Flying all the way to the foot of Bailing Mountain, Ye Ling finally saw the full view of this giant peak.
Just as Sect Master Leng Zhiwei had said, Bailing Mountain seemed to be divided by invisible boundaries into three layers.
The first layer of the mountain was about ten thousand meters high. Leng Zhiwei had mentioned to her that the demon beasts inhabiting this area were mostly at the Xiantian Realm Great Perfection and peak Xiantian Realm, though early-stage Tongxuan Realm demon beasts might occasionally appear.
The threshold for the second layer was even higher. The lowest cultivation level among the demon beasts in this area was the peak Xiantian Realm, and the region close to the third layer was teeming with Tongxuan Realm demon beasts.
As for the topmost third layer, it was occupied by powerful exotic beasts at the mid-stage Tongxuan Realm and above.
Fortunately, the sect had laid down a Mountain-Locking Grand Formation in the middle layers of the mountain in its early years, firmly blocking the path for the third-layer demon beasts to descend.
In other words, the highest-level demon beasts that could actually roam freely on Bailing Mountain and pose a threat to her were only at the early-stage Tongxuan Realm.
Speaking of direct combat, although her physical body was powerful now, it would still be difficult for her to face an early-stage Tongxuan Realm demon beast head-on.
However, if she only wished to escape, she had more than enough capability to protect herself.
Moreover, the resources in the three layers multiplied with each level. The higher one went, the more precious the spiritual materials and opportunities became.
Having made up her mind, she did not linger in the first layer. Shifting her sword light, she flew straight toward the second layer of Bailing Mountain.
Just as she ascended to the height of the second layer, a rich, mellow herbal fragrance wafted over, invading her nose and mouth.
“With such a strong herbal aroma, I wonder what grade of spiritual herb this is?”
Ye Ling rejoiced inwardly. She had clearly stumbled upon a rare opportunity. Steering the Qinglan Sword, she flew straight into the range of the second layer.
Upon entering this area, the concentration of spiritual energy was several times greater than that of the first layer, but the hidden dangers had also multiplied.
Ye Ling flew swiftly toward the source of the herbal fragrance. After speeding for several thousand meters, she finally got a clear view of the spiritual medicine that attracted her.
The forest floor ahead looked as if it had been repeatedly trampled by a giant beast, clearing out an empty, open space.
Standing alone in the exact center of the clearing was a half-man-high crimson herb, continuously releasing a soul-stirring, rich fragrance.
Ye Ling had read through the complete registry of medicinal herbs collected by the sect, and she recognized this object at a single glance: the Crimson Radiance Spiritual Herb, a Profound-grade mid-tier spiritual medicine.
The medicinal properties of this herb were fierce and violent. If an ordinary cultivator swallowed it rashly, the meridians and flesh in their body would be completely burned away by the majestic medicinal force, ending in them turning into ashes.
However, for Xiantian Realm martial artists who practiced body-tempering cultivation methods, the Crimson Radiance Spiritual Herb was a supreme treasure that would double the efficiency of their physical tempering.
Naturally, it was also useful to Ye Ling. Looking at the Crimson Radiance Spiritual Herb, she could hardly conceal the burning light in her eyes.
But she did not rush forward blindly. Her gaze locked firmly onto the demon beast coiled beside the spiritual herb.
It was a massive python, its scales a withered brown like ancient, decaying wood.
It was dozens of meters long, with a thick waist spanning several meters, and a short horn protruding right from the center of its forehead. Ye Ling instantly recognized the demon beast's identity: a Horned Wood Snake.
A peak Xiantian Realm demon beast, its strength firmly placed it in the top tier among beasts of the same realm. Both its physical body and its venomous arts were incredibly powerful, making it extremely difficult to deal with.
Yet, the light igniting in Ye Ling's eyes was actually several degrees more intense than when she had first seen the Crimson Radiance Spiritual Herb.
“I can use you to test the power of the second layer of my True Dragon Unfettered Art!”
No longer running the Turtle Breathing Art to conceal her aura, she jolted her sword light and flew straight toward the Horned Wood Snake.
The Horned Wood Snake, which had been coiled by the spiritual herb with its eyes closed in hibernation, suddenly tensed up all over. A fatal sense of crisis gripped its mind.
It abruptly reared its head and lifted its body, staring intently at the figure rushing toward it with an aggressive aura.
Its massive mouth gaped open, and a sharp, piercing hiss of warning echoed through the mountain forest.
