The serpent swarm appeared, surrounding the entire Xiao Han Temple.
One wave after another, they began to crawl inside.
It was obvious that the two snake demons had summoned them.
Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't fear these snakes.
However, our masters were currently locked in combat with the monsters.
If we were to be bitten by these venomous snakes, the consequences would be unimaginable.
I watched as snake after snake emerged, and I didn't recognize their names.
But as soon as they saw us, all of them reared up their heads.
Hissing, they flicked their forked tongues at us.
Those that were closer lunged directly at us, attempting to bite.
I focused all my attention, picking up my peach wood sword and beginning to strike.
With a few swift swings, I dispatched seven or eight snakes.
But the serpent swarm kept pouring in, growing more numerous.
They even appeared on the surrounding trees.
Among them were snakes as thick as a wrist and pythons as thick as an arm.
They coiled and tangled together, a sight that made one's scalp tingle.
The few of us, including Xiao Mei, were fully engaged in fending off these snakes.
Simultaneously, we scattered all the realgar powder we had brought with us.
After all, we had come prepared to deal with snake demons, so we carried such items.
Yet these snakes, as if bewitched,
Fired at us from all directions, completely disregarding the deterrent effect of the realgar powder.
Their only intention was to bite us.
For an ordinary person, there would likely be no chance of survival.
Fortunately, we all possessed cultivation, and we managed to evade all the attacks from the serpent swarm.
I was now circulating my Dao cultivation to its fullest.
Allowing my body and senses to reach their optimal state.
With a sword strike to the left and a strike to the right, I had lost count of how many snakes had fallen by my hand.
The ground was covered in serpentine corpses.
Blood had already stained the stone bricks crimson.
Meanwhile, our masters and their seniors had fought their way from the temple's front courtyard to the back.
As time passed, the number of snakes that had infiltrated the small courtyard noticeably decreased.
After all, even a large number of snakes couldn't withstand our relentless killing.
I thought it would proceed smoothly.
But at that moment, a snake suddenly shot out from behind me, opening its maw to bite my neck.
If my neck were bitten, the venom would cause my death in a very short time.
However, I was fully concentrated on the battle ahead and hadn't noticed the venomous snake behind me.
Just as it was a critical moment,
Xia Qiu Xi suddenly let out a soft shout:
"Qin Ze, be careful!"
With that, she suddenly flashed forward, rushing over and slashing down with her sword.
That venomous snake was directly cut in two.
Its body writhed on the ground, blood flowing out in crimson streaks.
Seeing this, I felt a lingering fear and a surge of gratitude.
Just as I was about to open my mouth to thank her.
The manhole cover behind Xia Qiu Xi suddenly sprang open.
With a "bang," the stone cover flew out more than three meters.
Following that, from the small drain, a dense swarm of snakes, numbering in the countless, suddenly surged out.
As soon as these snakes appeared, they hissed, flicking their forked tongues, and crawled towards us.
Their speed was incredible. Within about two meters, they would all arch their bodies and launch themselves at us to bite.
"Careful!"
I shouted, pulling Xia Qiu Xi's hand and drawing her towards me.
At the same time, I raised my peach wood sword and began to strike.
With a series of swift swings.
In an instant, I had killed more than a dozen snakes.
Lao Mo and the others also retreated immediately.
This was because the serpent swarm around us had been almost completely annihilated.
Now, having been attacked from behind, they had all rushed back.
Xiao Mei's fox claws were striking out continuously.
Her claws were already covered in blood.
Lao Mo's peach wood twin axes were also stained crimson.
The serpent swarm that had emerged from the sewer was also cleared out by us in a very short time.
The remaining snakes scattered and fled.
Seeing the serpent swarm disperse and the ground littered with serpentine corpses, I breathed a sigh of relief:
"We've finally repelled these snakes. Is everyone alright?"
I asked.
Lao Mo smiled:
"I am the Son of Destiny, how could anything happen to me? Let's hurry and help Master and the senior uncles!"
"I'm fine too!"
Xiao Mei said, shaking the blood from her claws.
However, when I looked at Xia Qiu Xi, I noticed her complexion was somewhat pale and cyan.
Moreover, she slowly raised her left hand and pulled back her sleeve:
"I, I think I've been bitten!"
Upon seeing this, all of our expressions turned to alarm.
Being bitten by a venomous snake was no small matter.
My brow furrowed:
"Let me see quickly!"
With that, I grabbed her hand:
"When?"
As I spoke, I took out my fox claws and began to cut at the wound.
Preparing to extract the venom from Xia Qiu Xi.
"Just now, when the serpent swarm emerged from the sewer."
Hearing this, I couldn't help but pause for a moment.
Wasn't that precisely when Xia Qiu Xi had saved me?
My heart trembled slightly. She had saved me but gotten bitten herself.
I felt a pang of guilt.
"It's alright. I grew up in a mountain village, and villagers often got bitten by venomous snakes.
As long as the wound is cleaned promptly, it's not a major issue."
With that, I began to squeeze out the venom.
The blood that came out was already black and had formed small clots.
"Qiu Xi, use your True Qi to seal your acupoints first. This will slow down the spread of the venom."
Lao Mo reminded her.
Xia Qiu Xi nodded:
"Mmm, I've already done that, but, but I don't think I can resist this snake venom..."