survived in this world for quite some time.

Although most of the time it's just eating and sleeping.

However, under Yin Zhong's tutelage, his strength exceeded the imagination of ordinary people.

The snake merely bent its body slightly, deftly dodging the sword energy.

Tong Bo had anticipated this, and with a series of flourishes of his longsword, sword energy rained down.

This time, the blood python had no way to dodge, but it cleverly coiled its body, hid its head, and used its strong body to withstand the sharp sword energy.

Not only is the snake's body incredibly tough, but it also possesses exceptional resilience. When the sword energy slashes at it, three-tenths of the force is immediately deflected, while the remaining seven-tenths are blocked, leaving only white marks on the blood python's body that disappear in an instant.

"What a strong defense!"

Tong Bo was startled.

Seizing the opportunity, the blood python suddenly stretched out its head and rammed into the ground.

Tong Bo reacted quickly, dodging the attack. He then stepped on the ground, leaped into the air, and slashed the Blood Python's head with his Whirlwind Sword.

This did break through the defenses, but it only scratched the surface.

The Blood Python's body was as strong as that of a master of external martial arts, and Tong Bo was attacking its most sturdy part—its head—so the damage was naturally not high.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Tong Bo bypassed the blood python and entered the underground city directly through the passage.

A gentle breeze surrounds me.

He used his light-footed skill to quickly leave the passage and arrive at the room containing the most expansive mercury pool.

In the very center of the room was a huge pool of mercury, about ten feet in diameter.

This is also the core and most important part of the dungeon.

The blood python immediately gave chase.

Upon reaching the room, the snake flicked its tongue, only to discover that the smell emanated from the other side of the room.

Then he continued to chase after them.

Unexpectedly, a figure suddenly appeared from the side, one hand tightly gripping the Whirlwind Sword, enveloped in true energy, striking like a dragon's claw.

It was Tong Bo.

He used his speed to rush into the room first, but then rushed into the passage at the other end of the room. He then used his Whirlwind Sword to release a gentle breeze that enveloped him, firmly binding the scent. He turned around and hid in the corner of the wall at the entrance.

Seeing the blood python rushing forward, he seized the opportunity, secretly channeling his Dragon God Technique, his true energy enveloping his palm and longsword as he thrust them out.

This strike was far sharper than the previous one.

Furthermore, since the attack was directed at the snake's body rather than its hardest skull, it broke through the blood python's defenses in an instant.

Tong Bo seized the opportunity, and without even drawing his longsword, he slashed forward, instantly ripping open the blood python.

Although it only involves the upper body, it is precisely this part that is most lethal.

The blood python immediately writhed on the ground in pain, its entire body thrashing wildly.

Tong Bo was well aware that snakes were terrifying creatures, and even if their heads were cut off, it did not mean they would lose their ability to fight back.

He leaped onto the roof, grabbed the stone wall, and stared down at the blood python, who was now in a frenzy.

Its enormous body rolled around the room, occasionally slamming against the walls with a dull thud, demonstrating just how immense its power was.

Snake blood was spilled all over the ground, much of it flowing into the mercury pool.

Tong Bo remained glued to the ceiling, watching the blood python make its final, death throes.

Suddenly, something flew out from the blood python's ruptured belly.

Upon closer inspection, Tong Bo realized it was a Ruyi (a traditional Chinese scepter symbolizing good fortune)!
It's unclear whether it's because it's been stained with the blood of the blood python, but its entire body is blood red.

Pfft!
The blood python seemed to have lost all its strength, lying paralyzed on the ground, no longer moving.

But Tong Bo keenly noticed that when the blood python fell, its head was directly facing the ruyi scepter.

"What a cunning beast!"

This discovery confirmed to Tong Bo that the blood python had not completely lost all its strength.

It certainly has the power for one last strike.

But while he can see it clearly, others may not be able to.

At that very moment, a man in black suddenly appeared from another passage, swiftly skimming across the ground and taking away the Blood Ruyi.

But no matter how fast he was, he couldn't outrun the blood python that was already waiting there.

In that instant, the enormous snake head used all its last bit of strength to crash directly into the figure in black.