It had guarded this Crimson Radiance Spiritual Herb for decades, and had finally waited until it was fully mature.
Having defeated many demon beasts that coveted the spiritual herb, it had originally planned to rest and recover before swallowing it. It had never expected a human cultivator to barge in halfway.
The Horned Wood Snake felt deeply annoyed. Had it known, it would have consumed the herb the very day it matured, rather than drawing the covetous eyes of others.
Ye Ling was not surprised in the least to see that her opponent had detected her.
At this moment, the giant python's body was highly arched, its crimson tongue flicking continuously in a clear display of hostile deterrence.
She did not show the slightest intention of retreating. Raising her hand, she summoned the Qinglan Sword. With a gentle sweep, spiritual energy poured into the blade, and a broad, heavy slash of spiritual energy crashed toward the Horned Wood Snake.
The Horned Wood Snake did not dodge. Its massive body coiled layer upon layer, intending to withstand the slash with its physical body.
With a metallic clack of colliding stone and metal, the sharp spiritual energy slash dissolved and vanished the instant it touched the snake's scales. Not even a faint mark was left on the giant python's skin.
Ye Ling was secretly startled. The physical defense of this Horned Wood Snake was actually so formidable.
Seeing that the human cultivator's attack was easily neutralized, the Horned Wood Snake's confidence surged instantly.
No longer remaining on the defensive, its thick, long body slithered and twisted, lunging straight at Ye Ling accompanied by a howling wind.
Seeing the Horned Wood Snake swiftly closing in on her, a trace of excitement actually surfaced on Ye Ling's face. Suddenly accelerating her movement technique, she actively charged forward to meet the giant python.
Ye Ling sheathed the Qinglan Sword. Without channeling even a shred of spiritual energy, she clenched her right fist solely with her physical strength, directly facing the charging Horned Wood Snake.
Seeing her discard her sword to fight barehanded, the Horned Wood Snake thought to itself that this human was far too arrogant. It immediately opened its massive maw, revealing several-meter-long, razor-sharp fangs, intending to swallow her alive in a single gulp.
At the critical moment, Ye Ling's heavy fist smashed violently against the snake's fangs, and her majestic, heavy physical strength erupted with a bang.
Ear-piercing metallic cracks shattered one after another as the fangs the Horned Wood Snake was so proud of completely crumbled.
Intense pain swept through its body. Driven mad by the pain, the Horned Wood Snake snapped its jaws shut, attempting to bite down and crush Ye Ling.
Ye Ling raised her hands to prop up the snake's upper jaw, while her legs planted firmly against its tongue, stubbornly resisting the crushing force of the Horned Wood Snake's closing jaws.
“Is this all the strength you have?”
Ye Ling let out a low shout. Her arms suddenly exerted force, and her legs kicked out violently at the same time. With a dull click of dislocated bone, she snapped the Horned Wood Snake's lower jaw completely out of joint.
The agonizing pain caused the Horned Wood Snake's massive body to twist and roll frantically, its heart filled with waves of shock.
Never in its wildest dreams did it expect that the physical brute force of this human Xiantian Realm cultivator would be terrifying to this extent.
It no longer had any thoughts of guarding the Crimson Radiance Spiritual Herb. With only the desire to escape left in its mind, it immediately turned its body around and fled toward the outside of the forest.
In midair, Ye Ling also noticed the Horned Wood Snake's intention to flee.
“Don't even think about escaping!”
She raised her hand to summon the Qinglan Sword, pouring all her spiritual energy into the blade. This time, it was no longer a simple slash of spiritual energy.
It was layered with a complete level of Sword Force, which Ye Ling swung with all her might using her physical strength.
Myriads of sharp edges intertwined upon the slash, and the sharpness suddenly surged. Carrying a sharp sound that pierced the air, it chased after the Horned Wood Snake.
The fleeing Horned Wood Snake caught a glimpse of the incoming slash from the corner of its eye, and instead felt slightly relieved.
Since it had easily withstood the previous spiritual energy slash with only its physical body, it assumed this attack would be much the same.
Firmly believing that the defense of its scales was indestructible, it did not alter its escape route and continued to head straight forward.
Yet, the moment the Sword Force slash rapidly drew near, a bone-chilling sharpness instantly enveloped its entire body, causing the scales on its back to run cold.
Something was wrong—the sharpness of this attack was a world of difference compared to the one from just now!
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