Now all they could do was hope that Luo Jiangyun was as formidable as Luo Yunlan had claimed, and that he could help them survive this ordeal—otherwise, they were all done for.
Before them lay a vast expanse of mist. Everyone huddled close together as the hissing grew nearer. Suddenly, someone launched a fireball, which blazed brilliantly through the thick fog.
"Everyone, stick together and use your mystic techniques outward!" Chu Tiankuo's eyes lit up at the sight of the fireball, as if he'd found a solution.
But among them, aside from a few who were helping the mountain elders transport humans and were slightly stronger, the rest were only at the Mystic General first rank at best. How could they possibly contend with a sixth-rank Crimson Serpent? Not to mention the other serpents of unknown ranks lurking nearby.
"Tch!" Ye Lanshan shook her head. She couldn't fathom how such weaklings had ever made it through this Misty Forest before. She could sense that there wasn't just a sixth-rank mystic beast here—a little further ahead, a ninth-rank one awaited them.
"Master Luo, our lives are in your hands. If you can lead us out of here, name your price—anything we have is yours." Chu Tiankuo's palms were slick with sweat, his voice trembling, yet he forced himself to sound calm.
Yun Di didn't answer right away. Instead, he tensed his nerves, focusing intently, sensing the serpent's slithering path.
"Master Luo, if you can get us out, we'll be your people for life, following your every command." The old man's voice rang out, drawing frowns from several in the group, who shot displeased looks toward the source.
No matter how weak they were, they still had their pride. To sell their dignity and lives to another just because they couldn't beat a sixth-rank mystic beast was something they found contemptible and unacceptable. They turned to Chu Tiankuo, hope in their eyes, expecting him to object. But after a long wait, Chu Tiankuo remained uncharacteristically silent, as if tacitly agreeing.
"Master Luo, don't mind what Uncle Yang said. We all know a sixth-rank mystic beast is no joke, let alone the others of unknown ranks. If you have the strength, just take your sister and her fiancé and go. Don't worry about us." A young man gritted his teeth but still spoke his mind.
What a hassle. If he'd known that aside from Wen Nuan Yang and Wen Jiu Liang—who'd long seen through their schemes and refused to be manipulated—there were others in the Invincible Mercenary Corps so hard to control, he'd never have chosen them. Old She furrowed his brow, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes. He planned to use the chaos of the mist and the mystic beast attack to quietly take out the young man who'd spoken.
But Chu Tiankuo seemed to have anticipated his thoughts, grabbing his hand to stop him.
"Didn't you promise me you wouldn't touch anyone in the Invincible Mercenary Corps anymore?" Chu Tiankuo hissed, his eyes reddening as he gripped the old man's hand tightly, as if to crush the bones.
The old man, however, brushed him off with a light touch, freeing his hand. Like a magician, he produced a needle from thin air and aimed it at Chu Tiankuo's neck.
Just then, a fireball whizzed past, nearly taking his hand off if he hadn't dodged in time.
Who? Who's meddling in my affairs? The old man scanned his surroundings warily, but all he saw was fog—nothing else.
"With this thick fog and the mystic beasts closing in, killing him would only reduce our chances of getting out." Perhaps fearing the old man would still go after the young man, Chu Tiankuo spoke up again, this time in a much milder tone, as if he'd calmed down.
"Hmph!" The old man snorted coldly but made no further move.
Only then did Chu Tiankuo's heart ease slightly, though he still had no idea how to deal with the sixth-rank mystic beast.
"Looking for death! Flying Fire Meteors!" A furious shout came from Ye Lanshan's direction. Everyone turned to look, but all they could see through the dense white mist were faint sparks forming the shape of a writhing serpent, along with a vague smell of roasting meat.
"Here, Yun Di, eat this. It should keep you going through the night." After unleashing her mystic technique, Ye Lanshan quickly pulled Yun Di close and shoved a pill into his mouth. Then she glanced at Ye Yutian and pushed Yun Di toward him.
"I know you're strong enough that these mystic beasts are nothing to you. Take care of him—consider it a favor I owe you." Without waiting for Ye Yutian's reply, she shoved Yun Di into his arms.
Ye Yutian's lips curled with a hint of bitterness, but he still grabbed Yun Di and shielded him behind himself.
Yun Di was deeply unwilling to be protected like this, especially by his rival. But with the serpent venom preventing him from using his mystic power freely, he could only swallow his resentment and follow behind Ye Yutian.
"Wings of Carnage!" Ye Lanshan soared into the air, wings of fire flaring behind her as she sent a barrage of fiery feathers flying in all directions.
"Hiss, hiss!" Beams of ice froze the flames, emitting triumphant sounds.
"Ha! Break!" Ye Lanshan's gaze sharpened like a blade, locking onto the sixth-rank Crimson Serpent. The frozen flames instantly shattered their icy restraints.
"Hiss, hiss!" Sharp icicles laced with green venom shot toward her.
But she wasn't about to let that bother her.
"Six-Sided Fire Shield!" The ice was blocked before it could even reach her.
What she hadn't expected, though, was that the serpent's move wasn't aimed at her—it used the distraction to attack the others.
"This—this venom is corrosive!" Someone panicked, clutching the spot where the venom had struck, sweating from the pain.
"Cut the flesh off quickly, or it'll corrode your whole body!" Ye Lanshan's voice carried urgency, as if she truly cared, but her eyes remained cold.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss!" The hissing grew louder and more frequent, as if the serpent was summoning its kin.
"Volcanic Sea of Fire!" Amid the endless flames, a hint of roasted meat emerged, growing stronger until it turned into a burnt smell. In the firelight, the serpent could be faintly seen writhing desperately, its tongue flicking.
Finally, the sixth-rank Crimson Serpent was enraged. It shot forward like an arrow, aiming to sink its fangs into Ye Lanshan's neck.
"Thunder Strike!" Ye Yutian's cold voice rang out. The serpent dropped less than a centimeter from Ye Lanshan's neck.
"Fireball!" Ye Lanshan quickly retreated to the side, landing another blow on the serpent. But something miraculous happened—the serpent slowly absorbed the surrounding mist, and its wounds began to heal.