"careful!"

When Tong Bo saw the figure in black, he also sensed that something was wrong.

He realized that the man in black was likely the kind person who had helped him twice before, not only rescuing Tong Xin but also specifically reminding him of the problems Tong Xin was experiencing.

With such a debt of gratitude before us, how can we sit idly by and do nothing?

Tong Bo didn't care about anything else at the moment. He instantly transformed into a dragon and swooped down from the ceiling.

The giant head of the blood python slammed directly into the man in black, but in the next instant, its semi-transparent dragon-shaped body crashed down from the sky, smashing the blood python's head to pieces.

Even so, the man in black still took the full force of the blood python's blow, which sent him flying and crashing into the wall, leaving a bloody mark before he slowly fell to the ground.

Upon seeing this, Tong Bo became anxious and quickly picked up the man in black, along with the Blood Ruyi, and swiftly returned to Yin Tianxue's pavilion through the secret passage.

Yin Tianxue had been waiting. When she heard the sound of the mechanism being activated, she quickly got up to greet it, only to see Tong Bo carrying a man in black covered in blood as he walked out.

"What's going on? Who is he? Didn't you go to kill the Blood Python?"

"The matter is urgent. I don't know this person, but he helped me before. Miss Yin, do you have any medicine that can treat him?"

"I do have some medicine here, but I'm afraid it won't be enough to cure him."

Because Yin Tianxue had been suffering from a strange illness, she always kept herbs in her attic, but only herbs specifically for her ailment. The man in black, however, clearly had external injuries, so the medicine wasn't suitable.

In this urgent situation, Yin Tianxue quickly ordered her maid to fetch some medicine to treat external injuries. Then, she had Tong Bo place the man in black on the bed, apply pressure to his acupoints, and channel his inner energy to temporarily stop the spread of the injury.

Afterwards, Tong Bo finally had a chance to explain what had just happened.

"It's a good thing the Blood Python is dead. But how come there was a Blood Ruyi inside its body?"

Yin Tianxue asked in surprise.

Tong Bo shook his head: "I don't understand this either."

Previously, DouDou broke one in Shuiyue Cave, which directly froze the entire Shuiyue Cave.

This also directly proves that the one in question was the real Blood Ruyi.

However, the blood-stained ruyi obtained through the kidnapping and extortion in cooperation with Yin Tianxue can also be confirmed as genuine.

Now, however, he obtained a Blood Ruyi from the Blood Python's body.

That means there are three blood-red ruyi!

This heirloom of the Imperial Sword Manor was originally thought to be extremely rare, a unique piece in the world.

Who would have thought that, according to ancient records, this item actually consists of two parts, and that both parts must be combined to exert their therapeutic effects.

But then, Tong Bo got his third item!

Could one of these be a fake?
Or is it that there were originally three Blood Ruyi?
Yin Tianxue couldn't help but take out her own blood-red ruyi and place it next to the one in Tong Bo's hand for a closer look.

Just then, something miraculous happened.

Suddenly, both blood-red scepters emitted a peculiar red light.

However, Yin Tianxue's dish was slightly dark, while Tong Bo's dish was quite bright.

Even more strangely, the black-hearted man lying on the bed next to them, covered in blood, also had a blood-red light emanating from his chest.

It was a blood-red pendant.

But the material of that pendant... looks pretty much the same as the Blood Ruyi.

The three beams of light intertwined and merged into one, enveloping the three people present.

Tong Bo didn't feel anything, but Yin Tianxue, who was standing next to him, suddenly felt her body lighten, as if she had shaken off countless obstacles, and felt an unprecedented sense of ease and freedom.

At the same time, the man in black lying on the bed suddenly opened his eyes.

The injuries he sustained from being struck by the blood python had completely healed under the glow of the blood.

Whether it's an internal injury or an external injury, it's the same!
At this point, Tong Bo could easily understand what was happening before his eyes.

"The Blood Ruyi... Legend has it that it can bring the dead back to life and heal the wounded, and it really is true!"

