Zhao Chun sidestepped, only then getting a clear look at what that thing was. A Black Cicada the size of a fist! The rest of it was no different from an ordinary singing cicada, but its sharp proboscis, glinting with a black light, sent a chill down one's spine.
"Ah!"
Just as she gripped the Red Wasp Dagger, she heard a miserable scream. She saw the Black Cicada shoot past. Tu Cenzhen had failed to dodge in time, and his left hand was pierced through by the proboscis.
Who knew what kind of poison it was, but it was incredibly potent, rapidly creeping up his arm from the wound on his palm! Tu Cenzhen knew when to make a sacrifice. He drew the Waist Sword from his side and sliced off his entire arm, only then stopping the strange poison from spreading to the rest of his body.
"Fellow Daoist, be careful! This Demonic Creature is extremely fast and highly venomous. Don't let it get close!" he shouted to Zhao Chun while dodging, looking utterly wretched.
Zhao Chun took out a Flying Dagger and threw it at the Black Cicada. It struck the outer shell with the sound of metal striking metal. The shell is that thick?
Her expression darkened. She advanced with the Snake Walk Step, intending to strike first, but unexpectedly, the Black Cicada was even swifter. It flashed past with a beat of its wings, and a sharp Cicada Cry lingered in her ears, making her feel agitated.
She had not felt this way in the previous battle; it must be because of this Demonic Creature! Zhao Chun changed her footwork, making her steps follow the movement of her blade. This was precisely the Sword Swing Form she had comprehended after achieving Minor Achievement in the Swift Travel Sword Art!
Back when she was training in the martial arts at the Zhao Family estate, Instructor Zheng had praised her, saying she had extraordinary talent for the Way of the Sword. It was just that, limited by her physical constitution, she was ultimately unable to enter the Martial Way through the sword.
After stepping onto the Immortal Path, the shackles on her body were completely removed. Zhao Chun felt as if all her previous days of bitter practice had now become an aid to her Sword Wielding, allowing her to move like a fish in water. All sorts of techniques had become clear to her since then.
This Sword Swing Form involved leading the sword with her steps, condensing Spiritual Qi onto the blade's edge, and swinging out a blade of light to kill the enemy! However, Zhao Chun had still underestimated the Black Cicada's hardness.
The sharpness of the sword light shocked even her, yet when it struck the cicada's shell, it only left behind a white mark! Even her strongest attack failed to injure it! Zhao Chun made a swift decision, pulling back and no longer tangling with it.
"Patriarch Tu! Help me hold back the Demonic Creature for a moment!"
After saying this, she took two or three steps, ran to the Demonic Moth's corpse at the side, cleanly lopped off its head, and stored it in a pre-prepared Lacquer Box. She shouted, "This creature is not something the two of us can defeat! We shouldn't keep fighting it.
We should leave first!" Tu Cenzhen understood the priorities. He waved the small banner to drive the Black Cicada away, and the two of them prepared to leave through the cave entrance.
But at this moment, an unexpected change occurred. The Black Cicada suddenly let out a long cry, not sharp and piercing like before, but a deep and heavy sound that made even the ground tremble.
Not good!
Zhao Chun pulled Tu Cenzhen back. The two of them immediately halted. With a rumble, the earthen wall collapsed, and large chunks of rock tumbled down, blocking their exit completely!
It seemed they could not leave after all. Zhao Chun turned her head to look at the Black Cicada. That thing was truly bizarre.
Its proboscis bobbed up and down with its head, as if it were a person sneering in ridicule.
"Patriarch Tu, is the Slowing Technique effective against it?"
Tu Cenzhen, with only one arm remaining and a pale face, heard Zhao Chun's question and forced himself to reply, "It has some effect, but not much. It only lasts for one breath..."
"As long as it's effective, that's good," Zhao Chun said, holding her breath and concentrating her spirit.
"Later, you will assist me from the side. When I am about to strike it, cast your spell!"
Tu Cenzhen nodded in agreement, gripping the small banner tightly in his hand. He too knew that this was a life-or-death crisis, and he did not dare to relax in the slightest. Zhao Chun knew that only with her Swift Travel Sword Art at the Minor Achievement level could she match the Black Cicada's speed.
However, this consumed a great deal of Spiritual Qi. She feared she would exhaust herself before she could even defeat it. A quick battle to decide the outcome!
She slashed out with a Sword Swing Form, striking its shell. Unfortunately, it still only left a white mark! If strength cannot break through, then I must think of another way...
An idea flashed through Zhao Chun's mind. She poured Spiritual Qi into her Spiritual Root, then guided it to transform into Golden Flame Qi, infusing it into her blade's edge. She unleashed another Sword Swing Form, striking the shell!
The Black Cicada thought she was using the same old trick, so it did not bother to dodge, meeting the attack head-on with its body. It never expected to be burned by the Golden Flame Qi this time. It immediately began to fly about erratically, like a headless fly.
It's working!
Zhao Chun was overjoyed, but this method consumed an extreme amount of Spiritual Qi. With her current Cultivation Base, she could only use it two more times! I have to find its vital point!
While dodging, she carefully observed the Black Cicada. Its outer shell was as smooth as jade, with no visible seams, as if it were a single, solid piece. Just by looking at it, she knew it would be difficult to attack.
She then looked at its proboscis, which extended from its head, slender and sharp. However, the point where it connected was slightly translucent and off-white, as if it were made of flesh. Looking further down, she could see diamond-shaped Carapace Plates covering its plump abdomen, which twitched slightly with the beating of its wings.
A plan formed in her mind. Zhao Chun split the Golden Flame Qi into two streams, one on the edge of her sword, the other condensed in her palm. When the Black Cicada attacked her again, she gave a cold snort and directly gripped its proboscis with the hand that had Qi condensed in its palm.
Instantly, she heard the "Tssss—" sound of the venom melting her hand! Although the poison was blocked by her Spiritual Qi and could not enter her body, the evaporated poisonous mist still caused Zhao Chun excruciating pain! She did not dare to stop.
Gripping the proboscis tightly, she swung the Red Wasp Dagger upwards from below, stabbing the Black Cicada to death through its abdomen! With a sharp screech from the Black Cicada, its abdomen burst open, splattering purplish-black fluid and Insect Eggs all over Zhao Chun's hands.
She still did not move, waiting until the Black Cicada was completely dead before tossing its corpse aside. By now, the skin on both her hands had been corroded away, revealing scarlet flesh and blood. Tu Cenzhen was now completely in awe of her.
At such a tender age, she possessed both sharp insight and strength, and she could even be ruthless to herself. If she did not fall midway, she was certain to achieve greatness on the Great Dao. If the Tu Family could befriend such a remarkable person, then after he died, they would not fall into complete ruin.
Zhao Chun was unaware of these thoughts. The pain in her hands was not even half of the Pain of Spiritual Root Extraction, so she could naturally endure it. Gritting her teeth, she took out an Antidote Pill and Gauze from the Storage Pouch in her robes.
She only took the pill, felt the pain lessen slightly, and then endured the pain to bandage her hands before going to tend to the heavily injured Tu Cenzhen, who was lying to one side.
(End of this chapter)