Perfect: I am Shi An from Shicun, and I am Huang’s brother!

Chapter 427 The Power of the Fiery Serpent
A crimson python coiled at the pass, its massive body like a burning mountain range blocking the way. The ferocious aura and scorching pressure emanating from it made the thousands of prodigies who had just escaped the perilous Black Swamp feel suffocated once again.

Those scarlet vertical pupils swept over, filled with coldness and greed, as if scrutinizing a group of prey that had intruded into its territory.

"hiss!"

Suddenly, the serpent raised its massive head, flicked its tongue, and emitted a chilling hiss.

With that hiss, the entire red mountain range seemed to come alive, the flames spewing from the cracks in the ground became even more intense, and the air was thick with the pungent smell of sulfur.

"Trespassers... die!"

The Fiery Python spoke in human language, its voice hoarse like metal scraping against metal, carrying a wave of intense heat that swept over many prodigies. Their faces immediately turned pale, and their protective divine light flickered unpredictably as it was scorched.

This ancient beast is far superior to the previous inanimate objects; it is a terrifying existence that has truly ignited divine fire and touched the threshold of the gods!
"Peak of the True One Realm... Half-step Celestial God..."

Such ferocious beasts would be enough to occupy a city in any of the Three Thousand Continents, and now, placed on this perilous ancient trial path, they are even more likely to become death gods blocking the way.

While the terror of Kurosawa could be overcome with clever tricks, facing this ferocious beast with absolute suppression of realm and the advantage of terrain, a head-on confrontation would be tantamount to suicide.

Thinking of this, many people subconsciously began to back away, and an invisible panic spread again.

Of course, while some were filled with fear, others were filled with fighting spirit, their eyes blazing with intense light as they stared directly at the ferocious and terrifying flaming python.

"So what if he's a half-step Celestial God? If we join forces, surely we can slay this beast?"

A young prodigy, clad in golden armor and wielding a halberd, coldly shouted. He came from an ancient imperial clan, and his blood and energy were as vigorous as a dragon's.

"Indeed! No matter how strong it is, there's only one. With thousands of geniuses here, what do we have to fear!"

A prodigy clad in silver armor and wielding a long spear shouted, his body flashing with runes, and charged towards the Flame Python.

His movements were as swift as lightning, and as he wielded his spear, a dazzling burst of light followed, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, piercing straight into the crimson vertical pupils of the Flame Python.

As this prodigy made his move, the others followed suit.

"red!"

In an instant, the light of the magic technique shone brightly again, even more intensely than when fighting the insect swarm. Various powerful magical artifacts were summoned, hovering in the air, emitting divine light, and locking onto the crimson giant python in front.

The auras of thousands of prodigies merged into one, and although somewhat mixed, they still formed a torrent that should not be underestimated.

However, a hint of mockery flashed in the crimson vertical pupils of the Fiery Python.

"No matter how many ants there are, they are still just ants."

The next moment, accompanied by a cold, low growl, the giant fire python suddenly opened its huge mouth, not to bite, but to spew!

"red!"

In an instant, a torrent of crimson flames, as pure as blood and condensed to the extreme, rushed toward the densest part of the crowd, like a river of lava from hell, carrying a terrifying heat that could incinerate the void!

"careful!"

"Stop them quickly!"

Instantly, exclamations arose from all sides. The dozens of prodigies at the forefront were the first to be hit. The magical techniques they activated and the magical artifacts they unleashed melted and shattered like paper the moment they came into contact with the torrent of flames, without even being able to put up a single resistance.

"what!"

The screams were shrill. Those dozens of geniuses, along with their protective divine light, were vaporized in the flames, their bodies and souls annihilated, leaving not even ashes behind.

The power of one blow is so terrifying!
The fighting spirit that had just been ignited was instantly cooled as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over its head. The opponent was not an ordinary half-step Celestial God, but a terrifying being with the combat power of a Celestial God. The strength of the opponent far exceeded everyone's imagination, and this was a gap that could not be easily bridged by numbers.

Furthermore, the fiery python was entrenched at the pass, waiting in comfort and gaining an advantage in terrain. If a direct attack were launched, the consequences would likely be extremely severe.

For a moment, the crowd fell into a stalemate and silence. The leaders who had been shouting for battle earlier also looked solemn and dared not step forward easily.

Just then, Shi An, who had been observing the situation quietly, glanced at the unusually bright scales on the Flame Python's body, which even faintly revealed ancient patterns, and a look of understanding flashed in his eyes.

Then, he slowly stepped forward, past the crowd, and walked alone toward the narrow pass filled with menacing energy.

"Shi An is about to make his move!"

Upon seeing this, everyone's eyes immediately focused on him.

As someone who once stepped onto the Immortal Ancient Arena and fought to the very end, who would dare to underestimate him?
Especially after the Kurosawa incident, no one would underestimate this young man who, although from the lower realm, possesses unfathomable strength.

Similarly, the Flame Python also noticed this human whose aura was restrained yet which it instinctively felt threatened by. Its scarlet vertical pupils stared intently at Shi An, and its massive body arched slightly, assuming an attack posture.

"Human, there is an unpleasant aura about you."

The Flame Python's voice was hoarse. It sensed a pressure emanating from deep within Shi An's bloodline, a pressure that, though faint, was undeniably real.

Upon hearing this, Shi An paused slightly, met the enormous snake eyes, and remained calm: "Your bloodline is impure. You forcibly absorbed the earth vein fire essence of this place to break through to the position of Heavenly God, which has damaged your origin. Now you are nothing but a strong exterior but a weak interior."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every prodigy and the Flame Python.

Its massive body trembled violently, and a barely perceptible hint of shock, anger, and panic flashed in its vertical pupils.

"Nonsense!"

It roared fiercely, as if only in this way could it conceal its true strength: "I am about to transform into a dragon, my power will rival the creation itself, and I will kill you as easily as crushing ants!"

"is it?"

Seeing the clearly enraged Flame Python, Shi An couldn't help but smile faintly: "Then why don't you dare leave this pass even a step? Are you afraid of cutting off the supply of earth vein fire essence, causing your cultivation to backfire and collapse on the spot?"

Upon hearing this, not only did the Flame Python pause in its aura, but the many prodigies behind it also suddenly realized the truth!

"So that's it! No wonder it only defends and doesn't attack!"

"It is using the special geological features of this place to heal its injuries or break through its current limitations, and it is currently in a weakened state!"

"Brother Shi has a good eye!"

Enraged that his weakness had been exposed, the Flame Python roared, "You're asking for death!"

With a loud shout, it spewed out a torrent of flames once more, this time targeting Shi An directly. The power was even greater than before, and the crimson flames scorched and distorted the space itself.

Faced with this terrifying blow that could incinerate a true god, Shi An neither dodged nor evaded. Instead, he slowly raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and an ancient rune quietly appeared in his palm.

The runes were not dazzling, but they contained a supreme understanding of the Way of Fire, as if they were the source and master of all flames.

"receive!"

Then, everyone heard Shi An utter a single word, and a bizarre scene unfolded!

The torrent of flames, powerful enough to melt stars, was completely absorbed by the ancient rune the moment it approached the palm of Shi An's hand, as if all streams were flowing into a single source, without causing the slightest ripple, and not even the hem of his clothes trembled.

(End of this chapter)