Yin Tianxue reacted quickly, suddenly appearing at the bedside. With a surge of true energy, she struck like a sword, severing the rope on the pendant and grasping it in her hand.

The man in black immediately stood up and reached out to grab it: "Give it back to me!"

Yin Tianxue retreated several steps in an instant, dodging his pursuit: "What kind of treasure is this? Why does it react with the Blood Ruyi that has been passed down through generations of my Encounter Manor?"

"Nothing to do with you!"

The man in black used his light-footed skills to try and take back the pendant.

Yin Tianxue also used her lightness skill, her figure flashing.

Despite suffering from a strange illness over the years, she has always persisted in practicing martial arts.

Of course, he wasn't practicing the unorthodox martial arts he learned from Yin Zhong, but rather the proper martial arts of the Imperial Sword Manor.

With her natural talent, her current strength is not bad at all.

The man in black was equally skilled in martial arts.

The two men moved nimbly around the room, and for a moment, neither could gain the upper hand.

Tong Bo, who was watching from the sidelines, suddenly noticed two things.

First, this person is probably not the same man in black I encountered before.

Because his strength is far inferior to that person's.

Secondly, this person's martial arts skills are actually the same as Yin Tianxue's!
Yin Tianxue also noticed this, stopped, and asked sharply, "Where did you learn your martial arts skills?"

Seeing that he couldn't get the pendant back and that there was someone watching him, the man in black decided to give up and turned to rush towards the window.

Tong Bo stepped in front of him and said, "Friend, we mean you no harm. Think about what happened in that underground city."

The man in black was taken aback. After calming down and thinking carefully, he realized what had happened.

He was directly injured and knocked unconscious by the blood python. When he woke up, he saw that Yin Tianxue had taken his pendant.

That was something extremely important to him, so he didn't hesitate to take it back.

In the heat of the moment, I didn't even have time to think about why I was there.

Looking back now, I realize that I may have been saved by these two people.

He said somewhat embarrassedly, "I'm sorry, I acted hastily, but that pendant is extremely important to me. Please return it to me."

Yin Tianxue revealed the two blood-red jade pendants in her hand: "Tell me first, why does your pendant react with the blood-red jade pendants of my Imperial Sword Manor?"

"I cannot tell you."

The man in black said.

"Then I can't return this to you."

"you!"

Tong Bo, who was watching from the side, suddenly asked, "Are you worried about Yin Zhong?"

"Huh?" The man in black was taken aback.

"Don't worry, we are enemies with Yin Zhong, so there's nothing to worry about. Since you were able to find the underground city on your own, you should know something about it. You must know that the blood python was Yin Zhong's right-hand man, and my killing of it is proof of that."

The man in black frowned, thought for a moment, and said, "I do have a grudge against Yin Zhong. I entered that underground city to find Yin Zhong's secret."

He paused for a moment, then continued, "As for that pendant... do you know a man named Yin Jun?"

"Yin Jun?"

Tong Bo naturally didn't know, but he knew from the name that it was related to the Yin family, so he couldn't help but look at Yin Tianxue.

Yin Tianxue's expression changed slightly: "Yin Jun... is Yin Zhong's original name. He was abducted when he was very young. After he grew up, he returned to Yujian Manor. His father wanted to change his name back to his original name, but he said that he had been using the name 'Zhong' for so many years and was used to it, so he only changed his surname."

Tong Bo said, "However, Yin Zhong actually replaced that person, which means that Yin Jun is your father's younger brother?"

Upon hearing this, the man in black exclaimed in surprise, "You actually knew that Yin Zhong was an imposter?"

Yin Tianxue nodded: "It is precisely because we know about this that we are his enemies."

"Does Master Yin know about this?"

Yin Tianxue shook her head. "Father naturally doesn't know, and he trusts Yin Zhong completely."

Tong Bo said, "You suddenly brought up this person. Does that mean this pendant was given to you by Yin Jun?"

“That’s right, that was his last possession. I was entrusted by him to return it to Yujian Manor, but when I arrived at Yujian Manor, I found that there was another Master Yin there. So, I didn’t do that, but instead investigated the situation in secret.”

(End of this chapter)